Connections

After a harried, hurried morning-Channing going to preschool for PJ & A Movie Day and Kathy, Maxwell & I briefly hitting the local mall-we grabbed lunch from Noodles, Channing from the parent's pick-up lane and popped over to Maxine's for a quick visit.  She's recuperating from double knee replacement.  It's remarkable how well she's doing.  Atta girl, Maxine!!  

We dined on noodles with real silverware, something I wish I had noticed before shuffling dirty dishes from the nook to the kitchen sink, for life, when you take the time to really look, is full of exquisite diversions.  That's Maxine, an exquisite diversion.  

Kindred spirits, we are.  She's creative with a capital C.  She thrives on it the way I do.  It flows through her veins.  Every nook and cranny of her house is inspired.  Truly.  I dare you to pay her a visit and not get caught up in the wonder of it all.

It's a magic place for Channing.  In the middled of our post-lunch, adult conversation, he snuck off into the corner and began exploring the cabinet that houses EVERYTHING.  No joke.  You name it, it is likely in one of those little triangular drawers.  The favorite discovery this time?  A wind-up Godzilla.  A yellow one, no less.  

Rather than sit next to Kathy as Maxine shared photographs in a much treasured album, I held back, choosing instead to be the passive observer, to try to capture with my camera just a few of the details.  I half-listened while marveling at things like paperwhites growing on the coffee table and the tiniest bubble lights you've ever seen on an equally petite Christmas tree.  It was decked out in all sorts of vintage ornaments and screamed tiny but oh-so-grand in the very best of ways.  

We didn't stay long, little ones and this mama needing a nap, Kathy with a zillion pre-holiday projects to complete and Maxine awaiting the arrival of her sister, an afternoon of shopping on the agenda.  We left with full bellies and brimming hearts.  Happy.  

365 Project Week 6

1.  Such a blessing to have friends who know me too well.  Loving this pinwheel fabric.  Thanks, Auntie M.
2.  Supervisor Channing 'helping' Auntie Jenn feed Baby Kinsey.  This time next year, he'll be doing the same
with his own brother or sister.  3.  Speaking of that new sibling, Channing carries around a rolled up hand towel
and loves it up, pretending it's his new baby.  4.  Long winter shadows on an unseasonably warm day.  We biked
for well over an hour without a hat or mittens...in February...in MN.  Amazing!  5.  Picking paint colors at
Manic Ceramic.  Once his piece is fired, you'll be seeing more of Channing's artful experience and his creation.
6.  Lending a helping hand to Dexter.  Big cousins pouring cereal for little cousins during our family gathering
this past weekend.  7.  Splash!  

That Girl's House

Today, we went to That Girl's house for tea and cookies, 'That Girl' being Maxine and tea and cookies being that much more.  (Unfortunately, I neglected to return the memory card to my camera.  I had to rely on my phone for the photos below.  They are far from being worthy of association with this post.) We were introduced to the Single Screw Cabinet.  Yes, I do believe that is what the receipt Maxine showed me read.  It was purchased in her newly married days for what was, at that time in her life, a small fortune.  In her house, it is the keeper of all the wonderful and magical treasures that wee hands are allowed to touch and feel and play with.  Although, if you were there to witness the look on Maxine's face as she played, you'd have seen magic and wonder reflected there too.  

The three of us opened and examined the contents of every single drawer in the cabinet.  There were push toys.  There were wind-up toys.  From one, she pulled a whale's tooth.  From another, I pulled New Year's Eve noise makers.  Channing discovered a tiny plastic bowling set complete with ball and pins.  There was a super ball drawer and a lady bug drawer and a bunny drawer and...and...and...Better than the treasures were the stories of how they were acquired, stories that led us off on this tangent or that tangent, right through two cups of hot tea and several tender, chewy peanut butter cookies that had just a spot of brown sugar on top for good measure.  

Delightful.  Every minute of our visit was utterly delightful.  We explored the grown-up version of the treasure cabinet.  It's nooks and crannies filled with items too precious for little fingers.  Channing paused, if only briefly, at the child's desk to quickly color art for Maxine's refrigerator.  It continued until we were politely shooed out the door but not before a kazoo parade led us in and out of every room in the house.  Maxine had pickles to make with another friend.  Channing's bed was calling him home for nap time.

Channing had declared the road to Maxine's adventurous on our drive in.  It is gravel and winds through the forest.  The second the sound of the tires changed from their usual suburban pavement hum to the crunch of rock, Channing had asked, 'What IS this?' To which he replied, 'I know.  It's an adventure!' without waiting for my answer.  


Maxine allowed Channing to pocket the green, plastic kazoo from the parade.  He was overjoyed to have a treasure to keep and to take home.  Once buckled into the car, he first asked if we were adventuring all the way home to his new house.  The answer to that was yes.  Over the gravel road we traveled, winding down the country lane amid the trees with their already changing leaves.  Per Channing's request, I sang Happy Birthday to Baby Sophie.  He hum-rattled along on his much prized kazoo.