Favorites: 2 Day Old Babies

Auden Parker - born on Friday.

I think it's OK to say, because her Mama said so first, that it's terribly adorable when she cries.

My Favorite Things: Granta

I'd been asking for a subscription to this venerable magazine for ages, so I was absolutely thrilled this Spring when it showed up in my mailbox - it took a bit of sleuthing to figure out I had my dear friend Elizabeth to thank for a year of Granta coming to me.

Since it's start in the late 1800's Granta has managed to discover some of the brightest stars who later became well known - A.A. Milne and Sylvia Plath were first published in Granta. Since then they get regular contributions from known and unknown writers alike.

It's not just stories, they also feature beautiful photography, poems, paintings and even these drawings by Dave Eggers. It's kind of a random mishmash of wonderfulness, I think of it as The Believer for grownups.

I get so excited when I get a new issue in the mail and it's the perfect thing for me right now with school, I can just read a little story before bed without committing to a whole book.

Favorite Things: When My Boy Comes Home

He travels for work a lot these days. And unfortunately I've gotten kind of used to my time alone. I hate that I'm used to it. And I hate that I eat potato chips for breakfast and popcorn for dinner when he's not home. But I do love how fun it is when he comes home and that first kiss after days apart and talking til late about our weeks and not having to make my own coffee in the mornings.

My Favorite Things: Surprises In The Mail

Isn't an unexpected goody in the mail one of the best simple pleasures in the world? Tonight I came home from work to a lovely surprise on my doorstep: a refrigerated box from Wanders Artisan Chocolaterie.

Last week I met with a potential CPA to begin sorting out the craziness that comes with starting a new business. Today he sent chocolates as a 'Great to meet you, can't wait to do your taxes' gift. Needless to say he has our business.

My Favorite Things: 4 Day Old Babies

Frances Eleanor Beck born last Saturday - so beautiful and the softest hair I've ever felt.

My Favorite Things: Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges

These guys saved me this week. Most lozenges just coat the throat with a minty slick, but Slippery Elm actually reduces the inflammation of a sore throat, so when it feels better it actually is better. Sweetened with Maple Sugar instead of HFC, and a cute box, there are lots of things to love about these lozenges. (Available at Whole Foods and many other places)

Late Summer Camping

Even though school started back up for me again last week we took our last Summer vacation over the weekend. My dear friend Axon is a trooper, she was determined to not let seven months of pregnancy slow her down so she planned the whole trip and wrangled a toddler and braved the heat and cooked almost all the meals. Meals consisting of butter, bacon, steak with butter, potatoes with butter, french toast fried in butter, roasted salmon with Yummm Sauce and other such deliciousness. Gourmet camping would sum it up.

I have an absurd number of pictures of Ro, because he was in his element and just too cute. He was all boy and free spirit and couldn't get enough of the dirt, bugs and fire.

Look at that face! No matter how many times he got a cleaning he was covered in dirt minutes later.

These people were there too.

There were caterpillars constantly falling out of the trees, and Rowan loved them to death, usually literally.

This was our favorite - it reminded some of us of an Indian chief and some a Vegas showgirl.

Ro and I spent a lot of time collecting acorns.

We mostly just sat around the campsite reading in between meals, a few quick trips down to a little lake for Ro to play in the sand.

Hopefully we'll continue the tradition next year with the addition of a Parker (and any other friends who can join :)