10 Days of a "little" Florida sunshine

Our annual trip to Marco Island, Florida.

Every year during the kids April break we head down to visit Scott's folks in Marco aka 'Mah-coe'.

We leave cold, dreary, cloudy, nearly blustery Boston and head down to warm, sunny Marco.

This community of predominantly retired folks (and literally an island) is maybe 20 miles south of Naples on the Gulf coast. It is a pretty remote, sandy, beachcomber's paradise. It is not a gourmand's/night-clubber's dream by any stretch. With a gi-normo beach of white sand, shells galore and the predictable Marriott, Hilton, private club resort we kick back and enjoy ourselves immensely.


We usually spend our days on the beach. Or at their pool. Or on the boat.






















And wear really big sunglasses to protect this pale Irish skin from 3rd degree burns.

Lots of wildlife (birds, dolphins, rays and manatee) are to be had.




Oh my god, is that a shark??!!













































Loads of dolphins are always sited....usually in pairs or more. Mesmerized all of us. The kids especially loved to pretend every dolphin with its dorsal fin was a dangerous hammerhead or Great White.


There were other sightings as well.....

And oh my god, is that Old Man Witherspoon with knee-socks and sandals?





























We always have a great time. The kids get loads of RangerRick-time with their grandfather. Go down all sorts of mangrove trails on the boat, go fishing, see crazy amounts of birds in their natural habitat.































Marco's got this Caribbean quality, much better appreciated by boat.














































































Me, the kids and Scott on Keewaydin. Dreamy, remote stretch. Nuthin' but sandy beach for miles.











































My drift.wood.art.shot.























Great surf, if the wind's coming off the ocean.























A coupla old salts.


Scott and I made sure we got out. A lot. While the dining is far from fine, there were always plenty of cocktails. And bad photography as a result.
























Here we are. The whole fam-damily.
























Breathtakingly beautiful sunsets.







































Appreciated more after some of those cocktails.

Catch the Sun - the d o v e s

Caught a little sun in Florida....

Gone to Florida - Back April 26th

Witta-who? Wittamer.

Scott recently returned from a business trip to Brussels. Luckily, for his sake, he came home with some goodies. A couple of TinTin books for the kids, more Fleur de Sel for me, heavy duty Belgian mayonnaise for our arteries and luscious chocolates from Wittamer.













Wittamer isn't quite at the level of Pierre Marcolini, the refined, artisic, almost preciously loaded petite chocolates that are more high end. Wittamer is just a step down (which means a box of 20 assorted creme fresh chocolates runs around 15euros/$22). But both Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer specialize in amazing chocolates, both dark, milk and the fully loaded crème fraîche. Both have big storefronts in the Place du Grand Sablon area in Brussels, sort of the Soho of Brussels. Surrounded by antique shops, galleries and an occasional clothing boutique, the location is just steps away from the Grand Place and filled with that old world charm.





Fancy-pant Belgian chocolates not only include Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer but there are others, like Neuhaus, Godiva, Guylian and Leonidas.




I'm of the opinion that Wittamer is the go-to for crème fraîche chocolates - and if one should find themselvs in Brussels, the chocolatier to pay a visit.

Hmm, do the words warm, cuddly, snuggle-bear, fluffy-cherub come to mind by any chance?

Ok'd "Harsh Interrogations."

Big Surprise.

Top Ten Words I Hate to Say Outloud

1. Lozenge

2. Muffin

3. Bulbous (not really many occasions I would say this but still....ew.)

4. Intercourse (just conjures up all sorts of red-cheeked prepubescence)

5. Jonquils (as in the flower)

6. Pus

7. Classy (just record déclassé in my snobby opinion)

8. Crusty

9. Regina (as in the capital of Alberta, CA)

10. Wedge (as in the sandwich which, if you live in CT, is what you order when you belly up to the deli counter)

The Crimson and Blue

I don't really follow sports that much.

I'm definitely guilty of being a 'fair weather' fan more than anything.

Sure, I jumped on the Red Sox band wagon last October when they won the World Series. I like to see a good tennis match.....and I'll follow the Olympics in Beijing.

So, when the whole NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness sweeps the nation every year I tend to ignore, unless my Alma mater is favored.

Then, I suddenly get all interested and follow along.

But, I can never actually watch a basketball game simply because my mom and I have this deeply rooted belief and superstition that whenever we watch KU Men's basketball play they will most definitely lose the game.



So, I didn't watch the Men's NCAA Basketball Championship Finals last night.

I did watch the beginning when all the players were announced.

I learned that KU has a kid from Anchorage, Alaska and a kid from New York City, NY.

I saw the team mascot jump around and felt a little nostalgic.....Even my kids noticed the headlines on the Sports section....little, budding sports fanatics that they are....and never have I wanted to send them both to school donned in some KU t-shirt, ball-cap or sweater but since we don't own any I painted their faces instead.

Small, low, ceiling of clouds that make you want to hunch over

Boston has suffered really more than its share of lousy weather lately. Yesterday was by far the worst. Dreary, raw day of cold, spitting drizzle that hits you right in the face.

There's been an occasional break in the overcast skies with a ray of sun here or there but really..... the weather b.l.o.w.s. of late.

Everyone seems to have a hunch and a slower way about them.....

Next, it's BROADWAY!!!!!

Maia, aged 9+, has a "role" in her school's annual musical.

Every year Pierce School has a "musical" that includes 2nd-6th graders.

(The 7th and 8th graders have their own musical -note no air quotes- that's a pretty elaborate, serious production. This year it was the Fiddler on the Roof).

The 2nd-6th grade musical isn't exactly elaborate as it is inclusive and all encompassing and.......inclusive.


It's really inclusive, because it includes an opportunity for every child that would like to participate to participate. So, inclusive is the best way to describe this. It's an Inclusical musical.

When Maia was a 2nd grader Pierce did the Wizard of Oz and she was a member of the chorus-which is not entirely unlike a background Greek chorus. They sing, sway, all dressed (not in togas) in black. In 3rd grade, when Pierce did Peter Pan, she was also a member of the chorus. Only it was a green chorus. Swaying. In the background.

As a 4th grader she is a "full cast member" and is one of twenty or so 4th grade Who's. For the Seussical. Seussical the Musical (it rhymes. lots and lots of rhymes. throughout). Still not unlike a chorus but only this time there's dancing and hopping and bowing and swaying and twirling involved. This musical, by the way, is a collection of Seuss's favorite top 10 vignettes (Horton, Gertrude, Cat in Hat, etc.) with rhymes galore.

Play practice began in February for the April 10, 11 and 12 shows. Then she was given all the lyrics for every song as well as the entire script.

And maybe a month later she had it all committed to memory.

All of it. Every song. Every step. Every move. (Jazz hands, shuffle-ball-change, one-two-one-two, toe, heel, toe, heel aaaaaand stop!, etc.)

At first when there was this fresh buzz of Seuss in the air, she'd put on a 'show' in the afternoon in our living room and demonstrate to me and Colby her latest number.

Now, after nearly 3 months of this, she has to pay Colby to sit through her songs and dances and I find ways to get absorbed in some household chore or 'work that just has to get done...I'll be there in a minute....hold on.....coming.......".

And sadly, I'm well aware of how her childhood is all fleeting and I'll (maybe?) long for the days when she would just sing or hum or skip or dance and shake.....but now?


No. Not so much.

My tomboy has transformed into a little starlet and it totally bugs. And when she sings (not in a bad voice, usually on key) she does that gross, jittery thing so that her voice sounds exceedingly dramatic and lilting. It's just all too Hi5 for me. Just too ker-pow, all smiles and taDa!

But she digs it and even though it's foreign to me, she's happy and her little singsong self seems to be floating a bit.

And I'll just have to succumb, plan ahead and see if I can't make a buck or two off this kid. Next stop: celebrity guru, Danny Bonaduce:

and find out if I think, no, I know my kid's a star!

Bonjour mon petit chou!

Too much candy from Capucha on Vimeo.





Sweet little, bright-eyed la petite fille is found hiding under a desk having eaten too much candy while Papa is soon to be home. Cuter than cute...and French and .......from vimeo (way better than Youtube, by the way).