The regular “little of this, little of that” feature from Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I've mentioned before that I want to get a virtual tour of the Chesternest up here someday. As of right now, I just wanted to give you a glimpse of my little kitchen (as I've mentioned, we have two rooms we call “kitchen;” this one has the sink, cupboards, and counter but not the stove or fridge) — mainly just so you can see how I am currently fitting in it.
Which is to say — at 39ish weeks pregnant (38 at the time of this photo) — snugly.
We were fortunate to get Habou and Uncle Joe and Uncle Will (that is: my brothers, Finnabee's uncles) here for Easter weekend. We enjoyed plenty of good food and drinks and chocolate and games of Dominion. And they were very helpful when I needed help. But when I need to be working in my kitchen, it pretty much just needs to be me and my belly. It's about all I can do to fit myself and Peabodee in there, let alone another adult. Sometimes, when The Artist needs to squeeze by me when I'm working, I literally turn and lift my belly over/onto the counter so that he can get by behind me…
Honestly, I am very happy to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. I mean, I like making food, and I prefer bare feet to shoes most of the time. So yes, for a given nine months, I am likely to fit the bill.
I managed to fit in the time to do one (count 'em: one) pysanka this Holy Week (the nearest one, below). I sat down during a few spare moments on Holy Saturday, my food prep done and family members out on a walk, for a little blissful project time. Hopefully I'll squeeze a little more in during the Easter season. We'll see.
Unfortunately, the earlier part of Holy Week was taken up with recovering from the stomach bug (our little family succumbed, one by one) and then purging the apartment in anticipation of company we didn't want to infect.
Uncle Joe did his best to get an Easter shot of us with tricky lighting due to a somewhat gloomy, very windy day. (Uncle Will played a supporting role standing behind Uncle Joe, acting goofy and keeping us happy.) I wish we could have just posed outside! But no, it wasn't to be. I keep telling myself that I believe in spring. And also that I refuse to have my spring baby in winter. So, Baby, you are not allowed to come out until we are solidly into the 60s with sunshine!!
You may note that Finnabee is wearing the same dress in which Molly was spotted in this week's {p,h,f,r}. Pretty, fancy, matching cousin dresses courtesy of Aunt Natasha.
Not a lot of links this week, so I've expanded the ‘from the archives' section, in case you want to catch up on some older material and/or get to know us a bit more than you might already!
- An amazing invention that combines the latest medical technology with traditional crafting to solve heart problems, especially in children! Check out this story from Bolivia about how women are knitting parts to fix hearts.
- An interesting piece on why it's not prudent to push STEM education at the expense of the Liberal Arts. This author's perspective isn't a hard sell on the latter; he's just making a straight-forward case about why there are limitations to the former. Why America's Obsession with STEM education is dangerous. (I'd like to add, as a very superfluous sidenote, that I appreciate that the article isn't entitled “why STEM is ruining America.” Moderation in headlines is so hard to find these days.)
- What I learned the hard way: how I protect my family on Instagram. I think this goes for all social media. It's a good idea to have some precautions about what you're sharing, especially when you can't always control who will see it!
From the archives (mostly spring-y-themed):
Frugal for Beginners (a vintage piece back from 2009! We've been around for a while!)
Ask Auntie Leila: How to talk to children about scary news
An old {pretty, happy, funny, real} from Eastertime a few years ago
Whining whiners and how to cure them: a checklist
Ask Auntie Leila: I feel guilty not working!
The next part of the {pretty, happy, real weddings} series should be coming your way soon! Thanks for all the interesting input in the comments so far!
Liturgical year: keep enjoying the Easter octave! Tomorrow is Divine Mercy Sunday!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Tacy Williams Beck says
What a beautiful family! What a blessing to get those precious dresses as gifts!
Laura S. says
You’re so cute in the kitchen! Congrats on the imminent birth. I’m loving these matching cousin dresses — lily of the valley is my favorite flower, so I’m always on the lookout for pretty fabric that features my favorite! Where did Aunt Natasha find these sweet dresses?
Deirdre says
The dresses are Rachel Riley – quite a treat!
Mrs. B. says
That’s one beautiful family picture – don’t be too upset about how it could have been better, you all look wonderful! Finnabee’s little pearly teeth are so cute, and her big smile is contagious!
Your pysanki are so beautiful, Deirdre: take good care of them, they’ll be family treasures for generations.
Lastly, I have to shake my head in disbelief at how your “two kitchens” are arranged – the sink separated from the stove??? You have to “travel” with a hot pot to drain pasta?? And I seem to remember you mentioning that you don’t have a dishwasher: two kitchen rooms and no dishwasher… One has to question the sanity of the people who organized this apartment 🙂 Ah well, when you’re old and in the mood for the classic trip down memory lane, you’ll all laugh remembering your lovely, quirky Chesternest…
Waiting to hear good news from Peabodee!!!
Deirdre says
Thanks so much, Mrs. B!
Oh yes, trust me, my kitchen/s is/are thoroughly bonkers. The problem is that it was not originally designed with a proper floor plan; it’s the second floor of a three-story house that was converted into three apartments, so the kitchen was just put together as an afterthought. Even considering that, however, it is truly inefficient. We encountered this as a feature of Manchester apartments — everywhere we looked, we found second and third floors converted into apartments with THE most ridiculous kitchens. At one point I swore that I would not move into a place that didn’t at least have the stove and sink in the same room… but then, when we found the Chesternest, I compromised because of all the other good features. And I’m making it work. But it is quite silly. 🙂
priest's wife @byzcathwife says
Thanks for that STEM link! My high school freshman daughter is taking a college speech class. She wanted her persuasive speech to be ‘Why everyone should read Tolkien’- I suggested a broader topic- ‘why humanities and arts shouldn’t be rejected for all STEM’
Laura Jeanne says
Deirdre, you are a beautiful pregnant woman. And you have a lovely family. How blessed you are.
Emily D. says
You are so adorable! I love it!
Kate says
Ah, I remember those New England Easter’s when little girl’s short-sleeved dresses sported turtlenecks or long underwear. Slightly marred the cute factor, but the girls’s happy faces (as your daughter’s) made up for the fashion faux pas. Some friends in the Midwest, say they could go to Christmas mass in their pajamas and no one would be the wiser. Now I live in CA where people choose the clothing that best shows off their tattoos.
Nancy says
Always enjoy your links on a Saturday morning. Great family picture!
Laura says
Pretty pompadour in the family photo! I always wish I could find ways of making my hair roll and puff nicely, gracefully, and with style… but alas it usually just droops…
Stephanie says
What a beautiful family photo! I think that Deirdre and Bridget look a lot alike, at least from this photo! And it seems like maybe Molly looks like the two of you as well? (I don’t know who Finnabee looks like, but she is absolutely adorable!)
Thank you for the great {bits & pieces} features; the links are always interesting and enjoyable! (And I’m super impressed that you are posting them – and tackling household work and crafts – at 39 weeks!) 🙂
Best wishes to all as you prepare to welcome Peabodee into the world!
Betsy M says
What a beautiful family picture! Those last “little” family photos before the new baby is born are precious. We look back at those and remember the anticipation that was felt by all. Oh and be careful lifting that belly over counters. We had a tiny kitchen and I was so absent minded (over-due pregnant) that I lifted my belly over a hot pan and slightly burned myself. Big mistake.
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
Deirdre says
Thanks for all the kind comments!
Julie says
You look amazing! Just like one of those beautiful British women of the 50s & 60s in Call the Midwife!