how much is it for the eggs in the window?

Having seen it in the flesh, or shell, rather, I now know why they call this beautiful color robin’s egg.

At first we didn't notice anything unusual. And suddenly we noticed a busy bird, going to and fro from the bush with blades of grass, skinny twigs, you name it, in her beak. We had front row seats to this new construction from our dining table.

Every morning we rushed down to see what had transpired from the day before. I am rarely rendered speechless but this work of nature was that powerful. Because of my Asian beliefs and upbringing, I am finding that this event is making me feel very lucky . . . this was an auspicious sign. As I tell my husband . . . this is going to be a crackin' good year.

Luscious Peonies

I've been busy and not tending to my blog garden. However, I have been tending to the other type of garden . . . the one out yonder from the back door of my home. I lust all year for a month of gorgeous, heady blooms of peonies from my garden. I hoard them in the house -- flexing my floral design skills in a variety of containers. Here's one of my creations in a julep cup.

Sigh. Until next year . . .

short & sweet -- the lunchbox notes

I no longer pack my daughters' lunchboxes as I've swapped lives with my husband. The one rare occasion that I was tasked with the activity, I decided to tuck in a little note that said, Mommy loves Charlotte -- with a little illustration, of course. It is still taped to the inside of her lunchbox.

I became inspired as Valentine's Day approached and designed these little notes.

Visit me on etsy: http://www.pulpandwit.etsy.com/

My Private Storefront

The fireplace mantle has become my version of window dressing.

I change it every few months. In October, I removed three beautiful ink landscapes of Manhattan icons off the mantle: the Circle Line, the Brooklyn Bridge and a velvety depiction of the Manhattan skyline. Do not fear, one remains on the mantle (the Brooklyn Bridge, of course) and the other two have propped themselves against a different wall to join a wonderful collection of books.

I became infatuated with the Chinese bookends and the color is irresistible. I convinced my husband that these bookends are quite practical: they hold up books AND double as art. He didn’t seem too convinced.

And, of course, the window is never complete without a smattering of good words: Ayn Rand, Peter Mayle, Ha Jian and Pearl S. Buck are just a few who I adore.