Whew, I just skidded into the studio, whirled three times in my chair for good luck, peeled Jack off my lap (which will last about three seconds), plopped him down on his 
pillow on top of the fax machine (where he will stay for three seconds), and here I am: READY. Did you miss me? I know; I’ve been AWOL! For your reward for PAABTCOD (patience above and beyond the call of duty), I’ll give you a new video of Jack! Thanks Girlfriends for sticking by me! A blog is a responsibility I don’t take lightly! I’ve missed you!
Actually, I want to dedicate this video to an eleven-year-old Australian boy named Alexander. Hi Alex! His mum wrote to say how much he likes Jack, so I thought I better do one ‘specially for him, although I’m sure he’s willing to share! Watch Jack, Alex — when he gets the ball, he tries to put it in the shoe — I didn’t catch it on this video, but he actually DOES put it in the shoe all the time! He’s brilliant!
♥ ♥ ♥
XOXOXOXXOXOXO
As I watch the videos I’ve made, trying to decide which one to put up, Jack sits on my lap, facing the computer, mesmerized by the noises of the bell in the ball and by hearing me say, “Good Boy,” but mostly he likes to look at himself. He doesn’t move on my lap, no struggling to get away, he just stares at the screen; I presume he’s thinking about his Academy Award for Best Kitty in an Action Picture with Shoes In It. 
He just looked up at me as if to say, but hey, where’s the MUSICA??? Such a smart kitty! (He whispered in my ear, “Play something for Alexander and his mum!” I hope I chose the right song — so sweet and old-fashioned, I couldn’t resist!)
The thing I love most about this little boy is his curiosity; it is also the bane of my existence; be very careful who has been drinking the cream if you come here to tea! At almost six months old, he has been on every high shelf in this house; he’s 
interested in every door that’s open a crack, every drip of water, every pinecone or piece of sea glass, every butter dish or string on a tea bag, every toe that moves under a sheet, all buttons on my sweaters (especially if I’m wearing it); every pen, every pencil, tube of paint, or stray ant on the floor must be investigated to the nth of his powers, including, if necessary, eating it. The other day, I saw a tiny piece of ribbon sticking out of his mouth, pulled on it, and slowly brought out about seven inches of soggy ribbon, like he’s a sword swallower. He’s still small enough so he can disappear under the sofa and emerge with the ball in his mouth! I missed him when I was away, and so glad to be back, under his spell. The mustache! I love it! Nobody can move as fast as Jack.
But back to where I’ve been . . . the truth is, as you all know, when you go away, you pay. That’s the way it is. I came back with tons of new ideas (not to mention laundry, a message machine full of calls, a mailbox full of correspondence, bills to pay, house to clean); there are not enough hours in the day! I’ve been going through all the catalogs we brought home from the New York Gift Show. We got so many new product ideas; Joe’s been contacting manufacturers; so far, I’ve designed three cups, a hanging plaque, some big storage boxes, a kitty tray (for kitty bowls on the floor), a set of postcards, and a bird feeder that looks like our arbor. Somebody stop me. I don’t even know quite yet what I’m doing with them, but I’m READY! When you get the creative bug you just have to go with it. To the detriment of the rest of the house! Oops, excuse me, ball-under-chair-alert, must go play . . .
I did get my Valentine’s written!!! That’s something! And I scooped up all the Emma Heart Breakfast 
Cups we had left in our store — I hope you all got yours already! Judy from the studio sent me this one; of course I fell in love with it — I tried to wait until the last minute so all of you who wanted one would have time to get it; I don’t mean to be hogging them. We’ll get more in a couple of weeks, but my BFF’s and my mom deserve this, don’t you think? Not just for Valentine’s Day, but for all year through . . . it says it all: tea, talk, love, best friends, all you have to do is look at it! I hope none of them are reading this!
I also designed three new fabric collections for Cranston’s Quilting Treasures in the last couple of days; here are a few of the ideas I sent them; we still have a ways to go, but this helps to get us started. The new collections will come out this May . . . and guess what? Christmas fabric too! Yes, we will have it right here on our web site . . . but I’d love to see it in your local quilt stores, so be sure to ask them to get it! I hope you are plotting quilts and other projects right now, just looking at it. That would make me very happy!
This is fabric mockup is just pasted together, but it gives you the general idea. I really want a birthday fabric; imagine this as napkins, jammie bottoms, aprons, a birthday party dress (darling!), a scalloped edge on a white tablecloth, a birthday banner, pin cushions, as a lining for a birthday gift bag, or in a birthday quilt! Adangdorable, if I do say so myself!
And look what was waiting for me at the Post Office — hot off the presses! My new guided Keepsake Book for Grandmas. I’m so happy with the way it came out!
Hopefully we will have these in stock for a while . . . I want them to be around for Mother’s Day! They should be in our web store today!
It’s even got a ribbon marker! In the book, I asked all the questions I would have liked to have my grandma answer. There’s also places for photos!
I would have liked to know what she remembered about her grandparents; would have loved to hear more about her childhood friends; a few details about her most romantic date; definitely would have liked to know about a favorite dress or cutest shoes. All in her own beloved handwriting. ♥ Would have been wonderful. It’s too late for me and my grandma, our time together has passed, but it’s perfect timing for anyone reading this!
The minute you become a grandma, you should fill one of these out. If you are becoming a mom, this should be part of the shower, a baby book for you, a Grandma book for the grandmas! A priceless keepsake when she is done with it. ♥
There are lots of other new things, just arrived, but I’ll save them for the next WILLARD!
I just like this photo. In my spare time, I’ve been fooling around with the little things on top of my stove. Pleasing little scene. Meaning nothing.
Home is where my heart is, that’s for sure, today is baking day! Right after I finish saying hello to you! Oh boy, the sun just came up, I looked out back . . . and guess what? We’re going to have a perfect baking day . . .
I had to go get my camera, because we got a dusting . . .
In this one you can almost see the piles of individual snowflakes . . . like a blown up snow cone.
If this post seems disjointed, it’s because it is! Every five minutes I have to stop and play with Jack. The worst thing he does is bring me the ball and drop it behind the bookcase 
next to where I’m sitting now. He looks up at me, expectantly, saying (with his eyes), “You know you’re my hero, right?”
In order to get the ball, I have to go to the kitchen and get a flashlight. I must then get flat on my belly in a very small space; with the flashlight in one hand, and the side of my face flat on the floor, I have to wiggle an 18″ ruler around under the bookcase until I feel the ball, and then carefully drag it out. Jack loves this game. I’ve stuffed tissue paper in there to stop the ball from going down, but he just shreds it. I have no train of thought left. There’s an engine; but no passenger coaches, no sleepers, no baggage car, no caboose. Just the engine, short and sweet; and nothing to pull. At 7 am I take Joe his tea, and now I also take him JACK!!! Close the door to both front and back staircases and escape to get some work done!!! But sooner or later, the door will open, Joe will come down, we will hear the pitter patter of little claws, and the trouble begins again. Thank goodness Jack is a napper! He curls up on the back of the sofa around 11 am every day, for maybe 3 or 4 hours! When he’s napping, we tiptoe around here! ”Shhhh,” we say, “Don’t wake Jack!”
Off to break eggs in a bowl. This will be good for gathering myself! I think the chair whirling did the trick, I feel lucky! Bye for now! XOXO Have a wonderful day! ♥
We’re Home! We got home Friday night. I woke up this morning to an almost-full snow moon peeking through the bare branches of the tree outside our bedroom window. The house is quiet, the streets are deserted, I’m back to my morning routine of ball throwing for Jack, tummy rubbing for Girl, and tea with stretching exercises. Mrs. Miniver was on TV this morning (giving good reason to cry hysterically, one of my favorite things to do any time of day, as long as it’s only a movie!); tea kettle is steaming, heater’s humming. I think the house is happy to have us back, but probably not as happy as we are! Going away is wonderful, but coming home is even better!
now, in my studio as I’m typing, curled up under the lamp on my art table. I can’t keep my hands off him; I pick him up, roll him around, all furry and soft; he stretches full length, arching his back and putting his front paws above his head, purring the whole time, trusting me. Such a little doll. Isn’t that mustache amazing? He still picks up the ball in his mouth and brings it back to me when I throw it! He somersaults across the floor at least three times when he pounces on the ball; you can always tell where he is because there’s a bell in the ball. I don’t get much done; I write one sentence; I hear the jingle of the ball drop at my feet; I stop, throw it; it bounces off the back of the sofa, he jumps four feet in the air to catch it; he drops and rolls with it, because he is a drama king. I type another half of a sentence, he is back, the ball rolls at my feet, jingling. Ask not for whom the bell tolls . . . I get nothing done. I take Joe his tea at 7 am and I also take him Jack! I wrap his strong little kitten body around my neck like a fox fur and up the stairs we go.
I’ve been unpacking, doing our travel laundry — is there anything better than being buried in warm laundry on a chilly Saturday afternoon while watching an old movie? I’ll ask Joe. He says, “no there’s not!” He was so cozy in there, I had to go get the camera.
tea and sat down to read it, while Joe wallowed on the sofa in the clean laundry. The perfect couple camaraderie for people celebrating their 25th anniversary (the real day is tomorrow)! 
Here are a few more New York pictures — from our last day . . . with some Breakfast at Tiffany’s 
Because, I thought I would take you window shopping on Madison Avenue.
Without it, our trip wouldn’t be complete! It was our last morning in the city, we went for coffee at a wonderful French bakery, 
I simply HAD to have those yellow shoes! Ha ha. Did you believe me? No, I know, you’re way too smart for that! 
Walking down Madison Avenue is like walking through the pages of Vogue Magazine. There are reflections from the street in all of these windows; some of the photos almost look like double exposures!
I actually like this outfit quite a lot.
Here’s another pair of shoes I’m sure mean nothing but comfort for the foot! The color specialists at Pantone say this orange is THE 
I think Cleopatra wore shoes just like this!
The neighborhood is just beautiful; these are two churches next to each other.
Lots of brownstones, change of paint and door style, and voila, it’s a different house.
New York is a big city, but it has a human scale, too; lots of wonderful little neighborhoods, even pigeons feel at home making their mark in New York.
So we packed the car, took one last trip through SoHo . . . and drove back the way we came, through Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, in time to have clam chowder in front of the fire at one of our favorite places in Falmouth (the 
As we were coming in, Joe took this picture standing on the front of the boat on the freight deck; the ferry is moving into the slip where it will dock so the vehicles can drive off onto the island.
From a block away, down our dark street, we could see the twinkle lights in the upstairs window of our house; we still have a little tree there. It was our Kitty Babysitter’s way of saying welcome home. 
polished set of stairs (slippery to the person carrying a cup of tea!) — our room (I’m never leaving) is a little suite that takes up the whole third floor. Separated from the sleeping area by a large closet, is a small, cozy sitting room (where I am now). It’s all dark wood, with a mooshey brown velvetish sofa (perfect for a person to read on, has a soft blanket on the back of it), wood floors, a wall of wonderful floor-to-ceiling book shelves filled with books, a beautiful old Oriental rug in faded colors of soft green, camel, and burgundy, a giant TV, and a comfortable armchair. It is like a cocoon in here. You wear this room like your favorite sweater; put it on and never want to take it off, perfect to wear over your jammies.
in thick white terry towels, my wet hair wrapped up in a towel turban; Joe came up from the kitchen bringing me a plate with thick, crunchy, seedy New York bread with raisins in it, toasted and buttered, along with slices of warm roasted chicken and a cold tangerine. I sat on the brown velvet sofa, clean from the shower, put the plate on my toweled lap and ate; peeled my tangerine which sent spritzes of juice off into the air. So that’s how the day began. Deep happy citrus breath. So quiet here, you would never know you are in the middle of the city that never sleeps.
This was last night. Yes, we are the kind of tourists who like to stop in the middle of Park Avenue to take pictures with mouth agape, a bit of drool at corners, because it’s just so BEAUTIFUL. Because of 
Here’s a photo of 
overlooking the first floor dining room.
Thinking, wouldn’t my art look pretty on sheets like this? We could have them in our 
Or on a nice big cup like this? We found all sorts of fun things . . . from printed aprons and dish towels, to bird feeders they would make to match the arbor in my back yard, to heavy decorated ribbon boxes and packaged herb seeds.
On our way home, we stopped at the New York Public Library because of the rumor that we might be able to see the original toys, the Pooh Bear (Winnie), Tigger, Kanga, Piglet, 
Eeyore, that 
This beautiful library is free, open to the public; Virginia Woolf’s handwritten diary was there too, right near Pooh and friends. See the girls on the steps? Those are French girls visiting New York . . . I know because they asked Joe to take their picture. 
He really did love those girls! 
I have to show you a couple of photos of the library! It’s just too beautiful!
This is the Main Reading Room, computers, books, and researchers . . . all very quiet!
The Gift Shop! (We brake for gift shops!) I picked up a book called 
First move in any off-island adventure is a trip on the ferry. We’re traveling, as we always do, the slow way; meandering through four states, Massachusetts to Rhode Island, through Connecticut, into New York City, America’s Hometown.
As you can see, it was a perfect day for a sea voyage across the sound. Cold and windy, around 38°, and clear. We parked our car downstairs on the freight deck, and came up to sit by a sunny window, drink coffee and read the paper.
Forty-five minutes later, we docked in Woods Hole. We climbed back in to the van . . . Joe took this photo through the windshield, of me digging through by bag to find the phone. We have everything with us, chocolate, apples, homemade granola; plus, an electric tea kettle and an ice chest for the milk for the tea–which I am happily drinking now.
About a half hour from Woods Hole, we leave Cape Cod via the Bourne Bridge . . .
On to 195, through Fall River, Rhode Island . . .
. . . and over the bridge . . . tons of coastline in Rhode Island, so there are lots of bridges!
Into Providence. My photos don’t do justice to this darling city . . . so many wonderful buildings, such a cute downtown . . . here are just a few I took through the car window . . . see the wind whipping the flags? Chilly!
And a mix of old and new . . . gorgeous day, look at that sky! We parked here and blew down a couple of blocks to the Providence Mall to SHOP. People who live on Martha’s Vineyard (at least the ones I know) crave a good Mall (no chain stores on the island), but then when we get inside, we are like kids in candy stores, overwhelmed and don’t know what to buy. It’s all so big and sparkly and there’s so much of it!
After shopping (tried on cute shoes, they didn’t have them in my size; found a sweater in “my color”) and mocha coffees, we drove into the most amazing Connecticut sunset that seemed to go on and on . . . heading west — and thinking, hmmm, where should we have dinner?
We choose a destination dear to our hearts, the
We love it because it’s filled with history!
It’s in the quintessential New England town of Essex, Connecticut — another extremely American town as all New England towns seem to be . . . this one, maybe even more so. The moon was beautiful, horns up, smiling; it looks full here, but that’s just the trick the camera is playing . . .
I think they keep their paint colors simple on the old houses just so the flag looks good against them!
Even the lines on the road were red white and blue! How can you not love this exuberance? So we found a parking place . . .
To this welcoming lobby . . .
And then . . . I hardly know where to start with the photos, the restaurant is so full of interesting things and cozy nooks . . .
Here’s the bar, very cozy, publike, and neighborhoody . . . With a fire in the fireplace and a twinkly Christmas tree taking center stage.
And they have a Library Room, full of old books, where you can eat!
The walls are crowded with historical artifacts, everything labeled as to who, what, where, why, and when.
Like eating in a museum!
Loved the ship models — especially this one over the fireplace in the main dining room. Guess which table we chose for the first of what will probably be a month of Anniversary Dinners?
Oh yes, the one in front of the fireplace. A toast to 25 years of luckiness and Just the Right Guy for Me. 
But, we have to get serious, enough of this mushy stuff, down to business . . . Mmmm, hot rolls with maple butter.
I had the white bean and tomato soup made with chicken stock and a green salad with bacon and tomatoes; Joe had a juicy steak with a gorgozola sauce and steamed broccoli which we lingered over, analyzing and enjoying every bite. When Joe and I go out to dinner we do two things — 1. First, we mentally redecorate the entire restaurant — which wasn’t necessary in this case; and 2. We try to figure out what’s in everything, how it’s made; if we want to make it at home, we write everything down in the little red book I carry in my purse. If it needs cayenne or more garlic, we make note of it. This was simple and delicious and just right.
We shared this bad boy for dessert, because we can, because it’s our Anniversary. Shut up. You’re parked in a judgefree zone.
And that was it, back into hats, coats, scarves, gloves, and outside for more photos, this one is of the gift shop across the street — then into the car for another hour of driving, and then, last night, a hotel . . . and here we are, it’s morning, barely light out; almost time for me to make Joe his Anniversary Cup of Tea! We head into the city this 
morning, New York, New York (a city so wonderful, as someone mentioned the other day, they named it twice!); we’ll be at the New York International Gift Fair for most of today . . . in case you’re looking for us!
Chop four large Spanish onions into 1/2″ dice. Try not to breathe through your nose as you do this . . . it helps with the crying. Also, it helps if you keep the onion juice wiped off the cutting board and knife.
Melt butter in large skillet over high heat, add onions and stir often . . .
. . . until brown and caramelized — this takes up to 30 minutes . . . and makes your kitchen smell wonderful the whole time. It’s the perfect winter day thing to make!
Put the browned onions in the bowl with the rice and stir well . . .
Then add 1 ½ C. grated Swiss cheese . . . mmmmm, right? Stop for a moment, look outside your window, isn’t it pretty? Deep breath, happy.
Busy birds.
Add a half cup of milk . . .
And stir well . . .
Then some freshly ground pepper and salt to taste.
Pour it all into a casserole . . .
Sprinkle over 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese,
. . . and pop it in the oven for about an hour — 55-60 minutes, until it’s all toasty brown, like . . .
this! It’s Onion Pudding (in my colors! 
I would suggest you could make some people very happy by making this for your Valentine’s dinner! . . . 
the fridge. You just stir together 3 Tbsp. water with 1 c. sugar in a non-aluminum pan. Bring it to simmer, cook without stirring, watch closely until it turns amber colored; this takes a few minutes. In another pan, heat 1c. heavy cream. When the sugar syrup is amber, slowly whisk in hot cream until well-blended. Good hot or cold.
