Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Terrarium Centerpiece

Ever since Jake and I visited the New York Botanical Garden in the spring, I've been thinking about terrariums. They had a great kids activity where volunteers helped kids make their own terrarium using a plastic container. Jake had a great time, and our terrarium is thriving, and getting bigger.


On display in the kids center they had charming terrariums created by old friends, Michelle Inciarrano and Katy Maslow, owners/creators of Twig Terrariums. I thought they were so clever, incorporating tiny figures into the plants and displaying them on the walls in these cool containers that lay flat against the wall. They've definitely made terrariums a popular item these days. They've done a great looking book called Tiny World Terrariums, A Step-By-Step Guide to Easily Contained Life.


Wouldn't you be smitten if someone sent you this little terrarium? (It's available at Twig Terrarium). Kudos to the guy that makes the guy in the terrarium look like him!


Since our terrarium is such a happy memory for me, I've been thinking it might be fun for us to replant and expand it. Perhaps incorporating some figures of our own, and using it as a centerpiece in our dining room. I'd like to use a large glass container with a lid. Something fancy which might offset the fact that our figures will most likely be several of the Avengers characters. Something like this:

I like this shape better, but I don't think it would work, because the lid needs to be on the top:


I'll also need to look for some tiny Avengers characters...


Stay tuned! We'll see what happens with this crazy idea! In the meantime, I'll be furiously watering our outdoor garden, hoping to keep the "elevendy billion" flowers I planted alive!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

What summer looks like...

It's almost time for summer...and I don't quite feel ready! Perhaps it's that most days in NY have been half rainy lately, or perhaps it's been because Jake has been sick for many days (poor little guy), so we've been hunkered down inside for awhile. But, as it's my favorite time of year, I'm attempting to kick start the feeling, and (probably too late in the season), planted about a gajillion flowers in the past week in between Jake's bouts of lying on the couch.

The above photo is of ME on the left...looking grumpy (and much like Jake when HE'S grumpy), and my (identical) twin sister Martha on the right. I really love some old photos I have of Martha because they show such attitude. She rocks. We were about the same age that Jake is now (4) when the photos were taken. About a million years ago.

So, where will I be hanging out this summer? Some of my favorite haunts on Cape Cod...


There's Arnolds, on Rt. 6 in Eastham. Really the best fried clams, and clam chowder ever. But, the sprinkles on the soft chocolate cones are lacking, so I suggest you head up to...



Mac's on the Pier. You'll probably want to have 2 ice cream cones, because they're just that good. Jake chose hard chocolate but that's because he's little and doesn't know any better. He'll learn.

Mac's Shack is really good too...


The idea of all these great treats is definitely helping the summer mood! Now, I'll have to sign off and have some sugary juice...