Modern Prairie Girl

In the Newark airport I was fiddling with my phone, bleary-eyed, trying to activate my out-of-the-country rental that seemed ancient and toy-like.

I looked up for a brief second and caught a glimpse of someone who looked like my favorite HGTV personality, Antonio Ballatore (The Antonio Treatment). He was hoofing it through the terminal. It could have been a number of people from that distance (especially with my bat-like peepers), but I saw the infamous star tattoo on his neck. It was a beacon across a corridor of fast moving travelers and rolling luggage.

I surprised myself by shouting, “ANTONIO!”

I even put my hand over my mouth as if shocked that I was capable of being “that woman” who stalks TV personalities in airports.

Antonio stopped, graciously turned around and didn’t (thankfully) bee-line it out of there when I began running towards him. He smiled as I gushed. I made a funny about my “unattended baggage” which was in view 100 yards away and we chuckled. Throwing caution to the wind, I stood there for a few minutes having a conversation. He was just as lovely and warm as I’d imagined he’d be. He smiled big when I asked him about Chuey, his bulldog that is featured on his show a lot. He told me Chuey was good, but “Pop’ was not. His close relationship with his dad had been evident throughout many episodes of his show and apparently his health was failing. As we were talking, another person (a husband hoping to score points with his wife) asked me to take his picture with our famous friend. I was glad this fellow stalker came by, because I would’ve kicked myself for forgetting to document this meeting for my girls, who also adore him (scoring my own points, apparently!).

Antonio told me to comment on his Twitter feed as the “girl from the airport”, and I added (much too eagerly, I’m sure) that I already followed him. This exchange was a happy quick moment in my crazy travel schedule bound for Italy.  I’m finding that if I expect little gems throughout my journeys, they’re more apt to show up. Odds are better for wonderful encounters if I step out of my bubble here and there. Divine intervention rewards the adventurous.

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His show has been on a bit of a hiatus lately, but I think I spied a new episode on my DVR. Frankly, I only watch two shows on TV and his is one of them.

image via his site

He’s more than an interior designer…he’s a lover of people and art and does an incredible job of putting the two together (am I gushing again?!)

Happy week, lovelies!

OX.

I find myself in awe lately of how fast the changes are happpening in front of my eyes with the girls.

When did Katie pass me up height-wise to such a huge degree?

When did Rachel elongate and grow those running sticks?

When did I finally notice that Rachel’s “squishyness” in her sweet face faded into the beautiful delicate features of an almost-preteen?

When did Katie develop such a quirky, hilarious sense of humor?

It seems I’ve been sleeping at the wheel a bit. I’m sure a lot of moms feel the same way…a sense that time is whipping by to such a degree that you want to turn around grab its tail to slow it down and pull it to you. At times it feels like quiet desperation to hold on to our silliness in the car on the way to school and afternoon lounging at home on a weekend when everyone just wants to be right here.

I can feel it.

A shift of energy in their little spirits. That gradual wing-spreading of social calendars and girlfriend outings…it’s just beginning and I’m putting a hand over the small hole this change is putting in my heart to keep it from growing to a size that is unmanageable. They are my pals—even with shopping trips that exasperate and the teaching of life lessons. The familiarity is thick and lovely and comfortable.

Will this go away as they let go of the nest? I wonder.

The Mother’s Day photo shoot tradition is growing quite tiresome for certain members of the Blair clan. A particular insult comes in the form of wardrobe and posing…quiet tolerance is my gift on this special day (a holiday I begin at the crack of dawn and take all the way to when my head hits the pillow). They seem to know that the arguing isn’t going to help during this once-a-year photoshoot experience. It’s secretly a way for me to marvel at how much they’ve grown and their beauty and sweetness. I like to get up close as if to push hair out of eyes and adjust clothing…I’m just taking advantage of an opportunity to examine their little faces and take in their smiles, but thankfully, they don’t have to know my hidden agenda. It is a favorite memory for me every year and this one was no different.

I did that the other day….Rachel was telling me a story and I was busy studying her little catepillar eyebrows and the way her eyes get wide when she is animately telling a story. Busted! She asked me a question and I was completely engrossed in her face and had no idea what she was talking about. I think she wondered what the heck I was doing, but I couldn’t help it. Growth of our children is flat-out amazing to me. The fact that I can buy pants for my oldest and the pretty much two weeks later, I’m seeing highwaters from across the parking lot when I pick her up. How in the world does this happen? I’m also fascinated by the fact that I was dressing them in pink and ruffles just four years ago and now their closets are a shrine to Nike and their sports obsessions. Pink is a four letter word in this house…not to be uttered if I know what’s good for me. When exactly did Irish dancing shoes, twirly skirts and patterned tights give way to soccer shorts, mudy sneakers and a minivan packed with athletic equipment? I’d like to know, please. Thank you.

I frequently think about what memories the girls will cling to in reference to their upbringing. I think ritual is a huge part of our parenting experience. For that I have PH to thank for his unrelenting role in making sure family traditions are alive and well to the nth degree. He is so wonderful at making sure we have our family breakfast at the local diner at least twice a month…and that we stop at the infamous Camp 18 to have a mammoth cinnamon roll on the way to our annual Oregon Coast July weekend. Rituals were extremely important in his childhood and he talks about it fondly. I’m taking the cues from him and following this pattern for our own kids. Even though a weekly Sunday lunch trip to a certain restaurant taxes my GI system, I happily participate in an act that brings tremendous joy to our girls (and to him). I think these things will be the keepers—memories they share with their own kids. I love the thought of that.

So, as another Mother’s Day comes to a close, my reluctant subjects gave me more than they thought they did. Working on these images this morning I am marveling at this whole mothering process and the changes that come daily. It’s really incredibly, actually.

Here’s hoping yours was a wonderful day, lovelies!

OX.

You can probably imagine that I was trolling for Italian canine friends on this trip (being a dog photog and all) and it did not disappoint! So many breeds and they were all friendly.

Interesting sign when you enter Pompeii (complete with sleeping Pompeii dogs):

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Second only to dogs are the interesting people when I travel. Italians (these ones, anyway) loved having their picture taken…some, in fact, soliciting some camera action (“You take my pitch-er?”  super cute):

So cliche’…Italian teens eating pizza in an alley way

“Molly the Map”, one of favorite people, managed to score a spot on the boat in the “cool glasses” section:

These lovelies were begging for some gelato moo-la in Napoli…

Chez Black in Positano, one of my favorite meals, included a trip to the kitchen where the cooks were begging for some attention–Margaret’s expression says it all:

A protest in Rome complete with jazz band entertainment…

Loved these Egyptian guys who owned (funny enough) a Jewish restaurant in the Jewish quarter in Rome. Best grilled artichokes I’ve ever had!

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I can’t think of a better person to share this teaching adventure with. Elida is the best of the best.

Love. this. girl.

Sketching the ruins in Pompeii..

Shopping in Capri..

My rookie Pam, all the way from Virginia, poses in Capri. So cool to have a blog reader from across the country on this trip!

Father Bruno (I was going to call this post “Eight women and a priest” but thought better of it)…he was the glue that held our estrogen mess together…

Heidi, my star photography student, who took some awesome shots peruses a paper shop in Rome…

The beautiful Lisa poses for me in Sorrento..she was the fashionista on this jaunt with a plethora of awesome hats…

Lori wasn’t able to give up her super-size latte on this trip…she made her own!

Margaret proclaims it a “perfect day” in Capri…incredible view…

Elida, Margaret and Lori in the twilight of Sorrento…

Molly the Map does it to it at Trevi Fountain…

My favorite city…

Miss Cheeky posing in our spot on the grounds of our hotel in Sorrento…

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This is the image I’ve got on my computer ready for inspiration for next year.

What do you call this color anyway?!

Ciao for now, lovelies!! Happy weekend~Have a WONDERFUL Mother’s Day!

OX.

Hello, lovelies! I’ve missed you.

“Ignite: Italy” was an incredible trip. Got back late last night, so in my blurry-eyed state, I thought I would upload a few iPhone images to give you an idea of the paradise we experienced last week. I’m very proud of my camera girls as they are taking some fabulous shots (many of them are still there on the second tour to Tuscany with Elida)–such great students! Our jaunt included Rome, Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Positano and Napoli.

I am ignited from the inside out!

Images 1-4 Sorrento…Images 5-8 Pompeii

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Capri, one of the coolest places I have ever been, took my breath away~

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Love this shot from Positano where we met an Italian movie star!

More to come…just need to step up to Big Mac and do some editing.

I hope you are having a lovely week!

OX.

With the travel lately, I’ve found some things I’ve enjoyed. ‘Thought you might too!

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PacSafe bag for walking around in foreign lands is the cutest little guy. It has wire in the straps so that they can’t be cut. It also has a a zipper lock so a thief can’t rummage around behind you.

Here’s me post juicing diet…ha ha….This Tommy Bahama suit from Nordy’s has nice coverage on the top (and serious underwire). The bottoms are small enough to feel like you’re doing the tropical bikini thing, but enough coverage on the tummy with this ruched fabric deal, that I feel okay and not like I’m out there in the wind. Best suit (and most expensive, I might add) that I’ve ever owned.

Dansk0 sandals for walkin, walkin’, walkin (without blisterin’)…I love how cute these are, because many comfortable shoes for trips are not. I’ve been wearing them for a test and all is well.

Aveda UV hair protector (here)..this stuff really works. I had an orange hair incident in Hawaii once and it was enough to send me in a tailspin of product searches for UV protection. It smells nice too. Tropical sun has some serious power, as my peeling face will attest…at least my hair survived intact!

Beach/airplane/train reads…I read four books on our trip (!) and loved them all. One was an oldie that you all probably read years ago (“The Pilot’s Wife”), which I thought was good…but these three were fabulous.

“Blue Like Jazz” is a book by my pal Elida’s college friend Donald Miller. He is brilliant. Like I-want-to-spend-all-day-talking-to-him brilliant. He’s  Christian writer who has written a ground-breaking book. It just came out in a movie recently, which I can’t wait to see!

“The Go-Giver” is “one of those books” that can change your outlook on everything. I will re-read it again soon. A little parable about what we need to do more of in our lives.

“The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake”  Very unusual story with some twists that had me up late reading. I found it at the resort and I’m glad b/c don’t know if I ever would have picked it up on my own.

Here’s hoping you get out there on the open road soon…or at least get some moments to chill with a good read on your back patio.

Be back soon...CIAO for NOW.

OX.