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can’t believe peony season is here!!

Is there anything better than peony season? My heart jumps a bit when I first spot a bucket of golf-ball sized buds at flower stands. That said, apologies in advance for the glut/surfeit/bounty of peony pictures you’ll have to endure at Instagram (just from me!) over the next couple of months — worth it, I hope.

It’s been a busy month around here. The boy decided to attend the University of Chicago*, and we spent a day on campus over spring break. I’m proud, and a bit envious of all the opportunities headed his way over the next few years, and I’m also a bit (over)emotional at the thought of a new chapter beginning for both of us. Because while he knows where he’ll be in September, the left-behind parents are still adrift in options. The upside is another summer in London, the downside is that for a planner, having no plan is stressful. I would like a base in the US for my baby bird to fly home to that’s “ours”. Ideas welcome. Alternatively, I’ll take recommendations for a good massage therapist :)

A few of my current favorites:

Instagram

1. Withering
2. On the road again ….
3. Spring has sprung
4. ocean blue
5. cherry blossom season ….
6. untitled
7. Garden store packaging.
8. Phew. ….
9. A new one showed up ….
10. New pieces ….

To Watch

1. Everything is Copy  Thankfully, caught this on HBO while in Chicago, as it doesn’t seem to be making its way to Sky Atlantic like many HBO shows do. I used to treat a new Nora Ephron article/book like gospel, hanging on every word, and this documentary, written and directed by her son Jacob Bernstein, helped to fill the huge hole left by her passing.
2. Togetherness Another HBO show! The second — and sadly, final — season just concluded. What a wonderful little show it was: never afraid to be real. Only 16 half-hour episodes in all: an easy binge watch. Highly recommended.

To Read

1. Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams  I’m only 250/362 296/362 of the way through, but I promise you: click over to Amazon (or SusanBranch.com) and order this book right now — do not pass Go. When it arrives, you’ll want to drop everything until you finish. Susan Branch writes (and draws) like a dream, and what a talented, wondrous, magical life she’s lead. Not to mention, she’s relentlessly positive, and I need more of that in my life.
2. Domino Magazine I’d kind of given up on Domino 2.0, and then Jenni Kayne on the cover of the spring issue tempted me to take another look. So glad I did, because the current issue, with a focus on fashion, feels much in the spirit of the original quirky-insidery-yet-approachable magazine that I worshipped. Loved reading about Sleepy Jones, Capitol, The Line, and yes, Ms. Kayne.

photo at top: peony at absolute flowers and home by jane potrykus

* speaking of which, while visiting campus, I spotted someone wearing one of these vintage campus sweaters (vintagecampususa.com) — now I want one, and they seem to be sold out, and possibly defunct? arrggh! such good design.