Coming Up Roses

Rose shots taken by moi, 5.30.07

Our pretty pink roses have blossomed. Buby & Co. did not plant any of these spectacular bushes which make up our lush frontscape. The previous owner did, and we simply reap the benefits of her hard work. Garden-savvy neighbors tell us how rare a variety it is, considering the roses bloom continuously throughout the summer. You expect them to be short-lived, but they give us a profusion of hot pink (above) and baby pink (below) for months on end. I will say no more... I don't want to jinx it. Nature can be a tricky beast.

Buby Land's hot pink roses

Buby Land's baby pink roses

Must-Have Music

A mama friend let me borrow two of the best CDs for our road trip, and now we're hooked on two more artists. The first is Dan Zanes & Friends: Family Dance. Our favorite song? Probably "Jump Up." To hear a sample, simply click here. To order, try CD Baby.



The second CD is Elizabeth Mitchell: You Are My Sunshine. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Buby & I liked it equally I think. The title song has always been one of my preferred songs to sing to Buby--and Buby's Dada before that. Mitchell's is such a sweet rendition... sort of old-school rock, hippie stuff. To listen, simply click here. "Ooby Dooby" is our other fave tune. To hear it, click here.

Gotta Hand It To Him

Original scribble and chalk handprints by Buby. Dated: 5.24.07. Origination: Lillian's House. Special Thanks: Erika. Value: Priceless

The New Matchbox

Buby loves his Playskool Wheel Pals. I can't even tell you how many he has now, and he plays with every one of them in the mornings and again before bed. He's SUCH A BOY with all of the various transportation sound effects. Grandma recently bought him a souped up garage system for all of his cars, trucks, and (new!) motorcycles. It has two ramps, an elevator, a gas pump, a car wash, and many Little People to help keep things running smoothly. Buby has small, medium, and large vehicles, but of late he favors the tiniest. They are easy to carry from room to room, house to car, and in grocery carts. He calls the yellow dump truck "DADDY'S," we think because Daddy had a yellow Jeep Wrangler. Mama desperately wants him to say the blue convertible is hers, but Buby has yet to agree to it.

Painted Pigs

Painted Pigs by Buby. Gift for baby cousins Lillian and Sydney--due this summer. Dated: 5.24.07. Origination: Buby Land. Special Thanks: Mama. Value: Priceless

Lovely Baby

Above is a gift basket Buby & Co. made last week for the impending twins. People tend to like these gifts, so feel free to steal as a shower idea! They take more time but are so much fun to assemble, whether they are themed engagement, honeymoon, house warming, new pet, or--our fave--BABY! I start with a color scheme (green to match their nursery; blue as a pretty girl accent). Then I find a multi-purpose vessel that is both decorative and functional. After Buby was born, there was suddenly no such thing as too many baskets, bins, or boxes. One for diapers, wipes, and powder in each room. One for clean washcloths. One for stuffed animals. One for toys. One for books. One for onesies. We'd need many of these to attempt "a place for everything, and everything in its place."

Sydney and Lillian (twin nieces-to-be) each received a personalized basket this weekend. In addition to the baskets were infant-to-toddler feeding chairs and Sweat Pea Boppy pillows (the mother of all inventions) wrapped in mod blue & green floral paper.

GOODIES INSIDE: Monogrammed scrapbooks (white with elegant blue & green scrolls), crocheted booties in cream, a blue cableknit blanket, four favorite lullaby CDs, a green & white polka dot dress, a coordinating embroidered dress, a pair of blue & white sleepers, Future CEO one-piece, Future Doctor one-piece (both in shades of green), cotton bed sheets in cream, sweat pea bibs, "Things I Want My Daughters To Know" book by Alexandra Stoddard (green hardcover), newborn diapers (which smelled SOOO good, by the way), a framed poem about twins--printed on designer paper--for the nursery, a monkey night light (for Dad), a Double Trouble bracelet (for Mom), a first lion, wooden WISH and DREAM signs (that I secured to the baskets with fishing line), first piggy banks hand-painted by Buby, a Jonathan Adler notepad box for next to the rocker, and "S" and "L" name tags made out of green & blue oversized foamie letters. Delicate green polka dot ribbon was later tied around each basket and also around the wrapped gifts, to bring it all together.

My Boys

A surprise shot of my boys, matching in red for

Memorial Day.

Parade gazing and window shopping with Daddy.

Running in circles on the sidewalk.

There's always time to goof around.

And snag just a few more hugs from Daddy.

Yesterday on THE FARM

Yesterday was Memorial Day. It was another one of those days... warm and sunny all over. Buby slept through the night, even though he wasn't in his own bed. We woke early in the morning and played outside. After breakfast at George's diner, Buby rode his tricycle along the parade route in the small village where Daddy grew up. There were horses, firetrucks, two bands, and a few officials. Smiling townspeople filled the streets. A minuscule parade compared to the grand-scale NYC escapades to which we've come accustom, but by far the most gratifying Memorial Day yet. Buby sat on the sidewalk and yelled "HONK HONK" as the firetrucks passed. He waved "BYE BYE" to the flag-bearing horses as they strut down this classic Main St. USA which seems from another time.

Back at the farm Buby ran free, chased Jazzy (but never caught her), rode the old tractor with Grandpa J., and then cheered on as Mama and Daddy took turns racing the dirt bike. It was the perfect day. We had a 5-hour drive ahead of us and didn't care. We just relaxed and rode out the day as if nothing in the world mattered but the moment we were in.

Buby pretends to rev up the engine.

Only one of the dirt bikes would start for us yesterday, despite some pretty silly (or clever, however you see it) attempts involving Daddy, Grandpa J., the tractor, and rope.

Mama turning the corner

Buby & I made up Daddy's cheering squad. We waited for him to come over the big hill and--each time--began jumping up and down, waving hands in the air, and chanting "Go Daddy, Go Daddy, Go!" Total uninhibited enthusiasm all around. Daddy caught our crazy display and grinned from ear to ear, as to say... "yeah, those are my people!" I will never forget the look on Buby's face when it was me coming over the hill on the bike. A new smile for him. He was in awe, in LOVE with the whole experience. As soon as either of us would zoom by, Buby signed and pleaded "MORE, MORE!"

Spencer and Gracie (our oldest nephew & niece) took their first spin on Grandpa J.'s Ford N Series tractor 4 summers ago. Yesterday, it was Buby's turn. Made from 1939-1951, this vintage farm giant is a beauty, rust and all. Grandpa still uses it all the time to mow the fields and transport things around the farm.

Happy M Day

Happy Memorial Day! Here in Buby Land, we're all for American flags, parades, picnics, fireworks, free Mondays off. So this is a good holiday for us. And the perfect reminder to explain (in Buby terms) all about freedom and bravery and sacrifice.

Buby & Co. is taking off for a long weekend and will bid adieu until Tuesday. It'll be a whirlwind trip, as they all seem to be these days. 10+ hours in the car. In a 48-hour-span, we have the twins' baby shower, a promotion dinner, a family reunion, and a graduation party. AND... if at all possible, three not-so-rushed mornings on Grandpa J.'s farm. AND... breakfast at George's at least once, our favorite tiny diner where everyone is someone's good neighbor and nobody uses menus. We've had the same waitress (Betty) for the last 10 years. And for most of that time I've ordered same dish ("The Old Standby"). Buby gets a short stack. Wish for good weather!!

See ya Tuesday.

image: google

Tot Shots

This is what I'd call my co-ed basketball league for toddlers... Tot Shots. I think we seriously need to start one. But I'm too busy. Any takers? Buby's most lasting obsession is shooting hoops. And this has been true since the day Granny DJ brought over his first hoop. And second hoop. And third hoop. Four hoops later, still obsessed. He uses them all, in addition to the neighbor's hoop, the park's hoop, The Little Gym's hoop, and Lillian's hoop. Give us a few warm weeks, and I bet you'll see a hoop in the pool. Yet his all-time fave is the HUGE hoop and GIANT ball next to our garage. Buby chases the ball, stands under the basket holding it over his head, and says "UP" until Mama or Dada lifts him. 32 lbs starts to feel heavy after 5, 10, 25 lifts. Buby will spot even the most obscure half-hoop nailed to a distance garage. "BA-BALL!! BA-BALL!!" We play p-i-g and h-o-r-s-e together, and the kid has a mad arm. A few weeks ago he randomly started doing layups on the Little Tikes hoop. He shoots one-handed from behind and MAKES IT! Who taught my 20-month-old that? The Ba-Ball fairy?

image: google

1st Tricycle

Dada bought Buby his first tricycle last night, and drumroll.... it was the Radio Flyer Steer & Stroll Trike. Buby became instantly smitten with it at Lillian's house on Wednesday. A messy kid-fight ensued. I was amazed Buby could reach the pedals and scoot around on it. The detachable steer stick will help us keep Buby on the sidewalk if he decides not to pedal. Can't wait to see the look on his face!! It's on-sale right now for about $40 at Target.

Car Tunes

Buby may not know cartoons, but car TUNES are another story. The boy loves music and has a varied collection of CDs in the car at all times, something for every one of his toddler moods. All six slots are ready to go from the moment Buby is belted in. He readies himself to sing along with Mama and kick his feet to the beat. We sing as loud as we can with the windows down (hey, we have to sing over the blowing wind), and the music washes away any care in the world. Buby & Co. is road tripping this weekend. Here are Buby's 10 fave selections in the car right now.

SINGING MUSIC

Philadelphia Chickens
Laurie Berkner: Under a Shady Tree

DANCING MUSIC

Little People: Things That Go
Putumayo Presents: French Playground

SLEEPY MUSIC

Rockabye Baby!: Lullaby Renditions of U2
Baby Einstein: Baby Santa

GROWN-UP MUSIC--BUBY'S CHOICE

Norah Jones: Feels Like Home
Believe: Songs of Faith


Johnny Cash: 16 Biggest Hits

Beatles: 27 #1 Songs

all cd covers: amazon.com

Sunny Days

Buby sits in total disbelief after

loosing a game of one-on-one to Mama.

Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life

Buby & Co. is crazy in LOVE with this art book due out July 1st from Ammo books.

Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life is a celebration of artist Charley Harper's six-decade-long career. I thought I'd give you a sneak preview. Shhh! The publisher sent me advance pages (pitching coverage in my magazine), so I scanned in a few. These scans do not do justice. Harper is one of the best lyrical illustrators in America; his style aptly dubbed "minimal realism." At 84, still creating art out of his hometown studio in Cincinnati. His vast collections highlight our curiosities of nature, animals, insects, and people. All things Buby adores. And what an ideal match is author Todd Oldham, of course one of the coolest designers of our time... and a passionate fan of Charley's work. I love Charley and Todd and will share these images with Buby. They are graphic, vibrant, lively, and just so sweet for kids his age. Standard editions retail for $200 (you can pre-order by clicking here, and there are four luxurious large-format Limited Editions for $400 each. Ouch!) BUT if you click here, you can view ALL 420 pages online--and zoom in on individual illustrations. NOW are you happy I shared?


Cool Birds


Wild Kingdom


Nice Tiger

Driver's Ed

Buby at his most recent playdate, hosted by Gillian. Little Gillian lives in a beautiful spot where Buby and I actually watched a family of deer frolic right outside her front door once. Do deer frolic? Speaking of... Buby test-drove his first motorized vehicle on this sunny occasion, and it was a John Deere. Jaw-droppingly cute. It seems Gillian (or perhaps dad?) craves all things green and yellow, because this instantly recognizable paraphernalia is spread across Gilly Land. Buby hogged the tractor most of the morning (sorry!), though he willingly gave Miss Grace and Miss Lillian rides in the bucket attachment. It's designed for 3+, but Buby put the pedal to metal and took off like a pro! Grandpa J. would be so proud. Now to master the steering. Thank goodness for reverse!

Buby's gal pals

Buby back at home with Mama, all tuckered out!

Mod Tot

We think swanky kid shop Modern Seed rocks the house! Check out two of Buby & Co.'s favorites.



Letters snack set, $22, from notNeutral through Modern Seed. These melamine snack trays and matching accoutrements are Buby & Co.'s delish picks for munching a la mode.




Panton Junior Chairs, $230 for a set of two, from Vitra Design Museum through Modern Seed. Designed by Vernon Panton 1959-1960, these child-size replicas of adult chairs have long been popular with the stylish set. And it's no wonder--they are bright, cheerful, curvy, AND available in six splashy colors.



Buby Land is vintage digs (translation: wide-plank floors, noisy stairs, and a love of all things wooden, metal, painted, chipped, and worn). But as a design editor I have a profound affection for modern goodies as well. And I try to make the old and new play nice together whenever possible. Case in point: Buby & Co. has this incredibly cheap IKEA Lack side table (above) in hot pink. It sits smack in the middle of our formal living room, flanked by a down-filled, roll-arm settee on casters, two great-grandmother armchairs, and a VERY OLD music player.