Crown and Bough

Monday 29 August 2016

Clothing for Afon






Today I sent out a box of clothing for Afon.  It cost more than $20 to mail the lightweight, smallish box, but since it looks like it's going to be another couple of months before I can see him again, I wanted to get these to him before the summer ends in Wales, which, I'm afraid, will be any day now.  Oops.

I took these pictures of each article of clothing with its respective gifter, printed them out on computer paper, and included them in the package so that he can see and understand who they are from and that they came from our hands into his.

I've been looking for a schoolboy cardigan for him for over two years now, and Old Navy came through!  The bottom shirt says "Watch out I bite," which, in his case, is not facetious.  I saw the shirt and had to have it for him.  It's so important to find the joy and humor in things.

I love you Afon-boy, and miss you every day.  <3

Sunday 28 August 2016

35/52


"A portrait of my younger child, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Roan: in an airplane swing at sunset.

Monday 22 August 2016

34/52


"A portrait of my younger child, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Roan: sitting up like a big boy eating his lunch.

Monday 15 August 2016

Last Week in People








1 // It'd been raining all week and then, lo! the sun came out, and Afon got to go outside!
2 // Roan helps me go grocery shopping.
3 // At our favorite restaurant, Kobe (or any hibachi place).
4 & 5 // Uncle Christopher.
6 // The birthday girl on her birthday outing!
7 // Lovebirds, and two goofy friends that brighten our lives.

Not pictured:  playing with "auntie" Marian at the train table at Barnes & Noble.

Sunday 14 August 2016

33/52



"A portrait of my younger child, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Roan:  in his sumo wrestler/samurai stance.  He squats down and groans and sort of shakes his little limbs like he's flexing.  When he grows up he wants to be the Incredible Hulk!  c;

Sunday 7 August 2016

7 Months (Rhos-on-Sea)

























Seven months since I took this wild child to Rhos-on-Sea in the bitter cold and the bright sun, where we walked along the seashore path and found the ancient holy well of Saint Trillo's Chapel (quite by accident), now a tiny shrine with Anglican services held on Sundays.  He must be so big now, my willful River-child.

Saturday 6 August 2016

32/52


"A portrait of my younger child, once a week, every week, in 2016."

Roan:  You still live with your parents?  Go get a job, you hipster!

He is giving me unsolicited kisses by placing his face on mine somewhere in the area of our mouths.  He's staying dry all night; yesterday morning, I put him on the toilet and he made a little water.  He gets angry when my attention strays to the lap top.  He dances when music plays on the television during commercials.  Milestones, everywhere.

Monday 1 August 2016

Weekend




This little imp had a ball at my friend's retro swing dance party Saturday night.  He loves to dance.  He dances by rocking from foot to foot in a wide samurai stance.  He had no fear of darting right into the forest of legs to squeal and romp, and went mostly unnoticed but never knocked over.

He was a handful to look after!  All-you-can-drink vintage soda bottles were a constant temptation, and my main function was to swipe drinks and food up and away from his grabby hands at the last minute!  I gave him some sips from my Cheerwine, but he preferred to swig coke-flavored residue from an empty bottle.





He insisted that everyone else's bottled water was better than his (mine), liked going up to the bigger boys, and "cut in" with the dancing couples, facing the girls and doing his rocking dance.

Since we were up and in fairly good shape, I had the bright idea of going to morning Mass.  But I got my times and locations confused, and we arrived just at the crowd was dispersing after the closing hymn.