I love beautiful things

A much loved friend and her husband gave me the most beautiful gift for Beach Baby today.

It is a simple and elegant baby rattle, carved from a solid piece of cherry. It is so, well, perfect.

In this world where poorly-made furniture and goods are constructed with cheap materials and ultimately destined for the trash pile in a few years, it is wonderful to know that craftsmanship like this still exists.

The rattle is from Mossy Creek Woodworks. I did a little research (don't I always) and this company's work has been displayed at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

This is going with me to China, as the first toy I give to my little one.

Thanks J&D!

m

Living vicariously through others

My friend L, mentioned in my last post, is currently on a flight to Beijing, just days away from meeting her daughter for the first time. I am so excited for her (and I will admit, a little bummed for me; I so long for it to be my turn)!

I have been somewhat living vicariously through her for the last few weeks: looking at her travel itinerary, listening to her plans, and seeing all the love and support she is so fortunate to have. I am even tracking her flight today via the internet. That isn’t weird, right?

She is hoping to post on her blog while in China so there will be more information and photos to pore over. The last friend who took this trip to her child did so a few years ago; I’m interested to see the change in the experience from L’s point of view.

Speaking of living through others, here is the latest update on referrals; “referrals have issued for families with dossiers submitted on or before March 20, 2006.” There should be another batch in the next week or so. Everyone pray, wish, hope, and psychically force the next batch to be a big one with weeks and weeks of dossiers.

m