Christine Chitnis: June 2012

Early Summer at the Market

The colors of early summer...jeweled cherry tomatoes, ruby red strawberries, bright yellow flowers. I go with a shopping list in mind, and end up buying based the colors of the rainbow instead. Luckily, I win out either way, coming home with my market basket overloaded with beautiful, ripe produce.

Dinners have been veggie and fruit forward- pasta with chopped tomatoes and peas, topped with crumbled feta, followed by berry cobbler (made with the first blueberries of the season!). Kitchen sink salad (every green you can imagine, topped with goat cheese, chicken, and quinoa), followed by chocolate ice cream topped with strawberries. As for lunch- bagels smeared with ricotta, and topped with loads of fresh vegetables.

I feel my best when eating this way...light, fresh and keeping with the rhythm of the season.

Country Store

I had to think twice about sharing this secret find...an antique store that is super affordable, with an amazing selection of goods. While I love mid century modern design, and sleeker vintage looks, I really love antique stores that specialize in the 'light and airy French, shabby chic" look, as I like to call it...white painted furniture, wire baskets, turquoise glass jars. Until recently, I hadn't found a store nearby to fit the bill...

After a call to the Rhode Island Antiques Mall to inquire if they had any white dressers (for the new nursery), I was pointed in the direction of the Wrentham Country Store- about a 20 minute drive from my house.

I called inquiring about dressers, and when I heard they had about 10 to choose from, I hopped in the car the first free moment I had, and made the trip. I am so glad that I did, because not only did I find a dresser (you can see a corner of it, mint green with ceramic white handles, peeking out from the first photo above), but I loved the selection offered, and the prices are so affordable. My little dresser- $30! What a welcomed surprise after the sticker shock of Brimfield!

For any local Rhode Islanders, or Massachusetts readers, if this is your style, the Wrentham Country Store is surely worth a visit. As tempting as it was to keep my new find all to myself, I would love to see others enjoy their great selection!

Overwhelmed...but moving forward

I woke up the other morning and realized that we are about a month away from welcoming our new addition to the family. ONE MONTH- four weeks. I have done nothing to prepare- I spent the first 4-5 months of the pregnancy feeling sick, and the last 3 months feeling exhausted. I am now entering the overwhelmed phase. I can't wrap my mind around what life is going to look like with two little ones- I feel like I have just gotten used to moving around (somewhat successfully) with one little guy in tow.

I am combating this mixture of fear and nerves by doing what I do best- nesting. I don't need an excuse to decorate, make and thrift- but welcoming a new baby sure seems like a great one! I have dumped everything from my studio into the attic, to be dealt with at a later date, and I have started on the nursery. The room has been painted the prettiest shade of light mint- so fresh and airy- and I am starting to accessorize.

The goal for the nursery is to use items that I already have around the house- including craft items. I love working in greens and blues anyway- so I have been very successful in finding enough supplies. I think our only purchase will be a crib, and possibly a rug...not bad at all! I'm excited to share the finished product with you...but for now, a few sneak peeks!

Sweltering Sweater Weather

It seems rather humorous that I would wait until we have a streak of 90+ degree weather before showing off my knitted, warm, woolen baby sweater. But I am extremely proud of my handiwork, and it turned out pretty darn cute, thanks to loads of help from the sweet ladies at my local yarn shop Fresh Purls. I am a nervous knitter for some reason, so every time I run into the slightest pattern confusion, I rush to the shop for their help. Bless them for their patience, for this must have seemed like the never-ending baby sweater to them! Now, I am retiring my knitting needles for the summer- I find it much too hot and sticky to be draped in yarn. In fact, we're all hanging out in our bathing suits around here, and as the temperature spikes, I am getting very tempted to take a dip in our tiny baby pool. Big pregnant lady floating in a tiny baby pool- awkward, but effective. Hope you find a way to keep cool this weekend!

Summer Days

I love these lazy summer days. We spend most of the day outside, at the park, or in the backyard, splashing in our tiny plastic baby pool. My little guy plays so hard, from the moment he wakes up (5:30- ahem!) to the moment he crashes, he is a non-stop tornado of motion. But when he crashes, he crashes oh-so-hard. The other morning, as I was reading to him (Goodnight Gorilla for the 1,000 time) before his nap, he fell asleep sitting upright in our bed. So I tucked him in, and he slept soundly for the next three hours. When he woke up, he couldn't stop giggling over the fact he fell asleep in 'mama's bed' instead of his crib. Silly little guy.

Besides napping, we have also been feasting... enjoying the bounty of our twice-weekly farmers' market. The first cherry tomatoes came in last week, and we ate them for every meal. Lately, I have been obsessed with veggie bowls. I throw together brown rice, spiced chickpeas (we make big batches of these for snacks and easy meals), baked tofu (again- made in big batches), chopped veggies (lightly sauteed kale and spinach with garlic, and freshly diced tomatoes is my favorite combo at the moment), and a sprinkle of feta or goat cheese. Veggie bowls are such a great way to enjoy all of the farmers' market bounty- and they make for fast, healthy, easy meals.

Of course after a virtuous meal, a heaping dose of decadent strawberry rhubarb crisp is a must. I like rhubarb when it is super ripe, at the end of the season- this week it has been at its best! A last little kitchen tip to share: I have been snipping herb bouquets from my backyard pots, and keeping them in jars on my kitchen counter. Because of this simple act, I find myself cooking with fresh herbs at almost every meal. Give it a try...as an added bonus, my kitchen smells of fragrant basil!

Wandering

There is nothing I love better than wandering. Whether it be strolling through a new town, or driving down a country road, I love the idea of getting lost, only to discover exactly what you were looking for...a sweet little shop, a roadside farmstand or a hidden garden.

While in New Hampshire last week, I took an afternoon to wander the countryside, in search of farms, fields and fresh produce. Happily, I found all three! There was a quirky roadside farmstand, overflowing with the seasons first tomatoes, sunflowers and strawberries.

Then there was a sheep farm, where the kind owners let me meet their flock, and pick out gorgeous natural yarns for my next knitting project. Can't you just imagine the gorgeous yarn colors, given the varied coats of their flock? I went with a creamy white, and a chocolatey brown, which I am planning to use for matching winter hats for the boys.

Finally, on my way home from Squam, there was a stop at Pickity Place, a lunch spot with beautiful gardens and greenhouses to explore.

As my due date draws near, I am definitely savoring these rare moments of freedom. I think one of the things I miss most about my unattached (read: childless) days, is the freedom that I had to wander whenever the urge struck. If I wanted to pick strawberries, I could hop in the car, drive to a local farm, and spend the afternoon in the fields. If I came across a review of an interesting dining option, I could steal my husband away for a weekend afternoon of lunching.

Obviously, these events are few and far between when you have a toddler in tow, especially one that doesn't enjoy the car whatsoever. However, now that I no longer have a breastfeeding infant, my leash has gotten a bit longer, and every once and awhile, I manage a wander. Knowing that in a month, I will be back to those infant days, only this time with a feisty toddler along for the ride, I fully realize the importance of savoring every moment in which I am allowed to wander.

Squam

We were welcomed with handmade touches- little pompoms, felted scraps and crocheted doilies hanging from the cabins and trees. As if the shores of Squam Lake weren't beautiful enough on their own, a bit of knitted sparkle helped to set the mood. That is the magic of Squam...you never quite know what to expect.

This is now my fourth year attending Squam, and I have seen it from all sides- as a student, volunteer, employee and teacher. I can tell you that no matter how you slice it...there is always beauty aplenty. I had no expectations this time around, and with no schedule, I wasn't quite sure how my days would pan out.

As the week naturally unfolded, I settled into a restorative rhythm as I found myself with time to knit around the fire, engage in fulfilling conversations with friends old and new, enjoy leisurely mealtimes, and wander through the woods, camera in hand. In short, I felt completely filled though my days were without plans.

In our roles as mothers and wives, we so seldom find ourselves with free time. There is always a load of laundry waiting to be done, a meal needing to be cooked, a toddler wanting to be read to. Not that there is not joy in the daily family tasks, but to be gifted with a break, away from home, away from chores and responsibilities, is truly a luxury. That, combined with the amazing community of women, is the reason that Squam keeps drawing me back. The added beauty lies in reconnecting with nature- breathing deep and inhaling the lushness.

I felt so blessed to have spent time laughing, sharing and connecting with some of my favorite ladies, especially Kellen, Amanda and the Crazy Canadians (aka the Lettuce Knit crew- love them- seriously, someone needs to give Denny her own comedy show- stat). And oh...do they grow their babies cute up in Canada or what...get a load of those cheeks! This little one is starting her knitting obsession young, already wrapping herself in gorgeous yarn. A true Squam poster child.

It's hard to believe that come September, I will be making the trip to New Hampshire with my own little one in tow. Juggling teaching and a two-month old will be interesting, to say the least. That only makes me more thankful for the relaxing, restorative time that was had. I have a feeling it will be my last wide open free time for quite a while...!