friend performs fly by

I'm given things like this when Robyn comes here.
Come back, Robyn.

Bosom friend and crafter extraordinaire Robyn and her sweet kids came for a whirlwind visit a few days ago. We even got a cameo by her lovely mom, so it was a great time.

We ate good food, lazed around on the screened porch in our pajamas and watched the kids play outside. We also managed a group trip to IKEA and also a great thrift store near me. Robyn scored all kinds of coolness at the thrift store including a great red print vintage dress. I got some odds and ends and some books for the kids (the stack of Magic Treehouse books have already been devoured, so thanks for the tip, Robyn).


And you guys knew I bought some fabric at IKEA. Right? sigh. I don't need it. But. I can't not get it. Right?


As usual, Robyn came bearing many thoughtful (and yummy) gifts. Among other things, what you see above for my birthday girl, who was thrilled. How does she find such cool things? I'm a little jealous of the coloring book. Then, the most PERFECT t-shirt for my...erm...frugal husband (If Life Gives You Lemons, Keep Them. Because, Hey, Free Lemons).





And this book. Robyn, I'm already really loving the vintage goodness. So. Many. Diagrams. It has everything. Just the embroidery alone. So many methods and stitches I've never even seen or heard of. Also I'm especially jazzed about the knitting and crochet sections. As you have seen, my embroidery needs help. And crochet is proving difficult to master. And knitting is a complete uncharted mystery.

Thanks again for the visit, Bob! Hugs to you.

now for something totally different... yeah no, it's more stuff we did in Brasil

Things I learned in Brasil are here and the first installment of stuff we did in Brasil is here. Where was I? Oh, yeah, Prainha Beach. Such a ridiculously pretty beach! See the nice, normal color of my legs? Yeah, that's about to change.

Prainha was not crowded in the least and surrounded on three sides with gorgeous mountain views with plenty of big rocks on the beach for climbing. Worth the extra driving time from Barra. Great planning, Robyn!

The current was too strong for swimming while we were there, but there were surfers galore catching the big waves. It was perfectly fine with me to be banned from the deep water -- I stuck a toe in the surf and it was FREEZING. Oh my word why so cold? Holy cow. I'm not a huge ocean swimmer anymore anyway. Too many times getting my derriere in the air and my face scraped along the bottom by surprise waves off the coast of NC. I'm a big beach lounger these days. Lounging is not dangerous. Unless you count parboiling your shins. Ow. Gringo.

If you are into geodes, sparkly things or natural beads you must visit Legep. Great scott! I really could have spent a whole afternoon here. So much to ooh and ahh at. It's a huge store with two levels. Brasil is very rich in gemstones, semi-precious stones and rare minerals.

I came away with these pretty samples of chunky pyrite and a sparkly crystal geode.

 Here comes our ride up up to Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar).

 On the way to the top!

 Can you make out Cristo Redentor in the distance there? It was kinda hazy.

Gorgeous views of the beaches of Rio despite the haze.

We were lucky to be able to visit with Thalita (Tuh-LEEta) at her new house in Tijuca. She has just opened her gift, a pretty handmade-by-Robyn baby quilt for her new little girl, Malu. You don't know Thalita? She's a lovely and talented artist, designer, doula and mommy living in Rio. Her beautiful blog is chock-full of dolls, illustrations and handmade clothing. I had been internet friends with her for a few years when Robyn moved to Rio and then they became real-time friends. It was so lovely to finally meet you in person, Thalita! Congratulations on your new home and your new little Malu.

 Oh, Thalita. Can I have your hair and skin?

This photo courtesy of Thalita! Sweet little Malu. Not shown: Lilla, Thalita's other beautiful daughter, and Rodrigo, her handsome husband. If you visit her blog, you'll see them too!

Ok, so this is where the already fabulous trip abroad gets ludicrously fantasmigorical. Robyn and I snuck away for three days on our own to Paraty (Pada-CHEE), an absolutely charming seaside colonial town about four hours drive from Rio. The original historic look of the town has been preserved, and there are no cars allowed on the (huge, ankle breaking) cobbled streets. Oy. Look at my legs. They are glowing. Goes nicely with my shirt though.

Why, yes, that is my finished self-drafted top. Thanks for asking. It is light and billowy and I love it. I'll have to show you in more detail in another post. Anyhoo...back to Paraty.

Not only was the town a treat for the eyes, it was stuffed full of the exact kinds of shops designed to make Larissa very happy and part with all kinds of money. Lovely handmade carved items, embroidered clothes, natural jewelry...sigh.

 Some of my loot. Thanks again for my wrap, Robyn!

Take a closer look at the embroidery on the shirt. So pretty.

Our room at Eliconial, a walled-in piece of paradise a few minutes walk from colonial downtown. The entire courtyard and landscaping looks like a mini rainforest. So beautiful and peaceful.

The curtained porch where we enjoyed hot café com leite and homemade crepes each morning, all whipped up by Ivan, one of our gracious hosts. Merci, Ivan.

There are the sea kayaks that we took on a little trip around the bay to a private beach. I have to admit, Robyn is more adventurous than I, and she suggested it. I'm not sure I would have ever ventured out on open water by myself in a kayak but she was confident we could do it. We did, and it was pretty awesome. My arms used muscles that I didn't know existed. Actually I think they formed new muscles on the fly. Sorry, no pictures from the actual outing. I was afraid to lose my camera in the water in case I capsized. But trust me, it was lovely.

Oh my goodness stripey-tailed monkeys the size of squirrels hung out near our room. That's my (tentative) hand feeding him some banana. Or her. Who knows. But super cute! Other wildlife in the courtyard of our pousada: about six well-fed cats, a parrot who could meow like a cat, and a goodly number of lizards. Oh, and the mosquitoes. Stupid mosquitoes.

I recommend you hire Flavio here to take you around to different beaches of Paraty in his speedboat, the XS-Fun. Haha. See what he did there? Once again, this was Robyn's idea and it was gold.

Very fun day-long outing with Flavio. Snorkeling, visiting sea turtles, seeing beautiful sights, enjoying tiny beaches all to ourselves, and a fresh grilled fish lunch on the beach.

¡Noelia, muchas gracias para mi sombrero elegante! Hola para ti y Maximilian en Buenos Aires. Espero que nos encontremos de nuevo cuando mi español es mejor.

Time to leave Paradise. Back again to Rio (bumpety bumpety bump, pass the Dramamine), safe and sound in Barra. Time enough to visit the Havaianas store, load up on flip flops and fly home.

 Goodbye, Howes! I love you. Thanks so much.

Conclusion: Robyn Howe: Officially Best Trip Planner In The Whole Wide World.

Late Note: Many of you have seen the recent news clips about the violent rioting in Ipanema and Copacabana. Please, will you take a few moments to pray for all the people of Rio and for peace and safety there?

things I did in London

 Ate really good food. Often. We had our priorities.
(Everybody, this is my oft-mentioned friend Robyn. Robyn, meet everybody.)

 Walked almost off the plane into Liberty. We ain't crazy.

Took an open topped bus tour of the city. Hilarious...

 ...because of our lovely and very witty guide, Samantha from Scotland. Now I know the gruesome history of why we say "God bless you" when someone sneezes.

 

 Went to Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Very good. I recommend browsing with a Belgian waffle in one hand and a big ol' coffee in the other.

 

 Walked around town and saw random cool stuff. Discussed how much we'd insure our legs for.

 Notice the strange quality about this photo? Yes, that's sunlight in London.

 This is the future me and Robyn on our 45th girl trip. Aren't we cute?

 Took a tour of the Tower of London. Lucked into another guide who continually cracked us up. Perhaps there's a secret Guild of Her Majesty's Larking Tour Guides they belong to. We saw the crown jewels and found out that the golden spoon is in fact not for a pre-coronation bowl of Wheaties.

 Took a lovely Thames River cruise and saw the highlights from the water. Sights of London were once again upstaged by the stand up comedian who was posing as our ship's captain.

 Caught the last part of Evensong at Westminster Abbey. Beautiful house of worship, beautiful music. Beautiful reminder to be still and know that He is God.

 Took the bus to Oxford. Wowee. Gorgeous town.

 Took pictures of my toilet in Jamie's Italian. It's a Crapper. (snicker) It's a Venerable Crapper. (explosive snorting behind hand) Oh, yeah, the food was great too.

 

 Toured the grounds and tried to imagine what it would be like to actually attend Oxford. Lucky, that's what.

 Saw some really cute handmade crafts for sale there, by Wawaya. Look, their hands are in their pockets. Love the stripey tails. Robyn adopted a couple for her kiddos.

Met a kind woman from Phoenix who was serious about getting just the right shot of us in front of the Radcliffe Camera. (If you read The Historian, you'll know I'm this close to seeing crucial documents about Vlad the Impaler. So close. But still about 5000 pages away from the climax. I seriously thought that book was never going to end.)

 

 Went to the site of the first coffee house in England and had...yes, tea! It was very very good tea, with hot fruit scones and lots of clotted cream and jam. It was just what we needed on a chilly day. Here's me trying to get a trick shot in the mirror. Fail.

  

And yes, another shot of the toilet. But, see, it was funny. Flood. ha.

 Laughter that ensued after Robyn's hair caught fire. You'll have to ask her about that one. I think she is actually saying in this shot "Thanks for saving my life."

 Luminaries greeted us each evening along the halls at the Charing Cross Hotel. We couldn't have asked for a better location in central London. Well done, Robyn! I bow to you. Thanks for all the research and legwork.

 No, the wind and rain is NOT getting us down as we cross the Millennium Bridge. That's the Tate Modern in the background there. What an...interesting collection. Great fun to browse.

 This is me as I almost expire before getting to the galleries in St. Paul's. It is not for the feeble or for anyone who gets claustrophobia or vertigo.

 Here's me attempting to take my own picture at Buckingham Palace. I made several botched attempts. Gah. Look kinda tired.

 And this is the picture taken by the Bobby you see in the first picture above. Yes, I was so pathetic that he stepped over the metal car bomb barrier and volunteered. Wasn't that sweet?

 Aw, look at him on the right there. What a nice guy. Thanks, Mr. Policeman!

 Then as I was standing there, I dumb lucked into the changing of the guard. How 'bout that for my last few moments of sightseeing in London? Brilliant!

Not pictured:
British Museum (the whirlwind tour),
St. Paul's (no pictures allowed, besides the one I snuck on the stairs of death),
The 39 Steps (Great show).