pop

Uncle Roddy

February 11, 2016

I come from a hardworking, talented and extremely creative family. Stubborn, tough, persistent and strong-willed also come to mind when I think of the Bostons. We are made up of musicians, chefs, quilters, farmers, knitters, gardeners, teachers, nurses, interior designers, carpenters and artists to name a few.

My uncle, Rodman Boston, AKA Roddy, (Pop’s namesake) is an extremely talented artist, not to mention stubborn and strong-willed, and I am lucky enough to have several of his pieces throughout my home. I especially love his landscapes, so calm and serene. I took that photo of him painting a Cape May beach scene in his studio this past fall . Believe it or not, he was going through chemo as he was painting. I told you us Bostons were tough!

Unfortunately Roddy was diagnosed with brain cancer in September. The tumor is responding well to the chemo and has been shrinking dramatically and he has regained most of his vision . However, the latest round of chemo left his immune system very weak. In January, Rod picked up an infection and ended up in the ICU in septic shock. After 6 days on life support, he started a road to recovery and is now working hard to get out of the hospital and back home with my aunt Isabel and his two beloved dogs. Roddy is off of oxygen and talking, drinking and eating, although he has quite a ways to go to regain his strength and mobility.

Over the last few months, unable to sleep at 3 am because of steroids, he’s been sketching in his hospital room, or in his studio painting, or downstairs in his basement constructing frames. These past 4 months have been some of the most prolific in his life. It’s a beautiful thing how he has turned the most challenging time of his life into the most creative one, doing what he loves most!

I am sharing this story because it is all consuming right now in my life, but also to allow you a chance to win one of Roddy’s beautiful paintings through a donation.

This raffle allows anyone the chance to win one of his paintings for a fraction of their value. It also gives Rod the chance to share some of the beauty he has created.

You can click here to read more about my uncle Roddy and how he is a BOSS at life and fighting cancer.

As Pop would say, “Keep the faith, boy.”

You’ve got this BOSS-ton!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

August 23, 2015

A few years ago my aunt Patty brought this Humpty Dumpty pattern back from a trip to England in hopes that I could knit it for her grand-daughter. One of the B&Bs she stayed in on her trip was owned by a knitter and pattern designer.

When she first presented it to me I was rather intimidated since my typical projects include chunky cabled hats, socks and mittens. This pattern looked like a lot of work with lots of intricate detail, I had never knit anything like it. But I didn’t have the heart to say no and decided I was up for the challenge.

Well that pattern sat ignored month after month until it was announced that my aunt was due for her second grand-daughter. I had no choice but to bite the bullet! I hemmed and hauled my way through numerous craft circles agonizing over the pattern. I’d put it down for a month and then pick it up again until this last month when I was determined to finish it in time for the birth of my cousin’s second baby.

My “just a little bit” goal paid off and I have to admit that I am pretty darn proud of myself for not giving up on Humpty Dumpty. He was completed this past Friday and given to baby Marion, named after my Pop’s mother.

The funny thing is we all think Humpty looks a bit like Pop:)

Window boxes

August 14, 2015

When Chris and I were first looking at houses to buy before we got married there were a few “must haves” in my mind when considering what was important to me in a home. The house needed to have a fireplace. It needed to have a decent size kitchen (large enough for a sitting area). And a backyard of some sort was also very high on the list too. Original woodwork, radiant heat and a corner property in the heart of town were all bonuses when we found our house.

As we settled in my “must have list” began to grow with built ins, a claw foot tub, wainscoting, cedar shakes, a chicken coop, an edible garden and a place to hang window boxes to name a few. Lucky for me my Pop was kind enough to grant many of those wishes including the boxes that live under my kitchen and dining room windows. Maybe it was all of the Beatrix Potter and Eloise Wilkins books from my childhood but I always envisioned my house having window boxes overflowing with geraniums and begonias.

Since my boxes live in very shady conditions I am limited to shade loving plants. This year I planted a variety of begonias along with Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’ and Helichrysum petiolare. I love the ever blooming nature of the begonia mixed in with the deep purple Tradescantia and the grey, trailing Helichrysum. I used straight compost to keep the plants well fed and lush until frost.

Relying on annuals each year for planters, pots and window boxes can be costly. Both begonia and Tradescantia are easy to root in water and I have already begun to start new plants to winter over and supplement into next year’s boxes.

I love how the boxes transform both the outside and inside of my home. They cast beautiful little shadows on my walls indoors and their colorful scenes are so soothing as I wash dishes and sit down to a meal.

Wains Coating

November 27, 2013

my grandfather and chris installed wains coating in our dining room about a month ago.
if you look at the photos in the previous post of norah’s birthday, you can see that the trim is attached to the wall both vertically and horizontally. and when painted it gives the effect that it is all wood when really it is mostly the wall.
it’s a clever and affordable solution if i do say so myself. it gives structure and texture to a room and it’s amazing how much brighter and bigger it feels now.

this past weekend my best friend and i had a blissful two days of painting it all while chatting, giggling, drinking tea and eating chocolate.
when we first started i never thought we would finish by sunday.
but time really flew by and before we knew it, the room was complete with time left over for a glass of wine and a pot of homemade cauliflower, butternut squash soup.

i love a finished project just before the holidays!

A Visit with Nan and Pop

September 26, 2013

yesterday morning i was in my grandparents neighborhood running errands and as busy as i was i just had to stop by.
nan made me a cup of tea and we sat and the three of us sat and chatted for a bit in the breakfast room.
i left with a few tomatoes from their garden and a pocketful of peppermint patties.

words cannot express how much i love these two and not a day goes by where i don’t appreciate having them around.
at 89 years old the both of them are still going strong.

the rest of my day felt a little brighter as i carried their energy along with me.

i love all of the memories i have spending time together and how so many things remind me of them….

nan
+ a cup of tea
+ peppermint patties
+ rosary beads
+ garage sales
+ st. jude oil
+ butterscotch candies
+ lavender
+ hankies
+ the trolley
+ worry stones

pop
+ sawdust
+ cough drops
+ baseball caps
+ yellow salve
+ hard pretzels
+ plaid buttondowns
+ the blessed mother
+ cherry pie
+ life savers
+ am radio

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