Tonight You Belong To Me

I have been haunted, in a good way, by this darling child singing with her daddy all day long. I can't believe I've never heard this song before last night. I've been humming it, singing it and probably watched the video 10 times. It reminds me of my grandmother Mary Frances and all that is good and pure in the world. I found the video as I was tucking myself into FaceBook for the evening last night (thanks Ginny). What a delightful lullaby. The patience this father has as he tries to get his adorable child to sleep, and the foresight to tape the whole thing just warms my soul. It's goodness is so good that it feels like my ears didn't work before now. What a perfectly darling little ham she is. She's four years old. My heart burst open a little to let her big personality in!  I haven't enjoyed this simple entertainment in what feels like centuries. 

  .

I wanted to find the original song so I searched around a little. Here are The Lennon Sisters performing on The Lawrence Welk Show, Francie's favorite, singing Tonight You Belong To Me.

And Zooey Deschanel, of course. This genre was made for her.

And finally these cute sisters as well.

My heart needed this kind of simple joy this week. My Uncle Robert found out that he has stage four lung cancer. Please continue to pray for him by following his Caring Bridge site that my wonderful cousin Ellie is helping write. Robert is my mother's brother and one of the most joy filled creatures I know. Robert we are sending extra big prayers of fast healing and easy breathing for you. We love you so dearly and all our our family in Memphis. 

www.caringbridge.org/visit/roberttayloe

Site Name: roberttayloe

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

 

Big Bestie Birthday in Philly

Last Sunday, I found myself in Philly yet again. One of my dearest DC friends, Tracy, was in town celebrating a big birthday. She texted me on Saturday outside of Woodberry Kitchen and said, "I think I'm in your neighborhood. Meet us for a drink." I couldn't meet that evening but I did decide to crash her 50th birthday brunch with another one of our besties, Kathryn, in Philly the next day. I love how the universe works. Tracy's best college buddy, Katherine, now lives a mile from Stone Hill Farm and hosted Trace that night. My Kathryn, lives in New York. We all met at Trace's wedding 12 years ago October sixth. 

Kathryn set everything up in advance for us to meet at Parc in Rittenhouse Square. The Veuve was already on ice!!!

Tracy is a mom of two precious boys and all she wanted was a quiet luncheon with her oldest friends. I seriously felt so lucky that I could crash the party. We have so many hilarious stories from when we lived and worked in DC. Doing aerobics on the staircase of her cute college friends house is one I'll never live down. And I witnessed her husband dancing the sprinkler on their first date and knew he was the one for her immediately. 

Kathryn, in the green and navy, introduced us at a party she hosted when she sold flowers for Greenworks. Katherine, barely pictured (sorry babe) was Tracy's college best friend and they met in a speech class. The lunch felt a little Sex in the City cracking up and telling old stories!I love that I was not the only one in the restaurant to have my camera at the ready. There were lots of tables celebrating that Sunday morning.

Kath, Tracy and I all had a Mid-West connection and fell in love immediately oh so many 18 years ago. They both came to our wedding in Kalamazoo and I loved going to their weddings on Cape Cod and at Farmington in Charlottesville. 

Parc was such a perfect choice for this festival of life! Nothing like a perfect French baguette and glass of bubbly to get your next 50 years started.

This French brasserie was superb.

My Mussels reminded me of eating them for this first time in Paris with my French brother Jean Baptise. He taught me to use a spent shell to "pluck" the Mussel out, vs. a fork. I still think of Jibz every time I eat Mussels like this. I'm so grateful for my parents introducing us to France at a young age.

Our meals were all fantastic and the desserts were the star of the party. How luxurious is it to add gold leaf to your diet?

Apple tart and the beginning of salted caramel ice cream cream puffs!

The chocolate drizzle added the perfect touch.

These sparkler shots just warm my heart.

Tracy and Katherine

Kathryn, Trace, Katherine and me outside of Parc leaning in. 

Trace, here's to your health and happiness babe! I love that we have known each other for so long and each time we get together it feels like not time has past. Happy Birthday! Katherine, thanks for letting me talk the whole four hours of our round trip to catch up. You are one good listener!!! Kathryn, I'm so THRILLED we were texting the week before and that this just worked out so perfectly. 

Philly Visit and Prayer Request

Whoa, where has the time gone? I have been meaning to post these fun photos from Philly for weeks now. So here goes...very delayed. We extended our vacation for one night in Philly on our way home from the beach this summer. I was so excited to stay at the new Philadelphia Hotel Monaco.

The decor at the hotel is so creative. The calligraphy brushes behind the front desk are an ode to the signing of the Declaration of Independence across the street from the hotel.

That is some chandelier in the lobby foyer.

These tea pot lights were on the sleeping room floor foyers.

The guest rooms are gorgeous. I don't know how Kimpton does it, but everything works somehow together with opposing patterns, textures and details. Full disclosure, I now work for Kimpton and was a huge fan before getting my job at the Baltimore Hotel Monaco.

I especially loved the navy damask print wall paper in the powder room with bright yellow pocket doors.

The walk in shower and tub were ginormous.

The only tragedy was that we spent one night in this glorious room.

We could see where the Continental Congress met across the street out our window.

The "Rocky" robe was a such a nice touch next to the animal print one.

We had a phenomenal dinner at the Red Owl Tavern with my sweet friend Katie(cakes) and her beau Tony. The team gave us a tour of the private space which is downstairs from the main restaurant.

I can hardly believe that this trip was over two months ago. It is great to have these photos as a snapshot memory of our fun night in Philly at the end of our holiday. Wishing all of you an easy start to school and the beginning of what I'm sure is a busy work season. Feeling very blessed for our health and well being. With the Navy Yard tragedy this week and finding out my dear uncle has cancer I just praise God for each breath.  My uncle Robert's one prayer request is that God be glorified and that God will use him for His glory and to further His kingdom through whatever and where ever this sickness takes him. We are still not exactly sure what is up, but ask your prayers specifically to halt whatever cancer is in his body. It is amazing how much God has already been glorified by my precious cousin's updates. I've already reconnected with my best prayer warriors which is a gift in itself. I have no idea why tragedy seems to strike those dearest to Christ but I know He has been glorified already in the past two weeks. I often turn to the Book of Common Prayer when I'm not sure what to pray. This evening Compline prayer covers all of my bases. 

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Then the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.