swim wear

So, it's time to model the swimsuits and rash guards, goggles and swim shoes.  We're getting into pool and swim lesson territory -- especially Linus, who is joining the Barracudas swim team this year.  Several of his friends are accomplished swimmers, and he's looking forward to increasing his abilities and trying to better his own skill and times in competition.

rain run

It's hard for me to say anything measured or neutral about Texas summers, but even I must admit that we've had a comparatively balmy -- even pleasant -- late spring.  By the end of May, we're usually well into the misery.  (Steve Smith's rule of thumb is that we generally get one nice week of weather in May, and once that's used up, it's gone for good.)  But it's been nice, and we've gotten more than our share of moisture.  The kids know how to appreciate it.

plasma play

Linus returned from Dallas with many tales of the exciting outings he'd had with Grannie and Grandad (and his Texas cousins).  One of his favorites, plainly, was the trip they'd taken to the Perot Natural History Museum.  I've never had a chance to go, but it sounded pretty spectacular.  Linee was especially taken with this plasma sphere (or Tesla ball) Grannie had gotten for him.

Sadly, and perhaps predictably, the thin glass sphere broke less than a week after the boys returned home, falling off of the top bunk.  I'm glad that at least we got these pictures of the cool, if short-lived, toy.

complexion competition

At least once a summer, I like to take a tally of the freckles the kids have accumulated.  Maybe it's a little early this season, but this should give a good sense of what's happening with their adorable little cheeks -- in descending order of freckliness.

Margaret: Mama, you don't have any buckles on you.  You have some on you face.
Jennifer: Oh, freckles? You have some on your arms.

pop pop

I should note that any visit from Grandma Sam usually involves exotic treats.  I believe that this was Greta's first interaction with pop rocks.  You can see pretty clearly how they went over.

Margaret: You have a scratchy beard, Daddy.  And you have a beard, too, Mama.

Jennifer: Great.  Now I have a beard.

Todd: I'll be finished going to the bathroom in a second.

Margaret: Then I'll let you have your privacy.

T: Thanks!

M: [after closing the door, poking her head back in] Any time!

M: I did it again, Daddy! I pooped again! Now I need to change me. I need some wipes to change me.

M: [scowling] Daddy! Mama changed me yesterday! [crosses arms]

immemorial

Feels like we only had a few hours all together, once you subtract all the time we spent with our various projects, but we're so grateful for any occasion which brings Mom and Dad to visit us.  Today, Memorial Day, was the last morning we had together, before I drove Mom and Dad to Austin to catch their flight back to SLC.  We had a great conversation, though I wish that Jen and the kids had gotten just a bit more time for talk and play.  Until next time!

place of employment

Another of the meaningful aspects of my parents' visit this week is the connection they've been able to build with the girls.  Grandma, in particular, developed a great relationship with Gwennie -- and with Greta, who can be a little aloof with visitors.  It wasn't just the doughnuts and movies, whatever Mom would say -- they had really involved conversations while Dad and I were running the Workshop late.  It will be hard to see them go back to Idaho.

Margaret: You go to work, Daddy?
Todd: No, Greta, it's Sunday -- we're going to church.
M: I not go to church.
T: No? Where are you going?
M: I go to work!
T: Where do you work?
M: I go in Mama's car . . . and I go in Daddy's car . . .
T: But where do you take the car to work?
M: Uh . . . I work at . . . karate!

allegro movement

The intense and rather draining experience of the Book History Workshop isn't exclusively intellectual -- we work on a lot of active projects throughout the week -- but now that it's over, we welcome the opportunity to get out of the Library and run around a little.  The children, too -- especially the boys, after having been in Dallas for the week -- were excited to let off some steam.  So Dad and I took the kids to a nearby elementary school's playground.  This school serves one of the poorest neighborhoods, so the toy structures are the coolest in town -- old and dynamic.

(Watch how fast Greta can run across Texas.)

park foreshadowing

Workshop outtakes

life cycle

It's almost hard to believe that the intense experience of NSS ended at midday today, when Jen broke down her booth and lugged her stuff to the airport for her return to Dallas.  (She'll stay the night and drive home with the boys tomorrow.)

cutting edge

The Book History Workshop is the best week of my professional year, and it's become even more rewarding since Dad has been able to come and participate as a faculty member.

show print

I'm going to let Jen talk about her impressions and reactions from the National Stationery Show, but early dispatches have been promising.  Not only does the show provide an opportunity for small vendors to contact retailers and build relationships, but it fosters camaraderie between exhibitors.

Jen's met some interesting designers and printers, partially through the exchange of work -- our business cards, the trading cards we produced and collected into a set with Jen's boothmates, and the preshow mailer we sent to potential partners.  (Note that we borrowed Dad's block of the C&P and set type around it for the mailer.)

beginnings and continuations

Today, both the National Stationery Show and the Book History Workshop began.  Planning for these programs has been consuming our lives for the past months, but the events themselves will be of comparatively short duration.  We've done all we can; I only hope that our preparations will bring good results.

M: [weepy] Gwennie went in she room! I want to play with Gwennie at the doll house.

After seeing Grandpa wearing his Samuelson family reunion t-shirt:
M: [to Daddy] I think you have his shirt, and Grandpa wearing you shirt!

[after seeing my frustration when she fights as I try to put her sleepers on]
T: Greta!
M: It funny to me!

M: [explaining why she's not asleep] There too many cars around my bedroom!

(These photos, too, were taken by Sara McNally of Constellation & Co, another of the Ladies of Letterpress.)

buildup

Today brought a pause from the preparations Dad and I had been making for the Book History Workshop, but meant a tight schedule for Jen and Tiffany in getting the Anise Press booth set up.

Initially, they were greeted by flimsy foam core walls (thinner than anticipated, and barely stiff enough to hold up cards and prints), attached to the backing pipework armature with zip ties placed most awkwardly.  (See the Anise Press logo above.)  The flooring was also in process of installation.

By the end of the day, however, Jen and Tiffany had succeeded in getting the bookshelf facade placed and the product attached.  While the structure left something to be desired, I think that the presentation turned out effectively, and the branding suggested by the bookshelf presented Anise Press to great advantage.

(This photograph of Jen in front of the Anise Press product was taken by one of her boothmates, Sara McNally.)

For our Texas contingent, Saturday also brought a trip to Hensel Park, where we were able to enjoy some hiking, play at the park, and a climb up our Echo Chamber.  After I helped Gwennie up and ran up the side myself, Grandma handed me Greta so that she could enjoy the view for the first time.  She was, as you can see, very brave (although a bit uncertain about it).  Grandpa commemorated the climb with this wonderful watercolor sketch:

NYC

One of Jen's priorities while in New York was to catch up with her great friend from her master's program, Roslyn.  And not only were they able to meet and have dinner, but Roslyn helped Jen and Tiffany get tickets to one of the hottest shows in town, Robert Schenkkan's All the Way, in which she plays the parts of Coretta Scott King and and Fannie Lou Hamer.  Jennifer thought the production was wonderful, and she was able to meet up with some of the cast backstage afterward -- notably, its star, Bryan Cranston.

It was an active night for them, especially coming immediately after they'd flown from Texas.  But with all the work and focus which the rest of the week would involve, it was great for them to get a chance to enjoy the city.  And meanwhile, here in town, we were largely playing in the sunlight.