Here is a picture of a nicely uneventful day.
I began by going to the Italian Bakery for a mixed seed loaf and some Parma Ham. The bread is warm in the paper they use to wrap it and the olive oil soaks through onto your fingers. It manages to be delicious even before you cut the first slice.
The hot weather had broken and a sweltering storm had begun. The rain fell in big, warm drops. I stopped by the house which has now completed the 5th of 40 weeks of work. In the picture below you can see what remains of the building and can, with sufficient acuity, just make out the floor raft of the extension to the right. Having had a romantic seizure I buried a note about how much I love P under what will be the new bay window (archaeologists please note). I like the thought of the proclamation being literally part of the foundations of our home. Corny I know but I’m a big softie.
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During the afternoon we went to see a new addition to a friend’s family. The friends have gone to great lengths to involve P and I in their family. We are godparents to their eldest daughter. I am deeply ashamed to say that at first I saw it (and resented it) as a sort of charitable gesture to the childless, but I now realise that to be invited to be any part of someone’s family is a precious privilege and I was wrong to gurn and cringe. The first picture is of the newborn: Beatrice.
 
And this is Joseph, showing me how to box. He is a little monkey always climbing and jumping and dashing about.
The burying the note thing is SO romantic! I love that! Seriously, that’s the most romantic, wonderful thing I’ve read in the longest time.
Cute kid pics!
I second L.B.’s comment. That is so very romantic. I’m totally ordering my hubby to write me a note and bury it under our house too.
I love having godchildren and nieces and nephews. All the fun of having kids – and ones that regard you as somehow one of ‘their’ adults – but not so much of the lack of sleep and poo… I love kids, but I couldn’t eat a whole one. Or bring one up.
I want your house. Um. Please.
I’m not keen on archaeologists, I’d like to be buried wired up to some explosives to give any that come and disturb my grave a nasty surprise. They are basically grave robbers who have turned up a bit late.
What pog said. Only for myself. That house is..I hate to say quaint, but it is. What cute kids too!
You big softy.
Thanks all. The house was once very pretty and should never have been entrusted to us:
Rick – now might be the time for me to mention I am a former professional archaeologist.
A few things:
*That romantic gesture floored me. Lucky P!
*It *is* an honor to be invited in as godfather. Wear it proud.
*Beatrice is a wonderful name, with wonderful provenance. Godfather to a perfect woman. Wear it double proud! (And, maybe, bury a copy of Dante’s Vita Nuova for *her* somewhere…)
*Beautiful pics – house, children, all of it.
*Beautiful post.
HBM – Indeed, having been through a period of near obsession with Dante when I was younger (though another person on my blogroll made a career of it) I always had Beatrice in mind for the name of my first-born daughter.
I told our friends that having called their first daughter Alice and their second Beatrice, there seemed to be a pattern emerging of naming their children for the pre-pubescent objects of affection of famous authors. They stared at me … as I deserved.
Anyone who has not read Vita Nuova kindly go and do so immediately. You won’t regret it.
You’re very cute Moobs, burying a note in the foundation! What a romantic! *swoon*
I love the name Beatrice! (As well as the book it comes from) And how adorable she is!
And yes, you should be proud to be someone’s godfather…it truly is a hard decision to find someone that you think would take care of your child to your standards.
LOVE IT MOOBS! You are such a romantic…the house looks like it will be full of character and love.
The baby is just beautiful…and I mean it. Sometimes…they really aren’t that good looking, ya know? 😉