home for a minute

The last picture that I took in London, of my favorite tea spot. I ended up ordering a tea pot that they carry for myself by the British designer Nick Munro.

Upon arrival back at home I quickly realized that my strawberries were in need of picking. My neighbor warned me that it would be a fruitful year and she was absolutely right. The day before I left yielded an entire pot of delicious red berries, warm from the sun and ripe to eat.

I also made a dress. It was supposed to be easy. This part was not. It went something like this: insert pins in fabric and elastic, match pins, stretch elastic band to fit to fabric, attempt to use hands - a foot apart - to navigate in a straight line, repeat, repeat, repeat. It felt like trying to hold magnets apart.

blazing

This is what I am going to look like as I go in to my final two exams. Fierce.

speaking of elephants

British Graffiti artist Banksy just opened his show 'Barely Legal' at the beginning of this week with a live elephant painted to look like wallpaper.

Here are pictures from my second trip to Paris.

And here is another London elephant. This one is behind Parliament.

reading tea leaves...

...at Bea's yesterday revealed a distinctive U.S. map, complete with Florida, Maine, and Hawaii conspicuously present. One week left in London!

Volcano: 2, Melissa: 0

There was no Dublin for us, but I really can't complain. The Eurostar got us home from Paris for a price just above normal and since it was an extra train under the circumstances and they were using all cars available we ended up in first class. We had several hours to kill in the rain and are now intimately acquainted with the Gare du Nord, but we made it home in time for dinner.

We came in to St. Pancras where this dandelion elephant is currently making its home. This one is dedicated to M.E.M.



I will post some pictures from Paris soon.

pow!

This is another one from Trafalgar Square. He is both happy and fierce - just think of the message you could send with this guy by your front door.

Today we're headed to Paris!

snazzy elephant

These guys are hanging out in a group of three right by Trafalgar Square. Ryan took the picture while he was wandering around waiting for me to finish my first final exam. They are definitely growing on me - I knew I would like them as public art, but I'm warming to the idea of them as auctioned art. They are scattered in small, colorful groups and it's like an Easter egg hunt any time I walk around the city.