metro-retro botanicals

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My brother John told me that, if I were shopping for succulents (which I am), that I should drive over to Big Red Sun in East Austin, because they have the best selection in town (which they do). Above is a wall hanging in an assortment of unique pieces termed “retro botanicals,” variations on (what is probably their signature) Midcentury Modern bonzai-kitsch.

While it wasn’t wise to bring the children (the place reminds me of someone’s home–someone single–the way totems and art mingle in sterile grace with the contrived botanicals) it was wise to bring the camera. What I couldn’t spend five seconds examining was more easily photographed so that I might instead watch the heathens, who were climbing all over everything.

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Fearless

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It’s hard having conversations with other parents at the playground when I have to keep eyes on Chas. He is fearless and out of control. Ford and Chas are so different at the playground. Chas’ proprioception keeps surprising me; he always seems to correct himself when he starts losing balance; just when I think I have to step in and save him, he saves himself. Mostly. And he has more self-confidence in his physical ability than Ford did at his age.