clandestine at little nest

Saying it was always some form of self-preservation.

Listen—if we’d had children in Vancouver, we would not be skiing until midnight and paddling every weekend and spending every paycheque at the Granville Island Brewery and Mountain Equipment Co-op. Parenthood in Vancouver would be about the same as parenthood in rural Nova Scotia—at home, up to our knees in cheerios—so we may as well be here and be able to have a little sailboat and a little house and a lot of help. We’re not missing anything.

So here’s the trouble. Back in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago for an autonomous, mama-only/girl-only/career-only getaway, a friend, her daughter and I wandered Commercial Drive looking for lunch.

I know exactly where we’ll go, she said. Little Nest.

We opened the door and hit a wall of Hip. But not Snooty Hip, nor Stuffy Hip, nor Footloose and Fancy Free Hip. It was Mama-Daddy Hip.

Little Nest is the kitchen of the mama-friend you wish you had. Bashed-in wood floors, mismatched chairs anchored by a trestle table for twenty, vintage Fisher Price, tepid hot chocolate for little misses and misters in proper china cups, the aroma of fresh baked cinnamon and icing sugar and pistachio, homemade fig jam and a gourmet-everyday menu that transforms scrambled eggs into heaven.

I’d like to be a parent here. I’d like to walk here on a Tuesday morning and spread out and run wild, and laugh and talk and commiserate with these people while the sun shines through that window.

And so much to my chagrin, despite my eastern contentedness, I discover yet another reason to envy these citizens of lotusland.

Sipping cooling tea and dragging bread around an empty plate to sop up the remains of roasted portobello and goat cheese, I stole a few moments to bring home. Unable to peel my eyes away from her and not sure why. Smiling at the two of them, or rather, the four of them, the very picture of sisterhood. Noting the kid-ammended interior design. Coveting the personal style of those who make motherhood look so cool, and yet so welcoming.

+++++

This Monday, show and tell us about photos you’ve snuck of people or things wholly unconnected to you, but that left an impression you couldn’t leave without.

Comments

[margie]

i took this photo in jerusalem. the confidence (read cocky) in the faces of these boys was unbelievable.

http://3yrplan.typepad.com/photos/margies_photos/trouble-makers.html

[Marcy]

This is probably the one thing I have the most trouble with-- I love pictures of people, and the idea of taking candids of strangers, but I'm just too shy/selfconscious to do so. I keep thinking the person's going to come up to me afterwards and get upset that I took their picture. =(

[sweetsalty kate]

I hear you, Marcy: in my case, I took photos of each person/scene feigning interest (loudly) in other things in the vicinity - the pressed tin ceiling, the painted bird. Some of the people I shot noticed the camera, but then relaxed again when they figured they weren't in the frame.

Typing that out makes it seem so sneaky.... which it is, I guess, but it's done with nothing but pure admiration.

[Jen - Beebee Mod]

Kate...I loved your photos from your trip, especially these from the Little Nest. I would love to hang out there too.

[Sarah - Ji]

Kate, I love that diptych! The one on the right totally looks like the bird is going to land on his hip hatted head! This is the type of gathering place I would love to start in Chicago.

I am also shy about taking photos of people, so I often shoot from the hip so that the subject doesn't know that I'm actually about to take a shot. Or I just shoot them in the back. Here's one I took of my friend Heidi looking into a performance:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierraromeo/2817519751/

[Elizabeth Harper]

I sneak pictures all the time...some minutes in life must be documented even if...well, you know.

Here's one of my sneaky snaps.

http://www.giftsofthejourney.com/Elizabeth_Harper-Gifts_of_the_Journey/Blog/Entries/2008/9/1_A_Place_Called_Home.html

[mnkathy]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25773211@N07/2957916273/in/photostream/

I couldn't leave this place without snapping a few pics of this guy fishing. He was just perfect: the way he was dressed, what he was doing, oblivious to everyone around him and just focused on the task at hand.

Thanks for sharing your little adventure, Kate. You continually inspire me! :)

[Lori]

I would love to be able to capture more sneaky pictures of people. I guess I need to be more courageous like Brene talks about. Here's a picture I took at the park. These kids were having so much fun.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/lildrip/art/1342857-1-surprise

[Steph Wiese]

Chicagoans have provided such amazing street shots for me. Some of my favorites are from Union Station. One specifically is of a sailor in his white uniform waiting for the Metra and standing so stoically and observant. The others I really like that drum up a lot of creative energy for me are from Lallapalooza 2007. There was a man that provided musical instruments for anyone willing to play. Slowly, a huge variety of people started sitting down and the most freeing and beautiful music was played. How I wish I could have more of these jam sessions!

http://stephwiese.squarespace.com/shutter-sister-pictures/street-shots/?SSScrollPosition=1427

[abbersnail]

Both the photo and the text really resonate with me. Thank you for this.

[renee @ FIMBY]

wow, what a post! As a Western Canadian (I never did live in Vancouver, only coveted those who did) now living in the Eastern US (Maine) I can identify with your lotusland longings. Mostly very happy where I am but sometimes...

[vivienne]

that is what motherhood looks like on commercial drive!
i love the little nest...my best friend as a lil' one and its our favourite place to meet up!

[Jodyangel]

I'd love to take more sneaky pics. But if hubby's with me I embarress him to death lol. So I don't often.

I saw a cute couple kissing yesterday while we were waiting for the train. But I didn't...

But I do sometimes capture some moments that look special to me even tho I don't know them.

Here are a few =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2880167586/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2865528498/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2828078354/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2811997265/

Wait! Maybe I Am sneakier than I thought lol =)

[ELK]

the photos and essay were wonderful...

I miss my mom ~ so old ladies get their picture taken often by me, not in a creepy way, just in honor of them and living their life!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2957583325/

[Mama Zen]

Sounds totally fabulous! Love the pictures!

[maz]

Ah! Would I love to go there! I love these fly on the wall docu-snaps. Love them, but find them so hard to take , in case I get challenged by my subject. But the guy I snapped here http://divingforpearls.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/hoggin-the-brid.html was moving so fast he wouldn't have noticed me.... you have inspired me to try this more often...thanks:)

[JustHay]

Freaked me out a little, I just tok this shot yesterday, and was wrestling with posting it or not. Thanks for the push.

http://thefauxtographer.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/sunday-at-the-airport/

[Madame Meow]

Thank you for the inspiration! I wrote up something on my own blog, which you can access here:

http://www.madamemeow.com/daily_dose/2008/10/ive-always-liked-observing-people-and-wondering-about-their-lives-and-their-motivations-its-one-of-those-semi-mundane-things.html

[Wanda]

Maybe here I was a little envious...

http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2008/10/days-commute.html

[melody is slurping life]

damn...sometimes I just want a do-over.

Thanks,Kate. Love it all!

[Vanessa]

they just looked so romantic to me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/2881570977/in/set-72157607450910728/

[christy kintzel]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/itchypony/2684879383/

This photo was taken at a local A&W Rootbeer stand after a devastating flood swept thru the area this past spring. This wood and bead figure was pinned to a pile of stones with a toothpick, atop one of the drive-up trays. Anything from a toilet to a time clock to a broken frame with a soaked family portrait had been swirled around in the murky, muddy parking lot.

[Cartwheels At Midnight/Paige]

I LOVE these photos! They are so real to me and really make me want to find this little place and spend an afternoon there. ...Every afternoon there.

[kristin]

way late for the party but one i snapped today. i love watching dad's and their babies.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2972708235/

[Liz]

there are no kids in our group (yet!) but i am always drawn by their exuberance and beauty.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2863586275/in/set-72157601163253623/

the fire dancers fill me with the kind of longing you describe...i wish i could do what they do, and but for the time, inclination, training and bravery, could.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2854300657/in/set-72157606888700630/

[swissgear backpack]

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