Monday, July 31, 2006

Summer Weekend

With this heat and no a/c, there is nothing to do but pool hop. I suggested to the girl's that on Friday we visit the community pool where we were members for 14-15 years. They each invited a friend, we packed a lunch, I even bought junk snacks. As soon as we arrived it started to rain. Off to Walmart instead to waste some time waiting for the sun to come back out, and sure enough it did. We had a nice afternoon at the pool, though not quite what we anticipated. We hope for a reunion of the Cabana Club girls (3-5 families of girls who are the same age as Emma) I knew the Mom's wouldn't be there as they are 9-5ers now. My Handsome Prince joined us and we had a mean game of Under Water Ladder Tag going for a good hour, inviting another group of kids to join us. Later that evening, dinner in Westminster.

Saturday was another hot one. The morning started out with the usual Car Talk interrupted by a phone call. I'm just happy to say it was not MY family but HIS family. HA! We all had little odd jobs to do which included hanging a new porch swing. Yes! In the middle of the day, we went to a neighbor's house, where we have a lifetime membership to their pool. Swim, swim, swim, cool, cool, cool, then ice cream, yum. Such simple pleasures just truly made my heart glad. All four of us, together, swimming, eating ice cream under an umbrella, then home watching a movie, again, together.

Sunday brought more of the same. We actually packed our suits and towels in the car figuring we would invite ourselves over to another pool. This time our camping/church friends in Ellicott City. We provided pizza and assistance in taking down a tree. Their daughters and Emma left for camp together, so it was 4 adults, Audrey and Glenn (the kid who broke his wrist in this post). That evening, my in-laws invited us over for Jambalaya and concert in the park featuring Junkyard Saints. This was our third free summer outdoor concert and do you know that not one person danced? What the heck was wrong with this crowd? A couple hundred people and you figure at least one person over the age of 2 would dance. I know, I should have been it. I wanted it soooo bad. I asked MHP to dance 4 times and he would not. Audrey basically went along because she had no choice, so she was a no too. Didn't ask the inlaws, just didn't think it was their thing. Little by little my groove dwindled.

BTW, I had to hit another pool today. Gosh, it's deadly.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

I have quilt envy

My neighbor called me yesterday and asked me to come over. This is my neighbor that taught me to crazy quilt, we hook together, sew, and think up other things to do in our spare time. In 2003, we each started a make-do, cotton crazy quilt for our daughters. We did not buy any fabric and very little thread. We wanted it to truly be a stashbuster. Well, she has hers put together, the brat! She made a double and I'm making a single. I'm not even half way there. Well, if seeing hers isn't inspiration, I don't know what is! I'll take a photo of hers next time I go over (I'll be prepared - I nearly died seeing it all laid out!) In the meantime, visit this web site and you'll get the idea.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

SPC - Me as transportation

Audrey and I on her 14th birthday. This is my youngest, my baby. I carried her for the longest time, until she was about 5. She was compact then and her Mother's daughter. She use to fall asleep so easily and I use to have to carry her into the house or wherever we were going. One time, we were in Bermuda, after a long day, late at night, I carried her about a half mile up a hill (she was about 7 at the time). Now our relationship has changed and closeness is not as easy as it used to be. She is a teenager who is deciding where her Mom's place is in her life. We have our moments and this was one recently. Happy Birthday, my darling daughter. Posted by Picasa

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Yesterday I had a day off. I didn't have to teach in the morning and did not have to work in the evening. So...I decided I was going to sleep in. Well, in order to do that I either have to call all my family members and tell them or take my phone off the hook. Since I did not remember in time to call, when MHP's alarm went off @ 4:30am, I thought I took the phone off the hook. Wrong! So, at 7:30 when the first phone call usually happens, I had a non functioning phone ringing, waking me up. Fine, I can still sleep in, actually taking the phone off the hook. Wrong! I left my cell phone on and got a voice mail letting me know there was something wrong with my phone. Cracked me up! Oh well! It's only sleep.

Later in the evening, I went here. I got 12 meals made and in the freezer. It was a very interesting experience. I hope the food is good. If I do it again, I would do things slightly different, like not make 12 different meals, split some, and take a helper! It just makes me realize, though, when making something, just make double or triple and put in freezer. Saves so much in the long run. I'm going to try OAMC again.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

SPC - self portrait as a passenger

Living rurally, active life, active children, I spend a lot of time in the car. I am usually in the driver's seat. Lately, I have been a passenger, reading, sleeping, knitting, letting someone else take the wheel. It's been kind of nice. At one time or another, aren't we all drivers or passengers?

Monday, July 17, 2006

Friday, July 14, 2006

Less blogging & browsing = more productivity

Finishes this week:
one loopy knitted rug
one Gravestone rug - working on the binding. It will be my state fair entry this year.

Starts this week:
knitted dishwrag from Mason Dixon knitting
2 quilted handbags like this one - One for the Mom and one for a silent auction to benefit battered women and children.

Workouts completed:
6 cycle classes
1 kickbox
2 circuit classes
back, biceps, shoulders - lifting on my own
7 pull ups - woohoo! almost to 10!
Getting back in gear. I miss lifting with Tas, though. She's awesome!


We're goin' downy ocean, hon!

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

They'll be fine

Today is a day that I have let go. My children wanted to take a day trip to Bethany Beach, 3 1/2 hours away. Ugh. sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. With strict instructions to stay together, be carefull driving, directions, charged cell phone, and money, they have gone. Say a prayer for their safe journey.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Top Ten at Cape Henlopen in no particular order

1. Friends and family - all together, overlapping, coming and going, 40 of us were camping at Cape Henlopen, including my Mom, Aunt, Uncle, Sister and family, good friends, friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends. You get the point.

2. Capture the flag on the dunes - adults and children - embarassing, but true, laughing and running are not something a 42 year old woman can do without an accident.

3. Deserted dog beach - we brought a dog along so visited the part of the park that surf fishers frequent and those with dogs, too. One day, we had a 3 cabana set up going.

4. Authentic Mexican food on the way home in Bridgeville DE. YUM!

5. While not the most enjoyable, definitely most memorable, a spill on the skim board by me, resulting in the most colorful, still painful, hematoma on my butt, and poor child who owned the board broke his wrist shortly after!

6. Pork products on the open fire - breakfast every morning consisted of bacon, sausage, and yes, scrapple. Yes, all three.

7. Chuck Mills widow - the whip-poor-whil type bird that calls every night soothing me to sleep.

8. While I don't play, it would not be the same if the almost 24/7 game of 4 square was not played.

9. New Dansko shoes

10. 15 years of memories make this place home away from home. Can't wait to go back!

No photos as Emma has the camera with her in Louisiana before I had a chance to download photos. She is doing some Katrina demolition work and Audrey is at church camp. The Handsome Prince and I are alone, well as alone as you can get with 2 dogs, 1 of which freaks out every night as the neighbors light their fireworks. We can't leave the house without her.

Happy 4th of July all! We managed to make it to church for the annual concert, Shelby and I hiding in the ministers office, listening to patriotic music, making friends with two young girls (5 and 2 ). Then to our camping friends pool for a lovely afternoon. I want a pool, as usual.