Michael Franti and Spearhead : Say Hey Music Video

Michael Franti and Spearhead : Say Hey Music Video

Here's the new man in my life. I tend to listen to someone over and over and over when I first find them. This is the guy we saw in New Orleans. Enjoy!

Renaissance Faire

I went with my friend, Robin, to the New York Renaissance Faire over the weekend. We went because her daughter is a potter, who exhibits and sells at various Renaissance Faires all over the United States. We arrived by noon on Friday to help set up. We wiped down counters and shelves, unpacked boxes and boxes of pottery, weeded outside the stand, and started displaying her work. I never realized what a tough job it is to do this kind of work. First of all, you have to be invited to be part of a Faire, then you buy a stand, and you want a good location. They don't come cheap. You hump your stuff out every morning of the faire then hump it back in at the end of the day because despite all the peace, love, and harmony amongst the rennies, there is still thievery. All week long, while the faire is closed, you create. She throws pottery and fires all week long to get ready for the next weekend. Incredible. She kept talking about things being back at the house. I finally asked what she meant. Behind the faire is a campground/campsite for the rennies to live in while they are working. She lives in a van with a mattress in the back, tv, cook station and kiln set up outside. There are bath houses for showering, but in reality there is no time for such nonsense until the night before the faire opens.

Some of her goods, bacchanalia goblets.

We spent Friday night in the home of a friend of Robin's daughter. They were away playing Pennsic war games, of which I had never heard. We spent Saturday wandering the Faire, watching the jousting tournament, pulling our chins back up to our mouths upon some of the outfits and outrageousness we viewed in the attendees (teeth sharpened to vampire points?), and had dinner at friend's of Robin's in the area. A quick swim, a few glasses of wine, a lovely dinner and wonderful hosts.

It was a fun weekend. Another girls weekend (two in one year!). I went away with someone new, met new people, experienced new things, and definitely came away with a better appreciation of the life of an artist.

We started dance lessons again. What do you think of our smooth, new moves?

Dance Lessons

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Best Cook in Sussex County

or so she claims. It was a pretty good breakfast. We went to the new Dagsboro Cafe that has changed ownership since we bought our house. It was a friendly place baked goods that looked delicious! I was so stuffed from my breakfast special that the though of goodies just sent me over the edge. I told this woman I would put her on the internet, so I did.

New Mug

I've been accused of being an obnoxiously happy blogger. I found this mug while out running errrands today. Perfect.

It's Only Tuesday

Last week it was "Where did the week go?" this week it's Holy crap, it's only Tuesday! I'm sore, Pilates is kicking my ass. When I told my BFFL, she wipe imaginary tears, so sympathetic. I made a mental list over the weekend of some of the things I wanted to get done. .I contacted the neurosurgeon, spent hours on the phone tracking down all my records from the accident, and still do not have an appointment. I'm hoping they will call back tomorrow. I did manage to make my OB/GYN appointment, for which I am 1 year overdue. The mamogram will follow. Sometimes it is difficult to take care of yourself. I had coffee with my neighbor which we rarely do anymore. Along with the coffee I was given a taste of her husband's homemade sangria wine. I'm looking forward to this weekend, fresh fruit, and sitting out in the pool with a chilled glass. Still a few items on the to do list, car repair, pick up films, take belt to be repaired, CPR renewal, and I am sure something else.

Just Messin'

An early awakening, an excited trip to the airport. Audrey is with a group of more than 20 youth travelling to San Diego and Los Angeles. They will work with Habitat for Humanity in San Diego then they will attend ICYF in Los Angeles. She will go straight from California to Delaware to spend another week at camp. Emma is gone, counselling. My Handsome Prince went to church this morning, our paths just barely crossing. On my playlist today: Jurassic Five, Michael Franti, and Abigail Washburn, an odd mix, I know. I put together 8 banners along with instructions to make an encouraging banner to send off to Rubarb, along with a couple packs of markers and a box of pencils. This will be my first package to them. It's taken me a while to get my act together, not that it is together now. I made 4 cloth napkins, the fabric a remnant from a skirt I made last year. I finished the latest Janet Evanovich. I'm considering pulling out some counted cross stitch or even start sketching out a rug to hook, or continue knitting my duffel. No specific direction, just messin'.

Where Did the Week Go?

It's Friday already. It's been tough getting into the swing of things, getting back to work, back at another home. Two significant birthdays have come and gone . I've managed to make it in to Pilates 3 days this week, what a difference that makes. That mind, body, spirit connection really helps. I need to find a local yoga class. I feel these more concentrated exercise forms are som much kinder on my body. Cycling and strength workouts are not doing me any favors right now. I primarily just observe my class particpants because I'm still in some discomfort. I've got a summer cold. On the bright side, I sit here in the sunroom with a lovely breeze blowing through and watch the hummingbirds at the feeder. This is the first time I've put it up. What a wonder they are. I've got a massage scheduled for tomorrow. My daughters leave for their service trips, one to California to work with Habitat for Humanity, one to camp to counsel elementary school age children. I have to work again this afternoon, just attending rather than teaching. It will be a slow afternoon. My daughters are working on my hair right now, one is making dreads one is making a hair wrap. Then we will all go our separate ways.

Guess Who is 50?

My Handsome Prince! I hosted a small, flexible surprise party at Ellicott Mills Brew Pub. He was doing some volunteer work in Catonsville, so I invited everyone to meet us early at this local joint. I think we had approximately 30 people walk in during our evening. We kept moving tables together to add more. We ate, we drank, MHP cried when his sister presented him with a shadow box of his life, including a photo of his precious Grandad. It was a nice evening. He doesn't look fifty, does he?

Notes From Camp

• a beautiful sunrise over the ocean, a first for me, followed by worship
• What do I think I am doing?
• staff, in silly bathing caps, doing a synchronized swimming skit
• Leader, minister on the ground in a fit of laughter over a bathing cap mishap
• Always, the sound of music, drum, harmony, guitars
• Voices like angels
• the realization that I was a counselor for the seniors this year, twelve years ago when they were first graders
• watching my daughter shine in the comfort and love of camp
• hearing the words that my daughter makes someone's heart soar
• Going back to my camp days and participating in a shaving cream battle that I never did in my youth
• Boys serenade to the girls, along with flowers on their beds, brought tears to my eyes
• Youth, not afraid to admit their faith, not afraid to question their faith, answering tough questions of faith
• Team building exercise, stealing blocks, watching them work together to cross, their laughter, their teamwork, their caring
• talent show, our Czech republic cooks, taking part with a recital of Jabberwocky and a yo-yo demonstration
• staff meetings
• pure exhaustion
• the view from the porch
• an interesting young peace intern, joining our staff at the last minute, totally at ease with us and us with him
• seeing the future and its good
• Its all good

Fireworks

Last night, the girls and I ventured into town, again, to view the fireworks. We had it planned out. We have a parking pass for the Conference Center, so graciously given by the manager, but neglected to think it might be used for parking during this festivity. No go there. So, with the masses, we searched for a parking spot, found one about a mile away is my guess. Then we trudged with the masses to the beach and boardwalk, oh, and we were meeting our neighbor from Manchester (literally, he lives a few houses away), an impossibility. We found our spot, on the boardwalk and saw the most fantastic fireworks ever! We were right under the launching spot, so much so that ash fell on us and we had to move away after a while. They were wonderful, so wonderful, and at the end, we met our friend. A light rain began to fall, so rather than hang out, we again, with the masses, trudged back. As we did, thunder started to roll and lightening lit the sky, and then we got pelted! I mean pelted with hard, tiny bullets of rain. There was not one inch of dryness on any of us. My girls have such a good sense of humor, and we laughed, called it an adventure, and kept walking. Not so with others, that's for sure. It took us an hour to drive the 10 mile trek home. We chalked it up as something we probably won't do again but, oh, what an experience it was. We got home, put on our warmest jammies, and promptly went to bed.

1966-67 Harvey IL July 4th Parade

As a kid, I remember going to Harvey 4th of July parades, my Grandparents living in Harvey, Ill, down from the Scott store. My Grandmother just moved out a couple years ago. When My Handsome Prince and I moved to Manchester Md, we hosted parties on our front porch for the parade, as our house was on the route. Today we went to the parade in Bethany Beach. Great fun!

The Annual Pilgrimage

This year 4 families camped and stayed together for 6 days, 4 other families joined for the weekend or 24 hours.

I'll admit, I was not psyched this year. With the house on the shore, all I want to do is stay there. Entering into Lewes, Delaware though, my heart soaring, a smile across my face, home away from home, for so many years. Three families were already set up and waiting for me with dinner. Entering the primary campsite, kids all around, manses tending the fire, my little sister setting up her camp, a family reuinion. Ahhhh.

My oldest, being buried in the sand, stated she liked hanging with the kids because they liked to have fun. Then her boyfriend arrived and she went back to being 20, with a little kid mixed in.

We climbed the Observation Tower

Found messages in the sand, one to someone we knew

Here are the tower climbers - that is my goofy handsome prince and his BFFB

This scene caught my eye, cheese balls - breakfast of champions

Just chillin' while Emma takes all the kids to the beach, drinking the best beer ever - Dogfishhead 90 minute IPA, whoa!

We had the usual mega meals over the fire, including a roast with corn, black beans, salsa, served with homemade tortillas and donuts over the fire, massive amounts of pork products, chicken bbq, a mexican bake, blueberry cobbler, and so much more.

We played Capture the Flag (I did not - as I was packing up, plus I just did not think it was in my best interest with some back and neck issues still in the picture), Four Square (although it was not started until a few days into the trip, and only started because one young lady remarked she was disappointed in MHP because he did not set it up), Geocaching, finding a hidden lily pond in the great expanse of dunes, trips into town for shoppy shop, and late night trips into town for DQ

We also had green flies, no see-ums, heat, and the required emergency room visit (by My Handsome Prince with mystery blister and swelling on his foot that kept getting worser and worser - antiobiotics and lancing did the trick). T-shirts are in the thought process - Member of Bebe Medical Center Emergency Room Club.

We had a shower off, a competition of who could last the longest without a shower. It was always a debate as to what was legal and what was not, although one child wished to believe that brushing teeth was against the rules but it was set straight that NOT brushing was against the rules. All in all, we did not last long, with sweat, sand, salt, and smoke, although one lady,who will remain anonymous, went the whole week without a shower with soap or washcloths but rinsed everyday. Maybe she was the winner, with the exception of a child who did nothing but I'm not sure that is fair.

Another great camp.

Ravelry

I received my invitation to join this group. Oh My Goodness! What am I doing wasting time making a washcloth?

Christmas Present

Every year for Christmas, my Father gets both my sister and I a ticket to the symphony with the promise of dinner beforehand. This year was the first time we all went together. Dinner was exceptional, as it always is at The Chameleon Cafe. Our conversation was animated and continuous as it always is. I watched a handsome couple walk in, and immediately recognized them. It was a girl I had cycled with over 14 years ago and her husband. I walked over and it was a minute before she recognized me but then we fell right into conversation. It had been about 10 years since I had seen her. My father was the one who introduced us 14 or 15 years ago, the two of them having met representing two different colleges at a high school open house. We finished our dinner and went to hear Bethoven's 9th Symphony. Incredible music. I love to hear choir and symphonies together. They send chills down my spine. A wonderful, exhausting, special night.

The Best Laid Plans

have gone out the window. This is what came in the mail today.

What do you get

when you pair an old favorite falling apart sweater with some pink fabric, and a pillow form? Emma wanted me to fix this sweater but I could not so she wanted a pillow instead. I did not sew the bottom closed just in case she should want to wash it, the ribbing holds it closed.

Robins Garden

I've been spending more and more time with a neighbor. We are now carpooling to the Y 3 days a week for Pilates and cycling. As usual I am coveting something of my neighbor's. It's her garden, a little bit of heaven on earth. Today, she worked on my hair, while we sat in the yard and watched the birds. Lovely.



She and her husband make these birdhouses together. They are all over the yard with various designs. I've seen one in progess with the pieces of pinecones painstakingly glued onto the roof as shingles.

Okay, they even make their own sea glass with a rock tumber. Shhh, don't tell her I told you.




I've got plans for two porches this summer, which includes sand and sea glass. We are getting together again this weekend to make some windchimes from computer parts, beads, and whatever else we fiind.

This week I've been trying to find my own rhythym, but as usual, people have come and gone from this home base. I've sorted through my studio, sorted through my kitchen, sorted through my bathroom. I am trying to do some major purging this week. I've managed to make a dent, albeit a small one. I am teaching more classes, making up for lost time and time I will be losing. The handsome one is away on playing soldier, the youngest is away with friends and hasn't texted me in two days(!), and oldest was lonely so came home to hang with her Mom (not really, she's going out tonight and tomorrow night). The constant around here are me and the dogs. Tonight I have a date with either Gill Grisham, who is my constant, or Rocky Balboa, a one night stand, some spicey roasted red pepper soup with black beans, corn and shrimp along with a curry chicken salad wrap, my knitting needles, some sugar and creme twist yarn and a washcloth pattern. How great is that?