NumberNineteen

Summer is Here!!!

I had every intention of keeping up with weekly blog posts at the end of the school year, but the end of the school year got in the way of that.  I don't know whether it is true for all parents and/or all educators, but for me and my friends, the "school year winding down" theory is a myth. The school year doesn't wind down, it barrels like a freight train, gaining speed, until it hits the brick wall of the last day of school!!  End of year responsibilities, paperwork, must-get-done projects, cleaning things up.  That's just for me -- Hope has practices, concerts, recitals, projects, tests, and every other event that can be fit into the last few days.  It's no wonder that all we want to do the first week of vacation is sleep! 

Now summer is here and summer is the time for projects.  I'm so excited because I have several long-planned projects finally coming to fruition! And, a few newer ideas that I'm working on as well.  If all goes as planned this summer, 3 rooms in the house will have refreshes and/or "afters", there will be big changes on my blog and even bigger changes on my Etsy store.  I have been dreaming and working on many of these projects for years so I'm thrilled (and a tiny bit scared!) to move forward on them.

Summer is also time for us to travel and re-connect with far-flung family and friends.  We are leaving shortly for New England.  First up, Boston to hang out with my sister, brother in law & nephew and then onto Maine, where my entire family will be together at my parent's rental cottage.  While in New England, I plan on seeing one of my oldest and dearest friends who I haven't seen for years.  I'm so excited to see her and catch up.  Later in the summer, we'll be traveling to Indiana to visit Glenn's relatives and many old friends who we only see once a year.  I may even be able to squeeze in a visit with a college friend who moved to Indiana a few years ago.  And finally, just before school starts, we'll be in Delaware with Nana & Grandpa, enjoying the beach and boardwalk.  

Summer is a busy time for me but also restoring.  Time is my most precious commodity and summer affords me the time to exhale.  I take walks, do yoga and journal.  I spend time on the things that are very near and dear to my heart.  I'm lucky -- I have a career that is my passion and I now work with people who have become dear friends.  However, that passion and dedication is draining and I am fortunate to have this time to step away and focus on other important aspects of my life.

 

 

Stuff Around Here

Spring is sloooooooww coming this year in Northern Virginia.  I don't know about the rest of the country, but it still feels like April around here. It's been so gray -- 14 days in a row of rain, with most of the days preceding those 14 being just plain overcast.  The minute that the sun peeks out, I feel like it's some kind of miracle. 

I spent last Sunday putting out flower boxes and pots of inpatients on the porch as well as trimming the boxwoods.  Veggies got planted about two weeks ago, during a break in the rain one Saturday.  I can't wait for the herbs to be ready to pick.  I love to just walk to the backyard to get herbs for dinner.  I feel like I'm in a cookbook -- "Excuse me, I'll just snip some basil from my kitchen garden" -- haha.

By late June or early July, there are wild blackberries in the woods beside our house.  Hope and I go out every evening, scavenging for them.  I noticed that the blackberry bushes have blossoms, so here's hoping for a big crop.

Our peonies are just about to pop open.  That short but magnificent time of year is almost here.  Peonies must have the most gorgeous scent in the entire world.  I don't know why ours are late (for around here)...I've seen several friends post photos of their bushes blooming in the past week.

I'm planning on changing over things in my living and dining room to my spring/summer look in the next week or two, but haven't had the time recently.  Can we all agree that 2 days is not enough for weekends?  I think that we need 2 days to get stuff done and 1 day to relax and re-charge.  Summer can't come fast enough...only 21 more days left of school!

Fall Weekend

It's been an absolutely gorgeous fall weekend, full to the brim with pumpkin patch-ing

porch primping

house cozy-ing

and plaid wearing. 

There was definitely some cider drinking in there too. 

I hope that you were able to enjoy your fall weekend to the fullest.

Just a Hint of Fall

Two weeks in and we are becoming used to the school routine.  Homework and bus stops, packed lunches and PTO meetings.  Hope started ballet classes on Saturday and will start Tap on Monday.  Soon, Girl Scouts will be in the mix.

Today was the first day that had a hint of fall in the air. Low humidity and the sky is that perfect clear blue that only exists in September.  When I was at the store on Friday, I saw a bag of Autumn Mix candy corn and thought "Yes.  The time has come."  I came home, brought out a cinnamon candle and snuggled on the couch with a book.

Yesterday we had a small birthday celebration for Hope (more on that later this week) and today, I worked on my scrapbooks and watched You've Got Mail.  Favorite.Fall.Movie.Ever.  I may have re-started the movie as soon as I finished watching it. 

I don't know about you, but I'm all ready for fall.

Keeping Accountable -- Month Three

I'll start off by saying that March was a far better month for me than February and it was reflected in how I kept to my goals.

Volunteering -- I did some research on volunteering in my community this month, but am still looking for the right fit.  Many of the opportunities require time in the middle of the week, which I don't currently have.  There are definitely one-off situations in which I plan on volunteering, but I still haven't found a place for ongoing service.  Grade: B

Involvement in Hope's School -- I again attended the PTO meeting, which I love.  I found out so much about what is going on in her school (and was thrilled by what I heard!) and was able to provide some input.   Grade: A

My Health -- I really focused on this area this month and have been doing a great job, if I do say so!  As I mentioned in a recent post, I've been eating very healthy foods and have continued to exercise.  I feel great in both body & mind! Grade: A

Reading -- I'm continuing to keep up with my reading, though my theme this month might have been "Quality, not Quantity".  I started several books that I really didn't like and abandoned them in the middle.  However, I read several books that were excellent; some of the best books that I've read in months.  If you are looking for a good read, pick up The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (classified as a YA book, but I feel strongly that it is mis-classified) and A History of Loneliness.  Both will stick with you. Grade: I'm Going With An 'A' Because Any Reading That You Do Is A Good Thing

Getting Mom in the Picture -- Finally, there are pictures of me out there!  Sure, I took them, but at least future generations will know that I exist!  Don't be knocking selfies!  Haha!  Grade: B

So, like I said, it has been a good month.  April is now here and I'm feeling good about things.  I hope that you have a wonderful month, whatever your goals may be!

 

Keeping Accountable -- Month Two

Second month of accountability -- I'll tell the truth, February wasn't a banner month for me in general.  Moving on...spring is around the corner, right?

Volunteering -- No change here.  I really need to look into finding a volunteer opportunity.  Grade: Incomplete.

Involvement in Hope's School -- There wasn't a PTO meeting, but I volunteered for the big end of the year event at Hope's school!    Grade: B+

My Health -- I have been a complete and utter disaster in this area.  I was very stressed at the beginning of the month and  it all went straight to heck. I did continue exercising, though! I'm making a real effort now that we are into March.  Grade: D-

Reading -- I'm doing pretty well with this, though not quite at my goal of 8ish books a month.  I think that I've read 15 since Jan. 1st and am forging ahead.  Current read: Wicked. Grade: A- 

Getting Mom in the Picture -- Still no change here.  Unless....Glenn may have taken some photos on his phone...I'll need to check on that.  Grade: D (maybe???)

It's all part of it, isn't it, the ups & downs?  Some months I'm going to do great & some not as much, but I hope that I'm a little further ahead at the end of the year than where I started.

 

Keeping Accountable -- Month One

All right, I said I was going to be accountable for my 2015 goals, so here I am, reporting on my progress after one month. 

Volunteering -- I haven't done anything regarding volunteering, but I didn't really expect to in January.  I need to look into a few options and find the place that best fits what I'd like to contribute and my schedule.  Grade: Incomplete.

Involvement in Hope's School -- I made the first step and went to the PTO meeting in January.  I'm really glad that I did -- I learned a lot about what is going on and got to know the principal a little better.  My goal in the coming months is to continue to go to the meeting as well as get involved in activities.  Grade: B (doing well, but have room to grow)

My Health -- I have made very conscious efforts in this area.  I'm working very hard to get in 5 fruits/vegetables a day, I'm drinking more water and am working out on a regular basis.  However, my Waterloo is definitely sugar.  I have made zero improvement on reducing my sugar intake (well, maybe I made a 5% improvement, but it is paltry).  Grade: B- (I need to consistently get in my 5 fruits/veg, 8 glasses of water and bring up the number of times that I exercise per week from 3 to 4.  Oh, and do something about sugar!)

Reading -- I'm reading a lot right now and got through 6 books in January.  In order to reach my goal of 100 in a year, I need to read slightly more than 8 a month, so I'm a little behind.  I'll need to pick up a few easy ones ;)  Grade: A- 

Getting Mom in the Picture -- This hasn't been successful in the least!  Glenn doesn't think to take pictures & I keep forgetting to hand him my camera.  Grade: F (I really need to get on this or my grandkids will wonder what I looked like before I was old & gray)

How are you doing with your new year's goals?

42 Years

This lady is 42 years old.  My birthday was yesterday, conveniently falling on a national holiday this year.  I convinced a few students that I had arranged for everyone to have the day off because it was my birthday.  Don't worry, I  set them straight.  I had a wonderful birthday weekend.  Glenn took me out to one of my favorite restaurants, Bistro L'Hermitage on Saturday night.  Going there makes an occasion special.  It's a grown up, dress up, wine & dine experience.  It was such a treat. 

Sunday afternoon, I made Julia Child's Boeuf Bourginon.  It's truly a labor of love -- 4 hours to make one of the most delicious dishes that I've ever had. A once a year treat.

On Monday, Glenn and Hope gave me presents and took me to Fredericksburg for lunch and browsing. 

We went to an italian place and then looked through antique shops and Riverby Books, a funky little used bookstore.  Then, it was home for more boeuf & cake.

I know that there are some people who don't like birthdays.  Who don't like the idea of growing older.  I love birthdays. I love the chance to get older. To get the opportunity to spend more minutes, days, years with Glenn and Hope.  There were some years that I went through some bad stuff.  Times when I got up and looked around and thought "Wow, if I got through that, I must be here for a reason".  I still don't know what the reason is, but I sure am glad that I keep getting the chance to figure it out.

Goals for 2015

Happy New Year to all of you! As the new year begins, I can't help but think about ways that I would like to enrich my life.  Not resolutions, but goals that will improve my happiness, well being and purpose.  Here are the goals that I've been mulling over the past few weeks:

Volunteering - I really want to support the causes that I believe in not only through donations but also through volunteering.  Not only do I want to make myself "walk the walk" of support but I also want to provide an example to Hope of the importance of service to others.  The challenge for me with this goal is time.  Time is my most precious commodity and I will have to commit myself to carving out time to volunteer.

Involvement in Hope's School - This is another example of making myself "walk the walk".  I talk all the time of the difference that parent involvement makes in a school's community and attittude and yet, I haven't really been involved in my own child's school.  Don't get me wrong -- I attend activities with her and am active in her personal education.  However, I haven't given time to become part of the organizations that make up the school community.  The next PTO meeting is going onto my calendar!

My Health - I know, same story, different year!  Who isn't making their health a goal/resolution in January?  In the past, I've made goals to lose weight.  That only works short term for me.  This year, my goals are to exercise more, drink more water, cut back on sugar and eat more fruits and vegetables.  I want to focus on my whole health rather than a number on the scale or skirt size.  I'm going to give occasional updates here on the blog to keep me accountable.  Hold me to this, OK??

Reading - My 2014 goal was to read 100 books.  I read 91 books -- so close!  I'm so glad that I put that goal in place and pushed myself to read as much as possible.  I'm pretty sure that I don't need to tell you how much I love to read and what it brings to me, but I will say that my life was enriched by those books.  In addition, it pushed me to read many books from my school library, which allows me to be a better librarian.  The 2015 is goal is to make it to 100 books -- I can do it!

Getting Mom in the Picture - I just added this goal as I was finishing up this post.  I went looking for a decent picture of me & had to go back to the summer!  Yeesh!  I'm going to hand the camera over to Glenn more often so that I can be part of the family's recorded history.

OK, I think all of these things are possible and, more importantly, are ways that my life will be better than before.  Do you have any goals for 2015?

Caught My Fancy -- November

November has just flown by!  I can't believe that it's almost Thanksgiving.  We'll be heading up to Boston in just a few short days to celebrate with Terri, Ezra & Rainey. 

Since I won't be as involved in the cooking as usual, I've appointed myself the leader of kid activities.  I've found some super-cute ideas on Pinterest, of course.

Handprint Turkey Hat

Pilgrim Hat

We'll start out with one of these projects.  You need appropriate attire for the Thanksgiving feast, of course.

I Am Thankful For Printable

I'd like to do this activity to remind them about the meaning of the holiday.

The Turkey Pokey

Finally, who couldn't use more Hokey...I mean Turkey....Pokey in their life?

On a completely different subject, the apartment of the late great Lauren Bacall is for sale and we have an opportunity to see where the legend lived.

 

The apartment is located in the Dakota -- one of the most desirable buildings in Manhattan, once home to John Lennon, Judy Garland & Leonard Bernstein.  Her place is how I saw her -- elegant, intelligent & worldly.  If you'd like to see the rest of the photos, they are located at yahoo.

As Thanksgiving draws near, I've been doing a lot of thinking about gratitude and how it affects my everyday life.  I always remember to be thankful for the big things -- my family, our home, health & security.  But, I find that every day gratitude is what really affects my outlook on life.  Paying attention to the way the light fills the autumn morning sky on my way to work.  The smell of the leaves.  Coming home at night & having my daughter shout "Mommy!" when she sees me at the door.  When I'm forgetting about the goodness in my life & need to be reminded about gratitude, I visit Susan Branch.  Every one of her posts is an ode to every day joys, to slowing down & being in the moment.  To loving the stove that brings you pleasure every day, to finding your cat's stash of hair bands (aka toys), to giggling over the kitty sneaking onto the table, to being thankful for the view out the window.

All photos by Susan Branch & used with permission.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of family & friends, good food & good times and much gratitude.