Squeeze It In

Here is our NEW living room! It is a very nice space and we are loving it. It is used all the time, as the name living room would imply.I am at this very moment getting some alone time, it is bound to be over any minute now but it feels nice to have the quiet surround me. Such a rare things these days. Sleeping next to me in the aforementioned living room are 2 teenage boys, still tired apparently after staying up late playing video games (yes, I let them play video games). I shut them down at 2:15AM after they put on a movie and woke me up doing it. My Mom is sleeping in her room down the hall, she usually sleeps in pretty late. Pat just got up and read about the alone time and laughed. So it is...fleeting. Alone, but not really, I have to get up in time to "manage" my old cat, Pippin. He is 17 and at this great age has decided that he can go to the bathroom anywhere he feels like it. This is not do to him being infirm or kitty dementia or anything like that, no it is just because he is lazy. He is actually doing better and seems to understand his retraining but this morning he peed on the bathmat, which is a big improvement to some of the other spots he has chosen if a don't put him out on time. I also cleaned up kitty puke form my other old cat. Time alone, I'll take it even if it means doing these things as well.

I crave the quiet moments, this morning I noticed the sun beaming in thru my kitchen door like it NEVER has before, they are logging all around my house and what has felt like my yard for so long it most definitely NOT my yard. No matter how many times we have walked up there or the kids have played in those woods, they are gone now and I had no say in it. It is weird and a little sad. But... my house is now lighter & brighter. You can see the sun thru the trees, those are our trees and behind them was all harvested.

I walked out to the logging yard yesterday. Wow. This is right where I berry picked last summer.

I turn around and head home, where nothing is different, we still have our 2.5 acres and whatever we do with it is our choosing.

Long Time Passed

Wow, it has been over a year since I have written a blog post. Circumstances stopped the flow of Internet expression. I have been thinking about coming back for awhile, although I know that I must not have any more readers due to my abrupt and lengthy departure. I guess it is just for me then, and I will try not to worry too much about what I write.

Life is a funny thing, just as you get used to things they change. Oh, and NOTHING is ever perfect. I am in the midst of chaos right now and so I thought that this was the perfect time to write.

My living room remodel which was started 4 years ago this month is nearing completion, and a bedroom remodel is going slowly but will be done in a week! It must be all done because my Mom is moving in with me and I want things to be nice for her, she arrives in a little over a week. I am happy and excited but a bit nervous too. It has been a long time since we have lived together.

Oh and we parted ways with our painter. A bit of a disagreement about what "done" meant, and also we didn't like the look of dirt & fingerprints polyed into the trim forever. I felt bad, he was a nice guy and he started off so well. It was a weird & stressful thing to deal with, Pat was very firm and a bit pissed too. When the guy told him he didn't need to be such a dick about it, I knew the end had come. I just wish we had someone to finish the painting for us.

Scenes from the Fair

The rain stopped just in time for the fun to start! Here is a shot of the Ferris Wheel in the evening light.

L waiting with friends for his turn on the YoYo. This ride was called The Flying Swings back in my day.

Here it is in motion, if you look carefully you can see the blur of swings.

Ferris Wheel at night.

Fingernail Moon over the Fair.

Finding time to Knit

I have actually fit in knitting fairly regularly this summer. I squeeze it in at the end of the day. I have knit on several long car rides this summer. Paddy says that this is dangerous because if we had an accident and I was holding 5 pointy metal sticks...well you get the idea. I guess that is my way of living dangerously.

I am about to finish a pair of socks made of yarn purchased in Germany. I love how they are coming out. The colors are great as you can see and I wish you could feel them! They are wonderful. I am knitting them 2 at a time, a little trick I learned from my friend Mary Jane. That way you have 2 socks done at once not that disappointing feeling of having to start all over again as soon as you finish.

Mary Jane is full of knitting ideas, info & inspiration. I am not the only one who thinks so! She is interviewed in the latest issue of Interweave Knits and has just started her own website. Check her out @ http://maryjanemucklestone.com/

Enjoy the day.

Summer

I love when the purple cone flower is at this stage.

Early morning sun & fog. When I wake up and look out the window to see the light like this, I tend to jump up & run outside in my PJ's to snap a few pics.

At the Pond, with L and a few friends.

Ahhh...this is summer for me. This picture just sums it up!

Scenes from Founder's Day

The Hayride.

The kids love this! They put quarters in the sawdust and then give the kids 1 minute to find as many as possible. Never mind stupid plastic toys, this is cash. It is harder than it looks, and this year it was only quarters last year they had some 1 dollar coins as well. It must be the economy.

This was a new addition this year, making homemade ice cream. I thought that this was a great idea but L was not very interested and so I had to move on before the finished product. I loved this simple, old design of this ice cream maker. I wonder where I could find one.

The Pond

We arrived at the pond, the sun shining and the temperature warm. I went for a swim and then lay down in the sun to relax. My little summer interlude. I had my knitting, a book to read, L was busy jumping in repeatedly and after a few minutes of exploring Charlie lay down beside me on the blanket and went to sleep. Ahhh...

Well as it turned out we weren't the only ones who thought it was a perfect day to go for a swim. Soon, it turned into a dog party with children! The puppy had a blast and so did L. I got off my blanket to mind the puppy and watched him tear around the place and play. L did cannonball after cannonball, stopping only occasionally to burp (how to teach him NOT to take in water while jumping?) loudly.

What a day! It felt like summer, which was nice for a change.

Happenings

We went to the local organic strawberry farm- the picking was a little slim but we managed about 6 pounds. They are not perfect looking but they are delicious.L helped a little with the picking.

Pippin & the trout.

Incredible family party last Sunday. Music ,fun, food, friends, & family. It was one for the record books!

Home Alone on the 4th of July

I find myself at home, on my own today. I was supposed to go to a couple of parties but instead I am trying to recuperate from a sinus infection. I have never spent the 4th of July alone. Never.

When I was a child this was one of my favorite holidays. We would get up early and decorate our bikes with red, white, & blue crepe paper, that was all you needed to do in order to be in the parade. After the parade was over my family or another in the neighborhood would host a party. Friends, cookouts, swimming, red chicken, I loved it all. When nightfall approached we headed for the lake to view the fireworks. We always had to park far away and I remember being very small and getting a shoulder ride to the fireworks. I loved that feeling-I thought I was on top of the world!

Things have changed and I have celebrated this holiday in a variety of different ways. Today, I am getting some much needed time on my own. Not really what I had planned on or wanted but I don't mind the quiet day, not one bit!

I even have had time to FINALLY finish up these socks that I started in February. Yes, February!

I will enjoy the quiet & tomorrow, a must attend party!

a few photos from Martha's Vineyard

The Cakes of Germany

This was at the chocolate museum, we only looked at these ones.

Not cake. The best cup of hot chocolate I have ever had in my life. I would like another one. Right now.

Cakes through the window in Bonn. My reflection is visible in this shot.

Rhubarb cake at the coffee house right on the Rhine river. This one looks quite humble but it tops the list!

Mmmm. Same place and more yummy cake.

Someone(?) stopped by the local baker's that afternoon and bought a selection. How to choose which one?

Cake at painting class.

Rhubarb Cake at my sister-in-law's Mothers house.

More cake.

Cake again at painting class! I miss painting class.

Sunshine & Rain

This is how life is lately, so full! This picture is the perfect metaphor for my life right now. Lots of opposing things going on at once. Bright sunshine and pouring rain. I am certainly not bored.

I am trying to decide whether or not I should keep this blog going. When I am consistent it makes more sense and I yet I am struggling with it. Lately, several of the blogs I have read regularly are now gone or private. I truly miss them. Decisions!

If only I had a few extra hours everyday, I am sure I could get it all done then!

More Germany

Pictures now, text later. We are off to Norway in a Minute.

Germany is amazing!

My brother took me here yesterday. The picture cannot even begin to show this magnificent structure. It was huge and imposing and detail all over.

Fleisch und Wurst. Mmmmm.
Such a cool old bus. This is for Uncle Paddy.