Thursday, July 15 - evening update

AFTER WORK: Raced over to Karen and crew (that fab uucc fam), and Alan was swimming with the 17 year-old son. Boy what an interesting kid!!! Such a great combination of creativity, approachability...he is oozing with sweetness (as is his sister!) Actually the whole family!!! Not only do they let him swim and play all of their instruments, but today they did a craft with him and presented it to me!!! HOW SWEET!!! God they are definitely special and I will always be grateful!!

THEN.....

Raced over to the YMCA for Alan's swimming lessons - actually kept Alan in his bathing suit from Karen's and we made it with 5 minutes to spare!!! He jumped off the deep end of the pool 2 times, and did an awesome job "scooping ice cream" and "making circles!!!

THEN.....Alan left with his Dad, and I approached my second job (Library) on an empty stomach. LUCKILY, it was only a 90 minute meeting, and I am home now with some pasta boiling in the water!!!! It was a LONG DAY!!!

Feeling grounded and focused, but a little on the tired side. Looking forward to wrapping up the week! Hopefully a family trip to ZOOM FLUME!

Too Early!! (with updates)

A great afternoon off with a planting spree must have tired me out. Crashed early - had to be REAL EARLY as I awoke at 3am!!!! This is not good!! I need the rest as today will be a busy day....work, swimming lessons, then a Kingston Library board meeting....I'll be on the go pretty much all day. But I'll enjoy it. Just need to pace myself. I'll come home and crash!!!

Things to do this morning:
- Gather the library things including that recorder which I currently missplaced!!
- Bathing suit/towel for Alan
- Alan's lunch
- I'll be eating all meals on the road today...breakfast and lunch are already at work. I may need to pack a dinner...
-Check plants and garden.....

My weekend is also pretty booked, so the next hour may be my only quiet time :)

UPDATE: 6:26AM - Fell back to sleep around 4:45, and was awakened by obnoxious alarm - I am usually awake before that peircing sound!!!! Anyway, still out of sorts, I botched the coffee this morning. First I forgot to put water in it, Duh! Then, something happened and it all clogged up. Had to start over, but there is no more caffienated coffee!!! :( GRRRRR ALso add to the list: Feed fish and birds :) That will make me smile! Maybe more updates later too!!! :)

UPDATE: 6:57AM - Just came back from feeding birds! Ended up weeding (without gloves, since this was spontanteous!!! Veggie garden is THRIVING!! Lots of tomatoes, 2 peppers, 2 cukes....squash still flowering...basil, cilantro, lettuce....And we have about 3 carrots still working it. Nice to spend time there (albiet 5 minutes....and now at 7AM, officially time to get ready!!! Oh, shooed a black cat out of the garage just now and had to investigate a beeping sound in the laundry room.....so much!!! Smile :)

Treated myself to new garden flowers!!!

love a lazy night

Indulged in a much needed lazy night where I did not cook or clean. Out to eat with my boy which I very much enjoyed!

Good day all around!!

Just more....

Not sure when it is age appropriate to start using math-addition flashcards, but with my five-year-old, we started this "math story" last night. I am actually surprised at this, since he seems to have a deeper preference for the creative, but he does have this intense curiosity to know things, and it clicked with me recently to start this "number story". The last month, he really was into counting his "stickers", counting numbers of strings on his instruments, counting the number of songs on his CD, and most recently he wants to know how deep the various pools and lakes are (so he can know if he can touch). He also told me a week ago that his favorite number is "12".

So all this numbers talk was my lead in last night with the flashcards (which I found when cleaning his room buried under unused car toys). I took out the first flash card, and said, "if the Saugerties beach starts out at 6 feet, and you go a little further and it's 2 feet deeper, then what is 6 + 2. The kid caught on right away. He even got 9 +7 !!! (He used his fingers and toes to count, but some of them you can see his rote memory at work for the easier ones like 6 + 6, etc.) I am so amazed at this, and I am thinking that something really was learned last night as he made connections with numbers in real life situations. Left Brained AND Right Brained. Maybe he'll INVENT an instrument!!! I think that this stage however is normal for children to start counting, etc. I know most children at this age are starting to read too. I have had some challenges with Alan with wanting to read books, or have me read to him. He would rather write them (which we did over the weekend to "Billy and Apple"). This child is exhausting!!!

All positive reports from the school. I didn't talk with the teacher today, but the book indicated that he invented two games that he played with two new friends. The UUCC family began their caretaking of Alan after school, and he LOVED IT, and THEY LOVED HIM!! When I picked him up, he was playing their piano, and wanted to stay longer. The family adored him!

Then we came home, and I admit to just making a simple dinner tonight. Bob was coming home late, so we did a quick dinner, and made it to the beach in time for a pre-bedtime swim. I am posting this pretty early on Tuesday!!! Have a busy day!!!

Oh, and a quick word about my sunflower garden. NOW ALL OF THE LEAVES are eaten. On Wednesday after work, I will purchase some already grown ones as a gift to myself and will plant them!!!

ONE MORE THING, my friend just posted this on facebook, and I like it. She posts daily quotes......

"The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands." Arthur H. Stainback

Caio Bella

Social Sunday

My favorite thing to do in life is to entertain at my home and cook for my friends...whether it be a child-friendly playdate, or special gathering...(remember my dream of a B&B!) Anyway, tonight, we just hosted the sea chantey group starting with a great BBQ including coconut shrimp, steak, corn on the cob, salad and pasta....I made my specialty drink...lemonade with selzer with fresh mint from the garden....homemade blueberry/peach crisp for dessert....I always think its fun to make dessert in the presence of company as a special way to bond with people, sharing the love....good thing I did this, because I received some good advice....cook the crisp with the peach skins ON!!! Oh, was it delicious!!!

After dinner/dessert....the music started, and we played lots of great tunes. Love having live music in my home, especially the sea chantey folks. They are such a dedicated group who meets regularly to rehearse....such interesting folks. It was great to get to know them better!!!

Food, friends, family, music...what else? How about spirituality...One of the best sermon's ever by Rev. Linda. Because it was her last one before she moves on to the next phase of her life, the place was packed!!! What an impressive person and she will be missed!

I should have made double the amount of sandwiches!!! (Yes it was my turn to make sandwiches for after service). I made turkey, monteray jack cheese sandwiches with cranberry sauce, lettuce...and WALNUTS!! They were gone in a matter of 5 minutes!!!

ANYWAY, have a big week planned!!! Need to get ready for tomorrow!! All is good tonight, and I am grateful!

Saturday, July 10th

Passed up on a lot of fun events today (b-day party, community BBQ, John Street Jam, train ride). It was a busy back to work/school week, and I felt content enough to stay home instead...that's okay!

Started the morning with Alan interested in.....puppets. Hauled out the puppet theatre. He wants to act out the Billy and Apple story we've been working on. It lasts all of 20 minutes!! NEXT!!!

Then off to take a Zumba class, and the boys go out for breakfast..... Couldn't be more prouder of Jules, who kicked off her first class by motivating us to burn calories with a hot combination of hip swirls. Very proud of her!! (FYI, two years ago, I introduced Jules to this fusion of Latin dancing/aerobics, and what a good match for her it was!!!!) So happy that she is certified, and she no doubt will have a following....she is an accomplished singer/dancer/actress/performer, and a beautiful person inside and out. I love you Jules!!

THen upon returning home, Alan and I cleaned his room. He needs more room for his "studio"/music room.

Went to Adams to pick up a few things including peaches for tomorrows cobbler!!! We are hosting the sea chantey folks for dinner, and wanted to make this special group of people something special.

Home in time for lunch....funny thing happened...As we all know the background of the sour cream stories in this household. Well, Alan and I were just finishing up lunch, and Bob was practicing his guitar....looked like he was practincing a new song. He starts singing an old Pete Seeger song, one that no one ever heard of before about sour cream!!! Alan gets a real kick out of it. I run to Alan's room to get a tamborine to play along...Alan looks at me, then runs to his room to get his violin, just in time to return for the last verse and we all kick it up a knotch to this silly ditty about sour cream. Musicians are a strange crop!!! Thanks Uncle Pete!!

ANYWAY, Alan has been working hard to earn his new drum set....We run back to Kingston later that afternoon and he picks out an affordable set!!! I put it together in about 10 minutes, and he is ready to rock....for the rest of the night actually!!!

Alan's Summer Job :)

Wednesday....July7th

Hey Mom...I mean Bootie...
Fired up that shiny new gas grill tonight, it is so grand! Once I conquered my fear of pressing that "ignite" button, it was smooth sailing. I recommend grilling corn on the cob. Fabulous. I thought of you when I cut up onions, sprinkled olive oil and balsamic viniger, and wrapped it up in foil. Chopped up red peppers and minced garlic, and wrapped that up too....All while barbequing chicken.....dinnertime! Am I making you hungry?

...Later, while sweating on an elliptical at my gym, I caught an episode of Seinfeld. Its been a long time since we've had a television, so catching 30 minutes of some good TV felt sweet. Sorry, I know you and Pops wished we had a TV so you can watch your FOX.... But I can't stand the thought of it...(Tv AND Fox). Oh, and Jules started teaching Zumba, and I think I can take her class this Saturday. A bunch of us are going to support her by attending.

...what else? Nothing intriguing. Had a pleasant day at work. Alan loves his new class, and the teachers love him and pulled me aside this morning to tell me how great he is and that he is doing so well! Love that news!

So now dishes are done, house is settled, laundry in dryer, and I am just chilling out (literally)...waiting for some RAIN! Veggie garden is thriving, but I am thinking that some insect is eating the leaves on my sunflowers which has me a little worried. Remember that giant magical sunflower that grew last year that no one recalls planting?!

ANYWAY, Love you,
Michelle

HOT July 7 First day back at work/school

Hot enough for ya!!! Sorry that I didn't have any posts yesterday....I was back to work from vacation, and very very busy, and conked out early while I was actually putting Alan to sleep, I think I was in the middle of telling him a story! LOL

He LOVES his new summer classroom and made the transition perfectly He played his harmonica for show and tell. It took me 90 minutes to get ready in the morning, had to finish up things from that list...which I thankfully did (except photos)!!! Then once at work, I spent the day returning emails, phonecalls, and had a small group tour in the afternoon.

After work/dinner (using freshly snipped cilantro from garden), we took a quick dip in the lake at the bottom of the hill to cool off. That actually put me over the edge, I came home very tired, and it felt good!!!

Oh, and Bootie and Pops back in AZ until August.....I think it is hotter here!

Well, I better get ready for work :) Love, Michelle

Here we go....Monday

Things to do (possibly with updates!):

- Food Shopping - DONE!!! Ran over my toe with a shopping cart at the god aweful Walmart where I sought to buy cheap bathing suits for Alan given that he will be swimming every day at summer camp.....While I was there, picked up snackies and this and that for a full cart...Totalling: $112. Then, went to Adams for the fresh vegggies, fruits and meats. A much different experience, was blessed with a spot right up front (this heat is a killer!)...Tonight, I'll be picking fresh basil from the garden and making pesto. Also BBQing ribs. I have food all set for everyone's lunches, and meals planned out too!!! Such a nerd am I, but as a busy mom, you have to be organized :)


- Bathing Suits - Alan - DONE!!! See above

- Contact Alan's babysitter for weekly update, etc. (Almost DONE)....

- Return all of the emails I have neglected this week!!! (DONE!)

- Bills and weekly budget (still procrastinating 8:42 pm, but that's next)

- Download photos from my camera from T-ball, Old Songs, Zoom Flume and upload them to a place that will actually print them!!! (Probably not going to happen)!

- Laundry - No more folkie skirts and jean cut-offs...back to professional clothes...they should be fitting better since all of this activity, exercise and healthy eating, I think I might have dropped a few pounds this month...no eating after 7pm, and cut out the sweets...

- Organize Alan's BackPack -

- Zumba class 5:30 meeting Jules there...DONE!! GREAT CLASS!!!


WHAT ELSE???

- Picked basil from the garden, and made FRESH pesto with pasta, tomatoes and zuccini...Oh SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY!!!!

July 4th

Certainly didn't notice today's heat given that we were in a wave pool all day...Lazy river too!!! Another fun trip to Zoom Flume, this time with Pops and Bootie....Maybe I should get a season pass? Bootie whipped up her usual fabulous Italian dinner afterwards.....

Hello July 3rd Yard Sale Wrap up

Quirkiest item sold --- 30 empty German beer canisters which had been stacked like gun ammo under our back porch...no we're not moonshining in our free time, they were abandoned by the previous homeowner.....SOLD $10

Happiest Customer/s -- A family who purchased two bags of XXL mens clothes...SOLD $5

Saddest item to see go ----- The elephant seat...$2

Most regettable item sold ---- Bob's white western shirt which was missed by him when he was sorting out his clothes. Sorry Bob!!!

Best deal not purchased --- A Norwegien sweater XL Tall worth $100, but did not sell for $1.

NEW Items (never used) that were sold: excerise Mat, iron (who irons?), and gray "career pants".

Free items still on the curb - rug and a marble topped broken dresser....(someone took the computer monitor)

Friends who stopped by knowing that we were having a yardsale: Ernie and Jeanne, Ginny

Friends who stopped by NOT knowing that we were having a yardsale, but just came to say hello: Eileen in the morning, and Patterson and Eleanor in the afternoon.

What we will do with the $97.85 made from the yard sale: We are going to take ourselves out for brunch, then go to the book store to purchase a bird book since we have had sooooo much gratification from the new bird feeder perched outside our front window.

Best diversion -- Put my shoes on after spotting a bumble bee burying itself into the grass a few feet from me!!

Well that's my yard sale wrap up. Afterwards, we hung out a bit, and then I drove up to pick Alan from Pops and Boot. We met up in Palenville as they were at North Lake....

It was a great day!!!

July 2

...taking a short break...in the process of completing chores at a nice slow and relaxing pace to live concertina music with the occasional"checking in" of my five year old who happily occupied himself with composing and creating while also just reminding me that he is being "mindful of the needs of others" (taken from grace). He has something in store for Pop Pop's visit later I guess.

Anyway, loved being outside to weed and water my veggie garden, sunflower garden and sidewalk garden. Everything else is overgrown and dry!!! Sprinkler on lawn for a few hours.....Trying something new....this week, the shower curtan and sheets will dry in the sun with our back yard clothes line!! Just scrubbed two bathrooms, and folded and put away laundry!!! And yes, we have clothing pins!!!

I am also marinating some steak for tonight's family dinner with Pops and Bootie arriving. We will be visiting a family that we met at the UU this afternoon, so it's a little late to squeeze in a swim. That reminds me, Bootie, bring your bathing suit!!! Better give you a call!!! Back to chores!!!

July 1st

Hello!!! Splish Splash ---- Scoop!! Now why didn't I think of the ice-scooping method of teaching a child how to swim? Brilliant!! Day one of swimming lessons couldn't have gone better. Another family trait that he inherited, this one from the Tagliaferros with both cousins having been champion swimmers.

As we departed from our lesson, Alan spotted a friend from school, and there were squeals of laughter!!! Here's a coincidence....We ended up at the same pizza place afterwards, and the two of them had a grand time reconnecting (we've been on vacation for how many days?).....boys can be sooooo silly!!!

Well, that was the highlight of the day...snapped lots of photos....etc.

What else? Also prepared for this weekend's grand yard sale...Please, if you are reading this, and want some great deals, or even a car....Let's make a deal!!!! I am ready to donate this car and/or sell it for a steal!! I certainly am not a pack rat and I don't care about how much $ we make....just want to DECLUTTER!!! :)

OH!! Pops and Bootie arrived tonight!!! Should see them tomorrow!!! It's a short 4 day trip, but nice none-the-less YEAH!!!

Have a great night :)

The "Jugs" (Alan playing Slide guitar)