I hope all of you relished in this glorious summer day – the last of July. We spent most of the day in the back yard with an evening stroll to visit a friend for dinner. Even though summer is officially in full swing, on the way home tonight, I couldn’t help but feel the first chill of autumn as I picked up the first fallen leaf from the sidewalk. I can't tell if this is a sign of autumn or a wind-strewn leaf detached from a branch, but something felt different in the air.
Tomorrow, the calendar unfolds to the “back-to-school” month. (Remember, I worked at a college where the academic year starts in August not September!) This means we’ll see long sleeved clothing ads in the newspaper, catchy Target commercials with teens dancing in wool sweaters, and of course the seasonal isles at the grocery store will be stocked with spiral notebooks, folders and glue...
So happy August everyone……don’t be disappointed, we still have more hot days coming….but as you read this, take a closer look outside your window…..It’s fascinating to watch the seasons shift, especially in its early stages……see if you can find the first fallen leaf and pick it up.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Drum Circle
It felt like magic meadow all over again, possibly missing the full moon by hours. But the drums continued to beat – miles away from the mountain top. Sitting on my Pergo floor surrounding a metal container with plastic rods were Alan and Jace creating a drum circle of their own. At first Alan was reluctant to share his music, but with some coaxing, Jace was brought into the circle of two. Though other toys captured their attention throughout the morning, they often took breaks from car-play and gravitated back to the drum to make music together. Though my Dad thought it was too loud, I enjoyed every thunderous sound.
PostScript – Jace (who will be 4 in November) discovered today that he loves cherries. Though the chicken quesadillas stuck to the pan and came out too dry, (basically a flop lunch)….I felt surprisingly calm about it all. I’m learning to not be so hyper-focused on the food, and to just enjoy the companionship of great people. And that surly describes Julie, Eileen and company!
PostScript – Jace (who will be 4 in November) discovered today that he loves cherries. Though the chicken quesadillas stuck to the pan and came out too dry, (basically a flop lunch)….I felt surprisingly calm about it all. I’m learning to not be so hyper-focused on the food, and to just enjoy the companionship of great people. And that surly describes Julie, Eileen and company!
Julie and Jace brought over some trains to share with Alan.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Blurb about Greene County Youth Festival
MORE PHOTOS BELOW....
Notorious for being late, we pulled into the empty parking lot of the Greene County Youth Festival – 2 hours before they even opened. We thought we were clever for beating the crowds (and the heat) by going early, but in fact we didn’t realize that the fair opened at 12pm. But that’s okay. No one told us to leave. We had the place to ourselves!
Alan and Ivan spent time riding tractors around barrels of hay and playing in a corn pit. The Greenville Fire Department gave the boys shiny red fire helmets and allowed them to sit behind the wheal. We pet the cows, pigs, rabbits and roosters….Alan fed a calf some hay. My favorite were the baby pigs.
Lunchtime was fun. We had front row picnic tables to a live country band. Melanie wanted to request Orange Blossom Special. I couldn’t believe my ears. Alan and I listened to that song about 35 times last night on Youtube (Johnny Cash singing with Miss Piggy). It amazes me how in synch we are! We ate typical fair food – Melanie was smart. She packed a healthy sandwich for Ivan, so Alan had pizza…the most nutritious item I could find. Nick couldn’t resist eating a corndog (where else does one eat such things), and Melanie and I had French fries. Roger had sausage and peppers…..I can hear the arteries clogging!
Of course Alan was intrigued by the fan.
Alan and Ivan spent time riding tractors around barrels of hay and playing in a corn pit. The Greenville Fire Department gave the boys shiny red fire helmets and allowed them to sit behind the wheal. We pet the cows, pigs, rabbits and roosters….Alan fed a calf some hay. My favorite were the baby pigs.
Lunchtime was fun. We had front row picnic tables to a live country band. Melanie wanted to request Orange Blossom Special. I couldn’t believe my ears. Alan and I listened to that song about 35 times last night on Youtube (Johnny Cash singing with Miss Piggy). It amazes me how in synch we are! We ate typical fair food – Melanie was smart. She packed a healthy sandwich for Ivan, so Alan had pizza…the most nutritious item I could find. Nick couldn’t resist eating a corndog (where else does one eat such things), and Melanie and I had French fries. Roger had sausage and peppers…..I can hear the arteries clogging!
Of course Alan was intrigued by the fan.
MORE PHOTOS BELOW
Barn Dance
Alan danced with Lanny to “shake it up baby” tonight at the barn dance at the Avallone farm. The democratic fundraiser brought out many friends from the community. We arrived just before sunset, so Alan and I roamed the property. The whimsical perennial gardens took my breath away. We also discovered peacocks, horses, a pond, and of course the barn. This wasn’t an ordinary barn by any means. Yes, there was hay, but also a large rope for the children to swing from. It reminded me of a fun house, especially the loft which was set up with mannequins, vintage furniture and paintings. Glittered scattered the dance floor, and strobe lights spun around the room. Alan banged on the piano. Lots of sweet treats. Lots of fun. It sure has been a full day!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Reuniting....
So many of my memories are internal and personal and charged with a wide range of feelings. When one reconnects with an old friend, it validates the importance of meaningful past experiences that are cherished and valued. Today, I reunited with Helen, a college roommate, who I hadn’t seen in over 11 years.
The last time I saw her, I was still living in my Kingston apartment where my rent was $560 a month. I was making $8.50 an hour as a residence counselor, and pulling all-nighters writing grad school papers. I was rolling pennies for a bagel on Wall Street. We had no internet. We had no cell phones. We both had our lower backs tattooed.
Since then, between the two of us, there have been 2 marriages, 3 births, a law degree, master’s degree, first homes, second homes, and a decade of ups and downs. We recapped our very full lives with each other – spouses too (we are both with the same men), so you can sense the intensity and imagine the enthusiasm at my home today. And while I shall not review the details of our discussions, I will say that it brought me great joy – to the point of tears - to see one of the most beautiful people I have ever known!!
The last time I saw her, I was still living in my Kingston apartment where my rent was $560 a month. I was making $8.50 an hour as a residence counselor, and pulling all-nighters writing grad school papers. I was rolling pennies for a bagel on Wall Street. We had no internet. We had no cell phones. We both had our lower backs tattooed.
Since then, between the two of us, there have been 2 marriages, 3 births, a law degree, master’s degree, first homes, second homes, and a decade of ups and downs. We recapped our very full lives with each other – spouses too (we are both with the same men), so you can sense the intensity and imagine the enthusiasm at my home today. And while I shall not review the details of our discussions, I will say that it brought me great joy – to the point of tears - to see one of the most beautiful people I have ever known!!
Friday, July 27, 2007
All I want to do these days....
All I want to do these days is walk to Stella’s Station for ice cream (Moose Tracks – 2 scoops with whipped cream)….. This week, I’ve been better at not indulging too much, but it hasn’t been easy. Missing that ice cream! I’m worried because I haven’t been working out at the gym as long as in the past. I think I go just for the socialization, but even that seems to be waning. My endurance is way down. I try going everyday, but I get so tired after 30 minutes, not enough to burn the extra calories. I can’t seem to make it to Zumba and the spinning class is still too intimidating. Why do they turn off those lights? I’m hoping that all of my busy summer outdoor activities coupled with chasing a lively toddler will help prevent me from gaining the extra ice cream weight. But I can’t get Moosetracks out of my mind on those hot days….What’s your favorite flavor?
Other than ice cream, another favorite treat is hot peanut butter and jelly sandwiches eaten at the beach. Something about how it gets squished in the beach bag along with the heat that makes them soooo delectable. So yes, we spent another morning at the lake. This time, we spent more time in the water than on the swings, a big plus for me. However, Alan was Mr. No-Nap today – you would think he would have fallen into a deep slumber with all that swimming, but he didn’t….which made dinner at Portia and Louis’s a little challenging. He escaped out her front door, and I went into a panic. He was in her back yard playing with the rocks. He probably was only out there for 20 seconds on his own, but it was scary none-the-less.
Tomorrow is my visit with my college roommate, Helen. We haven’t seen each other in about 11 years. I am very excited to see her!!!!
Other than ice cream, another favorite treat is hot peanut butter and jelly sandwiches eaten at the beach. Something about how it gets squished in the beach bag along with the heat that makes them soooo delectable. So yes, we spent another morning at the lake. This time, we spent more time in the water than on the swings, a big plus for me. However, Alan was Mr. No-Nap today – you would think he would have fallen into a deep slumber with all that swimming, but he didn’t….which made dinner at Portia and Louis’s a little challenging. He escaped out her front door, and I went into a panic. He was in her back yard playing with the rocks. He probably was only out there for 20 seconds on his own, but it was scary none-the-less.
Tomorrow is my visit with my college roommate, Helen. We haven’t seen each other in about 11 years. I am very excited to see her!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)