Scrappy Hearts

Training Update

Currently, Jackie and I are training 6 days a week. She is much better at keeping up with her running and biking than I am, but I am getting better. 

I started seeing a sports doctor to help with the issues that I am having with my legs. After dealing with debilitating pain in my hips during most of the spring and winter, I was diagnosed with piriformis syndrome. Actually knowing what the issue is has definitely helped. Now I have an exercise routine that I need to follow and I visit the doctor once a week for "needle therapy". Today was my second visit and even though the injections hurt like heck, I believe I am seeing some relief.

Last night was the best combination bike/run that I have had in a long time. Tonight, Jackie and I had swim sprints. It took us a little longer than we had hoped, but we finished and felt good afterward.

Our first tri of the season will be the "Queen of the Hill" race sponsored by the Mullica Hill Women's Tri Club at the end of June. After that, we are not scheduled for another tri until September's Iron Girl Tri in Sandy Hook. I would like to sign up for one more, but I am not sure that Jackie will be willing. We'll have to see. 

Interspersed with the tris, we have a couple of 5K's and a couple of 5 mile races. I am anxious to compete in a half marathon so I am hoping that the therapy for my hips will do the trick. In the meantime, we are in week 6 of our training, and all is going much better than last year!

Project Life 2013, Week 17

In case you hadn't noticed, I am now, permanently, a week behind in my Project Life posts. That translates to being a week behind in actually completing my spreads. Thank goodness!

I was feeling such stress having to get my spreads done by Tuesday. I didn't feel like I was doing the project justice. I was moving too quick and not enjoying the process. Now that I have slowed down a bit, things are just so much better!Week 17 started on Sunday, April 21st. It was the day before my 2nd wedding anniversary and the day Bunkey and I drove into Philly from Lancaster. It was a chilly Sunday, but the sun was shining and the day was bright!

Monday was a personal day from school so that Mark and I could spend some time together. We ventured into a Curtis Recital at St. Mark's Church and then we treated ourselves to lunch at PARC. Such fun we had.The first insert includes photos from our anniversary. The second insert includes the program from the recital at the church.The next set of inserts includes a note from Mark's sister Karen and the anniversary cards that I got from Mark.Finally, onto page two of the spread.During this week I completed a hand quilted table-runner that I sent to my sister Suzy for her birthday. The photo on the upper right is one Jess posted for #throwbackthursday on Facebook. On Saturday, Mark and I worked at the animal hospital with Bunkey and Eddie. We had a great day and we treated ourselves to lunch at the Rustic Grill. We had delicious salads.Another insert may be added to this just to show some of the shots we took at the animal hospital on Saturday. It was really a good time and I want to be sure to include those thoughts and photos in this album.

So, there it is, Week 17. I have been inspired by so many people and their different approaches to Project Life. Pinterest is full of good inspiration. I admire the creativity but feel that for me, right now, I need to keep things very simple. And, I'm really okay with that!

I will be linking up over at The Mom Creative. You may also want to check out some of the Project Life posts at Ali Edwards, Becky Higgin's Blog and Cathy Zielske. One of my favorites right at the moment, is Elise Blaha. I love her style!

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Project Life 2013, Week 13, Not Quite

Finally Finished

I can cross one project off the short list, finally!Not sure I really know how long I have had this quilt in the works, but tonight I tied the final knots and signed the signature block. This was one of those quilts that I put aside after making a mistake that I didn't know how to fix. I think I had put it aside for 6 years. Really. Once I took a closer look at it, just a couple of weeks ago, I realized that the remedy was really quite simple! Just think, I could have been done with this project years ago! Well, tonight it's finished and I am a very happy camper. I love the colors. I love the softness. I can't wait to use it!Now, to finish the other five projects before June 30th!

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Project Life 2013, Week 13, Not Quite

Finally Finished

Mothers’ Day 2013

So blessed to have a second day in a row filled with everything I love.There was hanging in my jammies and cooking until the afternoon.Roasting vegetables for this week's dinners.Delicious arugula salads with apricots. Yum!Delicious dinner for two prepared by my son Jason!A long conversation with Jessica. She posted this photo on Facebook, I love remembering sweet moments.The first roses have bloomed on our yard.And the opportunity to work on a quilt that I have been trying to finish for a couple of days.What a wonderful day!

Lots That I Love

Today was filled with lots of things that I love... 

Sleeping late.

The Farmer's Market. Today was opening day for this season!Visiting the library.Laundry. Really, I like doing laundry.

Roasting vegetables.

A 50 minute bike ride.

Fresh salad for dinner.

A play at the Ritz with Mark.Yes indeed, today was a wonderful Saturday filled with lots that I love!

Just Remembering

On Sunday, Mark and I took a walk over towards the Town Center. A carnival was in town and it presented quite a few photo opportunities. As I was going through the photos I was reminded of the prologue written for Tuck Everlasting, one of my all time favorite books. It is good to remember books, that are so well-written, they leave a mark on your soul. Such is the case with this classic.

“The first week of August hangs 

at the very top of summer, 

the top of the live-long year, 

like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel 

when it pauses in its turning. 

The weeks that come before are only 

a climb from balmy spring, 

and those that follow a drop to the 

chill of autumn, 

but the first week of August is 

motionless, and hot. 

It is curiously silent, 

too, with blank white dawns 

and glaring noons, 

and sunsets smeared 

with too much color.” 

Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

International Scrapbooking Day

A photo overview of a terrific day spent with some scrappy friends!

May Day

“The world’s favorite season

is the spring.

All things seem possible 

in May.”
-  Edwin Way Teale

Project Life 2013, Week 16

Here it is, finally, Week 16. Just about a full week late, but sometimes life just needs to be lived, don't you agree!Week 16 started onthe Sunday of Jason's birthday party and then continued with Jessie's birthday celebration on Monday. Both those events warranted inserts to hold the extra photos! I love that my children celebrate their birthdays so close to each other. Sometimes it makes it difficult for me to celebrate with each of them, but most of the time it works out just fine!

To be honest, Jessie usually gets the short end of the deal. She lives further away and I just don't make it up to New York City right on her birthday. So this year, I took the day and made the trip. Boy was she surprised! It was good fun!The photo above is the left page of my spread with the first photos from Jason's party on Sunday. I used a 6x12 insert that holds 6, 4x6 photos. Notice my ticket to access the elevators in the Empire State Building, what a cool thing!Here we have the back of the first insert, I just love the Ninja Turtle poster that hangs in Jason's livingroom, and the first page of the insert from my trip to New York City. For the second insert I used a page protector that allowed for both vertical and horizontal photos. Here is the back of the second insert with the photo of my new Starbuck's obsession, the You Are Here mugs. I bought my first one in Washington DC and then picked up the NYC one on this little visit.Finally, the last page of Week 16's spread. I included a photo I took of Jessie's Facebook post about her cupcakes that I had delivered and then information on my little trip with Bunkey out to Lancaster for the weekend.

All in all, Week 16 was just chock full of activities and celebrations. No wonder I did not get it posted last week!Week 16 will be linked up over at The Mom Creative where Jessica seems to have caught up with several of her weeks. I did not spend a great deal of time perusing her post, I will have to catch up with that later. 

Over at Ali Edwards' blog she posted her Week 16 on Sunday and Katie posted a spread this week, although I cannot remember off hand which week she posted.

As always, if you are interested in Project Life, check out Becky Higgins site. You will find all the information you need to get started.

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Right Now...

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Update on the Short List

Things are not moving as fast as I would like, but progress is being made. This is the Flannel Fun quilt that I had put aside maybe 8 years ago because I trimmed the backing too small. It is now fixed, the binding is attached and on its way to being complete. I just need to add a signature block before I finish hand sewing the binding.

The four heart wall-hanging is also well on its way to being completed. Actually, it would probably be completed except for the fact that I left it at The Village Quilter after our Jo's Club last Thursday. Oh well, there are plenty of projects to keep me busy until I make my way over there again!

I finished the Shabby Chic quilt top during my quilt weekend in Lancaster and that is currently in a bag waiting to be delivered to the long arm quilting ladies. Also in that bag are my Chocolate Hugs and Kisses which is also on the Short List and the mystery quilt from New Year's Day.

In the mean time I have finished a baby quilt for sweet little Arya and a table runner for my sister Suzy. I won't mention how long that has been here, but at least it is now complete! The two remaining projects on my list are in various stages of completion. I am actively engaged in completing the 30's Buck-a-Block quilt that just needs me to complete the twinkling stars border before I send it out to be quilted. The Medallion Mystery is still in a project bag waiting for my attention.

Oh well, June 30th is still about 60 days away!

I have already started to ponder the projects for the next Short List. Definitely on the list is Jason's Licorice All-sorts quilt and William's quilt. I also found this little project hiding on the quilt rack in the spare bedroom.This is actually the first mystery quilt I ever attempted. I had originally thought that I would quilt it myself, but that did not go so well. As is my habit, when I get discouraged with a project, I put it aside. I have been making this quilt since 1997. I think it is about time that I finish this baby! 

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Project Life 2013, Week 14

Finally Finished

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