Scrappy Hearts

The View From Sunday

Brooklyn memories. It was a fabulous weekend with my baby!

Project Life, Week 35

Week 35, the last week of summer, and our adventures continue. This is the week we camped along the Delaware, hiked a part of the Appalachian Trail, visited Bushkill Falls, and had a wonderful evening out with Jason.Such a busy week, I needed several inserts to house all of the photos and ephemera. The first insert holds 6 photos from our hiking and camping adventrues.The next insert is a 8x10 and it holds the certificate I bought at Bushkill Falls stating that we survived the red trail. I added our names with stamps and I just love it!Behind the certificate I included the campsite identification from our particular campsite and next I included a 6 x 12 insert in which I put the brochure from Bushkill Falls and some information about bears and the hikes around our campsite.The last insert is a 6x12 in which I put 6 photos from my Friday adventure to Sandy Hook with Jackie. It was our attempt to practice our tri events in the place we actually had to complete the tri. We were so proud of ourselves especially after swimming 3/4 of a mile in the ocean.Work started for me this week on Wednesday. Two days at school and then, after driving Mark to the airport, Jackie and I headed out to Sandy Hook.

Labor Day weekend I spent at home. Jason invited me out to Ako's and Brittany's house on Saturday for Ako's birthday celebration. While I was nesting at home and partying with Jason, Mark was in Albuquerque catching up with family and spending time with Barbara. The last photo is from Mark's visit. So glad I had the opportunity to experience a bit of what Mark did during his time away through his photos.Getting closer to finally being caught up. As with everything, including myself, this is truly a work in progress.

Project Life, Week 34

Sitting in my baby's apartment in Brooklyn, waiting for the pasta water to boil, seems like the perfect time to catch up on some Project Life.

Week 34 was my first week without work since July 1st. Mark and I planned some adventures for the end of summer and this was just the start.Sunday we tackled the Dog Day Race in Harvey Cedars, it was a great day for a run! We stopped at the Oasis Grill for lunch after showering back at Jen and David's. Monday, I was out early to Office Max and their teacher's day goodies. Stopped at school to work on my classroom and then home to pack for our mini-vaca to Ocean City. Our evening was spent at a RiverSharks game. Our first time and it was terrific. We had great seats right behind home plate. We enjoyed hot dogs and just being outside on a great summer night.

For us, it was so nice to arrive at Bunkey's house on Tuesday knowing that for three days we had no obligations. We did treat ourselves to the Dancing and Romancing show at the Music Pier on Tuesday evening. We really enjoyed that! Because of all of our adventures, I needed to add many inserts this week.The first insert included is an 8.5 x 11 page protector that has our race numbers and timing chips from the Dog Day Race.The second insert is a 6x12 insert that holds 6, 4x6 photos. I used that second insert to hold our photos and ephemera from the Riversharks game. This photo shows the back of the second insert and the front of the 3rd insert which is another 6x12 protector that holds 6 photos. These photos, in the second insert, are from our short vacation in Ocean City.  The back of the 3rd insert is again Ocean City photos. We stayed in Ocean City until late Thursday evening. Friday, I was back at school. I was trying to get some things set up in my classroom before I took off for the Delaware Water Gap. Saturday was the day set aside for organizing and shopping for our camping trip. There it is, Week 34, done.

I have filled this album, completely, and I am not even caught up. I ordered another album and when it arrives I am going to split my year in half. I just love this project and I love that I now have a place to record our everyday moments. I also love that I now have a place to put all that other stuff that I collect, and that I have always collected!

Relief...

Jessica knows how to handle my hot flashes...I need to take this girl home with me!

Right Now...

Adjusting to being back at school.

Watching John Adams. 

Taking time to play.

Training for the Vineyard Run and hoping to finish in less than 30 minutes.

Cooking fall foods; soup, pasta sauce, chicken marsala, yum.

Folding laundry.

Dealing with not knowing how to dress for each day between the weather and my non-working internal thermostat. Hot flashes are the pits. So is swimming in sweat when it is 50 degrees.

Packing for a weekend trip to visit my baby in Greenpoint. 

Looking forward to creating some new memories together.

Sewing baby quilts for some very special little ones, before they arrive!

Sweating, enough said.

Remembering where I was just one year ago.

Anticipating dinner with number one son on Monday at Vedge.

Savoring Sweetzel's Spice Wafers and an ice cold glass of milk, who needs dinner.

Wishing I was more on top of the yard work.

Pausing, to take it all in.

Missing Mark...

Promising the house will be clean by the time he gets home.

Loving my blessed and wonderful life.

Play Date

A day off, mid-week, invites a call for pleasure. Bunkey contacted me early last week so that we could plan a playdate for today. So, after raising myself out of bed way too early on a day off, 6:45am, and driving my dear hubby to the airport, I packed up my car and headed over to Bunkey's. That's right, packed up and out of my driveway by 9am. I resisted the temptation to crawl back into bed and ventured on with my day.

It was a good thing. We had so much to do. Our day started with the construction of Halloween pillowcases. This was Bunkey's idea. They turned out so cute! I only hope that they will be received in spirit in which they were made. Only time will tell.Next up on the agenda, lots of quilt tops to complete. I actually finished piecing the blocks together for my chocolate kisses and hugs quilt.The borders are under construction and I should be able to add them over the weekend. I also worked on adding the borders to my stained glass log cabin quilt and the piecing of another baby quilt. I am a bit ADD so I tend to move from project to project during the day so that I do not get bored.

Today, I also needed to get back to my training after taking off last night. I ran 3 miles at a pace of 9:40/mile. My time keeps getting better and better. I am training for a 26 minute 5K in October and it looks like that is more than possible! Yippee!

Tomorrow, back to work. But today, today was terrific!

While the Boy’s Away

I will play. 

I am packing for a play date with my dear friend Bunkey. The plan, sew all day and finally finish a few of these projects that have been hanging on for just too long.

Then, immediately after work on Friday, a drive up to NY to spend some quality time with my baby. Our plans including making a big pot of sauce, some baked ziti, and watching some of our old favorites. Saturday, after brunch with the girls, we will be off to Fort Tilden for some much needed beach time and some serious biking. I can't wait!

Project Life, Week 33

And this is the way we catch up, one photo at a time, one week at a time. And, it's all good. I just love the opportunity to capture the everyday stuff of our lives. Even though I have not done this project for long, even the albums I have give me great pleasure when I look back. One I complete a weekly spread, I feel such a sense of accomplishment.Week 33 saw me back at school, getting ready for September and finally having the opportunity to scrap in an organized studio. How cool is that? Mark captured a photo of me scrapping in my pj's on Sunday and I just love that photo. I really did accomplish one of my big goals for the summer!

This week we visited Longwood Gardens with my mom. That called for an additional insert. We took so many photos during our visit which turned into a real adventure when we were caught in the meadow during an intense thunderstorm.The photos included are a collection of photos taken by Mark and myself. Mark is very good about sharing his photos here at home on our network. Me, I am not so good about going up there to get photos. I miss out on a great deal when I don't do that. I love seeing his perspective in the photos.

I think one of my favorite photos of the day is the picture I took of my mother's and my feet under the garden light. Neat!The front side of the insert actually shows a couple of photos I took while experimenting with my digital SLR, using manual mode. I am learning, slowly, but I am learning.Week 33 was also my last week of work at the Islanders' Store. Bittersweet. Tuesday we were at REI to pick up my bike and Mark took photos of the campsites they had set up. I just have to laugh sometimes at the photos he takes!

I managed a bit of work at school Monday and Tuesday, worked at the store on Wednesday and Thursday and on Friday, we headed to Longwood Gardens. 

On Saturday, Mark and I headed to the beach. On the way, Mark dropped me off and I biked nearly 12 miles to meet him at the Hot Diggidy Dog stand in Chatsworth. It felt great to finally ride my bike for that distance without stopping for cars and people. We stopped in Harvey Cedars to pick up our race packets for the Dog Day Race on Sunday and then ventured to have dinner with Jen and the girls.

Another really wonderful week. In looking back, as I work to catch up, I realize how really wonderful this summer was. A perfect balance of work and play, organizing and just enjoying life.

Hello Fall!

Hello school.

Hello earlier sunsets.

Hello to homemade soup and savory dishes.

Hello to cooler evenings and warm afternoons.

Hello flannel pajama bottoms and long sleeved tee's.

Hello quilts and fleece blankets.

Hello football!

Hello snuggling. 

Hello fall, it is good to see you!

Project Life, Week 32

Week 32, August 5th - 11th, was a week of working on projects and laying low. It was a good week in terms of my Summer Manifesto, a good week in terms of making mindful choices and allowing the natural rhythm of the week to take over.

Lots of nesting took place. There were plenty of organizational projects and a bit of purging. I dove head first into my studio and did not emerge until it was usable. There were many before and during pictures, not so many after pictures. I got too busy creating!There was time to relax and be aware of the beauty of nature. Time to enjoy little treats. Time to work together with Mark to make some household decisions and just time to create. There was time to train and time to relax. I couldn't have asked for more!This spread really sums up the week, simple and productive.