Scrappy Hearts

Week in the Life, Wednesday

Her story: I allowed myself to sleep in, just a bit, before heading into work. A day full of the ordinary and I love the ordinary. My schedule at school was typical and for the first time this year I was actually able to squeeze in every subject! Wow. My usual lunch, leftovers with fruit, an apple and grapes. Again I allowed myself the opportunity to leave right on time. My sweet hubby delivered my quilt shop coupon to school just at dismissal so that I could run over to The Little Shop before 5. I picked up a couple of fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's 2014 mystery. I arrived home before 5 to my favorite little Halloween vignette. Then I sewed. Yup, no dinner just sewing. First time in about a month. It felt good. 

And, just because he is still behind on giving me "His Story" for our Week in the Life album, a picture of my hubby at his computer!

Week in the Life, Tuesday

Her story: I was up and out of the house before 7:15 on Tuesday. Drop in observations and a few loose ends that needed to be tied up. School on the whole is much more challenging now that we are required to arrive at 8:15 and now that they first 1/2 hour of our day is scheduled by someone who knows best about what we should be doing. I am still not a morning person! The day left me with a knot in my stomache and the need to leave work on time for the first time in well over a week. There were errands to run. Returns to be made. Gift cards that needed to be spent and a Halloween costume that needs to be made. Tuesday brought several reminders, I hate to shop for clothes, I weigh more now than I did just 6 months ago, and there are just not enough hours in the day. I did not get to sew, but I did get to bed at a reasonable hour. 

Week in the Life, Monday

Her Story: Today was all about choices. I made the choice to stop pressuring myself to accomplish everything that I need to do for our refinancing while working my crazy long hours. I took half a day on Monday and that allowed me to take care of filing important documents with the county. While in Camden I captured a photo of this church. I love the architecture and the red trim. Then, while at work, I made the choice to hind what was left of my piles. Anticipating a drop in observation, I was stressed by all of the paper sitting on every flat surface in my room, so I put it all in the closet. My final choice, although I was exhausted, I chose to join my tri-buddy Jackie at the pool. A series of choices led to a much more relaxed Joyce.

Week in the Life, Sunday

This year I am doing something a little different for our Week in the Life Album. Usually, I tell the stories and do all the recording. This year I decided that I wanted Mark to play a bigger role in the recording of our week in the life. 

So, each day we will each select a photo from the day as well as a story from the day to share. That will be the basis of our album. So, here it is Tuesday and we are not doing a good job of pulling this together. So I will proceed and Mark will catch up.

Sunday, for me, was all about staying at home and getting back to myself. I have been feeling very on edge lately and really just over-tired. Everything has been irritating me and I needed a break. Sunday provided that break for me. I have missed the opportunity to just hang at home, in my jammies, by myself. Mark had to be at work at 12 so that left time for me to do just what I like. I had such a grand time doing my Sunday chores and cooking! I made two big pots of soup and then spent the rest of the evening doing school work. Here's to feeling like myself and getting work done!

The View From Saturday

Fudge Ripple Ice Cream and Aunt Bette

Yesterday we decided to take the time to do a couple of our favorite things. The first, a visit to the Morris Arboretum. We took advantage of the free pass available at our local library and took a trip west of Philadelphia to see the fall colors. 

The second thing we did, a visit to see Mark's Aunt Bette. It is a shame that we do not get out to Ambler as often as we would like. So yesterday, we just took the time and I am so happy we did. 

Aunt Bette is Mark's mother's younger sister. We enjoyed hearing stories about the girls as they were growing up and negotiating a very different world from what we are familiar with. Since the family home was in Collingswood we got a glimpse of what our area was like "back in the day." Aunt Bette shared stories of her boys and caught us up with the goings on out in Ambler. She is a trained artist and is interested in getting back to painting. She discussed the need to switch to watercolor as a medium and took us through her thought process as she tried to figure out where she could set up a small studio in her apartment. 

We shared a wonderful dinner while we continued reminiscing. Imagine my delight when I was offered a dish of fudge ripple ice cream for dessert. As a little girl, fudge ripple was a treat that my Nanny would bring from Garden State Farms when she visited. 

Yesterday was a day that I needed. A touch of the fall colors and time spent outside. Most importantly, a visit with Aunt Bette and a dish of fudge ripple ice cream. Yes, yesterday was a day that I needed.

Getting Ready

One of my favorite projects of all times is the Week in the Life album that I do once a year. I follow along with Ali Edwards and a whole bunch of other people. Next week is the week for this year. 

Last year it was in September. I had a plan going into the week, but never fully pulled the project together. I do like how I focused on just four topics for each day, Observations, Overheard, Gratitude and Favorite Moment. It made it extremely easy to keep up with the project. The photos are printed, I just need to copy the journaling from my blog - into the album.

It really helps to have a focus going into this project. Without a focus, I feel overwhelmed and frustrated. I think I have done this form of documentation for three or four years. Each year I notice how the story of our lives has changed over time. In actuality, I think the very first year I celebrated A Week in the Life, was the year I turned 50. It was that year that the documentation also happened during my birthday week. Hmmm. I must go back to that album and take a look!

In 2011 we celebrated A Week in the Life during July. It was the summer I was living in Redmond, Washington and we lived in walking distance of the Ben Franklin Craft store (which I visited nearly every day!) I believe that it is the only Week in the Life album that I actually finished, and I love it. The inspiration started with an 8x8 red corduroy album that I found on clearance. It continued with some really great papers and twine.

I printed the 6x6 photos at Scrapbook Pictures dot com which no longer exists. It made the whole project really come together quickly!

Deciding on the plan before the week happened was really key to the success of this project. This year I have an album. Yup, that's as far as I have gotten. 

I was hoping that I would have the base pages completed before the weekend. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I have a few ideas and I have ordered the page protectors for the album so I believe I am on my way! I am really looking forward to documenting this week in our lives. October is one of my favorite months and I know I have some really special activities planned for the coming week so it should be fun!

 

Tuesday in Second Grade,

was tough, really tough. This year I have a very emotional and sensitive class. Tuesday absolutely tested their limits. Thankfully this book, A Handful of Quiet, arrived in the mail yesterday!

"Pebble meditation" is a unique way to introduce children to the practice of meditation. I believe that my students would benefit from being taught strategies that will help them to calm and center themselves. Pebble meditation was developed by Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh. 

I have not fully immersed myself in A Handful of Quiet, but I love the idea of meditation for children which involves them "in a hands-on and creative way that touches on their interconnection with nature." I believe that helping students to develop strategies which help them to deal with disappointment and emotional stress is teaching them a life-skill. We will see how it goes. 

Hanging with Liv

My niece Olivia turned 15 in September. It was 15 years ago, during Hurricane Floyd, that this sweet young lady first burst on the scene!

As part of her birthday gift, she is taking classes at U of Arts in Philly on Saturdays. This is a bonus for me because it afforded me the opportunity to pick her up and spend the afternoon with her.

First up, lunch. We decided to head to one of Jason's favorite places, Rex 1516. 

After lunch it was off to Ikea! We had a great time wandering around and exploring. Then it was off to pick up Mark and head back to Medford.

It was a beautiful day. We enjoyed the cool temps and the beautiful sky. We took a little bit of time to visit before heading home.

I was blessed to have been in the delivery room on the day this sweet girl entered the world just a wee bit early. I consider myself one very lucky aunt. She is an incredible, funny, kind and charismatic young lady. 

Happy Birthday Mark!

Today my hubby turns 60! I can't believe how lucky I am to spend my life with him! Happy birthday honey!