Bunkey and I stole away on Thursday to celebrate summer. We ventured over to Mt Holly and our favorite lunch place, The Robin’s Nest. We feasted on Jersey Fresh Asparagus and Strawberry Soups and treated ourselves to fresh raspberry desserts. We ate too much! But it was such fun!
Tomorrow starts summer school. I am teaching in the enrichment program from noon to 3:30 four days a week for the month of July and I cannot wait! It will be such fun to do arts and crafts, explore nature and just have fun with my summer 2nd graders.
Tomorrow we start the fun by making “wind-socks” featuring blue solo cups, streamers and lots of star stickers! I hope the kiddos like it!
Rain. Except I didn’t expect to have waterfront dining options in my own house! Well, they say be careful what you wish for!
It actually was a great day. This time of year I struggle to get both the inside and outside chores done. Since my living room has become a huge storage bin for everything school related, I needed to focus on inside work on Saturday. Not that I did anything about the school stuff, but I did think about it!
Currently I am feverishly working on two quilts that I hope to finish, at least the tops, by Sunday. That is really a quick turn-around for me. I have quilts that have been in process for over 10 years. But this summer, I have several “must get done now” quilts and there is no time to be fooling around. I am loving the simplicity of the quilt above. Beautiful chintz-like fabrics in rich traditional colors. My friend’s house is decorated in primarily neutral tones and I am hoping that she likes what I’ve created.
The other quilt taking up space on the wall is for a special little one that is supposed to arrive in the next few weeks. Usually I am not concerned and I consider baby quilts on time as long as they arrive before the baby turns one. This year, I have at least four baby quilts and several “hooray you’re married” quilts that need to be made and again, there is no time for fooling around.This quilt is being made with organic cottons in bright blue and green. There are little blue birds and elephants mixed in with the polka-dots and flora. The brown fabric is soft like a minkee but it has a bit of a pile like a chenille. It is cuddly soft. This quilt will be finished with a cuddly brown backing and tied together with bright blue and green thread. That I will do on my own. The other quilt on the wall will be sent to the long arm quilter and then I will finish it with the binding. Even as I sew on these two quilts, my mind goes searching through my stash to find other quilts and fabrics for all the other quilts that need to be made. This is going to be a very busy, quilty summer!
Summer is finally here. Actually, it arrived for me sometime Monday after 3:30. Tuesday I had a couple of meetings regarding summer school and then I was ready for summer. Of course, that is when we had our first real summer storm. Tornado warnings, sheets of rain and a wind that just wouldn’t die down. Yup, that’s the way summer started here.
Well, two and a half days later we have our electricity back and I am able to go online. You see, the hubby and I are still back a few decades and we do not sport smart phones. To tell you the truth, I was happy to be offline for a couple of days. Now it is time to get summer started.
Each year, at least for the past three, I have created a Summer Manifesto. This year I felt it especially important as I try to handle health issues and an over-zealous schedule. Yes, I over-booked myself yet again. I will be teaching summer school Monday through Thursday for the month of July and then immediately after I will be traveling for two teacher workshops that I am presenting the first week in August. Add to that a couple of quilting workshops at my house and a class at the local quilt shop, you might say I will be a bit busy. Mark is worried that I will feel like I haven’t had a summer and I understand his concern.
We are taking a real vacation this year at the end of August for a friend’s wedding in Seattle. Hoping for a great deal of relaxation there as well as a bit of adventure. Here’s to the lazy, crazy days of summer!
Saturday was a very lazy day aound here. I sewed and Mark, well, I’m not sure what Mark was doing, I was too busy sewing! When it came time for dinner, we decided to head out.
Mark has been traveling all over South Jersey with his new since October job. Saturday night we headed out to Mantua and the Telford Inn. Recommended to Mark by one of his clients who used to be the head chef there. It is adorable and very quaint. We had a delicious meal and a very relaxing evening out. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie, one of my dad’s favorite meals, in honor of Fathers’ Day. It worked out well since there was not a crust on both sides, just the puff pastry. I loved it!Delicious meal and great company. I couldn’t ask for more.But then, this happened...Certainly not the brightest rainbow I have ever seen, but it was a rainbow. The perfect way to end the perfect date night!
Raindrops look luscious on bright colored flowers after the rain. I took these photos on Wednesday morning as I was heading out to work. I used my little camera as I was running late. Next time I attempt to capture this image I will use my digital SLR, I think the result would be much clearer. Still in all, I just love the way the raindrops perch on the tips of the petals.
Stolen moments. Thankfully, now that the end of school stress is mostly over, I can take more than a couple of stolen moments. I am hoping to have a baby quilt and a “new home” quilt done for friends in the next two weeks. I will be like the little engine, “I think I can, I think I can..."
Today we were able to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom. This is a rare occasion when I can get both of my children in the same place as my mother. Most of my Mother’s Days with my mom are spent having brunch at one of our favorite restaurants. Turns out today was not very different.
Mom and I headed into Philly for brunch at Rex 1516, Jason’s favorite. Fortunately, both Jason and Jessica were able to join us. A splendid way to spend Mother’s Day even if it is a few months late!
Bunkey and I got together for a little visit on Tuesday after school. It was a quick visit. We have not been able to spend much time together these past few weeks what with her treatment schedule and my school/work schedule. We ran a couple of errands together and had a relaxing meal at Panera where we were able to sit and chat for a short while without upsetting a waiter because of our lingering. It was great to spend some time together.
Bunkey and I usually talk three or four times a day. We text about the same, we like to stay in touch. Today was no different except that we started much earlier, while I was still at work. You see, Bunkey was scheduled to get her MRI results and she had an appointment with one of her oncologists. These days are always a little tense. But, for the first time since January, the news was actually good. She is heading in for treatment tomorrow knowing that it is working, at least where it matters most. We had a lovely, “light” chat this evening about all kinds of things that we plan on doing, together. Those talks are the best.
Today I spent the day at school, recuperating from yesterday, our class trip. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good class trip, but they can be exhausting. We spent the day at Bartram’s Garden, in Philadelphia. A wonderful property right on the Schuykill River. You would never even know that it was there!
Our students engaged in botanical drawing and painting, seed dissection, seed planting and the harvesting of lettuce and kale. They have a great location outside with a pavillion perfect for a picnic lunch and lots of land for running around!
So, as we end the school year we are crossing off the major events, just field day is left for my 2nd graders. There are just 8 days left and the students have 3 half days right at the end. It won’t be long now!
