Grateful this day for my husband's commitment to our yard. We worked out a plan to add a shed and he has really spent so much of his time to bring that plan to fruition. This Monday, after my quick trip to Houston, found several new plants in the yard just waiting to find the correct location to be planted. Next spring our yard will be wonderful!!
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Recent Posts
Mark
November 13, 2018
November 19, 2017
30 Days of Gratitude: November 14th
Mark spent today building a new shelf for our bedroom. I moved the Longaberger bakers rack, that was near my side of the bed, to the shop and that left an empty spot and a lot of stuff on the floor. Mark stopped at Target to pick up a new shelf for me and then put it together so that I could get myself a little organized this afternoon. It's no wonder I love the man!
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November 01, 2017
30 Days of Gratitude: November 1st
Today was a tough day, for so many reasons. My wonderful hubby stopped at Starbucks and brought me a chai latte in a special red cup! OMG! I love this year's red cup!!! Grateful everyday for Mark but today, especially so. Also grateful for the special delivery Starbucks!
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March 05, 2017
Connecting
Connect is the word that I have chosen to guide me through the current year. On this perfectly wonderful spring like day just a week ago, Mark and I ventured outside to forge a connection with nature. It was a short walk, just out to Three Pond and back, but it was just what we needed. Since we have opened the shop we have become very sedentary out of pure exhaustion. Forcing ourselves outside is necessary for our sanity. By taking the time to walk, like we did when we first met, we are connecting with each other and nature. Around the pond on this beautiful day we were greeted by gaggles of geese and a raft of ducks. It’s interesting that a group of ducks in flight is a flock but in any other configuration, they're referred to as a raft.
We took photos, lots. We talked, lots. And we had fun. As the year progresses I am hoping to be mindful of the different connections I am able to forge on many different levels.
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July 18, 2016
Road Trip
Meet Gary. Gary was Jessica’s bike and is used to tooling around Brooklyn. Tomorrow, bright and early, Gary will be embarking on a very long road trip with Mark and Ted. I think I may end up calling this “Ted and Mark’s Excellant Adventure”. From what I understand, Ted has planned this excursion to the beach. Which beach, I am not sure, but any beach is pretty far away for Gary and Mark who are not used to biking that far.
Here’s wishing them a safe trip and an excellant adventure!
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May 01, 2016
Siblings
Early Thusday morning we began the trek to Illinois. Mark and his siblings were gathering with family and friends to pay final respects to their stepmom, Barbara. As is often the case, weddings and funerals are the times that draw family together.
We have spent a very full couple of days remembering, sharing and just spending time together. It was such a delight to see the children of the siblings interacting with their cousins as the newest generation spent time getting to know each other. Mark’s niece hosted the family gatherings at her “farm” and the children enjoyed riding the quads, finding kittens and watching the deer prance across the field.
This evening the festivities moved to a historic house in Mark’s hometown where his brother and family were staying this week.The sharing of stories and just spending time continued. You could see, as everyone prepares to get back to their “real” lives with school and work there was a touch of melancholy. That lasted just a hot minute prior to the tornado warnings sounding off. Our thoughts and concerns quickly wandered elsewhere!
Tomorrow most of us will take care of some business before beginning the trek home. It was a wonderful gathering and an opportunity to spend some quality time with the people we love. The siblings, as they call each other, have spent a good many years raising families and instilling in their children the importance of family. They have made time to visit and spend time together and their legacy is visible whenever they gather together. I will miss them all...
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April 22, 2016
Notes on a Marriage - 5 Years In
Five years ago, this day, I married my best friend. I remember repeating over and over again to my children and anyone else who would listen again, “I will never get married again.” I was proven wrong. Our courtship began at an event where we worked with others to make 85 quilts for the homeless. Just two weeks ago Mark helped me to achieve my dream of owning a quilt shop. It seems that quilts and quilting are a common theme for us. We have worked hard, together, on so many projects and so many dreams.
The best part of our marriage, I believe, is that each one of us has experienced so many incredible experiences and life events that we really didn’t need each other to fulfill something missing in the other. We are more than quite okay on our own; two very strong individuals with very strong opinions about life. But, together, the possibilities are endless. There is noone with whom I would rather spend my life. I believe that what we have is magical and I am blessed to have been married to Mark for these 5 years and I hope for many more.
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April 04, 2016
This Guy
Seven years ago I met this handsome fella at a planning meeting for a service organization. The meeting at South Jersey Java focused on planning a quilting event where we would sew quilts for the homeless. My friend Robin and I had joined the organization looking for an opportunity to “give back” to our community. Robin engaged in conversation with Mark and I tried to ignore him. At one point she scolded me for not being kind.
Here we are, seven years later. Married for nearly 5 years and all I can say is that I am so lucky that he stuck around to get to know me. There is no one with whom I would rather share this journey. He is supportive, funny, smart and unbelievably dedicated to family. My life has been so enriched by his presence and I am blessed to share my life with him. Here’s to a lifetime of love!
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December 18, 2015
December Daily: Day 15
Tuesday, a beautiful sky and an unseasonably warm afternoon, gave Mark and I the opportunity to sit outside at lunch time while having a serious business meeting. December really shouldn’t be this warm. I am beginning to think that Australia really has nothing on us this Christmas. My thoughts of a white Christmas are seriously fading away the closer we get to the 25th. Just another 6.5 days of school before winter break. I can’t wait!
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October 10, 2015
Year Four - Fruits and Vegetables
Most weekends Mark and I have just one day off together. This week I was grateful that we had today, a Saturday, to spend some quality time together. If you remember, the fourth wedding anniversary is fruits and vegetables. So keeping with my anniversary theme,I mentioned apple picking. He poo-poo’d that idea so I decided to drive him out to Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck.
It was the perfect day. The weather was gorgeous and the drive up on country roads was beautiful. The foliage is just beginning to change and we were able to see a bit of the bright fall colors that I love.Since Saturday is my day to sleep late we got a late start but still had plenty of sunshine to enjoy a romp in the pumkin patch and a late lunch outside. We picked up a few pumpkins, which I love. I even treated myself to a white pumpkin.
White pumpkins are just gorgeous!
Delicious Orchards was so different that it had been the last time I shopped there which had to be over 15 years ago. The place was mobbed.
We spent a bit of time inside perusing all of the fresh baked goods and the fresh vegetables. We decided on apple cider donuts, fresh apple cider and a strawberry rhubarb pie. Mark even bought me dairy free cheddar cheese - I miss dairy so much! The store was huge and the selection of products, amazing.Mark likes to take different routes when we take a drive. Since it was dark, we drove home using 195. I like 195 because it features such a great view of the sun setting, for a highway that is. Mark drove part of the way home which allowed me to take a few photos of the setting sun.
The photo is not great but you get the idea. Once home we treated ourselves to the tiniest pieces of pie imaginable. This whole sugar thing is really putting a damper on my pie enjoyment! Fall is one of my favorite times of year and I grateful for the opportunity to share a place that I love with my hubby!
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