Ebb and flow

This is what I did this weekend...

• It is amazing that one can be exhausted after sitting on the beach all day doing next to nothing
• 2 weeks till school starts
• Already schedule demands are creeping upon me
• I hate schedule demands- that is my most favorite part of summer... the freedom of it all... the lack of need of my calendar... the lack of arranging childcare...
• Must center myself and ready myself for this...
• I believe in simplicity... I just wish more people did as well...
• Had to hire an attorney this weekend for a very minor thing... but hiring an attorney just felt - well crazy wrong... yes this is America- but I really do not think that just anyone should be able to sue anyone else because they covet thy goods. Anyhow- we no longer have to show up ... our lawyer is going to do that for us.
• Greed---- many people live there lives ruled by want and greed...
• I do not want to be one of those people!

Let them...

not a very origional title... but it is effective none the less.

• I love cake- especially if it has chocolate frosting- but this one just could not be resisted!
• Beach day yesturday- lots of sun and lots of sand!
• Another gorgeous summer day- it's days like these that make me sad that summer is on its way out
• Getting very nervous for the semester to start- I always have these butterflies and momments of self-doubt. Maybe I should view it as each semester as being on a big continuum vs. starting all over
• The olympics have been my source of entertainment these evenings. And knitting has been my vice. So much that I am actually welcoming a short break from it. Netflix has let me down- I am still waiting for my dvds- an error in their shipping system. And there refund to customers- is only 15% ok- thats like $2.25. Not really much of a refund considering I have not been able to watch anything for over a week!!

Nothing to do with summer

Because I make this dish year round.

• Sizzling tomatoes- with olive oil- red pepper flakes- fresh garlic... makes the perfect sause for penne pasta
• Add some Kalamata olives- and parmesean cheese.
• Wala- a super supper.
• Now if only my kids would eat it!

Running...

• All a blurr- he was literally thinking that he was running for his life.
• Trying to find safe shelter-
• Absolute instinct on his part
• He was not the least bit curious about us
• Just wanted to put as much space between him and his perceived foe!
• We let him be- just watched
• But we secretly wished he would come out and play with us.
• No such luck!
• But beautiful anyway...

More Sights of Summer

• Still summer- but with a hint of autumn in the air
• The nights are cool- wonderful sleeping weather
• More beach days are still ahead- however so are autumn hikes
• Cricket serenades
• Zucchini bread
• Farmer's Market-
• Jane Austen
• BBC- PBS - Wives and Daughters
• Chocolate
• Peach Pie
• Moonstone pendant- A surprise Anniversary present from my sweetheart.
• New notebooks, folders and loose leaf paper for school
• Old familiar favorite pens
• Wishing for a new backpack- but in reality my old one works just fine
• Needing new jeans- the old ones are... well... old
• Already missing my kids- and school hasn't even started yet. Yes there is always next summer- but they will all be a year older (and so will I) next year.

Sights of Summer...8

• I think that this bloom must house a faery or two....

Sights of Summer..7

• Reading a little Jane Austen- very different experience from watching Jane Austen. I thought I should experience it all in her own words.
• Date night last night- love that I have a responsible, dependable babysitter that the kids love- doesn't hurt that she's their cousin either!!!
• So date night- great food- good conversation, oh and Italian wine and dessert (but not at the same time!)
• Crazy fall weather in August- it is like mid-October and it's the beginning of August. But the nights are totally lovely!
• Running- I am not a natural runner- it hurts- seriously- I think it hurts my brain.
• All exercise hurts my brain.
• Knitting. Love knitting. Everyone is getting something knit by me for Christmas- that's my way of justifying buying such wonderful yarn.
• The Olympics- something fun to watch on TV. I am just mesmerized by the talent- the committment-
• The Olympics- I am troubled by the the injuries that atheletes sustain to reach that level of competition. When I read about the girls gymnast team- young 12, 14 year girls sustaning broken knees, tearing muscles, etc, I think that nothing can be worth that. The Hamm brothers, breaking wrists, tearing pec muscles. And yet what do they shed their tears about- not being able to compete. Yeah I get it- but all that training, all that hard work, and what do atheletes do- what do their coaches do- what do their sponsors do- encourage them to quickly heal- hide the tears and get right back up. What about healing the body- properly. They will have those injuries the rest of their life- it may not matter much now- but 10-20 years it will. It really hits something deep inside me.
• I am very very excited about me reading list for school this sememster- books I have not read- books I probobly would not have chosen for myself- but books that will expand my horizons. Now let me say they are also books that are going to be HARD.
• Today- may be a day at the zoo... a day with some knitting... a day with a little J. Austen... a day with a movie... just a day.

Sights of Summer...6

• The beauty in simplicity
• Savoring the taste
• Rebounding from a week filled with dreadful events- (but not tragic)
• Replacing it with perspective- we are all alive and healthy- thats what matters most
• The rest will take care of itself - with a little homework and a little time
• Anticipating the end of carefree summer days- wishing there was more time to live like this
• But... getting geared up for school- and all the responsibilities and scheduled events that come along with it. Not bad- maybe even a little excited- but I already miss summer.
• Enjoying the days that are left - going to bed late, flashlight tag, days at the beach, road trips, green grass, humid mornings, lemonaide, farmer's markets, sunflowers, butterflies, sun, rain, tanned skin, flip flops...

Sights of Summer...5

About a half hour later the rain washed it all away....

Sights of summer...4

Taking flight!

Sights of Summer...3

Reaching for the sun... ready to take on the day

Finished Breaking Dawn-- Twilight Saga.

• Hated it--- loved it
• There were about 3 or 4 chapters that almost convinced me to put the book down and stop reading. That I was better off finishing with book 3.
• But I must finish something that I started--- so I hung in there for about 100 pages and was rewarded.
• Got my happy ending.... and then some.
• Thank you Stephanie Meyers for entertaining me these past few years!

Sights of Summer... 2

Floating along...

Sights of Summer...1

Sometimes there are not words to describe the unbound joy within the heart!

Going Round... and Round

There is so much in my head but really nothing to say...

• Summer is so YUMMY this year. The blooms, the grass, the sky, the colors- green- blue-yellow....
• Can't get enough of the beach. The sand- the waves- the sun.... the seashells
• So much to do- but I desire to do nothing- but read... and knit...
• Watched The View yesturday morning-( I used to enjoy catching a snippet of that show years ago- needing a bit of a girly gossip fix) turned it off after 5 minutes- will never turn it on again. All they did was fight and yell at each other and basically chastise Elizabeth for her conservative views- I am usually quite liberal- but I can appreciate listening to the more conservative views- why can't people be more open minded- and obviously she is not the only conservative person in the US- Bush was president for 2 terms.
• Struggling with my love/hate feelings about COMMERCIALISM- is it evil.... is it what our country is founded on.... I really do love new funky kitshy things.... but why does it pull me in opposite directions? Is consummerism KING?
• Just read The Friday Night Knitting Club- good read- not breathtaking. I heard that they are making a movie out of it and Julia Roberts is to star in it-- could be rumor-- i don't know. But I must say if she is -- it is really going back to her Steal Magnolia's days... that kinda turned me off. Plus she is older that the character. But I guess Hollywood does not care about that after all- I mean Meryl Strep in Mama Mia-- don't get me wrong I really like Meryl. But she is not thirty somthing.... or even forty something...
• August 1st- a month till school starts- I feel like I have been on vacation forever. And I am totally freaked out about my classes. Should be easier than last semester- but I have to say I have anxiety at the prospect of starting new with the beginnning of each semester. Why? I just don't know- what if I can't do it-- what if the load is too big-- what if I fall into old habits-- I dreamt last night that I started skipping classes. Oh MY- the fear... I work hard for my A's. Really hard- I want my work to be good. Really only for myself!
• August 1st- I love August... And June... July just always feels like a month of limbo to me... Can't explain why.
• Oh- and therapy is going great with Ceci--- not really the therapy sessions themselves-- but my time with her. I have been really working hard to create and evironment rich in language for her-- but fun language-- she has gone from 2 words to 50+ words. Each day I can add new ones- spontaneous words that she chooses as well as the "functional" ones that I choose. Her expressive language has moved from the evaluation of being at the 12 month old level to the 2 year old level (work on clear articulation is still needed). It is wonderful!!!!

God is great!