Who could resist such an invitation? So, that's exactly what we did.
School, reading, friends and fun times were just a few of the topics we covered. We laughed and giggled and shared a gorgeous afternoon sitting at the water's edge. Just me and Em. Perfect!
Who could resist such an invitation? So, that's exactly what we did.
School, reading, friends and fun times were just a few of the topics we covered. We laughed and giggled and shared a gorgeous afternoon sitting at the water's edge. Just me and Em. Perfect!
Mark and I headed out today with a plan to get a bike helmet for me. Well, we got just a bit more than just the helment.
We spent the weekend biking around Barnegat Light with my old bike and a borrowed beach cruiser. Today, while looking at helmets, we noticed that REI was having a huge sale. Need I say more? The truth is that I would have needed a new bike prior to my race in September. The price was right and this now gives me the opportunity to train on the bike I will be riding in the triathlon. It is all good.
Getting ready for the triathlon is going to require a great deal of training and a few more pieces of equipment. But, I am ready to begin. Looks like I am on my way!
Green, not my favorite color, to say the least. But, I just love the latest block I completed for the 30's Buck a Block quilt that I am currently working on.
Look at that little block. The quarter square triangle squares in the center just make me smile. There are now 7 months of blocks completed and the final five are just about ready to finish up. I have lost one half triangle square. It probably got into the laundry and may never be found. That is a problem when I use the washing machine as my ironing board, little blocks just slip away. I will be doing a load of laundry tonight in the hopes that I might recover the missing piece.
I think this is going to be such a pretty quilt. I am loving the opportunity to work with such bright, happy fabrics.
As I look back over the past week, I am always amazed at what we accomplish in any given day. The funny thing is, I am always wanting to do just a little bit more!
Mother's Day started Week Twenty! What a great day we had. Running, regular chores like laundry and sheet changing, outside work like weeding, and then getting ready for the work week. In the midst of that we had Jason join us for dinner! What a great time we had hanging out in the kitchen.
The meal was terrific and the company, even better!
Monday started Teacher Appreciation Week here where I live. On Monday I received homemade cookies from my students. Delicious! I love the little tag that tied the bag together. We ran errands on Monday evening, so not like me. I like Monday nights to be calm stay at home nights so that I can recuperate from the day!
Not many photos were taken this week. I am really not sure why it happened that way, but some weeks just go like that! In retrospect that was probably a good thing since my photo printer has been giving me such trouble lately.Wednesday I completely forgot about my nieces' dance recital. I napped instead. What was I thinking?
Thursday I spent the evening at school chaperoning the band, orchestra and chorus students between performances. I think the hall looked great with all the instrument cases lining the walls. Finally, Friday. We were so punchy Friday evening. We were sitting out on the adirondack chairs with a bottle of wine that we finished. Giggly and silly we were! I love the photo.
Saturday brought the Walk for Autism Speaks, a bit of shopping, a meeting for Mark in Princeton and finally a trip to the Home Depot and ShopRite. I included my invitation to the summer style event from Loft. I also need to include the book that my students made for me and the program from the Spring Concert at school. So many great uses of Project Life! Ali Edwards used mostly photos this week. You can check out here post here! She always does everything with such flair, and it seems so effortless for her. I am hoping scraplift a few of her ideas and use some of my great journaling strips and bling as my schedule eases up and time allows. Perhaps a bit of organization will help also!
As usual, I am going to share my link over at The Mom Creative where Jessica has a couple of techniques for creating labels for journaling.
As always, if you are the least bit interested in Project Life, I urge you to check out Becky Higgins' site. I just love recording our family happenings this way. Takes the stress out of the process and allows me to go with the flow. Just love it!
Tonight I traveled into Philadelphia to visit Athleta in Center City. You see, one thing I am very diligent about is planning. I have been researching training plans for sprint triathlons for about 2 months now. I had heard that Athleta had a training plan that they offered, free, in their stores. I just had to get my hands on it!
The truth is, there are so many things that I am unsure about concerning the triathlon. And, now that I am committed, I need to get my ducks all lined up so I can focus on the training. Appropriate gear is just one of those little details. Tonight, I researched! I am taking notes and soaking up all the information I can like a sponge. Training starts next week and it will be a combination of plans that I have found. I can't wait!
"The only requirement of having a dream,
is believing in it."
- Molly Barker
September 9th is the date and I am all registered. Let the training begin.
Early Friday evening, hanging out in our adirondack chairs, sipping wine. Actually, we did more than sip and got ourselves extremely giggly. We love to relax in the yard. The roses are in front of us and usually the sky reflects the rosy color of a beautiful sunset. This is my official happy place.
Saturday had us up just a little earlier than usual for the Walk for Autism Speaks. A great day for a walk and a great day to reconnect with so many of Amanda's Pandas. It is truly an inspiring event. I did a bit of shopping before heading home to do the yard. Mark had a meeting in Princeton and once he was home it was out to pick up paint, plants and food. Finally finished the food shopping around 9:15. On the way home a quick stop for soft serve. Yum!
Today there were the usual Sunday chores, changing the sheets and doing laundry, but we also accomplished a great deal of yard work!
Last weekend we had picked up some bushes and larger plants to add to the landscaping in the yard, this weekend they needed to be planted. Mark worked on the area just outside the dining room window, next to the patio. We added a white hydrangea and two purple salvia. There were a ton of grass roots left under the fabric from when I had weeded so a good part of the time poor Mark was just dealing with them. We're thinking that something else in the way of plants needs to be added, but we are just going to wait a couple of weeks and see what we move from around the yard.Planting the annuals, trimming the butterfly bush and tying up the rest of the rose bush trimmings for pickup tomorrow, that was my job. I also, finally, washed the chairs for the patio set. Perhaps dinner on the patio is in our future. Next week I need to get out there again to do a good cleaning job on the table and the umbrella. The adirondack chairs in the back could also use a good cleaning!
Today we also welcomed the first bloom on our new peony plant. I just love it. We picked up this pale pink peony as well as a deep pink one to plant in the area that was home to one of our butterfly bushes. I trimmed the bush all the way back and Mark needs to dig it out before we can plant the peonies. That should happen one night this week! I can't wait.
There are still many more chores that can be accomplished outside, but we are making good progress and we are just loving the opportunity to work together in the yard again.
The weekend is nearly over. There are lesson plans to finish and papers to grade.
So thankful we were able to accomplish so much this weekend and still have time to play. Feeling particularly blessed this Sunday evening.
Six months ago I was learning to negotiate the fine art of marital co-habitation.
Six months ago I was just starting back to work after a burn accident that taxed my body both physically and emotionally.
Six months ago I was starting back to physical therapy to restore range of motion to my right arm and right leg due to bursitis in both.
Six months ago I could not run for 60 seconds.
Today, feeling very blessed for all of the changes that have taken place during the past 6 months and now, feeling ever so grateful for this life I am fortunate enough to live.
Week 19, I cannot believe how quickly this year is flying by! After completing this week's spread I began to notice that we a doing more during our weekday evenings. Must be as a result of spring and the longer days. This week was no exception.
Sunday we spent time on the much needed yard work. I even let Mark do a little bit of mowing. That is so not like me, but as I get older I realize I cannot do it all. And, to be honest, it is nice to have someone to share the outside chores.
Monday I worked hard at school to get my desk cleared off and ready for Tuesday. I cannot say the same for the tables in my classroom, but my desk is definitely clean! Tuesday I decided to take a self-portrait of myself in my bedroom mirror immediately after taking my run. My running schedule is pretty much what it has been through the winter with Monday always being a day off. I need to revamp my training and mix it up a bit. For now I am just happy to keep running in my schedule with everything else that seems to be added.Wednesday evening was the fundraiser for Amanda's Panda's, my nieces walk team for Autism Speaks. We took the ride out to Southampton and squeezed in a trip to the Green Top Market, and for dessert, the Evergreen!
Late Wednesday evening Mark's friend arrived from Seattle so Thursday was an out to dinner evening. I love the way our table was reserved, a pink post-it with Mark's name. The meal was delicious. It is not often we go out for Thai food and we always have a great meal. A little time was spent hanging out on our stone patio, sharing a couple of glasses of wine. Very relaxing.
Saturday was a full day. Mark brought me flowers and french cruellers for breakfast. A very long visit to Home Depot, yard work, a home cooked meal and an evening at the theater. I love that we have season tickets to the Ritz. It is always a good night out and the shows are always enjoyable. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is particularly funny and they did a terrific job with it!Week 19 included journaling and pictures. Not much more was needed and that makes me happy. Simple is best! I for one am happy that I now have a place to put our playbills, I have too many stored in boxes to continue that method of organization.
I stopped by Jenny Myerson's blog this evening and she too kept this week simple. What I find most important is the journaling of the everyday stories of our lives. When I have time to scrap more completely, it is the stories that I will most appreciate.
As usual, I am going to share my link over at The Mom Creative where Jessica has shared her pages from Week 18. I love her use of inserts and stickers on the smaller photos. It makes for a very appealing spread. I am hoping that I will have an opportunity to take a look at other people's posts from this week, I just love to see all of the creativity and to soak up the ideas.
As always, if you are the least bit interested in Project Life, I urge you to check out Becky Higgins' site. I just love recording our family happenings this way. Takes the stress out of the process and allows me to go with the flow. Just love it!
