happy day after the 4th

waiting for the fireworks

We ended up having a really good 4th. At first it seemed like it would be almost non-existent. Cary had to switch shifts on the 3rd because we needed childcare. In our town the fireworks and parade are on the 3rd. But Ellie and I went to the parade...(I forgot my camera...gasp!)...and he had to work all day on the 4th. But when he got home we went out for fried seafood and found some fireworks in another town. It was so fun! The watching area was in a big farm field. Beautiful. Ellie had fun running around but when we needed her to sit with us just before the fireworks started she had a fun tantrum for herself. We both had visions of having to leave just as the fireworks began! But she held off and actually was really fascinated by the lights and fireworks. It was so nice! Maybe a new tradition? I haven't had a chance to upload photos from my camera from that adventure yet. This one is just from my phone when she sat still long enough to photograph!

 But here are a few layouts I worked on a few weeks ago. They go into two different albums I have going on. One of my childhood and the other is just a non-chronological album from this year and last. Yesterday I finished up a pile of layouts by adding dates and journaling. Even got one done with my new June Cocoa Daisy kit. Hope to post those in a few days... Here they are! Thanks for looking...

1st Skating Show: Here is another layout from a stack I did when I challenged myself to just use some new papers, etc. I had just gotten. This goes in my childhood album. I figure skated for 10+ years beginning when I was 8...with this annual skating show. It was to the music Macho Duck! So funny....but that was how it began!

Home: Another from the stack I challenged myself to do with the same pp. This layout is about our first home we bought last July. It is a little end-unit condo in my hometown. I never thought I would be able to buy a home close to where I grew up. We still want to have a regular house in the future, with a yard, etc. But this is just perfect for now.

The Story of a Girl: For this layout I forced myself to use two patterned papers I got in a grab bag years ago at my LSS. It was bright and colorful for my girl. I mixed in some much older embellishments and some newer. Over all it is a very basic layout...which actually tend to be the ones my eyes are drawn to most. Simple.

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend...

vacation coming to an end

a picnic at a local New England farm

My last week off of the summer is winding down...and so is summer it seems. I always feel sad when that shift happens. I love fall and all that comes with it but I am sad to see summer go. Also this fall will be a challenge because my guy is going to a military school for four months. So I am having more trouble looking forward to it. But I will try!

Here's a few memories from this vacation:

• A trip to the zoo...giraffes, gorrillas, bats, butterflies, and a dinner at Bugaboo Creek on the way home.
• A reminder to say what is on your mind. People are not mind readers.
• Baby calves at the farm peeking over an old stone wall.
• Mornings at the beach.
• Planting some new flowers in my balcony garden.
• Refocusing on the positive.
• taking lots of pictures but havent done any scrapbooking.
• Finished my ATC's for the next Art Therapy Alliance swap. I'll post later!
• Staying up late and sleeping in.
• Warm sun.
• A day of outlet shopping and L.L. Bean with my mom and sister.
• Too much work organizing and a crummy cold at the beginning of this vacation.
• Green Grass Yankee Candle.
• Wine from Johnson Family Winery I got on my trip to NY.
• Jello.
• The movie "The Other Guys"...so funny.
• Started seeming my "Hey Teach" Sweater.

Now today we are having a late summer/early fall kind of weather day. Makes me want to bake something. We'll see...
All-in-all it was a good week. Hoping today and tomorrow top of the week!

Happy Sunday!

on being a tourist at home

Went on a Whale Watch yesterday...a tourist in my own town! Had so much fun...

Here are a few more pictures of the trip...

The Twin Lights

My cousin and the water

The open ocean...beautiful on a very hot day.


Double tail flukes! There were three Humpback whales we followed for a bit. You can see another whale watch boat in the distance. Before seeing these humpbacks we saw two Fin Whales off the coast - they are the 2nd biggest animal in the world! Seemed odd to think they weren't that far off shore!


My dad, uncle and brother on the boat.

Cary with home in the background...



Fishing boats in the Harbor.

Home. I feel so lucky sometimes to live here...

gratitudes...a day late.

My uncle's yard (formerly my Grammy's yard)- beautiful backdrop for our annual family reunion

So this week it will be "Tuesday Gratitudes!" I'm a day behind. So far having an average vacation. Haven't been feeling great so far...so having a late start on fun. But we had an awesome family reunion on Saturday complete with boat rides, food, kayaking and fireworks. We have been going to the movies a lot and went out to dinner a few times. Today I'm hoping to get some groceries and some new flowers to replace the ones that are past their prime in my containers outside. Today our city has very low water pressure. Amazing how much we rely on stuff like that and don't realize it til it's not there!


Today I am grateful for:


1. telephones
2. family
3. seafood. Especially fried seafood.
4. living near the ocean.
5. cameras to capture memories.
6. playing computer games with my guy.
7. having a job and a steady paycheck.
8. Cary.
9. summer weather.
10. my car.

Here are a few more pictures from the reunion. I didn't take as many this year...and a lot less of people I noticed...though there are a few. My dad had 10 brothers and sisters so it is a huge family! It is held at my Uncle's house which was my grandparent's. It is the home where they all grew up and where us grandchildren played as kids. It is in the neighborhood where I grew up so I had the good fortune of spending much time there and have so many wonderful memories of that yard and the river...

Happy Tuesday!

vacation day #1

Some of the peppers I grew...some seem hotter than others. But good! Today is Day #1 of vacation. Or stay-cation I should say. We are just hanging out today...playing computer games and I have to do laundry. Nothing too exciting. Hope to catch up on some blogs soon. I also want to do some cardmaking this week. I don't remember the last time I have made one!

Happy Thursday!

"no day but today" - RENT

Went into Boston last night to see RENT with my mom and sister. It was so good! And so nice to spend time with them...

A few pictures...

Waiting for the "T". An adventure. The power wasn't working downtown so we had to transfer to a shuttle bus at Kenmore Square. Forgot how much I hate being crammed on a trolly/bus on a busy hot day! We made it though....



Downtown Boston signs...and sunset.
The Colonial Theatre. Looks so unassuming outside...

...but inside it is a beautiful representation of craftsmanship! Art everywhere! Here's the lobby's ceiling!

Another lobby ceiling...

So now to decide what to do with the rest of my Sunday...thinking of sitting outside and knitting or reading...

Happy Sunday!

great days

summer girl's night at my place

Yesterday was a great day! Started off with a few hours at the beach. Only bummer was that there have been so few beach days I'm still getting roasted on any little spot I miss with sunblock! That's fair Irishness for you.

In the afternoon I got a surprise phone call from Cary. He's doing good and it was so nice to have a longer phone call from him. Then last night I hosted Girl's Night last night. A monthly get-together with my high school girlfriends. It was so fun! I love doing stuff like that and hadn't been able to since my last hosting because of the apartment issues we had. I love cooking and home stuff and having people over and never do. BBQ pulled pork sandwhiches, baked "fried" chicken, potato salad, Greek pasta salad and homemade blueberry pie. It was great!

This morning I sat by the pool for awhile and talked to a few friends and Cary's dad. I never talk on the phone that much but it was nice to feel connected. Tonight I plan on going to my knitting circle and getting some help with my shawl that has a mistake in it. Then my brother is coming over for dinner and DVD watching.

Tomorrow is my last official day of vacation and it has been a nice relaxed one. I hope that I can hold onto some of this positive energy as I start off my work week. So often I get caught up in the stressfull nature of my work and I don't like what it has done to me. I want to hold on to what is important and get rid of the rest of the "baggage."

Happy Sunday!

vacation...day 5

Day 5 of my vacation and it's raining. But spent a day to myself and had fun so far anyway. Went out to breakfast at my favorite place and then walked around a neighboring town I don't usually get to...felt like I was away. Every store had gorgeous window boxes...even in the rain. Got a few small treats...a card to mail to Cary, a touristy sign for my kitchen and a soy lavender candle. Visiting not one but two yarn stores...left empty handed. On a budget this week and I really don't need to start another project. Plus I have knitting circle at my favorite yarn shop tonight.

Happy Tuesday!

a good day

My 1st sweater: Pleat-Neck Top pattern in the Spring/Summer 2009 Knit Simple

Here's what was good about today:

1. Cary called me from OCS! It has been 14 days since we got to talk last. He also had a chance to email. The Army is keeping him very busy but he is healthy and good and has completed Phase 1 of OCS.


2. Got to wear my 1st sweater today to the birthday party for my LYS! I love it and am so excited it fits.


3. Spent the morning at the beach. Alone. Mom was going to come with me but she decided not to at the last minute. It was nice to be able to still go.


4. Bought some yarn for a few new projects at the LYS's sale...a shawl, a lace scarf for my mom for Christmas and a helmet liner for charity.


5. The sun was out (most of the time)!


6. I can sleep in tomorrow...

Have a good evening!

last weekend of summer (so far) in pictures

Very few words for this weekend so far...

Just finished baking the chocolate chip cookies I've been craving. Having made them from scratch in years. I'm a slice-n-bake girl.

Waiting for Cary to come home from work. His Dad is coming down from Maine today and we're meeting him for dinner. He's never been here to see where I'm from and where Cary is living.

Here are pictures of the weekend so far...

Flowers I've been admiring this summer at the apartment complex. Gorgeous. Huge. Red. Red. Red.
The New England Revs and the LA Galaxy. I'm a Revs fan but LA has the gorgeous Beckham!
"The Fort" cheering section where my brother spends his time at games. Lively. Fun. Energetic.

Cement. The picture I got when I tried to take a shot of my dad and my brother and they ducked from the camera.
My flip flops in the sand on what could be the last beach day of the summer...unless...we get some next weekend in time for my birthday!

weekend

Beach Grass

Well, I'm sitting here drinking my coffee before I "officially" start the madness of the day. Yesterday, I didn't take as many pictures as I had hoped but I did take a few. Yesterday we went to buy a new mattress set. Got a great deal and can pick it up when we move. (One less thing to have stored here among the boxes to drive me crazy! Then we had a picnic dinner at the beach which was so nice and relaxing. It has been a quiet weekend so far other than one stupid argument on Friday. But otherwise good.

I tried out my new contacts on Friday - Acuvue Oaysis. They feel much better but they were hellish to take out that night! Took longer than it did the first day. So yesterday, out of nervousness of not being able to get them out, I only wore them half the day and then took them out. I tried the way they show on the internet. Not the way the Dr's office showed me. I can't do it that way so resorted to the way they taught me and got them out on the first try. Argghh. Can't wait for these to be easier! I an a worrier and get nervous the closer the "take out" time is until I get them out. All these awful ideas race in my mind of the embarrasing trip to the ER when I can't get them out or their stuck or whatever. Completely impossible, ridiculous worries that have no place (or room) to be in my mind! I'm ridiculous sometimes!

Today I'm off to the grocery store for a few things and to see if they can give me some boxes. Then I'm packing a little. I might also stop at the new Michael's near the mall. If I feel like I get some done and this place organized (as much as it can be with boxes) I might feel more inclined to do some art or something! I also really want to order my June and July photos so once we are settled I can get scrapping...so I'll leave you with a few more photos from yesterday.

Wingaersheek Beach on a summer evening

The dunes - falling down fence is supposed to protect them...

today

Wingaersheek Beach last month

Today:

• I wished I brought my camera on my walk. The Queen Anne's Lace are out, the marsh looks unbelievably green and the last pictures I took were around the 4th of July! This picture was from even earlier!
• I'm reminding myself I need to get to the beach more. Summer will only last so long.
• I got both contacts in. No problems. I think the right one was on inside out yesterday. They were dry today though so I'm seeing the Doc a day earlier to see if I need a new type or drops.
• I made an appt to get my car's AC checked out next week. I don't even use it much but the car is only 4 years old. Not even paid for yet and the AC isn't working!
• Was a wieeerrrddd day at work. And last week was the full moon.
• My dad got the hard cast off his arm/hand. His thumb is healing well but now he still has another 4 weeks of it being quite painful and little mobility. No work for him either which is not good news for my parents.
• I am looking forward to moving. Wishing I could just get it done. Not liking living with boxes. Makes me feel like I don't want to start any new projects until that gets done.
• I'm already wishing it were thursday (my friday!)...
• I'm needing to remind myself not to speed up time!

today

I want to again thank everyone for thier advice and kind words and virtual {hugs}...things are going ok. Still very complicated but I started the apartment search yesterday. Didn't get too far. I'm waiting for Cary to wake up today and then he can make some calls to some of the more promising places. I just want a decision made...that's how I operate. Cary is more of a "wait and see." That drives me crazy - to have something big hanging over my head. I want to be actively doing this search and making calls this a.m. but he wants to be involved.

So...I'm trying to clear my mind and do some scrapping. I hope to work on my May page today.

Yesterday I did get quite a lot done and felt good about it...

To Do {yesterday}:

Grocery shopping. Just a few things.
Make some potato salad for supper.
Sweep the floors and straighten up a little.
Take a walk.
Scrap at least one page.
Start looking at which photos to develop for June.
Buy printer ink.
Print out my fall class roster and syllabus.
Read my book.

It was an ambitious list. I tend to do that to myself. Strangely it makes me feel better because all the things on this list were solely within my control. So much else right now doesn't feel like it's in my control. But I agree with the support I got yesterday. I need to ease up on myself. Today I just want to do a few things....

Today's To Do:

• complete May layout


• call the 4 most promising apartments - all complexes with utilities included.


• go to the gym


• welcome my sister home from her trip to Europe (and try not to be too jealous-lol!)

Anything else I do will be extra....hope to post a layout later...

wierd day

changes*evolve*let go

ATC - Magazine collage

Today was a wierd day all around. Work was wierd. I did get to do a little art though. I brought my set of ATC's and used whatever supplies were available to do one. It was very relaxing to focus on for 15 minutes. The remainder of the day was odd. Hard to explain but made me wonder if it was a full moon. It isn't. But the day ended well. After work and having a quick dinner with cary, I picked up my new glasses. Next friday I am taking the plunge and getting fitted for contacts. We'll see what happens. Eyes creep me out. I can't even do eye drops -when I need them I have a tricky system of dripping the solution on my cheek and letting it roll into my eye- I'm sorry, it's just not normal to look into the sky and let something drop into your eye.

It's just plain wrong.

But I hate wearing my glasses and the Dr. and asst's all said how easy it is. They said, "As long as you can get your thumb and finger close to your eye, you can do it. " Sounds easy enough I guess. My fear is getting one contact in and then not being able to get up the nerve to get it out. They have assured me getting them out is easier.

We'll just see about that!

Anyway, after picking up the glasses I brought Cary a McDonald's ice cream sundae while he was at work. And we chatted for a bit and then I went to do some errands at Target. Nothing exciting - shampoo, conditioner, citronella candles, etc. The candles were hard to find by the way. Apparantly summer is officially over and we have to think school supplies. I hate how stores rush the seasons. But anyhow, I did get a little K&Co. book of ancestry question & answer journaling cards. Hoping to eventually do a mini book about my mom and dad using those questions and some of the old photos I posted about few weeks ago.

Well...that's enough rambling for now. Looking forward to a beach day tomorrow a.m.! Yeah! Hope everyone has a wonderful night and morning...

hot

Hot. It is so freakin hot here. We need AC. Actually we had an argument about it today. Among other things. But we are over it. It's just that we are hot. And grouchy. And I have to go back to work tomorrow. BOO! It's sad when I am excited that I only have a 2 day week this week and then 4 days off again!

I haven't done any scrapping or card stuff today. It's just to muggy and humid. I think I'm going to just sit outside and read until I get carried off by the mosquitos! It might not last long...we affectionately call our neighborhood "bugville."

Hopefully I can read a few blogs later on when it cools off in here!

summer

Happy First Official Day of Summer and everything that goes along with it!

beach day

Early morning at the beach. I had a wonderful "first day at the beach" for the summer. The tide was low in this picture and it was coming in so the beach was very full well I left. Lots of tourists enjoying "my" beach. I've been going there since I was a kid. In the boat and by car. I'm so lucky to have this beautiful place only 10 minutes from the house where I grew up. I'll post some more pictures of the beach tomorrow. As long as I've been going there, this was really the first time I took photos of it. I'm loving getting in this habit of focusing on places, people and things I see and love and documenting them.

Tonight, after picking up my sister at work we got an ice cream and walked on the Boulevard. It was a perfect temperature down there. And now, as I sit and type on my computer with all my windows open I wish I could describe the sweet, clean scent of summer and the slight breeze I feel. That is something I wish I could bottle up and save!