thisrequiresthought

Two Meals

2012-01-19T13:22:00.002-05:00

We were gathered up to the table, leaning into the warmth of the burnt orange tapers and the smiling faces reflected on the china before us, and holding our souls out toward each other like campers stretching their hands before a bonfire.

It was a getting-to-know-each-other time: the old-fashioned act of one family being invited to another family's hearth, with a few lucky friends added in. The hearty meal, the companionable talk, the small gestures of thank you for being with us -coupled with the sincerity of the children who dined among us, all these things lent themselves to the loosening of our life-weary bundles.

Lord knows, it is good to break bread together.

Together, we do what loved ones do when they share a meal.
We bow our heads.
We grasp the silver.
We break the bread, the home-made kind which is ground fresh from the wheat berry. The kind that holds its own under a swab of butter.
We pass the warm dishes piled high from hand to hand.
We eat our fill.

Soon the hearty meal of meat, potatoes, and root vegetables is behind us, already warming our extremities. Coffee, tea, and a plate of cookies round out our repast. The children find themselves on the floors nearby, busy at quiet play in hidden worlds of their own making. The grown-ups find themselves in the family room, knees facing each other, souls expectant for a meeting with a God who loves them.

Together, we do what loved ones do when they share a faith.
We bow our heads.
We grasp His truth.
We break open His Word, the rich Word that is able to feed us forever and ever. The kind that holds its own under the fires of life.
We pass His mercy & grace from hand to hand.
We receive freely and are filled to overflowing.

Lord knows how good this is.
It is fellowship so real, so life-giving, so utterly testifying
of Who He is and what He has done in our lives.

I wish it for all of you.

winter's challenge

2012-01-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

Winter brings its own challenges. For instance, the river is frozen -which makes it difficult to kayak.
Also, the wood stove is very inviting -which makes it high-near impossible to leave its cozy warmth.

But with a little foresight and minimal planning and only around 27 emails back & forth, I pulled off a little trip to the Met museum.Some of my favorite people in the world joined me on this winter adventure. It involved lots of driving, an overnight at an historic brick home, a train ride which involved running up & down 6 flights of stairs while yelling, an errant yet short trip on the wrong subway car, and other fun things.

Here we are at the entrance to the Met museum. As you can see, we weren't the only people in the world with this great idea. Would it be entirely irreverent to compare the momentous jog up these steps to entering Mecca?

My Saturday Friend brought her purse, which came in handy in the Assyrian court. Unfortunately, she forgot her ceremonial headdress.

We raided a coffee shop, where we souped up on caffeine and also got the skinny on a good Indian restaurant around the corner.

I left out a lot. Like, all the beautiful things we saw there. But as perusers of this here blog may have noted, I haven't been exactly verbose lately. Call it a phase I'm going through.

Let it be enough to say it was a perfect day & trust me on it.

feeding the homeless

2011-12-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

It was a quiet mid-winter's day in which nothing much transpired.

There was some cleaning, knitting, baking, laundry, and the cutting out of lacy paper snowflakes.The most excitement occurred when we spotted a pure white goose bobbing in the icy river. Back & forth he paddled, honking plaintively and looking quite flustered.

Bundled in my winter white mohair coat, I ventured out with a handful of bread. When he spotted me carefully tramping along the edge of the hill, he quickly headed toward me, honking all the way.

When I left him, he was gobbling up the bread like a starving hobo.

Making Much

2011-12-23T15:42:00.001-05:00

Today I will make much of His mysteries.

God in the flesh, all powerful -and yet a babe.
The Author & Completer of one towering act of redemption- born in a manger.
Love so sacrificing, so earth-shaking and history-making - so quietly He came,
and so meek.

Oh, wonder!
and hush, my heart!

Stand up & take note of these astonishing truths
which brand the soul with His stamp,
strap up falling faith,
and set the wanderer back on the highway.

Oh, wonder!
and hush, my heart!

Today I will make much of His mysteries.

a quick check-in

2011-12-20T10:16:00.000-05:00

This photo pretty much sums my house up: the rolling pins represents all the cookies I haven't made.
The laundry basket in the background represents the housework I haven't done.
The paper cut-out snowflakes on the hutch represent that there is no snow on the ground.
And the bowl of fruit represents that I want some fresh fruit salad right this minute.

There is nothing in this photo to represent what a sorry excuse for a blogger I am.
After the rehearsals, finals, recitals, and recording sessions are over, I may mend my ways.

For my historic birthday last week, Hubby took me to Vermont. We spent a night away, ate a scrumptious steak dinner, and did a little shopping.

I spied a wooden tree JUST LIKE THIS ONE in a shop & fell in love. The price tag was a bit steep to say the least, but my thrifty husband told me how to make my own little sapling. So, with the help of two guys ( #1 Son and Geoffrey the Forger) I did. Actually, I am making my own little forest of them.

I leave you with this: the morning sun gracing a Christmas flower.

a thrifty Christmas

2011-12-03T20:26:00.001-05:00

Every day, a little more of Christmas comes together at our house.

This year, I declared it to be a "Thrifty Christmas" & everyone enthusiastically agreed. This means our gifts will be thrifted, re-purposed, refurbished, or hand-made. I'm certain there will be few exceptions to this self-imposed declaration ( somebody say "gift cards!") -but we are all looking for ways to be creative. It's going to be a fun challenge!

As a matter of fact, as I was uploading these pics just now, I was only a tad surprised that each photo has something in it which fits our Thrifty Christmas description! Allow me to illumine you.

The two shutters (above) which grace our front porch this year were found a few years ago in one of our barns. Hubby attempted to chuck them into the truck headed for the dump, but I rescued them valiantly.

"These will be really good for something, somewhere. Someday." I said. I was so right.

Here, on the "Tibetan armoirrrrrrre" ( Joe, I hear you groaning) , we have two vintage Christmas cards that I bought at an auction. They are from Japan, circa 1920. I love that they depict the birth of Jesus with Japanese features. They cost me a few cents each and they are in inexpensive frames.

The stacked wooden boxes are from local thrift shops, as is the copper tin, which I filled with fresh greens.

The old coffee grinder lamp was my grandmother's.

On Black Friday, my guys staked out Lowes & Home Depot for contractor bargains. They thoughtfully scooped up assorted poinsettias because they were 99 cents each -and also because they love me.

My sweet niece potted this one for me in a chipped china pot which I got in a box-lot at an auction. Total cost: less than $2.

We already know all about my crazy owl lamp. Just wanted everyone to know that it joined the Christmas decor. too! The pine cone candles were a gift from a dear friend who knows how I roll. The brass candlestick was a thrift-shop find.

Last summer, I picked up an old milk pan for cheap at an antique shop. It is now the centerpiece for the dining room table. I'll bet the farmer's wife who used it every morning in the milk-house never imagined someone would want it on their Christmas table someday!

The iron stars are salvaged architectural end-pieces to old buildings. I've had 'em for years & years!

This final photo is of my lovely antique hutch, which was a gift from my mom -who inherited it from my aunt. Most of the things in it were gifts over the years -or bargain-bin finds! When I put the final touches of the season in it, I will share another photo of it. It certainly is a fun place to "play" as the seasons change!

A Thanksgiving Prayer

2011-11-24T17:49:00.001-05:00

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart.

He has made His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever.

He has made known to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations.

Holy and awesome is His name. His praise endures forever!

(excerpted from Psalm 111)

par-tay time

2011-11-18T09:34:00.001-05:00

The last time we had over fifty guests in our home, it was to celebrate the upcoming births of three baby girls.
It was a lovely event. I especially liked that my only "job" was to open my home. Some amazingly talented women did all the rest, including the dishes!

Tonight's gathering will likely top that number of guests. Tables are set up, furniture moved, tealights set out, and the large coffee pot is being brought in from storage.

This morning, as I tap tap tap away, three beautiful children are being adopted by dear friends. Their family of three will now be a family of six!

What a joy to share an evening of celebration with them!

capturing

2011-11-14T19:14:00.001-05:00

While I am capturing something beautiful, he leans out the car window behind me and snaps this picture with his phone.

Life has Loveliness to Sell

2011-11-08T20:37:00.001-05:00

Another day is done, and with it, more than my fair share of beautiful moments:

-the morning sun on the kitchen floor. (along with the soap suds I used to wash this floor!)
-a unexpected hug in the hallway of Crane accompanied by, "Will you be my adopted mom?"
-playing Mozart with a flutist. I wasn't sure if we were dancing or playing. I think both.
-facebook messages back & forth with #1 Daughter.
-coming home to the smell of pot-roast simmering in the crockpot.
-viewing wedding photos in the loft. (Gracious me! Now THERE was a day chock-full of beauty!)
-sharing the murmuring of my chilly river with a big fish. Perhaps a late salmon? It splashed all around me & under my little green boat before charging toward the falls.
-a roaring bonfire which I shared first with #1 Son ( & cuppa Earl Grey tea) at dusk, and then with Hubby ( & plates of piping hot pot roast & mashed potatoes) in the near-dark of a temperate evening.

Please take a moment to read this poem; one of my favorites.

I hope you saw the loveliness in your own day. It is always there for the discovering.

A week in Richmond

2011-11-03T09:58:00.000-04:00

This face. I woke this morning missing this chubby face.

A toddler-filled week in sunny Richmond, Virginia is now behind me.

As for who was more blessed this week, we've had a few sparring conversations. I believe the blessings went both ways, deeply.

Here we are, collecting pretty leaves. I mean, "weaves". We also shared some of these with her "widdle sister". Lord knows I enjoyed these two girls!

Behold, the Baby: A snuggly inchworm of sweetness. He squeaks like a mousie. He promotes baby-talk from yours truly.

Across the miles & over the glowing screen of my computer, I say," I MISS YOU ALL, LOVELY FAMILY! Keep doing it right. The Kingdom of God is being built within your cozy walls!"

Elliot

2011-11-01T20:33:00.000-04:00

Elliot Reuel: "The LORD is my God, He is my Friend"

Welcome to the world, Little Man. What a privilege to spend this week -this, the first of your life- with you, your mommy & daddy, and your two big sisters.

My, my, aren't you handsome!

wonderful moments

2011-10-22T19:45:00.000-04:00

-a free cookie with my coffee at the convenient store this morning. It was a large cookie, and had large chunks of chocolate in it. It wasn't home-made, but made a great mid-morning snack in between rehearsals!

-meeting some fine singers from all over. Today was the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Competition at The Crane School. We held "speed rehearsals": 10 minutes to throw together 3 (or 4!) songs -and from there to the concert hall. From the girl who detests lonnnngggggggg rehearsalllllllllllllllllllllssssss....it was nearly bliss.

-playing the impressionistic cascades of this art song for a young soprano. Of course, the chamber music version is lovely, too! But please let me play those runs. It is ever so much fun.

-receiving a photo on my cell phone of #1 Son playing in an impromptu fiddle jam in Schenectady. When I called him later about it, he told me he was handed a 18th century violin to play. He had been eating soup & minding his own beeswax when he heard the tunes coming from down the hall in Proctor's theater.

-preparing sleeping space for four dear friends who are crashing here overnight, only to breakfast & depart in the early morn. It is so very perfect to have a home that lends itself to such flurried visits! -Altho, long & stretched-out visits are nice, too. Right?

-reminding myself that I am playing keys for worship tomorrow morning. -And practically every Sunday morning I am in town, since the new Potsdam church-plant has stretched our resources!
It is good to be stretched for Jesus. Our dear pastor encouraged us so richly last evening at our Annual Dinner & Business Meeting. Let's keep reminding ourselves to embrace change! Good things are happening as a result.

Here's hoping tomorrow brings a visit from #1 Daughter!

The Grasse River Ranch

2011-10-18T21:36:00.002-04:00

I paid a visit to the Grasse River Ranch today.

A beautiful family resides there. See those children on the porch? They want to show me their kittens, hug my legs, and tell me all about important things, namely: a bee sting, a dream about a horse, the baby spit up, and one particular goat really stinks.

They also wanted to show me their three dogs, the tire swing, and the fried potatoes on the wood stove.

They are wonderful kids. Each of them has farm chores -which they will tell you all about if you ask.

Here on the farm, they raise chickens ( for both meat & eggs) and goats ( for the most delectable cheese imaginable!).

Here is the Mama. She is holding The Miracle Baby in her arms.

Sometime I'll have to write about this little babe, as she is a wonder to behold, especially if one knows her story. I'll tell it soon.

We gathered on the porch for a group photo.
"Mrs. Hull, may I hold my cat in the picture?"

"Yes. Yes, you may."

"But please let me still see your face."

Everyone loves the baby.

And they love their animals, this is for certain.

The Grasse River Ranch is holding an Open House on Saturday, October 29. Details to come!

glimpses

2011-10-13T22:34:00.000-04:00

A few glimpses of autumn-happiness around here: the front porch.

The garden wall with sweet alyssum.

And tomatoes. Lots and lots of tomatoes.

I have already put up plenty of green tomato salsa, but there may be more to come! In the meantime, tomatoes magically turn red & we eat them in every way imaginable.

I have loved you deeply, summer. Please don't leave me.

in defense of sitting still

2011-10-11T12:43:00.002-04:00

How entirely fulfilling to sit on a rock & just be.

This sparkling morning, at the bottom of our bank, at the site where ye olde grist mill stood, I staked my perch. The salmon are running, and they splashed with abandon as they made their way to the falls. Strains of Schubert's "Trout Quintet" rang in my ears while I soaked in the late-autumn sun.

In defense of my sitting perfectly still for an hour or so, let me tell you a bit about my last few days:

-alumni weekend for my beloved church brought beloved faces into my home for the weekend. ( One in the loft, one on the couch, two in the office, one in the guest room. Both kiddy-liwinks in their bunny nests in their bedrooms). I kept reminding them that the event was NOT taking place here, as they tended to gravitate around our dining room table to laugh & talk & eat. But really, I minded not in the least. Especially when t this week's bride showed up numerous occasions.

It is such good luck to be near a bride.

-I rocked out on the keys Sunday morning, much to my arm's dismay. I have been nursing a touch of tennis elbow these days, mostly in my right arm.

And it doesn't help AT ALL that every day, my kayak paddle leaps into my hands & takes me out onto the river on my little green boat. It's not my fault either that my entire garden uprooted itself into my arms & walked me over the garden fence into the far reaches of the backyard.

Let's not even talk about the large stack of music awaiting me on my piano.

-Plenty of food has been prepared here recently. And this week has some fun culinary chores ahead: numerous pies & cakes for that bride I was talking about! Also: music to be rehearsed for the ceremony.

-speaking of music to be rehearsed, I need to get right on some other rehearsals, stat. Enough of fishie-watching. I need to get my piano-groove on.

Cheers!

WHO has a Thrifted Lamp? (I DO I DO!)

2011-09-27T18:03:00.000-04:00

I haven't much to say about my rescued lamp, except that it is loved in its new home.
Also this: it cost me $3 for the lamp at a yard sale and $5 in fabric for the new shade cover. The paint ( flat white) was in the cellar, so no cost there!

I fully expect a large range of reactions from those who dine at our harvest table in the weeks to come!

Long Shadows

2011-09-21T15:02:00.004-04:00

Long shadows are the best variety; they begin
at something beautiful
and then expand luxuriously.

Splaying their black ink onto the tilted lawn, long shadows ache for some edge over which to spill. They vibrate with the shimmer of an autumn bonfire.

They recall days long past.

Long shadows sink into the frayed hem of evening.
They echo something just beyond our ability to hear.
Arching over detail, they employ no hue but of the night.

I ask you, bring a host, a bevy, a bushel-full of long shadows to me
the last evening I have a voice,
when my final steps falter.

on their cusp will I drink deeply and have enough to hold me
until the coals sink into their ashen bed.

an autumn evening

2011-09-20T20:50:00.000-04:00

Tonight I put an apple pie in the oven, and while it was baking I went kayaking with #1 Son.

We paddled in the late-evening sun. In view of my beautiful waterfalls, the last shafts of sun danced across the river and landed on my should and face. This only meant one thing: that we had to listen to John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulder" as soon as we got in the house. Which we did. Which made me cry just the tiniest bit because its a song from my childhood which I always find myself singing in my head.

Hubby grilled steak. I made bruschetta with vegetables from the garden. We ate on the the porch, just the three of us, even thought the sun had gone down & it was chilly. We lit candles which made us feel warm, if only in our imagination.

I was missing #1 Daughter sorely.

Immediately after dinner, we laid out our plan for the back walkway with a garden hose. We dreamed about what kind of stone we might buy. We admitted to each other that there was absolutely no budget for this project. We shrugged our shoulders & went ahead with a Dream-Plan regardless.

I threw some dead sunflower stalks on the burn pile. -Which made me want to have a small bonfire. -Which made Hubby get the matches. -Which led us to bring our tea & bowls of warm apple pie outside to watch the fire while enjoying nothing but peace & quiet.

The crackle of the fire and the warmth it cast across the freshly-mown lawn left me with a deep feeling of peace. Either that, or my second helping of pie made me drowsy.

It was a perfect autumn evening.

privileges

2011-08-20T22:36:00.003-04:00

All in one week, here are some of the amazing things I got to do:

-help plan a wedding reception
-hold a newborn babe the day of her birth
-snuggle two kiddos with two temperatures on two couches ( they are both feeling better!)
-sell goat cheese at the Farmer's Market
-harvest basket after basket of fresh vegetables from my own garden
-run errands with #1 Daughter
-talk to #1 Son (who is in Uganda!) on the phone with crystal-clear reception
-share a late-night snack on the candle-lit porch with my Hubby
-talk about God with numerous people who encouraged my soul to the core
-paint trim in the new church plant in a nearby town (while visiting with a dear friend who was also holding a paintbrush!)
-make pickles
-make bread
-make jokes
-drift on the river in my little green kayak while the seagulls were dipping in the setting sun.

So, how was your week?

getting the story

2011-08-15T15:50:00.003-04:00

He is in Northern Uganda, a place not known for its kindnesses.

His travel-partner is in the village clinic. Maybe malaria, maybe typhoid. Let's wait & see. This unforseen predicament leaves him with one other to guide him, a Ugandan from the south. A friend.

He hikes dirt trails to remote villages; the people there, they do not talk much. War has crafted them into closed books; tightly-wrapped packets of hurt & fear. Their dark eyes snap shut when he reaches for them with his own.

He cannot ask them their stories, not yet.

He carries water along with them. From the muddy holes in the cracked earth, in plastic buckets, dented pails, rusted bowls to their mud huts.

He keeps his camera back in the hotel room out of respect, although soon he brings it forth because how else can he tell what he has seen?

The time is short & he knows too well that trust comes long; trust stretches out slow; it bends in the heat. It can distort his good intent, his will to tell their story.

On the roof of an abandoned building, boys leap in the dying streaks of day. They seem to reach for something just outside their grasp. Lunging & snatching, it eludes them. And now another day in Northern Uganda is done.

Are we closer to the goal?

on the water at dusk

2011-08-12T10:00:00.004-04:00

I took to the river last night.

A blue heron met me there. Also, two boats of quiet fishermen who understood that I didn't want to break the river-silence by greeting them across the water. Not last night, no.

One drowsy fishing-line after another gracefully launched into the air, spanning the chasm between sky & surface before landing light as a ballerina.

A ream of crickets primed the air with their low music, and over the marshland a combine chewed late-summer's hay in a distant field.

A mink emerged from the weedy bank and whistled into his burrow as sleek as water poured into a cup. He left one winking leaf bobbing in his wake.

I wish you were with me out on the water tonight, because you would been quiet; you would have understood.

things I like

2011-07-30T12:41:00.002-04:00

Here are some things I liked about my last 24 hours:

1. A long evening paddle with my Saturday Friend.

2. Laughing with #1 Son and J Churchhill Morris over breakfast.

3. posting a pic of #1 Daughter on FB. She so purty!

4.Canning 7 quarts of pickles.

5. Playing "Here Comes the Bride" for a wedding rehearsal.

6. Having a few quiet hours to myself.

7. some Bible-reading which cheered my weary soul.

a jumbled roster of thoughts:

2011-07-28T17:53:00.002-04:00

garden. wild blueberries. kayak. river. invasive species. many sink-fulls of dirty dishes. groceries. more groceries. even more groceries.

faces at our table. weeds to pull. knocks on the door. laundry. more laundry. even more laundry.

birthday cake for breakfast. new friends. pickles. beets. lettuce. weeds. more weeds. even more weeds.

sawdust. paintbrushes. cans of paint. more cans of paint. even more cans of paint.

the neighbors are here. someone wants to buy our boat. a tenant wants to give us rent. six people randomly stop by to say hi. three lovely people are staying in our driveway. two are crawling on the garage roof. two are cleaning a filthy rental apartment. one is developing a business plan.

company. more company. even more company.

Welcome to my summer life.

I cannot sit in the front yard & swing with you --well, perhaps only a minute.

Then I must water Grandma Jean's flowers & make some more iced tea & wipe down the porch table & mow the front lawn & bring my husband his dinner & greet the person who is here with an overnight bag & move my car to make room for someone else's and figure out how to stretch tonight's dinner & maybe throw together some dessert & oh no we are out of dish detergent.

Last week I rehearsed a cabaret & then performed it twice. The week before that, I rehearsed a chamber music concert & performed it once. The week before that I wasn't too certain I still knew how to play the piano. But I kayaked a lot.

My parents graced us with a surprise visit today. They brought two friends -a married couple they have known for many years. They treated us (Hubby, myself, #1 Son & #1 Daughter) to lunch at the smokehouse down the road. They relaxed in our family room ( which was quickly cleaned this morning) & told delightful stories for an hour after lunch.

We had five extra people sleeping here last night. One from China (who is staying here for the summer), two from Schenectady, one from Nashville, and one from I don't know where --but he is a Clarkson student. He works for us. We like him immensely.

We hosted a birthday party last night. Sixteen people were at our dinner table.

There were two bats in our house last night: one in an upstairs bedroom and one in the family room. They have been conquered. We hope none come back.

The house is miraculously quiet this evening. The driveways are somewhat empty. I made three grilled cheese sandwiches: one for me and two for someone else. I am now donning an old shirt & hopping onto the kayak. I think I shall travel downriver where the blue herons lurk & the muskie jump.

I shall leave you with this picture which defies explanation:

Amish?

2011-07-11T18:26:00.000-04:00

Someone does not like having her picture taken.

very patriotic

2011-07-04T23:01:00.001-04:00

I could not resist snapping a photo of this girl sitting atop her car. There's some red, white & blue for ya!

Happy Fourth of July!

like

2011-06-28T10:34:00.001-04:00

I know a little girl, six years old last week, with red hair and chubby cheeks. We are neighbors. She likes me, and that makes my day.

my kid

2011-06-20T14:08:00.003-04:00

I love reading an article about my kid that I didn't know about!
(-oh, I knew about the kid ---just not about the article. Misplaced modifiers can be so amusing!)

Please read it, follow the link to the Uganda 23 website, and consider making a generous donation to a very worthy cause!

a little bit o' pretty.

2011-06-18T10:58:00.003-04:00

Here's a little bit of pretty to start your day.

The begonias were a gift from a friend.
the vinatge wooden box was an auction-find.
the cheery table runner was 25 cents at last week's rummage sale up the road.

my busy mind

2011-06-16T09:59:00.007-04:00

This radiant girl officially graduated from high school last weekend.

We hosted a little dinner party on the porch in her honor, replete with happy relatives. Then we trotted over to the church for the graduation-shindig. It was a memorable evening.

My favorite part was when #1 Daughter sang John Mayer's "Stop This Train", accompanied by some fantastically plucky guitar playing. Thanks, Jules.

* in the spirit of fun, I will leave my wrong link attached. I attempted to link to the lyrics of the song, but somehow got yesterday's link about cheeseburgers instead. Enjoy.

Speaking of plucky playing, #1 Son was home for the weekend - and would you just look at what he was trying his hand at.

He is so very avant-garde!

-which brings me to mention cupcakes.

Not really a smooth segue, but my mind is always one blip away from mentioning cupcakes these days, especially if they are as moist & delectable as these were.

Oh my. Kitchen-goodness of all kinds! Some of them had peanut-butter frosting.

Speaking of peanut-butter frosting, here is the latest on my garden.

I am going for brussel sprouts this season. I love how Dr. Suess they look when they are ready for harvest!

All kinds of green things are popping up, which reminds me:
I need to go practice the piano.

Forgive the non sequiturs. It's merely a tiny peek into the cogs of my busy mind.

little girl

2011-06-08T15:23:00.003-04:00

A little patch of sunshine has been visiting all this week.

Two and a half years old -and already a force of cheer & enthusiasm to be reckoned with.

A people-person without peer, she makes fast friends with everyone who walks in the door.
-and if you know ANYTHING about our house, then you know that's not a small number!

She had toast with Joe. We are certain that she thinks she is the same age as him.

Brown curls, sun-kissed skin, bubbly laugh, perky talk!
What a joy to have her ( and her lovely mama) here!

tall tale

2011-06-01T21:38:00.005-04:00

It went from being quite blustery this afternoon to....well, seriously gusty!

Spotting a cushion from an outdoor chair being tossed in the wind, I dashed outside to rescue it when I saw the lids from our garbage cans go flying. I debated whether to first run after them or the cushion.....

Good thing I chose to grab the cushion first because as I grabbed it, I heard a loud crack behind me. Right before my eyes, a large section of this tree split in half and crashed to the ground.

I was about to head over to that very corner of the yard!

Thankfully, although the tree fell directly on top of the garbage cans, I wasn't standing there.
I like this story because it ended well.

Friend #37 told me his near-death story, and it certainly trumped today's falling tree tale. Therefore, I forbid him to tell his story for two weeks. That way, I get to tell my story without being one-upped. Nobody likes to be one-upped.

"I walked on the mooooon...." -Brian Regan

different kinds of beauty

2011-06-01T13:41:00.006-04:00

I get happy looking at this & thought I would share the happiness.

I have never had much success growing my own roses, so instead I lugged this antique tin bucket from the loft of the barn and stocked it with other kinds of growing things.

Olive helped me pick these beauties out. She doesn't have a number, but she does have a nickname: Saturday Friend.

And now you know.

excuses galore

2011-05-05T10:02:00.002-04:00

Certain things have stood in the way of a regular entry on this here blog:

1. the family laptop finally fizzled. Its demise was slow but sure, and when it finally was pronounced unfixable, I moved on the Hubby's office computer.

2. -which leaves much to be desired. I think it was built in the 1970's. It takes up an entire wall and requires a notice to the electric company to warm the thing up.

3. no, not really. But it is SLOWWWWW. And cranky. And unfeeling. It blinks & then I'm done for. Nothing gets saved, and then I'm back to square one. I have been know to mutter a Christian swear word or two. ("doggone it". "rats". "STINKO". And such like.)

4. At times, I smuggle #1 Daughter's computer -which bears an extremely amusing password. I can post pictures with this contraption! Yesss. But typing on a bright red laptop seems to throw me, for some reason. I am really full of excuses, people.

5. I have been a busy bee at Crane, my sometime place of employment. This week has brought me rehearsal fun! I am accompanying three piano concerti, nine German Diction students, one French voice recital, a number of dress rehearsals, a spate of lessons, studio performances, and who knows what else.
I enjoy getting to know the students; they are all extremely sweet kiddos.

6. I have been staying up late at night hunched over a work table with music manuscript paper strewn about me. Yes, folks. I have been professionally s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d in the realm of orchestration. The musical (Cinderella & the Glass slipper") that the home-schooled kids are presenting next week needed to be orchestrated for strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. All we had was a piano score.

Kudos to my esteemed conductor/musical director/pastor. who cheerfully did WAY more orchestration work than I. He provided the encouragement to get 'er done. (He also was forced to provide the percussion part for my numbers, as I stubbornly refused to figure them out. Thanks, Pastor Rick.)

Our first read-through on Monday night was a resounding success! What a relief.

7. We have been hosting lots of company.

8. um. I am now officially out of excuses. I am very aware that I need to get my blogger act together.

Thank you for your understanding.

good for the soul

2011-04-22T22:09:00.004-04:00

This year, we hosted a Good Friday dinner.

We set three tables; twenty-four places in all.

We feasted on a hearty potluck dinner.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Carrots.

Strawberry-Almond-Feta Cheese Salad.

Spiral Ham with Honey Mustard Sauce. (Ham on Good Friday? So- we're not Catholic. Or even remotely Jewish, obviously.)

Little boys minding their table manners.

Boisterous fellowship.

A bit of chalk-art after dinner.

Song, Scripture, and Reflection.

All good for the soul.

kitsch

2011-04-14T10:50:00.001-04:00

A little Easter kitsch goes a long way with me.

The KRT

2011-04-12T13:42:00.002-04:00

Yesterday brought us whipping winds. All afternoon, one had to keep one's mouth firmly closed lest one's false teeth become dislodged.

Not the best example. But really, it was fierce out there.

For example: Hubby had leaned the blue kayak up against something to drain the water out. A little time passed before he noticed it was gone. Like, not even anywhere around. He knew that neither I nor #1 Daughter would dare THINK of taking it out for a spin on such a blustery afternoon.

So he spied with his little eye down the raging river, trying to spot a patch o' bright blue. Alas, but no sign of our little craft.

But really, the only option was this: that the wicked wind had blown it down the bank & into the the clutches of the rain-swollen river.

So he did what he had to do: he hopped onto the little green kayak and went downstream a-hunting for our lost boat. A few football field lengths later, he found it floundering along shore. He fished it out, dumped the water out of it, tied it to the back of Little Green, and attempted to head back upstream toward home.

No such luck. He told me later that he noticed that he was actually going backward despite his most olympic paddling. So he docked both boats at a friend's property and called #1 Daughter for a ride home.

Here are some pics of the Kayak Recovery Team (the KRT) doing their thing today. This team consisted of me and Friend #37, fresh home from China. He was game for such a task. Besides, he had recently fortified himself with a grilled sandwich, chips, and chocolate cake.

It was a much improved situation today; the sun was shining, the breezes were intermittent, and the company delightful.

At the end of the boardwalk with 20 feet to go. On the other side of the kayaks is the actual river.

Only one way to skin this cat & he volunteered first. So he wins!

(May I remind you that this water was recently frozen?)

Truly a heroic effort.

Now to push Little Green to me....and we'll be on our way home!

I spy on Sunday Afternoon

2011-04-06T10:54:00.006-04:00

White linen.
Spring table settings.
Fresh flowers.

A pot o 'tea.
A pot o' honey.
Cheesecake.

A lesson on Beethoven.
Boys on a couch.
A grandfather clock.
Sparkling smiles.
Dear souls.
Coffee.
Sunlight streaming through the windows.
Song at the table.

Strums.
Pickings.
The remains of a little boy's dessert.

to my Saturday Friend

2011-04-02T16:52:00.002-04:00

Dear Saturday Friend,

You are away today, gallavanting with friends close to your own age. But I still managed to have a lovely Saturday without you.

I finally spray-painted those wooden urns with hammered metal paint. Also, the wooden carved tray. They are perfecto in their new clothes. The wayI did it was this: I spread an old tarp on the lawn near the river where I could watch the seagulls dip & dive. This was crucial to the success of the project of course.

Then I sprayed them. Simple.

Remember that over-sized tea towel that I found at the flea market? (The one that Louissa almost bought but didn't? Yes, that one.)

I cut it in half ( -which I am getting so very adept at doing) and hemmed the cut edges. Then I hung it from metal clips & curtain rod hoops in the new bathroom window. It is quite the perfect thing there. I know you will approve.

Tomorrow we are hosting a hungry family. So I made an enormous pot of chicken corn chowder. It has green chilies & red pepper flakes in it, which means it needs to be eaten with monterey jack cheese & crushed tortilla chips sprinkled on top.

While this piping hot concoction was cooling on the stove, I decided to hop into my little green boat & take to the river. It was my first foray this year & much-anticipated. The wind was whipping but I reasoned thusly: the sun is shining, the ice is gone, and the geese are out there, so why not me?

Also today:

-I read my Bible & scored some important truths.
-I bought some groceries and three hyacinth bulbs just beginning to sprout.
-I met a lovely young lady from this ministry. She had a "tour" of our old stone home and an impromptu piano concert from me, the Lady of the Manor. I hope she didn't mind that I was dressed in my shabby work clothes. She spoke with passion on behalf of the children she defends. She also understood a quote from "What About Bob?", so she made quite the impression upon me.
-I will be heading out to the local high school to take in their production of "Beauty & the Beast" along with Hubby & #1 Daughter.

Other than these events, hardly anything has happened today. But it would have been a treat to share any or all of this April Saturday with you, my dear.

the new improved BLT

2011-03-31T12:39:00.002-04:00

How is it possible to bring the classic BLT to another level when it is already such perfection?

Simple. Follow my younger sister's culinary advice: add chopped fresh rosemary to the mayo. Additionally, because I can never leave well enough alone, I used thousand island dressing instead of mayo, mixing the fresh rosemary right in there.

I was stunned.

Now, if a only sun-warmed garden tomato could be in this mix....wow.

almost pink

2011-03-23T11:33:00.004-04:00

Last spring we beheld a pink bower of cherry blossoms only briefly: a torrent of wind & whipping rain left us bereft of their beauty before their beauty was spent.

Not so this year.

Three weeks ago I trekked through the soggy snow to bring in a craggy armful of bare branches. I stood them upright in a glass vase & plopped them in a sunny window, determined to coax them into an early spring.

We do what we can here in the semi-arctic tundra we call home.

the elephant parade

2011-03-21T18:31:00.004-04:00

We love to attend our local auctions, as one never knows what one may find there.

This past Saturday, there were elephants upon elephants. I have never seen so many elephants all together in my entire life.
Tables were chock full of them, all shapes & sizes. WAYYYYY too many. A scary amount of them. This person's elephant-mania bordered on deranged, in my humble opinion.

It is just a humble opinion. Not a medical diagnosis, mind you.

There were elephant statues, for sure. Like, 500 of them.
But also the following:
elephant art
elephant lamps
elephant bookends
elephant planters
elephant tie racks
elephant ties
elephant coat racks
elephant books

-and much much more. My fave was a party item: a plastic bubble-making elephant. You plug it in & it blows bubbles from its trunk. It went for five bucks.

When it was time to start selling elephants (there were many other items beside elephants up for auction), the auctioneer ( who entertains us for hours on end with his witty quips) geared up by asking for "all hands on deck".

While a line of auction-workers hefted trays of elephants past the discerning eyes of the crowd, he whipped up a frenzy of words that left us breathless with laughter. People bought those elephants, every single one of them.

It was an amazing thing to see.
And no, I did not buy one. single. elephant.

Orange Buttermilk Cupcakes

2011-03-13T16:43:00.004-04:00

Two weeks back, #1 Daughter threw together some cupcakes that rocked our world. They were moist, dense, lemony, and not enough of them.

I don't think that's a grammatically proper sentence, but if you ate one of these cupcakes, you would talk silly too.

By the time we licked the last crumb from our fingers and scraped the inside of the paper muffin cup with our teeth, we were already clamoring for more.

"Um," said she off-handedly. "I forgot how I made them."

YOU MADE THAT RECIPE UP? FROM YOUR HEAD? AND YOU DIDN"T WRITE IT DOWN FOR HEAVENS SAKE?

-those were the kinds of things that were said to her.

Today I begged for a brain retrieval of sorts. "Can't you kind of remember?" She was lounging at the table in the loft & kindly but distractedly shouted down some instructions to me.

But we were out of lemon flavoring so I used orange. And instead of lemon rind, I used orange rind. And instead of 7 tablespoons of butter ("Seven?" I asked. "Yes, at the time, that's all the butter we had." "Oh.") I used 8. Also: instead of a few "glugs" of regular milk, I used buttermilk.

Other than that, it was the EXACT SAME RECIPE. Haha.

They came out beautifully, as evidenced by their fast disappearing act. Have a sweet Sunday afternoon, everyone!

moments from my day

2011-03-11T21:01:00.005-05:00

-the coffee at the McDonald's in Adams NY is not that great. Especially at 7:15 in the morning when good coffee really counts.

-when gas is $3.65/gallon and that is a good deal, there is something wrong.

-my favorite song to play for the 2nd and 3rd grade choir is "Drip Drip Drop Little April Shower" because it was my solo in 2nd grade. I was very happy to sing it then, and equally happy to play it for other kids now. In my opinion, it has stood the test of time.

-I made oatmeal bread & forgot to put the yeast in. I realized this when setting the pans in the oven to rise. Throwing the dough back into the mixer along with the forgotten yeast, I was able to rescue the whole batch. That was a nice surprise.

-talk about excess: I made two lemon meringue pies today for no special occasion, just as I did last Friday. What can I say? Life gave me lemons & I made the best of it.

-in rehearsal, I worked with one princess, one prince, and one step-mother. You can figure it out from there what the show is about...

-really, no complaints over my way. A general feeling of gratefulness pervaded my day, especially after seeing the evening news. Praying for the people of Japan.

end of winter thoughts

2011-03-08T09:23:00.003-05:00

I have the distinct feeling that I will be trudging today.

trudge

1. (intr) to walk or plod heavily or wearily

2. (tr) to pass through or over by trudging

n a long tiring walk[of obscure orig

As far as examples of onomatopoeia go, surely trudge is in the top ten.

-Not that I have any real mountains to climb, mind you. Just the layering of winter clothing, the cleaning off of the car, the acquisition of groceries, and the lurking possibility of a visit to the gym. An evening visit to a friend who resides at a farm up the road apiece is my jewel at the end of the day.

Even then, you may imagine me trudging up her drive toward the front porch where a lighted window awaits me.

At this time of the year, in the last clutches of a mean winter, is it any wonder that the simplest activities morph into olympian feats? Let us reach for the laurel crown; surely it is within our grasp, although wreathed with the humble dandelion -our spring joy which some people call a weed.

A weed & a rare orchid, both triumphant victors over the steely frost. As for this trudging wayfarer, either will do at the end of the trail.

in which I sew.

2011-03-01T19:00:00.003-05:00

Today I sat down at a sewing machine & actually SEWED something.

Cause for celebration! Thank you Mrs. Fox (mother of Warren, awfully cute baby) for tutoring so patiently & for hovering over me while I stitched on the turtle setting.

(FYI: no joke, non-sewers. There is a turtle setting and a hare setting for real. Please don't laugh at us, clever sewing machine owners. We non-sewers didn't know.)

A year ago I snatched up a beautiful shower curtain from the clearance bin for three bucks. It was the exact duplicate of one we already own & use, but I love the material & thought it was a good idea have a replacement ready someday.

Here is the old one, looking just as new as the day I bought it -perhaps three years ago.

In the meanwhile, I changed my mind & decided to cut the bargain-replacement up for placemats. It makes perfect sense to me. I ended up with 12 placemats, which is very handy since my harvest table seats 12 without squeezing.

They are luxuriously sized, too -which means plenty of room for that auction china with all its high-falutin' extra pieces:

Let's do the math: 12 place-mats for 3 bucks = 25 cents apiece. Nice.

pasta night once again

2011-03-01T10:18:00.003-05:00

No need to hold court on the medicinal qualities of pie, as this fact has been well established in the glowing recesses of this here blog. ( See here and here , and most notably here.)

But a new culinary experience has nudged its way into the front of the healing line recently, and that is pasta with authentic Italian sauce. For which we give copious thanks.

The kind folk at the Old Stone House (ahem: the LOTM and the Lady of the same) have cooked up a number of pots 'o sauce & pasta this winter season, courtesy of the Chef Down the Road who has an Italian moniker that we like to fool around with. His name is Puglia, which rhymes with Julia.

But we call him Poogs. Not to be confused with Poods, which is the nickname of #1 Daughter.

But back to the food. Last evening there were over 20 faces around the table consuming three varieties of sauce: pork, chicken & veal. Far be it from me not to mention the platter of mini brownie cheescakes that found their way into our mouths.

The winters are long up here. And dark. The precious daylight we receive is often bleak and stingy, which means cause for celebration when the sun turns golden and streaks across the dazzling snow for an afternoon. I have seen grown people shed a tear when we have a brief thaw, even though that means we trade up to mud.

But mud smells like dirt and dirt means spring and spring means gardens and possibly outdoor walks and outdoor walks bring renewed energy & hope.

Outdoors walks also bring health to life & limb that have possibly consumed way too much pasta & cheesecake in the late hours of the night.

-and for this we also give thanks.

Saturday activities

2011-02-26T17:51:00.002-05:00

Look at my wholesome activities for the day. Oats & honey are so very good for one's health, as is thrifting with Olivia.

She did not purchase this pink suede coat, although it fit like a glove.
It draped so elegantly! Even her damp slippers (which she wears everywhere) did not detract from its vintage beauty.

Speaking of vintage beauty, will somebody somewhere shout out SOMETHING regarding this circa 1960 lamp. Atrocious? Horrendous? Ostentatious?

This funky-retro-monstrosity is certainly the belle of the ball. I dare anyone to NOT notice it.

Owing to the fact that it is befizzled & bedangled with real crystals, the price tag was a jaw-dropping $375. Inexplicable!!!

soul food

2011-02-25T18:15:00.000-05:00

Behold, the pies.

Lemon meringue rules my world, I tell you.

packets of joy

2011-02-24T10:34:00.002-05:00

I pushed a cumbersome shopping cart through the overstuffed aisles of The Christmas Tree Shop yesterday, convincing myself to only fill it with things I need.

Three large display stands of colorful seeds shouted my name while the 50% price sign drew me in for closer inspection. I stood there long, dreaming of this year's garden & its future bounty.

What a perfect place to while away the time, selecting one promising packet over another, toying with trying a new herb or flower! I walked away with most of my season's seeds, excepting the local ones I buy from our local co-op.

Now they reside in a kitchen drawer until May. Can anyone blame me for opening that drawer just to smile at these pretty things?

bring me summer, please.

2011-02-12T11:36:00.002-05:00

A dose of garden-goodness cheers me along this cold February day. In our kitchen is a basket with a few butternut squash still lingering on from the fall.

Perhaps I shall make a batch of butternut squash bisque & thereby complete the circle.

horse-play

2011-02-09T12:38:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, I whiled away an hour by exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection online.

People: hear me, now. One simply cannot call browsing ART a waste of time. I see it more as investing in my well-being before going out into minus nine degree weather to play piano for an opera class.

Plus, I was looking for some particular things; namely, some images of horses in the Ancient Persian style. Why, you ask? Well, because it occurred to me that I would really really love a piece of art in that style. If I found the right image online, it would be a str--e--t--c--h, but just maybe, I could duplicate it myself & frame it.

It's what one does when they have extravagant taste, a small budget, and the teensiest bit of artistic ability. I don't know why I thought of horses. But if my memory serves me right, I recall some jaw-dropping renditions of prancing horses, usually topped off with a spear-wielding warrior charging into battle.

I also looked on Wiki & came up with this. WHICH I LOVED.

Before heading into town for a few errands & to work, I sent myself the link in order to think about how to make it -or something even remotely like it- mine.

An hour later, I snagged this beautiful find in the downtown flea market. It is approximately 10" tall and is quite heavy for its size.

I don't know how these serendipitous things happen to me, but let me take this opportunity to once again wish a Happy Birthday to myself.

two views

2011-02-07T13:45:00.001-05:00

I love a good project. This one turned out beautifully!

a few unrelated things

2011-02-05T10:49:00.003-05:00

We breakfasted this morning with new friends, one of whom is the director of this amazing project.
The winter sun blazed a trail across the dining room table while we listened intently and asked questions. It never ceases to astound me how people that love & serve Jesus can get to know each other so quickly.

I bought these painted stone birds in Ottawa. Birds seem to be my thing these days, right?

My mom sent me a little seasonal gift. She is the cat's pajamas.

Happy Saturday to one & all!

stop & wonder

2011-02-04T10:44:00.002-05:00

Ottawa, Canada.

I could have taken pictures of the lovely shops, the authentic Irish pub we chose to dine at, the elegant concert hall, or some of my favorite people that were seated beside me in the uppermost top/back row of the hall.

Rather.

All I have are these two shots of a most intriguing example of architecture. Any takers on what this is about?

a valentine's fort

2011-02-03T08:48:00.002-05:00

Call me crazy, but I'm gonna make a Valentine's Fort.

I wonder if I could get Hubby to crawl inside? If I lure him with food, yes.

This idea would be wonderful & memorable for little kiddies. Hot chocolate with conversation hearts, a few seasonal library books, and a paper craft! (Can you tell that I am yearny for when my kids were little?)

What happens on Valentine's Day at your house?

a switch of plans

2011-02-01T08:23:00.004-05:00

My little road trip got postponed today, which leaves me cobbling together a different plan for the day.

Not to worry. I have a wood stove, cozy chair, and the most amazing book:

Instead of toting warm blueberry-struesel muffins to Rochester, I shall consume them at home:

A little keyboard-action would be a good thing, now that the semester is in full-swing:

And my therapy-craft-of-the-week could be wrapped up. I need to somehow affix this bird to his perch. Somewhere in my craft box is a tuft of moss, which would be a woodsy addition to this whim of mine:

A lovely pre-storm day to everyone!

before & after

2011-01-22T20:59:00.006-05:00

A few weeks back, I dragged this kind of ugly trunk home from a thrift store.

Then I set #1 Son on to the task of making it beautiful.
"Have fun," said I, "-only please make this into an amazing cabinet for under the flat screen TV."

His main partner was Best Boy #2, Zach. An additional accomplice showed up on the scene, for which I also give my thanks.

Thanks for making the boys focus, Matthew.
That IS what you were doing, right?

RIGHT?
At one point when I sent my Saturday Friend (Olive) down to the garage to check on their progress, she reported:

"They are listening to NOT Jesus music and dancing all over the garage."

She not only stated this sincerely, but in a sing-songy little sister tone -which highly entertained me but for it's certain truth.

In between their frolicking, they decided to saw a gaping hole into the front of the trunk. Then they decided that this trunk needed secret drawers.

The secret drawers are for treasure maps and hidden pirate booty.

Today I requested that the unfinished trunk be hauled into my family room for the girly-touches
that would bring it home.

I googled my favorite site, Design Sponge, for the tutorial on Dry Brush Painting.

My Saturday Friend and I had all sorts of fun doing the EASY PEASY beauty treatment!

It only took approximately ONE HOUR to make this old trunk sing the song I have wanted it to sing.
Thank you, Anthropologie, for making so many porcelain knobs that mounds of them end up in the clearance bin.

Oh Thank you ever so $2.95 much.

TA-DAH! Here is my new beautiful thing up close.

-and here is my new beautiful thing in its natural environment.

Somebody bring me some popcorn. Stat.

whining on the couch

2011-01-16T19:30:00.002-05:00

The couch is quite snuggly; the blankets she has tucked round me so warm. Why then is my entire body (including hair follicles & eye lids) aching so? I also have a large glass of cold ginger ale at my shaky arm's reach.

They call it the flu.

I am quite spoiled here in broad, flat, chilly, gray Texas; the biggest state of the Lower 48. I think Texans love their Biggest State title so much, that they refuse to acknowledge the even larger other thing (Alaska). They sniff & call it a "territory". So I've heard.

I would find the digital proof of this hearsay & link to it, if only my tired fingers (which hurt when they tap keys) and my tired eyes (oh the raging glow of this screen!) could manage it.

Wahh. Please allow me to whine & cry just this little bit? After all, I'm in Texas & everything is so big here, surely one 49-year old lady shivering on a couch isn't going to tip the balance.

Thanks for your generosity.

airwaves

2011-01-11T11:20:00.003-05:00

My love & admiration for this family just grows & grows. So grateful to be in their circle!

Here are a few pics of my visit to their home a few days ago, where I was fed, pampered, serenaded, entertained, loved on, and prayed for:

the lunch prep, handled deftly & expertly by Theresa, aka Friend #88b.

bistro lunch for Julia & myself.

original songs shared at the table, courtesy of Friend #88a.

the cheerful clearing of the plates.

post-meal instruction of how to receive forgiveness for breaking a toy: an indispensable tutorial for grown-ups, too.

Regrettably, NPR was not there to record it for national broadcast.

winter love

2011-01-07T18:46:00.002-05:00

Our lovely deep window sills make a perfect frame for a whirling snowfall.

The snow fell on & off throughout the afternoon, laying new soft sheets of white on the roads & on the river. Last week's thaw had melted December's bounteous snows, but the new year reminds us that we still have a long season ahead of us.

Stepping out onto the back porch to fetch some wood for the fire, I breathed in the fresh, snowy air, and took in the view across the river.

(Have I mentioned that I LOVE living here?)

frigid

2011-01-06T09:44:00.001-05:00

A frigid morning in January, yes. But I have a bowl of fruit to admire, so it's all good.

photo fun

2011-01-03T18:02:00.004-05:00

In emptying out my camera card, I came across some fun times.
Here, in absolutely no particular order, are a few of them.

Two young friends from Crane ( where I work) came over for dinner & cookie-making. They took the decorating quite seriously. One is a vocalist who also plays flute. The other is a pianist who is a gifted choral conductor.

This is my neighbor's son. He made this contraption out of spare parts. It has an engine which runs on gas. I am unclear about exactly what it does. He was pretty excited about it, though.

The Buchanan/McCarthy family joined us for dinner. I love these people. A good time was had by all.

Here are two ladies-in-waiting. While waiting, one of them sported some attitude. How ladylike!

This is my thrifted leather chair. Well, some of it is well-worn leather and some of it is perfectly-matched vinyl. But whatever. It cost me forty bucks & I love it.

This is my partner in crime. We totally own this corner of Little Italy restaurant in Saranac, NY. Not really. But it feels that way whenever we eat there -which has been twice now.

On Thanksgiving afternoon, I gave my niece kitchen chores. She complied cheerfully. In this pic, she is mixing the dressing. I would call it "stuffing", but we baked it this year.

(Do you know how much fat there is in real stuffing? It's a food crime to eat that stuff.)

-not that we have anything against caloric intake. Take these doughnuts made from scratch, for instance. I think I ate four of them while they were still warm.

More food? Well, yes. Caramelized Onion & Asparagus Tart was quite the hit. I wish I had some right this minute.
On one of my last forays onto the river I snapped this shot. That's our house & garage up on the bank. For the remainder of the winter I can only see the reverse of this view -out my kitchen window. It's not a bad view, but still I would rather be out on the water looking homeward.

Lastly, I share this interior shot of the Little Yellow House around the corner, where these breathtaking floors lingered under swaths of linoleum, subflooring, and/or carpeting for many a year gone by. Isn't it 'bout time they were uncovered? I rather think so.

Now that it is a new year, I will wash my camera card clean ( or unload it into the memory of my computer) & start afresh!

in the kitchen

2010-12-23T09:35:00.003-05:00

Things I have made in the kitchen in the past 48 hours:

-lemon-rosemary roasted chicken
-roasted vegetables
-chicken noodle soup
-buttermilk biscuits
-raspberry scones
-jam thumbprints
-chocolate-coconut pinwheel cookies
-rum logs
-sugar cookies
-cranberry bread loaves
-homemade sesame crackers
-spinach-ham dip

-and that's hardly anything compared to what's cookin' over the weekend. Mercy, THE CALORIC CONSUMPTION!

As I shuffle about stirring things & cleaning up behind myself, I think of how extremely grateful I am for our new kitchen. Talk about a Christmas present!

little projects.

2010-12-15T11:42:00.003-05:00

(View from the top o' the spiral staircase:)

Ta-da! The new bathroom is done! (* disclaimer: no pics of the new bathroom ensue.)

-except for painting some trim, cleaning the dusty shower stall, installing the towel racks, and oh yeah. Also, thawing the pipes.

Enclosed in a very well-insulated wall, they froze because there was no heat in that wall. The insulation kept the household heat out entirely.

-or something like that. I'm never sure I get the story right.

But my guys are on the job, pulling the pantry out from the wall, making holes in sheet- rock, opening boxes of plumbing, and indulging in the merriment of the season. See?

I did my part & whipped up a batch o' corn muffins. Then I put a pot o' chili on the stove to simmer.
Then I tossed my self onto the couch to enjoy the Christmas decor.

such a pretty thing

2010-12-14T11:43:00.002-05:00

One of my birthday gifts was this beautiful vase.

I admired it unabashedly last summer when we were in Cape Cod. We stopped at a pottery maker's where we saw many lovely unaffordable things -one of which was this vase.

It hardly seems right that I should own such a pretty thing. Happy Birthday to me.

wayyyyyy too much scrabble.

2010-12-13T09:03:00.002-05:00

En route to Watertown, I spotted this roadside sign & immediately began counting the scrabble points.

Put down the laptop & step awayyy from the online scrabble.....

doings

2010-12-12T20:59:00.005-05:00

We found ourselves in the unique predicament of having two brand new toilets in the kitchen last night. One gets installed in the new downstairs bath; the other is a replacement for the upstairs bath.Oh yes, folks. Don't they look funny side by side?

#1 Son sat on one while we were cleaning up the kitchen after dinner and barked, "Could I just have little PRIVACY???"

Hubby had lugged them inside and requested that their plastic wrapping be removed & the seats installed. They ended up in the kitchen because there was really no other place for them, seeing that the back hall was full of tools. Also, the family room floor was covered with electrical do-dads because #1 Son and Clever Boy Tommy were finishing up some sound system wiring.

(Note to inner-self: Embrace the clutter.)

Do you know anyone else that EVER raced toilets in their kitchen? No?

I didn't think so.

Did I mention that we put up and decorated our tree? Yes, all on the same evening.

Awesome.

beginning to look a lot like you. know. what.

2010-12-06T12:39:00.002-05:00

The house smelled like Christmas this morning. It might have had something to do with the apple-cinnamon muffins that #1 Daughter was bedecking the halls with.

In between batches, she was polishing the antique silver that I brought home from Saturday's auction.
I love the clink of real silverware. I also love that two wooden trays of assorted silver only cost me $7.50.

Our dining room hutch is not curved; my camera only makes it look that way.
We have just begun to make it feel Christmas-y here at our old stone home: armfuls of fresh greens and a few home-spun touches is all we need.

-all that, plus a few gold globes.

Thanksgiving at our Old Stone Home

2010-11-27T20:38:00.012-05:00

Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done, in Whom this world rejoices;

Who from our mother's arms has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,

with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;

and keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;

and free us from all ills in this world and the next.

Amen & amen.

conversations with music students

2010-11-18T19:04:00.005-05:00

I sailed into the 2-piano practice room this afternoon to meet & rehearse with a new student. As I plopped my score on one of the Steinway grands, I introduced myself to the young lady seated at the other piano.

"Hi, I'm Nancy! You must be Jessica!"

She extended her hand and smiled. "I am SO nervous!" she admitted.

"Of what? ME?" I laughed. "O my goodness; don't be nervous because of me!"

This was funny to me. -Like I would bite her head off for missing a note or something.
Me, who got the music last week. Me, who tries to put everyone at ease. Me, who used to be a student myself & still feel like one most of the time. I am not her teacher. I am her accompanist for a piano concerto, which means that she plays the fancy stuff. I play the orchestral reduction at the other keyboard & generally hold things together in a mildly humble fashion.

Anyway. It was a great first rehearsal.

After that, I attended Italian Diction for Singers. There, I plant myself at another Steinway where I sight-read Italian arias & art songs for the students. They sing for their professor & classmates in order to demonstrate their grasp of advanced Italian diction. I performed a Handel recitative & aria with a pleasant, soft-spoken young man. After some coaching from the teacher, we were asked to begin it again.

I commenced by playing the opening measure quite confidently: four strident chords which were supposed to be minor chords, but I wasn't paying enough attention. I played four very confident MAJOR chords without apology, and then couldn't figure out WHY the student didn't come in.

He hesitated and then politely & softly said, "Those were very major-sounding chords."
-which I thought was a very nice way to correct me.

I like my conversations with music students!

now

2010-11-16T10:40:00.003-05:00

Today is a gift: sunny & unseasonably warm.

I have been a very good & very industrious girl this morning. I have practiced 1.5 hours, started the laundry, and did my fair share of cleaning. Later this afternoon, I have 2 rehearsals followed by dinner on the run and then a much-anticipated baby shower.

I have no car at the moment, as #1 Daughter has whisked it away for the afternoon. That limits my mobility somewhat, which I don't mind in the least.

Other tasks beg my attention, certainly. Also, today has its fair share of things to pray about. But now? This very moment?

Now I must drag my little green kayak out onto the River of Shining Waters. It is the most wonderful place to pray while soaking in the mid-November sun.

Martha, move over

2010-11-14T13:27:00.003-05:00

Finding a gift of two dozen eggs on the back steps is this afternoon's joy. These eggs are laid two doors down in a neighbor's carriage barn by an assortment of breeds of laying hens. They come in varying shades of tan, brown, pink, and a glorious blue-green that sends me a-swooning.

This particular shade gives me the color-love shivers, and only today did I realize that this particular blue-green is the EXACT shade of our dining room walls. It is an elusive shade that was custom-mixed and did not turn out the way I thought it would.

But now I have grown to adore it. Even more, now that I have eggs that match.

Change of subject: I will now attempt to kayak whilst the sun shines, you betcha!

busy?

2010-11-12T16:59:00.002-05:00

In the wee light of this chilly November morning, Hubby said good-bye for a dozen days, give or take a few. He is off to the Dominican Republic once again, where the air is moist & warm and where pineapples are always in season.

On his last night home, I wrestled with a head cold & lost miserably. I sneezed & snuffled so much that I drove him into his newly-finished office, where he found repast on his pull-out couch. Nice way to send him off, right?

I arose sneezing & wheezing, but geared myself up for this busy day like a soldier preparing for battle. But alas, after rehearsing with the kid's choirs for 2 hours this morning while awash with damp kleenex tissues, I was sent home by one of my favorite people in the world.

She is the Director & I have to do what she says.

Before I could cancel my 1 pm performance (Glitter & Be Gay, Berstein), my soprano canceled on ME. Oh lack-a-day: she, too, is ill.

Now my afternoon was free to blow my nose 269 times at my leisure. I did manage to practice three piano concerto scores in between sniffles.

Call me nuts, but I am still attending tonight's performance of On the Town. And afterward, we are hosting a family of five overnight.

See? It wasn't THAT busy of a day, after all!

nifty-thrifty

2010-11-05T13:00:00.002-04:00

I love thrifting.

My most recent junk/treasure hunt brought me sweet rewards:

1. a generous-sized wicker basket for books, magazines, or what-have-you. $2.

2. a very new-looking pair of Bass loafers, burgundy red, a perfect fit for my tootsies. $6.

3. an adorable set of black & red tole wooden candle holders, great for Christmas decor or a gift.
$1.50

4. A set of deer brass candlesticks, again for Christmas. I envision them on my mantel! Along with these, one very old brass candlestick which I rubbed with Brasso ( and, voila!)...and these three adorable quail. They are my fave. Ten bucks for all.

I do declare, thrifting is dee-vine!

late-night pasta

2010-11-02T10:32:00.002-04:00

Numerous & jovial gatherings have taken place here recently, a trend that will fast turn into the norm. Now that the back wing is finished and the dining room is in a ready state, we herd in the people pretty regularly.

I love using the new space. Quickly, the stomping grounds are established.

Within a few social visits, it has become clear that the loft is where the kids end up. One corner is stocked with leggos, matchbox cars, and assorted sturdy toys. The other end has #1 Son's groovy danish table, which has been used for Scrabble and, --might I mention --poker. The spiral staircase beckons the younger set irresistibly, with one of the perks being that curious kids can surreptitiously eavesdrop on the grown-ups lounging in front of the wood stove down below.

Last evening we hosted a Puglia Italian Fest; Puglia being the last name of a young-ish friend who makes a good & authentic pot 'o sauce. We came together after our Monday evening classes at church for a fashionably late dinner. There were over a dozen of us, all of which were hungry.
We arrived home to the homey scent of wine-tinged sauce simmering on the burner and freshly-grated peccorino romano cheese. Within minutes, the water was boiling for pasta and the garlic bread was toasting in the oven.

While the raucous girlies claimed the loft, the rest of the crew with tomato-stained chins manned the candle-lit dining room table for seconds, thirds, and impassioned conversation. Time slowed and the candles guttered while we wiped bowls clean with garlic bread crusts.

I love evenings like these, which actually took minimal planning, not one single formal invitation, and turned into a tasty memory.

the last few days

2010-10-29T16:10:00.003-04:00

I am saying farewell to autumn. This may be the last few days of dappled light that sift through the windows and dance when the wind tosses the yellow boughs out my windows.

Behind the sun-drenched leaves, the river sparkles and snaps so delightfully.

I love living here.

neighbors

2010-10-28T17:01:00.003-04:00

I arrived home from work today to find this lovely carton of eggs on my back steps. They are a gift from a neighbor who has hens (twenty of them, I believe) -which is more than enough hens to provide fresh eggs for his family along with at least three or four neighbors.

I am in love with the different colors (tan, brown, off-white, and green!) and also the range of sizes. We always get a few that might be categorized as XXX small.

He gives these beauties away at no charge, delivering them on his bike and even once when it was raining,

Because I am a grateful neighbor and because I would love to keep this stream of eggy-goodness coming our way, I delivered a few empty egg cartons for recycling to his front door the other day. I included a humble thank-you note in case no one was home, along with a little jar of wild blueberry jam.

The older woman who answered the door was likely his wife. Or perhaps his significant other. It could have even been his sister; I don't know. She wore what my grandmother used to call a "house-dress" (a nightgown, really...) and had tattoos on her arms & legs. I'm not sure she had her teeth in. But she was pleasant enough.

"Please tell Alex thank you for the eggs!" I cheerily enthused. "We love them!"

Neighbors make life so very very fun sometimes.

a weekend in the city

2010-10-26T20:36:00.005-04:00

I booked out of town this weekend, starting on Thursday. The above image is positive proof that I was not breakfasting in northern NY, as an almond croissant and cafe au lait such as pictured above CANNOT BE FOUND NORTH OF ALBANY. I speak the truth.

This particular breakfast was partaken in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC in a little French Cafe.

Ooh la la.

Dinner that evening found me here. But I am telling the tale out of order.

Later on in this post, I will explain why I was whisked away to the Big Apple for three days. But right this very minute, I want you to see my personal mecca while in the city: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I saw this beautiful painting.

-and this one ( a favorite!) up close.

The next day, I was in Garrison NY where I took my time seeing this.

My sweet & talented friend Julia Marie invited me to accompany her to Manhattan over the weekend, where she co-wrote a really cool song with this guy. You see, while they were working I went walk-about. It was a sweet deal for me.

I did spend quite a few hours listening in on their groove, though.

Here they are dancing to a drum track.

We dined at Duncan's Garrison home Sunday evening. I prepped the stir-fry & made the salad. I also made the host fall into his dishwasher.

-but that's a story for another time.

pumpkin pie smoothie

2010-10-19T20:44:00.002-04:00

yessirree you will like this, I promise!

The thought came to me as I was contemplating digging into the half-gallon of Perry's Pumpkin Ice Cream that I bought today on a whim. But then I remembered the indulgent amount of banana cream pie that I consumed over the weekend. No amount of visiting the gym can take the place of healthy eating choices, right?

Of course right!

Then WHY NOT A PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE?
We do so love pumpkin anything around here!

And so, I bring you my latest tasty creation:

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

2 cups organic unflavored soy milk
2/3 C canned or pureed pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
3 T honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
3/4 C ice cubes

Blend. Serve immediately, sprinkled with a dash of ground nutmeg.

orange-love

2010-10-18T15:39:00.003-04:00

The colors of the season cause me to stand in awe. Every. single. day.

I simply cannot get enough of them: the changing hues of the autumn sky coupled with the blaze of color in the trees.

My favorite colors are the burnt oranges of October. I see them everywhere.

My seasonal love for orange explains a few things.

-like these roadside-rescued chairs. They got a little make-over, you see.

Tell me they aren't the most fun little things in the world!

reward

2010-10-09T09:22:00.001-04:00

First, I will rake the front yard.
Then, I will get my reward -which involves a green kayak.

You wish you were me.

for Friend #7:

2010-10-07T16:17:00.000-04:00

Dearest Friend #7,

Please come sit in this chair. Thank you.

her 15 minutes of fame

2010-10-04T17:01:00.005-04:00

Why I allow these evil activities to take place in my kitchen is a mystery to me.

The gutting of an innocent pumpkin? Such unnecessary gore.

But Friend .014 ( her chosen moniker, I assure you) barged through our front door & asked so very politely: "Can I carve one of your pumpkins, Mama Hull?" -and I caved in to her request.

After the deed was done, this scary orange member of the squash family perched on the window sill while we watched "O Brother, Where Art Thou."And now I post all about it because Friend #.014 begged me to do so.

The End.

river business

2010-10-01T19:46:00.004-04:00

Yesterday it rained. Then it rained some more.

After awhile, it really began to rain.

This morning the river was roaring. My beloved dock was swamped. I don't know why I didn't snap a picture of it. But this evening it came loose from its moorings & is presently making its way to the edge of the dam.

Some time during the black of night, it may come crashing over.
Bye bye, my little dock.

First thing this morning, Hubby rescued one of our green canoes with a long metal hook. It was three feet from shore, upside down. I am thankful for the log that kept it from being swept away.

Living on the river is exciting!

the end of the season.

2010-09-29T13:46:00.003-04:00

I am yanking out my vegetable garden on this brisk, bleak day.

First I attacked the zucchini, then the cukes. Long, yellowed, snaky vines trail behind me as I traipse back & forth, spade in hand. I got my upper-body workout by wrenching two dozen tomato cages from the ground.

I gleaned final baskets of edible odds & ends: four pumpkins, six butternut squash, two spindly zucchini, a few measly cucumbers, a handful of green beans, and a very large pile of not-so-ripe tomatoes.

(Any one know a good recipe for green tomato relish?)

We are anticipating a weekend frost, which will be the end for my basil. The parsley will take a beating & keep producing even under a few dustings of snow. But to take advantage of my generous parsley crop, I already harvested an armful of it & dried it in the oven. We will enjoy it all winter long in all sorts of dishes!

It was a successful first year, even though the soil was less than encouraging. Lettuces were fantastic, as were all three kinds of tomatoes. We enjoyed beets all summer.

I hope to get a rich load of manure on before the snow flies. Then, a thorough pass with a rototiller will help tuck my garden in for a long winter's nap!

from the files of my day

2010-09-24T22:13:00.002-04:00

-today's unseasonably warm temperatures (mid-eighties!) lured me onto the river with my little green kayak. The whipping winds ushered me downriver at such a breathless pace that I knew it would be a workout to get back home! By the time I pulled in to shore I was pret' near tuckered out.

It was Cape Fear out there. But a great workout for certain.

-After hemming & hawing over a paint choice, I invited my local color expert over for her opinion. We picked out the hue "Roasted Squash" for the tall cabinet that will reside in the family room. But then my helpful husband threw in his two cents.

"I like the next color on the strip: "Toasted Apricot," says he.

So we went with that. Just because Hubby so rarely has opinions about such things and also because I'm game. For what it's worth, I have noticed that most of the paint colors I end up with are also things you can eat.

-I am thoroughly enjoying the class I'm taking at my church on Monday nights, Systematic Theology. It involves a heady textbook ( Lectures in Systematic Theology ), scripture memorization, and a whole slew of theological terminology.

I used to know some of this stuff, but at age 48 there's a whole lotta re-learning going down. Let me tell you.

-I scrubbed an old brass bed this week. It took three bottles of this white goop called Brasso. The way Brasso works is this: you squirt some onto a rag & polish like crazy. When the rag turns black (immediately) you toss it & grab a new one. You do this until your arms are ready to fall off. The reward of shiny brass is not immediate, only the black stuff is. It keeps coming off like black is going out of style.

After you are ready to try another method (like say, lemon juice, salt, and flour...which I tried and it made an unbelievable mess. Or TOILET BOWL CLEANER...which I was sorely tempted to try but couldn't bring myself to do it) you come back to dear old Brasso because it says on the label it will do the job.

The bed is now declared finished. Only please do not rub any more Brasso onto it, because you will only make a perfectly good rag black.

a fun week

2010-09-13T00:05:00.003-04:00

We played on the floor a whole bunch this week, seeing that we hosted a week-long visit from a young mommy & her two little darlings!

The two aunties from nearby SUNY Potsdam came to play also.

Aren't these Kipp girls entirely lovely???

I have a feeling that 2-year-old EMarie was livin' the dream throughout the week.
(Here, EMarie. Please dive headlong into a basket of baubles & bangles!)

Please bedeck yourself thoroughly. With abandon.

She is the only one around here with rainbow-striped leggings, and I have decided that it's completely no fair.

I'm going online shopping right this very minute. Size 8 adult, stretchy cotton. Ample seat-room.
I don't see why not.

prettiness

2010-09-03T10:20:00.002-04:00

In order to get through these next few days of dusty, disorganized dishevelment in the back wing, a little dose of prettiness is in order.

The wooden shadow box cost me one dollar at a yard sale. I gave it to #1 Daughter -but she hasn't touched it yet. So it is mine mine mine to play with for now.

a spot of cheer

2010-08-26T10:55:00.002-04:00

I was traipsing up the hill from my morning's kayak-venture when I spotted a dash of bright color on the bank. A quick investigation brought me a sweet surprise! I have chinese lantern plants dotting the undergrowth on the side hill!

Considering the rest of the hill is cursed with the invasive North American Bamboo (may it dry up & die), this little gift of nature brings me joy.

ocean therapy

2010-08-22T21:27:00.003-04:00

We arrived home from a week's vacation yesterday: Cape Cod, Boston, and a dozen points in between.
One of the points in-between was Plymouth Mass. While 60 tourists clicked intently away with cameras pointing toward the famous Plymouth Rock, my viewfinder looked for the sea. As usual.

The dunes were as alluring as they always are & forever will be for me.

The smell of salt and frothy turf, the plaintive scrawks of gulls, and the delicate palette of blue, gray, and brown make me want to jump, run, cry, and quiver with joy all at once. Ask my family. They allow me space to act out, giving me wide berth on the beach.

They call it "Mommy-time".

Perhaps the reason this beach was so wondrously desolate was the aforementioned behavior.

I love the vibe of the wharves.

The silvery-gray curl of the ocean is so beautiful. There are no words to adequately describe it.

It was a much-needed time away from the regular rhythms of home.

vacation

2010-08-21T22:22:00.000-04:00

This picture says so much about our vacation. Wind, surf, sand & sky. It was a lovely visit to the sea.

what I learned from a cookie

2010-08-08T18:11:00.004-04:00

Friday night brought me some snappy live jazz followed by a lesson from a cookie.

The kiddos & I met up with some way-cool friends at Maxfield's. Our table was directly in front of the live jazz trio, which was on purpose. We had to be close enough to count Blanche's eyebrow hairs when it was time for her to sing. That girl can really sing.

Oh my did I EVER enjoy that live jazz. I couldn't take my happy eyes off the percussionist. He had a bedazzling array of facial expressions that kept me fully entertained. And then he sang "Georgia" like nobody's biz-natch. Well I just about fell off my chair with glee.

After the show, the kiddos & I went up the street for some snackies: gelato for #1 Daughter & myself and the Chuck Norris Burger for #1 Son. (He actually ordered his dinner by miming a karate move.)

This particular dining establishment has a bad rep in my social circle. Like slow service. And no napkins or silverware without begging. And disappearing waitresses ( in a non-magic show fashion). But we continue to give this place a try because sometimes, when you finally get served, the food is really good. Also, when you live in a smallish community like ours, the choices for dinner after 8 pm are minimal.

And so there we were, waiting to be noticed. And eventually the usual silly stuff unfolded (see previous paragraph). Except this time, the burger was way overcooked and the fries were practically raw in the middle. Plus, they were barely warm. Plus, I used to be a waitress so I know this shouldn't happen.

#1 Son had to leave the table to rustle up our waitress (MIA) and she promised a different kind of fries, as (and I quote) "the hand-cut fries are NEVER cooked all the way through."

Oh. Now we know.

After we were finished and ready to depart, we decided to skip the promised fries and call it a night. With great reluctance but firm resolve, I decided to finally speak to someone about our unfortunately oft-repeated lack of service.

I really tried to be nice about it, but still almost made the lady-manager cry. So after I had my say and bid her a somewhat less-than-heartfelt goodnight, #1 Son lingered behind to purchase a cookie.

"Those butterfly cookies look pretty good," he said as he peered into the bakery case. "I'd like to buy one, please."

Even after the lady insisted he take one at no charge, he stuffed a dollar into the tip jar. Because that's the kind of quality person he is. On our drive home, I asked him how he thought I did.

"I hated complaining to a manager," I insisted. "But it had to be done."

"You did fine," he insisted sincerely. "But I wanted to leave on a good note, so I bought a butterfly cookie."

When I grow up, I want to be like him.

too pretty to eat

2010-08-07T21:21:00.002-04:00

I have no bouquets of flowers to grace my table, but I do have this. Thanks to continued plantings of assorted varieties of lettuce, the gourmet greens keep on coming!

As my great-aunt Elsie used to say when looking over a fancy dessert: "Almost too pretty to eat!"

July images

2010-08-05T12:05:00.002-04:00

It only took one whole year, but we finally hung the porch swing. The large maple tree in the front yard really came in handy for that. So did the thirty bucks of heavy-duty rope we finally bought at Lowes.

#1 Daughter gave this old desk a new life. It was Grandma Janet's childhood desk, then mine. Along the way, it was also #1 Son's -and for a short season it resided in Friend #7's bedroom.

Now, in it's most groovy state, it will keep #1 Daughter company for awhile.

In emptying the photo bucket, I came across cake.
We consume quite a bit of cake around here. For goodness sakes.

One of the most memorable evenings of our summer was John's Hawaiian birthday party. Here is a pic of the new side porch an hour before dinner that night.

The iron railings were installed because we knew it might be a wild party. No sense anyone falling off the new porch while wearing a mumu.

We ate hawaiian pizza for dinner. It was a festive crowd, as you can see...

The table was blaring with island colors!

After dessert, we had the traditional game of Hawaiian croquet.

It involved some kung-fu moves. I don't know why.

No one was injured. It was a great party!

shhh.

2010-07-30T09:47:00.002-04:00

This jewel of a summer day brings me respite.

My creaky voice is raspy & worn out. Too much chitter-chatter, all of which is fun and therefore completely necessary to my well-being. Even a 2.5 paddle down the Grasse River in complete silence yesterday morning (also completely necessary to my well-being) was not enough vocal rest. So today I put my foot down ( and the phone). Mum's the word, people.

Hence the blog post. I can let my fingers do the talking.

I have been happily puttering in the kitchen all morning, organizing the spices, the pantry, and the shelves. I am stirring granola which is browning in the oven while reveling in the homey smell of oats, walnuts, and maple syrup. For once, I am actually planning the dinner menu: steak and veggie kabobs, potato salad, and greens from the garden.

I miss certain people, including Friend #7 who knows who she is. She passes our old stone home twice daily but do I see her frowsy hair & fine face? I ask you. Of course she cannot come today or else I would only be able to stare at her. Remember: no talkie much today.

Our driveway-dwellers have been up & about, fiddling with their vehicles and generally looking busy. How I love them!

Friend #12, who is here for 5 weeks from S. Korea, is berrying today. Blackberries this time, all of which will turn into jam later today.

Out my window, my garden is growing. If you lean from the window after midnight, you can faintly hear things expanding in the moonlight. The tomatoes are plumping. The pumpkin vines are invading everything. Even the cucumbers are beginning to rally.

#1 Daughter is still a-bed, surrounded by her hand-painted furniture and the fan blaring in her sweet face. I may rouse her; I may not. It all depends on how much I am liking the house to myself.

Hubby and #1 Son are working. Their cheerful industriousness floats my boat and pays the bills.
They shall have steak for dinner!

a week in pictures

2010-07-19T15:57:00.006-04:00

This is the view from one side of the bridge next to my house.

And this? This is the other.
How I love this river!

Hubby built a stone wall to edge the garden and I planted the flowers & vegetables. We work well together.

For a few hours, #1 Daughter ransacked the Adirondack mountains for this blue stash. Then she waded into a perfect lake where there was a sand bar and never picked another berry.

She can get distracted easily.

On the previous day, She & I escaped in the red convertible to Canada. We took off without telling a soul. We ate Greek take-out in a park that overlooked this fantastic historic mill. We also went to IKEA.

Please don't ask us how much we spent there. Thank you for your discretion.

Last week we picked raspberries at a local farm. Now we have 16 ruby-colored pints of summer-in-a jar on the kitchen shelf. If only all of summer was so easy to capture!

Our pea-pickin' fingers have been harvesting these sweet things. Many of them go directly into our mouths (so sweet you feel like crying), but a mess of 'em are in the fridge, awaiting a dish that goes something like this:

whole wheat pasta
cream sauce
steamed baby peas
chopped turkey ham
parmesan cheese

I tell you. Our mouths never had it so good.

"Riks"

2010-07-09T22:10:00.005-04:00

We own a board game that is a lot of fun. It is called "Riks".

You may know it by the manufacturer's title: Risk.
-but as long as we have entertained this boy at our premises, it goes by the name "Riks".

One time years ago, we found this amazing game in a closet, offered it to him to play with instead of the same old wooden train set we always provided, and voila.

An obsession with Riks was born.

Some kids like to play it more than others.

Certainly, the game pieces are riveting. In a military sort of way.

The horses are obviously standing at the edge of the Indian Ocean to get a drink. I'm not sure why the cannons are there, though.

In case you wondered, this version of "Riks" goes by a loose, variable set of rules that go with the flow.
Some people go with the flow more than others.

When this particular battle was over, I allowed #1 Daughter to make herself useful somewhere else. After all, not everyone can appreciate a one-world system run by a seven year old.

the neighborhood bonfire

2010-07-07T18:23:00.003-04:00

We hosted a bonfire at our old stone home last weekend.

It was scheduled for the previous weekend, but rain forced us to postpone it a week. Fortunately, the neighborhood kids were still up for watermelon, pink lemonade, and s'mores.

The bonfire was the brainchild of this fun girl. Here she is, eating peas and thinking about all the fun she was going to have in a few hours.

We opened with a backyard game of croquet. Having a large wooden mallet to swing around seemed to put the new kids at ease.

The LOTM was in top form, minding the flames and keeping tabs on the brush pile. He had obtained the proper village "celebratory" burn permit which demanded that a proper hose and fire extinquisher be on site.

The LOTM took his job quite seriously, for which we are thankful.

A real bonfire ("the Tee-Pee of Flame") was warming our toes by nightfall.
Within one hour, it was singeing our eyebrows.

Someone (not Jamie) brought a guitar, which is the instrument of choice at a bonfire. Shortly after this photo was taken, #1 Son brought out his fiddle. Shortly after THAT, the mosquitoes came out in full force and we all ran away screaming.

A whole posse of kids showed up, thanks to Facebook. We didn't know most of them before, but we do now.

Thanks, Facebook.

After the flames were extinguished and the mosquitoes had sucked most of us dry (and we think even carried a few of the lighter kids away), the die-hards came inside for shelter from the elements. And card tricks.

These were SOME card tricks.

We all had such a great time that another neighborhood bonfire is in the works for next month!

my new favorite place

2010-07-03T08:18:00.003-04:00

I have discovered my new favorite place.

Stepping to the left of the kitchen sink, I open the door previously leading to a five foot drop to the hard ground. Only now? Now there is a porch.

Oh, it is not by any means a finished porch. The screen panels will be crafted eventually. I will paint the bamboo furniture that followed me home from an auction and purchase new cushions for it. A long table will be cobbled together, taking into account how much elbow room 10 people need for eating corn-on-the-cob. A few pieces of flea-market furniture will find a home there in order to store packs of playing cards and a few games.

This crisp, shiny morning found me with my Bible & coffee, seated at a small drop-leaf painted table, overseeing a paddling flock of geese on the river. I dreamed about all the faces that might find respite here on this happy side-porch; who will sigh here, who will rest here, who will laugh here.