Midsummer

Almost half way through the summer. I've appreciated every minute. This back porch has seen me most mornings and evenings.

I've...
made pinterest projects
ferried Bubs to Kings Island
had my feet in the sand
played in the ocean
lunched with friends
thrifted
laid poolside and had breakfast on Yo's back porch
walked the dogs on long wondering walks
went out for lunch
put everything in my house back in it's place
played board games
stayed up late and slept in
went out on the pontoon
finished a few books
went to the movies
went to Milford's farmers market
picked blueberries
crafted with friends
took Bubs fishing at M's
the garden is in!
got into the habit of morning pages,
and generally had a wonderfully blissful time.

And now I still have some living to do...
breakfast at Plain Folks
lunch at Acapulcos
dinner at Bite
make it Loveland's farmer's market
hammock reading
 roasting hotdogs and marshmallows on the fire pit
playing board games on the porch in the evenings
watching movies in the evenings
riding bikes
kayaking
swimming in the lake
tubing in the lake
deep clean the house 

BASEBALL ROOM: organize papers to scrap upstairs, complete some scrap projects, 
LAUNDRY ROOM: catch up on ironing, catch up on hand washing, fix things on counter in the laundry room, MASTER BED: clean the trunk downstairs and bring up to the bedroom for sweater storage, 
BUB'S ROOM: help him get his act together in there with the fridge and tv, 
SPARE BED: hang old hats, find a better way to store scrapbooks,
use up food stuff and restock with clean eating food
STUDIO: get some projects done, mainly get caught up scrapbooking and ordering photos, get cards stockpiled,
get Bub's started on some SAT problems 

My parents are on vacay but when they get back I'm looking forward to going to the trail in Loveland with them and then hitting the farmers market afterwards. I think the dogs, my parents and I will all like this.
I'd like to take my dad to the Kentucky horse park for Father's Day. He was gone that day so all he received was a phone call. Apparently while wearing his Life is Good shirt that reads not all who wonder are lost he got lost for 4 hours on a mountain.

Sipping green tea, green smoothies...
Listening to, well, the outdoors creatures telling me good morning- hawk, crow, chirpy birds
Watching The Fighter will Mark Wahlberg. Good inspired true story.

Haven't updated my 2012 Books in awhile...

Before That: Scenes Goshen Township, Clermont County, Ohio- Goshen Historical Society- a local book that was very informative about the area I grew up in.

The New Crafting Heritage Albums- Braun- a friend's book that helped me bone up on my scrapbooking knowledge.

A Couple of Kooks and other stories about Love- Rylant- stumbled on in the library at work. The first few short stories were really good then downhill. Quickly.

Blood Song: a silent ballad- Drooker- another stumbled upon in the work library. no words and little interest. didn't stand up to the hype.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening- Frost/Jeffers- another work book. Short, sweet illustrated poem.

The Elegant Witch- Neill- I've been reading this since           Halloween. Decent vintage book.

Wesley the Owl- O’Brien- Loved Wesley. Informative and heart warming.

            The Seminary- Stefan- Edited for a church friend. Lots of edits. He is still talking to me though so that's good.

            Fifty Shades of Gray- James- Yep finally got it and yes it's good and worth the read.

            Summer Rental- Andrews- Our beach house read. Good beach fun read.

Finally getting around to cleaning up some thrifted items. Looked this one up and found it sells for $50 used and around $80 new.
Stephanie Johnson for Saks

Recent goodness

Lots of this going on around here...

 A pinterest project. Take a blanket, scarf etc and wrap a pillow.

 Mine was too small to tie in a knot so I pinned it.

 Thrifting in SC turned up this cute set.

 Pinterest project modpodge shoes.

 Should of called this one slinky.

 Seashell crafting with my beach roomie.

 Mezmerized by Essie

 Another beach shot

 Pinterest hair

 Yesterday I went blueberry picking then to the farmers market in Milford.

 The dogs (and me) are getting lazy so we went for a good long walk.

 And then we didn't move for the rest of the evening.

 My consign dress from SC.

 Went to Snooty, Goodwill and Salvation Army with Ginger. Found some goodies. 2 dresses (one Spledid) for $1. and a Michael Simon shirtdress.

 Thrifted Michael Kors dress, vintage sweater, and a scissor shirt. Oh and those boots! I've been wanting a pair that are folded like that! I pulled a ball out of a bag and got 50% off. That made them $5!

Last day of a break

Ahh ring in the new year! We awoke to snow covered ground, roads, cars and houses. How lovely!
Getting back on track today to conquer 2012. I slept in then lay in bed snuggling with Marina for a little longer. She is so needy when we pick her up from nights away from us. Had a fried egg, the egg a gift from my principal who drew my name in the secret Santa draw. He gifted me a ham raised by my vice Principal's family, a dozen eggs he gathered that morning and rolls his wife made the night before. I had no idea he knew how I adore being able to eat locally raised food.

Reading through my Bible started in 2007 and was supposed to take 3 years... finishing Jan 2010. That didn't happen but I'm almost there. Reading in Ezekiel today.
For Christmas I gave myself, my sister and my mother a copy of Take My Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time. I started it today and already am loving it.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Also started A Year in Poetry: A treasury of Classic and Modern Verses for Every Date on the Calendar
Januaries, Nature greets our eyes
exactly as she must have greeted theirs... Elizabeth Bishop

Changed my blog background for the new year. I'm already looking forward to vacation...
The boys are at school with early practices, grading and posting of grades. So the girls are alone at home recuperating from the holidays.

Wrote a thank you note today and vow to do that more this year. I'm blessed so much and I forget to drop those notes to the blessers.

Catching up on blogs today. I absolutely love Suri's Burn Book...

I think it is all in good fun. Hopefully. Very creative and funny!

Etiquette

Finished McCall’s Book of Everyday Etiquette: A guide to modern manners by Margaret Bevans. And yes I read the whole thing. Over the course of a few years but still. Currently I am at 48 books this year and I need to be at 52 by end of Sep to make my goal of 70 books this year. Last year I read 60 and I knew I needed to step up my game. My friend B put me to shame last year after I was feeling pretty smug about how much I read. Then she told me her "number." I scrapped with her Saturday and mentioned this. She smirked as she told me she had already surpassed 70. Poop.
A few others I don't think I've mentioned...

All the Pretty Horses- McCarthy. Listened to Brad Pitt read the audio. Great voice... I mean story.

Jazz Bird- Holden. Read for the staff and friends book club. Great regional read that mixes history and real life crime with an author's imaginings.

Still Missing- Recommended by a friend. Fast and OK.

Living Dead Girl- Scott. A YA read that is gripping and edgy and gets the girls attention. Spread quickly by word of mouth.

September means bare legs still but this week has gotten progressively colder so October will bring with it tights. Hubs says that's not a good thing. I didn't know he didn't like my tights. Maybe I'll wade in with leggings for awhile.

 Time for a change in the mantel. Not sure if I took pics of what it has been sporting lately.

 Like the pics in jars? I like this one of me, my sister, and my dad...

 but not so much this one of a very young teacher couple

Stopped at the local farmers' trucks today and met the lady of the farm we like. We buy corn off her son in town summers and stop at the farm and chat with her husband. Nice to meet his better half. Also supported an older challenged gentleman by buying a few smaller items. He was super appreciative. And although he had only a few items he was proud and chatty. Love him. 

     At the start of every year I walk around my library and lovingly greet all the books like children who've all come home for the holidays. Then they all start leaving again. About this time of year I remember those summer moments fondly as I go searching for books that aren't there. Sadness. 

Book Club? Here? When?

I host the book club at my house about every other year. Hub's hates it. Well I do understand why but still. I see so many things that need to be done and upgraded and cooked and.... well you can see how this is not his favorite activity. So we were supposed to host in February and he begged another member to save him pleading mercy because he was down with the Achilles injury. So she did. And then our August place fell through so...

The day before the event he went to get a bucket truck and started cutting down trees.

 I was worried. I mean when I said, "Could you tidy up outside?" This is not what I meant. I called the neighbor who came over and "helped" with his one arm. I took photos in case he tried to argue in court. He looks willing doesn't he?

 Then as if that wasn't enough. They set fire to my backyard. Yeah. The day before. Brush pile - he said. Bull hockey- I said.

Well he did finish one gate on the fence. 

So on to the actual show...

 Sweet corn, tomato and cilantro salad

 Zucchini Risotto. my first try at risotto

 Fellow teachers did not appreciate my countdown

 We discussed Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Some inspiration photos helped me with special touches...(again I have to find a way to track where they are from when I'm on the iPad... suggestions?)