All Quiet Again...

The pull-out bed is put away. The inflatable bed is deflated. 6 loads of laundry are complete, my bathroom is my own again and the house is quiet. I'm not crying - but I do miss them all!

Mom was here for 5 days before everyone else got here and we got the place ready for additional visitors by hauling out the pull out bed, and finding linens etc. We had a good time with mom, she's low maintenance and enjoyed new experiences like pulled-pork sandwiches, with coleslaw. And espresso ice-cream. Brother and family got here on Saturday and on Sunday we had other friends over for a clam-bake type cookout complete with lawn games and Frisbee.

We went Kayaking on Monday - in the worst heat wave that we have had in years. Of course we all jumped into the river and had a good swim. Cooled off and kept going for a few hours. The California crowd couldn't get over the heat and humidity.

The Family on the River

Brother and Nephew (aka minx)

A cool cloud and sun thing happening.

The Nephew.

Is a complete and adorable troublemaker. He's just 13, but you know how boys can be - he acts and seems more like 10 than 13. He loved the quilt I made for him and used it all week. He zips around the house with his iPOD getting in trouble at all turns. He surprises me, like the day he asked if all my CD's were arranged by "genre". (??). He is starting guitar lessons soon and wants to "shade on the rock side, as opposed to the folk side". He hates reading but loves music. He was amazed at all our "old" CD's - and tried to copy some onto his iPOD and my computer is still recovering from the assault. He's small, but keeps asking me how tall his Dad was at his age (small I tell him, and look at him now) - he desperately wants to grow as tall as his Dad. I don't point out that his mom is only about 5 feet tall, and her brothers are about 5'5" at the most - who knows how tall he will grow.
I think this kid is very special and enjoy the hell out of him. Below are some typical poses.






The Niece -

Shown in typical poses below. Always kind and caring, yet not a saint. Beautiful girl with a figure that is wow wow. Runner, soccer player, musician, reader, writer, photographer, straight A student - but realistic about not always being the brainiest in the class. Willing to work hard for her goals and wanting to do well. She looks so much like me at her age, but with a freshness and openness that I never had. A confidence and attitude that I envy and admire. This is one very special girl - I was amazed at the complete pleasure that I got from being with her. She is so smiley and happy to help around the house, but with enough 15 year old self absorption to keep her human. I adored having her around and encouraged her to apply to East Coast colleges when she is ready. She just smiled....




Sean and Brian came over on their birthday Wednesday and we had cake and candles and presents - they were just thrilled. After that - Movie night and we watched an awful movie and made jokes and ate ice-cream. I love these pictures so much I'm posting two.



We went sightseeing one day, and ended up at the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA - where the first real battle happened that started the Revolutionary War way back in 1775. The heat was on and the river was enticing. Mom wanted to put her feet in the river, but it was a bit of a walk over a slightly steep riverbank - my initial inclination was to say that it was too unsteady for her to walk down to the water. Then the better half of my brain kicked in with "it's your mom, she's old, she wants to feel the water on her feet - get real Mim - and just help her out". So we walked down to the water and she got to dabble her feet in the cool river. I felt good about this even if I did have to keep her upright by holding onto her pants waistband.


One night we even had fireworks and ran inside when we heard police sirens. They weren't for us, but sometimes people complain about the noise... but we only set off a few...


It really has been an awesome few weeks - from Sedona to Mass. Work again next week and I do wish I could have another week off to recuperate from all the activity.

Happy last few weeks of Summer to you all...

Vacation tasks

This is what I plan to do on vacation.

1) Read all my backed up magazines.

2) Open mail from two weeks ago.

3) Start knitting a sweater

4) Finish handsewing a quilt top

5) Start...maybe even finish...hand quilting another baby quilt. (Nah..I won't finish it)

6) Read at least 5 books

7) Do alot of artwork, pen and ink and watercolor.

8) Kayak

9) Walk and hike

10)Bike ride

11)Tootle around the island.

12)Eat good food,

13)See good friends.

14)Remember why I actually liked the guy I'm vacationing with

15)Shower in the outside shower - every day

16)Take pictures

17)Relax

18)Watch movies that I have hanging around for months/years

19)NOT work

20)Check blogs

21)Relax

22)Remember why I actually got married.

23)Enjoy the island.

24)Have drinks at night outside by a fire maybe even, or on the beach watching the phosphorescence in the waves.

25)wear my warm sweatshirt with shorts

26)Sleep well, with open windows and comfy warm blankets

27)Stop at antique stores

28)go to the Scottish baker store, pies with shortbread crust

29)watch the sheep

30)watch the llamas

Which ones do you think I'll actually do?

Disney World Vacation - First impressions

Well, it was a whirwind mini-vacation, from Thursday night to late on Monday (2:00 AM - arrived home). The first time I went to Disney was when the boys were 6 years old, and there was alot of watching them, going on slow rides, afternoon naps by the pool and alot of "watch me, watch me" shouts. It was a fun trip, and not too exhausing if I remember correctly. Now 9 years later, keeping up with two 15 year olds was a bit of a challenge, but still fun and do-able.

DisneyWorld amazes me, with it non- stop merchandizing, the incredible attention to detail and the actual feeling of being away from it all. I did fall under the Disney spell - I admit it! - but stopped short of thinking that all of the clothes with MM ears were chic. First off we went to the original park, Magic Kingdom, where the Cinderella castle overlooks the whole park. Here is a picture of it during the day - and the illuminated night shot. Below it is a shot of a little US colonical house that you pass while walking to some of the rides. In clever Disney style, the dimensions of this house are off just a bit. Adjustments are made to the house measurements to make the structures seem cozier, more approachable. This is done everywhere - and it's a very clever approach. The buildings are not overwhelming, they look like you could walk in and settle down by the fire with a good book. Anyway.....

The park was filled with little girls dressed up as Pricesses. For just under $300.00 you can get your little girl the full princess treatment, complete with dress, hairdo, and nail polish. It certainly seemed excessive to me, but I can imagine how thrilled and happy I would have been as a 6 year old princess. Ah yes, Princess Mim of Brooklyn.

We all went on roller coaster after roller coaster. I love thrill rides, usually can't get enought of them. I am always terrified, can't believe I got myself into this, and scream out loud, or laugh hysterically through out the whole ride. My life passes in front of me as the ride twists and turns and speeds down steep slopes. But I keep going back for more. The great thing about doing this with 15 year olds is that they love the rides too, and will scream out loud along with you but probably for different reasons. Plus, I get to keep reminding them that I am OLD and they should be grateful for a loving aunt who will do this with them. They smile and pat me on the head and drag me off to the next ride. How lucky am I?

Here is a shot of the outside of the Everest ride, where you hurtle upside down and backwards

More impressions coming soon. Also to answer Kerstin's question - I think that Disney World is much bigger than Disney Land. World has the inside-the-park resorts and hotels and much more acreage than Land - but I'm not sure on the actual details.

Traveling back to Boston, stuck in charlotte

My first post from a Blackberry! Correction on the last post- Dad is 93 not 94. Turning 94 next year. Don't know what I was thinking. 93 is a virtual spring chicken. 93 is the new 83. You go Dad!

I decided to fly home a few days early so after a few days in Sarasota I hopped a plane home but am stuck in charlotte for two hours. I'pm anxious to get home to have a few days free to get some chores done, do some gardening, go to the pool, finish my portrait party thingy and take my quilt to be machine quilted. Tomorrow I hope to go to the quilt store in Stow and might sign up for classes in Cambridge. So a few funs days off. And sleeping in!!!.