A date

with my daughter!

She requested it months ago... 

"Mom, can we have a day out together before school starts?"

How could I say no to that?

She planned it, brought the money she earned this summer, and was in charge of the itinerary.  She included the two most basic elements of a successful day of retail therapy:  fun stores and stops for ice cream and food at both ends.

I showed up, drove us around and ate the treats.  She knows how to shop, I will say that.

It was sweet.  

(And so is she)

Faith in God

She has it!

And she has been diligently working on completing her Faith in God booklet, as she only has two more weeks left in Primary.  

How to Spend the Last Saturday of Summer

(And it was SUNNY!)

Thanks, Mr. Dub, for a fun day at Canobie!

XO

There have been some BUSY people around here lately... 

working on all kinds of PROJECTS.  

Some TOP SECRET,

some not.

Depending on your security clearance, you might like to know that one project is making the backyard habitat of a certain little boy (and his sisters) VERY excited.  

The second project involved creating an outdoor cafeteria space at the High School so that students can eat outside on days that weather permits;  an Eagle Project that we are VERY excited to see completed.

it's raining, it's pouring,

the kitchen is not boring!

Yesterday we cranked out three zucchini coffee cakes, a double batch of peanut butter cookies,

a big pot of spaghetti sauce from the garden tomatoes-a-plenty,

and made eight chicken pot pies for dinner.

We're on our fourth straight day of rain.  What shall we make today?

Lady of Leisure

That's me...
Finished my THIRD book this month!
It was a good one.  I rolled through it in less than a week.
I especially enjoyed reading the LARGE PRINT edition.
No glasses required!

I seem to be accidentally (?) gravitating towards books about independent women.

Wonder what that says about me?

Big Stone Gap is a small town in the mountains of Virgina, with the story set in the 1970s.  I love the characters.  (They are characters.)  Take Iva Lou Wade--The Bookmobile driver and librarian.  The introductory description reads as follows: "If you painted her, she'd be sitting on a pink cloud with gold-leaf edges, showing a lot of leg."  You'll enjoy getting to know Nan, Fleeta and Pearl as well.  I love being able to cheer for the underdog and laugh at the quirkiness of small town life.  A favorite preacher in town passes away during the course of the book and arranges for everyone to have an afternoon of bowling, so they can "Listen to one another, laugh, and see the great glory of God in each other.  It is there, my friends, believe me.  Sometimes we just don't have the eyes to see it.  Have a set on me."

The author gives me the urge to travel a bit--just a bit, and then to come back and settle on my own front porch and enjoy what's good about my own little town.  I liked it!

CAUGHT!

spending time doing things NON-electronic!

I KNEW it was possible...

a fun new acquisition

counter-height

seats eight

much more conducive to table conversation

fun to sit at

we LOVE it!

BAND CAMP: Day 3

What's not to admire about a group of kids

who will dedicate an entire week of their summer,

8am to 8pm,

to

working out formations,

perfecting their marching and music

and

maintaining respect, discipline and comraderie through it all?

I like to bring the younger kids to watch--

It's an impressive sight.

something to do with cherry tomatoes:

E-X-P-A-N-D your smile!

it's time to MARCH!

I sat on the field today,

watching a new group of students

tackle a new show.

I'm excited for a new season.

Roadtrip!

a fantastic day of friends, food and FUN!