Summer reading

'Bout sums it up here.
The Count of Monte Cristo is not going over very well here.

Past, present, future

Given how melancholy and wistful I have been lately, I am trying to take this quote to heart and enjoy my now.

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future finer than it will be.”

Marcel Pagnol

Then there is this. And the boys that hang around,
that make want to run screaming into the night!

Total awesomeness......

Friday night ~ here we are getting ready to leave the house ~ much out of character ~ J was surprising me with dinner out at a super secret place. First, J planned ahead. I know totally shocking huh? But he shared later that I has mentioned that we needed a date night and the soonest he could get a reservation at my "surprise destination" was July 3rd. All I knew was "smart casual" dress code. When I asked if we were going to be heading north, I sort of guessed, but was sure there is now way my dh who was not on drugs would splurge on that! So I kept quiet as much to maintain the surprise as I wasn't totally sure until we got off the exit on Rt 78....we were headed for.......

Emeril's Chophouse at the Sands!! Wooheeee!! I am a huge foodie and total fan of Emeril. I know it sounds totally corny and so cliche, but I am! It was his show that made me more adventerous in the kitchen and showed me that all those big fancy words and techniques weren't so hard at all. "it's not rocker science people!" So needlesss to say J is a big fan too, since he gets to be on the receiving end of my epicurious adventures!

I could not believe it! This is J enjoying his after dinner coffee. {three liquors in it, we had to gamble just to sober him up!} I was very remiss that the only camera I had on hand was my phone. And these are mixed up but anyway....I was ordered to blog the details before we forgot them. We were trying to remember another memorable dinner for us, while we were talking at the table at Emeril's and all the details of it are gone....our first real "fancy" dinner was in WDW when we were just dating. We had a bottle of wine that I was far to young to drink, and our only memory of the dinner is the fresh made at our table Ceasar salad...yumyumyum.....so we didnt' want to forget this one.
if you notice behind J is a glass wall. Not just any wall. But on both sides of us, huge high as a wall glass coolers for wine. Bottles and bottles lined up there. We took our waitresses suggestions on an Italian Rose that "had just come in today" Delish!

The menu's were REAL leather, and yes, I sniffed. Real leather people!
The waitress put our napkins on our lap for us. So I immediately thought, uh-oh, stuffy. Wispered to J that we would probably get small portions etc. I should have known any place with Emeril's name would not be into small menus or hush hush tones. For the service we got from our two servers, you would think you were in a high class restaurant where everyone wears a tie and talks in hushed tones. But there was an energy of converstation there, that was so cool and didn't interfere with our converstation at all. We were not rushed at all. And as you can see by the picture of my plate the portions were not small at all. J got a 22 oz ribeye which he enjoyed with a homemade worstechire which I can tell you put the bottled stuff to shame! Mine is Wahoo. It is a fish. Certainly no other restaurant in these parts would put on the menu. Our waitress assured us that "Chef" aka Emeril, likes various seafood on the menu, and when he is "in house", there is even lobster mac and cheese on the menu. Oh man what I wouldn't do to eat there when he is "in house"! I was trying to decide between the salmon and shrimp scampi and the Wahoo special when the waitress kindly reminded me that the others were always on the menu but the Wahoo was the special...so may not return. Sold. She said the chef was joking with them when he gave them the specials menu that the Wahoo was the fastest fish in the ocean, that is why they call it the Wahoooo! As she set it at my place, I replied that it was apparently not fast enough!
Oh I digress. I must comment on the way our soup was served. I had the most awesome corn chowder eva! And J had lobster bisque. Brought to our table in steaming soup pots. Our bowls were set before us with the fresh relish in the middle for mine and the lobster meat in the center for J and the soup poured over by the waitresses.
My portion of fish was huge, and served with a crawfish cream sauce and lyonaise potatoes, I will not lie I ate every bite!

This is me totally flaoting on air with the awesome-est food in my tummy!!
I got a chocolate truffle for dessert, and J got a slice of apple pie. When I tell you these were at least 1/6 th of the pie I am not exaggerating. I was very remiss but could not finish!! J finished mine and his!
There were then 6 different beans to chose from for fresh expresso, man does that man know how to speak my language!! Since I know a very little bit about the different beans, I chose my favorite, Suamtra beans and had the best cappachino I have ever had! Sorry Starbucks!!

By the end of the meal, I could still not believe what a treat my evening was. We enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly, especially knowing it was not a treat we would bestow upon ourselves often. The service and food combined had us just in a state of bliss. I was concerned of the cost, believe me , it was well worth every penny, but not cheap. Then what made it even more special to me was how J shared he was paying for it. He saves his birthday money, and other monies here and there that his mom may slip him "for gas or dinner" on the way home, or after they have stayed here. So he used that for my treat. Most of that is his money. But he did say he had just a good time as I did, so that made it better. We were still savoring the night , the next morning, and enjoyed the rest of our bottle of wine Saturday night. We have decided that this is our new "special night out" place, most likely just for our anniv. since that tends to fall around tax time! :)
I am counting the months til our anniversary!

Fourth of July

~~insert gorgeous photo of American Flag that Blogger would not upload here~~

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.


Thomas Jefferson may very well be the master of the run on sentence.

We have Memorial Day, Veteran's Day etc....
but if it were not for this brave group of people over 200 years ago, we would
not even have a United States of America and all the rights that we associate with being American.
So many of our nations holidays are becoming watered down, and really only serve as a justifiable day off of work. Let's not let this one get that way.
Many many husbands, brothers and sons, died fighting for something, quite honestly they probably weren't even to certain about. They didn't know what this "America" was really going to be, they only had an idea at the time. Yet, they fought. They fought FOR the right to BE independent, not just defend that right. If not for those courageous men, we could possibly still be an English Colony.
So sometime today, let's pause as we bring our hot dogs to our mouths, as we sit in our own backyards, enjoying the freedom to do as we please , and say what we please today, and say a small prayer of thanks to those men.

Yup

My sis

Can I Just tell you how insanely proud of her I am?

We may have the same DNA , yes, exactly the same DNA, but we have led drastically different lives, from her marriage three days before I was leaving for college, onward. And honestly even before.
She has dealt with more hardships, and challenges in life than anyone person deserves or should ever be asked to endure. On top of physical problems, that she deals with on a day to day basis.
She continues to move forward, with a smile on her face, go to work every day and do her best to give her family the best she can possibly give. Yet, she will tell you that she doesn't feel like she deals with it all well. I can honestly tell you, I think if I have had to face half of the things she has had to face, I may be sitting in corner sucking my thumb.
I think she copes with it all exceptionally well!
I was proud of her long before this weekend.
It is easy to smile when life is good, it takes a special person to smile when life pretty much sucks.
But this weekend, made me even more proud.
We have participated in the Relay for Life, for 10 years.
It came to Boyertown last year, and we were both very excited.
It is a cause , near and dear to our hearts.
Then she told me she was going to be Chairperson this year -
FOR THE ENTIRE DARN EVENT FOLKS!
The whole enchilada, As in totally in charge.
I told her I thought she was nuts.
This was WAY out of my sister's comfort zone,
requires public speaking, interviews making phone calls, the works.
I won't lie, I was nervous for her.
But let me tell you.
She has conquered more of her fears, and grown more as a person in the last six months than I have ever seen one person do!
And totally knocked it out of the park!
Here is some proof.
Click and see the video reporting from WZAR, a web station local here to Boyertown.
There is also an ok article here.
Hail and all! She kept a level head, and charged forward.
Like I said, I have been proud her many times before, but I was exceptionally proud this weekend.
This cause and every words she speaks on it, and everything she does for it, comes straight from her heart. That is what makes the difference.
Sis, I love you man.
Teehee.....

Lobster anyone?

Tuesday was the first time I did not supervise sunscreen application....
someone regrets it.
Aloe and ibuprofin are his friend.
He says he will never ever forget again.
I will bet not.
Poor thing.

Wow.

Picture purely because every post deserves a picture and this one makes me laugh...

"Do not pray for easy lives.
Pray to be stronger men!
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.
Pray for power equal to your tasks."
Phillips Brookes

Think about it for a minute.

I stumbled on this in searching for another quote.
I have learned through my life, and my prayers have changed because of it.
Usually my prayers are not real specific for myself.
For others, yes, for me, not so much.
My prayers reflect this quote -
I pray for strength and wisdom enough to get
through what ever it is I am going to have to get through or
make a decision upon.

Maybe more people in the world should do that, and maybe so man wouldn't be so disappointed with what they see as unanswered prayers.
Life is not easy. Never will be.
God never promised it would be. Yet we humans continually expect it to be.
When life does not meet our expectations, we kick and scream like toddlers.
Sure we should be specific and heart felt in prayer,
but we also need to realize God may not want to make that situation easier, but wants us to grow from it, so the next time we face a difficult task,
it will SEEM easier. Get it?
With age and experience comes wisdom.
Perhaps the wisdom to finally stop fighting against, accept what is, learn to cope and move forward.
We would not be nearly as grateful for what we have , if it was easy to attain or maintain.
So my wish, is simply for the "power to equal my tasks" I really can't ask for more than that.

Movin' on ahead.....

No matter how I try, no matter how many books I put on his head. He keeps growing.
This was Sixth grade Graduation.
Getting his - to his total shock - Presidential Award for Academic Excellence - for his grades the last three years. I wasn't so sure and really did not expect it either, as his social studies grades have suffered this year.... but he was very excited and proud to come back and show it to me.

And as big as he gets, and as much as he likes to run around with his friends, he tried very hard to hang out with his old mom. I finally asked him, if he minded if I headed home so he could play with his friends. He, of course, said, Nope! :) And gave me a hug. No more kisses in public, but hugs yes. Thank goodness!

He can still be my baby at times. He still likes hugs when he gets upset, and doesn't mind hugs and kisses at night. I hope that never stops, but I know it will.

This is his teacher from this year. I was very proud to hear her tell me what a good boy he is, and a pleasure to have in class. I will take that over anything else any day.
he is a gentle boy. Soft in heart and spirit. Likes his boy things - legos, dragon books, and trying to get away with sleeping in his clothes and leaving them on for the next day - but he is not aggressive in the least, a lover not a fighter, and I will take that over behavior issues any time! :)

So I am now officially the parent of a Jr highschooler and a senior highschooler. ACK! When did that happen!? I pray they both grow and settle into their new schools. For now I just have to keep their minds occupied this summer.
Anyone need a nearly 15 year old to work for them? she needs a job!

Ahhhhh.....

Two things...
I am back on MY computer...funny how we crave the familiar....and
feeling incredibly grateful, that no matter how "low end" , in other words - crappy - hey the tech's words not mine - my hard drive is....it was free, and it is MINE! :)

And then there is this...

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could;

some blunders and absurdities crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;

you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit

to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

Ralph Waldo Emerson....

Ahh Ralphie if it were so easy to just wake up with that attitude simply because I read your quote. Oh if only it were that easy.

I have talked about appreciating the present, warts and all many times..so I won't again...but just some food for thought.....

Considering......

Where my state of mind has been lately regarding the seemily rapid maturity of my own children, as well as the parental angst noted by some of my friends whose sons/daughter graduating and are moving out in the fall.....this quote was very appropriate for today....

"Hope for the moment.

There are times when it is hard to believe in the future,

when we are temporarily just not brave enough.

When this happens, concentrate on the present.

Cultivate le petit bonheaur (the little happiness) until courage returns.

Look forward to the beauty of the next moment, the next hour, the promise of a good meal, sleep, a book, a movie, the likelihood that tonight the stars will shine.

Sink roots into the present until the strength grows to think about tomorrow."

Ardis Whitman

My garden now....

Absolutely, one of my favorite flowers. I was going to say most favorite, but that changes, but this tops the list. Delphinium. Not sure why but I just love them. The only bad thing is they have a very short bloom. These are right outside the front window so right now I can look up and see them poking their big heads over the window sill. :)
I love this time of year. Everything is lush adn green from all the rain. Just ready to bloom, but not as dry and spent looking as they will look after their first bloom and July hits.....
And so now I give you a brief, certainly non-encompassing look at my garden...and because blogger insists on rearranging my pictures when I upload them, in no particular order....

These roses originally started in teh back yard at the side of the shed. My fault, shady side - so they did not fair well. I had visions of them crawling up the side of the shed, and looking grand and colorful...they are now by the deck in the back yard...this is the thrid year since I transplanted them. I started feeding them coffee grounds last summer, and I would say the results are pretty good! Rigth now they are tied back until I can cut off some of the forward growing branches. Can't bear to cut when they are blooming. The branches are starting to twince around the deck rail. Love it!

Probably my second favorite flower and one of the few annuals I like - osteopernum...or "bone" flower as I affectionately refer to them...get it osteo-bone..teehee...orthopedic humor! :) They come in gorgeous orange and purple combos, yellow and purple...love trhe daisy shape and colors. :) The picture doesn't show the purple circle around the centers very well....

This is the catmint out by the pond. The bumble bees and butterflies love it. Too early for butterflies yet, but when I took this picture there were no less than 5 bees on the plant....

I have no idea what either of these are! How is that!? The purple plants came from my mother-in-law. *ed. - Thanks to my wonderful anonymous commenter (you really have to tell me who you are....these are spider wort, and apparently come in pink too! Thanks!) I brought home two or three scraggling little off shoots...and planted them at the side of the deck and waited. The following year they did a bit better, and moved them into the *real* garden. Around the circle under the dogwood and next to the pond...well now...they multiply like hostas, are HUGE and gorgeous. They bloom pretty purple flowers early in the day. Love the sun and are just happy happy. I can't seem to kill them either! They will need to be split next year? Any takers? The red flowers I bought on sale somewhere, knew what hey were when I bought them but have since forgotten....I just like the red next to teh purple. And I just planted white echinachea in between, so that will be pretty when they are blooming.....

Siberian iris. Almost missed it, getting chocked out by those purple things I Just talked about!
These need to be split soon too, but I am keeping all of them! :)

Rose up close. Trying some different settings on my camera and not getting the results I want....I wanted the background blurry. I have a point and shoot Sony that I love but I do have the ability to manually set the apature etc. The settings only go to far..I may get frustrated with that...but since I only try to change the settings when I play. I doubt I will change them much when I am shooting an event or the kids. No time......

As time goes by.....

This last year for me, has really really offered many many chances for reflection and realization.
This picture, circa oh about 1986 or so, maybe 87, not quite sure.
Turning 40, has certainly given me pause for reflection. I am not even sure I remember any more who this *girl* was. What did she love? What were her dreams? I know I barely remember, but am certain she did not dream of the life she presently has. I do know one thing....I can say with all the truthfulness in the world, she was not nearly as confident, passionate, or content as I am now. For that I am immensely grateful. So I try as hard as I can to take pleasure in that, and not too back wistfully too often. Her relationship with that sexy dude with a full head of hair sitting to her left....as passionate and happy as they were then, I can safely say I occasionally long for that new love feeling again, but for the most part and extremely content with the peaceful familiarity they have now- with still a good amount of passion thrown in the mix! How many people who have been together 23 year can say that?
I would also not trade the friendship we still have with the other two for anything in the world. There is something to be said for friends who have known you *like forever*, and still love you warts and all. They are our *bests* and will always be...we plan to grow old together and reek havoc in the nursing home together.
The car accident has given me very very many opportunities in the last 9 months to truly feel my age - and come to terms with the physical changes that have occured in my body and appreciate it much more than I did. Maybe because I am physicallyl feeling my age more, has made me be more reflective or it could have to do with this.......

This boy, my baby, is now 12 and moving up to Jr High next school year. I am going to 6th grade awards next week. This chubby little boy is now nearly as tall as I am.

And this adorable baby is now nearly 15, and moving on to Sr. High next year.
Both of these life milestones, have perhaps caused me the most reflection on the last few weeks. My oldest nephews and niece are graduating. Moving on. The *baby* of the family is 12. None of us have babies any longer. Wow. Talk about feeling your age.
I am entering an entirely new stage in life. Can't say I am not going kicking and screaming. I would love to say I am gracefully accepting these changes with peaceful acceptance, but I can not. While I am blessed beyond belief with the health and challenges of my children, and the life we have, I can not help but look back wistfully and long for blowing bubbles in the shade under our backyard tree. While I cherish the relationship I continue to have with both of my children, it is most certainly much less of the mother-child relationship I am used to and moving much more toward adult conversations and a different dynamic. Oh - the little kids my two used to be surface every now and then, in the privacy of our own home, with an "I love you mom" and a long hug.
I can kick and scream all I want.
Time moves on. Children grow.
We age.
Life changes.
Thank God for that.
It means we are blessed and
healthy.
I couldn't ask for more than that.

:)

I was going to post a bunch of pictures of the garden starting to explode with color, but it seems that Blogger has other ideas tonight.
I love this time of year in the flower beds, and with the steady off and on rain we have had, everything is lush and green, budding and ready to just explode with color. My absolute favorites, delphinium, are *just* ready to pop, I am praying the rain today did not beat them down....
so that will have to wait until tomorrow...

found this quote today...
interesting that today a friend and I had a *chat* about watching our kids make mistakes ...I am still not sure how to interpret the quote...thoughts anyone??

"We are deliberately designed to learn only by trial and error. We're brought up, unfortunately, to think that nobody should make mistakes. Most children get de-geniused by the love and fear of their parents: that they might make mistake.
But all my advances were made by mistakes. You uncover what is when you get rid of what isn't.

Buckminster Fuller