Summer Ends....

Summer is ending and fall is in the air. I have gone from 10 to 100 miles per hour working full-time after having been home on sabbatical and then summer vacation for 7 months. In my ideal world I would forever work in a school part-time, and I'd only work with kids (which is what I do best) vs. spend my days working on computers, managing reams of paperwork and holding endless meetings - but that's not where we are at financially so I get up at 5:00, workout (well, try to), go to work, come home, workout (if I haven't in the morning) do chores, make dinner, say "Hello" to my husband and then, exhausted, head to bed! Little time for a creative life but I do grab what time I can on the weekends.....life is good, I have to admit....much better than the alternative!

Fairy Houses

OK, how cute is this! Portsmouth had a Fairy House Tour and this creative little pumpkin home was located right in the park, free for all to enjoy. We loved going with the kids and grandkids but didn't go on the grand tour as it would have cost $30! Ridiculous in these harsh economic times. No matter, I loved the little fairy homes I did see and enjoyed spending the day with family :) Note my granddaughter, the adorable blonde to the left, inspecting this clever little fairy home.

Antipasta

Ok, we had a party and lots of people brought great food. My husband made a delicious corn chowder and I made homemade hummus (lemon basil...yummy). But, the star of the night was this incredible plate of antipasta made by my friend Dale Henderson! Grilled asparagus, squash, eggplant and peppers alongside rolls of prosciutto and salami.....assorted olives as the centerpiece....a glass of dark red Cabaranet and I'm good for the whole evening! Thanks, Dale for grilling in the rain!!!!!

Got Chocolate?

What fun we had tonight...the girls were over, Bethany, Brisla, Addie and Fiona. Gramps was outnumbered! We enjoyed hamburgers, thanks Grandpa. But then we had oreo people...Grandma forgot to take a picture cause she's tired cause she is now back to work. I loved the oreo people and the Ovaltine. Such fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa :) Got chocolate?

Out for a Walk

So, to keep my sanity while returning back to full-time work I walk during lunch, for 20-30 minutes a day. I leave at 12:05, walk to my car, sit down on the passenger seat, slip off my sandals and change into my walking shoes. Then I head out, happily alone, almost race walking. As I walk and meditate, I think of everything I can imagine positive (I have to remind myself to do this particularly when somebody at work has made me mental). I make myself look around and breath deeply. Yoga has taught me well :) Today I saw 3 colors of hydrangea's in my 20-minute walk...who knew? The first hydrangea I encountered was filled with beautiful pale pink balloon-like blooms that drooped way down to the ground. I loved those big, heavy blooms, full of life and color. Next I noticed a bush of bright blue hydrangea blossoms, not 10 feet away, with blossoms as blue as the cloudless late summer sky. On down the road, around the corner and next to a big white house I spotted amazing, dainty little maroon hydrangea blooms, perky little flowers standing tall. I had never seen maroon hydrangea flowers.

During my entire meditative walk my bright and cheery red linen blouse with silver elephant buttons sang a song, the bells on the little silver elephant feet jingling all the way. Any wonder why I love my noon-time walks? I return to work ready for whatever the afternoon brings...at peace.