turtles …

The title will make sense soon, I think.   But things are still nuts here.  I managed to scratch my cornea more than once, and I ended up with a corneal ulceration.  Which is just about as much fun as it sounds.  Seriously? Giving birth was way  less painful.  So between that, and some family medical stuff, it’s been a barrel of laughs here.   But on to the turtles…

I won a lovely prize from Irene at Happy Turtle.  I happened across her blog last year, and have found some really interesting things.  She recently had a giveaway, and I won this piece of art by artist Julia Freund:

Yay me!  You know I love to win, right?  I love the flags, and the flowers, and that lantern.   It is so sweet, isn’t it?  Like childhood summer nights.  Thanks to Irene and the talented artist. 

And onto turtle #2: my dear Deb of Paper Turtle.   A whole month ago, the Delightful, crafty, talented Deb honored me with an award.  And I really am honored to be included with the wonderful blogs she listed.

The rules of the award are: 

1) Thank the person who gave me my award!  (Thanks, Deb!!)
2) That the receiver places it on their blog.
3) Receiver lists 3 things about themselves.
4) Receiver posts a picture that they love.
5) Tag 5 people for the award to keep it going.

OK, here goes – Thanks again Deb!! 

Three things about me … hmmm …

1.  In addition to English (most days), I speak Greek, Spanish, Latin, and a little French and German. 

2.  I am hopeless on roller skates, and have been since I was a kid.   I am not meant to roll.

3.  I love to paint but haven’t done it in years.   This is something I really want to get back to, but it needs time, and supplies, and both seem to be in short supply right now.  I really want to master watercolors.  I can paint in oil and acrylic but I am hopeless at watercolors. 

I THINK I can scrounge up a photo that I love …

The hard part of that one would be picking just one!  But you knew that, right?

And finally, passing it on to 5 bloggers.  This is always hard because I really love what I have been seeing out there lately.  You all are some of the most talented, creative people I have seen.  So really, this is for all of you.  But the five I chose are:  Pat at Back Porch Musings (she recently had her blog go offline mysteriously, and is rebuilding over at typepad.  A talented photographer and sweet lady.), Carol of Raised in Cotton (I covet her farmhouse and love her beautiful photographs.), Sharon of My French Country Home (A wonderful life, and lifestyle in the French Countryside.  Beautiful treats for the eye and your home.  A brocante genius, she always finds the best stuff!), Sande of A Gift Wrapped Life (For her amazing gift presentations and lately, a spectacular view of Paris), and Slim Paley (Who I want to be when I grow up.).

If my eye and this rain give me a break, I will try to be back here Friday with a photo and quote. 

Best,

Stephanie

friday …

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." - Fitzhugh Mullan

May your journey be smooth and filled with joy.  Have a great weekend, friends.

Best,

Stephanie

random …

Just a few random thoughts here.  I’m sorry I’ve been an absentee sort of blogger lately.  It’s a combination of a blogging blahs and being busy.  But not an exciting busy, a running with the kids busy.  Not a ton of photos to share either.  I need a little reboot I think.

We’re in the full swing of back to school here.  A ton of activities and social events ahead.  Which make for fun days, but not much blogging.  I really need to find out how to block copying on my photos so that I would feel more comfortable posting the kids’ pictures.  THEN  you would see pictures!  You’d be begging me to stop.  And as busy as my kids are, they are not in nearly as many activities as some of their friends.  How do people do it all? 

We did get a fire pit, and the kids had fun making marshmallows and then s’mores.   We were thinking of getting a gas one, and those really cool colored glass pieces instead of the gas logs.  But then we priced it out and thought we’d try a regular one first (less than $70) and see how much we use it before we invested thousands. (The pits are expensive, the glass is expensive, and then we would have to run the gas line underground.)   So far, that would be once.  Plus, with the gas kind, you can’t move it.  It becomes a permanent fixture.

In other news, I got an award from the lovely Deb at Paper Turtle recently, and I will share that as soon as I get my act together a little.  Thanks Deb – you really are the sweetest!  

And finally, today is the day my baby goes back to horseback riding.  She was so excited, and now she is so scared and isn’t sure she wants to continue.   As much as the mom in me says, “Don’t do it. It’s safer on the ground,” I also know how much she loved it.  So please say a little prayer for my baby.  That she finds the strength inside to get back something she loved.  If nothing else, that strength is something important to take with her as she grows.   Thank you.

Best,

Stephanie

Update: She did it!  Reluctantly, crankily, perfectly! 

morning glories …

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”  -  Ralph Waldo Emerson

I’m on a bit of an Emerson kick here.   But go ahead.  Try something different.  Surprise yourself.  Rise up when you fail.   There is glory in just trying.  Accomplish something wonderful when you succeed.   

Have an amazing weekend, my friends.

Best,

Stephanie

60 years …

This past weekend, I had the privilege of joining a lovely family celebrating their parents’ 60th Anniversary, and their 80th birthdays.  (They were only 20 when they married, practically babies to my generation!)    How does one last 60 years in this age of disposable marriages? *

Theirs is a beautiful story.   Many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  So I got to thinking about their relationship, and I think I have some of their “secrets” to share.   They are truly good, kind people.  They have kept their faith and made it part of their family.  They laugh, a lot.  They are still cute with one another.  They have a smile, a wink, and a touch as they pass by each other.  They were mingling for most of the party, with different guests, and they never lost sight of where the other was.  And I guess in a nutshell, that is it – they never lost sight of one another.   They know each other, listen to each other, and appreciate each other.

So today, in honor of a lovely, lovely couple, I ask you to stop for a moment, remember the reasons why you came you love your other half, and let them know how much they mean to you.   You’ll never regret it. 

Best,

Stephanie

*I know there are plenty of legitimate reasons for getting divorced, and I don’t mean to disparage anyone. This is just a generalization.

peace …

“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”   - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wishing, hoping and praying for peace on earth …

Best,

Stephanie

i scream, you scream …

For the last five years, Edy’s Ice Cream had a contest where the winning essays got an ice cream party for 100 people.  I won that contest four years in a row. (I didn’t know about it until the second year.)  Every year, we chose to do it on the first day of school for the neighborhood children.  This year, there was no ice cream contest.  But the kids in the neighborhood still wanted ice cream.  Can’t blame them.  So we got ourselves to the store, bought 30 containers of Edy’s Ice Cream, 8 lbs of Italian ices, and started scooping … Rocky Road, Mint Chip, Summer Peach, and more … what a sweet way to start the school year!

Good luck to every child starting a new school year!

Best,

Stephanie

friday …

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the things you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.” -   Mark Twain

Hope you all have a delightful adventure this weekend.

Best,

Stephanie