things of today

Today I cleaned part of this building.

I never tire of this view.

She and I read stories and sang songs together today.

I sometimes stop by this window in the middle of my day- there is something about it that I really love.

I really enjoy the crispness of the air and leaves in Fall. It was a great day to enjoy these things.

I do love fall, but as it gets colder, I dream a little bit about summertime... Only 9 months away.

family, friends, and the archangel.

It's been a whole week since I've blogged, I know. But, it has been a pretty busy week. My aunt and uncle came up from GA to visit us which was really great. I have missed having them around. My aunt and I went back to the school where she taught for so many years and the kids were all so excited to see her. It was fun to see their little faces of both excitement and confusion at the sight of her- like, "I'm so glad she's here! But I don't think she teaches here anymore, so, why is she here?...hmmmm". 

Then we worked a weekend group which is always mixed with fun and exhaustion. In between meals here at camp, our church had their annual picnic.

Nick came home to see Kaley and we got to have dinner together. It is always so great to see him, since he's only been home periodically since he joined the Navy last year. Soon they both move to San Diego- the place they can call their home. (a bittersweet move...)

We had our staff retreat here at camp- bonding with one another and generating new ideas for the future of camp. Oh, and our van broke down on the highway and we were stranded for a few hours- the good news is being stranded with friends right next to a Chick-fil-a isn't really so bad. Then a random and tremendously kind man said "I think I can fix your van", and he did. Really. He said he was just a local photographer that knew how to work on cars and likes to help people- I say he was an angel sent by God. Think I am kidding? ...his name was Michael. Either way, it was a huge blessing.

Today- laundry. Lots and lots of laundry.  

A busy and great week. 

Soon, October will be here. I think it is one of my favorite months.

(why is my font almost never consistent?...)

the greatest good

"I will extol the lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the lord with me; let us exalt his name together. Taste and see that the lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." psalm 134:1-3&8

on camping

It has been a while since I have been camping. A great long while. I remember "Car Camping" with youth group once when we went on a white water rafting trip. The white water rafting was so traumatizing that I remember little about my night in a tent. And that is the last time I went on a camping trip "with" Ben. Needless to say, he was really looking forward to this trip. 

Anyway, our dear friends and neighbors are seasoned campers and we finally planned a trip together (and, one of my favorite little friends came too). She entertained us the entire time by saying funny things.

I brought a borrowed sleeping bag and layers upon layers of clothing. They brought campfire-cookware, tarps, lanterns, headlamps, and all other essentials.

Kaley came with us which was very delightful but her camping experience was only mildly more impressive than my own.

So we camped, in sleeping bags on the hard cold ground. We ate food that you cook over an open fire. We made instant coffee drinks and welcomed the cool mountain air at 6:00am. And, we hiked. Mostly we just leisurely walked up that mountain- getting our heart rates up a bit and enjoying the scenery and beautiful weather.

The men, on the other hand, were so hardcore.

I did the things every good camper does (minus the authentic search for a campsite in the deep woods and eat dehydrated packets of food... this is car camping, so we were within walking distance of indoor toilets and running water...) Overall, it was a pretty good experience. I would do it again- I mean, I enjoy the crackle of a campfire. Then again, there is a bonfire pit here at camp. hmmmm...

i am allergic to exercise

True story. I am allergic to exercise. 

It has been about a 10 month hiatus since my last spout of physical activity. I set a goal for myself and I start exercising-- like, I got married so I thought I should run to relieve stress and better fit into that wedding gown. Then last year I decided to do the race for the cure for the first time so I had to get my butt in gear to run that 5k. After each of these events I immediately stop running. Things that deter me: cold weather, sleepiness, cookies on the kitchen counter, whatever- it doesn't take much.

Anyway, I started to run again yesterday because I would like to participate in the race for the cure again this year. (And, if I am feeling really brave, a thanksgiving "turkey trot"). But yesterday's first run was terrible. I mean, yes I got a side cramp rounding the first corner and yes my calf muscles were sore but that was to be expected. What's worse-- the itchiness!!

You heard me correctly, I was itching, all over right around the first 1/2 mile yesterday. I'm talking the sensation of 100 tiny fire ants biting at my body. I wanted to jump in the bay or something, anything to make it stop! I must have looked like a rave idiot scratching at my thighs while I was running. 
Now, I told you it has been a long time since I last ran, but I do remember that this has happened to me before. So, I must be allergic to physical activity. That's it. It is a health condition and there is no way I can go on. 

On the other hand, I seriously felt like a crazy person- so I googled my little problem to find some answers. And wouldn't you know it- it's not just me! It happens to people, lots of them, the sad thing is it is directly related to inactivity and being completely unfit. The fact is, it has something to do with capillaries or something. Apparently because my body is so inactive my little capillaries open just enough for the little amount of blood flow that my sedentary body demands. When I run, those  capillaries expand rapidly to allow more blood flow which somehow makes my brain translate it as an itchy feeling.

Whatever-- all I know is, I am an unfit person with poor circulation and my capillaries freak out at any amount of exertion, which is completely pathetic. So it will go away if I continue to increase my fitness level. But how fit do I need to be? How much longer must I endure the itchiness? When will the fire ants of death retreat!?...

it fills the air

"there came a moment in the middle of the song when she suddenly felt every heartbeat in the room & after that she never forgot she was part of something much bigger" -Brian Andreas

I think of that quote a lot when I think of my friend Val. She is this ridiculously fabulous friend to have and she is an amazingly talented musician. Have you heard of the Val Nebbia band? You can buy their stuff on itunes, or get an actual CD, either way they are really great. If you missed tonight's concert you should come with me to the next one. Really. It may be a little while though... Soon Val and her husband will have tiny baby Clare to take care of!  

the hat.

Some men have a hat. One hat that they just wear all the time. For my husband, it is this hat-

He likes to say that he has been a Nat's fan since the very beginning when they became a team (which has only been about 5 years now). Anyway, he loved that hat. It was the hat, you know, it became kind of worn and faded because he wore it so often, but he didn't care- he loved that hat...

One fateful afternoon I found the hat in the bin of hats (lots of hats he doesn't really wear... except for that DC Nationals hat...) and I pulled the hat right out of that bin and threw it in the washing machine- because since it was the hat, I thought 'this is overdue for a washing!'. I was so excited to surprise my dear husband with a fresh-smelling version of his favorite hat. 

But THIS is what happened-

I pulled it out of the washing machine, and while it smelled of Tide freshness, it looked like I had fed it to a bear! I feel I must publicly state that I am so very sorry. I had no idea! I thought about getting rid of the evidence, convincing him that I had no idea what could have possibly happened to the hat, and kindly suggesting he wear one of the other lovely hats he owns. But, liars never come out on top- so I had to face the music. I killed the hat. And I am sorry...

today in substitute teaching...

So I "subbed" today for science. The 6th graders were supposed to make up a science experiment that could feasibly be done in the classroom. We talked about Independent and Dependent variables... you know the drill. 

My favorite submission of a science experiment idea:

Problem: Do plants have feelings?

Independent Variable: The Plant

Dependent Variable: Feelings machine, hooked up to plant.

I wonder what the findings will be... Hey, you can't blame him for wondering... or can you?

labor day weekend

It was a really great, but busy, weekend. 

We...

• Enjoyed the company of one of our friends who has spent the last two years in Azerbaijan.
• Caught a random Irish band playing at a nearby shopping center & then enjoyed some delicious Whole Foods gelato (which included flavors like rose water and cardamom or basil and grapefruit- surprisingly refreshing). 
• Worked a retreat group here at camp and had a great time while doing it.
• Got to "dog-sit" Rigby.
• Were visited by two other of Ben's college friends whom we haven't seen in probably a year.
• Went to the Renaissance Festival- which I love to attend every year as an excuse to wear my best 17th Century garb. Just kidding, but really, I do enjoy a good day of feasting and merrymaking (and people watching) at the good ol' Ren Fest.
• Got to see my dearest Sarah, visiting from Florida.
• Celebrated our newest neighbors with a "housewarming" party. Ben went tubing and sailing (a lot this weekend, actually) and I ate brownies.
• Got free Chik-fil-a Labor Day sandwiches!

domesticated lady

Call me old fashioned, but I am not embarrassed to say that I love the idea of being a domesticated housewife. Now, I feel that women are sophisticated individuals who work hard to climb the corporate ladder; burst through those glass ceilings ladies! And I have known many successful women who juggle their career and family famously. But I, I majored in Peace Studies and work at a non-profit organization. I find joy in a clean house that smells of baked goods. But the painful truth is, I am not so domesticated. I do clean... but I don't really cook. I used to try, you know, in our first few months of marriage. Now, I tell people, my husband and I share the responsibility of cooking... Who am I kidding? Ben is the cook. End of story. I befriend people who cook and who own creative businesses in music, pottery, home restoration, you name it! But I do none of these things (well).

 

That all changes this September! Some of the dearest people I know are some of the most creative, and they (well, Loris, really) invited me to do some "canning". We learned the ins and outs of making applesauce and then learned how to can said applesauce. Loris has a true gift, she just has so many great ideas and does so many creative things-- from writing, to canning, to embroidery... Her daughter Val is proof that it's in the genes. 

Anyway- I learned to make and can applesauce, and though I have almost none of the proper equipment to do this at my own home in the future, I feel my house-wifely dreams coming true by the moment. 

We started with apples...

We sliced & diced...

We simmered & steamed the apples...

We acted ridiculous...

We canned...

We sealed...

We made Applesauce!

It just felt so creative and fun- and fall... mmm, I love fall... 

new and... improved?

I decided to welcome September with a little "spring cleaning" in the fall. As you may have noticed I tried to spruce up the old blog with a new layout. I would like to say this took me 10 minutes (max). I would like to say that I messed with HTML and was successful in doing so! I would like to say that I didn't almost lose all my old posts. I would like to tell you that I certainly did not lose my "blog roll" and therefore have to remember 20-something blog addresses (I like all of your little blog sites conveniently linked to mine...) I would like to say that now that all is said and done I feel 100% refreshed and satisfied with the "new" blog. I would also like to believe that I did not just waste an hour or more of electricity by sitting on this computer doing something as ridiculous as changing my blog template.

I would like these things to be true- they are not. But that's okay, change is good.