Here, There and Everywhere

There are places I remember . . . .  

Oooofy, seems I've been gone since forever! I had work to do back "home" and have spent the past two weeks gettn'er done. TCB. Checking it off the list. One day, as I always say, I'm going home and having nothing on my agenda other than visiting friends and family. Period. As usual, I had little time to see anyone.

Made a ten-hour dash to DC so I could drop off the rest of the teenager's belongings. Then it was off to Northern Jersey the next day to help with  some family stuff there. I got to see my SIL MJ and have dinner with my brother and his family in DC. By the time I made it further north, I could definitely feel some autumn in the air--just not enough to ward off my hot flashes! Awkward. See what you have to look forward to Mz. C!

While I missed my niece's Sweet 16 party, I was there for her actual birthday. I haven't been with any  of my niece's for their birthday for a very long time. Too long. And I have, soon-to-be, NINE nieces! That's not right. And thus why we are planning to move back to the NE at some point. We have been too far from family for way too long. I know, I know, it keeps changing! ha!! So, this week, it's New England! It was nice spending time with my teenage nieces and hearing about their lives. Where has the time gone? It boggles the mind.

Then it was back to DC (are you tired yet? I WAS!!!). My brother, Jim, surprised me with a glass of home-made sangria (not allergic, go figure), apples and cheese, and dinner outside waiting for me upon my arrival from NY.  We sat by the fire pit all night--ending with s'mores. I even had a little time with my girl, Jacq which was wonderful. Really missed seeing her this summer. 

Ok, moving along to the teenager's new flat. It definitely needed a mother's/woman's touch--aka a good cleaning. Sorted, cleaned and "detailed" the place as best I could. He loves it. A big ol' thank you to my brother, Jim! Hat's off to him also because he is the one who found all of these kooky and wonderful things for the place. I played with each and every piece!

Even stayed in the old hood in S. Arlington, VA. The area has turned into a rather busy little city. Such changes every time I go back. Truth is, I don't believe I could live around that many people again. ha. Little ol' Nashvul has spoiled us. I think the hustle and bustle of city life are behind the hub and I. If we were younger? In a heartbeat! But, who knows?

One afternoon, I met my brother at the Capitol  before he had a photo shoot; and we were able to walk through the U.S.  Botanical Gardens for a bit. I hadn't been in there for many, many years. I think my brothers and I practically grew up in here when we went to work with our father. He'd be shooting photographs and we would wander over to the Botanical Gardens and walk around (my brothers would sleep in there--pre-planking!). Once I wandered into the Capitol and got lost down in the bowels of the building until I finally came upon a security guard who directed me out. I was a wee little thing! I don't think my father ever missed me! lol I'm sure things have changed, just a tad, these days. No wanderers allowed!

I was able to meet up with my girlies, Kelly and Amy--on different nights. I wish we could have all gotten together at the same time. Oy. Thankful to have been able to see them, period. My only wish is to be able to see all my friends when I visit. Impossible. I have never been able to do it!  There's always stuff to do that keeps me from seeing everyone. No matter how much I try and plan. Drives me kooky.

Kell had gone to see the Dweez and got us a cd signed! Thanks, Kell! Great CD! Wow, yep, Dweezil has channeled his father, somehow.

And, before I knew it, it's time to head back. Two weeks, come and gone. And all I could think of was getting back home to my hubby and animules. Loved driving through those Blue Ridge Mountains, both coming and going.

Bye bye ol' Virginny. See ya next time! And hopefully, more friends.

Labels: Amy, Arlington, Brother Jim, DC, Family, Jacq, Kell, Maryland, Music, NJ, Virginia, Zappa

Thank You

Flowers for mom's birthday that arrived on Johnny's birthday. 

I love you, Aim.

Labels: Amy, Brother John, Mom, Flowers

To Connecticut and Back

I don't know if y'all will ever forgive me for being so nonchalant about blogging recently. I have been photographing, I promise. Just seems like a chore to blog with them. Ugh.

There was a recent trip back North for a GGC gathering--you know, with my besties. Pam had moved to Connecticut a couple of years back, built a beautiful home and invited us up, in a nutshell. 

Among other wonderful things that we did, we went to Whiteflower Farm.  How utterly exciting!!

And even though the season was about spent, there were still plenty of beautiful blooms.

And yes, I finally bought some Iris bulbs to plant and YES! they are in the ground. Astounding, indeed.

Riverside in Bloom

I've been doing this and doing that. Truly enjoying Riverside for the first time, appreciating the beauty like never before.

I've never had enough time to plant here. I'm normally only here for a mere week or two. It's been so wonderful. Kelly and Amy had saved some seed from a vine at Panini Pete's after I left several years' back.

I finally got the tiny seed planted. They popped up within a day!

Here is a couple of days' worth of sprouting. 

And then today, I transplanted them, only after a week or so. Fingers' crossed they survive!

Darlene found this little lady burying her eggs in her back yard. We had more spots, or so I thought, next to our house. Dar dug and dug, but nothing. I wanted baby turtles too!

 Dar's ducks.

My window box in the back yard seems to be doing better. Everything was in shock after I transplanted them.

Including the hibiscus. It really went down hill quick; but I'm happy to say, she looks good now.

 And here is a planting to remind me of Seymour, the snake Amy found in this spot several years back. Ew!

 My old ladder is filling out.

So, c'mon, walk this way. 

You're always welcome.

Hope this find you all well and enjoying the summertime.

Motivating Weather

You know how the cooler temps motivate me to be more productive.  It seems I haven't done a darn thing for over a year.  I truly need to get back into the swing of things.  The kid was off for two days (fall break, haha), so we went and gathered some punkins'.  I so LOVE this time of year!  Do you see Dave in the background?

It's also GGC time.  This is the bracelet the girls and I made last year at Riverside in October.  I have been wearing it almost every day.  I hope they are too!  Tiz' the season, girlz!  I don't even remember adding the angel charm.  Who would have known that it would have such meaning in such a short time?  We lost mom four days later.  Well, unfortunately, the GGC won't be able to have our annual meeting this year, scheduling conflicts, I'm afraid.  Sniffle. But, I'm workin' on a little sumpin' sumpin'.

I continue pulling together the girls' room, piece by piece.  I hung these mirrors this week after they sat on the beds for like a month or more.  (Beds, I say.  I dont' even have mattresses, yet!) I hung them close to the dresser so the girls can put their makeup there and be close to a reflection.  I'm starting to think more like a girl every day.  Go figure, at almost fifty, right?  Sad, but it's taken me that long--three older brothers and all . . .  (Do you barely spy the wool shag rug?  Squeeeeeeel!)

Natalie Sarabella, the true angel that she is, included this gorgeous Diva (click to her website) when I ordered some presents for friends and family.  Madam D, as I named her, is an absolute delight!  Nat has been so generous to me over the years, and I can never thank her enough.  I send big ol' bear hugs and kisses and prayers and everything good to her every time I eye one of her beautiful pieces.  I know she has angel wings hidden somewhere.  

Who else could come up with these teeny, tiny little precious babies but Nat?  These were made for Dar's (my riversorry friend) little grandbabies!

Going back to the girls' room, how could I resist a little nod to England after such a delightful trip this summer?  I sigh every time I see that Union Jack!

Tomorrow,  Beth and I are heading East to Knoxville to see JJ Grey & Mofro in a real theatre. We are going to have the best time!  Not only am I traveling with my dawlink friend, but I get to see my first born also.  And he's going to the show with us.  It doesn't get much better.

Life is good to me. (Except for the fact that the hub is in China, again.)

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Palm Sunday, 2010

It's been a wonderfully lazy Sunday--Palm Sunday--on the river. The hub is back on U.S. soil, amen! He's at home with the kid who seems to be needing a lot of DK time (dad/kid) right about now. Oy. To be a 16 year-old boy. No thank you. Not even a 16 year-old girl, that I somehow remember oh-so-well--even more so. Ooooof. Palm Sunday.

There was a time when I would have spent Palm Sunday, first thing, in Church with all the boys. Hub, teenager and kid. Growing up, I attended a Baptist church through my best friends. While, we, as a family--three boys and girl respectively--were brought up more spiritually, my brothers and I, by my parents. Yes, we believed in God and Jesus, but we weren't expected to attend church to prove it. As a teenager, I knew I would find my perfect partner and convert to his religion--if, in fact, he were religious. Never dwelled on it--just seemed the course. Low and behold, I met the hub. My one-and-only. I began the process of becoming a Catholic. I was baptised in the Church, having never being baptised. Go figure. Amy was my "sponsor," and I still think of her as my Godmother sent to me from Heaven above way before I was baptised. The hub was my "sponsor" when I was Confirmed into the Catholic Church. And, so, we brought the boys up Catholic. Went to church every Sunday with them. Well, almost. Once they were confirmed, it was their decision to go to church or not. Today? Me? I dunno. I still SO believe in God and Jesus, as I was brought up to do. But church? Hmmm. I have seen so much hatred and bad coming from organized religion these days in the United States, I just don't know. . . . . How can people call themselves a child of God and push so much hate? I just don't understand. And it breaks my heart. Today? I seem to be more in being with the river.

K, off my soapbox.

Yesterday, I went into town and was in the mood for finding something "fresh" for the house, Riverside. Coming home, I took the "scenic" route and had to stop off at the park and take a few snaps. It is absolutely breathtaking from the top of the bluffs. The sailboats, in the distance, were mesmerizing. I love the views from here. It is absolutely gorgeous on and off of Mobile Bay.

Everything is popping here. And I have the pollen all over the place to prove it, including the bedroom. I had, mistakenly, left all the windows open for the weekend. Oy. (Painter coming in the morning so all is closed up tight now!)

Beautiful, in spite of having to take extra Zyrtec. Well worth it. Of course.

At home, at 8:30 pm., it was lights' out. Earth hour. I did it. I thought I would forget--after all, I'm on the river and quite riversorry, in truth. But alas, I remembered.

And, what did I do for an hour? lol. Once a photog, always a photog. Or should I say phot-hog? What in the world did I do all those years when I gave it up? Oh yea, raised my boys. Heart heart.

I do so enjoy it--trying to get that snap that relays your feelings at the moment. Notice the word snap. No longer do I spend hours in the darkroom.

Bella, trying to be a tough-ass in the candle-lit room. This, Riverside, is her first and absolute home, btw.

She does love it here; and, thus, another OMMMMM moment by the Bell. Bad girl.

K, moving forward to Sunday, Palm Sunday. Dar called from a couple of houses down and said that she and Linda were painting--NOT the kind of painting going on down here on the river, mind you. Nope, that girl is an artist. She was artistically painting--painting several signs for a local studio in Magnolia River. So talented that woman. Brought my camera. Did I take a photo??? Nope. In the short time I have known her, I already call her a dear friend. And a talented one, to boot!

MmmmmkK (as Jacq would say), here's our inspiration. Actually, Darlene's inspiration. Mine was blue for the back door--and I'm not a blue person. NIXED! We went into her front yard and she picked a few azaleas. This is it! The back-door color! Knowing that I am THE most "fuchsia" person ever, I knew it right then that it was the correct color. Then, as if that weren't good enough, Dar, being the perfect person she is, whips out a paint-color fan? How many people do you know has one of those, easily accessible, Sherwin Williams' fans???? Now, how awesome is that? Darlene rocks the river! Not only is fuchsia my all-time favorite color way back from childhood (60s Crayola land) , but the azalea's in her front yard? These are the SAME old-fashioned color of azaleas from my childhood. Sniffle. The ones from our front yard growing up on Fox Street in Arlington, VA. Sniffle. Sniffle. Sniffle.

I am meant to be here. Right now.

Wow.