Botanical Gardens

Speaking of my trip to Brooklyn.... If you're ever in the area, check out the Botanical Gardens. It was absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. You'd never know you were a stone's throw away from the Big Apple. And adult admission is only $8.oo!!

Red

Last month I made a trip to Brooklyn to visit my friend Erica.

This was my view on the train ride....

Honestly Red must have worked for New Jersey Transit for 50 years. The ENTIRE ride (90 minutes) he provided a full detailed tour for Blue. The complete history of when the stations were built, what connections could be made, common mistakes made by travelers...The guy knew everything! It really was amusing.

I've always loved the story telling fashion of grandparents/elders. There just something so heartwarming when you hear tales of youth and times unknown, relayed with just enough exaggeration and spice to paint a picture, sinking you deep into the past. I was recently revisting the sentiment of my encounter with Red, leading to my discovery of elderblogging.

Time Goes By is a great site " a complex mix of reporting on every aspect of aging....old people writing on their blogs about past and present lives, interest and passions..." Maybe we could all use a little change of perspective in our day.

When I arrived at Penn Station it became apparent, as Red prompted Blue's preference for a trip to Long Island, a view of the Hudson, or north into Connecticut, that they were just spending the day riding the trains....

Monday...

"We come to feel as we behave. "

~Paul Pearsall

Weekend with the Weavers

We had a great trip to Maryland last week to reunite the CHS gang and all our significant others.

We enjoyed lots of cold drink and good laughs, dancing and signing, story telling and reminiscing. Looking forward to next year!

Orioles vs. Indians game.

Gardening

Overall it's been a good year for our garden. We had tons of lettuce and spinach early on and our tomatoes and peppers are in full swing now and don't look like they'll be slowing down for a few more weeks. We've even got one lonely, late blooming eggplant on the way.

We learn more every year. This year we lost all of our cucumbers to a soil bacteria. There is no way to tell you have it until it starts killing your plants mid growing season. Other obstacles for this year included deer and a multiplying population of ground hogs. We lost our daisies and Black-eyed Susans but managed to save all the veggies with a little fence work.

Pepper plants early summer.
Pepper plants now. Note addition of fence.

Daisies mid June before blooming.

Addition of fence and anti-deer plants around the remaining daisies (mid summer).

Aside from the deer damage, my flowers and herbs did EXCELLENT this year. I have begonias, lavender, sage, oregano, and some forgotten name flowers on our back patio area and impatients in the shady front area.

Front early summer.

Filled with Impatients.

My new...

haircut!! It really was refreshing and exciting to shed my long locks for a shorter bob style. It's been on my mind for awhile now but i just didn't have the nerve until a few weeks ago. I've been getting a lot of positive reviews. Next step is adding some color...maybe even highlights! Those grays are really starting to peek through...

Begger

On my way home from work there's often a homeless guy standing on the side of the road near a red light. I've seen him there 2-3 times a week for a while now. I've always kinda felt bad for him. He's elderly and has a bad arm probably from spastic cerebral palsy. His cardboard sign ask for food or money.

I NEVER give money to homeless people (street musicians are different). But, I do have a soft spot for feeding people. On several occasions he was right next to my window and I had nothing to offer. A few weeks ago (I'm a bit behind on my blogging!) I had an untouched granola bar on the passenger seat. I rolled down my window feeling good about my offering.

In a rough, husky voice, " I have about 10 of them."

Pausing to compute the denial, "F**king beggers can't be choosers! never again man. NEVER!!"

Unbelievable.

A few days later I saw a neighborhood women yelling at the man and taking pictures of him and the street sign. He hasn't been there since. I guess he's been run off his corner. Good.

Stupid jerk.

Fresh Prince

About a month ago, Jim and I watched Seven Pounds. Even amongst the details that seem a bit unlikely (I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it) it was a good movie and worth watching. It made me realize how much I liked Will Smith as an actor. Renewed faith in his acting skills prompted us to rent Pursuit of Happyness. Based on a true story, I found it inspiring and heart warming.

I must admit to feeling some sort of deeper emotional connection with Will Smith's character in both movies. It was unexpected. I think my memory was clogged with Carlton Banks, neon oversized geometric clothing, following by a distinct memory of dark sunglasses accompanied by a black suit. As classic as Men in Black is, it's not something I feel the need to watch ever again. I guess it just proves he's capable of delivering variety. If you haven't seen any of his newest films. Check 'em out.

Birthdays.

This is a busy week for birthdays in my family. All the kiddos in one week!! I love watching them grow up and develop their own little personalities. Being Aunt 'Chelle lets me spoil them without too much responsibility!

Wishing I could be there to celebrate with their happy smiles and messy ice cream covered faces.

Packages are in the mail.

Happy Birthday...

Jevin (6)

Elliona and Austin (3)

Oh the places You'll go.

Today brings a much needed day off. In a few hours we'll be en route to Maryland for a little weekend "festival." The old high school gang is reuniting for a weekend of responsible adult behavior. I love that we all still manage to find a little time to be together amongst the hectic burdens of adult live. None of us actually live amongst the hollow streets of the little town that laid the groundwork for our friendships. Several us even ventured off to the east coast, myself included.

I leave you with a little story from our emergence.

Trailer Trash

April 15, 2006

I wish I had some exciting tales from the Ohio valley to report...but the truth is not much happens around here. That's one of the things that brings me back and the thing that sends me away after 4 days or so. So far the excitement has included getting lost in the country and getting directions from trailer trash, getting together with old friends to mock our hometown, and trying to teach my 2 year old nephew to say banana split (which sounded remarkable similiar to spic!)

The trailer trash encounter was definitely the funniest. My sister and I were heading out to my brother's house with KFC (extra mashed potatoes...YUM) but were detoured by an accident. We ended up en route to absolutely nowhere. I was familiar with the first part of the detour. As teenagers we would head out on the back roads for various forms of entertainment that we perferred not to engage in near our parents. But, 10-15 minutes into the detour we realized we had not seen a familiar road/house/corn field in a little while.

We turned around to ask directions from some folks sitting on their porch. I can't even explain how ridiculous it was. If you are from this area you may have a better concept but for those suburban folks out there I will try to expand. The "house" consisted of a broken down trailer. My sister refers to the location as wood on cinder blocks in the middle of a trash pile. There were at least 4 dogs, 2 of which were definite in-breds. A little girl running bare foot from the side field yells, "hey daddy...look thats a car, a real car daddy!" The man of the house had a well managed mullet and gave us some damn fine directions, although it was a bit difficult to understand him thru his redneck accent. The yard consisted of 2 hollowed out old trailers which seemed to function as storage, a trash dumpster, and maybe a pool house (next to the mud hole). It was a classic white trash encounter.

The best thing about white trash people is that either they don't know it or just don't care. It's not like poor people in the suburbs who pretend to have money and bling-bling it with their Walmart jewels. The poor folks around here drive the worst possible cars you can think of. Most are held together with some kind of wiring, ropes, or junkyard product. They don't have cell phones, house phones, washers/dryers, or any luxury for that matter. They don't steal or increase the crime rate. At times you forget about the b/c they kinda seclude themselves to the fields which have no other use b/c the soil is depleted and nothing will grow there.

Most of these things where considered normal as part of my community while I was growing up. There were always the farm kids and the smelley poor kids. It wasn't until I got older and could drive out of this county that I realized otherwise.

Monday...

"if you don't know where you're going then it doesn't matter which road you take. "

~Alice in Wonderland

birds of paradise

While searching for inspiration for an art project for the kitchen (more to come when completed!), I discovered these adorable bird houses at Jars Of Cute.

Lots more fun and artsy stuff to explore. Check it out.

As you may have guessed my art project is themed around birds.....

WestPaw

Loving the collection of eco-friendly toys for your favorite pooch at WestPaw Design.   A bit pricey if you've got a pup who is still is major destruction mode.

But a lot of the products are made from Zogoflex, "pliable, bounces, nontoxic, recyclable, and buoyant."  Sounds like a doggy dream come true.

This sweet little turtle is my favorite....

NPR

My alarm woke me up to this story on this morning.   

You have to listen to the audio just to hear the calm, beautiful voice of the 11 year old daughter.  

Home Inspiration

Oh Happy Day is right! I love this print and the price is really reasonable. It also comes in creamy yellow floral pattern.

la palabra del dia

sit=sientese


Please sit down=Sientese por favor.

Brunch

I love doing nothing on Sundays but always end up feeling guilty that I'm not more productive. So, I welcomed a very rainy morning which gave Jim and I good reason to be lazy and celebrate the weather with a lovely brunch.

Complete with Mimosas served in our the champagne glasses from our wedding.  

Thanks Tricia.  They really are beautiful!!

Jim is a master breakfast chef.  One of the many reasons I married him.  I highly recommend Trader Joe's pancake mix.  They turn out so light and fluffy.  I made a berry blend to top them off with maple syrup. 

The Shore

Jim and I got up bright and early Saturday and headed off to the shore for a day trip. Being close to the shore is a major advantage of Philadelphia. Although this convenience comes with the aggravation of serious traffic issues. In order to beat the Saturday vacationers, we were on the road by 7:00 and cruising the boardwalk by 8:30.

We were pleasantly surprised to find the Atlantic City Expressway lined with beautiful wildflowers. It made the early morning drive even more enjoyable.

A long morning walk on the boardwalk, cat-naps on the sand, lots of sun and temperatures in the mid 80s, leisure summer reading, and warm ocean water with no jellyfish....it was a perfect day!!

Good-bye... complete with cupcakes

Chocolate cupcukes with cherry frosting.  YUM!!  

In celebration of Dr. Riffle's departure.  

He is the sole reason I have been transferred to the Delaware office. 

Thanks.  Thanks a lot "friend."

Go ahead.  Move back home and leave me behind cursing my way to Wilmington every morning.

I hope you enjoyed your cupcake.  The one marked special for you and an extra special ingredient....hehe

Mojitos

We spent Thursday evening celebrating the arrival of Friday with delicious Mojitos and BBQ chicken. Jim used fresh mint from the garden and followed this recipe using organic cane sugar instead of powdered sugar.

We both agreed it could've been a little sweeter and I voted for more mint. After a bit of internet browsing I decided our next batch we'll try making mint infused simple syrup as recommended here. I actually enjoyed exploring the rest of her blog as well.