Satisfied House

From a distance it is hard to believe this is a single family dwelling, not a...assisted living home or something.  HUGE!  Count those chimneys.

 

This is a tiny representation of the McMansions I drive past on the way home.  Huge, hefty, unbelievable, many with huge horse barns and fields--not crops to harvest, but silly grass!  Many of them are secluded with greenness.  Maryland is very green.  A forest will sprout if you don't mow every week when it is wet/rainy.

Fancy hedges that were more than 1/2 mile along road...

 

Sweet porches...

Historical stone.

Old farms...

It was nice to come home to our house.  Nothing pretentious.  Simple rancher.  In need of de-cluttering and cleaning, but feels like home! 

 

What's For Dinner?

 

Twenty years ago when we first moved to Maryland, a quilting buddy took me to Farmer Knopp's Vegetable Stand.

Keeps you honest, putting your quarters in a locked box with nobody watching.

Beautiful day to be in rural Harford County!

His driveway is lined with flowers and I was fascinated with all the butterflies!

Can You See the "Love" Tonight?

We have black-out curtains in our room, that I punched "Love" out.  It lets in the light from the street during the night--and during the day you can see the words.  Got the idea from Etsy and discovered leather punches with a hammer work through the thick fabric...

Our Friday night date was a spontaneous picnic:  French bread, fresh mozzarella cheese, grapes, cherries, and homemade shrimp salad (tiny salad shrimp, celery, onion, mayo & lots & lots of Old Bay Seasoning).  We drove out to Havre de Grace with a blanket and stopped at the park, where folks were gathering for an outdoor concert.  The band was amazing (found out Mercedes' uncle was in it!) and we enjoyed our food and the music!  Nice, relaxing, good to talk without worrying about being interrupted by waiter/waitress.  We made lists of what we wanted to do with the rest of our lives, what goals, bucket list we were still dreaming about.

John has a talent of condensing my big plans into concrete mission statements, specific things that helps me see what I am saying more clearly.  

If we keep preparing to serve a fulltime LDS mission together as a retired couple it is amazing how many of the dreams/goals are fulfilled.  So that is our course, our journey.

With lots of dates & picnics along the way!

Celebrating July Birthdays

For the Sunday family gathering to celebrate birthdays I took two long rows of the chocolate pecan cookies John made, layered them with caramel/nut and topped with chocolate icing that was very fudge-like, more nuts on top.  Good to collaborate.  Max loved it.

Suzanna made Roxie an ombre-frosted cake, which she enjoyed all by herself!

Bracelets

I made my sister-in-law black & white bracelets for her birthday.  And a sailor's knot bracelet like the one I made for Pioneer Trek family members (the off-white rope one in the middle).

Thin tube of fabric sewn, turned inside out, and sewn over length of rope.  I used some of my favorite black & white stash.

Hot Arrows

You can reserve the archery range for parties.  Prizes, balloons, shoot at animal targets, paper, or dead-like/life-sized zombie themed, if you so desire...

This was Roxie's birthday gift from Grandpa John.

 

 

Equipment rental, lesson, time on the range for four, had to be used all at once, same session (yeah for groupons).

The range master provided a little "tourney" with Suzanna winning on points!  All four were good shots!

It was 104' when we got back in the car.  Roxie lasted the longest, outshooting everyone!

 

 

I had watched the video on their website so I thought I knew what to expect--way cooler in person!  There were two barn bats that came out when we were almost done (owner said "extra points" if you hit one).   Two thumbs up, but pick a cooler day to go!

Sweet Love

You can make your own easy eye chart, say whatever you would like...

I purposefully peruse the YA and teen library books in order to stay current, keep track of story trends. 

"Forever" and "Eternity" have worked there way into teen lit, thanks to Stephanie Meyers and her beyond-death vampire stories.  I don't think it is a bad thing, but there are some interesting interpretations, speculations, literary solutions to wrap up a fiction story now days.  Mormons talk about the after life with ease; we grow up being taught about the possibility of having a forever family and our goal is to be married in the temple for eternity, not just until death do we part.  We confidentially assert that God's permission and restored priesthood power is exclusively in the Church.

So when I read an attempt at forever love I am not irritated, (maybe slightly amused) as I see the imitated pattern.  It sounds too good to be true?  You want it, too!  No kidding!  You find someone you love and they reciprocate your devotion and you want it to last!

I admire...the Novogratz,/Babcocks/Max

 

 

There is a design couple, married, with lots and lots of kids, the Novogratz Family.    Seven kids.  Two sets of twins, so I was pregnant more often (but it is so NOT a competition!).  The rug above was designed by them.  The parents, not the twins.  The family has a home with an entry designed by Richard Woods (the artist I copied with much admiration here in April).

 

I can see my brother, David, and his family becoming famous for their design guru-ness, like the Novogratz Family.

 

(couple photo shamelessly copied from their blog)

I am reading at least 3 books at once.  One of the books John brought home from the library:  "What to Expect When No One's Expecting:  America's Coming Demographic Disaster" by Jonathan V. Last. 

Makes for good dinner-time conversation.

Max is out of hospital, earlier than we thought.  Family Bi-Polar adventures are not fun.  It runs in families, and when my brother was diagnosed I worried about my sons.  Future grandsons.  I am convinced that it is a temporary, life-time-only challenge.  Not something they will have to deal with eternally.  The struggles and brain issues are hard.  Remembering to take meds is hard and inconvenient.  Going to meetings for addiction recovery is hard.  Frustrating.  Infuriating.  Expensive.  On-going.  Not something we can pretend doesn't exist or forget.  I wish it were talked about more openly, honestly.  Less taboo.  More help.  More understanding.  Less judgment.  He kept saying how sorry he is, and I told him I believe in new beginnings, starting over.  Trying harder.  And I keep trying to reassure him that what he does changes nothing in my love for him.  I admire him for trying again.  I may get frustrated and irritated and sad, but I love him, no matter what.

Three years ago I wrote:

Mental illness is real. Support needed. More talking, more loving communication. More understanding. If you don't know about someone in your family who is suffering, they might be hiding it too well. It is okay to talk about. Okay to admit. Not taboo. Real.

And we love you enough to deal. And accept. And love even more. You are mine. And I am yours.

Yes.

Friends with Cool Stuff

Suzanna wanted a "Rosie" picture!

Don't know what all this machine does, but it is heavy, huge, full of great steampunk parts.  Art projects...I told Mindy she could use that crank to open the fridge, or a closet door, or...They would love to sell it, but would give it away to anyone who can haul it away.  We would need a crane and a semi to get it home, so renting the equipment for $4,000.00 kind of negates the free part...

Nothing like a dinner invite with entertainment and a farm tour!

I think the barn is beautiful!  Symmetrical side stalls, and that green plastic roofing as window is beautiful!

Our Crabby Friend

 

Crowded, cold water, hot sand, fun!