A Hoot and a Holler

Oops!

I didn't mean to fall off the face of the earth like that!  I have been pretty busy.  We spent spring break in Vermont.  My husband and I had not been there before.  Who would have thought.  Only six hours away from the city!  We love it.  It was crazy weather.  I was sunny and 65 but there was still snow on the ground.  People were skiing in shorts!  I remember getting out of the car the first night we were there and saying "I can smell nature".  Something I don't get a lot of in Brooklyn.  I makes me appreciate it so much more.

 

It was nice to be able to let my kids play in safe dirt.  To sit outside and hear birds without cars and city noises.

 

To play in the snow without a coat on.
 

A favorite for my girls?  Of course, The Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Museum.

 

We payed our respects to all the flavors that "didn't make it".  I looked for an old friend, Kaberry Kaboom.  You know, the one with Pop Rocks in it.  She was now where to be found. 
 

What do you do in a car for a total of 12 hours with your kids?  Knit one of these. It's Vermont, everybody knits.   It's made of a beautiful grey wool.  I used big fat needles and did a simple garter stitch.  So that I would not have to look while I was knitting.  

         

 

The Catskills

It rained most of the day on Saturday but it was beautiful on Sunday so we took advantage of it.  We spent as much time enjoying the fall leaves as we could.

My older daughter and I finally found our dream house. I love tree houses! Especially the old ones that have been abandoned.  It was placed in an beautiful tree.  There was a big sign in front of it that said "Keep Out"! Of course that just made it more intriguing and oh soooooo mysterious!  I love it!   It's almost creepy looking.  We decided that we should do just as we were instructed and did not dare climb the creaky old stairs. 

We had such a lovely time.  It came with a few "interesting" discoveries!  They will make their appearance soon!

On another note,  I'VE BEEN TAGGED by the lovely Heather !  Does that mean that someone actually reads this blog?  

Ten Years ago I...

-Was a "newly wed"

-Was finishing college.

-Was less cynical and a bit more care free.

-Weighed a LOT less.

-Slept in on the weekends.

5 Things On Todays "To Do" list

-Laundry

-Halloween costumes

-vacuum/ mop

-Musical Theater class (for my daughter)

-Buy crackers for pre-K snack

(I really need to get a life)

Snacks I Enjoy

-Edamame

-Trader Joes Chocolate "Kitty Cookies"

-Granola

-Baked Lays

-Kashi chocolate chip cookies

5 Places I've Lived (starting from birth)

-Simi Valley California

-Vancouver Washington

-Utah

-Manhattan (Upper East Side, Hells Kitchen, Greenwich Village, Upper West Side)

-Brooklyn

5 Jobs I've Had-

-College "Counselor" for students with disabilities.

-Social worker/Case worker at Port Authority Bus terminal social services.

-Social worker/Case worker at Bellevue Hospital adult Psychiatric unit

-Crisis intervention counselor at Covenant House Nine Line

-Nanny (while in school).

People I Tag

my little loves

Raven Hill

Ellie Richellie

Ok, back to that laundry!

Destination 2: Washington

We spent a week playing with cousins in the Portland area.  The kids played in a YARD!  A real YARD!  Something that is such a novelty in New York City.  I was very tired and pretty much useless.  More on that later.  I'm just glad they had each other. (cause they didn't have me:)  I just sat there and embroidered and made sure they were safe. 

 

They played in this little pool for over three hours one day. 

This is the local playground.  I love the how green the North West is even in the middle of summer. 

These two are officially best friends.  I overheard them conspiring to become room mates when they get older and "never have to listen to our parents again".

This makes me smile! 

I have been so busy lately.  I just finished a HUGE street fair in Brooklyn last week and I am still recovering.  It seems as though I have lost my blogging "mojo".  I'm sure I will get it back because I miss it.  I think things will slow down for a bit.  I have a list of sewing project I want to do for myself.  Not to sell.  Not to give away.  Just for me!  Hopefully I will have something to show in the next few days.

Fire Island

A two day trip.  Just the two of us.  First, the bus.  Then two trains.  Then shuttle to the ferry.  Then a short ferry ride to a quiet little beach town.

First stop waffles and OJ for lunch.

A little sea shell shop was set up on the side of the road. 

I don't know the name of these flowers but the  butterflies LOVED them.    They were everywhere!

A warm but overcast day at the beach.

A mouth full of salt water.

A few sand castles.

An $8.00 smoothie.

That night consisted of dinner overlooking the water.  Movies in bed. And a few phone calls to little sister.  We woke up the next day ready to do it all over again.

We spotted this little guy struttin down the street like he owns the place.  Not something we see much of in New York.

Another ferry ride, a shuttle, two trains and a car service and we were home safe and sound. Some much needed special bonding time with my girl.

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful".

Another favorite in Mississippi!

Oh! How flattered I am that you are going to town with your little camera.


Good Lord above I'm jaw dropping!

My hair is like a buttered biscuit.

Ah bliss! Just another day of me and my perfectly chiseled jaw out on the pasture.  When I am  done posing for you  you must run and fetch a quill and ink.  My beauty is the sort which must be forever preserved in the eternal beauty of a sonnet.

OK!  It's late and I am getting really stupid.  Good night!

A Friends Once Told Me "Fishing Is Boring Unless You Catch An Acutal Fish...Then It's Disgusting."

One of the hi lights of our trip was going to the pond and fishing.  The crickets were just as big of a hit as the catfish we didn't catch.
Sorry little guys. 

We waited patiently.

But nobody was hungry.

Then things got a little tangled up,,,

Fishing takes a  lot of patience.  Something my little New Yorkers need to work on.

Ah tu hell with it!  Let's just throw in a bunch of stinky fish food and call it a day!

Who Say's catfish aren't cute?

We love our GG (Great Grandma)

I mentioned earlier that we also spent a few days in Arkansas with my husbands grandmother.  She is one of the warmest people I know.  I instantly feel at home around her. She has a wonderful southern accent. We actually have a lot in common. We both love knitting, sewing and creating things for the people we love.  My family and I have been the lucky recipients of her her beautiful "handiwork" as she calls it.  This time we didn't really get a chance to do much knitting but we did a lot of eating.  One day while we were there she apologized for taking off for an hour. She had an appointment with her "beauty operator."  I don't think you can see it but her nails are always manicured. I love it! I hope that I take care of myself that way when I am in my eighty's.  Maybe I will get it together by then.  My husband is so lucky to still have his grandmothers. We had ANOTHER birthday party for my daughter with her.  It was the pinkest cake I have ever seen in my life.

Another treat was the weather.  It was actually warm enough to play in the water. 

This is the piece of chicken fried steak that my husband ate.  It was massive!  I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it.  There was a table of "gentleman" sitting near us that told us they were betting on whether or not he could eat it all.  I thought he would be sick afterward but he claims that he felt "refreshed".  I don't know where he puts it.  I ordered salad...but still gained 8lbs! 


Its 11:50 pm and I need to go to bed.  I have more Mississippi adventures to share tomorrow.  I am pretty busy getting ready for a baby shower this weekend, and craft fair next weekend and my four year old wants to know when her "home birthday party" will be. I also have a street fair  on May 18th. Just call me the "bionic" woman.

Em-eye-ess-ess-eye-ess-ess-eye-pee-pee-eye!

What a great trip!  I have a lot to share!  This is a trip we have made several times and it is one of our favorite places to go.  We always have such a great time visiting my husbands aunt, uncle, cousins and grandmother.  Walnut Mississippi is a small town with a population of about 800.  It's quiet, it's rural, it's peaceful, it's beautiful, and it's just what we needed.  I will be posting this week about our adventures.  My little one turned four while we were there and had the privilege of celebrating her birthday with great aunt, great uncle, and two of her great grandmothers!  What a lucky little girl she is.  She was tickled pink and spoiled rotten. 

OK!  About this cake!  It is a chocolate "Ding Dong" cake.  It is absolutely the most evil thing ever put in front of me and I loved every morsel of it!  Let's see if we can get Aunt "L" to be so kind as to share the recipe.  This women is such a great cook!  My husband and I gained 8lbs each in 9 days!  That's right.  16lbs between the two of us!  Just lovely!  I'll let you know how long it takes me to take it off (like you care)I am typing this out loud to make sure these pounds do not linger.
These are just a few pictures of the wonderful family party that was thrown for her.  It was so nice to spend a birthday with family.  We don't get that very often since we are spread all over the country from each other. We also went to Arkansas and Had another party with her other great grandma (pictures to come). It's 11:43 and if I don't go to bed I will not be a very kind person tomorrow. 

Cousin Camp 2007-Last Stop-Utah

At the end of our trip we decided at the last minute to stop in Utah to visit my "older" sister and her family!  It was so fun to see three blonde haired, blue eyed, sweet little girls enjoy each other so much.  They played from the moment they woke up till their head hit the pillow.

My sister and her husband just bought their first house.  It's so pretty and I am absolutely jealous.  So much space it's just not fair!  They have three floors, light pouring in the windows, hardwood floors, and  a sweet little yard that open up to a huge community area with a playground and lot's of children for my niece to play with.

The kids had a great time at the local petting                      
Zoo.

Chillin with Gordalini.                                       
                Rapunzel Rapunzel!  Let down your hair.  So that I may climb without a stair!

   Mirror Mirror on the wall!  Who's the fairest of them all!
Work it kitty!  Work it!
OK, I did it.  I'm finished!  Vacation documentation is officially finished!  I'm sure your as happy as I am. 

2007 Revisited Part two-A Destination Wedding

Some of our dearest friends decided to tie the knot this summer after TEN YEARS of dating!  They  had their wedding in the Dominican Republic at a beautiful resort.  My husband and I love to travel! We haven't really done the all inclusive resort or cruise thing before. We usually like to do our own thing but at this point in my life, the thought of laying around a fancy resort and letting other people wait on me hand and foot sounded just fine.  The trip was amazing!  The wedding was beautiful!  The flower girls did their job (they had been practicing since February), Their parent's gushed.  I have to say, it was probably the most beautiful wedding we have ever been to (including our own).  It was on the beach next to the water. Everyone was barefoot (even the bride).  They both looked soooo relaxed and happy.  How many grooms get to go deep sea fishing the day of their wedding?  The only thing wrong with this trip was that we didn't stay long enough.x