Summer's End

We had a Cousin Camp today at Kim's house to commemorate the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.  Yikes, where did the summer go?  It has been a busy, fun-filled 10 weeks and for once I'm not ready to ship the kids off to school.  As Ashley and I walked the halls of South Davis Jr. High at her back to school night, and felt the excitement brimming off of the kids, I realized how happy I am that she is going to this school for her 9th grade...it has a very positive vibe and the teachers were excited to have her again in their classes.  I sense and anticipate great things from this school year.  

Madi is also on the brink of an exciting year:  senior year of high school, college applications, an internship using her CNA and new job at The Legacy House.  We both got jobs at the same retirement home (although we will be working different shifts), and we begin our training next week.  It's been a laid back summer with some fun trips, delicious watermelon (I personally have eaten at least five on my own), good books, Ragnar/Dessert News running events, long bike rides, leisurely walks with Jesse, movie marathons and BBQ cookouts.   But now it's back to a schedule--work and school--and the shortened days of autumn and winter.  The light is already changing, and soon the crispness will be in the air, signalling the change of seasons.  Ahh, the lazy dog days of summer....I will miss you!

A Top 10 List

Top 10 Things I loved about New York

10.  The All American Buffet Breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria.

I chose to add this option when I booked the room, and I am so glad I did!  I just assumed it would be a mamby bamby continental breakfast, but it was a full on Little America type of breakfast buffet---omelets prepared to you personal specification by a chef, fresh fruits, incredible Blitzes and other pastries, oatmeal with a huge variety of add-ins, meats and cheese, yogurt bar, Belgium waffles and toppings, etc.  All this came with a very attentive, friendly and happy serving staff.

9.  Native New Yorkers who were so willing to help us out with the metro.

I did pretty well navigating the subway, but the few times I looked confused or needed to clarify a question, I was always amazed at how I could ask anyone and they would rattle off which metro location or stop or train we would need to take to get to were we wanted to go.  There were even a few times that someone volunteered to help when they could tell we weren't sure of what to do.  I was especially impressed by this, since I am not sure if I could tell someone how to get anywhere in Salt Lake...

8.  Bagels and cream cheese from a street vendor.

7.  Going for a morning run and discovering that the city had blocked off traffic from Park Ave so that all runners and bikers had a straight, unhindered path.  Awesome.

The city does this on certain Saturdays in the summer, and I just happen to be there on the right Saturday.  I ran down Park Ave towards Central Park, and then through Central Park up to the Met on 83rd and back to the hotel...it was a great 4 miler, and I was running with lots of other bikers and runners.  I loved it.

6.  The nice gentleman who gave us an impromptu tour of Brooklyn Heights.

We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which was pretty cool, but when we didn't get off when we should have, we ended up walking a lot farther then we intended too.  We really wanted to eat at Grimaldi's, but we had a member of our party with foot problems developing, and we were a little lost.  The nice gentlemen could tell we were unsure of which direction to go, and he began to explain what we needed to do, and then he said, "You know, I'm heading in that direction anyway, so I will just walk with you and make sure you get to where you want to go."  He then proceeded to tell us about the history of Brooklyn Heights and took us past the Plymouth church, where the the Pastor Beecher (abolitionist and brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe) invited Abraham Lincoln to speak and campaign.

5.  Our hotel and room (the Waldorf Astoria)

We scored on this one.  The hotel and staff were wonderful and our room was beautiful and comfortable.

4.  Turning the corner of Exchange Place and seeing the New York Stock Exchange among the canyon of tall buildings...BAM!  There it is.

3.  Wicked!  On Broadway! At the Gershwin Theater!

2.  Meeting up with Liz and her mom.  Liz always make us happy.

1. Being with all my girls:  Kelsey, Markelle, Madeleine and Ashley!

1:20 AM

I started this pillow tonight at about 10:00 p.m. and my brain has been taxed to the limit from trying to figure out how to put the iron-on transfer onto the muslin, piece together the rest of the fabric, sew the decorative embellishment, and then get the picture/muslin piece centered while making the rest of the fabric fit the pillow form nice and snug.  I am not a seamstress, and I did not use a pattern, so there was some unpicking of the stitches (as Markelle would say) being done.  I know my brain is fried because it is now 1:20 a.m. and I cannot figure out how to turn the picture (of pillow, shown above)  around.  My dog is sleeping beside me (and breathing a little heavy, I might add), but my brain won't shut down.  I think I will have to pull out the scriptures and read some of the fun passages from 2 Nephi...you've got to love those Isaiah chapters!