I cannot wrap my head around the fact that it's the end of August!
In a couple of weeks, the autumn season will be here and next week those of us who are teachers and living in the Northeast, will head back to our classrooms!
For now, let's pause and reflect back on the week by sharing FIVE of our FAVES! We do this to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Join in by heading to this site to learn more about it!
Here are the highlights of the last 2 weeks...not in order.....
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Claire's new dorm for 2018/2019
at UNH/Durham |
- BACK TO COLLEGE! Our drive to and from New England went very well. Claire drove her own car, packed with stuff, to Dave's parents where we met her with Dave's car packed with stuff. They live south of Boston. We spent the night, then last Thursday, headed up to NH to move her into her new dorm. It's an older building than the honors dorm where she lived last year but it's actually nicer. A cozy feeling with beautifully carpeted hallways, a huge lounge on the ground floor with a very nice kitchen and laundry room. Her room is on the 4th floor just to the right of the picture. It's a co-ed dorm with separate bathrooms and we got to meet her RA, a guy she knew from her dorm last year! She moved in 3 days early as she was on the team to help the freshmen move in the next day. What a blessing it was because there were only a couple kids moving into the dorm that morning! So super easy getting the elevator and then we took her out to lunch. We followed lunch up with a walk to this place and it was wonderful! All of the workers are volunteers and proceeds go towards one of our fave causes. Then we said "see you in October" (when we go up to visit) as she had a work meeting at 2 pm. It was a wonderful send-off and she's thrilled to be back at UNH.
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Claire and I at the Freedom Cafe
with our cold brew coffee |
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| One last hug from Daddy |
- DAY DATE: Since Dave and I spent one more night,after leaving NH, last Thursday at his parents, we then left Friday morning to go to this place! It's been on our bucket list ever since we were newlyweds but for some reason we just never stopped there! It's very similar to Plimoth Plantation which of course we've been to as a family many times, but it's setting is the mid-1800s. It was so much fun. Here are a few of our fave photos from that day. I'm thankful we got to have this time together:
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| teas and spices in the General Store |
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| This guy was happy to pose for the camera! |
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| the River Boat on the Village Pond |
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| the Stagecoach |
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| some of the women working in the herb garden |
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the Blacksmith shop
these actors were fantastic! |
- GIRLS LAKE DAY! My youngest sister Jill and her 2 daughters Emma (age 15) and Mady (age 10) and Claire and I had our annual Girls Day at the Lake the Monday before we moved Claire back to NH. Oh what a great day! Lake George is just beautiful on a warm day and the beach we chose is one of our favorites. We followed up some swim time with a walk over to this ice cream place where we chose the non-dairy ice cream. SOOO good. We love making memories with these girls. Sadly, my oldest girl had to work. But the rest of us savored every moment of that day.
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| Claire with her 2 younger cousins Emma & Mady |
- BONFIRE EVENINGS: Before we took Claire back, there was an evening where the weather was just perfect for a bonfire so she and I made one and we sat out there and chatted for a couple of hours. Then last Saturday evening, it was just Dave and I here so we made a fire and enjoyed a lovely evening under the stars. He went in early but I lingered until all the wood was burnt. I'm thankful for relaxing evenings outside.
- HOME PROJECTS: since I'm still on vacation and this week Dave had to work, I had a staycation! I did a couple of home improvement projects I've been wanting to get to but teaching summer school and rainy weekends the beginning of the month hindered those plans. Finally I had 3 free days to get caught up: I chose a bright blue to contrast with our colonial blue siding and painted the front door (previously it was white to match the windows and garage). Then I painted the same color on the side garage door and touched up the little milk jug I have sunflowers in. I also painted our kitchen bench the same barn red that's on the kitchen walls and I touched up the side kitchen door and step with a creme brulee color...kind of like a very light coffee color. Everything came out great! Just as I was lamenting about what to do for lunch on Tuesday, my dear friend and spiritual mentor Monica called me and invited me to meet her at our fave diner in town! LOVED it. I also took one day (Wednesday...a VERY high heat and humidity day) to go to the southern Adirondacks to this lake and just relax in my lounge chair with some books and just read and watch the boats. What fun it was. I then met my sister Hope (who lives about 15 minutes from the lake) for ice cream and conversation. It was a lovely day. I'm thankful to have the house all ready for the new season, and to be somewhat caught up on paperwork, bills, lunch dates with friends, etc.
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| my newly painted door |
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CAROGA LAKE
Southern Adirondacks |
That wraps up my last couple of weeks.
What things made your favorites list this week? what are you most grateful for this week?? And...have you got a child in college??
7 comments:
It sounds as if everything is going smoothly there, Faith. I love the color that you chose for your front door. That would definitely cheer me right up.
Your day at the lake reading and watching the boats and then having ice cream and conversation with your sister sounds like such a relaxing day.
How fun that your friend and mentor Monica called and invited you to lunch just when you were trying to decide what to do.! I love it when things like that happen!
I'm so glad the trip to Claire's college went well and she's settling in ok. Your date sounds like a lot of fun! As does the girls lake day. Love your door color! What a feeling of satisfaction to start school with those things done. What fun that your mentor called just when you were deciding about lunch. And it's great you got some time with your sister as well.
How nice to have some time at home to get yourself organised and also relaxed ready for the start of the new school year. Well done you. Have a good weekend.
You chose a beautiful blue for your door! A new year for your daughter! It must be exciting beginning a new adventure and moving into a new dorm! Lovely that you and hour husband were able to spend some time together.
Love the color of the door. It's such a nice inviting look. Love when front doors stand out. I need to do mine but am bogged down in color choices. It really needs it as the color we have on there now just doesn't go anymore now that we've changed the color of the house. It was nice when the house was white but very boring now. LOL.
So glad you got that traditional lake day in before Claire left and happy that your trip to take her back was safe, productive and fun.
Colour on front doors is so appealing and the blue you choose for your door, pops with friendliness and cheer.
So glad to hear that Claire's move went without a hitch. Brick buildings look so royal to me. How nice that this year's accommodations is better than last year's.
I love reading about the trips you take and the photos you post. I am a low maintenance, vicarious traveler.
I emailed you the lemon cucumber recipe I used. Let me know how you tweak it.
Have a great week.
You had a lovely week (or two). It was a good mix of down time, friend time, family time and adventure time.
I love visiting those reenactment villages. (I used to work as a spinner in the Pioneer village in the PNW state and county fairs. It was great fun.)
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