summer list...

Well, here it is so far...our summer list!!
On the left, are sticky notes that we would still like to accomplish together.  On the right, are things that we have done already!  What an exciting summer it has been!!

I keep a photo of our lists from every summer, so that we can look back & remember the fun things we did with one another.  Next week, we're off to the Cape for one more week.  We're planning on going on a whale watch - that should be fun!  When we come home, we need to find a cool night to sleep outside in our new tent.  Camping in our backyard is on our "not done" list....and Michael keeps reminding us of that!  Enjoy the month of August ~ I'm sure it's going to fly by!!!

tailgating with a chef...

Have you ever tailgated before a concert or game?  Sean & I usually tailgate at least once each summer...we usually choose a concert to go to for our anniversary, and this summer we saw Tim McGraw (for the 3rd time).  It was a fabulous concert, but the food before & after the concert was to die for!!

We always bring our grill, and a cooler full of amazing treats from the kitchen!  We started our "picnic" with assorted cheese & crackers, followed by tomato~basil~mozzarella salad drizzled with balsamic, couscous vegetable salad, and lemon grilled shrimp.  We had many compliments from those around us, unfortunately for them, I did not leave any leftovers to share!  We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating our 12th anniversary! 

summer dessert

My husband is the chef in our family ~ I do not try to compete with his kitchen skills!  The funny things is, he has never considered himself to be a fabulous dessert or pastry chef.  This summer has opened the door to many new possibilities for us...and his desserts are one of those doors that is swinging wide open!

He made a delicious lemon pie, and topped it with Nana's blueberry sauce (one of our summer recipes).  Mmm, mmmmmm....the tangy taste of the lemon, combined with the sweetness of the blueberries made this dessert a wonderful way to end the night.  Yum!

more blueberries

Today, we washed and cooked more blueberries, to make Nana's blueberry sauce!  It was too hot today to be outside, so we washed & boiled our canning jars, made a few more batches of homemade blueberry sauce (the recipe is posted to the left...), and created some labels for our sauce as well. 
Here's to finding some family bonding time....over food!! 

summer suppers~

I love dinner in the summer ~ so easy to stop by a local fruit & veggie stand, scoop up some fresh produce, and have dinner in no time!

We visited a farmer who lives just around the corner, bought some corn, tomatoes, plums, and squash.  We had chicken marinading at home, grilled it up quick, and put together a delicious salad for supper - yum!!

Our summer salad included:  

Grilled chicken, tomatoes, hearts of romaine, Caesar dressing, and Parmesan cheese to top it all off.  Summer is my favorite time of year for many reasons...but I also love the light & easy dinners that can be made! 

Mmmm, mmm....blueberry picking~

We picked as many blueberries as we could, in about one hour.  The hot, summer sunshine was beating down on us, but we had a goal in sight - blueberry muffins, and homemade blueberry sauce to drizzle over our ice cream!

Michael kept ducking out of the sun, & into any shade he could find.  He was also sneaking as many blueberries into his mouth, as he was putting in the bucket!  Yum!!

Don't forget to check out our Sweet Summer Recipes for blueberries that we added yesterday!  Enjoy!!

new summer recipes posted...Yum!

If you LOVE blueberries, we've got two sweet recipes for you!!  To the left, check out our newly posted Sweet Summer Recipes!  Enjoy, and share with your family...happy summer!  

~

Soon, I'll post pictures of our blueberry picking from this past weekend. 

our anniversary~

12 years ago today...Sean & I were married!  It was a very hot day, just like today!  I'll never forget my mom & dad having the air conditioners going in the house for my bridesmaids & I to get dressed, and when the photographer called us outside for pictures in their gardens, we thought we might melt!  Everything turned out beautifully, and twelve years later, I can say I'd do it all again!!  We are blessed...xoxoxo

science class...or church?

Yikes!!  This is what welcomed us into church last weekend...it stopped everyone in their tracks, to say the least.  My 5 year old, Michael, didn't want to go in to church...he would have preferred to just hang around outside & wait until this bug flew away.

I took my camera out, and snapped his (the bugs) photo, and convinced Michael that we could look the bug up at home in his field guide book of insects.  Needless to say, when we left church, our winged friend was still there.  When we got home, Michael took out his bug book, and found our friend!  This is the Eastern Dobsonfly ~ crazy, huh?!  My little bug man discovered him, and was so proud!  They live around here in rivers, and streams...he must have flown away to find his mate.

Hope you learned a little something from this bug lesson!  Enjoy the week everyone!!  :)

another summer fun activity - accomplished!!

We ventured to the Boston Aquarium, and what a wonderful adventure it was!  We visited many parts of the aquarium twice!!  Michael picked up starfish, hermit crab, and mussels...

He even got to touch a ray as it swam by, in the new ray & shark tank!  He didn't get to touch a hammerhead shark - they never swam quite close enough....but just having them close to his hands was cool!

The look on Michael's face while viewing the sharks, turtles, penguins & other ocean creatures was worth every penny of our trip.  And, to top it all off, I got in for free with my MTA (Mass. Teacher's Assoc.) card!!  That was a nice bonus!  ;)

strawberry picking...

We visited a local farm to go strawberry picking!

We had so much fun...

We snacked on a few fresh strawberries,

We filled our quart containers heaping full...

And, went home to make fresh baked biscuits for strawberry shortcake!!

What better way to spend a summer day...

and the end result was delicious!

Look at this cool old tractor!  Guess who climbed on board before we left?  Yep, my Michael did!  

What little boy wouldn't want to sit behind the wheel?!!

summer time

And...we're off!  On our way to enjoy another fun-filled adventure on our summer list!  I'll share soon....:) Happy Monday!!!

wedding bells~

Here's a little peek at some of the other creative displays at my brother's wedding this past weekend...Did I mention what an incredible time was had by all?!!  It was an amazing day!

First, came the set up ~ seashells for place cards, centerpieces, gift table...

Flip flops for dancing the night away, when feet are tired of heels...

My Mom's bouquet was the sweetest thing...look at it against the shade of purple that she wore!!

These beach themed tea lite holders were adorable, too.  And, looked amazing lit up at night...

Italian cookies, a sundae bar, and coffee bar ended the evening, along with dancing, and mingling under the tent and out on the lawn. 

 The festivities ended with a fireworks display over the lake!  Perfect ending for the perfect day!!!

xoxo J&K

something old...

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...
           What an amazing weekend with family!  From decorating, to making Italian cookies, to writing on sand dollars for place cards, my brother's wedding was perfect ~ from pinning on the boutonnieres, to the firework finale!!  A memorable night was had by all!

Here's one picture, just to peek your interest....as soon as more are uploaded, I'll share!
Here's to the happy couple~ love you J&K!!  xoxo

Pamet

Cannot wait to roam this beach again soon, collect a pail full of beach rocks to add to our gardens, and of course a few rocks to write some quotes on...

Last time we were at this beach...

1. we enjoyed a picnic lunch (lunch always tastes better at the beach)
2. we found a few jellyfish
3. some of us took a nap :)
4. the sun was shining brightly
5. Michael & I walked (almost) to the inlet opening (maybe this year his little legs will make it all the way)
6. we brought home lots of beautiful beach stones (I'm using them to finish the trim around our pellet stove)
7. I threw a rock in the ocean for Grandpa xoxo
8. We thoroughly enjoyed out time together!!!

we rehearsed...

We rehearsed for my brother's upcoming wedding - what a wonderful day together!  The rain stopped just long enough for us to rehearse outside, walk through the lawn & make our way to the deck overlooking the lake that J&K will be married by.  We then headed to a luncheon together - ate, drank, and enjoyed the decorations that mom created. 

And, we parted with the most delicious cupcake - favors ever!  Mmmm...

Can't wait to celebrate the happy couple's wedding day!!!

a new find...

I found these great, handmade necklaces on the web, and ordered them for teacher gifts this year ~ and got one for myself too!  Check out Anne Franklin Designs...her necklaces are adorable, inexpensive, and she's a former school teacher!

http://www.annefranklindesigns.com/shop.php

 Have fun exploring Anne's necklaces!! :) 

You make me happy...when skies are gray...

 Every night before bed, after our prayers are said, I sing "You are My Sunshine" to Michael.  This necklace is from Lisa Leonard's website ~ I think it would be perfect for me, don't you think!?  He certainly makes me happy, even when skies are gray!

Check out her shop site, and her blog...she makes incredible jewelry!!

 http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/

  My little boy goes to Kindergarten Open House today!  Six years ago this month, I found out I was pregnant ~ the most wonderful experience of my life!  And now, he's off to kindergarten (after we enjoy the summer together).  He's going today with his amazing grandfather, that means the world to him.  I hope they have a fun morning together!!

thoughts of summer...

 

My preschooler is done with school, he has one more soccer game for the summer, and the end of the school year is certainly in sight for me too!  Where has the time gone??  Do you ever feel as though you need to stop & smell the roses (or the pansies - my roses aren't blooming quite yet).  We're working on our summer list, like we've done for the past 2 years...when we've got it posted in our home, I'll show it to you.  We got the idea from friends of ours a few years ago.  So far, our list looks like this...

1.  The Aquarium

2. A visit to Cape Cod (after Daddy's surgery)

3. Uncle Johnny's Wedding (& being the ring bearer, of course)

4. Finishing my first childrens' book

5. A few boat rides

6. Going to the drive-in

7. Ice cream for supper (we do this once every summer)

8. Camping in the backyard in our new tent!

9. "Free ~ Fun" days, with some friends

10.....more to come...

Bring on summer!!!

hobbies~

Here's a new little hobby of mine...I love to give these cards as gifts!  When I see a sale on ordering prints, I order a bunch of my seascape photographs, crop them to fit some cute little note cards, and off they go to a friend or relative.  These are put aside for a friend's birthday that I missed ~ she'll be getting these soon!!  ;)

It's June!!

June, at last!!  June 1st came in with a bang, literally.  We experienced some of the worst weather in a long time here in Massachusetts yesterday.
Our herbs are in, and our veggie garden is planted.  School is wrapping up for the year, our calendars are getting busier & busier, and I'm looking forward to spending summer vacation at home with family!  Here's to JUNE!!!

feels like Monday...

It sure feels like a Monday, but what a wonderful Loooooooong weekend it was!!  These flowers just popped open in my yard ~ welcome summer!  I know it's not officially summer yet, but it sure feels like it!  Here's to the memories made this past weekend:  working in Mom & Dad's yard, opening the pool, Michael running through the sprinkler (for the first time in '11), fixing the shed roof (thanks to Dad), watching the parade with friends :), having a yummy cookout (on Dad's new grill), and Michael being the "first one in the pool" ~ brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Our flag

Our Memorial Day tradition, since living in our home, has been to step out onto our front lawn to watch the parade pass by.  This year, Michael was really excited about it, and was talking about it days before.  When we woke up Monday morning, it began to rain, & even thunder a little.  By 10:30, the rain had passed, the thunder rolled away, and our flags were out with us on the lawn.  Our little town parade is a pretty quick one, but that certainly doesn't take away from its meaning.  We ventured up to the center of town to see all the little white crosses standing on the town common, and with the sun shining down on us, we spoke about their purpose.   ~What a wonderful Memorial Day!!

Michael & William

strength!!!

memories~

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever." ~Alfred Lord Tennyson

I receive Real Simple magazine's Daily Thought, and this was yesterday's...makes me think of some very special people in my life who helped to make me who I am today!

Hello again Monday...

Monday's come so quickly it seems! 
Hello rain drops, hello mug of coffee, hello school lunches & laying out clothes~

 We had a great family weekend at the beach ~ very relaxing!  Now to upload & order these beach pictures, before my little boy gets any older.  Happy Monday everyone!!!

the countdown...

It's hard to believe my little man is almost out of preschool!  He LOVES that his summer vacation begins after 6 more school days - and mine is a bit further away than that.  We made a paper chain tonight...Michael can't wait to rip off a loop tomorrow afternoon!  Here's to childhood, & the little things that excite my son!!! xo

May showers bring June flowers???

Here's hoping that this week's rain brings lots of life to our flowers & veggie gardens!  These tulips remind me of sunshine ~ which we are lacking this week.  Off to dream land I go, dreaming of sunny days ahead!!

Happy times...

I love letting kids paint with their feet & hands!  Have you ever looked at a child's expression when they first begin to smear the paint around?  Priceless...
I framed a print that I made with my son when he was about one, so I decided to do the same for my brother & sister in law.  I had such a great time painting with my nephew, and then tubbying him to get the paint out!:)

just beachy...

Along with my other summer time decorations, I just put out this beautiful mirror outlined with beach glass.  Isn't it just amazing!  My mom made one for me (she's the best), as she was making these for my brother's upcoming rehearsal dinner.  These are the centerpieces!  I think I need one more candle - I like things to be in 3's.  A little quirk of mine...
The simple things in life make me happy ~ candles lit on a rainy night, listening to my son explain his day at school, my flowers growing in the window box, and newly planted grass seeds sprouting!!

decorating

Do you feel inspired when you decorate for a new season?  It was such a rainy day here today, that I decided to tackle the dining room, & move around my hutch and plates.  I ended up decorating with SUMMER in mind!  Seashells, beach stones, sand, and my summer dishes came out ~ I love it, and am sooooo ready for summer weather.  This was my happy place today!!

I also put together this starfish tree.  I've had these branches in my dining room since February, when I made a Valentine tree.  I love the branches so much, that I just keep changing their theme!

trying times...

I have not posted anything in a while...I can tell my mind has been elsewhere!  We have had even more trying times in the past couple of weeks, and I don't usually crawl under a rock, but this time I did!  Well, it's about time to crawl out & enjoy the simple things in life to the fullest!!!  There is a new day dawning ~ even if it's supposed to rain for a week!  xoxo