Saying Good-Bye to Summer in
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
ABE
Have you been watching the convention? Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, a presidential election year is an exciting time in our great country.
My dream is of a place and a time
Where America will once again
Be seen as the last best hope of earth.
~ Abraham Lincoln
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Into the Wild Part II
Another brush with Mother Nature .. this time, a point at the end of a beach during low tide. Gaggles of kids armed with buckets and nets in search of sea life. Amid dozens of tidal pools, hermit crabs, blue crabs, horseshoe crabs and tiny fish. It was pure magic.
Tricia
Tricia
Monday, August 27, 2012
DP
Yet another August adventure ... this time it was 4 adults, 8 kids and a whole lot of rides!!! You guessed it ... Dorney Park!
Started off with the carousel. Grandparents braved the circular motion with all kids. me&t stood on the sidelines and reminisced about all the years bringing the kids in strollers and carrying them onto rides. This year we stood there buggy free :(
We ended up dividing in order to conquer. me&t took Thelma & Louise and little Billy. T&T took the bigs. The park is small enough that we would bump into each other and we all came together at the end for 45 minutes of nothing but little kid rides. It was a blast.
Here are a few highlights from our crew:
Started off with the carousel. Grandparents braved the circular motion with all kids. me&t stood on the sidelines and reminisced about all the years bringing the kids in strollers and carrying them onto rides. This year we stood there buggy free :(
We ended up dividing in order to conquer. me&t took Thelma & Louise and little Billy. T&T took the bigs. The park is small enough that we would bump into each other and we all came together at the end for 45 minutes of nothing but little kid rides. It was a blast.
Here are a few highlights from our crew:
* Billy wanting to go on no rides
* Emma & Kate going on medium size flume ride alone.
Asked the girls next to them in line to sit with E & K to
make sure they don't fall out of the log :)
* me&t spotting a Starbucks logo. We ran to the window
ready to order a skinny vanilla latte.
Blank stare when we learned they only serve coffee (wah, wah)
* Played the "guessing game". Asked the nice lady to guess
this t's age. Correct answer = 42 Her guess = 33
Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winner!!!
* The other t braving the little kid roller coast with little B.
Priceless!
* The park is "no smoking". We spotted (smelled) a smoker, flagged
down a worker and set him loose!
Tracy
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Into the Wild
I remember reading something about how our children have few, if any, opportunities to explore Mother Nature. They are too busy being shuffled from sport practices and music lessons to clubs and activities. Sadly, they are missing a connection with the world around them.
Well..it was high time for a creek walk. Seven eager children toting buckets and nets, two grandparents leading the charge, one t and a dog named Tripp (if seven kids weren't enough ;) Everyone was in the creek, walking, splashing, catching tadpoles and crayfish, laughing, smiling, and exploring Mother Nature, just like I hoped.
Tricia
PS remember how I said I was squeezing more memories into summer?? Still at it.
Well..it was high time for a creek walk. Seven eager children toting buckets and nets, two grandparents leading the charge, one t and a dog named Tripp (if seven kids weren't enough ;) Everyone was in the creek, walking, splashing, catching tadpoles and crayfish, laughing, smiling, and exploring Mother Nature, just like I hoped.
Tricia
PS remember how I said I was squeezing more memories into summer?? Still at it.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Swim Diana, Swim!
Between my children and the Olympics, it seems to be a summer of swimming. And it isn't over yet..
Diana Nyad, who turns 63 on Wednesday, attempted to be the first to swim between Cuba and Florida without a shark cage. And, this was her third attempt! As if that isn't impressive, she is an author, journalist, and an accomplished squash player. (And, while I am writing, I hear the news that Diana has abandoned her swim due to extreme exhaustion. She made it halfway.)
Inspirational may be too small of a word to describe Diana. While she failed to reach her goal, she showed us all the valuable lesson of failing and trying again and again. Diana's success lies in her storied life of pursuing her passions - swimming, writing and life itself.
Tricia
PS the beautiful book Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton is a collection of her stories about the sport that shaped her life. This little book is as beautiful to look at as it it to read. Check it out over here ---->
Monday, August 20, 2012
ALIKE
My crew cannot stop talking about how fun yesterday was. And seeing Grace (my niece and your oldest), it reminded me about something we circle back to often ... the similarities between me and Grace. As sisters, we describe ourselves as "Alike and Different". True. But it is funny that when Grace and I are together we often pause to ponder how alike she and I are:
* Same hair --- dark brown and stick straight (both style a traditional "bob")
* July birthdays so we are both astrological Cancers (yikes!)
* Both very indecisive
* Both a bit moody
* Both very smart :)
So I "get" Grace to a "t" --- no pun intended.
Just recently we were standing in line at the ice cream parlor looking at the menu. No surprise, Grace and I both chose the peanut butter, hot fudge sundae. The list goes on!
Tracy
* Same hair --- dark brown and stick straight (both style a traditional "bob")
* July birthdays so we are both astrological Cancers (yikes!)
* Both very indecisive
* Both a bit moody
* Both very smart :)
So I "get" Grace to a "t" --- no pun intended.
Just recently we were standing in line at the ice cream parlor looking at the menu. No surprise, Grace and I both chose the peanut butter, hot fudge sundae. The list goes on!
Tracy
99% of the time I sport my aviators too!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
A Super Sunday
Remember how I told you I was going to squeeze even more summer memories into August? Well, I am still working on it.. This Sunday the t's gathered for a day at the pool. There were seven kids, two husbands, piles of towels and dozens of goggles. Here is the skinny -- >
* there was a fierce ping pong match between the t's..three sets with lots of cheering from our kids. I won't tell you who won, but both t's were decent players. (Rio??)
* after working up a sweat playing ping pong (true!), the t's decided to take a dip in the pool. Same swimsuit top and almost the same swimsuit bottom. Navy of course. Embarrassing of course.
* best of all, at the end of a longggg day at the pool, Matthew asked if he could come to the pool every day. Now that's a memory.
Tricia
* there was a fierce ping pong match between the t's..three sets with lots of cheering from our kids. I won't tell you who won, but both t's were decent players. (Rio??)
* after working up a sweat playing ping pong (true!), the t's decided to take a dip in the pool. Same swimsuit top and almost the same swimsuit bottom. Navy of course. Embarrassing of course.
* best of all, at the end of a longggg day at the pool, Matthew asked if he could come to the pool every day. Now that's a memory.
Tricia
Friday, August 17, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
HISTORY
Here I go again but I can't help myself. Writing about the City of Easton.
Have you ever visited the canal exhibit at the Crayola Factory? It reminds you of a huge train display except with water and little boats to teach about canals. I've been there but I don't think I quite got it until last night.
Last night I visited the Hughe Moore National Canal Park in Easton, Pennsylvania. The site of a real canal! Fascinating. 6' deep water, a nice size wood boat and real mules. Here is what I learned about this piece of history right here in my backyard:
* Completed in 1834 and used to transport coal. Stayed operational until early 1930's.
* Connects to a much larger regional canal system and you could navigate all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
* The boats are connected by rope and pulled by mules who walk alongside on the towpath.
* Became an integral part of the industrial revolution in the United States.
* A horse + a donkey = a mule (who knew!)
Also located in the park is the Emrick Center which is the new National Canal Museum. Very well done with a great exhibit. If you are ever in the area, check it out. Or make a special trip. I hear they may be having some fun Halloween festivities.
Tracy
Have you ever visited the canal exhibit at the Crayola Factory? It reminds you of a huge train display except with water and little boats to teach about canals. I've been there but I don't think I quite got it until last night.
Last night I visited the Hughe Moore National Canal Park in Easton, Pennsylvania. The site of a real canal! Fascinating. 6' deep water, a nice size wood boat and real mules. Here is what I learned about this piece of history right here in my backyard:
* Completed in 1834 and used to transport coal. Stayed operational until early 1930's.
* Connects to a much larger regional canal system and you could navigate all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
* The boats are connected by rope and pulled by mules who walk alongside on the towpath.
* Became an integral part of the industrial revolution in the United States.
* A horse + a donkey = a mule (who knew!)
Also located in the park is the Emrick Center which is the new National Canal Museum. Very well done with a great exhibit. If you are ever in the area, check it out. Or make a special trip. I hear they may be having some fun Halloween festivities.
Tracy
Just a few sneak peak photos:
A view of the canal from the boat
The Lehigh River - running parallel to the canal
Do you see a mule?
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Great Adventure
I went to sleep away camp for one week during my childhood. The memories are vivid and rich. Swimming in the lake, sleeping under the stars, hiking through the deep woods and missing home. It was a great adventure for a little girl with memories for a lifetime.
Fast forward: I dropped off Grace for her first week of sleep away camp. She was all smiles..would she choose sailing, archery or deep water swimming as her activities? Who would bunk in her cabin? Would she miss home? While I miss her dearly, I know in my heart, this is a great adventure for my little girl with memories for her lifetime.
Tricia
Fast forward: I dropped off Grace for her first week of sleep away camp. She was all smiles..would she choose sailing, archery or deep water swimming as her activities? Who would bunk in her cabin? Would she miss home? While I miss her dearly, I know in my heart, this is a great adventure for my little girl with memories for her lifetime.
Tricia
Monday, August 13, 2012
Partay
Dear Sister,
Thank you for attending the cul-de-sac picnic for the first time. Truth be told it is usually held over the 4th of July when your team is busy celebrating many birthdays. This was our 7th annual picnic and it runs like a well oiled machine. No more pre-party meetings (although those are fun). New addition last year ... the ice luge. Wasn't sure if that was happening this year but it did and it was the late night hit. We even washed it down with water so the kids could do Gatorade shots. That's bad, right?
Also had some late night unexpected fireworks. The real kind. a.) We were sure the police would show up b.) We truly thought our landscaping was on fire (something was on fire). Nice.
We hope you can make it again next year!
Tracy
Thank you for attending the cul-de-sac picnic for the first time. Truth be told it is usually held over the 4th of July when your team is busy celebrating many birthdays. This was our 7th annual picnic and it runs like a well oiled machine. No more pre-party meetings (although those are fun). New addition last year ... the ice luge. Wasn't sure if that was happening this year but it did and it was the late night hit. We even washed it down with water so the kids could do Gatorade shots. That's bad, right?
Also had some late night unexpected fireworks. The real kind. a.) We were sure the police would show up b.) We truly thought our landscaping was on fire (something was on fire). Nice.
We hope you can make it again next year!
Tracy
Remnants of the Ice Luge!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
The Party Crashers
Dear Tracy,
Thank you for inviting us to your infamous "cul-de-sac" party - wait - I invited myself and my four kids. ;) It was a blast! Hot dogs, barbecue, kegs of beer, sangria and summer salads. Badminton, volleyball, horseshoes, and basketball. Whipped cream eating contest anyone? Honestly, it was just the dose of summer memories I was looking for as we hit mid-August. I can't wait to join the par-tay again next year..if I'm invited that is.
With love,
Tricia :)
Friday, August 10, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
THINGS
You got me thinking sister. I think I am more hoarder than collector. Hmm. But I'm trying my best to not end up on a reality show. I suppose I do have some small collections:
1. Wood letterpress letters. Remember when we were at the Brooklyn Flea and that crazy lady was all over the vendor with the wood letters. We raised an eyebrow thinking we have a ton of these at home.
2. Vintage jewelry. Recently organized my collection so it looks well curated as opposed to a pile of $1 junk jewelry at a garage sale.
3. Inexpensive art. I always go for the cheap piece that nobody else grabs because of a damaged or quirky frame. I have a small pile of "art" that still hasn't made it to the walls.
4. Bags. Purses, tote bags, clutches, vintage handbags, you name it. Also recently organized this stash and had a hard time thinning the pile.
5. Signs. I love signs, preferably an old sign. My collection is speckled throughout my house. I remember where I bought each one, who I was with when purchased and how much I paid.
Tracy
1. Wood letterpress letters. Remember when we were at the Brooklyn Flea and that crazy lady was all over the vendor with the wood letters. We raised an eyebrow thinking we have a ton of these at home.
2. Vintage jewelry. Recently organized my collection so it looks well curated as opposed to a pile of $1 junk jewelry at a garage sale.
3. Inexpensive art. I always go for the cheap piece that nobody else grabs because of a damaged or quirky frame. I have a small pile of "art" that still hasn't made it to the walls.
4. Bags. Purses, tote bags, clutches, vintage handbags, you name it. Also recently organized this stash and had a hard time thinning the pile.
5. Signs. I love signs, preferably an old sign. My collection is speckled throughout my house. I remember where I bought each one, who I was with when purchased and how much I paid.
Tracy
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Crazy about Collecting
Nothing to do with summer, but...
Recently, I read that collecting assists the soul. Are you a collector? I am. Hook, line and sinker. I collect boxes of all shapes and sizes - sterling silver is a favorite. There are paperweights tucked here, there and everywhere - mostly vintage and one with a photo of this t as baby with mom and dad. :) I adore glass inkwells and vessels. And, all around me, there are growing piles of books in all shapes and sizes. What do you collect?
Tricia
Recently, I read that collecting assists the soul. Are you a collector? I am. Hook, line and sinker. I collect boxes of all shapes and sizes - sterling silver is a favorite. There are paperweights tucked here, there and everywhere - mostly vintage and one with a photo of this t as baby with mom and dad. :) I adore glass inkwells and vessels. And, all around me, there are growing piles of books in all shapes and sizes. What do you collect?
Tricia
Monday, August 6, 2012
SLIDE
Like it or not the summer is winding down. I was outside this weekend doing some yard work and off in the distance was the sound of a marching band. I love that sound. It reminds me of growing up next to a park and hearing the marching bands practice every fall, every year. Ready or not football games, cheerleaders, marching bands and yes, school, are right around the corner.
Tracy
Tracy
Slip 'n Slide --- Classic Summertime Fun!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
This & That
Does your calendar say August too? Yikes ~ mine does. Where in the world did July go? With a finite number of days left in summer, it is crunch time for this t. Only a few precious weeks to squeeze in more summer memories. Plenty of time. No problem. In the meantime -->
1. A big summer memory: the pirate cruise. On almost any given day, William is decked out in pirate gear. The hat, an eye patch, a few tats, you get the idea. Needless to say, he was "all in" when we went on a pirate adventure this past weekend. (and, when the twenty "pirates" were searching the ship for the treasure map, one of the dads told his pirate daughter where the map was hidden. No joke.)
2. Grace is getting ready to head off for a week of sleep away camp. She is over-the-moon with anticipation and excitement. Open water swimming? Sailing? Archery? Freedom from three younger sibling and two old parents. (I suppose she will miss Tripp) I can't imagine not being in contact with her for almost seven days. Our family will feel off kilter without Grace being in our mix. Sigh. I know she will love it and, in my heart, I know I won't.
3. Tough time for the closet..the summer sales are tempting, but I am tired of summer fashion and fall (my favorite!) is on the horizon. On my radar are summer sale items that can be transitioned into fall. A cashmere sweater with short sleeves? I keep saying "no" because if it's cold enough for cashmere, I want long sleeves - but I may say "yes" this time. A little top to layer under a blazer and maybe a solid skirt. We'll see..
Tricia
1. A big summer memory: the pirate cruise. On almost any given day, William is decked out in pirate gear. The hat, an eye patch, a few tats, you get the idea. Needless to say, he was "all in" when we went on a pirate adventure this past weekend. (and, when the twenty "pirates" were searching the ship for the treasure map, one of the dads told his pirate daughter where the map was hidden. No joke.)
2. Grace is getting ready to head off for a week of sleep away camp. She is over-the-moon with anticipation and excitement. Open water swimming? Sailing? Archery? Freedom from three younger sibling and two old parents. (I suppose she will miss Tripp) I can't imagine not being in contact with her for almost seven days. Our family will feel off kilter without Grace being in our mix. Sigh. I know she will love it and, in my heart, I know I won't.
3. Tough time for the closet..the summer sales are tempting, but I am tired of summer fashion and fall (my favorite!) is on the horizon. On my radar are summer sale items that can be transitioned into fall. A cashmere sweater with short sleeves? I keep saying "no" because if it's cold enough for cashmere, I want long sleeves - but I may say "yes" this time. A little top to layer under a blazer and maybe a solid skirt. We'll see..
Tricia
