My Nephews

My awesome, funny nephews.

Three readerly brothers...

and one little, smiley guy, still figuring out the reading thing.

My Family

I want to show some family photo love...

My Parents

My Siblings

Technically there are lots more amazing people in the family now, but way back when, it was "just" the nine of us. :)

Some things that have made me smile...

Isn't this bowl of cherry tomatoes beautiful?



For over a year I've been looking for a cabinet or shelf to fit in a narrow space next to my stove--I found this vintage cabinet at the thrift store for $10 and it fits perfectly! Hurray for more storage space.



Although I didn't really need a new purse, I scored this awesome green one for under $4 at the thrift store! I was pretty excited, as I recently passed up a purse at Kohl's I really liked because I couldn't justify spending $15 on myself.

July Reading

July was a light reading month. I can't pin-point why, but I just didn't get through much in general, or much of great consequence. I re-read The Book Thief, which is a marvelous book and well worth reading at least once. And I listened to Anne of Avonlea. (I'm hoping to work my way through the series throughout the rest of this year.)

In place of a brief book review, I want to give you two quotes from my reading this month. Beautifully written sentences make me happy.

My few English words were blades of grass plucked from a meadow. To learn a new language would be like mowing that meadow blade by blade. (from When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt)

She felt the stirring of creative impulse, but didn't act on it right away; she must coax it from its hiding place, like a fox from its den. (from The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri)


My Completed List:

Mrs. Pollifax on Safari by Dorothy Gilman
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (audio)
The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt

A conversation at 6:20 a.m.

Me: We need to order a new filter for this. (referring to sink filtration system)

Jeremy: We need to send you back to school.

Me: Why?

Jeremy: Because you have a good mind.

Me: What does that have to do with the water filter?

Jeremy: I don't know. I just thought about it.


Obviously we don't always communicate clearly, especially over breakfast early in the morning. :)

Many Happy Returns!

This past weekend was all about celebrating the life of this guy! (By the way, those dimples make me a little weak in the knees!)

Friday afternoon was a theater visit to see Captain America.

Saturday evening was supper at a Mediterranean restaurant (mmm, falafels!).

Sunday afternoon was gifts, chocolate tweed pie, and a solo rendition of Happy Birthday.

I am so thankful for my husband! Happy Birthday, Jeremy!

It's Pie Time!

It's summer and it's hot! I want salads and grilled meats for supper. And for dessert? Summer fruit pies.


So far this July I've made a strawberry pie, a sweet cherry pie, and a peach-blueberry pie. The peach was definitely my favorite. I'm hoping to make a blueberry pie before too long. And likely another peach pie. I have two disks of pie dough in the freezer waiting for my next pie baking venture.
Lest you think that Jeremy and I are gorging ourselves on pie, well, we're not. I found a 6-inch pie pan at the thrift store and it makes a beautiful little pie, just right for two people.

What's your favorite flavor of pie?