Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Decision

"...but first: I must make the decision! Ginger ale or chocolate milk?  .... No. Don't even give me that look! Not in the same cup! That's disgusting!"

If you have a Hannah, even simple things are made fantastically funny.


Here she is, pictured with her wonderful roommate, Priscilla. 
I'm so glad we have this summer together.

A few minutes later:
"I will personally fill your room with my carbon dioxide."

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Swing

This week has been fantastic. We've gone driving, read books, done all the laundry, gone swimming in the river, and tonight we danced.
We went swing dancing. It was the most fun I have had in ages. I already cannot wait for the next dance. Hannah and I took to it like fish to water. Some of the guys we danced with couldn't believe it was our first time swing dancing.

photo from here via Pinterest

My skirt was a swirling, twirling thing that flew up when I spun. (Obviously, I wore a pair of shorts underneath.) It was wonderful and exactly what any girl who has the idea she wants to swing dance could hope to be wearing. 
Hopefully our cousins will join us for the next outing. If not, their loss. We'll send them happy thoughts from the dance floor. 

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Photo Day

Today Hannah and I took some photos.



This was not just your run of the mill photo shoot (though I was pleased with the results.) I've actually been planning this for some time, having been inspired by some of this and this and this. So, I set about cutting.




 And then with some reattaching and adding some words. Here's the first attempt.



Monday, June 24, 2013

Blue

The year is blue. It always has been and it always will be. Not in a sad way; don't get me wrong. It's just there, changing the color of the world, every day, every month, every season.

It is an undercurrent, not the green of life or the thrill of red, but it is there tying it all together, in the distant hills on the horizon.

In winter it's that icey blue. It's chilling and crisp and sends you into a yellow glow for warmth.
With spring it finds its way into the flowers and dyes the sky deeper.
Over summer it's in the waves and the dresses of the pretty girls, coated in butter sunshine.
And in the fall it's there among all those bright reds, tinting the grey, peeking out from between the clouds, rebuilding the year again.

photo credits: picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4. All found via Pinterest
                


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Weekend

This weekend was so much fun. All the family appeared from around the country for a reunion and a birthday party. And the weekend was spent chasing kiddos, watching family videos, meeting relatives, and eating so much food. What can I say? It's the Italian-American in me.

But now I'm a little peopled out. So, instead of curling up into a burrito let's get some Pinspiration:

This makes me smile every single time.

Some people are exactly what you wish you were, in the best way.

For example: Carrie Mulligan, who I used as hair inspiration.

I've seen pictures of this rain room floating around. Maybe I should start a bucket list?

Any other cloud lovers out there? And speaking of the skies, anyone noticed the bright moon last night? Supposed to be even brighter tonight.

I'm a not-so-secret fangirl who finds this possibility real funny.

But most of all, I'm just happy about my sister. That's the best one to remember. We've been laughing and jamming to summer tunes.


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Swimmer

June 19, 2013: The day I got my driver's license! Yes, they passed me. And now I can drive my own self to things.
First on the list is the library. I know it seems boring but it's not. Hopefully closely following that in the lineup is the swimming pool. I haven't been swimming a single time since I got out of school on May 2nd. For someone who likes to swim as much as I do that's a little outrageous.



So here's to a new definition of our American summer; one where I can drive and Hannah and I use this advantage to go swimming.

PS: you may have noticed I've been tweaking the layout again. Please hang in there, as this is the first time I've been head-tweaker for a blog.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Hannah!

Hannah has arrived!



No great shock, this has diverted my attention a bit, with the help of some other things. Wednesday I take my driving test. The story starts the same as my friend's did, let's just hope it ends a little faster. Although she had me laughing out loud, prayers would be appreciated. :)

Friday, June 14, 2013

in the Setting Sun

Yesterday it stormed. We moved all the plants into the house to keep them from the weather. When the rain cleared we moved everything out and cleaned the floor. We played cards on the deck while we waited to everything to dry and the sun to set.


It was almost my dream.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Margaret & Taylor | Some findings

This post made me smile. Someone besides me who likes this quote but doesn't know much about Margaret Atwood but still loved this quote. I feel like I've been living up to the quote better since I posted it that day. (In case you're wondering my apple plant is thriving in all the rain we've had.)


I hope your lives have been lovely.
I've been distracted and basically just pondering and listening to music and watching this music video and thinking that maybe there's a shred of redemption in it for Taylor.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Slew

I think I'm due for some organizing. I've just been dreadfully tired all day, and no amount of tea and stretching did any good. Perhaps sleep...
You may have noticed in some of my photos that I have a habit of creating messy workspaces.
I have a slew of things strewn on my floor.
Here, a list:

back-pack
books (chemistry, anatomy, The Code of the Woosters, A Tale of Two Cities, The Sweet Life, my bible)
clothing
decorative tile wrapped in newspaper
bag (a gift from my sister's travels)
a tea kettle
clothing
paintbrushes
deck of cards
lamp
pillow
hairbrush
purses

Also, my sunglasses that were missing are by the bathroom sink. Why? Don't ask me; I don't know. I should tell my cousin because she was meant to check her kitchen counter for them. She probably forgot so that's alright.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Growth

Considering my previous statement concerning my view of apples, you might be surprised that I am endeavoring to grow an apple tree.
Planted late in the last week here is the progress.


I'm so proud of this baby sprout! Hopefully it grows up nice and strong. 
Thankfully they don't bear fruit for a while, so I still have time to adjust to apple consumption. 
I'm gonna need all the time I can get!


Sunday, June 2, 2013

Today

A year ago today I got up and went down to the school. I stood with my whole class and everyone was so excited, taking pictures.
We walked onto the stage all together. We were a unit. Everyone was themselves. They had their character that everyone knew.
And everyone walked across that stage, dropped rocks into the aquarium, had nice things said about them. The last one whispered, "It's a turtle!" The hats went up. The crowd cheered. Secret handshakes ensued.
Hugs, tears, late late lunch, a few hours, and a boat ride later we were all around the campfire. Everyone was themselves. We were a unit. We slept under the stars, ran across town, dragged ourselves to breakfast. And I almost forgot to cry... until the next afternoon when I almost forgot to stop.



And now it's been a year, today. I feel like I blinked and missed something, but at the same time it's so funny.
Because we're still a unit in some strange connected way, like a small web that has been stretched to hug the globe.
And everyone is themselves, even more than they were a year ago. We're becoming more ourselves all the time.
A lot of people have been reminiscing today. As one friend said, happy anniversary everyone. I hope that as time passes swiftly along, you glance back fondly and forget to cry.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Welcome to June!

Welcome to June! The month where summer truly begins.
There will be swimming and shorts, overalls and dresses, milkshakes and road-trip adventures, sisters and singing, watermelon and birthdays, hats and family reunions, cake and sunscreen...



I may have mentioned that I used to dislike summer. Recently my body has learned to adjust to the heat.  Now I say: bring it on!