Big Time in the Old Town Tonight

It was a full day today, and then the evening was filled with the "Back to School Night" festivities at Teddy's school......great to meet his teacher, see his classroom and hear all the progress he has made
 in the first few weeks of first grade.

We had just returned home and I had come up to my sitting room to relax and check on Facebook, when I saw a post on our Bourne residents page saying that a huge cruise ship was about to pass through the Cape Cod Canal. I went bounding down the stairs (yes, my new knee allows bounding down the stairs!) and scooped up Alison and Teddy and we were off in the car to drive the 1 minute to the Canal banks.  We live near the East end and the ship was visible in the dark, towering above Cape Cod Bay and heading, full steam ahead for the canal. It passed so close to us and was really amazing Teddy was beside himself with excitement.

The moon was so pretty over the water.....

 

 Alison cuddling Teddy to keep him warm as we waited.

 The Bamoral as it entered the Canal heading West.

 Passing right by us in all her splendor!! All the decks were lined with waving passengers.

 As the beautiful ship passed, ever so quickly, this excited 6 year old pronounced this the very best night of his life so far!!

We dashed back to the car and managed to get to the end of our street as it passed by. We watched as the ship passed under the Sagamore Bridge with what seemed like inches to spare.  WHEW!
Just got this information about the cruise itself.  They are on a 35 day round trip cruise out of Southampton, England. Their first port was in Nova Scotia and tonight they are on their way to Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard. They are making their way to the Bahamas before heading back, with lots of ports in between.
That would be my itinerary of choice, and they have the most beautiful weather, as well. 
 

A Special Reunion

I am not always enamored of some forms of social media, but a really wonderful reunion came about through Facebook with three of my classmates from high school, and it was just amazing. Immediately we knew we had to make a plan. Today we met at a lovely waterfront restaurant in Plymouth, and the talk and laughter never stopped for 3 hours!

 Susan and Pat grew up just around the corner from where I was born and we went all through school together. Our parents were close friends, as well, so our history is deep and very meaningful on many levels.  It is amazing to me that we all lost touch right after high school and had to wait 54 years to be re-united. Nonetheless, being together today was so sweet and as our visit went on and on recounting our lives and childhood  memories, I relished closing my eyes and savoring the familiarity of their voices.

 Karen, on my right, didn't live in our neighborhood but our town was so small that we were all friends, so having her with us today was extra special.  

Being retired has brought me the opportunity to reach out and connect with old friends, and it is a treasure!  

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Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it has been a busy, busy time. Teddy is now settling in to first grade, and finding his voice, and a bit too much of it at times.....ahem!!!  Anyway, he is loving first grade and this week he began having homework. So far, so good. Tomorrow night is a school open house and we will meet his teacher and hear some of what goes on in his classroom on a daily basis.

I have lots of other things to share, but not as much time as I would like to spend in front of the little screen.  I am very busy with quilting, and the nearly king-sized piece below is awaiting the handsewing of its binding.

 A wedding gift for a dear former co-worker - View 1

 View 2.......many colors.

 I have a crib quilt (below) almost finished, and have been asked to complete another quilt to be exhibited at a log cabin-themed show in the Spring.   

In the middle of it all, I am still going to fitness classes several days a week, and am about to join a yoga class at the senior center next week.  I have had a huge reduction in pain throughout my body and my endurance has become much better.  Another big help has been the addition of sitting on one of those huge exercise balls while I work at the sewing machine.  It really has helped my balance and posture.

Well, time to get myself to bed.........I hope you are all well and enjoying a beautiful fall, as we are.

Love and peace to all.........

Catching August

Good Morning.....Labor Day weekend is upon us, and I am waking up from the heat wave and my rather busy summer. 

Teddy had a great summer of YMCA day camp, which, despite the heat, he loved, and he grew so much.  Now, with his hair turned beautifully blonde, he has returned to school, and is already loving 1st grade. He's matured a lot in the last several months, and he did a great job keeping a journal about his summer, at the same time, improving writing and sentence formation skills.  We did lots of bird watching, and nature walks, and he has had some fun times learning to fish with his Dad and LM.

Cooking has become his new passion, so we've spent time in the kitchen working on basics.  He's an attentive student and has some very creative ideas, including his attempting scientific experiments with baking supplies.....he's also become a GREAT FAN of Rachel Ray and  Cupcake Wars. 

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In the middle of August Jason, Alison and Teddy went on a camping trip and really had fun with hikes, canoeing, kayaking and fishing.  I think it was a welcome break for them as a family, as their regular  schedules are very full and demanding. 

Meanwhile, I have kept up with my fitness classes, and sewing, as well as my wonderful weekends with LM and Ms G.  All pretty routine now, and I find myself happier and happier in retirement life. There is a little bit of longing for more community, and perhaps a way to market some of my quilts, but I am mulling it and feeling more and more grateful for the wonderful privilege I have of living with my son and family, during this time.

Once in awhile, LM asks me to work with him in his work moving cars for dealers. He travels all over the northeast and LOVES it. Two weeks ago, I went with him on a trip to northern, Maine and we had a great time.  It did rain torrentially for part of the drive, but we managed well and enjoyed some lovely scenery.

 I may or may not have eaten this delectable blueberry filled doughnut along the way. Only in Maine could I have this divine indulgence.

 The home of said doughnuts....Oh, my!!

 A lovely rest stop along the way where we stopped for a little picnic on the way up.....lunch at 10:30 am as we had left home at 4:30 am.

 A little look at my view as we drove along.....we had quite a few hours of rain both coming and going, but the sunshine in between  gave us some relief. It was in the 90's....so hot!

My intrepid driver at the picnic spot.  

After picking up a new GMC SUV at our destination, it was my turn to drive and follow LM all the way home....I am a fairly fearless and calm driver, and that fact was certainly challenged, but we had a very successful journey back with a few side trips off the highways to break-up the stress of Friday afternoon summer driving in ME, NH and MA.  We stopped  on the way back and had a classic Maine dinner of lobster pie, followed by blueberry pie, at The Maine Diner, again in Wells.  That fortified us for the rest of the trip through Friday evening rush hour traffic through Boston, in driving rain and thunder storms.  Amazingly enough, we managed to stay together and make it home to Cape Cod unscathed.  We really did have fun, and I got paid for the day, too!  We  were home and in bed by 11 pm.

Several weeks ago, dear friend, Barbara, commissioned me to make an crib quilt to give a new grandchild coming in January.  She requested it be abstract/organic/sunflower/earthy theme. I invited Barbara to come over, and we went through my fabrics, and she chose all the above to be included, and to have them framed with brown.  The back will be yellow with a tiny paw print design, and the binding will be a repeat of the brown.  The front, as you see, is complete, and now it awaits a trip to the professional quilter.  It was fun to do, and, at the same time, I cut enough squares to make a larger bed quilt with the same design.  

Next up for sewing is to make the "Purple Rain" quilt from Jane Brocket's book, "The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking."  I have been collecting a few purple fabrics through the years and have a special box saved for this project....it will actually be two quilts, as one will be in "cool" shades, and the other, "warm"

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Otherwise these days, I have been spending as much time as I can helping two friends who need a little extra support right now.  My friend, Priscilla, about whom I wrote previously, has decided not to move away to live with her daughter in NH.  She has signed up for senior housing in the next town to me, is hoping to move within a year. She remains compromised as to strength, so I try to help out as much as I can.  She's an inspiration to me in her endurance, patience and conviction to stay in the town she loves as long as possible.  Community has been somewhat elusive during my working years, and something, I am slowly cultivating again!  

Hoping you've all had a wonderful summer!!