We are home from New York.

It was a good, long, exhausting and fun week. We saw Tara and Tim twice - the perfect bookends to a week in Manhattan where we shopped, walked, shopped, ate, walked, drank, ate, drank, walked, shopped our way through Manhattan. Did I mention the eating and drinking and shopping?

All of the above came from Purl Soho with the exception of the dandelion fabric. That's from Marimekko (on sale!). The second photo is actually a scrap pack. I saw it when I walked in the store and thought about it the whole time I was there. The fabrics are not necessarily ones that I'd be drawn to on their own, but together like that? Yes. Please. And thank you, too. I scooped up the other blues and whites to go along. I know exactly what I am going to make and if I have the time, I will start it today. The green? Well, of course, I had to have that.

Now, home, I'm feeling incredibly spoiled. I have loving in-laws that take my kids so that Fatty and I can run away for a week together every summer. I have a husband who is more than a husband - he's my best friend and partner in crime. He makes me laugh and knows that if my blood sugar gets too low, it's not pretty. He holds my hand as we walk down the street and sits patiently while I spend hours looking at textiles and trying on clothes at Anthropologie. It is such a blessing to have that time alone, to be able to manage a vacation each year, to feel completely in love for the last eighteen years. I don't ever want to take that for granted. I feel incredibly blessed.

And the girls? I missed them just the right amount - not too much and not too little. We are hanging out today, running errands and doing other everyday life things like laundry and cooking. I've already referee-ed one fight and I'm sure it won't be the last. I'm slowly bringing them back to our world of limited television and healthier eating. Most of the time, I have the best job. I wouldn't change it for the world. Those girls - an equally big blessing.

Two weeks ago, Fatty and I, along with some friends, attended an Outstanding in the Field dinner on a beautiful farm overlooking the Ohio River. It was event that we had anticipated for many months and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful evening. From bourbon sweet tea and local wines, to the foods grown and prepared for us, everything was delicious and more. Tradition dictates that everyone brings a plate, thus allowing everyone to bring something to the long, outstretched table. It was a grand sight and sitting there, watching the sun set over the river, was an idyllic scene. I have always loved the idea behind Outstanding in the Field and I was happy that the experience lived up to that idea. Before too much time went by, I wanted to document that wonderful night. It was the first time in a long while that I felt like taking more than one or two or ten photos. I know this is a photo heavy post, but I had a hard time narrowing down my selections. These are my favorites.

I always visit Purl Soho.  I always leave inspired to create.

And never empty-handed.

I always visit Purl Soho.  I always leave inspired to create.

And never empty-handed.

 

 

 

I woke the girls early this morning, met a friend at the coffee shop for some to-go treats and then we hit the berry patch.  The only blueberry picking I had done before was in Alaska on our honeymoon and those little gems were wild and everywhere in Denali National Park.  This experience was entirely different and so fun.  No bending over like with strawberries and no thorns like with raspberries.  The sun was shining and the temperature was in the low 70's.  Indeed, it was a glorious morning.  As soon as the first berries fell into my bucket, the girls said the plink sound reminded them of Blueberries for Sal, one of our favorite storybooks.  I love that book! I wish I could say that I was planning on canning these like Sal's mother.  I'll probably bake batch of muffins or scones, or maybe a coffee cake and the remaining majority of the 17 pounds will be frozen for Fatty, who likes a handful in his cereal every morning.

This weekend I got to everything on my list except the quilt binding and the hand sewing.  Not bad.  I made the binding today and it'll go on tomorrow.  Hopefully, I will finish it on Wednesday.

We did go to the farmers market as a family.  After I had bought two huge cinnamon rolls for the girls, I picked up some roma tomatoes, yellow squash, french red fingerling potatoes, pork chops, bison steaks and zinnias.  Later in the morning, we embarked on a family adventure to Madison, Indiana.  On the way there, we picked up some peaches and blueberries.  Once there, we walked around town and shopped.  It was a fantastic day.  Fatty and I know how to shop well together - I blitz through antique stores and he lolly-gags.  He's always calling after me, to show me the good stuff I missed. We came home with a lot of treasures.  LOTS.  And that isn't even the best part.  The best part is........

wait.....

THE GIRLS CAN ANTIQUE FOR HOURS!

This, in and of itself, was worth the trip.  These young ladies lasted all day through two large antique malls plus a few stores here and there.  Fatty gave them each $5 at our last stop.  They shopped and shopped, trying to find THE PERFECT THING.  And in one of the last booths we entered, there were tons of vintage, handmade doll clothes in a basket for $1 to $2 an outfit.  I helped them go through and decide which would fit the dolls they had at home and for a couple of bucks, they each took home a treasure.

The way I look at it, we all came home winners.

And, I get to thrift and antique a little more often.

Sweet.

olive oil tasting at Round Pond

wine tasting at Plumpjack

champagne tasting at Schramsberg

We are easing into summer around here.  Swim practices, play dates with friends, getting ready for camp, backyard barbecues, impromptu parties and just hanging out.  It's been good and tiring all at the same time.  I've been falling in to bed, exhausted after long, overfilled days.  All good.

Tracy came to visit over the weekend.  We hung out and drank beer.  We took the girls swimming and chatted poolside.  There were margaritas and corn salad.  Caroline took the two of us on a field trip.  We took lots of photos of old buildings, tramped through fields in inappropriate foot wear and had many laughs.  There was a flat tire on the side of the highway and the nicest rescue ranger got us on the move quick-like.  Oddly enough, the flat tire only added to the fun of the afternoon.  Tracy also made me a quilt.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

 

What a weekend.