August

She ventured out on a few bike rides and hoped for more of them but her freebie bike rack and full car got in the way.

She hosted her parents for their annual summer weekend in Boston. Highlights included weeding the garden and the JFK museum.

She made it to the beach twice and decided that late afternoon is the perfect time to be there.

She finally, three summers later, got all the way to Provincetown. It was worth the wait to arrive as carnival weekend in the jungle was getting underway.

She baked Papa's chocolate cake, froze three different Pesto recipes from Sybil's cookbook, and successfully baked a loaf of bread and ate it the same day.

She tried to drink her morning coffee without sugar most days. She started using natural sweeteners like the maple syrup from home in very creative ways.

She sewed and crafted and read and wrote and dreamt up lots of plans and ideas for the new school year.

She feels sad that the darkness is arriving earlier and the air is feeling cooler, but she is savoring the slow mornings and afternoon naps while she can.

A Day at the Beach

My Secret Garden

Today was my first day in the community garden. Actually I have stopped by a few times, but just to look. And my dad did weed most of it when he was here last weekend, but today I finished the job, planted some lettuce (buttercrunch and romaine), and watered the beets and cosmos that were already growing in my plot. My garden is a pretty good size and I just love the branch wall that was left for me. I bought some sunflower seeds and can just imagine them growing tall against it this fall. I feel so lucky to have this space to grow.

Send a little hope

Monday was my friend's birthday. We found this project and hope it will start a tradition of giving to others in some small way each year around our birthdays. Since my birthday has passed, I am thinking of running a race this fall for this cause.

I did it, I bought a bike. The ride home was a little shaky and my stomach a little queasy. I need some practice and some confidence when it comes to riding and for some reason I feel some pressure to figure out bike etiquette and culture, but I am going to let that go, embrace the learning process and enjoy the (bike) ride.

July

She loved the empty days to catch up on sleep. It took a few weeks and lots of naps at first but she finally considers herself well rested.

She always had at least three books going at a time.

She gave the balcony a makeover and planted flowers and herbs and just found out she is getting a community garden plot down the street which means even more planting soon.

She went to farmers markets and challenged herself to make at least one purchase each week to use in a new recipe.

She wore sunscreen every single day but probably sweated it off on most.

She drank more water and likes it best ice cold with fresh mint (from the balcony).

She used the A/C a lot and was thankful, oh so thankful for ceiling fans.

She explored Providence and thanks to her new friends Rich and Tom she did not get lost.

She took pictures. She wrote. She went to yoga and walked and even managed a few runs. She is learning to take care of herself and thinks a lot about how to keep this promise to herself when the days aren’t as empty.

She bought a new bathing suit and jumped off her brother’s boat into the lake. It was cold and refreshing and she bruised her shin getting back in, but it just might have been the highlight of her trip home.Inspired by the projects of Tara and Elise.

Going Green

I have spent my first week of summer resting and rejuvenating. I figure it is going to take a while to recover from past ten months of intensity and stress and I am accepting that. I can't remember the last time I have slept until 9 o'clock on consecutive days. It is becoming my routine. I often don't get out of the house until after noon these days. I've been reading a lot of nourishing words and words on nourishment. Nourishment for the body and soul. In regard to literal nourishment I have come across the green smoothie over and over. There is a movement going on. Apparently it is life changing. It gets you over the 3 o'clock slump. If that is the case I am willing to go green.

Today's smoothie included:

Approximately 1 cup of spinach (I read to start with less to ease yourself into the green taste)

1 frozen sliced banana

1 sliced apple

A few splashes of orange juice

A squirt of honey

I feel so healthy drinking it out of my Mason jar like all of the healthy people do. It is actually really yummy. Mine is super sweet and did not need the extra honey. I can't wait to try another tomorrow!