Arizona in Color

          

     

  

Our trip to Arizona was incredible.

When I married James, I married into a tradition of traveling to Phoenix to visit his best friend, often as a surprise. Last time I arranged a trip for AJ to San Antonio and hid him in the bathroom closet. James returned home and went right in there to use it. You can imagine the yell. 

This time when we got to the house AJ was taking a shower, and James went in to hand him a towel. They giggled a lot. 

There was a lot of laughter while we were there. We mostly hung out inside, as Phoenix in the summer is about 110 degrees hot. But we played a lot, ate delicious food, drank gallons of iced coffee, did crafts, swam in the pool, and had a lot of good time together. 

Can't wait to go back.

Vacation Starts Now

I'm currently in a packed car headed to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. 

On the agenda for the next week there is reading, hiking, star gazing, campfires, good meals, kayaking, swimming and sleeping in a cabin. It's so green at Cragged, the camp where we're spending the weekend. After that we're flying away to spend the rest of the week with some good friends, in a warm place. But that's as specific as I can be because some of them don't know we're coming. I love surprises. 

Please don't be disappointed if we fail to show up on your doorstep Tuesday. One hint, it's not California. 

Yesterday at work I finally began to feel how weary I really am in my shoes there. Our last vacation was in April, and since then I've accomplished a lot at work. This will be a much needed break, and with any luck I'll return rejuvenated for the business of the fall season. 

Until then I'm going to revel in summer.

Gardening in My Window

Last fall we visited the botanical gardens in Wellesley, and since then I have vowed to create my own.

In my living room.

The succulent bottom left is a California native. The ivy bottom right was a clipping from another plant, and has gone crazy this summer.

I love plants, and I love when they grow. The windows in our house face to the southwest and they fill with glowy light in the afternoons. My plants can not get enough of this light. I went yesterday to Home Depot, and today to a local greenhouse to pick up these lovely succulents and ferns. They make me happy.

I repotted them on our dining room table, and pretty much made a huge mess but it was worth it. I'm trying to make the most of what is left of the summer, because fall means winter is around the corner. So we went swimming in Walden Pond a few nights ago, we eat outside whenever possible, and today we're going to see a baseball game with some friends.


Summer has given me extra time to spend with friends this year. I love the freedom to pop over to Chris and Cecilia's or have guests for dinner. It overwhelms me while I'm doing school. Our house is a bit quiet now that the Moore's have their own place. It was lovely to have them stay off and on this summer, and their adorable new house was well worth the wait I think.

My goal for August is to enjoy each moment of the remaining month and make the most of every day.