Pages

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A day of craftiness

Yesterday I was in a decorating mood. I went to the Fabric Warehouse and found some pretty fabric to use to re-cover the dining room chairs, then headed to Home Depot for paint for said chairs, and then decided to swing by Big Lots for some picture frames.

Didn't get any picture frames, but found these cool metal decorative pieces instead. They were on clearance for $12, but I wanted 3, so that was still a little steep for me. I figured that maybe I could get a better deal, so found the manager. I asked what he could do for me, he said $8 apiece. I said I would like to get three, but still have to buy spray paint for them, how about $6? He countered with $7 apiece, no return. I took it!

So here's the before:

IMG_5013


And here's the after. Of course, upon hanging them I realized I would like a bit more contrast, so somewhere in the next couple weeks I'll head to Wally World for some more spray paint, but they are good for now. And you can't beat the deal . . . don't be afraid to ask for a better price!

IMG_5024



And then last evening after the Snuggler went to bed, I did a trial run canning some peach jam. The jam came out perfect, all the lids popped down like they were supposed to, and the jam thickened right up! Now I am off to make some scrambled eggs with toast and jam. Time to enjoy the "fruits" (ha!) of my labor!

IMG_5026

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Vacation

This month our family went on vacation to Swan's Island (off Mount Desert Island), marking the first ever "destination vacation" for our family of three. Actually, first one for John and me since our honeymoon! We stayed at the Block House on the north point of the island, the same house I grew up going to every summer.

Enjoy!


<span class=

Leaving the Bass Harbor Ferry terminal.


<span class=

All of us on the ferry . . .
Kattie came out for the first few days of our vacation, and it was such fun to have her there!


<span class=

Packed to the max! You can barely see the Munchkin!
Who was very good, she slept almost the whole three hours to the ferry.


<span class=

As soon as we got to the house, we headed down to the water to relax.



FINE SAND BEACH

<span class=

On Sunday afternoon we headed to the beach (there is one sandy beach on the island).


<span class=

Sophia did a face plant, but didn't even mind! She just looked like the Phantom for a little while.


<span class=

The Snuggler discovered a love of seaweed while at the beach.


<span class=



BACK AT THE BLOCK HOUSE

<span class=

Kattie kept an ear out for the Snuggler while John and I headed down to find some mussels. Turns out John is an excellent mussel hunter!

And here he is, eating mussels for the first time. I had several, and decided that was my quota for the year. John liked them pretty well, though when I asked later in the week if he wanted to have more the answer was no . . .


Sophia settled into the house pretty well, even hit a couple milestones while we were there.


<span class=

We said goodbye to Paraplegic Baby on the island, as now Sophia is up on all four full time, no more dragging her legs along behind her while she crawls.


<span class=

She also pulled herself up to stand all by herself for the first time . . . now to learn to get back down a bit more gracefully!


<span class=

We only had one foggy day the whole week, the rest of the time was bright and sunny!


<span class=

By mid-week we had a nice routine down. John took Sophia down to the beach for an early morning walk while I fixed breakfast. After breakfast she settled down for a nap, and John and I sat out on the deck in the Adirondack chairs drinking coffee and reading for a couple hours. Then she would get up, and we would go on some sort of adventure till her afternoon nap, at which point John and I would crash out on the deck again, or walk down to the beach, or nap ourselves. It was wonderful!!!


<span class=

It was exhilarating to be out on such a wild and windy day!


<span class=



<span class=



<span class=



<span class=

Sophia had her first (and only, so far!) marshmallow cooked over a fire, and being a sugar bug like her mama, seemed to love it. She couldn't quite manage to eat a whole one, but it was a valiant effort.


<span class=



<span class=

Promptly thereafter she went into a sugar coma, and just chilled with Dada before bed.


<span class=

We had a fire every night but one, mainly so I could maximize my s'more eating. Dinner, fire, reading, games, s'mores, ahhhhhh!


<span class=

Of course, with a flash you can't see my perfect s'more coals, but they are there, believe me!


<span class=

Sophia enjoyed playing out on the deck . . .


<span class=



IMG_4730

. . . but really, I don't think there was anywhere she didn't enjoy.


libbey_41

While we were out on Swan's, we had a photographer on the island do some family portraits, which we had wanted to have done with Sophia turning on.
It was so special to have the photos taken on the island.


libbey_19



libbey_06



THE WALK AROUND THE NORTH POINT

IMG_4747

One of our noon time adventures was a walk around the point, which seemed much shorter to me than it felt as a kid!


IMG_4750

Off in the distance you can see Mount Desert Island, and much closer you can see the seagulls that never failed to excite a reaction from Sophia. She LOVED the seagulls!


IMG_4755



IMG_4758



IMG_4766



IMG_4769



IMG_4772



A VISIT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

IMG_4795

Over the last couple years, repairs have been ongoing at the lighthouse. Now the windows have been refurbished (not replaced, the original windows are still there) and the outside has new siding.


IMG_4780

The electrician was there when we were, and let us go inside the house. So exciting, I had never been before! It hasn't been open to the public in over 30 years. You can see the condition prior to repairs . . .


IMG_4778

And how it looks with the plaster and original windows repaired! The floors will be refinished, and eventually the Keeper's House will be a community center.


IMG_4803



THE QUARRY
IMG_4823

When we left the lighthouse, we headed over to the rock quarry, another new place to show John and Sophia. From there we could see another view of the lighthouse, so pretty!

IMG_4849

It wasn't quite hot enough to go swimming, which was just as well as neither of us had brought our bathing suits with us that day.


IMG_4822

We did walk the loop around the quarry, and I had forgotten what a beautiful view you could see from the top!


BACK AT THE BLOCK HOUSE

IMG_4855

Sophia would sit and play as long as we would let her . . .


IMG_4861



IMG_4904

. . . and eat as much as she could get her hands on! I think she liked the salt taste of the seaweed and shells.


IMG_4902

John's mission on the island was to collect sea glass for Sophia's room. He amassed quite a collection!


IMG_4937

My goal was to collect sand dollars. We found three before we took our walk around the point, and I was pretty disappointed not to find more.


IMG_4933

Then on our walk we found 81 more! Now I have all the sand dollars I could possibly use for decorations in Sophia's room. For sure I am going to make a shadow box frame with 3x3 or 4x4. I'll blog a picture of it when I do!


IMG_4945

John's final sea glass collection, now to find a pretty container to put it all in.


IMG_4946

Back on the ferry, headed home, with a final look back at the Block House.

We had a wonderful time, and I didn't even mention our blackberry picking, or mouse killing (John was a hunter and a gatherer on vacation!), or so many other little memorable moments we had. As my favorite blogger would say, we "sucked the marrow out of life" that week. Now to remember to treasure the ordinary times together just as much!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...