Playing Catch up

Greetings everyone!
Somedays I think I need to get to this blog and update it and then I always seem to run out of time! Although I'm not sure it's time I run out of, or I just have figured out more ways to use it, and less of those ways center around the computer.

We got back last night from driving to Ohio to visit my mother in law. It was nice to go out there for a week for 'no reason'. Nothing was wrong, just a vacation with her... I had missed her so much and DH had been back several times, and of course we saw her in March. But this was wonderful! She has an inground pool in her backyard, and I'm pretty sure Tory spent at least 6 hours a day in it. We timed our visit to coincide with Tor's 9th birthday (WHEN did that happen??) since my MIL typically hasn't been around for the kids' birthdays. Our son turned 17 on July 19th, so we celebrated together. She is so amazing to us... she took Tory to COSI, the Lucas County Fair, the Toledo Zoo, and gave her tickets to a Mud Hens day game. The really really cool part about that game (which her father took her to) was that they were playing the Pawtucket Red Sox!! How cool was that?? She built a faery house at the corner of her Grammy's garden with her dad too.. but I didn't get a picture :( Bad Mom!! LOL

I also had a neat experience while we were there (besides LOTS of relaxation). My husband and son took me to the Toledo Museum of Art. That might not sound like much to some of you, but I have never in my life been to an art museum. We spent HOURS there, I was so fascinated with seeing the works of artists I've only read about, and getting up close and personal with tapestries and old needlepoint hangings. I loved seeing my first Van Gogh, Cezanne, Dega, Holbein, Rosetti and Gainsborough. Countless other things fascinated and kept me there, and I reveled in the walk through the ancient art section... where for the first time I actually saw Egyptian artifacts, Etruscan vessels, ancient Roman cups and more. I could have spent many many more hours there gazing at the Cloister walls and art, and the entire room they have there from the Chateau de Chenailles, France from about 1650. My favourite painting (today--tomorrow could change!) was most definately Ophelia by Arthur Hughes. I could go on and on about it, it was that profound an experience for me. Another time I will probably devote an entire post to the art I got to see. DH and I had a lot of quality down time together while my MIL was frolicing with her grandkids, and it was lovely. We got to sleep in, had midnight swims together in the pool, snuggled watching movies and just generally destressed. It was nearly as important as anything else this last week.

Tory spent the week away at sleep-away camp and LOVED it. She was ready to come home though as much as I was ready to have her here. It was wierdly quiet without her here in the house, but I got a LOT accomplished, including cleaning out her room completely. I dumped all the old crap out of it, moved it around and now it is a MUCH nicer room. We're going to redecorate it over the coming year as we can afford to get the new furniture we've picked out! It's time for her to have a more grown up room. I'm contemplating getting her a TV for it for christmas this year, but I'm not sure.

Stitching news ? Well, I have had 3 finishes this month, but I can show you none of them yet! As soon as they arrive at their final destinations, I'll put up the pics! :)

August is going to be just as busy as July and June have been! We have a few days off, and then Tory starts GS Day Camp next Monday, then Bible school the third week of August. She starts school again on the 28th, so we'll start getting ready with clothes, supplies, etc that week too. I have to fit in haircuts for us all, and shoe shopping too. I have a bunch of stitching goals, AND housecleanin goals! We'll see!

Until I have time again to write a long catch up post ( I'm sure!) God Bless, take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and Smile!!