She's 2-2-Sweet

22 years ago today I fell in love with an itty bitty, blue eyed, blonde- headed baby girl. Sigh.

Just before daughter1 graduated from uni I made a DVD for a senior night her sorority was hosting in which parents can send scrapbooks, letters, DVDs, etc. to be shown as part of the program. I know you're still trying to get your head around the idea that moi, Miss un-tech, actually created and burned a DVD but I did and I'm still pretty pleased with myself a whole month later. I'm posting it on my blog today in honor of daughter1's birthday. You can watch it or not...it is about 7 minutes long and those are 7 minutes of your life you won't get back. Or in my case 175 minutes because I've watched it no less than 25 times. I'm her mother, what can I say?

Because I still like to have a little privacy on the ole blog here I have edited out a few of the captions. And two slides are black screens for the same reason. oooh...sounds mysterious doesn't it? It's not...just personal stuff that I figured I wouldn't put out there on the world wide web.

Anyway, grab your coffee and enjoy or not....and go visit daughter1's blog and say Happy Birthday today. I feel I must add here that this is the first birthday in 22 years that I am not with her on her special day. Whaaaa!!!

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Make your own free picture slideshow

"Sisters, Sisters..."

This post is part of Flashback Friday hosted by Linda...you're invited to link your own post on today's prompt-siblings. Visit Linda for details and to read more Flashback Friday posts.

'To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.'

~Clara Ortega

When I was expecting my second child I was pretty sure I was having a boy. I never had a single ultrasound in that pregnancy so I wasn't basing that thought on anything other than a feeling, but everything about my second pregnancy was different than my first so I just thought 'boy'. And I remember one of my first thoughts when I heard the doctor exclaim, "It's a girl!" was, 'I'm so happy daughter1 will have a sister'.

'Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring - quite often the hard way.' ~Pamela Dugdale

Sisters are special people. Even when they annoy you. Borrow your stuff without asking. Touch you when you are jam packed in a seat in the back of a station wagon on a multi hour car trip in the days before portable DVD players and hand held games. When they want to play with your friends all the time even though they know that because they are younger they will always be assigned the role of boy or dog or bad guy in every game you play. Even when they blab to your parents at dinner one night about a road trip you took to the beach when your parents thought you were at uni studying for exams in order to take some of the attention off of her own moment of misbehaving that was being called into question. Even then sisters are special.

I have two sisters, one older and one younger. I also have an older brother so I'm #3 in the sibling food chain. I'll talk about my brother another day but suffice it to say he's easy to get along with, everybody likes him and his sisters all love him. I'm sure having three sisters isn't wasn't always a picnic but he's a good sport.

Back to my sisters.... We are three very different people but the ties that bind sisters are tightly woven. My older sister is seven years older than me. I have loved her since the day I was born according to my mother.

I think she probably saw me as 'her baby' and in family photos we're always sweetly sitting together. My mother made me a scrapbook a few years back and one of the things she included was a letter I wrote to my parents when I was 'running away from home'. I can't imagine why or where I thought I was going but I am guessing maybe I just liked the idea of running away. Anyway, in the letter I let everyone know I was running away but I did include a p.s. that states, "Tell #1 sister I love her." Even mid temper tantrum I knew.

She has a heart of gold and I can tell her anything and she responds with the appropriate sympathy, empathy, or advice. She lives near my girls and I can always count on her to be there if I need her to be there. When I graduated from uni she and I shared an apartment for one brief year and we had such fun. Oh it was fun. Really really fun. Did I mention we had fun?

Now, you know how I said in all the family photos sister #1 and I are sitting sweetly together? Well, sister#2 and I not so much.

Okay we do look pretty sweet in this one. But in many family photos I am crying and/or pouting in the background and her face is front and center with a great big proud toothless smile. She was an imp as my dad used to say. We're only fourteen months apart (I'm older) and we shared a bedroom growing up. Do people still have their kids share bedrooms? Sometimes we absolutely hated sharing that room. Other times we were glad for the company of a sister, for our mirror opposite just across the room. People always thought we were twins but we didn't think we looked anything alike. And there was plenty of sweetness but some saltiness too. We could get into some pretty good arguments over the most ridiculous and trivial things when we were kids. I guess that is the essence of most kid disputes-trivial. My mom worked part time when we were in jr. high/high school and we'd sometimes call her at work to settle an argument. You can imagine how much she loved that.

'She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.' ~Barbara Alpert

Time does funny things to our memories... I have to work hard to remember the bickering now but I do remember lots of other bits...giant games of paperdolls spread out the entire length of our living room, barbies and kiddles underneath the big tree in the back yard, making up skits, the dress up box, sharing clothes, toys, books, and secrets. Sitting on either side of our mother while she read us the novels of our childhood. Sitting in the tree fort on our grandparents farm. Riding bikes. Coloring pictures. Hanging out at the pool. Having inside jokes. The comfort of having another person always there, to talk to, confide in, and even to argue with. Home.

'Sisters share the scent and smells - the feel of a common childhood.' ~Pam Brown

We're all grown up girls these days with children of our own and I'm more thankful than ever to have sisters in my life. And I love having daughters who are close in heart to one another. My own girls are each other's best friends and that is how I see my sisters.

Linda asked how we felt about our birth order and having or not having siblings. I only know what I know. I imagine I'd be someone different if I were the firstborn or the last, if I were an only child or had only brothers or only sisters.

'A sibling may be the keeper of one's identity, the only person with the keys to one's unfettered, more fundamental self.' ~Marian Sandmaier

Each person's childhood is unique and if we're honest most of us would say we lived a range of emotions and experiences... happiness and sorrow, elation and disappointment, boredom and wonder, in our growing up years.

I think my childhood was rich. Not in material possessions but in the sense that I was allowed the time and space and love I needed to grow into the person I am. Third child, second daughter, a sister. That's me. And I wouldn't trade that for anything.

The Upside

There is an upside to having a husband who travels.

And that upside is presents.

I like presents.

And I like jewelry.

And I especially like presents that are jewelry.

When my hubs got home last night he said he bought me something in Shanghai. He pulled out the gift bag and I asked if this was an anniversary present because we have an anniversary coming up in a couple of weeks. Or maybe a birthday present although my BIG birthday is still a few months away. No, just a present. Or three.

Cultured pearls are a bargain in China and you have to negotiate with the vendors. He loves that sort of thing...he is all about the negotiating. It usually pays off too.

I love these pearls. The set on the left looks white in the photo but they are more of a pewter color. The set on the right is a combination of white, pewter and a gray blue and they are my favorite. He also bought me a bracelet and it's all white. And he may have bought a little something for daughters 1 and 2 but I'm not showing that here since they read my blog.

Now, who thinks I need a nice dinner out to go with the jewelry?

Oh, and I think I've told you once or a hundred times that I also love pottery. And since hubs will be in Istanbul on our anniversary there is a certain set of beautiful brightly colored dishware made in Turkey that would make an excellent anniversary gift.

Just sayin'...

Even though we don't really exchange gifts on our anniversary.

Essentially I'm talkin' food here...

Note: I've linked this post I wrote last week to the summer recipe exchange over at Fringe Girl...visit there for more summer recipes...read to the end of this post for two yummy summertime salads. Enjoy!

Is it finally Wednesday? My husband travels a lot but this trip has felt especially long. He'll be home from Shanghai this evening and I just finished making a pot of spaghetti sauce and meatballs because he loves them. He has asked that I not prepare any river eel in 'special' sauce or any squirrel fish either, at least not for a while. For the record I've never prepared eel of any sort and I've never heard of squirrel fish which he said was pretty good. It's always fun to travel and try new things but always nice to come home to comfy and familiar too.

I headed down to my moms last Thursday afternoon to spend a few days there because fyi, a husband traveling on a holiday weekend just feels wrong. My mom and I like to go out to breakfast, do a little shopping and play many games of rummikub. Friday afternoon she took me out to lunch and we went to a new restaurant called 52 Seasons. Do you have this where you live because I think its a chain? I loved it...the menu changes every week, hence the name. Everything is seasonally fresh plus nothing on the menu is over 475 calories which is just a little added bonus.

Yesterday was my nephew's birthday...he turned the big 0-4. This is the first birthday he has celebrated that I've been in town for and it was fun to be a part of his big day. My sister and her husband had a cookout with family and neighbors at their house last night and the rain held off so we could sit out in their back garden.

Boys are so funny. They are such boys. He loves snakes and superheros and dragons and anything with a motor. Oh, and chocolate cake. He likes that too. We're definitely related.

Here he is with some of his buds...they have a little table built into an area underneath the swing set and that's where the kiddos like to sit and eat.

My sister asked if I would bring my pasta salad to the party...it's so simple and is always a crowd pleaser. I mentioned it once before on my blog and had a few requests for the recipe so I've posted it below. And because I'm killing time here until hubs gets home I've also included another summer salad recipe which is our family's favorite...enjoy!

Pasta Salad Supreme

1 1lb. box rotini, cooked al dente

1 -8 0z. bottle Zesty Italian salad dressing (or your favorite Italian)

1/2 jar McCormicks Salad Supreme spice mix (found in the spice section of supermarkets that carry McCormick brand spices)

1 cucumber, diced

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved if they are on the large size

1 green pepper, chopped

1/2 jar large black olives, pitted and halved

1 carrot, chopped

Cook pasta and then stir in the vegetables (I usually add other peppers if I have them on hand, sometimes green onion, really whatever you like). Stir in the dressing and seasoning and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. You can adjust the amount of vegetables to taste. We like a lot of vegetables in ours.

Cucumber-Tomato-Onion Salad

2-3 cucumbers, sliced very thinly

3-4 tomatoes quartered

3-4 green onions diced

Sauce:

1/4 c. white sugar

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

2 TBLSP mayonnaise

1 TBLSP milk

salt and pepper

Put the cukes, tomatoes, and onions into a serving bowl. In another small bowl whisk together sugar and mayonnaise. Slowly stir in vinegar. Add the milk and stir to combine. Pour over vegetables and refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving. It will be soupy. If you prefer it thicker you can increase the mayo. It's yummy!

Some Gave All

On Memorial Day weekend I usually find myself thinking about our many visits to Arlington National Cemetery. I've been there as a tourist and I've been there as a daughter. I've walked behind the horse drawn caisson and flinched as the guns were fired. I've stood beside my siblings and cried tears of pride and sadness as a flag was folded and handed to my mother. I've seen the changing of the guard and I've stood with hundreds more as the sentinel walks the walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Arlington, go. The ceremony at the Tomb is moving and something every American should see. And I would like to think that on Memorial Day we could put aside all political posturing and take a moment to honor and thank the men and women who have served our country...to honor especially those who have died defending our many freedoms. Freedoms which, incidentally, include our right as Americans to hold differing points of view. Not everyone in this world is so lucky.

There is something known as The Sentinel's Creed which the guards at the Tomb learn and live by and it goes like this-

My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect.
His bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day, alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.

Sandy Cove, Camp I Love...

I'm linking up with Flashback Friday today. For more posts on summertime memories visit Mocha with Linda...

I have lots of happy summertime memories but without question, my favorite are from summer camp. My first real camp experience was at a Chrisitan camp called Sandy Cove. The girls camp was situated on the Northeast River in Maryland, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. I can say in all honesty that some of the happiest memories of my life are tied to that place.

I started out there as a camper and went for just a week the first year. My sister came too but we were in different age groups so she was a 'Papoose' and I was a 'Maiden'. We stayed in cabins, ate in a dining hall, learned to canoe and sail on the river, played massive games of Capture the Flag, rode horses, shot arrows in the archery range, poured sand candles in the beach, made the requisite leather crafts, held 'rap sessions' (there's a term we don't hear anymore) and Bible Study under the trees, drank bug juice, dined on the infamous Sandy Cove Stew and cooked rice krispie treats in a #10 can over a roaring campfire...I could write forever here. Every week was themed-Water Week, Olympic Week, anything Can Happen Week...just to name a few. We called our counselors "Chief" and I loved mine that first year...Chief Judy.

I returned to Sandy Cove two more summers as a camper before entering their CIT (Counselor in training) program. The first summer of the program revolved around a two week 'survival course' and our group of 8 CITs along with our two fearless leaders counselors spent 8 days backpacking across roughly 60 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The very first day, almost the first hour actually, I hyperventilated on the trail in a serious way. I passed out and worried those two counselors quite a lot. I bet they still remember me : ) I recovered (obviously) and stayed on without any more issues but it did get things started with a bang.

My second summer as a CIT I worked at the waterfront, teaching canoeing. The waterfront instructor was an absolute hoot and we had so much fun. I found confidence I didn't know I had and I loved the sense of accomplishment I felt at perfecting a skill. I also loved the fresh air, the exercise, and spending days in the sun. In the final year of the program we were assigned to an age group and I worked as the relief counselor for that group all summer. This meant subbing in different cabins on the regular counselors day off. I was so sure I would be placed with the little ones (papooses)...after all, I'd always loved working with young children and I thought that was where I had the most to offer. The CIT 'chief' saw things differently however and I remember having a moment of panic when she told me I'd be with the squaws (teenagers). But you know what? I've worked and volunteered with teens in all sorts of settings since those days at Sandy Cove...in youth groups, Young Life, scouts, even working in the public schools, and it was at Camp Sandy Cove that I learned to really love that particular age group.

I know this is long but I have a lot of memories and I want to write a few of them here. I went back to Sandy Cove several more summers, both as a counselor and later as a tripper (I do love that term)...As a trip counselor it was my turn to act as one of two fearless leaders on a backpacking trip with a group of young high school girls. I think I learned more about myself on those backpacking trips than perhaps almost anywhere else I've ever been. There is nothing like days and days of hiking in beautiful, rugged terrain and quiet wilderness to have some serious talks with God about who you are and why you are here.

There was a boys camp (5 miles away) and eventually the girls camp was moved there too...the camps were still separate in their day to day operations, they just shared the same large piece of property. And from the counselors perspective it was way more fun to have the boys nearby. Just sayin'

I could write a thousand and one memories from my days at camp but they wouldn't mean anything to someone who hadn't shared in the experience. Roughly 30 years have passed since my last days of summer camp and in the course of those 30 years there have been moments where for an instant, I'm back at Sandy Cove. It might be the smell of a fire, the sight of a sunset on a river, or the sound of a whipporwill singing that does it, but in that moment I am carried right back to those sweet days of camp...I can see the playing field, the chapel on the bluff, the steep path down the hill to the waterfront... I remember silly songs, cleaning latrines, counselor hunts, the camp store, standing at the flagpole, 'waitressing', quiet talks after dark, the stars, the dirt, the bugler's song in the morning and the quiet strum of the guitar at night. I remember candles floating out to sea. I remember the music...always, always there was music.

Two things in particular stand out to me from those long ago summers...the first thing is this-Sandy Cove is the place where God was made real to me. The place where the faith I'd had since early childhood finally became my own.

And the second is this-when you live with people in a setting like camp you develop friendships that are unlike any other. There were summers of laughter. There were moments of heartache. We came from different states, different backgrounds, and different denominations, yet we shared a common faith. We worked, we played, we grew in every way. Including up.

♫ Sandy Cove, camp I love ♫

Rocks and trees and beauties

that are from above ♫

♫Skies so blue

Friends so true ♫

♫Take me back to

camping days at

SANDY COVE ♫

"...but only God can make a tree."

Yesterday it was HOT. And humid. So naturally that would be the day our wonderful landscape crew appeared to begin work on our hillside. Today it is more of the same and I guess they're used to it but I do not envy them one little bit.

For starters, this hillside? It is steep. Very, very steep. I guess I need to back up a little bit and yes I am going to talk about dirt and rocks. Sometimes life is champagne at sunset on a piazza in Italy and sometimes it is sweaty landscapers mixing concrete in the backyard. I could use more of the former btw.

We have a good sized chunk of property. Our front yard is a long, gently sloping, green lawn where dandelions dare not show their pretty yellow heads. The biggest part of our back property is woods, dense and beautiful no matter the season. We also have some lawn out back and so far so good. The trouble spot lies between the back lawn and the woods. In that space we have a steep hillside. Did I mention it is steep because wow, it's steep.

Besides bears, North Jersey is also known for its ginormous supply of rock. Granite in the form of boulders. Boulders the size they grew in Bedrock. Boulders that go deep into the earth and do not want to be messed with or moved without heavy duty expensive equipment. To give you some perspective, the fence in this picture is roughly 5 feet high and the boulders are the same. We have an entire 'hedge' of boulders running across the edge of back lawn where the grass ends. Viburnum and Burning Bush grow and bloom the entire length of the 'boulder hedge' and for the most part block the hillside when you are sitting on the too small deck whose re-do will be Part 2 of our 50 point plan to improve the back yard.

The hillside is a bit scraggly... it's green but nothing worth noting. The deer love it and can eat to their hearts content there. Sometimes I can look out of my kitchen window and see our four deer (well, they feel like ours) prance across the hillside from one end to the other. Because they have plenty to eat on the hillside they don't seem to feel the need to venture into the yard where the 'real' plants are so its a win win.

One portion of this hillside is bare, just dirt and rocks, and its pretty much the steepest portion of the hill. We have had no less than 837 people of varying occupation, background, and opinion come out and give us their take on what we should do to improve this little patch. We could terrace the entire back hillside and that's probably what Donald Trump or Bill Gates would do but that's not an option for us so we're getting creative. Surprisingly its not a drainage problem, it's more of an aesthetic problem.

Anyway, we finally settled on a 'fix' and they got started yesterday. I would have loved to take a picture of the poor guy who had to scale the hillside and stand at the top while the others worked a 'pass the bucket' system to get the rock up to him but I didn't know if he'd appreciate that or not. This was not a quick process in case you are wondering. And did I mention it was 97,000 degrees yesterday?

The rock is in place to prevent further erosion and they built a small stone wall at the base, bringing in topsoil and a beautiful Birch tree. We'll add some flowers around the tree next weekend and Phase 1 is complete.

"I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree."

...Joyce Kilmer