...to frame my new prints

...since they finally came in the mail yesterday!

I have been looking for something to put on the wall in my more formal living room.

This room is one of my favorites in the house because:

• it is in the front of the house and thus one of the brightest rooms we have
• the kids never go in this room
• the room is almost always clean because the kids hardly ever go in this room
• when I/we use this room the kids can't usually find us...because they hardly ever go in this room.

The space is used mostly for Mark and I to drink our Sunday morning coffee in and for Amy and I to drink our Friday evening wine in.  I love my antique piano, the old wing back chairs, and my slightly funky-out-of-the-box sofa but the large wall has been empty.

I have been searching for a while to find a print (or two) to put in this space but I wanted it to be somewhat personable.

The ideal print for this space would be a copy of The Viele map.  And while I have several photos of this map I haven't yet taken the time to piece them together to create a large print.

I revised my search to include two of the things I love about New York.  The city and of course Central Park.  I came across this artist who had created this lovely piece featuring New York City.  I contacted her to see if she would create a similar piece featuring Central park and she did.

I was incredibly pleased!

These prints are a little different than something I would ordinarily choose but I love them.

I can't wait until tomorrow morning when:

We'll be sitting nearly undiscoverable (which translates to practically uninterrupted by our cherubs) in our living room drinking coffee while enjoying these lovely pieces of art!

...to order plates

 ...LOTS of them.

It is no secret that I love to entertain.

And I know for sure that I have gotten much better at it over the years thanks to Meghan.

While we were all at West Point the Morrow's made the plunge and purchased oodles of plates.  Dinner plates and salad plates.  And Mark teased Meghan endlessly.

Two sets of thirty-six plates?

Really?

Better for the environment. 

They will be used many times.

          Saves money.

While we were there with the Morrow's at West Point we borrowed their entertaining-ware several times.

Let's fast-forward to this past weekend.  I hosted my first, back-to-the-real-Army soiree.  And while the afternoon gathering was lovely, I barely had enough dinnerware for all of my guests.

And...in just a few weeks I will be hosting another gathering.  This next gathering is sure to have many more guests...

Don't you think it would be even more perfect with coordinating dinnerware?

Well...

Mark did too (without hesitation).

Sooo...

Guess who just ordered a whole bunch of plates?

...to see Sesame Street Live

...courtesy of the USO

The show is traveling around to military posts and the script was written for military kids.

Amy was quick enough to grab tickets for the three little kids when they became available.  So Abbey, Audrey, and their buddy Luke enjoyed a fun afternoon.

Waiting for the show to begin...

Playing with their toys courtesy of the USO.  Every child need a light up spinning Elmo...

as well as a bandanna...

They wore these bandannas around their waists like this all day!

Greeting Cookie-Monster!

The story-line was sweet, the little ones the enjoyed the music, and the moms were grateful this performance was only thirty minutes!

...to host a gathering

...my first back-to-the-real-Army party

The afternoon was lovely.

The guest of honor was very gracious and sweet.

I wasn't involved in the planning of this event until the venue became my home.  And even then, the other two ladies had already seemed to have everything under control and really wanted to provide all of the food.

Thus, my part was going to be easy.

Did I just say that???

Of course since it was supposed to have been simple,  I needed to create extra tasks for myself.  And since I wasn't responsible for food, I was able to focus on other things.

Important things like:

cutting off the ugly plastic hangar thing off of my fern on the front porch

ugly plastic hangar on

good thing I cut it off!

and arranging some fresh flowers

And attempting to make a new signature drink....or two.

Thus creating another one of my signature out-of-control messes:

I highly recommended both of these concoctions found here and here.  

The first one is a fruit cooler recipe that is made with a simple syrup...pretty easy to do if you don't mind the mess of juicing several oranges and lemons.

The second recipe requires 'cold brewing' the coffee.  In my opinion, having made iced coffees in two ways, I don't think that cold brewing is worth the time and effort involved.  And while I thought I was clever in using my Cuisinart to straining the grounds without the water running through the machine...it created a gigantic mess.  

Thankfully...

The kitchen cleaned up pretty well.

And the drinks were a success.

...to get the William a haircut

...and since we were there...

at Walmart
on a Sunday
after church (mass didn't go very well either as you can imagine)
with four hungry kids
by myself
on a payday weekend

why not get BOTH little girls' haircuts as well?

Some tasks I do well.

Others I do with grace.

This task is merely one that I can call complete.

Check.

Thank goodness.

I only took one before photo since his haircut was the only one that I had planned:

I LOVE his hair this long.  But he doesn't.

After:

She was wearing clothes at Walmart at the time of her haircut.

He wanted it even shorter!

Another drastic cut.  It is super cute on her!

...to work in the flowers

...but it had to be a really quick project.

As my day was set to be pretty full.

I gave up my morning run and instead began to tackle this:

a really bad patch-of-grass

Yuck.

I began to dig.  And dig.  In this very hard and dry soil.

This is evidence of why the grass grew so poorly here!

gravel

sand

Grass didn't stand a chance with that fill.

When we were at West Point this weekend I took several plants from Meghan's yard.

And placed them here...

All the space needed next was GOOD new dirt on top.  My fingers are crossed the transplants survive.

I am super pleased with the results.

Now...hopefully housing will be fine with my project as well!

...to share a moment

...from my son this evening at bedtime.

The scene:

The lights are low.  He he so sweet lying there nearly asleep.

I am sleepy too.  My slightly ruffled hair is down around my shoulders.  I lean over to rub my sweet son's forehead and he says:

Mom.  You know you kinda look like a caveman.

(Image below now permeates my thoughts).

You know...here with the dark.  And your long hair down.

(Perhaps this is his vision)

Let's see.  

Nope.  I don't know.

Perhaps I should work with him next on how to compliment the ladies....