Lots of Blocks

I joined a sewing Block Party group at the craft store around the corner.  (an amazing craft store that is dangerously too close to my home). What this means is that each month, all 12 of us make a block for one person's quilt.  When it is your month, you hand out the block pattern and the fabric to everyone, so they can make their block, usually around 12 x 12 inches or so.  At the end of that month, that person gets 12 blocks back that will be put together and become a quilt top! Its so fun!  It is good practice, and I love being able to work with fabric that others selects.  Kind of like trying it out.   Our group is currently making a quilt for a friend of the group who is battling cancer at the moment.  I just finished that block, love it!

I am making progress on my second ever quilt and wanted to show a little peak at the quilt backing.  I decided to spice up the back a little since I had some fabric from the quilt top leftover.  I LOVE this fabric.  It is a lap size quilt for our living room.  I just need to sandwich and quilt.  Oh, and handstitch a binding...I will post a photo of the front when its done!!

Fish and Cake

Mike and I parted ways this past weekend, both with exciting plans.  Mike headed to AC with friends to see Phish and I headed to RI to celebrate Orion's birthday and see the fam.  I had a non-stop weekend, including lunch with grandma, dinner at mom's, night by the fire with the girls and smore's, and a grilled pizza party for Orion's 2nd birthday.   I was so busy that I didn't really have time to get my carmera out until the party.

auntie kay.orion fun time

holly's amazing cake work

b-day boy and sand and chip

grill master and cake extraordinaire 

great nana and o

nanni and o making sand cake

weekend visit

My dad and oldest nephew, Daniel, jumped in the car last Saturday and cruised to New Jersey for a visit and sleepover!  While dad took a little nap to recover from the traffic jam, we took Daniel up to Eagle rock, a favorite place to take visitors when they come to Montclair.  It is way up on Eagle Rock mountain and has a fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline.  There is a 911 memorial and little park up there too.

We had a serious croquet match before, during, and after BBQ'ing.  Daniel had the winning shot right at the end.  Had to be there to understand!! It was a lovely visit, we do love it when you all come to our little home!!

eagle rock flower gardens

mike's historical landscaping lesson

daniel and the skyline

mike and daniel

game number 3 or 6

Quite amazing how times flies.  I remember a week after Daniel was born, seems like it was last month!! What a good kid!!

more beach and rainbows and flowers, less scans

I got in another beach day this weekend.  It was Eva's first ever beach day!  She loved it!! It was gorgeous out, with incredible clouds in the sky.  The white puffy ones, not the dark storm clouds.  And crazy, huge waves all day.

discussing the history of Asbury Park

Eva's first beach day!

Sunday dinner at Donna's and I finally finished the backyard flowers.  I went to my garden at Nancy's, got all of the tools out after a few trips to the shed, started planning summer squash and all of a sudden, it started downpouring.  Gardening ended very quickly.  More this week.

double rainbow!

I had an MRI and CT scan yesterday.  Mike drove me and took a sick day with me.  I never realize how emotionally exhausting it is until I get home and realize I can't do anything. At least that is over!! Hoping for more gardening after work!!

3-day weekend

A day off was long over due.  I managed to squeeze in quite a lot this 3-day weekend.  I worked a bit more on my 2nd ever quilt, gardened with Nancy and Luis for many, many hours, despite the 96% humidity, and worked on our backyard planting area too.

Mike, Jessie, Liam, and I spent a wonderful day at Asbury Park.

Memorial day weekend in New Jersey = going to the shore

So we were a little nervous about the crowds and traffic but the universe was on our side and we flew to the beach, stayed all day and flew right back home! Shane and I have been going to Asbury Park for 12 years now.  Every time I go, I still sense the rich history there.  I have my season pass so let me know if you want to meet in AP!!

Liam, Jessie, Kay

farmers' market strawberry yogurt pops 

getting some gardening done

first dinner 'al fresco' of the season

storm king picnic weekend

Kevin, Holly, and Orion took their new, white van to Jersey for the weekend.  We packed up a huge cooler and spent the day at Storm King.  This was my second trip to this amazing Art Center.  I have been wanting to go back ever since we went almost 2 years ago and have been wanting to take Kevin/Holly there.  It was a gorgeous day and after a yummy picnic, we covered a lot of the 500 acres.  There is just something very magical there, at storm king...

putting picnic away, getting ready to walk through Storm King

my favorite spot at Storm King

When we got up to this hill, overlooking a whole section of Storm King, we sat down and looked out at the sculptures and mountains.  Orion sat down and didn't want to leave the spot.  We sat there and chatted for some time.  It is amazing how I can sit and chat with my nephew now, he is seriously a lot of fun.

this was an amazing stain glass house...impossible to capture the beauty on film though

Spring has sprung

It has been a little wild and crazy around here lately.  Mike and I have both been putting in extremely long days at work.  Just a lot of big deadlines and it has been a little stressful for me.  It is hard to work so hard when I have a decreased energy level from the start...but I am trying to keep up and rest as much as possible.  Consequently, it has been a lot of work and a lot of time on the couch. 

I embrace and savor the less hectic moments as much as I can.  I went to the annual Rutgers Garden sale, one of my favorite days of the year.  I bought 10 different kinds of tomatoes, 4 different kinds of basil, and some pretty flowers.   Taco night at Donna's, always a hit.

Mike and I finally got a tiny break together, packed a picnic and headed to Asbury Park, my favorite jersey shore spot.  It was gorgeous weather and not too crowded and we brought a yummy food.  It is amazing how much a few hours in front of the ocean helps me.  It really is unbelieveable. And cool. We went to see the irises this weekend on Mother's Day.

Mike is studying the plants - "peak or past?"

my favorite one. well, one of my top 10.  too many to choose!

looking at the waves

AP is cool. 

Donna's taco night

Rutgers Garden Sale