mostly lists: summer fun

Showing posts with label summer fun. Show all posts

August 22, 2011

Avalon of the heart

One of the highlights of our summers here in the US is getting to spend time with our friends in Avalon, NJ. We can always be guaranteed good laughs, mighty-fine food and engaging conversation (not to mention heavy-duty exercise). Avalon is one of my favorite places to take photos!

We were there last weekend. We had a few nice hours on the beach and some great games on the tennis court. But mostly it was a stormy weekend, with amazing colors and light.

Nina basking in the sun.

Ginger keeps watch.

Early morning at the beach

This is one upset seagull

Beach

Nina swimming

Nina fetching her ball in the surf.

Beach buddies.

Storm moving in

View from the balcony

August 2, 2011

Regatta redux

My sisters and I, back in the day, spent a lot of time at the river when our brother was a big rower. We were there, we said, to support our brother, but we had ulterior motives: to swoon over my brother's crew friends. We were so goofy and obvious; we bugged our poor brother to death wanting to know if this one or that one had a girlfriend (or, even worse, "liked" one of us).

This past Saturday, I was once again on the riverbanks to watch another rower: our son Charlie. He did a crew camp for one week and they had a mini-regatta for the parents. It was so fun to see the kids in the boats. Charlie said he learned a lot, and he really seemed to like it.

Watching him race, I was reminded of my brother. They could be twins separated by a generation.

July 10, 2011

Summer makes me feel fine!

Such a lovely weekend and summer so far! It's only the beginning of July, which means there's much more fun to come!

September 17, 2010

Charlie's videos

Charlie and his friend Tristan spent the week before school making videos. Don't be disturbed when you see these. They are a bit violent, but with a certain tongue-in-cheek attitude that I admire. Also, the weapons are completely made by hand using cardboard, tape, spray paint, oatmeal containers, and the like. That in itself is very creative. They used only the camera from the Macbook and then they edited them in Imovie.

Vote for your favorite in your comments if you like. The boys would love feedback!

August 19, 2010

It's all downhill!

Craig's List has been good to me.

This was so true last week when I answered an ad to buy a Schwinn Suburban for $50 in my own little village of Gladwyne. I owned a Schwinn Suburban when I was a teenager (mine was purple!) and ever since it was stolen (I was devastated) I've been looking to replace it.

I replied to the Craig's List ad right away and hoped for the best.

I was thrilled to receive a phone call an hour or two later from the seller. I made arrangements to see the bike. When we got there (Ulf came with me) we completely hit it off with the seller, who was soooo nice and turned out to have a Swedish wife. Small world!

I think the bike is from the late 1970s, very vintagy. I took it to get a tune-up and new tires, and I went to pick it up today. I rode it home from Ardmore, an easy ride as it was mostly downhill. However, the 10 gears helped me climb a long, steep hill without a problem.

I love my new bike. Now all I need is a basket!

When we were growing up, Schwinn was a sign of quality. That's the only brand we ever wanted.

She's a beaut!

August 17, 2010

So mo cation

Emma had this idea of doing a mini getaway with just the moms and the boys.

When Charlie and Tristan (Emma's son) heard that the moms wanted to do a "so-mo-cation" (short for son-mother vacation), where we would do whatever they wanted, they sort of guffawed in disbelief. "That means no outlet malls," they said, "no shopping at all."

I guess they know us all too well. We promised no shopping.

We decided to take a few days in Ship Bottom, NJ, an old-fashioned sort of shore town with lots of charm. We spent a lot of time "together" doing different things. But we also played cards, walked on the beach and went out for lots of meals (did you know that 13-year-old boys are ALWAYS hungry?).

I'm sure the boys would have preferred not to have to suffer the nagging of mothers about sunscreen, hats, healthy meal choices, etc., but I think they enjoyed themselves. The moms definitely had a great time, as always!

Here are some photos, I hope not too many!

Long evening shadows. We had showers in the afternoon and towards evening took a walk to the beach.

The so's .....

and the mo's.

Me and Charlie

Emma and Tristan

Tristan carries Charlie

At the bay

Group pic, getting ice cream

We happened upon this vintage auto show.

July 28, 2010

Craft day!

OMG, we did a craft day the other day and my normally organized space was turned into a chaotic mess! No matter, we all had fun and when everyone left I got down to sewing in earnest. I set out to make this Martha Stewart beach bag. I loved her idea of using a vintage tablecloth, but the last thing i want to do with my coveted collection of 1950-1960's tablecloths is cut them up! No way. So instead i used designer fabric remnants that I get from my secret place down in center city for absolutely free!!!

The kitties were very curious and all over the place, I guess wanting to help, play or cuddle. Sweetpea especially was all over the place!

The bag itself took longer than I wanted to make but i thought the instructions were a bit scant, and it took some time to figure out what went where. The next time I make it it will go faster, definitely. I will also use heavier material as my base because I think the chintz fabric I used wasn't quite stiff enough.

I gave the beach bag away to Sofia for her 14th birthday as she is soon going to Barcelona any day now and will likely be hitting the beach!

What a mess!!!! Sweetpea getting in the way.

Sweetpea cuddling in the fabric

The finished product!

Close up of the fabrics I used. I thought the match was pretty good even though the fabrics were very different. I think it worked.

Sofia on another beach...a real cutie!

July 18, 2010

Greetings from Camp Naomi

Dear Mom and Dad, Visiting Marybeth at overnight camp in the Poconos is a hoot. There are plenty of activities here at Camp Naomi. We especially like the slide. Please can I stay longer??

Me, getting ready to go down.

Splash

Fun!

And here comes Debbie...

Fun!

And finally Marybeth.

Fun!

Morning hug, Evelyn and Marybeth

Morning coffee

September 3, 2009

Mostly feet

Almost the end of summer. School starts next week and we return to routine. Nice, in a way. But I will sadly miss the serendipity of summer, when spontaneity reigns and anything can happen.

I have a million things to do and several parallel lists going. It doesn't seem to calm me.

Some feet photos from my adventures this summer. More photos to come!