San Francisco:part two

As we all know traveling with children can be fun and exhausting at the same time.  My husband and I have made it a point to show the boys as much as possible before they are out on their own.  They are confident travelers and appreciate a new experience when offered to them.

The last few year that we have vacationed we stepped away from the hotel model and have rented through VRBO.  Renting a home offers us the space that we all need at the end of a long day exploring.

 Last year, when we traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming we were lucky enough to find a beautiful home overlooking the town of Jackson.

 This year, we immersed the boys into city living by renting a two level apartment right in the middle of San Francisco.  Again, the space and the privacy of their own room helped to eliminate the nastiness that can occur at the end of a long day.

 I'm always a bit nervous to send off the check or charge my credit card to someone I don't know.  But VRBO has a good advice page on being safe with the people you rent from. It's a good thing to always try to speak to the owners on the phone first to make sure they are legitimate. 

 Unfortunately, we ended up in a hotel for the last two nights of our trip because of scheduling.  And, as always, even with having connecting rooms, the hotel demons were out and the sharing of a room did not go as nicely as our stay in the apartment.  What is it, with kids and hotels?

So, if you are planning a trip soon, check out this alternative to hotel stays.  I think you might be pleasantly surprised!

Question....

Hey everyone! I'm here, but really busy.  As you can see I've been making a few adjustments with the blog.  I do want my header to spread across the top which probably means I need to go in and adjust the HTML. Right? Anyone know a simple way to do that, or can point me in the right direction on-line to show me how.

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures below.  I donated my photography skills to a local silent auction. The high bidder has a beautiful garden.  It's been fun to walk along the flowers.  I need to go back to get the morning light...enjoy!

Roller Coaster Days...

Well hello!  I didn't mean to stay away so long and probably have about three readers left, two of them being family members.  But, it is what it is and to tell you the truth, I've stayed away because I figured you didn't want to hear me go on and on about the difficulties of raising teenage boys.

The gray hair is coming in fast and furious now and my hair stylist and I are becoming good friends.  The emotions are high around here due to final exams and end of year projects.

You know what they say about that frontal lobe of the brain being slow to develop?...I think it might have stopped in my oldest's.  Geesh, it has been a frustrating time.

So I leave you with a few pictures of the last week.

The weather has been good and the activities plentiful.  

Send good thoughts that I make it through to June 15th.  

...or maybe just bottles of wine!

5 things...

My husband and I are saying good-bye to a good friend this week.

A woman our age that was taken much too young.

A woman full of life and much spirit that touched each and every person that she came across.

I just needed to see five pictures of beauty to remind me that there is goodness and hope in this world, when things seem so unfair.

We will miss you Patty but know that you live on in each and every one of us.

We Interrupt this post...

to bring you not much.

If you have been anywhere online today you have seen the mayhem of the SOPA and Protect IP Act.

Read up about it.  It will affect you and your everyday dealings on the net. 

If you haven't found an article to read, let me help.

Go here, here, over here and here.

I'll be back tomorrow to share the chocolate cake recipe that I just made. yum!

Taking a Break

The world has been catching up with me these last few weeks.  Two boys in three different hockey programs, the holiday season arriving too quickly and planning for a huge surprise. 

Now that the boys are older we are transitioning into new and different holiday traditions,  

I envision out holidays (I know I shouldn't type this, but here goes) a little more laid back and not as hectic.  

I'm hoping to enjoy myself a bit more...we'll see.

But with that laid back attitude, I've decided to take a few things off my plate until January.

One of those things is this space.

I love it here and the people that it has connected me to, but I also need to get a few things done.

I will still be around and most certainly, I will be reading your blogs, but maybe not commenting.

I will still be at Flickr, Pinterest and of course at Twitter.

Until January, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and I will see you in 

2012!

A PSA....

If you left a comment and don't see it, it's because I keep deleting them by accident.  

I bought a new mouse and the wireless connection is not all that great. 

I go to click on what I want and my cursor moves suddenly just as I click. 

Presto! Something important vanishes!

I apologize and hope to get things back in working order soon.

Memorial Day 2011

Take time to remember... and say thank you.

Link Love...

This week the PTA hosted a morning presentation discussing technology in the classroom. The teacher that presented is an outstanding teacher and did a great job with the parents that attended. One of the terms he used was "digital native" as he was describing our students. I've been thinking a lot about that term and what it means for my boys. This connected world is the only world they know. Sorta bittersweet if you think about it. Waiting is not in their vocabulary. Whatever they want is at the touch of a button. I often wonder, how to tap into that spirit and how to slow it down a bit too.

The here and now generation has a great amount of energy. I see it in my kids all the time. They dream something up and run to the Internet for research. BUT, if it can't be attained at that moment, the disappointment can be monumental. How do we teach our kids to be patient, resilient, calm and understanding? To know that at times they must wait, or maybe even fail.

This past week's events have caused me to pause and examine how different the world is now from when I grew up. I grew up with many of the same events my kids are experiencing: a war, recession, gas lines, fear of a nuclear episode, be it from enemies or a nuclear meltdown. But, there is one huge difference. I didn't have it in my face all. the. time. Sure I thought about it, discussed it with my friends, wore the silver POW/MIA bracelets, and did sheltering drills in school. And then I went my way, playing outside until my mom rang the bell to come home.

So, I think kids are resilient more than we think. In fact, I think they are probably numb from all the information that they know. My kids ask questions, know a whole lot more than I did at their age and still play outside. My thought is, are they so over saturated from the information that they don't even process the information anymore.

With this 24/7 connection, do we need to have them step away, so they can learn the idea of compassion and kindness-or is that being built into them as they see and hear of these events?

Forgive me for my ramblings. Just some things that I've been thinking about. I couldn't post links for fashion or food today. Today, I'm lucky to be a mom, daughter, wife, sister and friend to those around me.

I'll be keeping those in Japan in my thoughts as they recover and will continue thinking about my boys as they navigate through this ever-changing world.

Some places to donate for the Japan disaster.

Also, please remember that New Zealand and Haiti are still recovering from their disasters.

The American Red Cross

Shelter Box

Save the Children

Doctors without Borders

Happy Summer!

Summer is in full swing here at Upper Pond. Late nights, sleeping in, golf, friends, hiking, boating and a very relaxed home has helped up to start the summer off with a bang.

As soon as school ended (and let me tell you, it seemed as if it would.never.end) we hopped in the car and made a mad dash to Washington DC. This destination has been on our to-do list for a very long time. We stayed in Alexandria, VA and made the short trip into (via the Metro) each morning. The boys loved every minute of our adventure.

Fourth of July turned out to be pretty cold around here. In fact the whole summer has been below average in temperature. But having good friends around, helped make the festivities warm in spirit!

My husband is still home, but has mellowed a great deal. He has been able to relax, do projects around the house, enjoy the boys and best of all smile again! I haven't seen his smile in a very long time and it reminds me of our earlier days together. Job offers are beginning to come in and it looks like we will not have to move. A welcome relief for the boys and quite frankly, us.

I've even picked up the knitting needles again, making me quite happy.

Not sure how often I will be around, but am working on some ideas for the blog once I find myself alone again. Enjoy!

Taking A Break

If you haven't noticed, I'm taking a short blogging break. Having the husband at home has upset many routines. Not sure if the big corporate guys understand how laying off the employee, can causes ripple effects through the whole family. My little guy, who lives by structure and routine, has had a hard time with all of the changes. I need to focus my attention on all the "guys" in the house and try to find a little "me" time for myself. I'll still be at Flickr and Facebook and will stop in here from time to time when I have the chance. Enjoy the rest of Spring and I will see you soon!

Smitten by...

habit

if you haven't already seen it

go check it out.

Yay! Siobhan!

Hope you all get out to see the movie New In Town. Our friend Siobhan plays a supporting role in the movie. You've seen her as the bus driver in Forest Gump, the farmer's wife in Men In Black and the mom in Holes, just to name a few. Tonight, family and friends get to see a private screening. Hopefully the snow will stop soon so I don't have to drive through a blizzard to help Siobhan celebrate her latest accomplishment.

She stopped at our local TV station to do a promo. She is hysterically funny in person! She comes home every summer so her kids can get out of the city. We never talk about her acting, giving her the privacy that she needs, yet we all are dying to ask about certain people.

What I like best about Siobhan is that she's a great mom first before anything else. She picks her roles, so her kids can be proud of her and has turned many down because of the sleaziness of it all. She admits that she probably could have made a lot more money had she compromised her morals and values. Well done Siobhan! I'm looking forward to this evening!

Added later: Okay..I know the reviews are really bad, but please support my friend. Tough break for her...but she really is a good actress.

Jane #1

Taken on my in-laws 50th anniversary celebration

Jane was really sick here, but somehow managed to pull herself up on the day of the party.

We glitzed her up...which she never did for herself. She was a farm girl through and through.

The Little Ship
I stood watching as the little ship sailed out to sea. The setting sun tinted her white sails with a golden light, and as she disappeared from sight a voice at my side whispered, “She is gone”.

But the sea was a narrow one. On the farther shore a little band of friends had gathered to watch and wait in happy expectation. Suddenly they caught sight of the tiny sail and, at the very moment when my companion had whispered, “She is gone” a glad shout went up in joyous welcome, “Here she comes!”

My mother-in-law.

We shared the same name...first and last.

She was Jane #1 and I'm Jane #2

February 24 1935-October 31, 2008

Black-eyed Susan's from my MIL garden. Her favorite flower.

My MIL is in her last days of Parkinson's Disease so I'm going offline for awhile. Please, when you get your solicitations from all the non-profits at the end of the year, consider donating to the National Parkinson's Foundation. It is a horrible, debilitating disease that is so close to being cured. Will see you when I'm able.

Etsy Find

all photos courtesy of paperedtogether.etsy.com

Found this seller over on etsy this am while looking for some holiday letterpress stationary.

Krista Stout is her name and she has some really cute and different paper.

My job is complete this Saturday...now go...spend some money!

Happy Saturday!

Meme

Okay I was tagged by Andrea! Have fun learning about me and play along if you like!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up

Random things about me.

1. I have never been overseas because I have a fear of flying.

2. I saw Princess Diana in Toronto years ago before she announced her separation from Prince Charles. She was so close to me I could have touched her. But of course I didn't because she was absolutely beautiful and then again you don't touch the Princess of Wales.

3. I could eat pizza every single day of the year.

4. I LOVE to yell at referees...but of course I don't...most times.

5. I suck at drawing and my kids tell me so.

6. I hated high school but LOVED college and I'm not talking the academic parts!

So there you have it!

Now I have to go and attend to the children...what's that you ask? Did I say children? Why of course I did. Old hurricane Ike reared his ugly head in our neck of the woods last night and over 50,000 homes are without power...so that means NO SCHOOL!

The boys weren't even ready for a "wind" day. They are still in the "I love school more than life itself" mode.

I hope and pray for the people that were in Ike's path. After last night, with sustained winds between 30-40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph, I can't even imagine what it must have felt like to be in the direct path.

Hopefully, relief will come quickly.

Lunch Today!

Found this in this month's Country Home...it was quite tasty and will definitely make it again! Enjoy!

Chicken Apple Salad Sandwich

start to finish 25 minutes

• 1 7.5-oz pkg.Tyson Frozen cooked chicken breast strips...thawed. (i actually found these in the regular meat section)
• 1 large granny smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 1/3 c. dried cranberries
• 1 stalk celery chopped
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 1/3 c. fat-free or light mayo
• 1/3 c. fat free or light sour cream
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt and ground pepper
• whole wheat bread

makes four sandwiches

Combine first five ingredients together. In another small bowl mix next five ingredients together. Stir wet ingredients into chicken mixture. There you have it! Yum!

As I was typing this I remembered a job I had in my late 20's when I needed a bit of extra cash. A well known chef in our city hired me to transfer all his recipes onto the computer. It was a pretty easy gig that got me a wonderful free meal and great money. Typing the fractions out, made me realized that it wasn't a job that I loved so it pushed me harder to find a better paying teaching position (is there such a thing?). I only wish that I had made a few copies of his recipes for myself. I hear he went on to own a wonderful well known restaurant and has made quite a name for himself.

An Extreme Day!

On Tuesday we traveled to Geneva, NY to view the tear down of a house for the upcoming season of Extreme Makeover-Home Edition.

It all started the night before. The boys created signs to have autographed and to use to catch the eye of the camera people.

But when we arrived, no one was holding any signs and of course the boys were too cool to be the only ones using them so they quickly went away.

So here's the house...a 150 year old dilapidated farmhouse. I know...reuse, recycle etc...Not sure what the condition of the inside was like...I guess we will have to wait for the show to air.

So the reason this family was picked was this: the father was an inspiring boxer and broke his back on a construction job. So...no more boxing in his career. But instead of giving it up, he opened a boxing center for troubled youth, adopted one of those young kids, coached a few Olympic hopefuls...while using all his money that he earned at his day job...a counselor at a local high school. From the gossip I've heard about this family (my mother lives in the same town) it seems as if this is a really deserving family...can think (which at times in this show I'm not quite sure about that area) and will be able to maintain this home. Don't think we haven't talked about the flip side of being on a show like this. My husband is and evil auditor! It's a constant discussion around here!

Anyway ...all the "stars" of the show were there:

Ty

Michael

Ed and the woman whose name I can't pronounce.

and John. He's the guy with the bowtie. The builder hails from my small village and his daughter is in fourth grade with Ry. Many of the sponsors and tradespeople live in my area so we have many connections. Also, I have many friends that signed up to be volunteers. Although, I read in the paper last night that the house is 3-5 hours behind because people are blowing off their time slots because they don't want to drive the 40 miles to get to the site. Ahhh, I guess they want volunteering to be easy and convenient for them.

It was interesting to see what exactly went into filming the episode. Matt is an inspiring film director and walks around with his video camera up to his eye all day long. It was important for me to take him to see this and show him that one shot is not all it takes to record a three minute slot of the show.

He, of course brought his video camera along and shot Ty as Ty was knocking down the house.

Geneva loves having all this activity in their town. It is a pretty desolate upstate town that if the summer tourists never came or the college wasn't there, it would not be a good place to live( sorry mom). This has been good for their economy and feeling proud of the place where they live. No matter if you like the show or have intense dislike (which I understand) it has had positive effects on the community.

Plus...it was a great day trip for the boys!