weekend recap, june 10

1. doors open | 2. lamplight companion | 3. TS Andrea | 4. National Donut Day | 5. Really, really the last day of school | 6. Donut holes | 7. Strawberries | 8. My mom's double boiler | 9. Garden Center = Neel's happy place  | 10. Room rearrange | 11. Windows open | 12. Cal goes campaigning | 13. Tabletop | 14. Dessert | 15. Tabletop | 16. New view | 17. Violet by our side | 18. Sunday Breakfast | 19. A little shopping | 20. Norfolk Southern | 21. Evening poolside

I had a moment on Sunday afternoon after we'd been running around all day when I thought, Summer, we're doing it wrong.  But then we had dinner at the pool Sunday night and dessert with our neighbors, and I felt better. We might get the hang of it after all.

Tropical Storm Andrea was a bit of a bust around here, which is a good thing I suppose, but Callum and I both like just a wee bit more excitement out of our storms. No worries, though! The Atlantic Hurricane season runs through November and seems to be lasting longer each year. (No major destruction, please. Just enough to make us stock up on Twizzlers and wine, pleaseandthankyou.) Fortunately, the rain was light enough to allow us to head out to school so the boys (Cal and our neighbors) could pick up their grades. Now the year really IS done. And the best part? When I surprised them by pulling into the KrispyKreme parking lot. How can three teenage boys not know it's National Donut Day? Seriously. 

We had some friends for dinner Saturday night, so I got up early and made dessert. While I was working downstairs, I could hear the rumble of things moving around above me (in our bedroom). In typical Neel fashion, he took a barely mentioned idea (rearranging our bedroom) and forged ahead (he rearranged our bedroom). It's all good. Back to where we had it when we first moved it, and the room feels bigger and more full of light. I only woke up disoriented one time Saturday night!

We ended up not doing the dumplings. Just couldn't muster the energy for some reason, and it was such a nice evening that it was more pleasant to sit outside with our cocktails and appetizers while Neel (and Thea Turbo McFatty) managed the grill. And about that dessert? This one's a keeper, people. Not too difficult, but the presentation makes it look like you slaved for hours. Perfect for a warm summer night.

I may have done a little shopping on Sunday. I feel a little closer to having the clothes we need for the trip, but my biggest coup was a pink trench coat at Eddie Bauer that I got for half off. London, you can't beat me now! Still, I came home tired and footsore and feeling like I hadn't done the weekend (or summer yet) quite right. So I threw together some wraps and we headed straight to the pool. Dinner there as the sun was going down and our neighbors came and went was just what I needed to remember, Oh yeah, it's summer. We know how to do this. I still can't quite believe there's no homework or getting up early. That's about the best feeling in the world, isn't it?

weekend recap, memorial day 2013

1. Morning walk | 2. What I'm doing right now? Cleaning the house for Neel to come home. | 3. The start of Life Skills Summer | 4. - 6. Airport time | 7. Welcome home supper | 8. My favorite kind of Saturday night | 9. Lucy loves Papa | 10. Morning walk with Neel | 11. Double trouble | 12. Neel's favorite dessert...for breakfast | 13. Summer office | 14. Exam prep | 15. Office mate | 16. Salad days | 17. My river, low tide | 18. Supper salad | 19. Block party | 20. Bulls eye | 21.  Bounced out of the party.

Neel's home! We're so glad to have Papa back! I did some heavy lifting on the house cleaning on Friday (read: great pantry & fridge cleanout) so all Cal and I had to do on Saturday was actually clean the house. Callum was a trooper. When he got up, I showed him my list, and he took several things off of it for me. And the ironing! I showed him once, and right then and there he ironed all of his own clothes. Can't. Even. Tell. You. what a difference that makes for me. We made Neel his favorite pie for a welcome home dinner, showered and hightailed it to the airport to walk in right as he texted me that they had landed.

I love it when that happens.

I'm not sure if it was the brief duration of his trip, the fact that it stays light so late in Sweden or the fact that Neel's an Iron Man, but he came home feeling not terribly jet lagged (and as I write this he seems fully back on US time and fully recovered.). We had a punchy dinner (including this wonderful salad from Miss Farmhouse Home!) with lots of laughing (apparently Neel gets pretty giggly when he's tired!) and watched the Phillies with a neighborhood friend of Cal's. The dogs especially are glad to have him home.

Long walk Sunday morning, just the way I like to start the day, and I worked outside on the computer while Neel worked in his garden. It had taken quite a beating from the endless rains we'd had all week, but things are already ship shape. Exams are looming, so in between peeks at another Phillies game (it's too hard to watch it in one sitting) Cal is studying. I'm ready for summer and school to be over. How about you?

An over the fence chat with our neighbors prompted a potluck cookout that grew somewhat organically. It was a gorgeous night. By the time all was said and done, we had a ton of food and a crowd of kids running around (including one bad dog who wouldn't listen, kept begging for fish and had to be sent home), and it felt like we really were on the cusp of summer.

It's Memorial Day. In this town which has a heavy military presence, that means a lot. It means a lot everywhere. If Callum hits the books hard, he and Neel will watch WWII movies all afternoon. I think I need to find a cookout.

I'm sure nobody is around reading this today, and that's fine! I hope you're out having fun today. I'll be back tomorrow with photos from Neel's trip to Stockholm!