Summer Currently in Progress

I have painted the dining room. I took down the old bought-at-Target-because-we-needed-curtains sheers and tab top things. I put the furniture back where it goes. I figured out which cat was liking the hearth as a new litter box and he sleeps in the bathroom at night now.

We've been to the pool once because we've been so busy. And this week it got chilly for pool.

Maeve has done a paint-your-own-pottery girl scout lark (lark: one-day, usually one morning or afternoon, activity). She has also done a lark at a rescue ranch. Sophia has done a cake decorating lark and a make-your-own glass jewelry (the kind you melt in a kiln, at the same place as the pottery) lark.

We went camping with the neighbors. While camping, we went canoeing. The girls experienced dark roads to the bathroom and tent floor slow seepage during a torrential thunderstorm. They survived. While canoeing, we ran aground once and avoided submerged logs and little bits of rapids. We all got very very wet and one morning went out for breakfast because the idea of fire was officially hopeless. Jack London kind of hopeless. And kids played and got along and had fun. Which is why I do this.

We went to the circus. Circus Flora. We sat right under the highwire and one of the Flying Wallendas winked at me as he crossed over, one of the bases of a 4-man pyramid. I was clutching Maeve tightly and I guess I looked as terrified as I really was.

Maeve played with Fay and with Delia. Sophia played with Jane and Kylie. And all the friends on the block.

Sophia continued with Irish dance. Maeve continued with tae kwon do. Piano took a 3 week break.

We picked strawberries. We picked blueberries. We signed up for a phone call when the blackberries are ready.

We played with watercolors. We signed up for, and the girls completed, the summer reading program at the library.

I weeded the garden. I picked carrots and radishes and the girls picked lettuce. I picked some early garlic. We ate garlic scapes. We ate garlic scape pesto. We ate cupcakes and in-season produce and homemade blueberry ice cream. I made a strawberry shortcake of sorts with a cool whip/sour cream filling. That we shared.

We went to a drive-in theater to see Cars 2. Mike almost got me to the tipping point with Dr. Who. Probably soon.

Mike and I started planning a trip to celebrate our 15th anniversary.

I made just over $18 at a yard sale, which was more than I've ever made at a yard sale. Sophia and Maeve bought most of Zelda's little stuff she had out, it seemed, with money from the lemonade stand.

Mike and I made the list of the unfinished house projects we need to get done. He repaired the floor of the porch off our bedroom. I will paint it this week.

The water heater died, but it was only the pilot light and I was able to relight it while my father coached me over the phone. Mystery as to why, but while it was out and we were afraid of the cost it would entail, we felt ok telling the paint estimate guy no to his somewhat ludicrous estimate for our front porch and front windows. I thought to myself, "I can't repair a water heater, but I can paint...." In the end, we fixed the water heater and didn't spend any money on either project. I took a nap to celebrate.

Bevin came over and we sorted all my art stuff from the spring semester's teaching.

I met with the school director and a potential nutrition candidate and things said during that meeting solidified, for me, the place I hold at the school. In a good way. The best way.

I drank coffee. I perfected my iced coffee with milk, such that I will never drink starbucks again without being on a trip and needing the caffeine. Aeropress. Love it.

I lost 7 or 8 pounds. Only eleventy-million to go.

I got my hair cut. You won't be able to tell.

I went out twice with Mike. I signed Leo up for speech evaluation. Maeve starts horse camp tomorrow and is doing a circus arts camp in July when Sophia's on the horses.

Summer is underway.