"On the Go with The Howell Family"
And so the paint strip writing idea, while good, doesn't really fit into a week on the go. Will have to revisit that writing exercise on days I am blocked. Today, there is no time to be blocked. There isn't even really time for me to be doing this. We came home for about 18 hours, and are headed off again.
Today is my cousin Matt's graduation pig roast in Buffalo, and time to see Grandpa, Aunt Mary, Uncle Dan, Dan Jr., and goodness knows who else. Then we're staying in Niagara Falls tonight and "doing Falls stuff" tomorrow. I haven't been to the falls in years so I am interested to see how it has changed. I mean, the falls are probably still there and all, but I hear the area is built up a lot. Regardless, we will surely have fun...we always do!
....time to go!

...so it is funny how you have to KNOW your passwords in order to write online when you are away! I rely WAY too much on cookies!

Wednesday was "go down to Lansing but we aren't really sure what needs to be done" day, Thursday was "Tim moves Todd and Kate day and Cheryl hangs with the kids day," and today is "Come home so we can go away to Buffalo/Niagara Falls" day. It is funny how days seem long and pointless and just full of reading and laziness, and then all of a sudden are turned on their ear!

Two observations, big heavy ones, of the last two days...

If ANYONE in 1988 had told me that one day, in 2010, I would be joyously babysitting Todd Howell's third born child AS my husband, Todd's brother, helped him to move into their parent's house, I'd have rolled my eyes and said "Um, yeah..."

and...

One should never start to discuss the overall plot and themes of the Harry Potter series with their 12 year old at 11:15 pm, because it invariably becomes a conversation that bleeds into the next day!

G'Nite!

...today a pink hued paint strip...and perhaps I was also inspired by our bookgroup meeting? It was a great day with you, girls!




A little bit of Pink Chablis never hurt anyone. Trashy pink wine for sure, the type one might mix into a spritzer. Her wine snob of a boyfriend would have a hissy, but to her it was just good fun wine. There was a beautiful Pink Bloom in the vase on her dresser, and La Mademoiselle couldn't help but be joyful and happy. After a beautiful, sunny summer's day, it was going to be a great night. The air was soft and sultry, and she was heading OUT with the girls!

She painted her lips a deep Wineberry and giggled a bit. Fun wine...fun lipstick...what more could one ask for? As she gave her face a final check and her hair a final fluff, she grabbed her new bright pink purse. Pink surely was factoring into this evening. Maybe a sign? Maybe just a coincidence? Whatever it was, she was happy to throw her purse up and over her shoulder. It was time to head out, have some fun, and perhaps bring home a Keepsake. It was going to be a great night.

I suppose the teacher in me is coming out, as I am giving myself a little writing task today.

On Friday, as we came home from our Mother/Daughter movie night, Araya gave me several paint samples, for whatever reason. I have always loved these, and seriously, if I am at the hardware store, whether I am in the midst of a painting project or not, will spend time at the display, and probably stuff a few in my purse. Of course I am drawn to the gradations of color, but then there are the great names! One of the strips she gave me had some particularly good ones, and gave me the idea of a writing task where one had to fit said names into a cohesive piece. So that is what I am up to today...here goes...

As I woke up, groggy from the night before, I poured my coffee, and popped toast in the toaster. I thought off on where the days had been, and where this day was going, as the butter melted and my Glazed Toast glistened with goodness in the mid morning light.

I flipped on Food Network, and some young thing was making Pastel Coconut Cupcakes. Certainly a project for someone, but way too fussy for me, so I switched the channel and tuned in, but out, to Regis and Kelly for a celebrity soaked while. I began to make some mental lists; get dressed,do some laundry, get to store for groceries so family doesn't starve. The day would have some form, but beyond that, what?

As the gossip filled hour of power was wrapping up, I got up, and made my way to the kitchen, aware that if I did not get moving, my summer of Faded Perseverance would kick in like usual. Without knowing how, I'd be at 8 pm, with little accomplished but a book being read. It had happened before and would happen today. With that in mind, I decided to venture outside to see what my husband was up to.

He was digging a trench behind the garage. Hardly interesting to me, but, surprisingly, engaging to our 12 year old. I decided to leave well enough alone, and walked over to our hydrangea bushes. There was one particularly gorgeous Garden Bloom, so I went inside, grabbed some scissors to clip it, and then put it in some water for us to enjoy. There is just something about fresh cut flowers.

At that moment, my daughter came down, wanting me to tie the Satin Ribbons, from her new renaissance crown, around her head. Oh to be young and so able and wanting to just live in a little world of fantasy. Garland affixed, she ran back to her room, scenario in her head, ready to jump back into her world. With everyone else in my family thusly occupied, the question still remained, what to do with MY day.

I went back to my little spot, the kitchen, and grabbed a cookbook from the shelf. I can lose myself in one of those as well as anything, and I spent the next hour or so flipping from one Mouthwatering recipe to another, having fun, but purposeful fun at that, as I crafted a menu for the week, and a grocery list for the day. Wow! The day was taking form, just as predicted.

Then I sat down to Sound Off at my blog. With my family happily busy, and my own responsibilities underway, there was knowingly a great day ahead!

(THAT by the way, was WAY FUN, and may just be my theme of the week! R's of Summer I believe I may have finally kicked you to the curb. Hardware store, you have made your way onto my list of stops for today!)

Renaissance.
...and it seems that I can NOT escape this R's of Summer thing as we went to the Renaissance Faire today! It was a blast! We used to go every summer in our pre-kid years, then went in 1998 when Devin was a baby, and in 2000, I believe, with Kathy and Barry, when Ben was a baby, but that was our most recent time until now.

We've wanted to go for the last several years, knowing Devin in particular would love it, but for whatever reason...other plans, laziness, bad weather...it just hasn't happened. Today, going in, Dev was doing the normal 12 year old banter, along the lines of things being dumb and boring and all, but going out, he was all smiles and making plans for going back next year, in costume! Funny how things happen like that again and again. After all, this was the kid that, in third grade, just really wasn't interested in going to DisneyWorld. I did say to him tonight, do you think you MIGHT be able to get on board with mom and dad when we suggest things we think you might enjoy? I got a grunt and a half smile.

After sending the kids up to bed to read, Tim and I toasted to our bad parenting with our 18th Sterling Renaissance Festival mugs. We got them on our first anniversary, which we spent at the Faire. Today's festival was the 34th. I know it is cliche, but whew, time really does fly!

Reunion.
...OK, but before we leave the R's of Summer behind...
Today was Tim's Grandma Colby's family reunion at Green Lakes State Park. Kids ran around all day with cousins, and adults reminisced and reconnected. On the way home, we were replete with thanks that the torrential rain held off until we were driving route 481.
(couldn't resist!)

Remember.

I've been thinking on my R's of Summer theme today, and realize it could go on and on and on. Still, I feel it needs to end. It has been a fun week, and has allowed me to return to a bit of routine with my blog, but I need to put down my crutch and ramble on in my own way.

Today as well, I feel like, humorously enough, I revisited every R that was examined during the week.

Recharged - As I slept in until 9:30.
Read - As I finished Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven...couldn't put it down after the half way point. Oddly enough, it's a memoir...remembrances from a backpacking trip gone wrong.
Resurrected - As I am headed to the movie "Beezus and Ramona" tonight with friends and their daughters...such fun to relive my childhood literary loves with my daughter.
Replayed - As I let the kids suck TV a lot today, but wondered to myself, how many times DO they replay episodes of Spongebob on Nick?
Relaxed - As only a rainy day can allow you to do, if you let it.

So fare thee well, R's, and if I need to get my blogging groove back again, I'll know you're around!