Favorite New Movie

John and I went out last night to see Julie & Julia (the story of Julia Child and and a woman who works through her cookbook in a year and blogs about it). I was soooo looking forward to this movie and as I learned more about it I had an inkling I would "connect" to the main character very well. Guess I'm just feeling like I need some inspiration in life like she did? My sweet husband will often caress my arm or hand during a movie to communicate something - it means different things at different times. But it is a point of connection for us, communication without words. John does not like to talk or be talked to during the movie or even the previews (even when his wife gets upset during a very scary preview). So as we were sitting there watching the movie first something happened and John gave my arm a little rub to say "That is something you would like." The next time it turned into a little slap on my knee. The next time he flat out said "That is so you!!!" I wasn't the only one feeling the connection. Unfortunately, I think John said that when the main character was having a melt down over not getting a recipe correct and was laying on the kitchen floor in emotional turmoil. Not like me at all!

My Nemesis: The Reappearing Yucca Plant

This spring I wanted to tackle a "small" garden project in our front yard. There is one corner of the front yard that has the best light in the entire yard and I very much wanted to clear the very old yucca plant, weeds, vinca, and no longer flowering bulbs and give it new life. I hacked, and hacked, and hacked at the yucca, eventually creating a hole about four feet long, three feet wide and two feet deep, pulling out all of the exposed root. Yucca roots run deep. I called a gardener friend and he said it was probably fine if I left the rest of it in the ground.

I only half finished that corner garden project because of more pressing yard projects and then vacation season. Sometime in the last couple weeks I realized the yucca had grown back strong and healthy!!! So today I went to the local garden shop and asked for help. They gave me a product that I had to paint on the remaining the roots deep in the ground (knowing it would be impossible for me to pull it all out). This afternoon I opened up the hole again, cleared out the new growth, sat inside the hole and painted poison on every bit of root I could find. I'm so stinkin' sore. And John reminded me that last time I wrestled with the yucca I was sore for two days!

Before our landlords bought this house a couple years ago (unfortunately they spent one year working very hard on making the house "livable" before moving overseas for work), the house belonged to an elderly woman who had let most things go, including the yard. The Kropps did TONS of work in the yard before moving including taking out a big tree in the backyard. We tenderly cared for the new grass put in its place and planted a raised bed full of perennials. But every time we turn around there are new overgrown weeds trying to establish themselves as small trees. I'm scared to even enter the back left corner of the backyard! Weeds taller than me.

Good news is that I scored a MAJOR bargain on end of the season perennials and now I have plenty of flowers for next year for front and backyard! My hope is that I can give the house back to the Kropps having defeated the weeds and with beautiful full (low-maintenance) gardens.

Backyard before tree removal.

Backyard after tree removal. That is the flower garden. I just purchased creeping flowers to plant at the top of the wall to creep down and cover it. I think I actually have to plant them in the neighbor's dirt. Don't tell them, OK?

Acadia National Park

My eagle scout husband is an avid outdoors man. I like the outdoors - would much rather be outside than inside - but alway require having indoor plumbing nearby. So John has accepted that camping with me means that we sleep within 30 ft of the car and about 100 feet from the bathroom. And that makes me a happy camper. Along with one outlet for a hair dryer. I know, high maintenance.

I loved Maine and would go back every summer! Here are some picture highlights.

Started the Maine experience with a stop at LL Bean. Bought a new rain coat and a screen house tent after driving in torrential rain which was expected to continue all weekend!

This is a sandbar that appears every afternoon during low tide. For a couple hours you can walk across to the Bar Island and hike to the top. The picture of Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mtn in the previous post was taken from the summit of Bar Island. When we first began to cross the sandbar the tide had just gone out and we would walk, then wait for more land, then hop over water, then wait. By the time we crossed back, there were cars that had driven out on the sandbar.
This is me looking for shells and pocketing them. John was horrified that I was stealing from a National park. Maybe he took the picture as evidence?

On the summit of Cadillac Mountain. We mostly saw fog.

Hiking around Jordon Pond. Finished the hike at the Jordon Pond Tea House with very famous popovers and lobster stew. My kind of hiking!

Baker Summer

OK, it's time for some updates. Summer 2009 has flown by considering that John and I took three vacations in six weeks. With the 2010 Census approaching John was limited to taking all his leave time during the summer and around everyone else's so it ended up being squished together. Two quick trips and one longer one gave us some good time with both of our famiilies and just each other. Below is one picture from each trip, and I'll post some more.

First, we went to MI to visit my family and while there attended a wedding party for my uncle. I love this picture of my grandparents and great Aunt Mina (even though she's a bit fuzzy.).

Over 4th of July, John and I went camping in Maine. I've wanted to go to Maine for a really long time and it was so fun to have this new type of adventure with John. This picture is of Acadia National Park. We camped just outside the park.


Our last trip was to the Outer Banks of NC with John's family for a week of fun in the sun. We had 2 big beach houses and about 20 people. Fun, fun, fun.

Missing People Everywhere

I'm trying to accept that no matter where I live on the earth, I am always going to be far away from people I dearly love. Here is the list of people that is running through my mind (and don't be sad if you aren't on the list - this is just for today):
Amy in Atlanta; Mom & Michael in MI; McCunes in Denver; Lora in the Springs; all of Chattanooga; Mandy in St Louis; Rachael and Tom in London; Agnes, Andy, and the girls Bible study in Glasgow; Sarah out west; nieces & nephews in MD and TX (Happy Birthday Judah!); Mary who is flying to Ukraine tonight; and Terry in M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i!
Couldn't the world just be the size of New Jersey?

Nursery Murals

We moved into a new church facility about four months ago. Recently somebody offered to paint murals on the nursery wall in hopes of drumming up some business. Jessi Gelber is an incredible artist and is being extremely generous in donating her time and talent to make our nursery rooms a more fun place to be. Here is a small sample of her work thus far. She began in the Baby Chicks and Loving Lambs rooms which explains the farm theme.

THANK YOU JESSI!

Note: This painting has changed numerous times and looks much different than when I took this picture!

I thought this cow might jump off the wall when I first saw it.

Actually a painting of Jessi's pug.


Can't figure out how to turn this picture - but it's my favorite!

Sore Losers Are Sometimes Determined by Birth Order

This is a conversation between my sister and her daughter Ana (age 4) following my sister winning a game of Memory. I should add that Ana has a strong inferiority complex that she is not as smart as her almost six year old sister, Nadia.

Ana (whining): I'm not smart enough.
Lisamarie: Why do you think that Ana?
Ana: Because if I was smart enough I would win every game of Memory!
Lisamarie: But Ana, Mommy is smart too and so sometimes she wins at Memory.

All I have to say is....Like Aunt, like niece! (It's really hard to be the second girl!)

Ana is the middle flower girl. Nadia on the right.

Back to Blogging

So I'm back to blogging....life seems a little more under control and I need to make time for some things such as this. Here's the ramble for today.
John got me Settlers of Catan Traders & Barbarians for Christmas. He got me some other nice gifts but now I think he realizes, there was no need to purchase anything other than this game!
So this is what our dining room table has looked like since Christmas.

Playing games is really good for my sanctification. It is amazing how quickly I pout and crave revenge when John cuts off my raod or steals a port. And the game is absolutely addictive. I'm wondering if I'll burn out on it.....but can you burn out on an addiction?