Kindergarten!

{getting on the bus!}

Big Day here- my youngest, Son H is off to Kindergarten! That smile is for real - he's so happy to step out on his own. This independent one has never had one bit of separation anxiety!

Me? From 9:00am to 3:00pm my day is now free. I have the time now to pursue things I haven't had time for in the last 11 years I've been raising my little munchkins. It does feel like a new leaf turned. I plan on doing a lot more designing, a lot more connecting with friends and peers, and a lot more daydreaming...

Loretta

Hang On Summer - Kayce Hughes Sale

It's raining today, Labor Day is past and Fall is just around the corner. A few red leaves have even hit our driveway.

But if you want to catch a bit more Summer, head to KayceHughes.com and stock up during her latest Sale.

{Sleeveless Nantucket Dress in White Twill with Red}

The clothes Kayce designs are modern with vintage flair. A smart cropped cardigan could carry this dress into Fall. (I'll take the wallpaper, as well!)

{Sleeveless Party Top with Blue and White Flower Bouquet}

Kayce's Bears and Pears children's clothes are adorable. (She has seven children, so she's quite child-savvy - read her story in this online Summer 2011 issue of House of Fifty.)

{Vintage Knit Sun Set - Pink and White Stripe with Green Scotty}

..and Summer baby clothes as on sale as well! So sweet! Here's hoping for a bit of Indian Summer for everyone this month.

Loretta

(This is not a sponsored post - I just admire these clothes and am so happy to share them with you!)

Our Backyard Flooded From Irene

{not so charming}

I think everyone in New Jersey, New York and Vermont is rethinking why they bought a property adjacent to a "charming" creek after Irene.  Here's a photo of our backyard during the storm. It looked like a small pond, with a fast flowing stream running through it.

{The Dowerskill Creek on a better day}

I can't find my camera's battery charger to charge the battery and take a picture of the creek at normal levels, but here's an earlier winter photo. 

What was scary about this storm was we had about 5" of rain, but what would happen if we got 11" like Vermont, or 13" like the Catskills? Would my cute little creek breech the culvert under the road downstream and have to flow over the road? Then I hate to imagine how much water would fill our lower level.

Loretta

p.s. We had a little water flowing in our basement, not from the creek, but seeping in from the ground. The dehumidifiers are still going before I clean it out.

Waiting Out Irene

{lunch today}

Husband and I just got back from a three-day getaway in Vermont to celebrate our fifteen wedding anniversary. We had the most marvelous time! Husband's parents graciously took the kids, and right now I'm waiting while he picks them up.  I've made a quick meal of what we brought home from Vermont - blueberries, bread, goat cheese, veggies... We ate lunch like this the whole trip - just stopping at roadside stands and general stores and grabbing what looked tasty.

{paying by the honor system, roadside in Putney, Vermont}

Hurricane Irene's heading our way and we'll feel the effects tonight.  How lucky we were to have good weather for our anniversary trip! In the Albany, N.Y. area we are on a Tropical Storm warning, and don't expect to get hit as hard as the areas to our south and east. I'm thinking of of those who are in a more dangerous path of this storm and my thoughts go out for a safe weekend to all.

Loretta

Polishing Jewelry Earwires

I thought you'd like to see a bit of the process of making jewelry - the little spheres, ovals and pins in my hand are stainless steel shot.

The "shot" is used to polish metal. Add the shot and a few drops detergent to a tumbler along with the metal to be polished. Here I'm polishing some sterling silver earwires I made!

Loretta

Labeling - My Dad and A Sharpie

Our Adirondack camping vacation is a big family affair. Here's some more photos from our trip this summer. Take a look at my parent's gear - and what happens when my Dad meets a black Sharpie marker:

{boat warning}

{how many teaspoons of hot chocolate mix?}

{supplies}

{camp stove warning}

{hammock warning}

My grandmother H put up with her husband and his black marker. Now it's my Mom's turn. Do you think this is hereditary? One day I may wake up and "label" everything!

Loretta

Adirondack Vacation Pics

{beautiful site - Floating Battery island}

{the water is SO clear!}

{bliss}

{plug your nose!}

{breakfast!}

{guests on the dock}

{morning sunrise}

{after 12 days, packing up to head home}

Hope you enjoyed our Lake George vacation pictures! Where did you go this summer?

Loretta