Friday, June 12, 2009

In a week my husband and I leave for Maine. I can honestly say I am looking forward to the drive. We have traveled to so many places this past year it will be almost “novel” to drive for three days! With all of our various trips, I feel like an expert on airports! So I thought I would provide you with my opinions and critique of the airports we have passed through this past year.
London Heathrow. Don’t even think about bringing anything in your one-quart plastic bag that is over three ounces. The security is very strict! I felt like we were cattle being herded!
Bermuda. Everyone seemed to know everyone. It was very welcoming at the airport. In the dead of winter it was nice to hear, “Welcome to the island.”
Miami. The airport had a wonderful Cuban restaurant. I can’t remember the name of it, but everyone we asked (that worked in the airport) suggested this one particular place.
Rome International. The most organized airport I have ever been in (can’t be said about the regional airport!).
Little Rock. Our flights have always been delayed there. They don’t seem to have enough staff.
Philadelphia. The airport looks like they ran out of money before they finished it. It’s small and easy to get around though.
Boston. Getting through security is a complete circus. It’s extremely disorganized. We could not find a single person that was helpful, or even civil!
Cayman Islands. It’s a very tiny airport. Build up those muscles; you will have to carry your bags off the plane.
Dallas/Ft. Worth. I used to think it was an organized airport. I now find it very big and confusing!
Chicago. Call me prejudice. I know O’Hare is referred to as “Camp O’Hare,” but I like it! Of course, if I get stuck there, I can just go home! I do have two complaints though. They need to have more security lines open and usually walking to your gate can take quite a long time because the airport is massive.

Posted by Mary at 01:56 PM CST

Friday, May 15, 2009

It has been a long time since I added a new post. I do however have a very good excuse. My oldest daughter married last month in Italy! Our family flew over there for a week. My husband and I hosted the guests who came for the wedding three different nights. One night we went to my son-in-law's favorite pizza place in Orvieto, the next night was wine tasting, and the third night was the reception. My daughter planned the entire weekend. I must say, it was amazing! She thought of everything. The reception was in what had been an old monastery. It overlooked the the hills and vineyards below. It was truly beautiful!
You might be wondering then why I have a "very American" picture posted here. Well, after we came back from Italy, my husband and I flew to Philadelphia. He was asked by a seminary in that area to join them and teach there, so we are moving! We will stay in the Chicago area for one more school year then move. The one thing I can say for sure is that our lives certainly haven't been boring these past two years!
On another note, I am trying to get my hands on some pictures to post from Italy. You would think with two professional photographers in the family that would be easy, but it's not!

Posted by Mary at 03:26 PM CST

Monday, April 6, 2009

This past week when my husband and I returned home from our weekend trip, we noticed that a robin had made a nest right outside our kitchen window. It is perched on top of a trellis that, to me, seems dangerously low! I have loved watching her make her nest with such precision and dedication. Last night it snowed here four inches (where is spring?!?) and I noticed that she remained dutifully steadfast sitting on her nest as the snow came rapidly falling down. I will keep you updated on the latest robin family news.

Posted by Mary at 04:12 PM CST

Saturday, March 21, 2009

This past week my husband and I returned from a week in the Cayman Islands. I think I could definitely get into year round warmth! It was so beautiful there. Because it was a pure vacation, I had plenty of time to wander on the beach and notice things. The most amazing thing I discovered was the pattern on the beach the waves make after the tide ebbs and flows. The water as it’s washing up to the shore looks so random, but the diamond pattern it leaves on the beach looks like it was drawn on a very precise grid. The sun had to hit the beach just the right way to see this pattern, but I made everyone come out with me and we all saw it! The patterns and color in nature are awesome.

Posted by Mary at 01:40 PM CST

Monday, March 2, 2009

I love fashion from the 15th to the 19th century. I feel like clothes were really more a work of art during that time. This is a painting of an English noblewoman from the 16th century. Just look at the lace on this dress! I get more finishing ideas from men and women’s clothing than almost anything else. Half the time, I have no idea what it is they are wearing, but I like the way it looks and I file it away until it works with some of my designs. Another wonderful finishing use for the fashion of these periods is the way they used tucks and gatherings of fabric. We can glean a lot from these very detailed paintings.

Posted by Mary at 04:04 PM CST

Monday, February 16, 2009

I would like to introduce you to Rhonda Roebuck. I just discovered her wonderful web site this past week. I thought I would tell you a little bit about her and direct you to her web site so you can enjoy her journal pages too. Rhonda taught art and photography for many years in the public school system in Virginia. Although she has retired from public school teaching, she is still teaching journal workshops. Rhonda feels it is very important to record everyday life in a journal. She says she will often ask her workshop participants what would they like to find if they discovered a journal by a great grandparent. I think each of us would love to discover as much as possible!
I have often expressed the same thoughts to you. I think it is so very important to keep a needlework journal. What would you put in such a journal? Well, who did you make the needlework for? Why did you make this particular piece? What inspired you to make it? These are all questions that everyone who owns any old piece of needlework would love to know the answers to.
For now, go to Rhonda’s web site and get inspired by her work to create your own journal!

http://web.mac.com/rhondaroebuck

Posted by Mary at 01:59 PM CST

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

I would like to introduce you to a good friend of mine from England. I have mentioned her before, but she now has a web site and so you can know her too! The picture above is from her web site. What you will find when you visit “more than greenery” is a wealth of knowledge and expertise about plants, trees and flowers. This is a truly a gardeners delight brimming with information and beautiful pictures. I know you’ll enjoy visiting her!

http://www.morethangreenery.com

Posted by Mary at 06:01 PM CST

Friday, January 16, 2009

Well, we have returned from Bermuda. I must say it was really strange flying from paradise to what looked and felt like Siberia! This is the second day it has been close to 20 below which is the actual temperature. Because of the extreme cold, the schools have been closed for the past two days. I have to laugh when I think about the people we were with in Bermuda. It was between 65 and 70 while we were there and everyone was wearing their hats and coats. One woman asked if we brought the cold with us. She was serious!!

I wanted to just tell you briefly about the island. It is very British with a little American thrown in as well. Bermuda is celebrating its 400th year anniversary this year. It was discovered in 1609. The town of St. George was my favorite place. It has numerous historic buildings, houses and churches that are 18th and 19th century. The architecture is so unique and charming. If you ever have the chance to travel there, do not hesitate!

Posted by Mary at 02:20 PM CST

Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year! I hope that your holidays were wonderful. We had such unbelievable weather over Christmas, I really wondered if our son would make it home from New Hampshire. He finally got here inbetween the two, or three snowstorms we had during that week. I must admit I am looking forward to going to Bermuda next week where my husband will be teaching for a week. We were scheduled to go last year while we were at home from England for two months, but had to cancel the trip due to him breaking his wrist. I have decided you cannot really enjoy travel if you do too much of it. I am already sick of the Chicago winter (and it's just beginning!) so this will be a very welcome break. We will be gone from the 6th to the 12th. This is a picture of one of the side streets in Bermuda. I think it has an English look. I will give a full report when I return.

Posted by Mary at 05:56 PM CST