Escape to Puerto Rico

Earlier this month we enjoyed our second annual trip to Rincon, PR, with our daughter, son-in-law and twin grand babies.  Well, they really aren't babies anymore, they are fearless two year olds!
So even though PR has a lot to offer... warm balmy days, beautiful sunsets, unpopulated beaches, crystal pools, and plenty of places to get coffees, smoothies, fish tacos and exotic fruits... we really go there to spend time with these two special people (and their parents):

This was a selfie they took!

The rental house had a wonderful pool that we all really enjoyed.

And when we got sick of the pool, we headed to the beach less than a half mile away.

This is "Steps" Beach and just a short walk from the concrete steps are nice shaded areas where there are small pools that are perfect for sitting by or in.

The rocky reef provides a natural breakwater if the ocean is rough and it is a popular place for snorkeling.

All along the coast are plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the view... and maybe have a bite to eat or something to drink.

The view below was taken from a spot where we had breakfast one morning.  It not only identifies where we are, but includes the iconic Rincon lighthouse.

Both times we arrived in Rincon after dark. It's a good three hour drive from the San Juan airport.  I noticed the attractive welcoming archway, so on our way out of town we paused so I could take some pictures.

Each of the support poles have pretty mosaics that deserve to be enjoyed.  I had to take these pictures quickly because it's a pretty busy intersection, but I think they are worth seeing close up.

It was truly a restful and lovely vacation... I'm already looking forward to next year!

Road Trip... New England!

 We took a nearly two week road trip that brought us from Arden to several places in New England.  The foliage from Pennsylvania and north was at peak and made for a very scenic ride for us, but unfortunately we had a fair amount of cloudiness and our stops while traveling did not coincide with great picture taking opportunities.

Two days on the road brought us to Biddeford, Maine, where we enjoyed a nice long weekend with two of our favorite people, Anja and Ronan.  Here they are at the playground.

And on a walk to the grocery store.

(Oh! We enjoyed being with their parents, too!)

After we left Maine, we headed to Fitzwilliam, NH, to see our Fresh Air daughter's home and had a nice lunch with her in Keene, NH.  I'm not sure why we didn't take a picture of Nina in front of her lovely house.  I guess we were just so distractedly happy to see her and spend time with her.

The next day we did take a picture of Wilma in front of her house in beautiful Bennington, VT.

Wilma and Russ started teaching at Plattsburgh High the same year, the fall of 1970.  Wilma only stayed in Plattsburgh one year, but Russ ended up teaching there for 34 years!  We've kept in touch over the years through holiday greetings and more recently through Facebook, so it was nice to actually spend some time "in person" and see her nice retirement home filled with her artwork and mementos.  After a nice lunch at the repurposed train depot, Wilma took us on a tour of Old Bennington that took us through 4 covered bridges and past the Robert Frost home.

Our next stop was Burlington, VT, and we were delighted that our good friend, Mickey, from Plattsburgh, came across the lake to meet us for lunch and a nice long visit.  Again... why didn't we take a picture?

Thursday night through Sunday morning we were at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, VT, with our good friend, Barb, also from Plattsburgh to celebrate her daughter's wedding.  I was glad to be able to help with a few of the "crafty" last minute details, like putting together s'more kits for Friday's fire circle and picking up and arranging the flowers that were used for various events over the weekend.

The setting was spectacular.  Mother Nature provided a wonderful show.

The plan was for Kelley and Ben to be married up on the top of the ski trail, which you can see in this photo taken on Friday morning.  But then on Saturday morning, the day of the wedding, we woke up to this pretty sight.

Needless to say, the ceremony was brought inside, but it was no less lovely and special.

 The bride and groom braved the elements for this pretty shot.

I do have a few foliage shots taken at various places in our travels, so I will end with those.

It was a really nice road trip.  The foliage was certainly a treat to the eye.  We connected with many people we love and miss seeing regularly.  We talked about the past and the future and shared good food and drink.  We experienced the best of Autumn and just a taste of Winter... and then came safely home to get ready for the next trip.

Goodbye Summer!

Last week, when it was still summer, I went to the NC Arboretum with my visitors.  I couldn't resist taking some pictures of the late summer flowers and foliage.  Since there are quite a few photos in this post, I will keep my comments to a minimum.

As you can see, it was a partially sunny day and the leaves are still mostly green.  The water features were all operating in spite of the dry spell we have been having.  The air temperature was a delightful mid-70's.

Now the photos...

 Many of the large containers around the fountain had these beautiful trumpet flowers.

Lots of shades of fuchsia and bright pinky salmon.

 One interesting flower in the Garden of Promise was the fall crocus.  They are rather gangly with little foliage, but their delicate petals catch the sun nicely.

 Shades of white and green in the flowers and foliage.

 I thought the purple pea pods were a lovely end to this annual plant.

 This hoya was in blossom in the green house.  It reminds me of the hoya I still have that has survived  from a cutting taken from my grandmother's home in Minnesota, probably 50 or more years ago.  My hoya's foliage thrives with neglect, but it has been a long time since it has blossomed.  I remember it trailing many feet long around the picture window in the dining room of my first house (40 years ago).  Apparently it loved that exposure.  When it blossoms the flowers are really sickeningly sweet and moisture drips from them, so I really don't miss that.  But it was a treat to see one in bloom.  The leaves are thick and shiny, so it does make a pretty houseplant.

 Pretty soon we will be appreciating the pansies that tend to survive our rather mild winter.

This week we said goodbye to a wonderful Summer and hello to what we hope will be a wonderful Fall.

Just a few miscellaneous things...

Russ took on the responsibility for organizing his golf group's annual end-of-the-season dinner party that will happen later this month.  One of the fellows thought it would be nice for the wives of the players to have a little favor at their place setting.  Of course, no money was really budgeted for this, but Russ did collect a few dollars from the guys to cover some incidental costs relating to the banquet and to buy "thank you" gifts for some of the men who organized some special tournaments and travel events this year.  

So, of course, I offered to come up with something (not too pricey) for the wives who would be attending.  

I made these cute little boxes.  They are like small Chinese take out boxes.  I happened to have a template for them in my file... and more remarkably, I was able to find it!  I had the colored card stock on hand.  I purchased the zinnia toppers and I decorated each with a complimentary colored "pearl."  Inside each are four Lindt truffles.  I think they are kind of cute and who doesn't like chocolate?

Each year our quilt guild vice president announces a special project.  This year she asked for guild members to make 500 placemat/napkins for "Meals on Wheels."  I guess the idea is that at holiday time, each MOW recipient would get a placemat and napkin to keep.  

To be honest, I wasn't really enthusiastic about this project and kind of dragged my feet.  But then I remembered some orphan blocks that I had purchased with some fabric scraps at an estate sale.  How hard would it be to turn them into placemats?  

So here they are... two placemats.

And then I was delighted to find two napkins at the Hospice Thrift Store a couple weeks ago and I was able to just machine appliqué a little decoration to match the placemats.

Since I was feeling in the "guild projects mood," I also made a president's block.  It is the tradition in our guild to gift the outgoing president with a block of her choice that she can then make into a quilt to remind her of her year of leadership.  Last year's president requested a patriotic themed block, 9 1/2 inches.  So here is my block...

I hope it's not to insultingly simple!

And finally, I know that I have mentioned the Shindig quilt in this blog.  Along with two friends... we call ourselves the Mountain Jam Circle... our collaborative has been making a quilt that is raffled off to help support the local Folk Heritage Committee which provides the free outdoor "Shindig on the Green" concerts all summer.  

This photo shows my friend Alice and I holding up the quilt at the first Shindig this summer.

I'm happy to report that the quilt brought in $1300 for the Folk Heritage Committee!