Saturday, April 24, 2010

Decision

The decision has been made!

My darling girl Taylor will be entering http://www.smcvt.edu/

in Burlington, VT this fall...Class of 2014.

Congrats, Taylor on making a thoughtful, deliberate, THOROUGH decision.
We love you.



Tuesday, April 20, 2010

She.

Is playing varsity tennis and loves it...
Is a great cook and an even better friend....


Had a fun weekend in Philly with Mom+Dad....
(as much fun as one is able to have with your parents!)
....has narrowed down her choice of schools (with a deadline 10 days away) to TWO after reluctantly crossing Temple off the list.

Is beautiful.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

We've been flagged


We came home from a weekend away this week and as our house came into view we saw orange flags all over our front lawn.

LOTS of orange flags.

I guess we were "flagged".


No one else on our street, or even in the neighborhood
has flags all over their lawn.


It reminded me of a tradition I have seen occasionally done in other towns as a fundraiser.
Someone puts pink plastic flamingos all over your lawn while you are sleeping and when you donate money to the cause---they take them away.

It's called getting "flocked".


But somehow, I don't think it was done as a fundraiser.

I think it was a combination of Comcast, C, L + P, and the
Water Company who instigated the flags and the painted designs.
Haven't seen anyone actually working near the orange spots/flags, but....who knows?
It's been almost a week...+ they're still there.
Any ideas???
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

A surprise package


Wow--I am so glad I was right!

It was a fantastic, incredible, generous, "I love it" kind of present
from our dear sister in law, Erin, as a thank you for watching
their awesome kids while they were whooping it up in Mexico.

Isn't this a cool card? Can you see that it is a mug of coffee on the front?
I am speechless...we are going to get a delivery of a different coffee
every month to try...for a WHOLE YEAR!!!
All fair trade, organic coffees.
We are starting with a Sumatra named "Telong".
Sounds mysterious, exotic.


A "menu" was enclosed describing all the coffee's we would get to
try over the next 12 months.


Thank you, Erin...thank you, Bob.
WE LOVE YOU! (and your kids, too!!!!)

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Where in the world?




Jim, Taylor and I visited here this weekend.
Do you know which state it is?


Yup...lovely Vermont.


Burlington, VT, specifically.


Our reason was to visit this college.
Taylor is trying to narrow down her choices, so we are re-visiting her top 3 on their
Accepted Students Days.

As usual, Friday night in Burlington was lively...but COLD. Brrr.
A rude shock after the temps hit 80's and 90's in CT this week.


But we sucked it up and explored Downtown...a great mix of cute shops and yummy restaurants.


After reading lots of posted menu's..we all decided on this place for dinner. mm-mmm.
We shared 2 personal sized pizza's and a pasta dish.
The pizza's were sublime...one had goat cheese, roasted zucchini,
caramelized onions + sundried tomatoes;
One had bacon, apple slices, caramelized onions, and smoked cheddar.
Soooo goood.


After dinner we stopped into this used bookstore.

Lots of great books for CHEAP.

I picked up 2 almost new copies of books I already own, but these were new editions.


Taylor bought her own copy of one of her favorite books they read in
Senior English this year.


We headed back to the hotel just as we were getting ready to turn into icicles.

Next morning dawned somewhat bright, but still downright chilly.
Here is the view from our hotel window of Lake Champlain.



Breakfast was at a favorite spot: The Penny Cluse Cafe downtown.


Don't you love that pottery above the bar?


And I love me a restaurant where they have specials written daily on blackboards.
I read the first special of the day and immediately knew that's what I was having.


Oatmeal Bread French Toast w/ Tangerine Curd.
"Would you like fresh fruit on top, the waitress asked?"
Oh, yes.
Yes, yes, yes.

Taylor's side dish with her omelet.

And the mushrooms in Jim's omelet.....wow.

After we were stuffed full, we drove the 10 min to St. Mike's.
We were welcomed by this a cappella group @ St. Mike's.
They were quite adorable.

Reminded me of the awesome reality show we watched last summer/fall...

It had a bunch of a cappella groups competing against each other.
We loved it.


We also heard from the President of St. Michael's and a senior student.



We were divided into groups for tours.

Another adorable student showed us around campus.

After the tour we talked extensively with lots of other students
(even one from our hometown!) and professors in the Education Dept.
I think we were one of the last families to leave.


But I think this cute senior found out that she liked St. Michael's College quite a bit.The only problem is....
She likes all 3 of her top schools quite a bit.

She has about 2 weeks to make up her mind.

Decision: to be announced.



Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Weekend

Easter Weekend found us:

@ Garden Barn ordering mulch...

Stocking up at Costco....

Enjoying the loads of sunshine coming in thru the window....

Greeting our guests for the weekend and getting the Easter baskets ready......

Subbing in for the Easter Bunny and hiding eggs.....


Having Dan figure out our new coffeepot....

Enjoying my sister's Egg Strata for Easter Breakfast....

Giggling with our cousins and grandmother....

Discovering full Easter baskets on the porch....

Checking out the goodies in our baskets....

Heading off with coffee in hand....

Enjoying being together for the weekend....
Also enjoying goodies from our baskets...


Looking at 2 lovebirds in the house....

Finding jellybeans hidden around every corner and
in every nook and cranny....



Moving the hunt outside to search for eggs.....




Trying to get the group together for a photo.....


Playing with Dunkin', the neighbor's new puppy....

Taking a look at Easter scenes....

Cooking yummy dishes for the dinner later at the sister in law's house...

(We made roasted veggies, angel food trifle, Grasshopper Salad (no grasshoppers were hurt), and stuffed shells to bring over)


Watching even more cousins and nieces and nephews find huge Easter eggs at Auntie Carol's and Uncle Bert's house....


Loving the smiles on the Egg Finder's faces....

Thank you for a FABULOUS Dinner and a wonderful Easter, Carol and Bert!