Summer Recap // the circle

It has been a great summer (and it's still not over) but I am checking in on my summer to-do list.  Now my "to-do" lists are never serious enough to warrant disappointment when things are not accomplished.  I usually make lists long enough to be happy if one or two items are checked off.

• Drive In Movie with Keith:  Not able to do this... although suggested a few times... the weather didn't seem to cooperate enough.

• Visit the Ohio Village: They'll close on Labor Day so this will have to wait until next summer or the next or the next.

• Study Proverbs 31 and Psalms 31: This was an awesome study for me because I am 31 years old so it will be easy to recall when I studied these. I did homiletics for each of the chapters.  Both passages were a blessing to me this summer. Noteworthy verse: "O how abundant is your goodness that you laid up for those who fear you, and accomplished for those who take refuge in you in the sight of everyone!" ~Psalm 31:19

• Cleveland Indians Away Game:  Yup, we made it to good old Detroit.  We also went to 4 home games together, too. 

• Columbus Zoo visits (with Dad/with Cortney): Was able to get out there twice, once with Keith and one very short visit with Stacie and Larkyn.   

Sweet Larkyn at the Zoo.

Julie with the pink flamingos.

Keith with his kinsmen-- the penguins. 

• Breakfast with Stacie:  Twice!  Sunny Street Cafe deliciousness and also a picnic lunch on the Scioto Mile. 

• Make salsa with Garden Tomatoes:  Oh so good! With my garden tomatoes and garden peppers.

• Take Baby James on a Boat Ride: Not yet, but he has a lifejacket!!

• Make s'mores in the fire pit:  Again, weather didn't seem to cooperate for us. 

• Lunch with Ruth:  Our schedules didn't align this summer but I am sure there will be an outing in the fall.  We had lovely phone and email conversations to tide us over summer break. 

• Host a backyard cookout:  You betcha!  Roasted corn, fried fish, grilled steaks, potato salads and great friends! 

Great things that happened this summer that weren't on the list:  Christin visits Columbus and the Lake, Surprise visit from Sara in June, Fishing boat ride in the Outerbanks, Tutoring Abigail in Calculus, Visit with Grandma C, Went to an Aeros game, Fun baby shower for Susan, Clippers game with Colleen and Mom, and my Jeep hit 250,000 miles. God is so abundant with His goodness! 

Linking up with:

A time to be...

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1

Well... we're back.  We had to say goodbye to my little grandma this past week. It was her time to be with the Lord and she feels pain no more. She will be missed.

It was our time for travel, for prayers, for family, for conversations and for memories.  I  am so thankful for all the emails, voicemail messages, text messages, funeral home guestbook entries, thoughtfully-sent cards, kind letters, and hugs from dear friends and family who reached out during this time.  How precious they were!  It was also our time to take detours -- the Keith & Julie way.  On our way back to Ohio we decided that it would be fine to go see the Field of Dreams which is in Iowa! So we crossed the Mississippi River twice that day.

Field of Dreams 

The mighty Mississippi from the shores of Clifton, Iowa

And after a week of this outpouring of love and adventure, it is time to get back to the fun stuff: laundry, mowing, vacuuming, dishes, oh, and school!  We are both happy to be busy back in school.  It is consuming.  This is especially true for band directors in the fall.

Adventure Tip:  If you ever are able to drive 26 miles west of Dubuque on Route 20, you should definitely stop to see the Field of Dreams. 

Custom Ordered

When an entrepreneur says, "I do custom orders too."  My typical thought is, "Really? What could I possibly need that is customized?"  Well, I'll tell you...

I made two custom jewelry orders with Kate from Red Giraffe Designs this summer, and I could not be MORE pleased.  I met Kate at a booth at the Park Street Festival and fell in love with her style of jewelry. She has a Facebook page, a website, and is on Etsy.  She is easy to work with and very affordable. 

I had a great gift idea for a sweet high school girl that have been tutoring in calculus this summer. She was graduating and is headed out-of-state to college. I emailed Kate to ask if she would make a compass pendant necklace with a charm that states, "Guide Me." from Psalm 25:5  It came in beautifully.  Kate even gift-wrapped it in a simple brown box for me. 

Then another custom idea came to mind (somebody stop me!).  One of my dear friends, Christin, lives in Florida.  It seems so geographically far away... and it is.  So I asked Kate make the outline of Florida (she does outlines for any state) with a little Ohio charm to dangle over it.  This turned out better than I thought.  I ordered three... one for Christin, one for me, and one for another Ohio friend, Colleen.  Now Florida and Ohio are always close via these custom friendship necklaces. 

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, 

and my hope is in you all day long.   Psalm 25:5

Jewelry Adventure Tip:  Paying for everything through Etsy was the easiest route... once I set up an account.

Ten on Ten // August

This is our first Ten on Ten adventure: 10 snapshots of our life on the 10th of the month.  Of course, now it is the 12th of August but since we were out of the "service area" on Saturday posting on the 10th was impossible. Thankful that the the link up is open for a few more days...

A morning walk on the shores of Lake Erie with Ross.

Getting the yard ready for Sunday's family birthday party.

A one-legged grasshopper that caught my eye.

Rescuing an ironically misplaced birthday balloon during a boat ride.

American flag standing guard as the clouds cover the blue sky.

Freshly painted cornhole set for outdoor yard games. 

A sneak snack of milk and a cookie.

Entertained by the "amazing" street magician.

Down memory lane, getting just a few more photos of the twins. 

Nothing beats a Lake Erie sunset. 

Ten on Ten Adventure Tip:  Charge your camera battery! Even though I was warned to charge the battery in my camera, I forgot.  Keith was more than willing to the 8th, 9th, and 10th photos using his phone.  What a guy!

Linking up with:

Grandma's Antiques

I spent last week visiting my grandma in Illinois.  I love my little grandma! She is an amazingly feisty, historically-detailed, ninety-three year old woman whose body is now being claimed by cancer.

Before I had arrived, she had been going through some old boxes around her house (yup, she still lives on her own). While going through the boxes she found the clothes her mother made for her when she was a child. She showed me them during my visit. It is so surprising to me that these clothes were made by hand by my great-grandma between the years 1920 and 1934... and that they still basically look wearable now.  Amazing!

We had fun looking through the collection.  Grandma was able to tell me the difference between tatting (knots and loops that look like lace) and crocheting (uses a crochet hook).

Notice the blue outfit...

Grandma and her brother in 1926.
In the photo, she is wearing the little blue outfit.

Travel Adventure Tip: There is an awesome diner off of I-74 in LeRoy, Illinois (between Bloomington and Champaign) called Jack's Cafe.  It is a must-stop for a meal if you ever find yourself traveling by there.  

Jazz and Rib Fest

Our summer festival tour continued at the Jazz and Rib Fest. Music and food... what could be better? This year was another hot one, at least it seemed that way, down by the river and near to all the smoky rib roasting action. Last year's festival was delightful so it encouraged us to come on back this year.

Keith was excited to see and hear the former members of the Woody Herman Band playing on Sunday evening.  John Fedchock, a trombonist, led the alumni group that played some great jazz standards. With the smell of ribs wafting from nearby, it was almost heaven.

The ribs we sampled were by:
Howling Coyote
Porky n' Beans
The Shwinery

The Shwinery was my favorite ... saucy, fall-off-the-bone, deliciousness.  The team was new to the Jazz & Rib Fest hailing from McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

Watching John Fedchock and the Woody Herman Alumni Sextet.

Then some ribs joined us... yum!

Awards and the skyline.

Some sauces are right to the point.

Festival Adventure Tip:  Bring a blanket, in order to sit down on the grass. Instant rib picnic!