Country Charm

I just love how this heart-shaped pocket looks on Trinni's new skirt! When she wears her new skirt that I invented for her, she looks like she came straight out of Laura Ingall's "Little House on The Prairie." It wasn't a major feat to make this skirt, but it brought Trinni a little bit of joy and a feeling that she is Mommy's 'special girl,' and that is what is most important.

The pattern came straight from a wonderful book called "Sew What Skirts." This book is such a confidence booster for the beginning seamstress. It helps you to discover your own flare for sewing through the making of skirts. It doesn't matter what your shape or size, you can design your own fine frock using the basic formulas contained therein. It is a must read for anyone wishing to add a little bit of flare to their wardrobe, which according to my mother-in-law, is what I posess :)

The Reading Train

I really was engrossed in my book when the girls came over and piled on the reading train. Very cute. It had to be Trinity's idea, don't you think? Look at that laughter...you can almost see it coming out of her mouth!

I finally have all of my photo archives on my computer, so I was able to share this one with...my blog and whomever it may come accross....

This is a pic of Trinity & I at Hicks Orchard in Granville, New York. As a child this is the orchard that my parents would bring my brother & I. We loved it so much that the tradition lives on. Although I have to say, we are beginning to equally enjoy McWhorter's Orchards which are about 3 minutes down the road from our house. They offer a wagon ride into the orchards back and forth every 30 minutes on weekends, throughout the whole season, and they charge only $11/half bushel, which is a steal! We ended up picking a whole bushel basket in about 10 minutes flat. The trees are loaded with juicy red MacIntosh apples. Tis the season!

Melissa, Trinity & Jessica at The Clark Art Institute.

This was quite the day for our family...we spent some time at the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute. We haven't been there for quite some time now, but it is always an adventure to travel to another state and find yourself reveling in the beauty of paintings by the great masters of art.

They even have an original J.M.W. Turner painting there, which is where we got the name for our son, Turner. It is well worth the drive out and the time spent by yourself or with your loved ones. In fact, I think I'm currently talking myself into a visit back to the Clark.

www.clarkart.edu

My Little Girl

This is an oldie, but goody. Trinity & I on the porch at 139 Spring St. The house has since been purchased, painted, the fences came down, and the accoutrements are completely different, but the soul of the house lives on.

Trinity & I lived here for a couple of years, walked the sidewalks of Saratoga, perused the shops, worked for people in town teaching private piano lessons & attended the Beagle School. There are so many memories...too many to remember, I guess.

The other day, I sat on our old street and cried a few tears as I sat outside of the deli, and across the street from our old house thinking of the "old days." I guess you could say we sometimes get wrapped up in nostalgia, and forget to appreciate what IS, in the moment of now. I need to appreciate the now more...

and I have to say it....

'live in the NOW,'

(as I now sit here with a smile on my face. Apparantly I am just too funny for my own good...)

This photo was taken on Trinni's first day of Beagle School. We were so proud of her. Isn't she just the cutest doll you have ever seen? I guess I am bias, as her mother.

September 16, 2009

General Ulysses S. Grant speaking with Elizabeth Grant, Julia Grant,Ulysses S. Grant III & Ida Grant/widow of deceased U.S. Civil War Soldier.

This is one of the most beautiful moments ever captured of our family. It was such a privilage to be able to participate in the wake & funeral of a young civil war soldier.

I was proud to be able to represent his widow and recieve the sword in his family's stead.

My children, Trinity & Turner, will remember this week forever as well. It is not very often that one gets to participate in a living, breathing lesson of history and how it applies to our day to day lives. As a homeschool family, I think we have truely been able to drive home what history is all about...honour, courage, love, sacrifice, bravery, chivalry, respect, and all of the good qualities that are the threads in a beautiful tapestry of life.

This moment went beyond moaning and groaning about schedules, how tight my corset was squeezing, and whose call was missed on a cell phone or an iPhone, or whatever your codependent contact machine of choice is...the daily grind is mundane...that's why I gave up my cell phone. No offense to anyone who relies on their cell phone for important communication...very sorry.....

Depending on whether or not you can talk on the phone at any given moment is not what life pivots around. It is a composition of sorts...with harmonious memories interweaving to ring out something quite beautiful and memorable. Sometimes these compositions are virtuous and inspiring, and really remind us of how people can pull together for a cause that is above and beyond what they normally choose to care about during the day. This is what this ceremony was to me. Not the buttons or the bones, but the person who fought a war that changed history. A history that I do not understand too well...thanks to boring textbooks and uninteresting highschool presentations of its makeup, but I did understand what happened on this day.

Strangers pulled together to honor the fallen man who chose to fight for what he believed in. We need more of that in our society of the laissez-faire. People have to stand up for something and stand tall. This event made me stand a little taller.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Thank you also to the Saratogian for taking this photo. Because I was not offered a model release form, I have taken it upon myself to borrow the photo for family, friends and other bloggers to see, but the photo does belong to the Saratogian of Saratoga Springs, NY.