What we've been up to...

It's been exactly one month since my last day of school. A lot has happened, well not really, but it has been a very happy summer thus far.


Here are some reasons we love summer...

*vacation
To celebrate our anniversary in the last part of May, we drove out to Santa Fe, NM. We stayed there for three nights but drove all over the area, even driving up into Colorado. Pictures will be posted, of course.

*gardening
We're actually growing edible plants this year -- tomatoes and basil. We love margherita pizzas and have bought basil plants before, but we are trying some Roma and Jet Star tomatoes this year. So far we've spotted five Romas but no Jet Stars, yet. We also planted some bright orange marigolds (the perfect ECU orange) and they have not disappointed.

*reading
It's a great time to start a new book, or finish an old one, catch up on Bible study, and sort through dozens of magazines and recipe clippings. Ben has about three books he is reading simultaneously, and he is enjoying learning more about his new iPhone. As usual, the yahoo homepage serves as our only news source and we like it that way!

*sewing projects
I usually have at least one going all the time, but I now have the flexibility to have about four or five going at the same time. This past week I've been sorting through fabric and yarn. I've sewed new pillowcases for our bed, the guest bed, and the dogs' crate. My TV-watching project is an unfinished embroidery piece that Grandma Roll started long, long ago -- almost through with it!

*cooking
Tried a new pot roast recipe today. There's just nothing like slow cooking roast, potatoes, and carrots about nine hours! I love having time to prepare every meal of the day (should I choose). I have encouraged Ben to eat a few new foods, too, including grapefruit and beets!

*exercise
With no real time committments early in the morning, we wake up when we wake up! Then we go walk/jog/walk before doing anything else. Our four options for now are the walking trail, Wintersmith Park, ECU track, and Norris Hills neighborhood. Our mood determines our destination, but we definitely prefer exercising outdoors.

*cleaning
It's amazing how much you notice that really needs to be cleaned when you are home every day other than the normal housekeeping! And who doesn't love a clean house?

* family time
Summer always means we get to have family come visit us and/or we get to visit them. We've have my parents, Ben's parents, and the Elliotts visit us here, and we'll have a great 4th of July weekend in AR with my family followed by a family reunion weekend on Ben's side.


Our relaxing, fun-filled summers make those long, hard school years all worth it! I always feel so refreshed and love starting back to school in August after such nice summers off.