I am a girl on a mission this weekend. Both of my kids are off doing teenage things and Steve is off doing man things. So, I am going to do Tanya things. That means clean my bathroom, buy new sheets and...paint my bedroom.
The bedroom has been coming for about 6 years. We had it painted spur of the moment with some paint we had leftover from another project. So, it's white. At first I really liked it. White bedding, white walls, very soothing. Now, it is boring. I need to punch it up a little and take it to 11.
So, between now and tomorrow when I go buy paint, I have to decide what color to paint my very huge room (think 300 square feet). I have had charcoal in my head for a long time. but now I am leaning towards the lighter grey that is throughout my house.
The weeks are flying by and school will be out for the summer soon. I can't believe that my oldest will be finishing her first year of high school.
This week was a sad one as we lost a beloved ex-headmaster and great leader in our community. Ellie and I went to his funeral and while it was indeed sad, it was more a celebration of a great life lived in service to others.
We are finishing our week off with celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. Crazy that we have been married that long. I can't imagine a life without Steve, even when we argue and cannot seem to find resolution. The last 19 years together have been really wonderful.
This weekend winds down the girl's activities for the school year. Ellie has one last lacrosse game. Delaney's debuted the spring musical last night. We have tickets for Sunday. I can't wait to see her perform. She is ensemble, but has one small solo part. Little Shop of Horrors is one of my very favorite musicals.
This was a nice relaxing weekend at Casa Swann. I worked Thursday night to get the house ready for Steve's guy cookout that he and his buddies take turns hosting every other Friday. They are all gourmet cooks (one owns a local bakery that makes artisan bread) and so they hangout usually grill and create fancy food. And talk about politics and fitness. Lucky for me, it is while I am at work.
Having the house work done, left the weekend for free time.
Steve and I went out Friday night to hear locals give short talks in a TED talk type format. This local event is called PechaKucha, and is one of the most interesting things I have attended in Chattanooga. After listening to the talks (20 slides,20 seconds each) we went to hear some live music. One of our newest favorites, The Brother's Comatose stopped in Chattanooga on their way to a huge festival in Bristol. Needless to say, we had a late night, which was fine since the girl both stayed over at friends houses.
We had planned to go trail running, but decided to sleep in since it was raining. We headed to get brunch at 10:30 and found our favorite breakfast spot full with a long line. So we headed over to the newest addition to Chattanooga restaurants, Tupelo Honey,which opened Monday.
The rest of the afternoon was spent picking up kids, working out, finishing a few projects and watching the terrible Tennessee/Florida game. Delaney and I were racing to finish the same e-book (I won) and sat on the couch reading for most of the early evening.
The girls and I watched a movie (a rare treat). I will miss them when they are gone and I have all the time in the world to do whatever I will want. But in the meantime, I will enjoy every time we have a free, relaxing weekend.
My brother, Eddie, who lives in the Dallas area (Allen to be exact) came to visit my parents at their farm. He and his wife and two sons drove a million hours (or 13) and then drove a million more while they were here (Atlanta, Nashville and Chattanooga were all on their hit list).
We hung out with them earlier in the week and caught a Lookouts game with them Friday.
The weather was perfect!
We normally only see them every two years and so it was a treat to see them.
Saturday, my sister Jennifer came into town with her husband and kids.
We got tickets to a event at the local zoo. We had a blast. The carni folk tasted barbecuefrom 8 or so vendors, the adults had a beverage, a wonderful local bluegrass band played and we had free reign of the zoo and all the exhibits. I was extremely impressed with all the improvements at the zoo. We really enjoyed ourselves.
Sunday we got up and went for a hike with our families. The weather could not have been better. We have had so much rain this summer that I forgot what low humidity felt like. Chattanooga is gorgeous and our hike was really rewarding. We really enjoyed ourselves.
After our hike, we hit the Chattanooga Market for lunch and music. Then headed home to build a fire. Yep, a fire. Steve and my brother-in-law burned a huge stump. For about 6 hours.
We grilled out and made a delicious dinner including fresh peach upside down cake. The dinner we cooked was the perfect ending to a very busy and very fun weekend.
Hope yours was just as lovely.
I cannot think of anything more gratifying than being outside and entertained, except being so with the family that you miss most of the year.
I am so grateful to have an extended family and for the time I get to spend with them. They are such a gift to me.
Is it really less than 30 days (25) until the girls go back to school?
I had lunch today with three of my best girls and we talked about how with swimming, summer begins the day after City Meet. Meaning, for us, summer started July 15th.
Crazy.
This sight is the signal for "Summer's here"!
But, I fully intend to maximize the rest of my summer.
I plan on taking my girls to the pool, going to a drive-in movie, eating tomatoes (hopefully they are in) and living a little less harried.
I have slipped on my blogging and especially my Gratituesday posts. The thoughts are always going through my mind, just not making it onto paper (so to speak).
I am eternally grateful for several things that are really not things.
God's love, which He reminds me in interesting ways is always there (Hello, Aunt Margaret), Summer and the health and physical ability of my children and husband.
We run because we can. We swim because we can.
Summer is the time to revel in being strong and healthy.
As I start the weekend full of fun and catching up (chores) on the home
front, I can't help but lift up a prayer of thanksgiving for these
things.
A quick little recipe I created last night inspired by the Jenny and her pickled onions.
Have a super Memorial Day Weekend!
I have to say I have been in a food funk and this is now my favorite dish.
The non-spicy green hating girl actually ate it with lots of cheese. That made my night, because I know if I love it, it's doomed.
My family will hate it soon.
Too bad.
Not sure why this is so funny to me...but it is. Via
Zucchini and Black Bean Tacos
1 small onion (half sliced thinly, half diced)- I used yellow, but red would be prettier
3 tbl. red wine vinegar
2 tbl sugar
2 med-large zucchini grated
2 cans black beans, drained
8-10 slices pickled jalepenos
1 tbl cumin
1 tbl oregano
1 tsp minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 avocados, sliced
spinach or other greens of choice
grated cheese
tortillas of your choice
Combine 2 cups of water with vinegar and sugar and bring to a boil. Add sliced onions and cook 3-5 minutes. Remove from liquid and cool. (Jenny is right, this makes the tacos special).
In large skillet, over med high heat 2 tbl olive oil until hot, add onions and jalapenos. Cook until onions begin to soften. Add garlic and spices and cook a few minutes more. Lower heat to med. and add zucchini stirring to combine. Cook 5-7 minutes until liquid is mostly gone. Add beans and adjust salt and pepper. Cover and reduce heat to med-low for 10 minutes. Remove lid and simmer for a few more minutes. Serve with warm tortillas, avocados and greens and salsa of your choice. (Add cheese if interested.)
I always feel like the last few weeks of school are on fast forward.
Between all the end of year events and finishing up the actual school year, our house is on warp speed all the time.
A rare family photo
We had our daughters' school tradition of May Day last week, which is a festival and a show. With the exception of 6th and 10th grade which are mandatory dances, the girls in the other grades have the opportunity to dance for the seniors and the crowd. Beautiful and old tradition (this was the 99th queen) and fun for everyone. I realized that my youngest will be in the 105th May Day. (If you are wondering, the school was founded in 1906.)
6th grade...my girl is in green
8th grade...mine is at the top right.
Last May Day as middle schoolers
May Poles
Our weekend was fairly calm, with one kid at a sleep over, we enjoyed hanging out one on one with the other. We worked out, did homework and of course, prepped for the Main Event of April, my sister Karen's birthday! She,her husband and two of their kids came down for the day. We had a great visit complete with lunch and a cake. And candles. Apparently at this age, you need a lot of hands to light ALL the candles.
We also went to the market, because after all, it was Sunday.
The end of sports came on Monday, so we have been able to get home at a reasonable hour and get home work done in time to enjoy our beautiful spring. (I loathe Spring, but I do enjoy my Azaleas).
I bought a hammock and have enjoyed exactly 15 seconds in it as it is always occupied by someone else. Someone who loves to read as much as I do, apparently. At least that someone is cute.
As I said, the end of the school year brings lots of last minute projects and much studying.
Very serious studying.
Three short weeks and it will all be over. Including middle school for one of my girls. I will cross that bridge when I get to it, but for now, I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend of live music and emptying a Uhaul for my parents. Like I said, warp speed.
Kids went to a play, we had a date, attended a right brain festival kick off, and two lacrosse games. Following all that, we went to lunch with friends, including one visiting from Washington, D.C., all the while sporting our new farmer tans courtesy of the lacrosse field.
We had big hopes, but ended up watching a movie (IQ, more on that in a moment.) til midnight.
Sunday, we lazed about, worked on homework and a project which included a trip to Goodwill and the grocery store. We got a little yard work done, I cooked a pork tenderloin and then the day was over. And so was the weekend.
weird things at Goodwill...one came home with us.
We pack so much in, including a little down time, which makes it just fly by.
When I was getting ready for bed last night, I told Steve that I love Sundays because we are all home as a family and relaxing. We may not all be together, but we are all "around" and it makes me so happy. The kids will be gone before we know it, so I relish these lazy days.
While the kids were working on math problems and studying for tests, I was planning dinners with their input. Very sweet girls told me things they liked and so, the menu was easy this week.
We have a track meet and a lacrosse game this week, so two nights will be "later" nights and I picked the make ahead meals for those nights.
Have a great week and read below why you should watch Walter Matthau being a great Albert Einstein in I.Q.
Casa Swann Picked by the Girls Menu
Salmon Burgers (homemade)/Zucchini Fries/ Box Mac n Cheese (the girls love it)
Sloppy Joe/ Sweet Potato and Smiley Fries/ Salad
Pesto Chicken thighs (last bit of last year's pesto)/ Kale salad (from my neighor's garden)/ roasted carrots
**Movie Review** We have been watching old movies with the girls. Some are hits and some are misses. This weekend, I wanted to watch a fun, romantic comedy as I was tired and just wanted to relax. Steve had already gone to bed, so the girls and I watched I.Q. with Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins and the ever wonderful Walter Matthau. First, it is funny. Smart funny, which the girls and I always give extra points to a movie which we find it to fit this criteria. Of course, it is about one of the greatest minds in the history of the world, so it better be smart. However humor is as valuable as brains, with the scientists who are so hilarious, especially when they are helping the Tim Robbins character, Ed, take a test.
Speaking of which, it has Tim Robbins, who is very nice on the eyes. Extremely nice. However, the best thing about this movie is that it is about embracing what you are, not changing to fit a certain image. From the scientists, who dress in a very eccentric manner to Ed who is a mechanic who reads popular science, the focus is on being who you truly are.
The character Catherine, played by Meg Ryan back when she was still Meg Ryan, is coming to terms with that idea. She is a brilliant mathematician who underestimates her own worth. Set in the 1950's at Princeton University, the scenery and cars are worth watching alone. However, I recommend it for the dialogue and the message as well. Oh...and Walter Matthau is absolutely fabulous as Albert Einstein. As always.
