Our first pepper

pepper! We have a pepper growing! A real pepper :-D

Not just the flowers and bud-lets of potential peppers but a recognizable pepper! Yay!

holy crip - countdown to his departure

well with the business of everything I haven't managed to post!

My dearest darling Joanna got married! I had the privilege and the pleasure of being her maid of honor (matron really but that sounds... well... matronly) it was such a lovely affair! Such fun to meet so many people dear to her and her lovely husband.

Joe managed to defend our vacation time and so was able to take a little bit of time off before he heads back to the pre-deployment countdown. I'm so thankful we were able to escape to Surry to one of our favorite little getaways.

Now we're home and getting stuff done around the house to get everything in order for his departure, my trip to camp and (fingers crossed) our friend Diana who is moving in around the middle of next month.

At the moment we have the lovely Kara visiting Jake who just thinks it's the best thing ever to have a sleepover friend. They have a mutual annoy/enjoyment club going.

Even with the craziness I've had some time for crafting and I have to say it's wonderful to be busy making things again.

m

Thank goodness for porches

Light breeze, not too warm, sitting out on the back porch with Jake (who's crammed into the little bit of direct sun to roast himself) crocheting, listening to a good book and sipping a delicious teadrink.

So good to get a minute to breathe.

I may be procrastinating but at least I'm being productive ;)

what an amazing weekend! - Red Sox game

Great visit with my brother (see previous post) fantastic (and hugely attended!) sendoff party for Joe on Saturday, then Sunday we spent at Fenway Park watching the Red Sox beat the pants off the Seattle Mariners. :D

Go Red Sox!

Three Home Runs for the Sox and a stolen home base :) What a delightful day.

Plus I got a purty hat. :)

m

yay for brothers :)

I got to go pick up my brother in northampton last night and hang out until I finally cut us off a couple hours after my bed time :)

I don't get to see him very often but it's always such a treat when I do.

m

breathing. In and out. - preparing to send him off

Things seem to be coming together nicely for Joe's sendoff party this weekend and thankfully without too much stress from yours truly.

Looks like I'll be making some coleslaw and possibly getting together some veggies and dips.

If the rain holds out it also looks like there's some fun social plans shaping up, possibly including fireworks, and definitely including a chain saw. :D

Hooray for The Whiskey Boys

Yet another fantastic beer night at Union Street Tavern with live music (second week in a row!) from The Whiskey Boys!

What a delightful time. So good I even stayed up about four hours past my bed time! Again!

Saturday we were so tired but we laughed more than we have in ages. :) Another good evening around our firepit and then sunday at the firing range. After a little refresher course I didn't do half bad :)

He's home he's home he's home!!

Joe is back from his three week drill in VA. He's got a couple more days to go but at least those he gets to do from home. :) My girlie plans would make it so that I wouldn't get to spend time with him this weekend anyway but it's so good to get to see him in the wee hours.

:)

I haven't seen Jake so excited or happy in quite awhile.