I see myself in my son

Do you ever see yourself in your children?

I saw myself in my son today.

His appreciation and awareness for everything that is around him...that is JUST like me!

This day,
right here in this photo,
he had decided to do his homework on the swing.

Why??

He had come in from swinging and told me it was so peaceful there. He said he could hear the birds chirping, the crickets, and a squirrel that ran behind him. He also described how the sun was coming through the trees and how nice it was.

I'm thinking, wow, he is 9 years old and he "gets it".

It's just funny because that is exactly how I think.

When I'm in a place and I am overwhelmed with the simplistic, organic beauty of it all...I want to just hang out there. I want to get my journal and write there...I want to read a book there...I want to lay there and take a nap...basically, I want to be in it, of it, with it, a part of it. It fills me with inner peace and a happiness...not a, jumping up and down, kind of happiness...but a smooth, calm, fulfilled, warm, love life, kind of happiness.

When I looked out the back door and saw him on the swing doing his homework, I knew I wanted to capture this moment. It was so precious and beautiful.

See?
I really am, into the "moments" of life.
It seriously gives me a kick.

I am absolutely the person that stops to smell the roses. For that matter, I will actually closely examine the rich, deep blood red color, the velvety smooth texture of the petals, the faint sweet smell.

As far back as I can remember...as a child...I used to sit and look...I mean, just look...at a flower...deep inside...the stamen, the pollen...and just marvel at how each flower would grow to be just like it's other...almost identical. I studied the clover, the blades of grass, the bark of a tree, the big blobs of sticky sap, how the sunlight glowed through it, turning it a golden amber when you looked at it at just the right angle.

Maybe everyone does this...I'm not sure.

I haven't noticed this so much with my first born son...but my second born son...I catch him studying things up close...just like I remember doing...like I do still.

I smile to myself when I see this.
It makes me happy.
It is SO cool to see traits of yourself in your own children!

What you don't realize: daily duties of a librarian assistant

I love the public library! It is one of my favorite places to be...all of the books at your fingertips just waiting to be read...all of that knowledge...and it's free, provided you return it on time and not spill your coffee on it!

Of course there is a lot of work that goes into the library so people like you and I can enjoy this wonderful freedom. We must never take the library for granted...especially the librarians. It might seem like they have an easy job. You may think that all they do is check books in and out and put them back on the shelf. Well, that is just not so!! There is so much more to their job than that!

Recently, I have been enlightened about the responsibilities of a librarian assistant. I have a wonderful friend named Kathy, whom I know through the blog world who is a librarian assistant. Her blog is Kathy's Trip Through Life  I always enjoy reading her posts, as she always has something interesting going on at the library or in her daily life.

I asked Kathy if she would write a post about the daily doings of a librarian assistant. I was so curious about her work, as she was always saying that sometimes it's hard to get all of her work done in her shift. I was often wondering what was the work that she couldn't get done. I knew there was much more to her job than I as a patron knew or realized. She so graciously answered my request and wrote about her job.

Please click on the link I have provided to read about her daily duties at the library. 

Kathy's trip through life: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LIBRARY ASSISTANT  

*When you leave a comment on her blog, please let her know that I referred you. 

*If you remember, please comment here and let me know you read her awesome post!

 I know it will give you a greater appreciation for your local librarian!! It certainly has for me!

P.S. For some reason the link to her post puts you at the very bottom of her post..please just scroll up to the top of her post...I am SO not good at creating links!! LOL Either way it gets you there! Thank you!!

Apple Cozy

 

An apple cozy. 

You need this!
Don't deny it.

I am completely smitten by my new apple cozies!
I saw the idea on Pinterest...and immediately messaged my friend who crochets.
She whipped up about 20 different cozies for me to pick and choose from.

I bought 8.

I could have bought more.
I wanted to buy more.
I will buy more!

 I'm taking an apple in a cozy to my son's teacher for open house.

I gave one to my friend as a hostess gift when she threw a campfire weiner roast for our Bible study group at her home.

I'm going to give one to my mother-in-law today when I deliver a home cooked meal for their dinner because my father-in-law just got out of the hospital/rehab from a very painful back injury.

 I'm giving one to my neighbor today when I return her travel mugs she lent my hubby and son for a backpacking trip so they could make tea and oatmeal and what-not.

I want to give one to my son's principal because she rocks.
She's a tough bird, but a fair bird who somehow naturally commands authority and trust.
She is exactly what elementary school students need.
I'm sorta scared of her, but not really.
LOL
Does that make sense?

The opportunities for giving apple cozies are endless.
It's like giving a smile you can hold in your hand.

Oh and did I mention...the girl that makes these only charges $2.00.
She's already planning to make jack-o-lantern faces and Santa faces for teacher gifts.

P.S.
I'm purchasing a small, chubby pumpkin today.
I've asked her to crochet a cozy for my pumpkin..
Solid black with a big brown button!
I'll be sure to share a picture when it's done.
I think it will be absolutely beautiful!

Brown Sugar & Thyme, Roast Pork with Apples

I have to tell you about the dinner I made the other night!

It was....SO DELICIOUS!

Brown sugar & thyme roast pork with apples...yes please!

I have a bit of leftovers in the fridge, and writing about this makes me want to go eat what's left!

Ok, this is easy, easy, easy!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Place pork roast in a casserole dish.

Peel and rough chop 3 or 4 apples.

Place apples around the roast.

Drizzle olive oil over roast.

Sprinkle salt and pepper over roast.

Sprinkle handful of brown sugar over roast and apples.

Dress roast with fresh sprigs of thyme.

Cook in oven for 50 to 60 minutes depending on size of roast.

Discard sprigs of thyme after cooking. Enjoy!

Presque Isle State Park

A few weekends ago, we took the kids for a day trip to Lake Erie. We live in PA, so this would be the part of the lake that borders PA. Lake Erie is huge! It is the 4th largest lake in the 5 Great Lakes in the U.S. It is 241 miles long and 57 miles wide at it's widest point. The lake extends to the north where it meets Canada and to the south where it borders Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York...to the West, Michigan. Fortunately for us, we only live a couple hours south of Erie, so day trips are totally possible. And you know what??? I can't wait to go back!

We visited Presque Isle State Park, which is located on an absolutely beautiful peninsula! Presque Isle is actually French for "almost an island".

Can I tell you....I love Presque Isle State Park! It is absolutely gorgeous! The park is so beautifully maintained. I grew up going there every year for family vacations. My parents, us 6 kids, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents would all go for one week every summer.

It was incredibly fun! We would all stay in these quaint little cottages just outside of the park. The cottages are still there and that makes me very happy. Every day, each family would load their kids, laundry baskets full of beach toys, and coolers full of food and head out to one of the 7 beaches on the peninsula.

The memories I have of this place....oh the memories...wonderful! It's one of those memories that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and nostalgic inside.

There is also a Coast Guard station and 2 lighthouses on Presque Isle. I've only been to one lighthouse which is located on Lighthouse Beach, but the next time I go back, I am definitely scoping out the other.

Just before you get to the park, there are a couple of very fun, very quaint, family diners. Excellent food and great prices.

I loved it! You can also get ice cream there. Yes, we were there twice that day with the kids. Once for lunch, and later after swimming, for ice cream cones.

If you ever get to visit Lake Erie on the PA side, you HAVE to visit Presque Isle State Park and the town of Erie.

There's a number of things that I could go on about...especially the quaint, nostalgic, small amusement park just before you get to the park, called Waldameer.

I grew up riding these rides...the old metal boats in a foot of water that went in a circle....the wooden roller coaster called The Comet. The haunted fun house that my mom insisted I go into...traumatizing me for the rest of my life!! {I just knew we would go in, but we would never come out!} Memories of that amusement park play through my mind like an old 8 millimeter film strip. The cottages, the beaches, and Waldameer are some of the best memories of my life.

I don't know if you will ever find yourself in northwestern PA close to Lake Erie...but if you do, visit Presque Isle State Park and make some sweet sun-kissed memories of your own.