A Deep Breath

Dear Friends
I am so sorry about my absence from this space. The month of June was filled with quite a number of time-consuming events—a birthday, unexpected emergencies, a few visits—and stays—at the hospital (no worries, we are all fine now), end-of-the-year school activities, visits (some planned, a few, um, urgently requested–thanks again Mom!) from beloved family members… there was barely any time to catch my breath let alone blog (or even do laundry).

We have managed to escape back home for an extended visit with my family for a few weeks. In the mad rush to get everything ready for our drive back home with four kids, one grandparent, one harried mother, and a dog, our family car broke down causing us to scrounge around for a rental just a few hours before we left town. I still managed to get everything packed for everyone—efficiently in one suitcase, even remembering my favorite flip-flops, my hat, and enough yarn to last me at least two months—only to discover once we arrived that I had not packed one stitch of clothing for myself. No PJs, no shorts, no tops, no bathing suit, nor underwear. Please tell me I’m not the only one to do such a thing! Luckily, I was able to locate my sense of humor, my emergency credit card, and the clearance rack at the local discount store, so the situation has been salvaged.

We are all being spoiled rotten and spending as much time as we can slowing down and relearning to breath deeply. I have a few things to show you, and now that I have some time, I’m looking forward to getting them posted.

Yours Truly,
-Cheryl

Busy… At Least I Thought I Was

I was _really_ hoping to have some pictures to go along with this post, but the camera’s battery is dead, and I can not for the life of me find the charger. I’m getting a little worried about that, since we’re leaving for vacation at 4 am on Saturday, that is, if Hanna doesn’t force us to evacuate–or not even visit–Hatteras Island, where we’re planning on spending the week.

Sigh.

But it was an incredibly busy day none-the-less. I baked six loaves of Ciabatta, I made a double recipe of Spuma do Tonno, pureed and strained a gallon of Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup, set nine pound of peaches in the crock pot for peach butter, and managed to keep the kitchen passably clean the entire time. Actually, now that I have it all listed, it doesn’t sound like that much. But it was. And I’m tired. And I still need to take one more pass at the kitchen before I’ll feel OK about going to bed. But, oh, I’m sitting now, and it’s so hard to even think about getting up.

Tomorrow: packing, packing packing… oh, that is after laundry, laundry, laundry. Hurricane be damned. I’ll stay in a Motel Six somewhere in Kentucky, but I’m going on vacation for a week, and I’m bringing my own food and I’ll have clean clothes!

Hopefully, fingers crossed, pictures tomorrow.