a bit of

 mindless entertainment from the internet

(thanks Jeanne!)

this is a wonderful idea!  we used cocoa and sugar instead of the chocolate 

wow-ee!   it's a party!

i bet peppermint tea would work as well.  :-)

~you must try this~

the fair

a quick walk through

followed by all of us

experiencing the usual fair fatigue 

Peter in the Arlington Herald (quo vadis article)

Mimi's apartment building

It was a great visit with Nonie and Nano

(thank you Betty for taking the picture!)

The service berry is just beginning to change color

but it's fun to squint and imagine its a lemon tree.

this, that and a bit of the other

A look at the world through the eyes of Kateri

---master iPhone photographer---

and even an evocative selfie:

thank you Kateri!

fin at the park

ready to go  :-)

 no-regrets decorating:

I'm so excited to finally know the secret to creating a home i'll love forever (really!)

Just beginning this book from the library:

Just from the introduction, mind you:

"There is always something to watch when you are paying attention to the intimate details that define tree species and the processes that characterize their life cycles.  Like the Chinese, who divide the solar calendar into twenty-four rather that four seasons (among them, fortnights called "excited insects," "grains fill," "cold dew," and "frost descents"), a practiced tree-watcher knows there are dozens of seasons and that one of them could be called "acorns plumping out."

Also:

"Spring, it is said, advances up the United States at the average rate of about 15 miles a day..."

I'm looking forward to more reading!

and speaking of photography 

pictures from Nonie's hallway...

resting at the old stoop

larkspurs

returning from a walk...circa 1909

quo vadis? quo vadis!

Mount St. Mary's seminary

Peter, Dom, John Paul, Paddy

Peter's room is on the 4th floor

with a view

checking out the quarters

(the dorm room window was open; the room smelled of cigarette smoke)

in the hallway on the 4th floor

peter's room is just beyond the crucifix on the right,

and the bathroom and showers are across the hall from his room.

the the main hallway on the first floor

the chapel (on the first floor)

the Mallory's arrived

i think peter's room has the open window at the very top in the middle

after seeing where peter would be situated,

we walked to the big church (to the right of the seminary)

it was such a beautiful day!

the Mass was concelebrated by four priests.

i think the seminarians help to run the week's activities,

and there are about 200 young men attending the camp.

i am so thankful peter is able to attend!

Thanks be to God!

after Mass, a picnic bbq was served up for everyone,

there were so many large, beautiful families.

Please keep peter and his squad in your prayers this week!

thank you!!!!

the artist

Margaret Farr

who painted

these botanicals

came to our house this week...

becky and i enjoyed meeting her and we were overjoyed to receive 2 of her prints:

the Immaculate Heart of Mary

our Lady of the Rosary

We were overwhelmed by Margaret Farr's incredible talent!

She was very pleasant and would like to meet Betty :-)  since she has 2 twin granddaughters....

chagrin:  the feeling you get 

when you realize

 that this is the plant that greeted 

a botanical artist

when she came to the door.

Mimi's quilt is finished~

it was great fun to work on!

the back of the quilt is a tablecloth from ikea

100% cotton, and enough left over for one more quilt!

this week i read "Crab's Hole: A Family Story of Tangier Island" by Anne Jander

what a delightful book!  

The Jander family moved to Tangier Island in the 1950's,

and they met the adventure and hardship of living on an island in the Chesapeake bay

without water or electricity

with amazing (and inspiring) good humor and enthusiasm.

teresa received this book from the greniers,

and i'm so glad she shared it with me--thanks, Tee! :)

anyone want to go to tangier island one of these days?

a couple of video clips from today

zoe dancing with the mako shark

and just to give you an idea of the visiting :-) 

zoe sees the shark

some pictures from last week...and today!

Nonie and nano enjoyed seeing how big Master James has gotten

and he enjoyed seeing them!

Such a joyful time!

but the blessings of the week did not end there....

just 4 days later....

.... who do you think these two were excited to see this morning at Falcons Landing?

 ---the Nebraska cousins!

Our excitement began in the parking lot

and could only find relief in lots of wrestling before their arrival!

we even had an opportunity to meet one of the maids for a few moments...

and then Zoe arrived!

and the party began!

 some happy moments --

it was truly a lovely visit

zoe enjoyed seeing how she looked in all the jewels

quite nice if i do say so myself!

After some tapioca and cookies, Nonie called Zoe and Max over

to give them a little gift

It's a Mako!

I love it, Nonie, and you too!

Max also enjoyed his turtle :-)

such cuties!

followed by 

the obligatory pictures with everyone lined up in a row

and nothing says "family picture" like a shark in the living room!

such a wonderful picture!!!

Oh it was wonderful to see Tom, Kris, Zoe and Max!

we enjoyed every minute

and we miss you already!!!