It's scary down here!

Trying to keep occupied by pulling out some orange and black. We've been waiting for Irma for days and it's nerve wracking. We've done what we could in order to prepare...considering the store shelves emptied out early in the week. We have been here before, just never for a storm of this magnitude. 

Please keep all of those in the path of this storm, as well as those who have already been touched by Irma, in your thoughts and prayers. We have so many friends who are our family in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area...so many people we love all over the state. 

I've been away from blogging...family keeping me busy. I know my friends in blogland are all out there...please think good thoughts and send some down our way.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

What's New

Summer is in full swing which means we have been traveling to Florida Bar meetings with Mr.MW, Mom has been stitching Halloween and Christmas goodies, and Annie...Annie has recently scooped up a couple of new awards.

First, this is where my mantle use to be. This old pine chest-of-drawers use to hold our t.v. on top. I had to get rid of the mantle and move it to this wall to make room for this...

I ordered this piece from The Seraph in the spring and it arrived last week. I love the piece...lots of needed storage! 

Also ordered this table from The Seraph for the family room. Love the tiger maple top on this traditional porringer table. 

These two pieces arrived the day before we left for Boca Raton for the annual Florida Bar Convention. Whew!!! It was close!

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We had a great time in Boca. Annie received a President's Award from the outgoing president, Bill Schifino on the left...and a Lifetime Membership Medal (around her neck) from the incoming president, Michael Higer, on the right. She was so surprised...and so were her parents!!! 

It's hard for me to get good pics because so many people are taking photos...professional photographers for the Bar...people with cell phones...I end up in the back row...but I think you can see how happy our girl was to be honored by these wonderful friends.

That this organization and these great friends go out of their way to recognize Annie is amazing. Her dad has been on the Board of Governors for thirteen...starting fourteen...years. Annie has only missed one meeting in all that time. That's over eighty five meetings! These folks are our family.

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Speaking of family...meet Will...our first great nephew. His dad, our nephew, is on the Young Lawyers Board. His mom, also a lawyer, works for the Governor of Florida.

Finally, thirteen nephews...three nieces...finally, one of them reproduced! Welcome, Baby William!

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I've done a wee bit of hooking. Yesterday, I mostly reverse hooked...yuck!

Hope you are all enjoying these summer days. We have had so much rain my door garden is full of soggy dead herbs. My gorgeous rosemary and lavender plants...drowned. With calls for rain all week, I don't expect any survivors. I'll just stay inside...and reverse hook.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Randomness...early summer

Shooner redware bank

Hello friends...hope these early days of summer are treating you well.

Summer, to me, always comes with a reading list. And it seems this year Annie and I share a common subject...Colonial America/ the American Revolution.

We are planning a trip later this year and, as preparation, Annie and I are reading/learning all we can about the early days of America.

Having traveled to historic towns like Philadelphia, Alexandria, Boston, Concord and Lexington, Annie knows a good bit of our country's history. She can tell you why her mother's home state of Virginia is called "the mother of presidents" (eight of them born there...the most of any state) and name the big ones...like Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. 

 Annie has been fortunate to visit Valley Forge, Mount Vernon, Independence Hall and the home of Betsy Ross among other sites of historical importance. I always try to prepare her before our visits so she will know what she is seeing so she can enjoy it, and not be overwhelmed or bored.

I never know how much Annie retains from our visits so I was absolutely over the moon when we found the Eyewitness book above in Barnes and Noble. Paging through it we saw lots of familiar sights from our visit to Philadelphia a few years ago. Annie proceeded to tell me all about the pictures we were looking at and telling me things like, "This is Independence Hall in Philadelphia." I was one proud mama...and teacher! Even better, Annie was so proud of herself. 

So...we are brushing up on our history for our next adventure. 

I am reading 1776. David McCullough is a wonderful writer and I am loving every word. In my opinion it should be required reading for every American...especially these days. Patriots like these, I fear we have seen the last of their breed. 

The coasters in the photo are pics of our trip to Philadelphia and are a wonderful way to preserve memories and see them every day. Made them with Shutterfly.

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For those of you who are stitchers, I wanted to share with you this great tray made by Lori and Peter Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm fame. This handy tray attaches to the arm of your chair and holds all things necessary for your stitching pleasure.

I am a chronic needle loser! This tray comes with a magnet attached to it. I added my favorite needleminder and it works like a charm. All my sewing goodies in one place...love it!

Great little helper this talented team came up with!

Sadly. I have not made any progress on my Karen Kahle rug. I've have been doing some seasonal stitching for the fall. Mostly I have been spending time with my girl...in addition to our Colonial studies, we have a few art projects going. Never enough time. 

Take good care everybody! The Fourth of July will be here momentarily!

Yikes!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Key West

We just returned from a visit to Key West. It was so hot all I could think was...we are surely melting!

Despite all the HOT, Key West is a unique and beautiful place.

This quote, right on the sidewalk, perfectly describes the colors of Key West. I've added my own pics to share the lovely colors of this tropical island...our country's southern most point. The photos have not been enhanced...the colors you see are the true colors of the photos as taken. Enjoy a little taste of the Conch Republic!

This sunset was so beautiful! Took this sitting on our balcony...sipping green tea.

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Remember the antique bricks I mentioned months back? My Christmas present from Mr. MW has been a slow but steady project.  A friend came by to check it out and was nice enough to let me take his picture. At this stage we are letting the sand settle before adding the cement. More pics coming. I love it!

Hope all is well with everybody.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Thank you!

Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge

This photo was taken years ago in Washington, D.C.. This statue is part of the Vietnam War Memorial. The soldier on the left, with the hat and holding the rifle, was a classmate of mine from high school. He modeled for the artist years after his safe return from duty in Vietnam. 

To my friend, who has since passed away, and all those who served and did not return home...thank you.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

My Favorite Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

I'm going in....

Morning, friends and fellow hookers. I have had this rug on my list to hook for a long time. I mustered a bit of nerve and yesterday pulled some loops.

This is Karen Kahle's "Flowerbox"...the large one.

It's a big one!

Very big! 52x40 big!

I plan on doing a little bit every day. Wish me luck! I'll post my progress.

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If you have been here before, you know I come from a long line of "never throw anything outers".

This is Annie in one of her favorite tees. I bought this shirt on a trip to Boston...in 1993. It was more like a nightgown on her when I brought it home, but became a favorite right then and there. She grew into it...it's still a big favorite.

Gotta go pull some loops!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn