There's been jumping in the backyard.
Followed by a nap.
Lindsey singing in the car.
And some quality time on the swing in the shade.
~RLM
]]>There's been jumping in the backyard.
Followed by a nap.
Lindsey singing in the car.
And some quality time on the swing in the shade.
~RLM
]]>I was craving the simple lunches of hot European summers; the baguette sandwiches, fresh fruit, and icy chocolate milkshakes that comforted sweltering Greek afternoons. We've got our own heat wave going on here in NC, and the buttery crunch of a Whole Foods baguette was merely the first step in recreating yet another favorite memory of hellasgood times.
Thick slices of herbed turkey, a handful of delicious white nectarines, a glass bottle of local chocolate milk, and a tiny pint of organic bourbon vanilla gelato also found their way into my basket, along with a long, thick loaf of french bread.
Lunch yesterday was blissful, after a few hot hours melting in the sun at the pool. A creamy barely-chocolate millkshake, sliced fruit, and a tiny sandwich - turkey nestled between slices of baguette slathered with salted butter. Perfection.
And then this morning, for breakfast, toast drizzled with local honey, accompanying my cup of tea. Just like all those mornings in Athens the first two years, when bread with honey was our poor girl breakfast strategy. A loaf of fresh bread from the bakery down the street was $0.50, while the honey came in tiny bottles from an old man in the mountains.
I've decided. If I can't be in Greece, I can at least try to enjoy the things I'm able to recreate at home. Now if I could only find Coke in glass bottles, I'd be set.
~RLM
]]>
Woke up early, to beat the heat, and the crowds at the state farmer's market.
Did a bit of jumpity in the parking lot, in my overalls.
Felt good to be up before most of the college parts of the city. At 9am the streets are deserted on a Saturday morning.
Came home with the most awesome tiny yellow tomatoes.
And beautiful red romas, another quart of blueberries, two pounds of peaches, plus five ears of corn.
All for $10.
The heat index peaked around 110 today, so I didn't venture out again. Instead, I settled in with some reading, while the tomatoes roasted in the oven, bubbling into a wonderful sauce. The peaches went into a brown buttered cobbler, to wake me up before classes this next week.
Its still study central around here, but I needed a bit of a break. A few hours in the kitchen, being productive in an entirely more fulfilling manner, and I'm feeling much better about tackling the last of this week's work...and am now running off to write another paper.
~RLM
]]>
I finished knitting this over a month ago but never got around to weaving in the ends. Seeing that the forecast for today was going to be cold and wet (again), I sat down last night to finish things up.
The pattern is Liesl by the incredibly talented Ysolda (of Ishbel design fame). It was a fast and easy knit, considering there are no sleeves and the feather and fan stitch is simple to memorize. Everything I could hope for in a cute accessory. The Malabrigo worsted was once meant for the February Lady Sweater that never happened. I *love* this shade of blue and thankfully have enough yarn left in the stash for a long-sleeved cardigan Liesl that will be perfect for an Indiana autumn.
~RLM
** I'm writing this from the art history section of the library (note yesterday's face down photo), where I have claimed a carrel overlooking the parking lot. I am not allowed to leave this space until I have finished the assignment we have due tomorrow. It could be awhile. **
]]>Which is how I ended up sprawled on the floor of the Meredith library at noon on a Tuesday.
Coming off a stressful morning - my 2.4 mile commute took 45 minutes due to the road outside my apartment being flooded by the early monsoon - and a three hour lecture, lying face down in the art history section only seemed appropriate.
The fact that this photo will probably be the highlight of my week is a clear indicator that I am, in fact, losing it.
~RLM
]]>
Summer school began last Monday. I haven't had much of a life since then.
My week was a hectic blur of early morning classes, hundreds of pages of readings, and crashing into sleep at 10pm each evening.
This week doesn't promise much better. I spent the weekend writing a take home exam, with just a tiny escape Saturday morning to the farmer's market. I broke out my stash of summer skirts this morning. It feels good to have that familiar flounce around my ankles.
I'm thinking a siesta will become a necessary part of each day. In Athens, mesimerianos was the savior of a sweltering afternoon, and in these intensive summer sessions, they may be the only way I survive.
~RLM
]]>
I drove down to Wilmington last night to spend some time with Lindsey. Two of the other church girls were coming for a few days and LP wanted some company.
I spent the morning out at Wrightsville, on one of my favorite spots on the island.
Alone in the sun, with my well worn copy of Pride & Prejudice and a perfect summer playlist on the ipod.
I've spent at least one day a year on this beach since I was two, the tradition runs deep. Its so much a part of me, having grown up here. The Pullums are my second family, and staying with them seems as much like going home as being back in Indy.
And now that I've spent a morning swimming in the ocean, my summer can truly begin.
~RLM
]]>
Participating in this giveaway was so much fun. Thanks to all who visited and commented, it was really awesome reading about everyone's dream vacations. And a big thanks to everyone at Sew Mama Sew for organizing everything.
Unfortunately, I only have one prize to giveaway, and I'll be sending this little bundle of Greek goodies off to Angi Wood. I numbered everyone's comments and used the random number generator to pick the winner. Thanks for playing along!
~RLM
]]>
Today is the last day to enter my hellasgood giveaway for Sew Mama Sew!
Details can be found here.
:: things to remember::
- comments close at midnight, EST, tonight, May 31.
- I'll randomly select a winner and make the announcement tomorrow morning.
- don't forget to check out all the other awesome giveaways over at Sew Mama Sew!
~RLM
]]>I've been on a productive streak this week, finishing up projects that have been sitting on the back burner for several months.
This pair of socks was meant to be my hellasgood08 knitting project; the yarn perfectly captures the colors of a Greek sunset, so it was the only new project I packed. I cast on during my eight hour layover in Frankfurt. I was sitting at some random gate, trying not to fall asleep, when a tiny elderly woman wandered over and settled in beside me, pulling some beautiful beaded lacework out of her bag. The first sock saw early morning in a German airport, sunsets on Kalymnos, an evening performance of Turandot at the Herodeon, and a handful of EuroCup football matches. And once it was finished, the yarn, pattern, and needles were packed away and all but forgotten. I pulled it all out again this weekend and set about knitting like a woman possessed. So now I've got a wonderful pair of socks, just in time for a hot and humid North Carolina summer.
This dress hung on the wall over my book cases for about eight months, abandoned because it was irritating me. I'm not sure why the designer thought giant pleats on the back of a shift dress would be flattering, because the whole thing balooned out horribly. So last weekend, I ripped out the back seams and replaced the pleats with simple gathers, and then finished the hem off with coordinating bias tape. Its the perfect simple dress for summer, but I'm hoping to find a less fiddly pattern before constructing the rest of my seasonal wardrobe.
~RLM
]]>