The view at the top of the quarry still catches my breath.
Rolling, green hills bathed in early evening sunlight. An occasional house or barn spotting the hillside. And, when I look further to the west, in the haze, I see That Mountain.
That Mountain that I lived and studied next to during my four years at college. Mt. Greylock.
I was overjoyed the first time I spotted it. At first I wasn't quite sure, but then I saw the familiar top of that tower, and the Lime-Marble Quarry next to it on the left.
I met some of the most important people in my life while living next to that mountain. I met my husband within the first 5 months of being there. I met amazing women and men who I forged lifetime friendships with: friendships that always pick up where they left off.
I laughed, cried and learned so much at the base of that mountain. It was where I became independent for the first time in my life. Whew, that was a sharp learning curve. Bye-bye, savings account!
How is it possible that it was 12 years ago that I started those adventures?
I look at that mountain now, and remember the excitement I felt about going back there to start another school year. I remember leafing through the Target flier, looking for good deals on all that I thought I needed to have that year. I remember feeling sad about leaving Goshen because it had finally started to feel like home again after being back for 3.5 months, but also feeling relieved because I longed to be independent again.
I look, smile, and remember. Then I look down the hill, towards our house, and think about my college sweetheart and the two kids in their beds that exist because of us meeting by that mountain. I call Maggie, and pull Scout's leash, and walk down off the quarry with a warm heart.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Pickle Time
It's a summer tradition in our house to make my grandmother's pickle recipe. They're not sweet pickles, they're just about the opposite of that. They make you pucker a little, but I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't like them!
Pickling cucumbers are a dime a dozen this time of year (well, not literally, but almost!), and when you can these pickles, you get to enjoy them through the whole fall, winter and spring until the following year when you make them again.
They're really easy:
Grandma C's Pickles
1 dozen good sized cucumbers
6 medium onions
1/2 cup salt
1 quart vinegar
1 cup Wesson (canola) oil
1/4 cup mustard seed
1 tablespoon celery seed
Do not peel cucumbers. Slice into 1/4" rounds. Put into large pot and sprinkle with salt. Let stand 3 hours.
Drain. Add chopped onion and the rest of the ingredients. Let stand 3 days. <----- This is the best part! After all, you "need" to try them throughout the 3 days, and they're just sitting there, waiting for you to test them. :)
Seal into jars.
Enjoy!
Pickling cucumbers are a dime a dozen this time of year (well, not literally, but almost!), and when you can these pickles, you get to enjoy them through the whole fall, winter and spring until the following year when you make them again.
They're really easy:
Grandma C's Pickles
1 dozen good sized cucumbers
6 medium onions
1/2 cup salt
1 quart vinegar
1 cup Wesson (canola) oil
1/4 cup mustard seed
1 tablespoon celery seed
Do not peel cucumbers. Slice into 1/4" rounds. Put into large pot and sprinkle with salt. Let stand 3 hours.
Drain. Add chopped onion and the rest of the ingredients. Let stand 3 days. <----- This is the best part! After all, you "need" to try them throughout the 3 days, and they're just sitting there, waiting for you to test them. :)
Seal into jars.
Enjoy!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Three
Dear Rosie,
Tomorrow you turn three.
Just the other day, your uncle, aunt and great grandpa were commenting on how much you've grown since they last saw you. You were eating unfamiliar food off your plate, and smiling and conversing. You used to be so shy when people came over that you would cling to me the entire time. I knew it was a stage that would pass, and while you're still incredibly shy from time to time, that's okay.
It's not a bad thing. It's okay to be cautious, to be weary about the unfamiliar. Don't let anyone ever make you feel bad about your shyness. Not everyone has to be outgoing. When it takes you a few minutes to warm up to a new situation, I understand. I'm that way, too.
On the other hand, you've been running up to kids left and right at the various playgrounds we go to, and it makes me so very, very happy. You make quick friends, and run around with them, shrieking and laughing. It makes my heart so happy when I see you enjoying yourself. One big change in the past year for you is that you intentionally seek out the things and activities you enjoy. I love to see the different interests that emerge every day, whether it's playing basketball or being Minnie Mouse.
Your creativity and imagination are through the roof. While you only nap occasionally now, you will spend a good hour or more in the afternoon, playing with your toys in your room, imagining ornate worlds that I only wish I could see, too. It doesn't take much- sometimes a play cup and spoon is all you need to start dancing and singing around the house for several minutes at a time. What's fun is that Buddy wants to do everything you do now, and you often delight in him running around with you.
I can honestly say that it is hard to imagine my life before you, Rosemarie Donna. You really are my little sidekick these days, and we talk about most everything as we go through our days together. You are my one and only little girl, and if I hold onto you a little tighter and longer sometimes, it's only because I'm so thankful I have you.
I love you forever and ever,
Mama
Tomorrow you turn three.
Just the other day, your uncle, aunt and great grandpa were commenting on how much you've grown since they last saw you. You were eating unfamiliar food off your plate, and smiling and conversing. You used to be so shy when people came over that you would cling to me the entire time. I knew it was a stage that would pass, and while you're still incredibly shy from time to time, that's okay.
It's not a bad thing. It's okay to be cautious, to be weary about the unfamiliar. Don't let anyone ever make you feel bad about your shyness. Not everyone has to be outgoing. When it takes you a few minutes to warm up to a new situation, I understand. I'm that way, too.
On the other hand, you've been running up to kids left and right at the various playgrounds we go to, and it makes me so very, very happy. You make quick friends, and run around with them, shrieking and laughing. It makes my heart so happy when I see you enjoying yourself. One big change in the past year for you is that you intentionally seek out the things and activities you enjoy. I love to see the different interests that emerge every day, whether it's playing basketball or being Minnie Mouse.
Your creativity and imagination are through the roof. While you only nap occasionally now, you will spend a good hour or more in the afternoon, playing with your toys in your room, imagining ornate worlds that I only wish I could see, too. It doesn't take much- sometimes a play cup and spoon is all you need to start dancing and singing around the house for several minutes at a time. What's fun is that Buddy wants to do everything you do now, and you often delight in him running around with you.
I can honestly say that it is hard to imagine my life before you, Rosemarie Donna. You really are my little sidekick these days, and we talk about most everything as we go through our days together. You are my one and only little girl, and if I hold onto you a little tighter and longer sometimes, it's only because I'm so thankful I have you.
I love you forever and ever,
Mama
Friday, August 23, 2013
Feel this Moment
There was the relaxing sound of the water moving over the rocks in the river. The sun beat down on us, warming our skin but not making it too hot. There was a beautiful bright blue sky with both white and dark clouds passing by.
And I was in a tube, for the first time ever.
Not just any tube- a nice one with a backrest and cup holder. I was in a newfound Vermont heaven.
My friend and I sat in our tubes in a very shallow part of the river and chatted about life. About how her boys were nearly grown up, about how my babies still needed so much from me, and while I was happy to give it, I needed times like this, too. We talked about the importance of friends, girlfriends in particular.
I felt that moment.
I closed my eyes, leaned back, and took in the warmth of the sun. I felt the coolness of the can on my fingertips, and I heard the guys laughing as they drifted towards us. I knew this was one of those moments that I wanted to memorize, so I could access it whenever I wanted to, like on a bleak day in January when the temperature doesn't get above 10 degrees and I think summer will never arrive.
I knew it was a moment so I made it a point to be present. I think I'm slowly getting better at that.
And I was in a tube, for the first time ever.
Not just any tube- a nice one with a backrest and cup holder. I was in a newfound Vermont heaven.
My friend and I sat in our tubes in a very shallow part of the river and chatted about life. About how her boys were nearly grown up, about how my babies still needed so much from me, and while I was happy to give it, I needed times like this, too. We talked about the importance of friends, girlfriends in particular.
I felt that moment.
I closed my eyes, leaned back, and took in the warmth of the sun. I felt the coolness of the can on my fingertips, and I heard the guys laughing as they drifted towards us. I knew this was one of those moments that I wanted to memorize, so I could access it whenever I wanted to, like on a bleak day in January when the temperature doesn't get above 10 degrees and I think summer will never arrive.
I knew it was a moment so I made it a point to be present. I think I'm slowly getting better at that.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Reflections a Year Later: The Eating Part
I distinctly remember the moment in which I realized not only was I modeling bad eating habits, I was passing them off to my children, too.
I was making grilled cheese sandwiches for myself, Rosie and Buddy. He was about 7.5 months, and we were slowly starting him on table foods. I was going to just add some chips to my plate and call it done. I had stopped adding fruits and veggies to Rosie's lunch plate a while ago because she just wouldn't eat them.
No wonder. Why would she eat them if she never saw me eat them? The light bulb switched on.
How did I expect my kids to eat healthily if I wasn't? Why did I think Rosie would happily crunch into a carrot if she saw me happily crunching potato chips? And here I was, not adding veggies to Buddy's plate, either, even though he was exactly at the age where I should be starting him on the right foot.
The answer was simple. I needed to put a veggie and fruit on each of our plates every meal (Okay, except breakfast- I still can't eat fruit or veggies that early in the morning. The kids get fruit though). It didn't matter if they didn't always eat it. I needed to make it available all the time, and I needed to eat it, too.
That's when my healthy lifestyle changes began, and when I started my journey to losing 62 lbs overall.
In the beginning of my journey, I used to freak out a little bit when I went to a restaurant (how do I know the calorie count?) or when I indulged just a little too much. Every time I felt overly full, I felt fat again, and like I had gone 10 steps backward.
The truth is:
1. You can indulge a little, once in a while. When I see a brownie at a party, I pounce on it because I never make them anymore. The difference between now and then is I'll just eat the one brownie, not three.
2. If you eat only half of what you're served at a restaurant, you're probably in the clear. And then you'll have the rest for delicious leftovers the next day!
3. Good food makes you feel good. I never used to have this much energy before I amped up my fruit and veggie intake. Between that, and a lot of water drinking, my body is a clean running machine that keeps me going and going.
4. There is such a thing as a food hangover. I ate at Friendly's a few months ago, and felt awful and lethargic the rest of the day. I sadly realized I used to feel this way all the time, but didn't know any better at the time. Once you start eating cleanly, your body notices when you eat something particularly greasy. You are what you eat. Unhealthy food makes you tired. Fresh, healthy food gives you energy.
I started eating more healthily because I wanted to do better by my kids. It was one thing to make myself overweight and unhealthy, but it was an entirely different thing to pass it onto them. I also did it because I was finally ready to.
When I had a hard time tearing the kids away from the blackberry bush last week, I could only smile. It was exactly the kind of thing I had been hoping would happen.
I was making grilled cheese sandwiches for myself, Rosie and Buddy. He was about 7.5 months, and we were slowly starting him on table foods. I was going to just add some chips to my plate and call it done. I had stopped adding fruits and veggies to Rosie's lunch plate a while ago because she just wouldn't eat them.
No wonder. Why would she eat them if she never saw me eat them? The light bulb switched on.
How did I expect my kids to eat healthily if I wasn't? Why did I think Rosie would happily crunch into a carrot if she saw me happily crunching potato chips? And here I was, not adding veggies to Buddy's plate, either, even though he was exactly at the age where I should be starting him on the right foot.
The answer was simple. I needed to put a veggie and fruit on each of our plates every meal (Okay, except breakfast- I still can't eat fruit or veggies that early in the morning. The kids get fruit though). It didn't matter if they didn't always eat it. I needed to make it available all the time, and I needed to eat it, too.
That's when my healthy lifestyle changes began, and when I started my journey to losing 62 lbs overall.
In the beginning of my journey, I used to freak out a little bit when I went to a restaurant (how do I know the calorie count?) or when I indulged just a little too much. Every time I felt overly full, I felt fat again, and like I had gone 10 steps backward.
The truth is:
1. You can indulge a little, once in a while. When I see a brownie at a party, I pounce on it because I never make them anymore. The difference between now and then is I'll just eat the one brownie, not three.
2. If you eat only half of what you're served at a restaurant, you're probably in the clear. And then you'll have the rest for delicious leftovers the next day!
3. Good food makes you feel good. I never used to have this much energy before I amped up my fruit and veggie intake. Between that, and a lot of water drinking, my body is a clean running machine that keeps me going and going.
4. There is such a thing as a food hangover. I ate at Friendly's a few months ago, and felt awful and lethargic the rest of the day. I sadly realized I used to feel this way all the time, but didn't know any better at the time. Once you start eating cleanly, your body notices when you eat something particularly greasy. You are what you eat. Unhealthy food makes you tired. Fresh, healthy food gives you energy.
I started eating more healthily because I wanted to do better by my kids. It was one thing to make myself overweight and unhealthy, but it was an entirely different thing to pass it onto them. I also did it because I was finally ready to.
When I had a hard time tearing the kids away from the blackberry bush last week, I could only smile. It was exactly the kind of thing I had been hoping would happen.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Advice from an Old Married Lady
Okay. So I'm hardly "old" and Steve and I don't have everything about marriage figured out, but as we near our 7 year anniversary, I've been thinking about what I've learned about marriage and relationships in that time.
1. Do your thing, do things with friends and do things with each other. It can be easy to lose yourself in marriage and parenthood. Make the time to do things you enjoy. Make the time to go out to dinner with a friend. Time to do these things is not all of a sudden going to appear. You have to make the time for them. It can also be easy to lose your identity as a couple, even when you live under the same roof. It's way too easy to zone out in front of the TV, each of you with a lap top. Watch shows and movies together, without the distraction of phones and computers. Do a puzzle or play a game together. Whatever you do, keep doing it, because it builds a connection that nothing else can.
2. Have weekly rituals. Two of ours are Massage Monday and Wine Wednesday. Massage Monday, we lie out on the living room carpet with pillows and blankets and give each other back massages while watching one of our DVR'd shows. Wine Wednesday is pretty much a weekly date night at home. It's as simple as sharing a bottle of wine in the evening every Wednesday. When life seems hectic, I can always count on these rituals to look forward to. I swear it's made our weeks that much better (especially Mondays!) because we no longer only look forward to the weekend.
3. Fight it out. When we have a disagreement, we fight it out (verbally, of course) until it's dead. We have been known to stay up until 2am doing this, if need be (thankfully that has been very rare). I can count on one hand the number of times we've gone to bed angry. It's so much better to just get it all out, and get it over with. Stifling your anger only turns into resentment. It doesn't just magically disappear.
There are so many more things I've learned but they won't fit in this one post. I can only imagine how much more I'll learn in our next 7 years of marriage.
1. Do your thing, do things with friends and do things with each other. It can be easy to lose yourself in marriage and parenthood. Make the time to do things you enjoy. Make the time to go out to dinner with a friend. Time to do these things is not all of a sudden going to appear. You have to make the time for them. It can also be easy to lose your identity as a couple, even when you live under the same roof. It's way too easy to zone out in front of the TV, each of you with a lap top. Watch shows and movies together, without the distraction of phones and computers. Do a puzzle or play a game together. Whatever you do, keep doing it, because it builds a connection that nothing else can.
2. Have weekly rituals. Two of ours are Massage Monday and Wine Wednesday. Massage Monday, we lie out on the living room carpet with pillows and blankets and give each other back massages while watching one of our DVR'd shows. Wine Wednesday is pretty much a weekly date night at home. It's as simple as sharing a bottle of wine in the evening every Wednesday. When life seems hectic, I can always count on these rituals to look forward to. I swear it's made our weeks that much better (especially Mondays!) because we no longer only look forward to the weekend.
3. Fight it out. When we have a disagreement, we fight it out (verbally, of course) until it's dead. We have been known to stay up until 2am doing this, if need be (thankfully that has been very rare). I can count on one hand the number of times we've gone to bed angry. It's so much better to just get it all out, and get it over with. Stifling your anger only turns into resentment. It doesn't just magically disappear.
There are so many more things I've learned but they won't fit in this one post. I can only imagine how much more I'll learn in our next 7 years of marriage.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Parenting is...
Parenting is:
- playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors" to decide who has to change the baby's diaper.
- letting your 3 year old smell the Gummy Vitamin bottle every time she eats one because she asks to, and really, what's the harm?
- knowing that "I'm getting cold" is actually said 3 year old's code for "I gotta pee!"
- taking the diaper off your 18 month old son for 2 minutes, only to see him pee on the floor, stop, then walk over to his sister's toy to pee on that instead.
- watching your daughter put two lines of Trolls (yup, the ones we played with in the 90's) in front of her bedroom door to "stop the dogs from coming in".
- falling, exhausted, into your partner's arms at the end of the day, and high fiving it, because somehow, someway, you just survived another day of the craziness that is Parenthood.
- playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors" to decide who has to change the baby's diaper.
- letting your 3 year old smell the Gummy Vitamin bottle every time she eats one because she asks to, and really, what's the harm?
- knowing that "I'm getting cold" is actually said 3 year old's code for "I gotta pee!"
- taking the diaper off your 18 month old son for 2 minutes, only to see him pee on the floor, stop, then walk over to his sister's toy to pee on that instead.
- watching your daughter put two lines of Trolls (yup, the ones we played with in the 90's) in front of her bedroom door to "stop the dogs from coming in".
- falling, exhausted, into your partner's arms at the end of the day, and high fiving it, because somehow, someway, you just survived another day of the craziness that is Parenthood.
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