A weekend of insanity and joy

Well, today is my sweet sister's birthday! Joyful, I love you. I'm so glad you are my sister and one of my dearest friends. And any typos in the this post are the fault of your children, who are currently trying to type on my keyboard along with me!

My sister and her husband are taking a well-deserved holiday. As seems to happen, Plan A was nice and simple. Mom and Dad would watch the three kids. Not a big deal, right? That's what grandparents are for! Well, then my grandfather had shoulder surgery scheduled, and of course, it was for one of the days that my parents were on grandparent-duty. Still, not a problem. Mom's not-so-secret identity is Super-Gran, and she can handle three kids with an ease that leaves the rest of our family shaking their heads. However, Super-Gran's back started hurting. (Excuse me, I need to go pull D off the cushion that A is currently under. I don't know why. Well, I know why I need to pull D off, but I'm not sure why A is under the cushion, considering we are theoretically watching Robin Hood and "winding down for bed." The kids didn't get that memo.) Essentially, Plan A is long in the past, and we are now on Plan LMNOP and remaining open to change.

This weekend has had less sleep, more questions (A is at the stage where EVERYthing requires a minimum of 14 questions), and certainly more nappy-changes than my weekends typically include. Still, it has been a terrific weekend. I love these three kids.

At some point last night, I realized (in a philosophical 4 a.m. moment) that I think of nights as being short. In my single-no-kids life, I fall asleep when I feel like it. The process of falling asleep takes me about five seconds and then before I know it, I wake up to yet another day. The hours I've slept pass in the timeless bliss that is deep sleep. 

Can I just say, last night lasted a really LONG time? Before I had even turned out my bedside light, D had woken up twice. When I heard him the third time at 4.a.m (when my inner philosopher was rudely awakened after four hours of sleep), I looked out the window and thought, "How is it possibly still night?" Simultaneously, I prayed, "Dear Lord, please let him go back to sleep for at least three more hours!" God and Super-Gran were both gracious, and I got to have a slighter longer chunk of sleep in the morning, once everyone else was awake. I still drank my first coffee in record time though!

Bathtime would include more adventures of slippery little drama queens, but at the moment, I have one foot pressing into my shoulder blade (the foot is not mine) and another little someone screaming on the stairs. It's snack-time. I'll write more later :) 

Arizona Mini-break

Once again, this is a "later-post" from my mini-vacation to Arizona at the end of May. Val and I spent our first day in Sedona, Arizona. We drove from Flagstaff with our mouths gaping open. Thankfully, we had chosen to take the scenic route, but really, it all seemed scenic. The red rocks were different but identifying the rock formations echoed my childhood in the Matopos Hills. 

Snoopy Rock

Batman

Valerie and I wandered around the town of Sedona, and after a little while, found a jeep tour company offering a good deal. Our jeep left the paved road and reached the "off roading" road, and I had to laugh at the guide's warnings. It might qualify as off-roading in the USA, but it seemed like almost every road in Moz! Still, it was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

My mother has slowly won me over. I now love plants. It fascinates me to see the variety of flora in different locales but also the similarities. I was surprised to see plants that I knew from Zimbabwe in Brazil. Arizona offered a wonderful array of plant life in its many landscapes. I particularly liked this pink-tipped grass, which I've learned is called muhlenbergia.

In Sedona, we saw prickly pear cacti, a familiar sight for this Zimbabwean.  We also saw century plants, agave americana. 

Prickly Pear

Century Plants

Near the end of the century plant's lifecycle (which is about thirty years, not a century as the American Pioneers thought), the plant grows a really tall stalk, which looks like a giant stalk of asparagus. This stalk can be up to 30 feet tall! That tall stalk you see in the picture below? Yep, that's a century plant!

Of course, one can't be near the Sonoran desert without noticing the incredible Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea).  I did not expect to see hills covered with Saguaros, nor did I realize that they are so tall!!!

Apparently, the tallest recorded Saguaro was 87 feet tall before it was blown over in a storm. They don't grow arms until they are least 75 years old, and some never do! Most live about 150 years. Saguaros have expandable ribs to help them store water. A large Saguaro can store up to 6 tons of water, accommodated by expanding its ribs, but it can also lose up to 2/3 of its water and still live. I also learned from the Phoenix Botanical Gardens that Saguaros have "rain roots", which are additional roots that grow within an hour after rainfall to allow the Saguaro to absorb as much rainwater as possible. 

Val and I also learned about the relationship between the Palo Verde tree and the Saguaro cactus. Apparently (I wouldn't know), it was observed that a Saguaro often grew under a Palo Verde tree. Birds might have been feeding baby birds in the branches of the Palo Verde tree, and seeds dropped. The Palo Verde tree then acted as a "nurse plant" for the Saguaro. Eventually, the Saguaro might outlive the Palo Verde, because the Saguaro has a shallower root system and the Palo Verde will not get enough water. 

Palo Verde and Saguaro

Sometimes, noticing the plants had additional benefits...we saw a jack rabbit! 

Bay of Fundy

My father really wants to see the Bay of Fundy, which is known for its high tidal range. Although he thought pictures were taken to show him that I made it there before him, I promise that was not my intent! Dad, don't go in March.

The last year has been brought a number of changes to my life! I got a job, not in the city I'd moved to find a job, but instead in the town I had just moved from! After a quick two month stay in the Big City, my dear father borrowed my brother-in-law's truck and, with the help of a friend of mine, moved me back to small town Pennsylvania. A week later, I jumped straight into a very busy job, working with international students at a small private college.

It really wouldn't be possible to fully recap the past year, so I won't even try. Obviously, I survived, although at times, I doubted that I might! Instead, here are my highlights (in no particular order):

1) I'm living in my very own little apartment, just me and my houseplants. I didn't think the houseplants were excessive, but whenever anyone sees my apartment for the first time, they comment "Oh, you really like plants."
2) I went to the Grand Canyon! (Pictures to follow...)
3) I took an impromptu road trip to Montreal at Christmas-time with a friend from work, ensuring that I exited the USA during 2015.
4) Friends from Youth with a Mission invited me to teach for a week in their DTS, which led to a week in March in Nova Scotia, teaching about building cross cultural relationships. (The week was great but the weather was cold!)
5) I became responsible for 110 college students. (I used to joke that instead of having my own children, I would adopt 18 year olds because it would be easier. I've changed my mind. In fact, I have mixed feelings about this being a highlight, but it certainly has been a significant event.)
6) My father, mother, sister and I have lived within ten minutes of driving distance for nearly a year.
7) I bought a 1998 Chevy Tracker. (Love my Tracker!)
8) I've gotten to see my sweet niece and two nephews almost every week.
9) I managed to practice yoga almost weekly. Not only did it help me put aside work for an hour, but I learned to love seeing my flexibility and balance improve.
10) I've learned a lot about myself. This point alone could be pages of words, but instead, I'll leave it at that. It's been good.

After a whirlwind of an academic year, I remain hopeful that my summer will have some slower days, times to enjoy the nearby state parks and bright blue skies, perhaps a few hours to steal away with my sister's kayak...and maybe even some more regular blog posts. :)

Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley is a little side street in Philadelphia that is called the "oldest residential street in the United States." It's a very pretty little street. The current homes were built between 1728 and 1836, but the street has been home to residences since 1702.

Museum Week

Independence Day is apparently not enough in this lovely city. Instead, we have had Independence Week. A number of museums contributed to the festivities by waiving their admission price for a day.

On Monday, I foolishly fell for the lure of free admission and went to check out the Franklin Institute. I'm glad I went but apparently every parent in Philadelphia with two or more children had also heard that there was free entry. It was packed with too many people, and the majority were children. Still, I got to say hello to Ben:

Thursday's experience was much better. Ben was once again sighted. He's everywhere!

I snapped a picture of the Mint:

and then made my way to the Constitution Center. The crowds were a little less chaotic and a little more mature. There was a wonderful exhibit of photographs of the Kennedy family, taken during JFK's campaign and presidency. There was also a great exhibit on the Bill of Rights and a beautiful display of the various state flags. 

I also inadvertently walked by Ben's grave and the Arch Street Friends Meeting House.

William Penn deeded the land to the Society of Friends for their use in 1701, originally to be used for burials. The Meeting House was built later and is still in use by the Quakers.

Fireworks!

I got my fireworks fix a little early this year. June 29th was the start of Independence Week here in the city of Brotherly love. My cousin was in the city for a conference, and she I made plans to meet for the festivities at Penn's Landing.

We found a pretty spot underneath a gazebo of sorts and enjoyed some life music before the fireworks barge moved into place. We ended up being perfectly located and the pyrotechnic display was lovely!

The finale was perfectly timed to end with a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. 

Monday FUNday

Yesterday, my friend Ricci decided to visit Philadelphia on her day off. She and I are similar in a lot of ways. When she contacted me about visiting on Monday, I responded with a suggested activity that I knew would cement her plans: Trader Joe's! Ricci and I both love this grocery store, and since there aren't many in her area, we made plans to start our day by meeting for some grocery shopping!

After our shopping adventures concluded, we got some lunch and ate in the shade at the Rodin Museum. We paused for a few quick pictures with the Thinker.

After returning to my apartment to put all the groceries in the fridge, we visited the well-known Love sign at JFK Plaza and made our way to dinner. 

Ricci had suggested we do a nice dinner out, to celebrate my birthday (which was in March) and my graduation. Dinner was a delicious mix of swordfish kebabs and fennel salad, spanakopita, and figs and goat cheese drizzled with honey. For dessert, we went to a different nearby restaurant to share tiramisu and salted caramel budino. It was all excellent. 

It was a wonderful day and even better to catch up with a good friend. 

Just another pretty street...

There is something incredible about blending functionality with beauty. When on the vespa tour in rome, which I mentioned in my last post, our guide Valentino showed us a beautiful neighborhood of Rome. He told us that this was socialized housing. It was gorgeous. Homes were unique, well-built, beautiful. He told us that this came about during a period when politicians realized that residents would take better care of something that was beautiful, even if they didn't own it. It also sends a message that everyone deserves a clean, safe, and even beautiful place to live. 

I love that message. I think of it when I'm walking around cities now. In so many of our cities, the economic status of the neighborhood can be inferred from the exterior of the homes and the condition of the streets. There is a supposition that renters will damage a property and owners will improve it. Why is this?  I'm a renter, with no desire to buy an apartment or a house at this point in my life. But I have a desire to make my living space as beautiful as possible, in the same way that any home owner might!

Well, that was a bit of a tangent! I started thinking about all this on Sunday as I walked around the Old City of Philadelphia. Trees shade beautiful brick homes and small side streets. I love this part of the city, but I also know just by looking at the neighborhood that I can't afford to live there. It prompted the above thoughts, making me wonder why we think a higher income bracket should correlate with the beauty of one's home. 

This is just one pretty little street in Old City. I loved the raised brick flowerbeds on either side of the doorway and the contrast of the blue shutters and door with the red brick. As I walked by another alleyway, my senses were suddenly overwhelmed with the sweet smell of honeysuckle. (It was certainly one of the typical smells I have learned to associated with urban side-streets!) Still, it was a wonderful reminder to savor the moments of beauty that our Creator slips into our days. 

Creatures Great and Small

Friends of mine were out of town for the weekend, and I had the opportunity to return the hospitality they have shown me on many occasions by house- and dog-sitting. Piper is a three year old Italian Mastiff and I believe she is just over 100 pounds of puppy. 

I miss having pets and it was a treat to get to have a dog for a few days. Piper is allowed on the furniture, and she makes herself comfortable wherever she pleases! She likes to push down the back cushions of the sofa and prop her head on the windowsill, surveying the South Philly street outside. 

When her curiosity wanes, she likes to move to the corner of the sofa for a snooze. The old adage does say, "Let sleeping dogs lie..." So I did! 

Roma

I think now that I have a little extra time on my hands, I'll catch up on some of the experiences from last year. They will likely be in no particular order. Writing on this blog has become a way of recording my adventures, big and small alike.

Due to the insanity of last autumn, I didn't take the time to write anything here. Every effort in writing was focused solely on my M.Ed. I can read for hours for school or work, but still enjoy reading for pleasure to unwind. Not so with writing!

When I was planning my thesis trip to the ME, I found out a friend was going to be Rome for a month. Part of her time overlapped with my travels. After a quick flurry of emails, I went to my favorite flight-booking website and found that adding a four day diversion to Rome would only add about $100 to my flight. With an offer of a sofa to sleep on, it was a perfect chance to revisit the Eternal City. So, after my six or seven week stint in the ME, I flew to Germany and then to Italy. The next few days, Meredith had language classes and I wandered the city on my own. In the evenings, Meredith showed me her favorite spots for dinner and for gelato. We splurged on a Vespa Tour of the forgotten spots of Rome. The guys at Dear Roma were wonderful tour guides.

I'm not even certain what the building is in this picture. Meredith and I were walking home from dinner one night and walked around the corner to see this gorgeous view of the moon and the dome. 

Piazza Navona

This is the Piazza Navona, as seen from the restaurant of the Museo Roma. It is beautiful, even on a rainy, overcast November day. 

 I love the many alleys and curving pathways that wind through old cities. I probably have countless pictures from all over the world. I'm also particularly susceptible to the beauty of vines clinging to old buildings. :)

Meredith endeared herself to several local restaurant owners in her neighborhood. While at one of these restaurants, the owner did his best to spoil us, bringing us complimentary cookies and even limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur. I could only handle a few sips! It is often served as a digestivo, or a drink served after a meal to aid digestion. 

This picture was taken on our Vespa Tour. We hopped off the vespas to hear more about the Circus Maximus and Palatine Hill. History is amazing.

A few quick snaps with the Vespa guides!