Summer Days, driftin' away...

On a rainy, cool Saturday morning, my heart aches a bit for the summer that is slipping away. I even ventured into school yesterday -- that's always the beginning of the end. Actually, the ads for the EX strike the first chord in every teacher's heart in the GTA -- those ads are like a death knell that say summer is over.

So I guess this is the kind of day that is good for reflecting on the sunny days that were -- to look at all Julia and I did this summer, and why there was so little time for bloggin' because we were always out there doin'.

One project was to continue the work from last summer to create a big of a backyard retreat. I had the deck enlarged slightly to the left - you see the different colour of wood -- it helps a bit, but I still don't like the "stage". The new patio umbrella was my Father's Day gift to self -- one of the perks of being a single mom-- you get to celebrate both days in a way. The Southampton craft show was the spot to get the whimsical watermelon table that needed the Muskoka chair as a partner.  I'm sorry to say I didn't spend enough time out there reading this summer - we were on the go or the weather didn't allow when we were here -- but it just means that it will be waiting for me next summer between whatever projects come up then.

If you look to the right of the BBQ you can sort of see something green -- that's my basil plant! A garden essential since I was introduced to Lianne's wonderful appetiser this summer -- bread drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and toasted in the broiler, topped with FRESH basil, boccochini (sp?) cheese and tomato, and seasoned with sea salt and pepper. YUMMY! Who am I eating tomatoes now?  I've made it several times since and call it my amuse bouche!

The garden -- a work in progress -- working on the mostly perennial thing -- did some planting last August with the very-discounted-practically-free-reduced to clear perennials.  Some of them looked pretty rough last year when Julia and I were planting them, and I  worried how they'd withstand the wintery blasts that continued into April you'll recall, but all that aside, some weathered the storms and show up this spring and summer. We've added to the mix for next year - some have actually already given us a late summer show. A new edition was the installation of the solar garden lights. I love looking out at them in the evening.

This is the garden Julia and Alyse started last year - we added Julia's marigold from her end-of-year trip to the farm and her bean plant she started at school (to the left of the the garden fairy) and a clematis. We harvested some of the beens the other day. Julia was delighted.

After the lack of beach days at the beginning of the summer, Moe and I were delighted to soak up the sun at Southampton in July for a few days. We hope to squeeze some more sun and sand in on Labour Day weekend as we bid our final farewell to summer.
Carmel's pool became a reality at the end of Julia -- also a work in progress as far as the yard and landscaping go, but the water was wet and warm -- and even the rain showers didn't dampen the spirits of Julia and her cousin, Sara. If you look closely, you'll see the rain pelting them.
A trip to Marineland was another highlight -- the picture doesn't do this splash from the killer whale justice. Julia was so excited to get catch this wave.
A trip on the Maid of the Mist -- my favourite part - -the roar of the Falls as the tour guide tape announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Niagara Falls!" - just in case, we had forgotten where we were. The girls loved the wet and wild ride for sure. That's my rain poncho ballooning in front of me and them.
You can almost hear Julia squeal as she scores her first butterfly encounter at the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory.
Here is my acrobat/goalie. She did manage to keep the goals out between cartwheels, hand stands and walkovers.  We spent our Tuesdays nights since May at the soccer pitch. Julia showed great skill playing defense this season and won a free dinner for being "Player of the Game".

Another sport under her belt - first solo kayak ride. 

We celebrated Mom's 79th birthday at the beginning of August. Since her fall in April, she's been in a wheel chair -- we are awaiting her customized set of wheels in September. She can "walk-wheel" down the halls in the chair with her feet - a real achievement for a lady who never learned to drive a car.

A trip to the drive-in -- quite an exciting way to spend a summer evening. The kids (that's David, Allison's youngest between Julia and Alyse) loved being tucked away in the back of my car with the blankets and assorted snacks. Moe and I were on our chairs outside the car. 
There will be a summer farewell post after the long weekend -- heavy sigh -- but Julia and look forward to ending our summer where we started it -- in Southampton.

Purple Haze - my other life

Lianne suggested this post -- so you all could see what life is like when I'm not teaching and parenting (and one of the reasons I've not been blogging this summer). For the last 12 years - early mornings (and I mean early), some late nights, and several days in the summer have been devoted to making Purple Pages -- the gotta-have-it-guide for raising kids in York Region -- a reality.

The guide was the brainchild of Allison, my friend since the first year of university. It came to her when she was a new mom, at home, away from her life as a social worker. The name, Purple Pages, came to her in a dream, and we are proud to say it's now a household word in these parts. We have just finished our 12th annual edition --30,000 copies will be printed in September -- to date, we've distributed nearly 350,000 copies. We've become a corporation -- Family Wise Communications Inc. -- we've got a website of sorts -- more just a homepage -- need to take this baby farther -- perhaps Mosey Along and her creative talents can help us in that area...hmmmmmm...there's an idea.

Purple Pages is the child Allison and I share -- we went into the whole mompreneur thing with little more than an idea -- no business or publishing experience -- I didn't even have the mom experience behind me when we first started. We joke and say, "Are we still going to be doing this when we are 50?" (which I'm sorry to say isn't that far away). Will this be my retirement project? Who knows?

So here's a little tour of where it happens at my end -- perhaps this will inspire Allison to blog about the PP process from her perspective.

It's important to create a good working environment - 

but it's also fun to shop for the purple accessories.

This is where it all happens -- here's a shot taken during a big day working on the mock up. I do the rough, cut and paste (literally), and then our graphic artist makes us look great in purple. That's our tag line -- "You'll look great in purple!"

A shot of one of the mock-up purple pages.

The wall of fame - Purple Pages, editions 1 thru 8.

I'm a bit behind on hanging the plaqued covers.

Here are the 9th, 10th,  and  11th editions.

This is Blanche our secretary - Allison surprized me by putting her in our PP mailbox at the UPS store --we had many times joked that the mailbox was our office -- so every office needs a secretary.  One day when I went to pick up the PP mail, there she was -- even wearing purple. That's our logo on the front of her desk. She's been a loyal employee. Do you like her hat?

Stay tuned for the cover of the 12th edition of Purple Pages.

A new craft

At the beginning of the summer, Julia started her collection of dangle earrings. She got a taste of the swing of the dangle at Halloween, when she wore a pair of mine as part of her Jasmine costume. Her money was burning a hole in her pocket -- every where we went, she wanted to look for earrings.  All about the accessories.  So I thought the craft girl would like to make her own, so we set up shop.

Sporting her first pair and holding a pair for her friend.

Her creation.

My creation - those who know me well will notice the colour!

Sporting our creations. Look for us at a craft show near you!