Hello World,

I had an extreme case of guilt this evening because I haven’t posted in a short forever. It’s hard to force myself to sit in front of the computer when I’m not at work, even though I treasure this blogging world so much. My brother and his fiance came to town for the Steeler’s game today, so we spent most of the past 3 days with them. Yesterday we went to the National Aviary and then dined at The Georgetown Inn. We ended the evening driving through Hartwood Acres and enjoying the Celebration of Lights. It was most definitely a wonderful weekend.

Here are a few pictures documenting my family adventures.

These are called “Owlets”

My soon-to-be Sis-in-law, Jen, and a Parrot disrobing her.

Bald Eagle

The Georgetown Inn - Mt. Washington, PA

Hartwood Acres, Celebration of Lights

In the middle of all this chaos, I was able to finish one stuffie for my sis-in-law, Lindi, for Christmas. Here’s a sneak-peak…

I’ve also been working for hours and hours on a drawing/painting for my brother. Over the summer we had an encounter with some peacocks and he made the oh-so-simple request of a peacock painting. He just had to pick the most intricate and detailed bird of all birds on the planet for me to draw for him. Chances are, this won’t be finished by Christmas, but I’m trying! So here’s a sneak-peak of the peacock..

Anyway, the holidays are right around the corner. I hope everyone is enjoying the festivities, the family, the friends… I know I am.

Merry Christmas!

This weekend, my mom and I are driving back out to Philadelphia to spend time with my sis-in-law, Lindi.  We are going to Peddler’s Village Annual Apple Festival.  I’m excited just to have a weekend with my mom and relax.  I don’t get to spend enough time with Lindi, either.  Last time we were over in Philadelphia Lindi took us to Ardmore so I could indulge myself at Free People.  In Ardmore there was this amazing store called The Farmers Market.  I fell in love with it.  I wish we had one here.  They had the most amazing floral selection.  Lindi and I bought some, but I just had to take some pictures.

Gromphena

Billy Balls

Ilex

Beehive Ginger

St. John’s Wort

I might be bringing a carload of stems back to Pittsburgh with me if I can convince the ladies to make another stop in Ardmore.  Well I’m off to the store to gather more supplies for my Christmas crafts!

I’m in the process of planning a funfilled weekend for Tom and I.  Saturday we are taking my parents and Anthony to Bodies: The Exhibition.

I’ve been hearing about this display for months now and am extremely intrigued.  I’ll probably come back from it with all sorts of inspiration for anatomical drawings and such.  I’m definitely excited.  The fact that out of all the cities in the world, they chose to display this in my wonderful city of Pittsburgh, I’m just thrilled.  It is displayed in 11 cities as of now, three of which are Buenos Aires, Prague, and Lisbon. 

Other attractions that we’re also blessed to have close by are Frank Lloyd Wright’s creations of Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob.  We toured Fallingwater last fall.  I am a huge fan of Wright’s organic influenced structures and the philosophy of his buildings.  However, I wouldn’t want to live in them.  He believes a structure should be formed to push people outside.  Too much time spent indoors is unacceptable.  He constructs each building with low ceilings, narrow hallways and gigantic windows.  The windows, I love.  The ceilings are confining.  I understand his intentions, but I like feeling comfortable in my home. 

Another aspect of his design at Fallingwater that made me uneasy was the fact that he built all of the furniture into the structure.  Nothing could be moved or rearranged.  I have a constant need for change and the simple layout of the room can affect my moods greatly.  Other than all that, he is one of the most imaginative architects I know of.  It reminds me alot of Ayn Rand’s book The Fountainhead.  Like Howard Roark in The Fountainhead, Wright seems to only have to look at the potential site of a structure and is able to let the land design the building itself.  Wright doesn’t fight the layout of the land, but builds with it and around it, shaping things to move with the earth.  It’s incredible to me.  The entire left wing of Fallingwater is built into the boulders that comprise the waterfall which the house hangs over.  The boulders actually serve as sitting areas inside the house.

Anyway, the point is, if you have the opportunity, go visit.  Tom and I are venturing to Kentuck Knob this weekend, (Sunday to be exact) so I’ll let you know my feelings about it on Monday.

(I feel like I just wrote an essay for a history class. **sigh**)

This past weekend my family and I went to Bethany Beach to celebrate my grandmother’s 80th birthday.  Although the weekend was fun, relaxing and invigorating, the beach left me with something to desire.  I’ve never been to a beach farther north than Wilmington, NC.  I was expecting your stereotypical shoreline experience including warming water, seashells and palm trees.  Instead… We got a beach with cold water, rocky sand, pine trees and instead of seashells, the beach was scattered with pine cones.  It was almost surreal to me.  My mind was completely confused the entire weekend.  On top of these weird non-beach things, they were restoring the beach and the entire shore was covered with giant pipes, heavy machinery and warning signs.  Here are some pictures to document it all…

My mom with my aunt and uncle’s dog, Dakota.

The weekend is over.  It was a good one.  Friday night we drove to Philly to stay with my brother and sister-in-law.  Saturday morning we all woke early to finish the trip to Bethany Beach. 

This is, of course, after one very imperative stop.  Free People.  Living in Pittsburgh, we have a variety of stores, styles and price ranges to choose from, but we still have not been graced with the presence of a Free People store.  Anyway, I went nuts.  Here are my purchases that I cannot wait to wear when the weather turns chilly!!

I got the navy blue coat.

I also purchased a dress that I couldn’t find a picture of to share with you and a brass tambourine charm necklace on a mustard braided floss band.

This is what I didn’t get, but haven’t stopped thinking about and might have to order::

So after the most wonderful shopping excursion, we headed off to Delaware to meet up with my family and celebrate Grandma’s 80th birthday.  These pictures will have to come tonight because I am unable to upload my pictures right now. 

The moral of this post is… a 5.5 hour drive to Ardmore is more than necessary to acquire such exquisitely divine clothing.  I’ve already planned another trip for the first weekend in November to revisit.  And perhaps I’ll go to Peddler’s Village and see my sis-in-law at her winery.  Weekend trips are the greatest.

More to follow…