Sunday Musings...

Hi! I'm waving at you from my sewing room...my play palace...the place where all the needle action goes down...only problem is...

It's a mess.

So, I'm up here trying to clean it all up so I can start Fall with a clean work table. Hope springs eternal!

It takes me twice as long to clean up because I get distracted. I'd rather do anything but clean and sort and file. So...rather than clean up...I made this little vignette for Summer Charm School...


And I'm thinking about how wonderful it is to live in 2009 and to be able to use the internet and to have a blog. And even more amazing, is that there is a community of people who regularly stop by to read what I have to say! And, that you meaningfully comment and enrich my life because you "just show up". And I learn so much just by reading what you write and seeing what you're doing. It's much more gratifying than a magazine, isn't it?

I guess I'm thinking about blogging today for lots of reasons. First, I just read Robin's post about "Why Blog?"...and, I just had a good blog friend decide to stop because it takes up too much time...and gosh darn it, I'll miss her. Isn't that the craziest thing? That we can form these lasting and meaningful friendships by just coming around to witness (as Robin put it) what each other is doing. I can't tell you how BIG that is...and, frankly, it amazes me. So, today I honor our right to blog and all of you who choose to stop by and be part of my life. You are wonderful to know.

I'm also thinking a lot about blogging because I'm reading Julie and Julia for bookclub tomorrow night. I'm almost finished reading Julia Child's book about her life in France and I'm finishing up Julie and Julia (we could read one or both, our choice) -- which is about a woman who decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook and post about it every day on her blog...and people show up to read it (which amazes her too)...


I'm sure you all know about it because Meryl Streep plays Julia in the movie that is out right now but I haven't seen it yet. I'm very much enjoying the immersion into the culinary world from the outside -- just reading about it...I don't really want to have to tackle it myself...but...tomorrow is the day...

Tomorrow, I, Susan, of Plays with Needles, am going to re-enter the culinary world and prepare a recipe of french cuisine from Julia's own cookbook. This is where your prayers come in...

Every August my book club covers a book relating to food so that we can have a potluck party where we all bring a dish we make from the book... Last year, you might remember my deflated dacquoise...

Well, so I'm thinking about cooking and blogging and I'm praying that I'll be able to successfully clarify butter and find creme fraiche at the grocery store...but that's a problem for tomorrow.

And tomorrow is a big day for lots of reasons. The main one being that Jim and Jack are finally, after about 8 years of trying to get tickets, going to attend a Ravens game. We lucked into the tickets at the last minute and I'm so excited for them to go...Not one of us has ever been to a professional football game let alone a Ravens game...


And they're sitting in Section 111. That's my special number.

And tomorrow morning, I'm waking up bright and early to head down to the Chesapeake Bay. I'll be participating in an Environmental Study run by the University of Maryland which will measure levels of bacteria that will stick to my body/hair, etc. after swimming in the Bay...Sounds like an adventure to me; Jim thinks it's a bit gross; and, Jack doesn't know what to think other than his Mom is making him go. The PhD running the study is letting Jack help with various tasks since he's not old enough to participate in the study. I thought that was pretty nice of her and I hope it's a learning experience for Jack.

I'm hoping it's a learning experience for me too because I've always wondered just how much the pollution in the Bay affects me when I swim in it (see, this is why Jim thinks it's gross...). And, I just read that Ocean City Maryland has very high water quality along it's Atlantic ocean shore...largely because the Bay is the sewer drain for all the storm runoff. That means the Bay is taking the hit and that makes me sad because I love the Bay and I would like it to be healthy.

And so, that's a lot of thinking for a lazy Sunday when I'm supposed to be cleaning...

(Note: The beaded hand was not made by me, unfortunately. I bought it a few years ago at an art show in Baltimore and sadly, it is not signed, so I cannot credit the wonderful artist...It's a good reminder to remember to sign your work!)