Let's Catch Up

Well, that was a long time to be away! I haven't been crafting much, reading more. There's also been work brouhaha, vacations, visits, and auntly* duties. Let's see if I can catch you up in one go.

I realize that I haven't even shown you the last craft of Craft Month. You may remember that I was making little imaginary parties. I made a hot chocolate party. To top your hot chocolate, you could choose crushed peppermints, mini chocolate chips, nuts, marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup for drizzling. I added whole peppermint sticks for stirring, if you like that kind of thing. I used buffalo plaid tableware not only because it matches my crockpot, but I find it very cozy. (I've had a couple of buffalo plaid flannel nighties in my day.) There are many recipes for crockpot hot chocolate on the internet, but I'd rather not use condensed milk (too sweet) and put my regular stove-top hot chocolate recipe in only to stay warm.

I also finally got to use these adorable cardinal bowls I bought (at Target?) a couple of years ago. 💗

According to my photos, I went to Longwood and the Please Touch Museum with my sister and the girls. (They remind me of me and my sister!)

My mother-in-law came for a visit in early May, and we made our usual rounds of gardens. We went to a couple of new ones too, and took a trip up to Jim Thorpe where we had some lovely woodsy walks and delicious breakfasts

My 30th (!) college reunion struck at the beginning of June. We spent an expected amount of time talking about perimenopause and eldercare and children going off to college, with an adequate time spent reminiscing and sharing our accomplishments. It was a refreshing weekend despite the wicked heat and humidity. (It was especially wet; in five years, I'm hoping our "reunion gift" is a pair of wellies.) A couple of days later the dude and I were off for a celebratory (he's--almost--50!) vacation in Portugal.

Some someones turned four at the end of June. The multi-themed party necessitated three types of cupcakes--Spider-Man (Sweet Baby Rea), Rapunzel (Special K), and Pink Pineapples (Sissy). But my cousin--who's now in pastry school!--handled them all with aplomb. I was also successful in making a Spider-Man card and a Rapunzel card (thank goodness for all those yellow DMC flosses--which became a braid hanging from a castle).

Let me make some rounds, and I'll be back to tell you more about our vacation.

*Why doesn't aunt have a nice adjectival form like avuncular? I wonder why that might be...