Memories of summer...July 2015

BOO! 

Scared you, didn't I?

You probably thought I was a goner! But no, I am here...at least I think I am. 

I'm just running out of time for blogging in this crazy life! 

Teenagers, take heed: you may think that you are busy now...but it gets even busier!

 It's fascinating how when you're in school and highschool you have like two things to think about: school and after-school (which could still be school, depending on who you are)...and you think your life is busy. 

Then....then....

the Rest of Life starts. 

And it there is so much to do! 

And Worse, there is so much you Want to do!

 Even worse, what you Want to do is generally Good to do....you just don't have time....

And suddenly, when you thought summer had just begun, it disappears and is swallowed by the intense sunshine of Autumn.
And you are left with another group of memories...

Our fourth of July meal together (minus Valerie who was off dining on lobster and ice cream and taking walks with kiddies by the sea! and got paid for it.) 

Yes! I tried it! I tried it! And it only slightly fell apart :) So pleased. 

Note how I added blanched almonds in the blue portion to account as stars. Nobody else had that idea, but think I ''what is the American flag without stars?'' so I adds stars. 

Summertime= homemade hamburgers :) They may be impossible to eat in one piece but they sure are yummy. 

We went to watch the fireworks as we always do. Our oldest sister Valerie was in Massachusetts as a part of her job but the rest of us were together and we relaxed on the cool grass and watched the explosions of light. 

We had brought along a package of glow stick bracelets and handed them over to the youngest two choose a couple. 

 After a few minutes, we look over and Laura-Lise had cracked every single one.

  every single one 

She was surrounded by a glowing mass of colorful hoops and I am so glad none of us had thought to put a limit to the night's amount of glowstick beauty. 

Because mistakes like that are a part of childhood. 

And they make childhood beautiful. 

If you've never been to the Old Courthouse at the Jefferson National Expansion memorial around the 4th of July, you should go! It's really impressive...

fascinating shot, Elodie!

Nikola

city streets (love!)

water!

Another event in July was a gathering at Art Hill where we picnicked and watched the classic Sound of Music film on a large (inflatable- recipe for a semi-disaster if you ask me!) screen....

eating

racing with a friend

because we always bring a random ball or two...they played ball. forgetting what movie we were about to watch and how apparently the climatic scene in the film involves playing ball. A stranger came up to our group and pointed out with delight that they were playing the same game as in the movie! How...sweet. 

It was an absolutely perfect evening! Amazing temperatures, incredible and appropriately elegant view beyond the screen....in truth, the hill was alive with the sound of music! 

Only down moment: when I realized there were to be subtitles....I can't watch a movie for reading the subtitles when they are present! But we discovered various important facts. Such as, the Baroness' name is ''Elsa''! We've only watched The Sound of Music about 50 times...

To our delight, three of us girls worked a wedding at which were several people/families we knew! It was so fun to serve them..and spy on them...

N and J serving hor d'ouevres (I was working over in the reception hall kitchen. that's why I'm....outside...taking pictures...) and oh! to the right is a guy I graduated from highschool with... small world. 

There is something so fun about watching your friends come as guests to your workplace...we also got to re-meet and catch up with a girl we knew years ago (as in over 10 years) and with whom we'd lost touch! 

Wedding video by Arndt

Back home....just a pile of library books which I am super excited about! How come it took me so long to request world war 2 biographies and autobiographies (my favorite!) from the library? 

4,322 pages of history! I find it crucial that we understand what our forefathers went through during world war 2...so we can appreciate as well as learn from the mistakes and sins of the world. 

just a random daily walk around the yard In Which We Nearly Step On a Black Racer and In Which Alexandre Promptly Totes It Around For The Remainder of The Walk.

I will close with these adorable pictures which are good representations of summer...

(taken at a friend's graduation party)

My Fair Lady at the Muny! June 2015

A few of my favorite childhood summer memories were going with our Mum to the Muny! We saw such classics as The King and I, Showboat and more...I remember being so engrossed in the King and I (although I had already seen the movie) as I watched it through binoculars that I urgently expressed my worries over the story aloud, much to the amusement of ladies around (My 7-year old self was viewing the drama through binoculars and was very into the disappointing tale).

Well somehow, years passed and the last Muny show I experienced was far too long ago! 

However when I saw this year's program  and especially when my friend Sara planned to make it to the opening night I knew I had to go this summer! 

I really wanted my other sisters to come as well but they were preparing for a certain wedding. ;) And Valerie was nanny-ing that night.

So I had Sara all to myself for the 3 hours preceding the show. :)
And there wasn't a moment of silence, I assure you. ;P

It rained for those first hours, but miraculously cleared up right in time for us to find our (Free) seats! What fun! 

 I was totally delighted with the evening! Here are Sara and I with another friend Katelyn who we got to sit with!

Oh! And without realizing it...I got to see Anthony Andrews live! All I knew was that I was watching a remarkably good actor who played Rex Harrison's role wonderfully! And later I discovered 'twas this Anthony Andrews who is British himself! 

Anyhow- he and the actor for the Colonel were excellent! Eliza's actress was not Audrey Hepburn...but she was good as well! :)

One is not allowed to take photos during the performance....so I took 'em before. ;) 

I decided to give Sara a break from my chatter (Like a 5-minute break) and so I people-watched....

These young people had to wipe off all the chairs! 

of course ours didn't get dried....but we managed....

I take pictures like this because you never know whom you might eventually meet....of course these folks are the posh paying sort....while I belong in the wait-three-hours-to-get-free-seats category....

The library set...I like the colors but am still confused about the paintings....

During intermission....

One disappointment during the show was that before intermission Eliza is presented in her gorgeous ball gown....and after intermission the show continues with the scene following the ball. :( I understand completely....but I do love ball scenes!

So happy we got to do this! Yay for summer memories! 

And the drive home was fun as well. ;P 

(discovering we were out of gas....getting lost in St. Louis....yup that's the way to end a late night at the Muny!)