Life is Boring ... and I wouldn't have it any other way

When I started this blog I had grandiose ideas of updating it on a weekly basis with lots of great pictures and stories. Well, the truth of the matter is, our lives are not that exciting.

Ashley has been busy with school and play practice (Annie -- April 2 and 8). In her spare time she reads lots of books.

Don is working and waiting for warmer, drier weather so he can ride his bicycle to work on a more regular basis. He did attend a statewide bicycle summit meeting this weekend.

I'm writing articles for Lawrenceville.Patch.com and trying to build my miles in anticipation of May 1st 10 mile Broad Street Run.

Not much worthy of a photograph. So, I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the cats.

Charlie napping on Ashley's bed.

Ariel wondering what Ashley is reading.

Another Opening

Tonight is opening night for "George Washington Slept Here," a funny play about a man pursuing his dreams by purchasing a house sight unseen in Bucks County, PA and trying to turn it into a home with the help of his wife, his daughter and a crazy assortment of characters. The play runs February 10-16 in Newtown, PA at the Newtown Arts Company.

I play Hester (the maid) with a secret. This is only my second show. As with my other role, this has been a real learning experience. I hope you can come out and see it.

Catholic School Week

As this is our first year post homeschooling everything seems new, including snow days, school parties, homework. Last week Ashley's school celebrated Catholic Schools Week.

Catholic Schools Week is  week-long celebration about what is right with Catholic Schools. What I didn't realize was that it was also a week when the parents were invited to spend a lot of time in the school.

Monday we were invited to spy on our kids in the classroom. Ashley's teacher had the students work in groups then put on a skit for us about the Wright Brothers.

Tuesday they played Bingo, plus it was crazy hat / sock day.

Wednesday an ice storm thwarted their fun.

Thursday we were invited to have lunch with our kids. That was a lot of fun! It was also a dress down day (a big deal when you normally wear a uniform) and they were served ice cream!

Friday was a half day in honor of Catholic Schools Week.

Did we have fun weeks like that in school when we were little?

Hibernation

Today marks the one month mark since we last saw our lawn. We have adopted an attitude of "if you can't beat it, then join it."

Ashley has been sledding and playing in the snow with her friends. She seems to be having blast whenever it snows. So far there has been one snow day and two delayed openings. It is currently snowing and not supposed to stop until tomorrow morning, so I suspect we might have at least a delayed opening tomorrow. There are still 53 more days until Spring!


I ran a 5K on January 1st. This weather has really cut into my training. Most days I am opting for a walk in the snow rather than a run, but I have managed to go for at least one 3 mile run each week, sometimes two. My goal is still 3 runs of increasing mileage, but I'll take what I feel comfortable doing for now.

Don is the one enjoying each snowstorm the most. He recently purchased a "wovel," think eco-friendly snow blower and uses it to clear our driveway and sidewalk. His new motto is "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

In the meantime I am enjoying this bright sign of
hope I saw in our yard a couple of days ago.

How are you staying warm and sane this snowy winter? Be safe!

History Comes Alive

As a former history major, I love going to places that make history come alive. Fortunately, Don and Ashley also enjoy these activities.

On Monday night we dined with Oney Judge and Betsy Ross at the Cock-n-Bull's Colonial Kitchen nights (http://peddlersvillage.com/dining/colonial%20kitchen%20dinner.htm). The restaurant provides a fixed price meal in a Colonial decorated room. Two Colonists come up to your table and tell you a bit more about their lives. They answer every question with warmth and as accurately as possible.

On our evening we were introduced to Oney Judge, who was Martha Washington's personal slave from during the Revolutionary War to when George Washington was President. We learned at that time if a slave spent at least 6 months in Philadelphia and wanted to be free, all the slave had to do was state he wanted to be free. The Washingtons knew this, so they moved their slaves out of Philadelphia before the six month mark. As they were packing to leave, she snuck away. Her friends transported her to New Hampshire by boat where she lived the rest of her life as a fugitive. We could have talked to her all night.

Betsy Ross also stopped by for a brief visit. She told us how she was chosen to make the flag, however she emphasized she was not the only woman who made flags for the new country. She taught Ashley the easy way to make a star, just like the ones on her flag.

The meal fun was fun. This was our third Colonial meal in three years. We have also dined with artists Charles Willson Peale and his niece, Miriam. Last year we met Don's favorite Colonist, Ben Franklin, who was with John Hancock. We find it best to come with some off-beat questions and ears willing to listen to stories.

Theater

2010 found us spending more time in theaters as Ashley was in a few more plays. She really sparkles when she is on stage and with her fellow actors. In February she was a Villager in the play “The Grumpy Princess” with the Newtown Arts Council. July she returned to Somerset Valley Players as Rose (a white flower being painted red) in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Most recently she was Dinah in “Arrest these Merry Gentlemen” at Saint Ann’s School. She is looking forward to being Orphan Kate in her school’s production of “Annie” in April.

In February I will be returning to the stage as Hester, a maid, in the Newtown Arts Council production of "George Washington Slept Here." The show is very, very funny. More will be posted as we get closer to opening night. www.georgewashingtonslepthere.webs.com

When not on the stage, we all enjoying seeing shows. Productions take on a new perspective when we know someone in them.

Running

I took on a new challenge this year when I started training for a 5K run (3.1 miles). For 9 weeks I followed the Couch to 5K program. On Mothers’ Day I was able to run my first 5K at the Lawrenceville School with Jean Kutcher. We finished with an admirable 47:07 time, enough for Jean to place in her age group. Over the summer I lost momentum, and the desire to put in the miles. Once school started, I returned to training for another 5K, this time using a podcast of Christian music as a guide. Having music timed to the program made all the difference to me. On Halloween I ran my second 5K, this time finishing with a time of 37:55. Two weeks later I took 85 seconds off that time at the TACM run. I started training for a 10K (6.2 miles), with the ultimate goal of running the Disneyland Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) Labor Day weekend with Joanie Smith Morris. We are training at the same pace, but on opposite coasts.         Jacquie