As I mentioned previously, I decided not to do the FULL craft shows this year, but I have been trying my hand at floral arrangements in what little time that I do have.
The results are in for my Christmas floral experiments!
My Grandmother gave us her little Christmas tree last year, which is the perfect size for our apartment, so this was our first time decorating a tree together!! We had so much fun pulling out our ornaments and decorating our little Christmas tree and apartment! Isn't it cute?! Thanks, Nana!
And as for this Charlie Brown-looking tree, it's a card holder!! As we receive cards and photos from our family and friends, we will decorate our kitchen-Christmas tree with them! 
So, about those walks I mentioned ~ Steve took me to see his childhood spot where he camped out, and I am so proud to say that even at a young age, he was already so smart...;)
The cinder blocks behind me in the picture made up Steve's fire pit - it was a semi-circle to enclose heat and keep him and his friends warm when they slept outside! He spent much time clearing a path and landing near the creek for a camp site, which obviously is now overgrown - but still really cool! Way to go engineer Steve!
Next up is the early Christmas gifts that Sharon and Tristan gave to all the girls - SOCKS! They were all different and had to be worn to Thanksgiving dinner...
And, as if we hadn't eaten enough, on Friday night we went to the McMurrays' favorite Mexican restaurant, La Carretta!
It was a great Thanksgiving!!
So much to be thankful for ~ we are so very blessed!We're off to Tennessee to celebrate and give thanks with the McMurrays!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!!
Our favorite e-zine, Boundless, recently posted an article explaining the concept of a "crunchy con" while reviewing the book, Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher. I have heard this term before and thought it fitting, but this article and book finally explain the term fully - and gives many in our generation a "name"!! I will share some excerpts...it's worth the read!!
Selected excerpts from
Crunchy Meets Conservative by Candice Z. Watters:
Have you ever felt a little out of place in the political party you've voted for? Do the bumper stickers on your car look out of place in the Whole Foods or Trader Joes parking lot?
I've felt this disconnect at times, but I couldn't quite put my finger on the reason. As I flipped through the first chapters of Crunchy Cons, however, I found myself in the pages and realized with delight and relief, that I'm not alone.
One of the results of a postmodern culture is the blurring of lines between once distinct social groups. Six years ago David Brooks introduced the term "bobo" to explain how some people found a way to blend the once polar opposite lifestyles of bourgeois and bohemian. (Think of Ben and Jerry wearing their tie-dyed shirts in their multi-million dollar corporate ice cream headquarters or the suit and tie banker sipping lattes and doing yoga during his lunch hour).
Now meet the latest blend: crunchy cons. While it may sound like a cereal for kids, crunchy cons are actually a vibrant group emerging out of the cultural landscape. Rod Dreher, a writer at the Dallas Morning News (formerly with National Review) coined that term to describe people who are living the crunchy lifestyles often associated with liberal Democrats but within a framework out of which the modern Republican party was built.
The lengthy subtitle of Dreher's Crunchy Cons book says it best, "...Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, and their diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives..." Crunchy cons are people who are seeking meaningful lives, not just financially profitable and consumptive ones. Dreher believes that their meaning is found in lives built on faith and family.
Though his book is not overtly Christian, Dreher, an Orthodox believer, points to the foundation of faith for crunchy con values — a compass more reliable than the Dow Jones. "Too often, the Democrats act like the Party of Lust, and the Republicans the Party of Greed," says Dreher, "Both are deadly sins that eat at the soul, and crunchy cons believe that both must be resisted in our personal and communal lives."
When it comes to family, Dreher agrees with Kirk's assessment that it's the institution "most essential to conserve." He shares Kirk's observation that "the best way to rear up a new generation of the Permanent Things is to beget children, and read to them o' evenings, and teach them what is worthy of praise" adding "the wise parent is the conservator of ancient truths."
Those principles, after all, seemed most consistent with Dreher's emphasis on the impact of "small platoons" of families living out conservative values instead of taking the approach of some movements seeking social change through top-down programs imposed by government.
Crunchy conservatism is not, in Dreher's words, "a political program; it's a sensibility, an attitude, a fundamental stance toward reality, and a pretty good road map to a rich, responsible, fulfilling, charitable, and above all joyful life."
The crunchy con lifestyle that emerges from this book is truly countercultural. It goes against the things America is known for (and teaches us to love): fast food, stuff marts, mass public education, McMansions in the suburbs, and more. I think the philosophy behind this movement will resonate with a generation alienated by the emptiness of hyper-consumer culture. One longing for the meaning that comes from living faithfully by the "Permanent Things." (Emphasis mine)
That is the question of the day! :)
Some of you have asked if I will be participating again in the Craft Fairs that I did last year...
Oh, doesn't it just look so fun?! It was, I must admit...but, soooo much work. I'm not sure that I'm up to it again this year...full time schooling and full time working are taking their toll. I'm TIRED!
But, I think I will still offer everything via a website so that I don't have to go through the trouble of setting up everything for the shows. I have purchased the domain name, taken all the pictures, but can't find a spare minute to put it together! Any takers for building a website??? Haha.
Well, Steve decided to pay me back for the big boat trip surprise by planning a surprise of his own! He told me to be up, showered, dressed and ready to go Saturday by 9am because we were off for an adventure!! How exciting!!
As I've mentioned before, Fall is my favorite time of year, so Steve scurried around while I was in the shower (unbeknownst to me...) and packed up a blanket and yummy picnic lunch. We headed out towards the Shenandoah Valley and ended up on Skyline Drive - a 100+ mile drive along the crest of the BlueRidge Mountains!
Around every curve is a new majestic and breathtaking view, and between curves, you drive through canopy after canopy of gorgeous fall foliage with brilliant splashes of yellow, orange and red leaves. We drove for about 25 miles, stopping every so often to jump out, take pictures (of course!) and enjoy the views. Then we parked and Steve pulled his final surprise (the picnic lunch!) from the trunk. We hiked for a bit until we found a great spot, spread our blanket and ate. A truly perfect fall day!!
Around every curve...a breathtaking view!
2, 580 feet up!
Whatta hubby!!! I love him!!
Gallaudet protests, arrests and general anarchy have made it to Newsweek and Time Magazine...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15365607/site/newsweek/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1549303,00.html
Hopefully, peace will be restored soon....
Of the insanity at Gallaudet...which includes, but not limited to, 133 arrests (the largest mass arrest in DC since the '60s), seizing of an academic building, and the complete shutting down of the University for 3 days. This place is a mess...
There are many (MANY) news sources that have been following the story, but two commentaries inparticular, in my opinion, explain the real issues.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100901141.html
http://pr.gallaudet.edu/dailydigest/?id=9584
And a good recent article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/19/AR2006101901697.html
Well, Digitial Chip's blogging days (8/11/01-8/14/06) faded out faster than big hair and bell-bottoms, but today he IS celebrating the big 55...happy Birthday!!! We love you, even though you have abandoned blogging...;( so sad....
Well, Tristan posed a good question. How are the protests and riots at Gallaudet University affecting me?
Pumpkin vase!
The kitchen
My first experiment with dried flowers...Success??
Light 5 or 6 pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon candles around your home and...
Fall has arrived!!
What a gift.
Well, I was finally able to get a few pictures up from our sailing trip!!
Thanks, Selina II!!
It started raining upon boarding, and Captain Iris gave us the option to sail the next day, but Steve was up for the big adventure, so we suited up in rain gear and hopped aboard! In true McMurray style, despite the fact that this was supposed to be a romantic sunset cruise, we had a blast!!
(For some reason, the blog is not allowing me to post any of our trip pictures, so as soon as we figure out what's wrong with it, we'll post more from our trip - we definitely have some good ones!! Stay tuned...)
I'll be in class all day tomorrow, and then WE'RE OFF to the surprise birthday destination Sunday and Monday!!!
Check back next week for details of our trip!!!......
Yep, my sweet co-workers and boss got together to throw me a party in my office!! First they took me out to lunch at one of my favorite Thai restaurants on the Hill, then we came back for cake, ice cream and "happy birthday" in sign language!!!
Me & the big boss - Dean of Student Affairs, Carl!
Some of the Student Affairs group!
...and the celebrations continue...
Stay tuned!!
Hi All!
I'm drowning in school work as I am finishing up one of my trimester classes in the next few weeks, but wanted to say thanks for all the birthday well wishes!! Since Steve and I haven't officially celebrated our birthday yet this year, I thought it would be fun to remember our birthday last year...the best one ever, so far!!
We were in Napa Valley, California for my cousin's wedding, and my family surprised us with a wonderful party at a wine vineyard to celebrate our joint b'days! We cruised around in our convertible and had a blast!!
Nothing much happening this week...school, work, school, work, school...the usual! :)
We're ducking out for the next few days to attend a conference at our new church over the big double birthday weekend!! Yes, Steve and I (born a mere 30 hours apart) will be celebrating the big 2-7 this year on Saturday and Sunday...yipeee!!
And not to worry, we will celebrate together next weekend...more on that later 'cause it's a SURPRISE!!!
Well, today is a somber day for most as we look back to 5 years ago and remember one of the most horrific days in American history. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing at that time?
I sure do...I was in South France and remember our Australian tour-mates running out to the pool at our hotel and telling us that the World Trade Center had been struck by a bomb or something. Everyone went running into the hotel bar to see the nearest TV, and the worst part was that the images were just being shown over and over with commentary, but it was (obviously) all in French, and we had no idea what was happening. We couldn't understand anything except that something horrible had happened in our country and we weren't there to understand it. No one was willing or able to translate for us, so I quickly called home and was one of the lucky few that got through before the lines were so crossed across the globe that no calls could get through to the US. I wish that my photographs from that trip were digital, because some of the images that I have of the days following were incredible...we attended a memorial service at the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Friday following when all of Europe had committed to three minutes of silence to honor the victims. The lines of people at the US Embassy in Paris, France were unreal - people waiting just to place flowers on the ground in front...I really wish I could share these images.
The next memorable part of this time in Europe was the airport in the UK a few days after the attacks...I've never seen so many dogs and machine-gun-donned guards in my life. We waited all day as our bags were searched extensively...and we finally arrived home on or just before my birthday (it was all a blur). Thanks to my family for welcoming me home after a rough end to a great month of European travel.
I hope that we all take some time today to reflect on those who lost loved ones five years ago today - children lost parents, parents lost children, husbands lost wives and wives lost husbands...lives were forever changed. It has struck me particularly at work today, here in DC, that what most remember was the billowing, black smoke that hovered over the Pentagon after it was struck...it has been described as sickening and unforgettable.
How do we make sense of awful events such as 9/11, in light of what Steve and I profess to believe in - a loving, merciful and gracious God? Pastor John Piper offers some answers in his recent radio broadcasts called: "In a Terrorized and Troubled World, Where is God? Part 1", "Part 2" and "9-11 Q & A". These may help you to reconcile the existence of God with the existence of suffering and evil.
May the truth of God's Word bring clarity and comfort to your heart as we remember this day.
I also want to add that we are so proud of my dad, as he prepares this week to attend ceremonies in New York honoring his leadership in the disaster clean up efforts at Ground Zero. I was able to attend a special ceremony in November 2001 as he was honored for his efforts at that time. He will also be visiting some of the Firehouses in New York to give medallions to those that served and to honor those that were lost. We're so proud of you, Dad!
Well, the fall semester has begun, and I'm full swing back in school...1 year left, YAY!! Anyway, my group of girlfriends from school and I decided to get together and catch up after the summer - and to make going back a bit more bearable!! These are the girls that have made school so much fun!!
L to R: Noemi, (Me), Allen Clare, Meredith, Charity (and not completely visible is baby Humm - in Charity's tummy!)Scrolling down, you can see what our closet looked like last weekend...below is what it looks like now...since they "fixed" our problem...ha! Their fix-it method? They painted over it!!
They tell us there is nothing more they can do, so, I guess we are just going to be grateful that it looks better...? Haha, we are brainstorming on how to proceed...
I just love quotes - sometimes they just say things so much more eloquently and succinctly than I can! That being said, if I run across a good one, I promise to share!
This is a good one:
"The Bible does not show the stellar performance of any human being. It is a record of mankind’s flawed obedience and unbelief toward God and God’s justice, mercy, and patience toward us. The same is true today. God’s people are a trophy of His grace, not a trophy of impeccable performance. Perhaps you may benefit from doing a study of God’s faithfulness to uphold His precepts and promises."
From Carolyn McCulley on her blog: Solo Femininity
Also worth reading is her testimony: Liberated From Feminism
Well, sadly, the day has finally arrived after 24 wonderful years for my Grandparents to move from their beloved home in Cape Cod to Simsbury, CT. Their five children (and grandchildren) have all pitched in through various means: sorting, cleaning, packing them up, making dumpster hauls, making the drive with them to their new apartment and getting their new place set up - all to hopefully ensure a smooth move. In Simsbury, they will be closer to several family members, and we look forward to visiting them in their new apartment!
Many thanks to Nanna & Poppie for the sweet memories ~ and most especially for teaching us what family means!!
Yes folks...below is what our weekend consisted of...MOLD, mold and more mold. I got into a cleaning mood on Friday afternoon and started pulling things (i.e. furniture) out of my closet and discovered the treat you see below...YUK!!
The maintenance people "are not equipped to deal" with "such a situation" so we are in limbo until they can get a contractor out here to tear up the wall. They think it's a leak from the shower....did I mention YUK!!? I have frequently joked that I am allergic to our apartment...well, turns out, I really am! The source of the allergic reactions was just hidden by my dresser. So, in between trips to Goodwill to get rid of stuff from my cleaning spurt and maintenance people in and out...this was our weekend.
Hey, at least we don't own the place!!!Just how we like it...
Well, our event filled weekend included re-covering our dining chairs, which I (Savannah) find to be of the utmost excitement! (I'm such a dork, I know...but they look SO MUCH better!)
And Steve, while not distracting (ahem, I mean photographing;) me re-covering the chairs, went canoeing with his friend Max on Saturday out in the wild rivers of Virginia! They had a blast paddling around and picnicking, and stopped at a fresh farmers market (roadside stand) on the way home...Steve surprised me with some of our favorite treats!!
So, all in all, we delighted in fresh fruits and veggies and relished the time of "just being home"...a great blessing indeed!!No doubt my father has been dying to make a debut on my blog (as he may be the only faithful daily reader)! In hopes to make an appearance (haha, just kidding, Dad!) he has sent pictures from the annual "Hughes Family Vacation" that happens every summer on beautiful Cape Cod, my grandparents home for the last 24 years. Unfortunately this year, Steve and I were unable to make it, but I am posting some of my favorite pictures of all of the beloved Hughes family aunts, uncles, cousins and most importantly THE Grandparents that started it all!...and no pictures of my DAD?! Well, he didn't send any...maybe next time...
My sweet Nana and our most recent family addition, baby Tommy!
My cousins (not ALL 20-some, but a few!), digging to the other side of the earth! AND that TALL guy in the back is my BABY brother!!! Whoa!
And finally...MY sister...asleep standing up?! At the beach?! We definitely missed the excitement!
To see ALL of the trip pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/chiphughes/CapeCod2006
Thanks for sharing, Dad!
AND, drum roll please...here's his big debut:
