Summer Blogging Sabbatical

Hey, look at that.  Without trying to, I took a little sabbatical.  Not at all intended, but somehow summer gets busier and busier every year.  Maybe it has something to do with having teenagers (and almost teenagers).  They are always wanting to go somewhere...and they stay up so late!

Our summer started with Athos taking an internship at the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival's production of The Tempest.  We were trekking back and forth from our home in "the boonies" to Uptown 5 times a week for 3 weeks - tiring.  But what a great experience for him!

Despite the "busyness", we did have some great relaxation this summer.  It started with a fantastic visit with our friends, the Tontis, which included a week at the beach.  Is there anyhing so relaxing as a vacation with like-minded family, especially when they are old friends?  We always seem to pick right back up where we left off from the year before.  I love that!

Two weeks later, we spread out over 3 states.  Hubby stayed at home in NC.  Kids went to VA to spend time with family.  And I attended the CiRCE Conference in Louisville, KY.  It was phenomenal!    Even when the roof flew off the hotel! (No injuries, but many cars damaged and guests displaced.)  So many highlights: meeting online friends, John Hodges' initial talk, a lively Hamlet discussion, the graciousness of the Elders, David Hicks' perfectly selected words, Angelina Stanford's guffaw-inducing stories, Wendell Berry's readings (and getting our photo with him), Cindy's gentle exhortation to give Morning Time a try, Gil and Emily's angelic singing, and so many other lovely moments.

Bright and early the Monday after we all were back in NC together, the kids had VBS - even Kalliope got to attend this year!   Boys served as volunteers and thought that was pretty cool.

The very next week Artemisia was asked to join a friend's family at the beach, so she's as brown as a nut.  She was missed at home, though.

And now we are a week out from school starting.  Boys have one last hurrah with their Uncle this weekend and then we are back to the books.  Athos seems a bit excited to begin studying poetry and Shakespeare.  Faramir - not so excited about school.  Not surprising.