Holding Things in Our Hands

It's amazing to think it's only been a week since the last day of school and yet it feels like I've been "free" for so much longer. I'm currently in full-blown "summer mode"; I've been kayaking twice, biking nearly every day around the Barnegat Bay and beach, and eating everywhere but home. I haven't met all my summer goals just yet but I have a two whole months to make it happen!

So far there's been a few sure signs of summer just by what we choose to hold in our hands. I can say I've had many books, yarn, turtles, cameras, handle bars, cookies, ice cream, instruments, and a watermelon I tried to crack open barehanded in my hands.

So Far...

A friend and I visited the Schuster Farm in Lakewood NJ to get approval for a music video to be shot on the property. He was open to the idea and said his animals enjoy listening to music (am I the only one that finds that funny to imagine?). Pictured here, Cody of Thank You Scientist holds a baby goat just a week old.

One summer goal has been met! I baked something complicated with many steps, and they really weren't too much to handle. I decided on chocolate macarons with a raspberry butter cream.

Another thing pinched between my fingers is a new pysanka egg. While it's not spring season anymore, this egg was made especially for an exhibit coming up at the Jackson Library featuring 4 of my eggs. All had to have green and red coloring because it showcases a bleach technique I will be teaching at that branch in a few months.

I found this baby snapping turtle basking in the sun. Try to ignore my massive thumb.

I also found this snapping turtle skull in the same place! I can't imagine this would be the mother or father of this little guy since it looked like it had been there for a while.

It took a year and a half, and countless hours to make these skeins I'll be selling at the blueberry festival this weekend in the Pine Barrens. I will never make what they're worth in time.

A few days ago I was holding chopsticks in the famous Ninja New York.  I took a friend on a surprise date there as a celebration for her recent engagement. The presentation of the food and atmosphere made our trip worth it! We laughed so hard we were near tears every time a Ninja popped out of nowhere. 

My sister and I visited the boardwalk yesterday and I made this purchase in the giftshop. Since they're sewn together, I assumed this was demonstrating amplexus (that's a big fancy scientific term for something I don't want to explain). This pair has just joined my large stuffed frog collection.

While at the boardwalk, Andrea won nearly 3000 points and looked at some of the prizes. I was a little confused by this one.

Pictured here, my sister enjoys her very first Kohrs ice cream. That's something I'd like to hold in my hands every day!