Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Feb 16, 2013
Nov 3, 2011
Walk to Work Wednesday
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| John, Andrew, Paul and Matthew |
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| Sneaky Sunlight |
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| The Breakfast Club |
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| Beacon Street Water Works |
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| Mini Mums |
How did it get to be November already? Autumn this year has been less than spectacular--the leaves are stubborn and refuse to change or fall from the trees. We've already had a snow storm--and still many people are without power. As for the temperature change, I don't mind...too much. I sometimes wish the summer away--the heat and humidity are worse in my mind than the bone chilling temperatures we're expecting in a few weeks. Fall and winter means Mamcat's-Not-So-Secret-Anymore-Hot-Cider Recipe, pot roast, Jane Austen, knitting, purling, quilting, Baileys & Cocoa, snowy Sunday dinners with friends, the Nutcracker, down comforters, holiday handmade gift making and purchasing (and sometimes keeping!). By February I'll be through but for now I'm settling in with a mug of tea and already enjoying the incumbent holiday season. And finally...finally...my fingers are itching to create some new baubles.
XO Terez
Oct 10, 2011
Hoctober
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| Porch Pumpkin Planter |
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| Summer Sneaks In |
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| Saturate-Sun |
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| From the Heart and Hands |
If you stumbled upon this post you might think it was mid summer with the blooms and saturated color...but it's the second week in October. Somehow we got lucky and after a brief cool spell last week Columbus Day Weekend has been sunny, clear and in the 80s, all three days. Unbelievable. We're all enjoying it, but can't help but wonder if this is Mother Nature's way of saying she's going to wallop us this winter.
XO Terez
Aug 2, 2011
Winnipesaukee Weekend
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| On the Road Again |
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| Guard Dog |
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| Beach Read |
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| This Means You |
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| Beach Bar |
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| Shore Line |
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| Everybody In |
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| Heading Home |
Did you know that Lake Winnipesaukee has:
Area of water surface = 72 square miles
Number of islands = 253
Distance around lake = 182 miles
Height above sea level = 504 feet
Area of water surface = 72 square miles
Number of islands = 253
Distance around lake = 182 miles
Height above sea level = 504 feet
XO Terez
Jul 17, 2011
"I PR things, darling"
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| Setting the Swim Course, DCR Nantasket Beach |
In my "real" life, I PR things. This weekend I had the privilege of returning to support the 18th annual Swim Across America events in Boston Harbor and DCR Nantasket Beach, both benefiting pediatric survivorship programs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Here are a few snaps of what it was like to watch this amazing event behind the behind-the-scenes. Learn more about the Swim Across America mission here.
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| View From Behind-Behind the Camera: Olympic swim legends dive-in at Boston Harbor and huddle at DCR Nantasket Beach, captured by the Boston Herald and WHDH. |
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| Views from Boston Harbor Event: Pace Boat viewed from the Press Boat; "I've been up for hours and It's Only 1:20"; Commuting Old School Style; Finishing Strong |
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| Views from Nantasket Event: Safety Check; Spectacular Spectating; Bathhouse Birdie; Super High Tide |
Sample of press clips here, here and here.
Jul 10, 2011
Anna Maria Horner Out of Print Jackpot
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| Out of Print Anna Maria Horner Jackpot! |
Cataloged all of my fabric.
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| Making a List, Checking It Twice |
After two years of collecting I now know that there are two lines that are my favorites (and why, oh why didn't I know this when they were in print and easier to come by?). Anyone who's been to my home or read this blog for a while can guess what they are: Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party and Good Folks.
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| Garden Party and Good Folks Rainbow Pre-Cape |
I cataloged all of my fabric...not just those two lines, but also my AMH Little Folks Voile, Folksy Flannels, Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet, Sandy Gervais, scraps, etc., etc. Gave me a hand cramp and made me realize with all the time I spend at a computer keyboard, my handwriting is really going downhill. I filled my red Moleskin with chicken scratches and notations in preparation of my much anticipated visit to Tumbleweed Quilts in West Barsnstable on Cape Cod!
Poor Angela-Girl isn't a fabric gal, so she relaxed in the air-conditioned rental car with the latest New Yorker while I oohed and ahhed inside the adorable (and huge) shop.
The staff was incredibly helpful, and when they told me they didn't have too much Anna Maria Horner, mostly older bits and some in the clearance room, I could hardly contain my glee! Filed in with the other Freespirit designers and stacked in the back clearance area, I found my own personal jack pot:
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| AMH Festival in Tangerine, Fortune in Chocolate, Table Cloth in Brown, Mingling in Rose, Dance Floor in Burgundy |
The Table Cloth and Mingling were on clearance, $5 a yard, so I had to buy four of each, of course. And when I found the Festival in Tangerine, I could have cried: I have been coveting that print for months and have been unable to find it anywhere--Etsy, eBay, etc. I snagged what was left on the bolt: just over four yards. I'm thinking of trying my hand at garment sewing--I think the pattern would make a cute summer sun dress or skirt.
Another item crossed off my list: starting a stash of Kona Cotton Solids:
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| Kona Cottons: Grass Green, Kiwi, Jade Green, Emerald, Eggplant, Rich Red, Bright Pink, Pomegranat Corn Yellow |
I did jot down the colors as they were cut but I'm not entirely sure which is which so please don't count on my caption above to make any certain purchases. I had a sample of scraps from my AMH collection that I used to figure out which colors I wanted to start with. I've been looking on the web for recommendations on Kona Cottons to pick up to use as blenders for Garden Party and Good Folks and haven't seen any lists, so here's mine for any who are interested:
~*Grass Green
~*Kiwi
~*Jade Green
~*Emerald
~*Eggplant
~*Rich Red
~*Bright Pink
~*Pomegranate
~*Orange
~*Corn Yellow
I'm learning the power of solids and neutral blenders--I have some Fat Quarters coming in next week from the Michael Miller Ta Dot line~I'll keep you posted on how that works. I'm off to the cutting table and the Lady Singer...more to come!
XO Terez
Jul 9, 2011
May 9, 2011
Herons and Turtles and Coons, Oh My!
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| Toll Troll |
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| Nest Bandit |
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| I'm Taking The House With Me |
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| Mama? |
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| Sunday Swim |
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| Spotlight Stealer |
Yesterday my Bird Buddy and I spent Mother's Day morning at my local bird sanctuary. The blustery wind and gray skies kept a lot of our usual tiny birds hidden but we had a terrific show put on by:
--A raccoon making a big to-do about climbing into a huge nest in the tree-tops,
--A heron that could not get enough of us,
--Mr. and Mrs. Goose and Six Goslings out on a Sunday stroll, and
--A finale by Mr. Turtle ascending the half-submerged log.
We also had special guest appearances by morning doves, chickadees, warblers, red-winged blackbirds, blue jays, mallards, robins, catbirds and too many squirrels to count.
XO Terez
May 8, 2011
There is Only One Mamacat
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| Mamacat and "My Angel" 1978 |
{How did this happen?}
In 1976 my father ended up on a sight-seeing tour in Salt Lake City with two older Mormon missionary ladies on a whim to see the Salt Lake Temple. He joined one of the said ladies at a family friend's barbecue. He put together a plate of food started sauntering across the lawn, saw the most beautiful woman in the world and wouldn't you know it, tripped on a garden hose and dropped his food into her lap.
That renaissance man was my father. And the most beautiful woman in the world? My mother. It was her dad's barbecue.
HH asked Mamacat out for a date (remember, he was only in town for a few days!) and she said yes.
Three days later HH told Mamacat she should marry him and she told him he was crazy.
He went back to Portland, but guess what?
Eight days after she told him he was crazy, she decided he was right.
34 years, five kids, six grandkids and three cats later they are still the most happily married couple I know.
Six months after she said yes they were married. Mamacat packed it all up in the 'blue honey moon pickup' and they drove to Montana (to meet the new in-laws) and after vehicle trouble (Grandpa D said, "you're going to break down if you haul all of those books!"--and he was right!), meeting the in-laws (rumor is Grandma and Grandpa H picked them up in their pickup and Mamacat rode with them--next to Grandma H smoking cigarillos with a beehive hairdo up to the roof) repairing the honey moon pick up, honey mooning on the Oregon Coast and settling into a teey tiny house off SE Duke street, they decided they were going to need a bigger house. Then I was born.
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| Mamacat and Terez's First Thanksgiving with Cousin |
It's hard to put into words how much my mother means to me. Instead I'll treat her to a list of reasons why I love her so. Because really, this post is for her:
10. Because she went face to face with Mrs. Edner who gave me a B+ in 6th grade study hall because I didn't make 100% attendance due to chicken pox.
9. Because she had hipster glasses way before I did.
8. Because she got on the carousel with me at Jantzen Beach to just cheer me up after I graduated from University of Oregon and the job prospects weren't looking great.
7. Because she gave me my love of reading: "Teresa, my eyes just aren't happy unless they are reading a book."
6. Because she gave me my love of libraries. We both worked at one through college.
5. Because she's not just Mamacat to us kids but to our friends and in-laws, too.
4. Because she loves each of my brothers and I just the way we each individually need to be loved.
3. Because she didn't get mad when I told her I was going to move to Boston. Instead she made me a polar bear quilt to keep me warm here.
2. Because we talk on the phone nearly every single day, even though we live on opposite coasts and three time zones apart. She never gets mad when I call at 5 or 6 a.m.
1. Because she has always said, "Teresa, no one will ever love you as much as your mother [except your father]" and she has proved it.
I love you Mamacat!
XOXO Your Angel
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| Mamacat Today |
May 3, 2011
Cape-arium
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| Cape-arium |
For the past few years I've been fascinated by the terrariums I've seen on Etsy and featured in the New York Times, but I haven't taken the time to try my hand at miniature enclosed gardening until inspiration struck this weekend.
I was staring at one of my glass globes from China Fair in Newton, and loving the way a collection of Cape beach rocks looked nestled in the curved base. I didn't want to use it as a traditional vase with flower stems and water mucking things up...and then I remembered I had a teeny tiny spider plant {also attained from friends on Cape Cod!} sprouting roots in a dish of water and a teeny tiny terracotta pot...and after some maneuvering and planting the plant with dirt pilfered from another potted plant via tea spoon...voila!
One important thing I have learned in just a few days--the terrarium stays really, really humid, and a little water goes a long way.
XO Terez
Apr 24, 2011
Hamtastic
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| Brookline Bunny |
After yesterday's gloom this morning's sunshine was a welcome visitor, even if the stay was brief. The Easter Bunny was busy visiting my little flock on the West Coast so I took the opportunity to blow the two rolls of quarters burning a hole in my pocket and to clean things up around here with a visit to the laundry mat:
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| Laundry Bar |
Living in a turn-of-the-century apartment is charming; one is seduced by crown moldings and wainscotting and big windows and built-ins until one realizes that washers and dryers were not in the design plan for buildings erected in the early 1900s. And one lives on the third floor. On the top of a hill.
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| Granny Cart Three Bags Full |
I've lived in Boston nearly eight years and I haven't had laundry in my apartment or building for seven of them. My secret to staying sane? A six week supply of underwear, socks, t-shirts, dishtowels, one granny cart and three LL Bean Large Boat and Totes to haul it all with.
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| Other Mother's Dishtowels |
I can usually tell how long it's been since I've done all the washing by how tall the dishtowel pile is when I'm done folding. The Other Mother has been embroidering days-of-the-week towels for me for a few years and I use a new one every day or two. What's the point in having fantastic linens made by a dear friend if you don't use them? Exactly.
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| Swirl, Suds and Swoosh |
All of that washing and folding and hauling and putting away-ing helped me build up quite the appetite for my Easter Dinner with Grandma Rue's family (Carando Ham supplied by Chez Terez). Combine that dining experience with my KimKitch family visit (Taylor Ham supplied by Chez Terez) the day before and you can chalk up this weekend to being ham-tastic.
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| 17 Dollars and 25 Cents Later |
XO Happy Easter, Terez
Apr 3, 2011
Chez Terez 101
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| Good New Bears |
Good News!
I can hardly believe this myself, but we've reached the
~* ~*101st post of *~*~
~* ~* Chez Terez *~*~
{!!}
I wasn't keeping watch for it myself, the milestone sort of snuck up on my when I was reviewing the stats for the LollyCake Ladies write-up. Not only is the LollyCake Ladies my number one most read post of all time, it happened to be post number 100!
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| Floss Box |
For those who have been with me for the splendiferous ride: thank you. For those who are new to the color-wonder-creative-blogspot that is Cherz Terez, I bring you a 101 course, and encourage you to scroll through back posts. As my friend Marielle said, it is a wondrous thing when you come across a new-to-you blog and can spend the day browsing old musings.
Chez Terez is my blog, myself being the one Miss Teresa Marie, a jewelry/embroidery/stitching/knitting/baking/apartment gardening/cooking/hostessing/birding extraordinaire.
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| Windowsill Horticulturist |
I love things green and growing, feathery and flying, colorful and sparkling and I love to make things in my little studio and to see things on my rambling walks and share them.
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| Spring Wire Work |
Writing this blog has blessed me beyond measure. It has helped me to slow down. It has taught me to take the time to take a look at what is around me and see the shapes and color. It has shown me the beauty of taking a detour to explore the insides of buildings so I can see the sun shine through colored glass.
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| Architectual Detail |
This blog has given the opportunity to collaborate cross-country with my dear parents, Mamacat and HH, and to share with dear friends including The Norwegian Knitter, The Singer, The KimKitch, Grandma Rue, The Other Mother Quilter, The Chicken Lady, Angela-Girl, and others. It helps me stay in touch with my dear creative sisters-in-law and their little flock of my beloved nephews and niece.
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| Fabric for Fussy Cut |
I love a little bit of trivia so here are some fun facts:
The top five most popular Chez Terez posts of all time are:
1. LollyCake Ladies
2. Re-Upholstery
3. Last Day of February
4. High Tea at the Heathman with Mamacat
5. HH: Renaissance Man
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| Easter Earrings |
Chez Terez has welcomed readers from across the U.S. and from the UK, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and France. Unbelievably, yesterday, I had my 4,000th hit!
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| Mamacat Cross-Country Collaboration |
XO TEREZ
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