Not in the Mood

Back from Mood and all I have to show for it is this fabric, which is beautiful, but not particularly suited for ANY of my projects. Sigh

IOU's

I am in a rut. I've been too busy for most of my hobbies. Since getting my sewing labels, I haven't used a single one! I was looking to my upcoming sewing class to get me back in the swing, but now it looks like I have a work conflict the night of the first class and may have to postpone.

S0, to help get me back on track, here is the (growing) list of projects that I have promised people for their birthdays and otherwise.

1. Erato - the youngest muse had a birthday the day I flew home from London. So this will now be a birthday gift.
2. Mom - Also just had a bday and I have promised her a tote bag like the one I made Polyhymnia
3. Phineas - Has a birthday this weekend and I just got some new patterns and fabric to make him some play shirts. And since I bought summer fabrics for them, I really need to get going on this project.
   
4. Terpiscory - Also an August baby and someone who I have promised a beach ensemble similar to Polyhymnia's. (I guess it was a big hit, not just with Poly, but with everyone!)
   
5. Magenta - I haven't forgotten you. Just glad that your schedule is usually about as busy as mine and you are not sitting at home half naked for lack of summer pants!
   

Actually, now that I look at it, I am feeling even more anxious. This is a lot! I think the bottom line is I need to take a few days off from work to get my crafting back on track. Would that be so wrong? I hope not. OK, off to Mood to find fabric for some of these projects.

Lege Latine, girls!*

Sea-Horse Mosaic in the Roman baths in Bath, England

My fellow former Latin Scholars, it is time to put on your thinking caps or togas and make Mrs. Young proud. I saw this mosaic in the Roman baths last weekend. Was it or was it not pictured in or on the cover of Jenny, our beloved Latin textbook? I am certain I have seen it before.

*Polyhymnia, who easily outclasses us all with her knowledge of Latin and all things Roman, tells me that strictly speaking "Latine" is actually medieval Latin, since the Romans didn't actually call their own language Latin. Take that, Jenny!

Day Trip: Bath

I'm usually pretty disciplined about making myself get out and see London on my free evenings during business trips. But I had a rare opportunity on Saturday - a whole free day! So rather than revisiting some of the sights I have already seen, I decided to go on a day trip to Bath.

Bath is a 90 minute train ride from London. In the morning, I headed to Borough Market in London to pick up some necessities for the journey... coffee, a steak and ale pie to eat on the way and a copy of Sense and Sensibility, by one of Bath's most celebrated residents, Jane Austen. I also made a quick stop at Saint Paul's since it was on the way, and by 11am I was on the train to Bath.

Mmmm, a personal size steak and ale pie...

I arrived fueled up and ready to hit the ground running. First stop was the beautiful Bath Abbey followed by the Roman Baths. The Roman Baths are the most complete excavation of their kind. Not only is the main pool fully excavated, but the temple and sacred thermal spring which feeds the baths, the antechambers, plunge pools surrounding the main pool, and the drains and plumbing are also excavated and actually functional.

Roman Baths with Bath Abbey in the background

Next, I took a walk around the shopping area downtown, relaxed in the parade grounds and then joined a late afternoon walking tour which visited the more Georgian highlights of the town.

Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon

The Royal Crescent, a very posh place to live in Austen's time and now

An average street around town - simply gorgeous!

Evening in Bath was really the best. I stayed until after the tourists mostly left, writing my postcards while enjoying a glass of wine and dinner. I left on an 8.45 train when night life seemed to be warming up. One day in Bath was just not enough. There was so much to do and see that next time I will have to stay overnight and include time at the new spa which, like the roman one, is fed by the thermal springs.

London: Perfect Day

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day in London; the kind of day where Londoners were walking around saying "finally! Summer has arrived! Huzzah!" Ok, ok, I admit that no one actually said "huzzah!", but it seemed too British not to embellish.

Trafalgar Square at 7pm

I ended my work day with afternoon tea with a colleague. And then in the evening I took myself to the National Gallery, which has a spectacular collection. When I left the Museum around 7.30, Trafalgar Square was swamped with people catching the late rays. It was like that first really gorgeous day in the late spring when absolutely everyone finds a way to enjoy the outdoors. Eighty degrees, a cool breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Perfect.

Busy times!

I am swamped. I'm not sure I've ever had a summer this busy. And yet, despite being busy, I feel like I don't have a life. How is that possible?

On Saturday, the "Bridal Committee" of Muses, our mom and KK threw a shower for Terpischore. It was a ton of fun and I'll post some pictures soon, as well as the related cooking projects which ate up most of last week. Because the shower was a surprise, I couldn't blog about any of it at the time.

But for now, I am packing my bags for London for a business trip. I leave tomorrow morning and have a packed schedule. However, I do get one free day this time since it was cheaper to stay until Sunday than fly home on Saturday. So, I am going to take myself to Bath for the day.

At the Beach

Linus, holding mom Calliope's hand

No reason for this post other than excessive cuteness on the part of Linus. And the fact that I can't stop thinking about our beach outing since I am in pain from sunburning the tops of my feet. Yes, the tops.