Thankful for Thanksgiving..

Joe and I both love Thanksgiving for so many reasons! This year was particularly wonderful as it provided a true vacation!  When we travel to Maryland we're able to truly relax and take a break for the regular world. The kids have so much fun with their cousins and we soak up the fabulous hospitality my parents offer.

Not only was it good to be together with everyone healthy and happy- many many things to be grateful in our home this year!  We also enjoyed a number of great activities! We mixed the Works Civil War theme into the trip with a trip to Gettysburg and also a stop at Ft. Necessity (French-Indian War) as that tied to the 4th grade curriculum!  We shopped locally, ate crab cakes, raw oyster and other fine Maryland fare, tapped into our creative talent with gingerbread decorating!  We also visited the house where I grew up, taking Matthew and I back to life at 909 Forrest Drive!  What a treat! We're very grateful for the home owners (childhood family friends!!) for giving us the opportunity to visit and unlock happy happy memories (and find inspiration) for today's house!!  I've enjoyed doing this with here on Newark-Granville road and it was interesting to be on the other side, the person visiting.

The time away also allowed our wonderful painter to finish the work we've started on Newark-Granville Road!  For years we've wanted white wood work and brighter colors on the 1st floor.  We came home to just that....the rest of the fun will continue with updating fabrics and furniture!  Being the planners we are it is kind of odd this sort of just happened.  We probably needed a change of pace, something fun and exciting to lift our spirits after Sparky's death.  The peeling and cracked ceilings were calling too much attention so we hired someone to fix those.  That led to the need for a painter and that led to needing to remove wallpaper, and that led to painting three rooms and if we were going to do that it was time to do what we'd wanted to do since we'd moved-in....white woodwork and bright colors.  I'll keep you posted as we progress and finalize the front rooms changes!

Art Inspiration

All sorts of art inspiration not far from Newark-Granville Road these days!  Here is a quick run down of why I'm encouraging you to experience:

-Matter of Representation @ The Works: BEAUTIFUL colors, lines, processes, arrangements, subjects make are truly inspirational.  Jeny Reynolds’s reverse glass painting tickles the senses; Karin Dahl's collages provide depth and vibrancy, Jane Heller's colors warm, transport and soothe- what a treat to be surrounded by the art of these local artists.  And you just can't miss Christian Faur's lovely, creative, scientific, original presentation of art with crayons and dollars. It is a treat to take in this art every day- don't miss this show! Join us on Thursday the 20th from 6 to 8 for a reception to celebrate this show's beautiful run.

-Fine Grain by Abram Kaplan at Denison.  This is a must see! The pictures just don't do it justice and take the time to read Abram's story of his journey and the perspective his art plays with his work and life.  I'm a big fan of the countryside, barns, and rows of crops so it isn't a surprise that I like this work.  The presentation is like nothing I've seen and explanation that accompanies the exhibit is thoughtful and insightful, giving me pause and insight I value in my busy life.

-Amy Butler Designs.  Run don't walk to a store today that carries her work. I had the privilege to attend a presentation by Amy tonight at the RHM. Thank you to my friend who encouraged me to take the time to attend. Thank you to my job for making it "work" to attend. The creative entrepreneurial spirit emulating from Amy and Dave is beautiful.  Thank you to all who made tonight possible- what a delight. Tonight's event gave me many pearls!

-The Denison Museum- once again "work" took me to a place that delighted the senses, taught and touched me in ways I didn't anticipate.  The museum's exhibit connected to their 5th year and the traditional wood gift was filled with art and lessons.  The tea exhibit a wonderful showcase that transcends so many cultures and places- take the time on a Tuesday when tea is provided by Petoli!

Book Club on Newark-Granville Road...... And my favorite book didn't event make the list! Okay so I admit I haven't read any of the books that made "the list" but a friend (who also lives on Newark-Granville Road) brought "Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home" by Jeni Britton Bauer for me to review and I'm so glad she did!  Somehow it didn't get to the "other recommend list" either....I will add it now!  I took a look tonight and I'm in love!

So most of you know I really like Jeni's ice cream. I like the taste, flavors, stories, passion and innovation. After a quick read I'm even more impressed, inspired and appreciative of what Jeni and her team have created and shared. I can't wait to start applying some lessons from this book to my own cooking.  Not that I'll be making ice cream any time soon but utilizing her underlying philosophy and coaching in other ways.....I love to cook- it is how I soothe myself, show love, escape and find happiness so it is not surprising that cook books often are at the top of my list!  Friends please share your thoughts about this cookbook!!  Who else has it?!!

Life on Newark-Granville Road is busy right now- school and kid activities have started back up. Work is demanding and challenging in good ways for both Joe and me. And our dear Sparky is in a pen in the green house recovering from his accident last week.  So it is not surprising that I've found even greater pleasure in the book list created by a valuable group of friends around the table on Newark-Granville Road.

Date	Book	Author
3-Oct	A Dog's Purpose	W. Bruce Cameron
7-Nov	People of The Book	Geraldine Brooks
5-Dec	Year in Provence	Peter Mayle
9-Jan	Murder on The Orient Express	Agatha Christie
6-Feb	Revolution	Jennifer Donnelly
5-Mar	Someone Knows My Name	Lawrence Hill
2-Apr	Light in August	William Faulkner
7-May	The Moment I Knew	Terri Spar Nelson-editor
4-Jun	Okay for Now	Gary D. Schmidt
2-Jul	Room: A Novel	Emma Donoghue
6-Aug	Love and Summer	William Trevor
10-Sep	Read from Recomm list	Meet at Susan's to plan!
1st Mondays	CVL Lodge Lobby 7:30 start

REcommendations- didn't make "the list" but they look good!!!

Title	Author
The Art of Racing in the Rain	Garth Stein
Dreams of Joy	Lisa See
The Wish List
John Adams	McCullough
Truman	McCullough
Pillars of the Earth	Follet
Winesburg Ohio	Sherwood Anderson
**Movie- Amazing Grace
The End of the Affair	Graham Greene
And Then There Were None	Agatha Christie
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother	Amy Chu
Fall of Giants	Follet
The Imperfectionist	Thomas Rachman
Poetry by Mary Oliver
Poetry by Billy Collins
Doc	Maria Doria Russell
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness	Alexandra Fuller
the Tree of Forgetfulness
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth	Alexandra Robbins
Half Broke Horses	Jeannette Walls
Family Fang	Kevin Wilson
Stories I only tell my friends	Rob Lowe
Before I Fall	Lauren Oliver
UnBroken	Laura Hilderbrand
Brideshead Revisited	Evelyn Waugh
The Life and Time of	Bill Bryson
the Thunderbolt Kid

Yin and Yang

Today was a yin yang (eastern term, westerners add the "and") day.  I woke up with mixed feelings- sadness and happiness, dread and anticipation, desire to savor the day and to slow it down at the same time wanting to fast forward to Sunday morning.  The Yin Yang did its magic and happiness prevailed.

The funeral of a dear volunteer at the Works, a friend and co-worker's father was not something I thought my day would begin with and something I wasn't "looking forward" to attending. However it was beautiful.  Roy's life was all about giving and serving and therefore his funeral was the same.  I'm so impressed and touched by the fire fighter's tradition and protocol for honoring the deceased.  It all ties together and makes sense and is a gift to experience.  It was a lovely way to say farewell to a man who touched so many in behind the scenes important ways.

The next order of business was work, but the beauty for me that too exemplifies yin yang - is this kind of work is fun!  I prepared for a fundraiser event. I was the hostess of a party that my friends designed that showcased two great components of the Works: the glass studio and the courtyard during cocktail time!!  5:30 to 7:30 pm wonderful people gathered to do nothing but support the Works, enjoy some appetizers, drinks, one another's company,  and FANTASTIC music that set the stage- all while being inspired by the Works glass stuido!

There were many many other components that filled the day with positive energy- I won't go into those now, I'm happy to share with you in person. Know that the evening ended with belly laughter that would make Buddha proud and a peaceful contentment in your blogther (author of the blog) that will allow me to sleep so well on Newark-Granville road.

When the Fairies Come to Play......

We believe in fairies on Newark-Granville Road and that is just one more reason we LOVE the summer solstice! Today the girls had so much fun preparing Fairy Gardens with Marcia Downes and the wonderful folks from Wilson's Garden Center at The Works- Curious Kid Tuesday! We wrapped up our day with an ice cream picnic in my favorite part of the yard (lots of moss) under an umbrella (we said it was a toadstool) looking for areas where the fairies will play!  It made me smile and remember my own fond summer nights where it feels like the daylight will never fade and you can be out forever.  The girls just kept going finding more things to do to prepare for the fairies' evening of frolic!  (If you're wondering what Peter and Joe are up to on this special day- baseball of course! We embraced another extended daylight last night as a family at the Settler's game- another lovely way to soak in every minute of sunlight!)

I haven't shared this story on my blog yet- I was waiting for this day- a day to celebrate fairies. I'm so unbelievable grateful for the care that was shown to my family and the assistance provided!!  While we were on spring break this year we had a substitute dog walker.  When we came home (at 3 am) I immediately realized there was something different- the house was clean- cleaner than usual upon our return from a trip.  Our dear cleaning person always does extra while we're gone but I knew there was more instinctively.  And sure enough a note was on the counter, it read:

Dear Leithauser Family- While you were out of town I had FUN doing:  and then there was a list of unbelievable cleaning, tidying, rearranging, organizing, sorting on our 1st floor.  This person put our hallway closet in order by sizes, put items in labeled containers and it appeared as neat and tidy a bed made with hospital corners.  The note was signed "the cleaning fairy"!  So now you see why we all love fairies!  I went to bed that night with my head spinning, my heart soaring in gratitude but I wanted to know who was this cleaning fairy. Had Joe arranged for this help - no. Had a dear friend snuck in and done this- no the one I thought might have treated us- had travelled as well. I figured it out and confirmed it the next day- the substitute dog walker. Her regular clients were out of town, it rained and she couldn't be outside- so she had time and she truly loves to clean, help and organize!  I tell you I hit the jackpot.  It may have been one of the nicest things anyone has done for me.  I never would have accepted the help. I wouldn't of felt the need to add the expense to sign up for this service and to be honest I would of been embarrassed to let this person help in this way.  This wonderful fairy was a true fairy and proof to me that fairies exist in all their enchantment and beauty!  The regular dog walker is this cleaning fairy's business partner and the person who had connected us- a beloved fairy in her own right for working her magic to make sure we were so cared for- as was Sparky Anderson!!

If you're interested in the help of these fairies let me know and I'll put you in touch! They are available for hire and I'm here to say they're worth every penny. They've worked on our basement and garage and been a tremendous help to us this spring. I hope they're having fun and whimsy on this special eve, as it is well deserved!  Folklore states that fairies hate being told 'thank you', as they see it as a sign as one forgetting the good deed done, and want something that'll guarantee remembrance.  I can assure my cleaning fairies they'll never be forgotten- their good deeds stay with me and makes life on Newark-Granville Road all the more magical and special!  

Here comes summer......

The Granville Leithausers define the start of summer in a number of ways.  Joe considers Derby the start of summer, other seasonal thresholds in our various lives past and present include Memorial Day Weekend, Denison's commencements, kids' school's end and for sure in my book- the opening of the pool, and baseball must play in there some where- may it be Peter's season, The Clippers or maybe the Licking County Settler's season?!  Feels like these things are whirling around us and we're taking them in and keeping up.  For me planting the window boxes and helping get the outdoors prepared is key and I'm ready to do that right now!

Summer signals are just like summer activities- there is a plethora of activities and it is almost too daunting to decide. Analysis paralysis can and has affected me at times.  Those of you who know me well know I love the Myers-Briggs.  I'm a weak J- I like to plan but I can go with the flow.  I like to do my research and create the approach with understanding "the why" we're going to take actions.  I'm certainly in touch with my "P" side  (not p-ness) as I like to look at the possibilities and consider the options too!  Often my desire for closure- to move on to embrace and enjoy the next to-do- drives my decision-making.

I'm at this point with the flowers and summer preparations around here.  I usually like to visit the multiple amazing nurseries we have around here for inspiration and ideas, plus I like to share the financial support.  And truth be told I find these places almost a sanctuary- peaceful, life-giving even celebrating- I love the mix of art, science and commerce all rolled into one...(sound familiar- like my trip to China, like my work at The Works) but for now and to cross something off the list and enjoy the rewards of the effort- we'll start with the window boxes with flowers from one local nursery on this beautiful Sunday morning.  A Sunday morning that I pause to say thank you for the religious freedom, free speech to share my beliefs thanks to the veterans and soldiers that protect and sacrifice for that freedom.   Memorial Day weekend is another time chocked full with opportunities to engage, relax, recreate, play, project and connect in many ways- on Newark-Granville Road we're doing a little bit of it all.

So back to the subject of the intiation of summer- the summer solstice is the true scientific transition.  Our days will continue to get longer and warmer- woo-hoo! Granville Leithausers celebrate June 21, the longest day of the year and look forward to it because for sure by then all things summer will be well on their way and embraced in life on Newark-Granville Road.

Thank you Mothers!

It has been a wonderful day, weekend, month! I appreciate all the mothers in my life that are to thank for the fun I've been having! The trip to China was thanks to Joe's support and encouragement  (his mom sure did well) as well as friends, my own mother and mother-in-law helping with kids and my sister-in-law traveling companion! The low key Derby day was lovely and the right thing with all fun new things happening in our past year. A special nod to Jack's Mom- Mandy on a lovely First Communion/Derby celebration!! I'm just sorry we all couldn't share the celebration and stay longer.

Being a mom on Newark-Granville Road is a good thing and I'm grateful for all the inspiration, support, assistance and love I feel.