Harris Flies the Coop

 

Well, it's happened.  We left Harris, and a little of my heart, in Pittsburgh where he will start as a freshman.  Move in was super easy and relatively quick, he is in a triple (no AC!) and his room is fairly roomy with a large walk in closet so I think the room will be fine.  Harris has always traveled light and move in was no different.  We were able to get everything in one trip!

Harris chose not to bring stuff for the walls, etc., saying he preferred it to happen "organically."  Therefore, his room looks a bit dismal, I'm hoping he gets some coziness in there soon.  I'll be honest, I really wanted to work on finding things for his walls, etc., but I decided to let it go.  He's 18, didn't ask for help or want anything and this is his journey, not mine.  We didn't buy a ton of stuff for his dorm because, as he says, he can always get whatever he needs (beauty of being in a city I guess!).  However, we did buy him stuff to make his bed comfortable!

After move in, we didn't see Harris for the rest of the day, as he met and explored a bit with his roommates.  We did however, meet him for lunch the next day and he went with us to explore campus a bit so that Grace could see more of it.  The Cathedral of learning is something else!

While Harris was doing his own thing, we went and explored Pittsburgh a bit more.  I'm a bit surprised at how much I like both the University and Pittsburgh the city.  I really hope Harris likes it as it seems to have so much to offer.  We went up The Incline which has amazing views of the city!

When it was time to say goodbye, Harris seemed confident and ready, I shed a tear or two but also know that it's time, this is what we've been working toward.  I have lots of emotions, not so much about Harris not being home (though so sad) but more about this being the end of an era.  I have LOVED this phase of our life and I'm having a hard time envisioning what it looks like from here on out.  Hopefully, it will be full and interesting but man, I'm going to miss these two.  

On our way out of town, we stopped at Paige's soft serve, because ice cream always helps a hurt heart.

P.S. Yes, Harris is wearing a UGA shirt, and yes, we gave him a hard time about it.  Apparently, old habits die hard?

Just Because... Part 2 (14 years later)

This is the last week at home before we drop Harris off to start his freshman year.  As such, we've had a few gatherings to celebrate our favorite guys as they all head off to different schools.  We've had a gathering with my family, Gordon's family and Matthew's family.  Throughout high school, Harris was mostly a one or two close friends type of guy and Gordon was his closest.  I love that the boys wanted to get the families together as well!  Matthew has been a close friend of Harris' for most of his life and while they don't hang out on the regular, both boys seem to believe they will be lifelong friends.  They have a special relationship and I'm thankful for that.  My first year of blogging, I posted the picture below of Matthew and Harris.  Last night, Matthew's Dad, snapped the picture above and it instantly reminded me of my old favorite.  

Asheville, NC

We have just gotten home from a quick trip to Asheville, North Carolina. It was a last gasp of a trip, time with just the four of us before each child headed off to school, and I treasured each minute.  We landed fairly early in the day,  headed to get some BBQ for lunch, and walked along the river around the arts district before heading to check into our hotel at the Grove Park Inn.  Bryce and I have wanted to stay at this historic hotel since before children so it was fun to mark it off the list.  We had a drink on the terrace before heading out to dinner in downtown Asheville.

The next day was all about The Biltmore!  Bryce and I had been before (and I had been even before that) but for some reason it never gets old, we just really enjoy Vanderbilt properties I guess*.  While I do enjoy the opulence and excessiveness of the main rooms, my favorite rooms are the utilitarian rooms.  There's just such beauty in the simpleness of it.  

This time, not only did we do the regular house tour, but we also did a "backstairs" tour.  No photography was allowed but we got to see the butler's pantry, the maids quarters and Edith's bathroom, closet and her ladies maids room.  It was super interesting!  Afterwards, we got some ice cream and headed off to the gardens to explore.

While in Asheville, we also spent a bit of time on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This road is so beautiful, with stunning vistas every few minutes!  

Harris really wanted to try out a very cool climbing gym so while he did that, we three went to The NC Arboretum.  It was wicked hot but the bonsai exhibit was very neat. 

Grace's favorite stop, of perhaps the entire trip, was Hole.  The doughnuts here are made on order and were indeed amazing.

All in all, it was a great trip but mostly I was just happy to see new things, eat good food and hang with these two.

*We've been to Camp Sagamore, Shelburne Farms and I've been to the Breakers.

The Lavender Field

In June, the lavender is the prettiest area on the farm and it smells amazing!  Soon after we moved to the farm, and had already built the bones of the garden, I planted five rows of lavender from plugs.  Those teeny tiny plugs then grew into monster (especially the Grosso) lavender plants that are simply beautiful when they bloom.  

We had five varieties, Melissa, Folgate, Royal Velvet, Hidcote and Grosso.  However, last summer, we tore out the Grosso because it had become much too woody due to poor trimming.  And that has been the most frustrating thing for me about the lavender!  It's been such a learning curve to figure out how to properly trim the lavender so that it doesn't get too woody and continues to have a pleasing shape and bloom time!

This year, we harvested only about half of the lavender to dry so that the bees could continue to enjoy the blooms.  They love and adore the lavender!

Every year, Gretchen comes over one morning and we spend a lovely few hours harvesting lavender.  We chat, cut and bundle the morning away.  It's great (don't have a picture of Gretchen and I)!  We hang the lavender to dry in the sugar shack.

I continue to enjoy cooking with the lavender!  My favorite new recipe this year was a Blueberry Lavender mess.  

I also was on a mission to find the best Peach Lavender jam recipe!  

This fall, I need to replace the Grosso and try my hand at propagating some plants from cutting to fill in the gaps from plants that haven't survived.  I would also love to try distilling the oils but that's a whole other project!

A Picnic

We recently took a picnic down to Belmont Plateau, a park in Philly that has wonderful views of the skyline.  It was a perfect evening with my family and the weather and the food was pretty amazing too.

I made a tomato pie, beet and apple slaw and mini peach pies and we picked up fried chicken from a local spot.  

The mason jar peach pies were super cute!

With both children heading out for college in just a few short weeks, I treasure anytime I get them all to myself without any other distractions!