One week every summer my entire family converges on my parents’ house for a week of beach, lobster and boating. I grew up in a small coastal town in Connecticut, the kind of town whose population doubles in the summer months due to the influx of SPs (Summer People). This year, for the first time, we were pulled together from all over the country (IL, CO and MD), a last minute gathering at that.

There are certain traditions we maintain every year – going out on Dad’s boat, time at the beach and a lobster dinner. This year potty training Sanna, my Dad having surgery on both hands and a leaking A/C unit were thrown in for added fun! Seriously each one of these added events merits their own blog post but I’ll give you the highlights instead:

• Due to sleeping arrangements and the fact I was the last one to arrive I ended up sharing a room with Sanna. Every morning at 5:20 on the dot (I kid you not) I woke to Sanna yelling “Peeing! Peeing! Change! Change!” Yeah that was fun.

• Dad spent the entire week with hands straight up in the air in casts. He couldn’t tie his shoes, drive, etc… I walked downstairs one morning; he looked at me and said, “I think I have an eye infection…” I took him to the Dr’s for the umpteenth that week and sure enough he had an eye infection. The man was falling apart in front of our eyes!

• Now for the kicker. It was our last full day of being together. It was going to be a full day – visit Gram (Great Grandma) in the morning, beach in the afternoon with the kids (minus napping Sanna) and a lobster dinner in the rough to round the day out. The first two events of the day came off mostly without a hitch.

We knew we were pushing the limits of our stay at the beach. A major rainstorm was brewing just north and west but we decided to eek out every last second we could get. The skies opened as we were racing to the cars but the real fun began when we got back to the house. My sister Katie met us at the door with the news of a major leak in one of the bedrooms. You guessed it, mine and Sanna’s. I went racing upstairs to move anything (clothes, cameras, etc…) that might be in the way and encountered a running stream of water pouring out of the ceiling and just missing my bed.

Here’s roughly the timeline of what happened next: Dad in the attic trying to find the source; Mom calling the A/C guy who had been there just last week for the other A/C; Dad enticing Paulie (family friend) with beers to stay and be his muscle guy (remember Dad still has two casts on); kids running up and down the stairs shouting updates and wanting to check out the attic; numerous trips to the garage for the right tool(s); the boys ‘helping’; someone literally sucking on a pipe (sorry no images here!); people staged at various levels of the house playing telephone – “Turned it on!”, “It’s on!”, “On!”; finally being told they ‘think’ they fixed it but the true test would be if I woke up in a puddle of water or not – wonderful…

Needless to say, we didn’t make it out to the restaurant for dinner that night. We did the next best thing and ordered in 7 lobster dinners, 2 steamed clams and 1 order of mussels. Just as we were walking up to the pick up window, my sister Sara and I overheard a guy in the kitchen say, “I really hope this order comes to pickup. This is a lot of lobster…” Ye of little faith!! He obviously had no idea the depth of the Sjursen family obsession with lobster! Not even a damaged, flooded house would get in our way!!

And finally some images of the kids at the beach!

The main players – Dorrie, Kai and Cooper

Chill’n

Mmmm – sand….

Kai making friends.

Sign we may have stayed to long and the mad dash to the car!

Sanna cuddling with her mom just after her nap.

]]> http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/08/potty-training-lobster-and-leaking-ac-units/feed/ 1 http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/07/baseball-and-beehives/ http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/07/baseball-and-beehives/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:56:37 +0000 Jennie http://lilbludragonfly.com/?p=1120 Good Lord it was freaking hot! May 31 2010 was moving day.  What started out as a breezy, beautiful 70˚ day in CT turned into a gross, disgusting, humid 90˚+ day in Baltimore County, MD.  To top it off the local electric company hadn’t turned on the power like I requested.  Can you read NO a/c!!! This also meant that the cable guy couldn’t hook up the tv and internet.  No internet for over an entire week – slay me now!!  This was not an auspicious start to my big move.  Thankfully it got a whole lot better really quickly.

I’ve been planning this move since last August.  Coming down, checking out places I might like to live, meeting people (Twitter is totally awesome for this) and just soaking up the vibe that is Baltimore. As it goes, a friend of mine had a friend who lives in the area and connected us through Facebook. Back in October we met for lunch at a local Panera and four hours later Mary and I parted as the best of friends – love that!

Mary’s happy place is Camden Yards. I mean – BIG time happy place!  She gives the most amazing tours of the ballpark and the history/baseball knowledge that pours out of her is nothing short of astounding.  A couple of weeks before the move Mary and I started talking about meeting up and going to an O’s game.  I checked the schedule and happened to notice that the O’s were going to be hosting the Red Soxs my first Friday in town. As a CT girl who grew up going to Fenway and vividly remembers Bill Buckner’s flub during the 1986 World Series, this was an opportunity that just couldn’t be missed. Mary, knowing full well it was going to be ugly for the O’s, was up for it.  And it was – ugly, ugly, ugly for the O’s but it was also completely awesome to be at the ballpark.  I love the vibe and feel of Camden Yards, so much so, that the following Friday I was back at Camden Yards and on Mary’s tour taking photos.

*Complete aside – It’s official – every ballpark/team on the east coast somehow has a tie to Babe Ruth.  How that is possible I have no absolutely no idea! The image of the statute on the end – yup, you guess it – that’s the “young Babe Ruth”…*

So how could it possibly get better then that?? I give you Honfest! Talk about something that is quintessentially Baltimore! For those of you who don’t live in the Baltimore area – what is Honfest you ask? I’m not sure I can fully answer that question! Think beehived, hair sprayed, curler wearing, gum smacking women wearing lots of pink, orange, animal print clothing with cat eye glasses. I kid you not. Here’s how the official Honfest site defines a Hon:

The term Hon is actually a friendly Baltimore greeting and comes from the word honey. Around here, however, the women who vie to become Baltimore’s Best Hon are a vision of the sixties-era. They are women with beehive hairdos, bright-blue eye shadow, spandex pants and anything with leopard print!

Adore, Adore, Adore Honfest! So much fun, people watching and great food. There was even a place were you could get your ‘hair did’ in a beehive.  I am sooo doing that next year. Without further ado – here were some of my favorite Hon’s of the day!

I have no idea what adventures Baltimore in July will bring but I am SO looking forward to them!! If there is anything going on that I absolutely HAVE to go to, see and be a part of – share it here and I’ll try to make it happen!

A few weeks ago I visited Blue Sky Factory’s website.  As most of you know, I’m moving to Baltimore in June and was doing some research on companies in the area that intrigued me.  I was curious to see where they were located and clicked on their Corporate Office Directions Page.  What I loved, made me laugh out loud and stuck with me was at the bottom of the page there are walking directions from the parking garage to their front door.

Here’s why it stayed with me.  With this one paragraph I understood that they really heard their clients.  They were giving their clients something that they wanted, needed and probably asked for.  I loved it because it’s so rare to actually see a company go that extra step – give their clients what they want/need.  More often than not, companies (me included) put out what we want, what we think you need, like and desire without really listening to what your telling us.

Last year I changed the name of the business to Lil Blu Dragonfly and put up a “temporary” blogsite.  With the move coming up I knew I wanted to make changes and upgrade the site.  I’ve spent the last few months making lists of things I want to change, add, delete etc… After that visit to Blue Sky Factory I realized I was thinking only about what I wanted and haven’t taken the time to ask you what you wanted.  So here it is (I find this frightening beyond belief but I truly want to know) what do you want from me?

I’m asking all you mommies, bloggers, friends and past clients for your help.  Do you want more images, better service, video on the blog, specials, a forum that focuses on local events and mommies, etc… I’m open to all suggestions and ideas.  When faced with something new or a challenge I often ask myself “How am I getting in my own way.”  So I’m stepping aside and asking for your help.  What do you want from me?

I’ve been on the road for 19 days now – 3 more to go…  This image, taken with my point and shoot, is the view (bug marks and all) I have become most familiar with in the last few weeks.

I have been to Baltimore, Wilkes Barre PA, Englewood NJ and Merscerbeg PA.  One day I went from Englewood to Baltimore then back to Old Lyme CT – arriving at the wee hour of 2am.  I literally got out of the car, walked up the stairs and fell into the bed that night!  I have longingly remembered my college policy of owning more than 30+ pairs of underwear.  I only had to do laundry once a month in those days!!

I have found that when traveling through PA on a Sunday your most likely only going to find Religion or Nascar on the radio – to some they are one and the same!  I’ve been endlessly fascinated by I-78 with it’s huge Cabela’s, Chrome Palace and massage parlor that boasts big rig parking and new showers.  They set my imagination aflame and I swear some day I’m going to have to check them all out – well maybe not the massage parlor…  I have also passed the exits for Hereshy Park and Crayola 5 times in the last 2 1/2 weeks!!  Each hold their own appeal and eventually one of these days stops will have to be made there as well.

I have learned that my smart phone is a wondrous thing – gps, internet and phone all in one.  I wonder how I ever ate a meal in a restaurant alone before this wild piece of technology.  I still haven’t figured out the best way to eat well on the road and I feel horrible for leaving the crew in a kennel for 21 days!! But all in all I believe I have officially become a “Road Warrior”

A Book is Like a Garden Carried in a Pocket – Chinese Proverb

Book Give Away, Book Give Away, Book Give Away!! *hint* read all the way to the end.

I was standing in the bookstore with 4 new books in my hands when a group of children, sitting in circle being read to, caught my eye.  In a flash, I knew I wanted to share my love of  books with you all.  I decided, right then and there, that I would start a monthly posting based around my favorite books from my childhood.  I also decided I wanted to give away a copy of each book I featured to one of you.

You see, books were a HUGE part of my upbringing and I do mean HUGE!  Piles of books could be found around the house, weekly trips to the library occurred and we were read to every night.  I’m still a serious reader, often reading several books at a time.  I adore that my sisters’ instilled this love of reading in my nieces and nephews too!  It never ceases to amaze me to find children, 7 and under, choosing to sit on the couch to read.

The dinner table and Mr. Popper’s Penguins sets the scene for one of my fondest childhood memories.  My mom brought home a book and explained that this was one of her all time favorite books when she was a kid.  Not only did she want us to read it, she wanted us to read it as a family.  Her plan was to have one of us read a couple of pages out loud then pass the book to our right for the next person to read.

Mr Popper is a small town painter who is bored with his life.  He dreams of far off travels and seeing the Poles.  His down time is spent reading everything he can on explorers and their trips to the Poles.  One day he writes a fan letter to famed explorer Admiral Drake.  To his complete surprise, Admiral Drake sends him a penguin!  Soon the small Popper Family grows to include 12 penguins – all who have to eat!  The traveling show “Popper’s Performing Penguins” is born.  The penguins create all sorts of trouble and slapstick moments while on the road.  Every night would find us at the dinner table waiting with anticipation to see what the penguins got up to next!

Now the fun part!  The book giveaway!!  Every month I’ll feature a book in a post and set a comments closing date.  For  the sake of simplicity, all comments must take place on the blog, comments on our Facebook fan page won’t be counted.  I’ll close all comments 9pm EST on the set date.  If 10+ people have commented I’ll put the total number of comments into a random number picker (your assigned number is based on the comment sequence – first comment = 1, second comment = 2, etc…) and the number that comes back is the winner!  I’ll announce and contact the winner two days after the closing date and arrange to send them a copy of the book!  So excited to share this with you!!  So here are the details for this month’s book.

April 2010 Book: Mr Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Comment Closing Date: May 12th, 2010

Announcement of Winner: May 14th, 2010

Now if you just can’t wait until May 14th here’s an Amazon direct link.

]]> http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/04/a-book-is-like-a-garden/feed/ 13 http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/04/a-time-to-weep-and-a-time-to-laugh/ http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/04/a-time-to-weep-and-a-time-to-laugh/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:59:40 +0000 Jennie http://lilbludragonfly.com/?p=906

These past few weeks have been full of ups and downs.  For those that don’t know, I have been care taking my Grandmother’s house for the past couple of years.  What originally was suppose to be a temporary move somehow morphed into years.  Two weeks ago the family decided it was time to sell the house.

My Grandmother fell and broke her hip and it was hoped she would heal quickly and come home.  Unfortunately, she’s never been able to come back to the home she loves.  As my stay at the house was always suppose to be temporary, I never fully moved in.  Most of the house was kept exactly how my Grandmother left it – pictures on the wall, curtains on the windows and towels in the bathroom.  Not that I didn’t walk around the house and dream of things I’d love to change: rip down wallpaper, new kitchen floor – even as big as tearing down walls.  I didn’t do any of those things.  It was never my house and never would be.  It’s a strange experience to live in a house that for all extents and purposes you are really a guest in.

We called a real estate agent and before I knew it the process was full steam ahead!  The real estate agent asked me to pack away all of Gram’s personal photos and nicknacks.  Suddenly it struck me – this was real – this was a goodbye.  My Grandmother had lived across the street from my parents for almost 30 years.  A piece of my childhood was fading away.  I knew before I took another step forward, I needed to photograph the things that were the essence of my Grandmother and her home.

I photographed her dressing table, full of family photos and the mirror and hairbrush she has had my entire life.  I walked around and captured small vignettes – my father’s teddy bear from when he was a child, her thimble and tea cup collection, her sewing machine where she made us Easter dresses and Halloween costumes and the carved table my Great Grandfather brought back from his travels.  It was an exercise in remembering and saying goodbye.

So I’ve spent the last two weeks packing and getting the house ready for show.  Frankly, it’s heartbreaking and a relief as well.  I’m ready to move on, to no longer be responsible for another’s worldly possessions.  I will, however, be sad when I look out my parents window to the house across the street that is no longer “ours”.  I know a few more tears will be shed over the next few weeks, as were done while writing this post.  As much as it pulls on my heartstrings to see this chapter close, I know it is the right thing.  I am also excited for what comes next.  I have no idea what that is but I’m ready to meet it!

]]> http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/04/a-time-to-weep-and-a-time-to-laugh/feed/ 3 http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/03/the-extraordinary-funky-chickens-fine-art-shoot/ http://lilbludragonfly.com/2010/03/the-extraordinary-funky-chickens-fine-art-shoot/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:27:22 +0000 Jennie http://lilbludragonfly.com/?p=871

Oh No, she didn’t!  Oh yes, she did!!

If you know nothing about me, you must know this.  I am cut throat competitive.  I just can’t help myself – this other being comes over me and I’m going to get there first, fastest and smartest.  Of course, that rarely happens but I give the good fight all the way down to my crumbling demise…  So, when one of my photographer friends saw this paper mache, feather coated, chicken in my mother’s kitchen and challenged me to take a fine art photo of it, which if I was successful she would hang in her house – you know the game was on!!

I spent a lot of time, to much time, trying to come up with the perfect location.  I issued a call of help out to my Facebook Fans.  Nothing resonated.  A trip to Baltimore found the Extraordinary Funky Chicken and I on our first road trip.  (pic here)  Still nothing – really how hard could this be.  Finally I got up one morning and decided this was the morning.  Extraordinary Funky Chicken and I headed up to Nehantic State Forest – Uncas Lake for the locals.  Location be damned this shoot was happening right then and there.

It’s a most interesting experience to be standing on the access road in the middle of the forest at 6:30 in the morning with a fake chicken.  There I was, thinking how ridiculous I am and seriously couldn’t I ratchet down my competitive nature and the need to make this spectacular! (obviously not!!)  Fabulous… now I have an audience….  I swear the man is home telling people – “Well I never saw anything like it.  There was this woman in the middle of the forest with a camera and a fake chicken….”  Seriously the things I do in the name of art!!

So here it is – the fabulous Extraordinary Funky Chicken’s Fine Art shoot!

Update:  I won! I won!  Got an email from my friend asking when she’ll be getting her print!!  Ok yeah, all I got is bragging rights – but hey I still won!

Normally during the winter months I settle in, hibernate and plan the up coming year.  Usually I’m alone during this time and in fact it can be days before I have any contact with the outside.  This winter, however, I have an entire crew hanging with me and keeping me on my toes!  Meet Sadie, Fred and Zoe – they are my new constant companions.

First up – Sadie.  Sadie and I have a true love.  It started over a decade ago when my parents brought her home – this white fluffy butterball of a thing.  She is a complete sweetheart.  She is however also a poser – she was posing for this image in fact – I have yet to ever be able to sneak up on her and get a non posed image!!

Fred – well I honestly don’t know where to begin…  He came into my parents home a year after Sadie – 2 days before Christmas.  He was the last Shitzu in the state and in fact they almost didn’t take him home because he was not a she!  Fred has an energy and verve for life like no other creature I have ever met!  He expects everyone to be on his wavelength and to love him and some how you do.  I do take exception to the 6:30 morning wake up barks however – I swear I can set my clock by it…

Zoe – this sweet thing is the family hot potato.  She originally was my sister’s cat in college and then she went on to live with my Gram.  When I became the caretaker to my Gram’s house Zoe came with it.  She love loves loves late night antics and I’ll often wake up and find her literally bouncing around the bed – it so does not amuse me!!  But then she curls up next to me becomes a little heating purring engine and how can you not love that?!?