Pure Sugar

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!

It’s National Voter Registration Day! A lot is riding on the upcoming election, so check your registration regularly (especially if you live in one of those states that is dumping voter rolls) as we inch closer to November 5th. And don’t forget to TURN OVER YOUR BALLOT! That’s where the propositions (like local library funding referendums) will be. Make sure your college kids request their absentee ballots, too!

I am a huge voting rights advocate and I am sure it stems from my grandmother who worked the polls every year. I have fond memories of tagging along with my parents to vote. My family showed me how important this civic act is and it absolutely infuriates me that politicians in some states are making it harder for people to vote. It is your right and it is your duty to exercise that right! Even if I don’t agree with someone’s views I would never deny helping someone register to vote. That is un-American.

REGISTER TO VOTE OR CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS

While many people are proud to campaign for their candidate of choice, it is also important to remember that your vote is private. It is no one’s business who you vote for. You never have to disclose that information to anyone (including – and sometimes especially – your spouse). Along the same lines, voter intimidation is illegal! I expect there will be many cases this cycle, so if this is something you experience, immediately report it to your local Board of Elections.

Whether you are voting early, voting absentee, or voting at your local polling site on November 5th, just be sure you have a plan!

“Every citizen of this country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted, and that in the voting booth, their vote has as much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress or any President.”
– Barbara Boxer

Wishing all of you hard-working folks a very happy Labor Day! And to everyone who has to work today, you are seen and appreciated! 

Let’s remember to thank unions for this holiday. Here is a little history for you:

1882: New York City labor unions held a parade to celebrate their workers and to support all unions. At least 20,000 people attended and workers gave up a day’s pay to be there.

1885-1886: Labor Day received its first governmental recognition through municipal ordinances.

1887: Parades similar to the first one held in New York City took place in different regions of the country. Five states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and Colorado) created a state Labor Day Holiday. By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska would also create a state holiday.

1894: Senator James H. Kyle from S. Dakota introduced a bill to make Labor Day a federal, legal holiday taking place on the first Monday in September. The bill passed on June 28, 1894 and he is recognized as “the father of Labor Day.”

Information from the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Constitution Center.

Happy Friday! We got back from the Cape last night and I have to admit… the motivation to go to work today has been tough. I’ve had to catch up on and correct seemingly a million things, plus get everything organized for our booth at Community Day tomorrow. But mentally I’m still here:

The Cape Cod sunrises are just stunning. It was absolutely worth getting up at 5:30 every day of vacation to enjoy them! We had no traffic getting in or out of the Cape (!), absolutely perfect weather, a great hotel within walking distance to two beaches, and enjoyed some really fantastic chowder, lobster, clams, and haddock. Here are a few more photos from this week.

I never really considered myself a beach person, and this week made me realize that I’ve just been going to the wrong beaches. The quiet, calm, relaxing vibe on the Cape is just what I needed and I can’t wait to go back!

Happy Monday! Happy new week! Just a few things I am thinking about on this summer day…

… Last week we celebrated two birthdays — 22 and 19! The time just flies, doesn’t it? I used to get so annoyed when the kids were small and people would tell me that, but they were right. And now I get to be the annoying one saying it to young moms.

… Kind of bummed that I didn’t get my act together in time to enter something into the County Fair, which starts tomorrow. Hopefully next year!

… Bittersweet that N. heads back to campus on Saturday. They are so ready to get back to school, though, and that softens the blow. This week the band is doing a mini-tour and having a blast. I’m enjoying their in-between-time camping out in our yard. They are all a bunch of very sweet guys!

… Vacation next week! To say I am looking forward to dipping my toes in the ocean is an understatement. Also: Papa Gino’s pizza and the Edward Gorey House!

… And then Community Day (does your town have one?) and Labor Day and Poof! The summer is over. It’s pretty nice that schools in our area still wait until after Labor Day to start. Not going to lie… I love it. 

The next couple of weeks sure do have a lot happening, and it is all good stuff, but I am so ready for the fall and for a little more structure in our days. And of course, all the fabulous fall things like apple and pumpkin-flavored everything, cozy blankets, scary movies, craft fairs, twinkle lights, fabulous foliage, oversized sweatshirts… I could go on and on! 

Wishing you a JOYFUL week, my friends!

… or should I say Fri-YAY?!!! Ah, so glad the weekend is upon us. So, you see the photo of this light pink zinnia here? Well, at the beginning of the summer I found a random pack of zinnia seeds and just scattered them in my front garden, not expecting a thing because they were a couple years old. But this pretty little thing has appeared! It was a cheerful surprise when I noticed it the other day.

This week was my MIL’s 80th birthday. We celebrated with a party last Saturday. She was so happy that so many friends & relatives were able to come — it was really lovely. The food was amazing, too! There was a bountiful brunch buffet that included delicious things like baked scrambled eggs, French toast with fresh fruit (hands-down the best French toast I’ve ever eaten), roasted potatoes, veggies (asparagus, carrots, zucchini), carved roast beef, carved turkey breast with a delicious cranberry sauce, and there were a few other things I’m forgetting. Such a nice afternoon.

Other than that it’s been a pretty typical week. Work, shopping, appointments, etc. This morning I took Jake to the dentist and he was devastated to learn that he has a cavity. I told him that he made it nearly 22 years cavity-free, so it was bound to happen sooner or later! 

It’s rainy and windy as I write this — Hurricane (Tropical Storm?) Debby is making its way through the Hudson Valley. In fact, we’re actually under a tornado watch until 10 PM. Yikes! Luckily tomorrow’s weather is sounding much better and I’m very happy about that because I am driving Laura two hours away to sleepaway camp.

Guess that’s about it for now! Have a great weekend!

Hello, friends! Thought I’d just drop a few notes here on my blog. I didn’t take any photos, but we had family over on Saturday to celebrate my oldest’s college graduation and all three summer birthdays. The weather was perfect! We all were relieved after it’s been so hot and humid here.

I kept the menu pretty simple: grilled London Broil, fried chicken (from the grocery store deli), marinated pasta salad (a dish I used to make all the time years ago — I just recently found the recipe!), creamy cucumber salad, and baked beans (courtesy of my mother-in-law). Dessert was lemon bundt cake and tiramisu. I had taken Friday off, which made my life much easier in terms of cleaning the house and prepping dishes. It was nice to see everyone and I think a good time was had by all.

Yesterday we went to the movies to see Longlegs, which was pretty good. I definitely enjoyed it, but I think they gave some important points away too early. There were also a couple scenes that just didn’t seem to fit in. I don’t know… I’ll have to watch it again when it’s on streaming.

And now here we are… I have a very busy week ahead, and I am already looking forward to next weekend! I’m considering joining the Study of Christmas Cookies Throw Crochet Stitch Along. Maybe. I have a number of projects-in-progress that I really should finish first! On the other hand, it would be a good stash-buster. Decisions, decisions! 

Hope things are great in your corner of the world!

In a word… busy! But good busy, of course. I remember the days when I was a SAHM and while it’s easy to get nostalgic, and sometimes I miss them, honestly with the kids all older now, I have no idea what I’d be doing with myself! I loved being at home and I am grateful that we were in a position that I could be a SAHM, but now it’s so rewarding to serve my community. This July marks my 5-year anniversary in my role as Library Director, which is so hard to believe. I feel like I have a good balance between work and my homelife and honestly… I am pretty darn lucky! 

Anyway! Besides being chock full of activities, Summer here in the Hudson Valley has been very hot. Summer is not my favorite season, but it has its lovely moments. I have been…

Enjoying my garden

Listening to audiobooks

Driving kids to and from work (and getting to enjoy gorgeous views I wouldn’t see from my own yard)

Enjoying the fun summer reading programs we’re scheduling at the library (yes, that’s a baby kangaroo!)

Planning an end-of-summer getaway

Before you know it, my middle kid will be heading back to college and my youngest will be starting Sophomore year in high school. Time sure does fly! Hope you all are doing your best to enjoy it!

Tell me you live in the country without telling me you live in the country.

We had special visitors for today’s storytime — a very sweet llama and alpaca! Not sure who was more enamored, the kids or the grown ups! 

One of the nicer things about being a mom to older kids is having the freedom to go out without need for a sitter! Last night we saw comedian Tom Papa at the fabulous Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie. (We saw Jon Stewart there recently as well!) I love the marquee, don’t you?

Tom put on a great show — one of the best comedy shows we have seen recently (honestly, I think he was even better than Jerry Seinfeld)! I love his humor because it also has heart. If you have the chance, definitely catch him on tour!