A Great Party

One of my favorite cousins, Ray (and Marylou) Borkowski's daughter got married today. It was a beautiful wedding of love and commitment with Jennifer and Keith Hassinger. I am thankful to have been a part of their special day (along with husband, Bill, of course). The wonderful reception this evening had delicous food, and great music and dancing,  plus the bonus of catching up with my cousins and their busy lives of jobs, work, kids and even grand-kids! 

The day was sunny and bright in Cleveland, Ohio, and the mood was fun uplifting for the entire day! 

Photo#1: me, Cousin Ray, my sisters- Annette Pejeau and Kimberly Kocan

Photo#2: Bride and Groom, Jennifer and Keith Hassinger.

Photo#3:me, Kimberly, Cousin Shelly Lanza (Ray's sister), Annette and Mother of the bride, Marylou Borkowski.

BSoleille!  For the bright side of a beautiful autumn wedding!

Terri

A Visit to Cleveland

A safe drive to Cleveland, Ohio, with our first stop to visit my Mom who's looking good and feeling better. I'm thankful for that for sure.

We are in town for a family wedding tomorrow. I'm looking forward to visiting with lots of cousins and some dancing.

Photo of Mom Sophie and son Ryan.

BSoleille!
Terri

Happily Hungry - a New Book

This evening I was delighted to head to Georgetown University Hospital for the book launch of another cancer fighting Mom, Danielle Cook Navidi, and her book, "Happily Hungry -Smart Recipes for Kids with Cancer". It was a great moment for Danielle and her family to bask in the excitement of this book, a first of its kind in the fight for good nutrition with kids going through cancer treatments. Daniele worked diligently to come up with superb recipes for the discerning palettes of kids that have difficulty in eating anything!

While at the launch, it was reported that it ranked 13th on the Amazon best seller listing-already, and was on CNN earlier today. The book is certainly getting the attention and press it deserves.

My photos are the book, and me with Danielle and her son Fabian, for whom she experimented with food while he underwent treatment 8 years ago.

BSoleille! The bright side of food and a common denominator of people around the world!

Setting Sun

While driving over to my quilt guild meeting tonight, I could not get over the beautiful big orange ball setting in the distance. I quickly opened my window, got the phone camera in ready mode and snapped one shot of this beauty. Within the next minute the sun went down and I did not even look at the photo until now. Wow, even with the power lines and the "can't miss Sunoco sign" in the background, I think this is a great shot!

And to top it off, today's sun was one you could look straight at and not be blinded, at least this evening, and I'm thankful for that!

BSoleille! For the bright side of a setting sun.
Terri

"Guest Lecturer" at Georgetown Medical School

There are a few days left of childhood cancer awareness month, and this morning my son Ryan and I guest lectured, along with his pediatric oncologist, Dr. Aziza Shad, for over 100 medical students on the late effects of childhood cancer. I am so thankful we were asked, but honored really, and Ryan did such a terrific job in articulating the late effects he is experiencing today after so many years of chemotherapy, radiation and relapses.

It was a great way for us to "give back" and help the doctors of tomorrow gain some understanding of this crazy disease (Leukemia) and the real people behind the diagnoses and medical books.

BSoleille!
Terri

Photo of Ryan, me and Dr. Shad

Rushing the Holidays?

Trying to find dog food at Kmart today, I ran into the Christmas displays with holiday music in the background. I turned down another isle and at least there was Halloween candy and autumn merchandise, but fall just ushered in yesterday. Why the rush?

I am thankful for some cool crisp mornings because the sleeping is soooo good and restful!

BSoleille! Photo of Christmas trees on September 24th, 92 days before Santa!
Terri

Duathalon Age Group Winner!

A beautiful day to run, bike run with sunny skies, "warm" waters for the triathletes, but a little to much wind for half the bike portion of the race. However once out there all worries melted away and I just focused on each leg of the event and pedaled my heart out into that crazy wind.

It's been well over 20 years since my last Duathalon; which was called a biathlon then, and it seemed only the equipment improved over the years with outstanding bicycles, helmets and dri-fit clothing; but the actual work still needs to be done in swim/bike/run fashion.

I am very thankful to have finished today plus achieved my goal in breaking 2 hours!

BSoleille! Finding the bright side of Duathalon-ing.
Terri

Pre-Race Shopping

Since packet pick up for the Bethany Triathalon/Duathalon was not until 4pm, we enjoyed the day with a leisurely breakfast, shopping in town and beach time! We then insisted to our hostesses, Rosemary and her mother, Mary, to make them dinner using our culinary "talents" of grilled salmon, rice and veggies!

Looking forward to an early wake up call to get the "show" going!

BSoleille! Photo of me and Linda in downtown Bethany.

Bethany Beach Tri Weekend

I just love the Delaware Seashore and I am thankful to have arrived safely and with NO traffic from the Bay Bridge to our final destination in Bethany. I am here with triathlete extraordinaire, Linda Misencik, for the Bethany Beach Triathalon and Duathalon being held this Sunday. All those bike miles and running miles will be put to the test! We are both excited for the race to start off bright and early with Linda doing the tri and me doing the du.

My photo is this evenings ocean sunset. I really like the composition of the photo since it seemed so monochromatic at this time of year.

BSoleille!
Terri

Wind chimes and Pies

A great hunt for wind chimes and pies was requested by Patti in downtown Annapolis today. It was a beautiful sunny day to hit the brick streets going in and out if shops looking for this "holy grail" of sorts, as she wanted them for her next destination on her trip. Our search for them culminated with the wind chimes on the outskirts of town and the pies at the Amish Market. Not too many "old-fashioned" bakeries in this area which seems quite uncanny.

I am thankful we were joined by another Ohio friend, Linda Misencik, who got to Annapolis (safely) just in the knick of time for lunch and then joined our "hunt"!

My photos include the "nirvana" pies at the Amish Market and the three of us before dinner back at the house.

BSoleille!
Terri

A Day in DC

Today I took Patti down to DC for several hours of finding fun and falling into a very cool happening this week at the National Archives. But first we started out at a relatively new museum called Crime and Punishment. There were some great artifacts and neat displays of the good, the bad and the ugly of cops and robbers from the middle ages through today's biggest criminals, We actually learned what an "Iron Maiden" was back in the day and a whole lot of tidbits from Al Capone (he was worth 68 million dollars in 1929) to Bonnie and Clyde to the Unabomber.

Since it was such a nice day we walked down to the mall (lots of construction going on) and then walked through the Sculpture Gardens before walking across the street to the Archive Building. I kept telling Patti how wonderful they have made the displays for the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution and encouraged us to go in. As we reached the Rotunda, we noticed a line and quickly learned that we were about to see the fifth page of the Constitution for the first time on display -ever-to celebrate the document's 225th anniversary. It is known as the transmittal page and signed by George Washington; it describes how the Constitution was to be ratified and put into effect. Today was its last day on display. Very cool indeed!

BSoleille,
Terri

A Cleveland Visitor

I am thankful that my friend and former co-worker at the State of Ohio, Patti, drove safely through all the bad weather patterns and big fat raindrops and arrived in Maryland in good time and good spirits as well! It's been fun catching up with her, plus all the updates on many of my former co-workers (so many of them have retired!) that we've talked nonstop for about 3 hours straight!

We took a break and went out to dinner at the Green Turtle, and even took my son Ryan with us do he can order his favorite wingdings. My photo is of me and Patti waiting to be seated (busy on a Tuesday night-maybe because of loss of power due to wind and storms).

BSoleille,
Terri

A Great Day Off

Weekends come and go, and the day's off are great in their own right, but when there is a day off during the work week, ahhh, that's just a little more special (thanks to the Jewish Holidays in September).  I did have to start my day off with a work out of biking and running, but then decided to check out a new consignment store that opened up six months ago in Crofton (very nice).  I then went to Marshall's to browse around for a long while until my "me" time expired and regular Mom duties kicked in sending me to grocery store!

But I have to say, what really relaxed me more than anything today was getting some quality time on my quilting, and cutting out shirts for some tshirt quilts I began working on recently.  I am thankful for that time for sure.

BSoleille!
Terri

Photo of Butterfly taken at Hershey Botanical Gardens in 2009....

 

Hiding Again

Don't we all feel like hiding from something every now and then? Maybe it's the sun, or a feeling of some sort, or just plain old procrastination. I'm good at all three at some point.

My photo today is Big Lucy Loo hiding from something. She's the biggest thing in the yard on four legs so I'm not sure why she likes this spot so much. Maybe she's fixing to pounce on a bird, a mole or a squirrel. I think the word is out in squirrel land because I never see them on the ground only walking on top the fences!

BSoleille!
Terri

Photo Shoot for Georgetown Jingle

I am thankful to the 2012 Georgetown Jingle committee in selecting my son Ryan as a Patient Ambassador, along with being paired with designer Barry Dixon. We all met down on M street for a quick photo session, and hopefully all the photos taken today with the other ambassadors and their designers turned out great for future promotional uses and beyond.

The actual event is held in December at the Four Seasons Hotel, and all proceeds benefit Dr. Aziza Shad's Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic at Georgetown. It is one of my favorite events of the year!

My photo is Ryan with photographer Kevin Allen and Barry Dixon.

Women's Soccer JMU at Navy

A lovely night in Annapolis, Maryland with a soccer match ending in favor of Navy 3-2. It was back and forth play with exciting goals scored from both benches.

I am thankful to have run into several soccer families, a former coach, and the JMU parents along the Severn River at the Naval Academy!

BSoleille!
Terri

The Boys and Girls of Fall

As the great country singer Kenny Chesney sings "The Boys of Fall", in my head I change the words to "The Boys AND Girls of Fall", and the game I'm thinking of is soccer, not football!  I realize all the good football fans around the country, but I know there are many soccer fans who love the "beautiful" game just as much as a Texas high school football fan, and maybe just a wee bit more. Ha Ha!

This past week, I am thankful to say that I have had the pleasure to officiate four high school and middle school soccer games, and more to come this weekend.  I am having big fun and just love the freshly cut grass, the white lined fields and a crisp white and black soccer ball for the kids to kick around for an hour and an half or so as the sun is receding and the cool air rolls in by the time we are finished.

BSoleille!  The bright side of the "Boys and Girls of Fall"!

terri

Tokyo Top Done

Last week I posted a "teaser" photo of a row of blocks my quilting bee is working on in this Tokyo Subway Stop Quilt. Susie did sew the top together and I think it is terrific, and it is almost ready to quilt. What is so interesting is that we each did roughly 3 blocks each, all a little different in how the pieces went together, but as the 25 blocks were sewn together- magic!

A show and tell moment at our guild meeting tonight is Loretto Cartney (left), and Susie Stevenson (right) holding the finished top!

BSoleille!
Terri

9/11/12

I know last year was the 10th anniversary of September 11th, but today felt eerily strange to me. I think because it is a Tuesday (like then) and the weather seemed identical to the one our lives changed forever 11 years ago today. I guess we will always remember where we were when the Twin Towers were hit, and I am very thankful to the US Military, search and rescue teams, police, fireman and all the heroes that came together that frightful day to assess and help in any fashion they could during the worst day in our country's modern day history.

We really live in a great country and I hope our safety will remain secure from sea to shining sea! My photo is a yard of USA printed fabric that I plan to use for backing on a charity quilt.

BSoleille!
Terri

Fisher Wedding Revisited

After posting the Fisher Triplet wedding photo a couple days ago, I felt bad in not posting one of the bride and groom, so I am tonight.
This is the happy couple - Dianne and Brett Fisher.

The other photo is the proud Mom Jamie (and husband Gary) with yours truly and husband Bill. I am thankful that we were able to make the trek and reunite with many old friends in a happy celebration.

BSoleille!
Terri

Luxury Towels

Oprah often commented on her show that when she "made it-especially financially" she would go out and buy good towels. I bet she has towels now that cost $400 each! On the same note my sister in law, Jan, has the best towels ever and I was quickly reminded how good they were this weekend.

I'm thankful she revealed her secret source, Kohl's, of all places, but I think she does something to them because the are just so luxurious once wrapped around the body after a refreshing shower. My towels are old, feel like cardboard and no matter how many dryer sheets I use, my towels never feel that good!

My photo is me hugging those soft and luscious bath towels.

BSoleille!
Terri

A Fisher Wedding

I am very thankful that we had the opportunity to get to our final destination this weekend to Dayton Ohio for Brett and Dianne Fisher's wedding. It was a lovely day that was spent reconnecting with the Fisher family and enjoying the love and commitment to the happy couple.

My photo is of the Fisher Triplets. . From L-R: Ryan Fisher,Ryan Tomoff, The Groom Brett Fisher, Charlie Fisher and Bill

BSoleille! For the bright and happy occasion of a beautiful wedding.

Terri

US 68 Freeway

Had a great drive with my son Ryan traveling West along Highway 68 through Western Maryland, Cumberland, Wild Wonderful West Virginia, Pennsylvania and on to Columbus, Ohio. However, some folks simply drive too fast along winding mountainous roads and the trucks drivers were not so nice either with their swerving loads all over the roads.

But I'm thankful to have arrived at our final destination tonight - my sister-in-law Jan's (and husband Jim) after almost 8 hours on the road!

BSoleille! Finding the bright side of long highways and byways!
Terri

Tokyo Subway Stops

My bee took on a quilt project for our guild's upcoming Quilt Bingo on October 21st at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 3/301 in Bowie, Maryland. We are in the process of making the 25 blocks for the Tokyo Subway Stop quilt, and bee member and quilter extraordinaire Susie Stevenson is sewing the blocks together. I then volunteered to quilt it when the top is done.

I'm thankful that Susie has led the charge and gently nudged us along to make our blocks. It is going to be a neat quilt when done! My photo is of Susie holding a row of completed blocks. I have to admit I was the last hold-out in finishing mine, and drove over to her house to hand in the last ones.

If you are local please consider coming out for our Quilt Bingo. Its a lot of fun! In addition, we sell bakery, have raffle baskets of all kinds of goodies and the hall will have food and beverages for sale as well. Lots of winners of our wonderful guilds quilts. Come out to play!

New Green Turtle

Even though yesterday was the grand opening of the new Crofton Green Turtle (a sports bar/wing joint), my son and husband wanted to check it out this evening. We were pleasantly surprised on how nice it was and a little different than the others in the area; most likely the brand spanking newness of it all!

So Ryan ordered wings, of course, and I ordered a crab cake sandwich that was delicious I have to admit. Interestingly, the woman who painted our corn hole boards, Ginger Hill, did a large mural of the original Green Turtle in Ocean City, Maryland that is really spectacular located in the bar area of the restaurant.

BSoleille! Bon Appetite!
Terri

Thrift Store Finds!

I love going into Goodwill stores and consignment and thrift stores alike. The big fun is in the hunt, and you may not know exactly what you are looking for until you find it! Over the years I have found some gems, and that keeps me in the hunt for the next time. Yard and garage sales are fun as well too!

I am thankful for my favorite thrift store- Value Village in Brooklyn Park, MD. I recently got a beautiful sweater for $4.00! Yeah!

BSoleille! The bright side of thrift!
Terri

Highest Fuel to Date!

I have not mentioned my relatively new gizmo - the Nike Fuel Band in awhile, but my daily goal is set for 3000 "fuels".

Today I was a total whirlwind to achieve my highest fuel to date with 11,154! Let me say my 30+mile bike ride helped to kickstart the day, followed by mowing the grass (front and back), dog walking, then cleaned out two closets, grocery shopped, chopped vegetables and packed lunches and finally "fast" walked close to 4-5 miles to near the 10,000 goal. I really did not sit down except to eat for about an half hour total on lunch and dinner. Basically, in motion from 8:50am through 10:20pm.

Thankful now to do a little non-fuel activity (like lying down) and try to finish my book: "Masters of Chaos" The Secret History of the Special Forces"! And believe me, the US Special Forces really know how to burn fuel (especially in the desert in Iraq with 60 lbs. of gear and machine guns strapped to their backs!)

BSoleille!
Terri

One More Civil War Site for This Summer

Intrigued by a Civil War Monument sign in Harrisonburg, Virginia that I have passed numerous times in and around JMU, I finally had a quiet moment to check it out. The monument is a grave marker of Turner Ashby, who was a Confederate Calvary commander during the Civil War. He was killed on this spot June 6, 1862 in the Battle of Goods Farm.

It is set high on a hill overlooking the new sports complex (you can see down but looking up you could not tell what was on the hill) and not one soul was near this eerily quiet site. However, my photo depicts that this gravesite is well taken care of by a group of caring ladies of Harrisonburg.

BSoleille!
Terri

Fwd: College Football -JMU Style

Terri

Quiltsfromtheheart.blogspot.com

Begin forwarded message:

From: Terri <ttomoff@gmail.com>
Date: September 1, 2012 10:45:34 PM EDT
To: ttomoff.1622@blogger.com
Subject: College Football -JMU Style

A great day for the first weekend of college football. We started the day with tailgate extraordinaire Laura Robinson and company (her cousins). She is a master griller on the portable like no other but the photo of her includes my daughter Olivia and best bud Lizdot.  Got to just hang, eat tailgate food and played corn hole on our new boards!

But the best part of the afternoon was the blow out game - James Madison 55 - Saint Francis 7 to a sell out crowd and the Royal Dukes Marching Band!  I am thankful to enjoy the whole process of the day with family and friends in support of the Dukes!

BSoleille! Finding fun on college football Saturday.
Terri

Terri
Quiltsfromtheheart.blogspot.com