A Loving Message...

Best Wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year...Sincerely, Kathleen

The stillness of the season

Peace

Artist: Stephen Lyman

When I started this blog in October 2008, I did not have any specific expectations. However, you in the Blog world have literally swept me off my feet. There is a wonderful sharing of spirits, and I enjoy being a part of it.
My wish for you and your family is to have a joyful Christmas season.
Love is love.
Merry Christmas!
~Kathleen

The little ones

Birds come every morning to the feeders we have for them. It is extremely interesting to watch their habits etc. We love helping them, considering there's not much anymore in the way of berries and other food for them to rustle up. Please don't forget the little ones in our nature world.

Do I ever miss her...

At this time of year, I especially miss my paternal Grandmother. Unfortunately, I was too young to remember much about my maternal Grandmother, other than to hear wonderful stories about a very kind woman. So, you see, I have been blessed twice. And I take blessings very seriously.

My Father's Mother was Mary, and she was energetic, kind and warm to everyone she met. Whether you were a relative, or grandchildren's friends, she welcomed all to her home with a beverage, food, a smile and twinkling blue eyes. Oh, how I miss her!

Christmas was her favorite holiday. She baked and cooked for her large Italian family. And she decorated the tree, bought gifts and told us Santa was to arrive when we were sleeping. How excited were a couple of dozen eager young children we were. My family has such wonderful memories, especially with her in our lives.

I've been thinking about her lately, as I prepare my own Christmas. We share a love for baking and cooking. I'm learning to cook certain foods from my Mom, so the tradition will continue on. I just wish my Grandmother was here to see that she has passed on some of her traditions to me. I know she's smiling from above. I can feel her. It's just that sometimes my heart aches for her.

Merry Christmas Grandma... I love you with all my heart and soul. Thank you for sharing your love.

Re-visiting an old friend

The 'Little Dancer Aged Fourteen' is a bronze statue created by French late 19th century Artist Edgar Degas (birth name is Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas).

I admit it was love at first sight. I rescued her (a cast replica)from a garden center, standing out in the rain, fenced in, and looking for a home.

She exudes everything a Ballerina should: poise, impecible posture, grace, concentration, perfect stance, and simple elegance. One cannot help but touch the bow in her hair, feel her clasped hands, touch her textured hair, and her sculptured face.

This bronze reproduction stands in our Dining Room with enough space around her so the Viewer has full scope of this beautiful young lady. When I found her, I knew that she was mine to keep, but mostly to share with others.

Christmas in December

The words are simple, and the meaning speaks volumes...take time to enjoy the beauty of the season. I have always loved the month of December. My Mother use to make "Christmas in December" happen all month long, as if it were magical...and it was...and it still is. The warm scents of cookies and candles, listening to Christmas music, and wrapping presents for family and friends. Then decorating the house and our tree, squealing with delight over our favorite ornaments and saying "oh, I remember this ornament"! Actually, I still do that.

Today I was exiting a shop, and a man held the door open for me. When I smiled and said "thank you" his reply was "Seasons Greetings". Those words resonated within me. I believe Christmas is about love and hope. Let us bestow that on one another this season, as we hurry about with our lists in hand. Let us remember, we are all human beings and we all need love...even from people we don't know. I believe it makes us feel part of a larger world. To extend yourself with simple words such as "good morning" or "thank you" can lift the spirits of someone you don't even know, and needs your smile...more than you know.
Season's Greetings!

A good friend is a treasure.

Photographer: Kim Anderson

You're going through life: enjoying its wonders and surprises, getting through the rough patches etc., when all of a sudden you realize it has been too long since you have seen your special girlfriend.
In my life, her name is Joanne. E-mails are not enough for either of us. However, sometimes we get caught under the large umbrella of being busy bees. I miss Joanne's hearty laugh; it is contagious. When we are together, and it does not matter where we are, life is better. We talk, laugh, cry, talk some more. We connect.
Joanne is extremely busy with work, and keeping an eye out for dear ole' Uncle Fred. If there were more hours in the day, she would find good use for them. Her house is her palace, and when I step foot in it, I know this is my JoJo's home. She converted a lovely house with a strong bone structure (kind of sounds like I am describing a model, eh?) into a beautiful Victorian home, complete with antiques in every room, and warm colors that immediately want you to see more. It is simply a delight to eat breakfast at her dining room table, with the sun streaming through the bay windows. It is divine. It is Joanne.
So....Joy anne, when you read this, call me and we shall make a date for a weekend of the hearts. I love you girlfriend!


Joanne and Uncle Fred

That crispy crunchy time of year...

It seems like all it took was the blink of an eye whereby I was wearing flip flops, taking photos of our garden and polishing my toes with pink and white polka dots. So summery.

I now wear cashmere sweaters, leather gloves and sweater vests (yes, vests: pull over, button-down, it does not matter. I love 'em all). They are one of my go-to items in my closet. They keep my midsection warm, while freeing up my arms for something or another. Maybe I am just following in my Dad's footsteps; he loved sweater vests and velour pullovers (and yes, I do love those too).

It certainly is late Autumn in our garden. All the perennials have been cut down low to the ground. We keep the two trellises out all winter as architectural landscapes, to create an interest during the winter months while the garden is sleeping. In December, we even hang wreaths and bows on the trellises . You'll see.

However, for now the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. I am very grateful for my family, friends and health. I wish things were different for two friends of mine. Life is not so full of thanks for them right now. They do however, have love in their hearts and are surrounded by the greatness of family love and deeply connected friendships. I love them so. Friendship is priceless.

I am also grateful dear friends for you, whom I have met in blogland. I am constantly amazed at how it all came about, however, one thing for certain is that I do know I was meant to be a part of it. I communicate with people from as far away as New Zealand, and as close as NY, with a bunch of smiles and kind words in between. Blogging has become an important part of my life. It's a journal of sorts. And the thoughts and feelings that come through onto the screen are so very sincere. Smiles, laughter, tears, joy - we share it all. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here.

Here's wishing you a peaceful and heartfelt Thanksgiving holiday.
~Kathleen

Patricia (PVE) and her Artistry

(click title for linking to Pve's Blog and Webpage)

I asked Patricia vanEssche (PVE) to design a monogram for me. She knows my love for flowers and the color purple. Well, as you can see, her talents came through again, and I love it! I then had the jpg. file printed at a nearby Stationer's shop. The weighted paper is folded in half with the crease at the top. Purple lining is in the envelope. So pretty!

(And it only requires a 44 cent to mail.) ~smile~

A thing of beauty.

Artist: Julian Merrow-Smith

It's Halloween

Time...

The length of time between posts doesn't matter, as long as there's the hope of more to come.

September at the beach

I went to the beach yesterday (Avon by the Sea) with my friend Susan. We had a delightful time! September is a wonderful month to visit the NJ coastline. The crowds of people are nowhere to be seen, and the only beach goers who are there are book Readers, Surfers, Walkers/Joggers and Photographers.

Although the day was breezy, the sun was shining its brilliant self. The beach is a great place to reflect and close one's eyes while listening to the sound of the waves. As you already know it is indeed one of Earth's greatest pleasures.

A time to renew

Recently, Allen and I went on vacation. It is a special place where people do not lock their front doors and everyone waves hello. Many people drive along the white shell roads with golf carts. I read several books, ate homemade ice cream (and yogurt), wore my straw hat and relaxed.


A ride along the coastline


Early morning at the beach


This was my means of transportation - love that basket and bell.



The large bolders and white sandy beaches are a joy to visit in the morning, afternoon and evening.


Yummy black raspberry yogurt and sitting at a picnic table looking at cute sheep, while the sun begins to set.





Bicycling around the neighborhood. Lovely sites were all around me.





The backyard view in early morning, taken by Allen.

As always vacations have to end, however, the memories linger on. :)

A visit to a special museum

This was not part of my going away summer vacation, however it
was a great Sunday morning day trip into New York City. We live
approximately fifty minutes west of the city (in suburbia). Allen
and I arrived early in the morning, visited some of our favorite
sites, and left when the crowds started to come through the
doors. I have a special place in my heart for this museum for
a variety of reasons. It's a beautiful place for one to feed the soul.
Note: I wanted to take photos of some of my favorite Claude Monet paintings, however, they did not come out well. Also, our favorite Joan de Arc painting was out on loan. There is so much to see: Asian, African, Western European, Eastern European, various religious artwork from centuries past. And I am probably missing many sections of the museum.


The Metropolitan Museum in NYC is too vast to visit just once. I have been visiting countless times since my teenage years, and don't know if I have fully explored the entire museum. It is breathtaking, educational, and exceptional.




A particular angle of the European sculpture garden. There were many people wondering around (like us) to take a photo of the entire room. In the background, you can see an Artist sketching. It was in this skylit sculpture room, that Allen proposed to me! : )


On the rooftop of the museum is the Cantor garden. There is a wonderful view of much of the city. Above is a slice of Central Park with the well known Plaza Hotel in the backdrop.


An interesting room of European style armor.


The American Wing Sunroom - this is inside the museum


A sculpture relief of a staircase in the American Wing



Stained glass Tiffany with waterfall

I hope you have enjoyed just a slice of this wonderous and special place.

Summer vacation

We are going away to one of my favorite vacation spots. See you when we return.

(Flowers from my garden - Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine)

Perhaps last, but not least

Overall, the weather this summer has been sultry hot. My flower garden can testify to it. However, instead of mentioning what did not flourish under the NJ sun, I have decided to show you what we have been enjoying with our senses. A few of the flowering plants such as Lavender came and went with grace and elegance. We have a large lavender plant alongside the walkway, close to the front door. Many times, I would run my fingers through the flowers, and breathe in its heavenly scent.


Let's move on to what is still doing well under the hot August sun.

The multi-color Hydrangea has been another delight for us. The leaves are a rich dark green which is cooling to the eyes. And then there is the flowering ball that forces one to smile. Our Hydrangea bush could not decide if it wanted to be pink or blue, so it decided without our intervention to be both. We love it!




The David White Phlox has grown in abundance. Its tall stalks reach up for the sun, and strike a contrast between its pretty white flowers and its neighbor, the red Knock-out rose (which is sadly not blooming anymore).

Our sweet Porchulaca was never expected to grow this season, for the main reason that we did not plant any, and thought they were annuals. To our surprise, they popped up mid-season, and have been flourishing under the burning sun. They are listed as a succulent.



Ah,the Persian Shield is one of my very favorites. Its colors are outstanding: deep purple w/a silvery tint. It is "suppose" to be a shade plant, however, it has grown quite large again, under the burning sun. I love this plant.

So, there you have it. One of the many things that have taken up my summertime. It's been sheer joy working in the garden, saying goodbye to favorite blossoms and hello to new ones.

See you soon!

Summertime Fun and Flowers

Coreopsis Creme Brulee from our garden

I have not been blogging much this summer. Getaway vacations and the nearby pool have been happily taking up most of my time. I am grateful and happy about the way things are moving along.

I want to continue this summer fun. I will still read blogs, however, I think I will continue my summertime break, and not post on my blog, unless the muse on my shoulder insists. : )

I will see you 'round the bend. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Peacefully,

Kathleen

Innocence at its best!

Carton Artist: Brian Bassett

Do you remember those days?