All is calm, all is bright.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all. Wishing you a brilliant start in the New Year!

Heading out for a while!

Summertime Fun

Have a great weekend

(Image of Corfu, Greece)

Happy Father's Day

In Heaven & here on Earth.

This is love...



By Brian Basset





Strawberries

Luscious is the only word I can use to describe this rendering of strawberries. The Artist is Julian Merrow-Smith. Beautiful!

Grounds for Sculpture

My dear friend Joanne took me to a special place last weekend. It's called Grounds for Sculpture, founded by Seward Johnson. My friends...it's breathless. It is a beautiful place where nature and art come together. I am not going to continue with words. I want to show you what I mean. This may be a two part series.
Every photo (except the wooded paths on which to walk) are sculptures. Go ahead and enjoy! I sure did.

A contented life.

If you take each phrase and really read it...over and over again. Then the second thought, and do the same for the third. It all comes together so poetically.

Words to live by...

I happen to love these statements. They fit into my life's scheme. They are strong, positive and evoke the feeling to wake up and wrap your arms around yourself.

A study of love and nature

This young girl is so full of intent for the little bird and sunshine that dapples through the window. Do you see yourself as her sometimes? I do.

In honor of my friend Frank...

I will continue to tell my stories about Frankie with a laugh and a smile, and that way he will live on.

Happy Easter...Passover and Spring!

Fun!

A couple of years ago I started a Family Feast Book. My husband gave me a leather bound book with blank pages, and that was the beginning of documenting our holiday dinners, and other special dinners with family and friends. The only other item left is to insert the photos that were taken at the time.  I used colored markers and stickers, and mentioned the names of our guests. There is also the yummy menu. Often I like to go back and look at what food was made, who came to the holiday party or BBQ. It's a great way to capture time.

A beautiful quote



 I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You
 need to be able to throw something back.  --- Maya Angelou

Keep giving...

Wake up...

And enjoy your week!



My Friend Antoinette

My very dear friend Antoinette has eyes the color of a beautiful summer day. And her generous heart never ceases to amaze me. She is kind to everyone she meets. Always with a soft word, she makes me feel as if I've known her forever and ever. And just maybe I have.
Antoinette has a grandson: Brian Robert who is almost one year young. He is the son of her beautiful daughter Gina, and son-in-law Brian. Brian Robert has made their eyes sparkle even more than before.
Last week, I was browsing through the http://www.susanbranch.com/ shop, and came across a book for Grandmother's. It is to tell their story of their life: vacations taken, favorite recipes, relatives of long ago...well, you get where I am going with this. The book is phenomenal in artistry and ideas. It did not take me long to decide that Antoinette needed to have this wonderful book. So I ordered it. And this is the treasure I received.
I can't wait to see and hear her reaction to the journey that she will put on paper. Have fun Antoinette!



Wishing you a sweet weekend.

I have been enjoying the clementines this season. They are sweet and juicy, and I love the scent of the skin, when peeled. Enjoy, enjoy!
Artise: Julian merrow-Smith



Seeing life through the eyes of a young one.

There is something great to be said about looking at life through the eyes of a young person. It's enlightening, refreshing and at times...humorous.
Do you often take the time to either find a child or look through your own child's eyes to see what they see? Not having children myself, I sometimes have to make a deliberate effort to find a friend's child to make this activity happen. It's uplifting...is all I can say. Try it!



A little Strength...

We all have scars that we have acquired along the path of life. Some are smaller than others. However, you should never lose sight of the fact that strength is the answer to picking yourself up.

A little weekday Inspiration

A little Friday evening tune.

Love...in many languages

A couple of days ago, a surprise package arrived at the doorstep. I did not recognize the return address, and the box itself was calling for me to open it straight away. Well, what I found is a beautiful bowl with the words, kiss, beso (Spanish), bisou (French). 

How sweet is that?
My very dear friend Joyce (A Perfect Beginning) sent it to me.   http://www.joygallagher.com/  She is an extremely kind woman, as are all of my blogger friends. I think this bowl is very romantic, and have placed it alongside a photo of Allen and I taken last Thanksgiving. It's perfect. With heartfelt thanks.

Wishing you...

Simplicity...and a happy weekend.

Wishing you a love-ly day!

I think it is nice to have a special day to acknowledge the loved ones in our lives. The range of loved ones is wide and clear. In addition to my husband and families, I most certainly love my friends...oh, I love them dearly. I have 3:00 in the morning friends. That if I was in a serious jam at 3:00 am, I know I could count on them to help me. Now, this has not happened in the past, nor do I suspect there would be a reason for this in the future, however, the bottom line is that I can count on them. And that to me, is a blessing.
I know the word "love" is used alot, and I would go so far as to say "overused". I can't help loving pink herringbone sneakers, and rice pudding (separately of course). I love the laugh of a child, and my Mom's laughter makes me smile - miles. I love a daisy...so simple and pure.
I love alot of people and "stuff" that can jam pack my life's suitcase.
So, on this special day, smile at someone you know, and one that you don't know.

I love (there I go with that love word again) to compliment someone as I walk by them. Whether it's a woman's purse or hat, or an elderly gentleman's tie, it's all the same, and done with sincerity. It's love. And I believe love is what we are here for.

My Mother

Yesterday, February 10th, my Mother became 91 years of age. We celebrated! She received cards and flowers and hugs...lots of hugs and kisses from my family and her friends. The cards she received were so heartfelt. She is a very kind lady, and I am so proud and honored to be able to call her my Mother.

A happy little girl!

6 Chix: King Features Syndications
Do you remember your first Library card?  I do. My Mother took me to the ever so small Library we had in town, (and I mean tiny...one small room). The nice Library Lady gave me a manilla colored paper card with my name "offically" typed. All I had to do was sign it, and keep it in a safe place. That card was placed in a special box under my bed - a sacred place along with pennies and shiny gems from gumball machines.
I still have a Library card (not my original one, unfortunately), but an active one. There are two Libraries that I like: the one in my town, and the County one. One is a beautiful old building that has turrets and sort of resembles a castle. It even has a spiral staircase. The other one is comtemporary in style and full of great materials for research. I love the scent of an old book, and even a new one. Do you still have a Library card?

Photographs and Memories

Many photos have an obvious story behind them, while others just hint of one. I love photographs. They sing to me, they make me smile...they make me glad that I have them to cherish. They sit on my desk in what I call the room that is "my space".
There is a photo of Mom & Dad, my friend Isabelle, me (as a little girl), my younger brother in the first grade with his two front teeth out...so cute. A day with the girls at a winery in NY State. The girlfriend's photo is of big smiles on a bright and sunny day. However, it is bittersweet because one of them is no longer with us. She passed away from illness. At one time, I thought about taking the photo down because of the pain I felt. However, I soon realized the photo makes me smile, and I want to see Carole smiling back, knowing what a great time we had that day, along with many other days. It is all part of life...the smiles and the tears. When you look below at the photos, you will get a glimpse of several of the people in my life. I have more photos that need to be framed in order to preserve the paper (and of course look nice.) Those photos are also a piece of who I am, and what I have become. So, as I write this, I see this is now on my 2012 list of things to do. A rather small project, but you haven't seen me in a frame shop. I could stay all day and create. :)

Younger brother in the first grade.

Mom & Dad's wedding day, circa 1945

Fun day at a NY State Jazz Festival at Seneca Lake. Left to Right: Joanne, Erin & Carole.

My dear friend Isabelle
Yours truly



The New Year

Around December 31st, I tend to reflect on the outgoing year. I think about the world on a global level, then pare down to my corner of the world...the good, the bad, the not so pretty, the beautiful and tenderness that life has to give. And I always always say goodbye to the "former" year on New Year's Eve. It's my way of closure.
Now-New Year's Resolutions...mmmm not so much. I find that when I make a resolution, and then don't follow through with it, a negative thought pops into my head, and I don't want negative thoughts popping into my head. I just continue with my bucket or scratch off list, whatever people like to call it, and keep moving on in a positive direction.

So, with that written, I wish all of you a very Happy and Bright New Year!