Please...

Please don't forget about me. My life has been extremely busy.

I'll be back...

My Mom has been in the hospital. I'll be back to blogging soon.

It started with a cough...

And ended up becoming a sinus infection and an upper respiratory infection. See you in a few days.

Kick ball and other activities

When I was a very young girl, I loved playing the game kick-ball. It involved many other kids and the game was fun. It was not always as clean as playing a board game though. I was prone to falling down at times and skinning one or both of my knees, as you can see by the old photo. Many times this was my determination to be "safe" on base. I was known to carry my kick-ball around with me. It was blue with speckles on it. I recently saw a bin of them in the local Super Drug Store...and I smiled. The b&w photo is me with my yellow tulip Easter dress, white anklets, white Mary Jane patent leathers. Was I stylin'! And my good ole' trusty ball was with me, even at family functions.
I was very fortunate to live carefree and fun-filled summers during my childhood. Climbing trees, playing spy, selling lemonade, pink elephant carnivals, neighborhood plays, sleeping in a make shift tent in the backyard, afternoon day camp and swimming were many of the activities that my younger brother and I were apart of. Thank you Mom and Dad. 

Love and Gaiety

A little laughter

A little gaiety

A lot of Love

Wickedly Good

The Wizard of Oz happens to be my favorite movie. I fell in love with it as a child, (except for when the Wicked Witch's face filled the television screen and scared me.) Actually, that scene still evokes memories of me peeking through my half closed eyes. I guess I am among the masses of adults who remembers it well, and children today who squirm as I did. However, I never stopped watching the movie as it appeared every year at the end of January on a Sunday night. Wearing pajamas and sitting on the living room carpet, how I dreamed I was Glinda with her beautiful pink sparkly gown and that crown... oh that crown and let's not forget her magical wand (sigh).
Last week, my Husband and I had the opportunity see the play "Wicked" on Broadway in New York City. It was without a doubt the best play I have ever seen. It is a story related to the "Wizard of Oz." And yet so very different than the movie. I was captivated from the very beginning, and my Husband and I are still talking about it. A deep and beloved story about friendship.  Below are some of the words from the song "For Good" sung by...well, I can't tell you. However, it is indeed beautiful. Should you have the opportunity to see this play on National Tour or wherever it appears near you, run don't walk. Enjoy.
          
"I know we will never meet again in this lifetime.

 So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you.

You'll be with me

Like a hand print on my heart.

And whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

by being my friend."

The beginning of Spring

Well, they perked up their little heads, they yawned, they stretched and then the magical moment came when the flowers bloomed. It was a big turning point in our garden. Unfortunately, none of our neighbor's Daffy's are anywhere near blooming. We believe it is because we have a large white wall next to the side of our garden (kinda difficult to describe - I'll take pictures at some point.) This white stucco wall absorbs the sunshine and it reflects down onto our garden. Our growing region should be zone 6, however, we are approximately in zone 7A because of the extreme heat this wall creates. A blessing and a curse sometimes. However, we take what we are given and make flowers thrive in full sun. Last year we tried our hand at planting a few small cactus and they grew and bloomed a flower...in New Jersey. That's how hot our little garden gets. My purple pansies may be the topic for another time. For now, have a happy week.

Yellow Horn Daffodils

White and Peach Daffy's

      

Friends

From left to right: Joanne, Erin, Carole

My very dear friends. Joanne is the woman on the left, along with Erin (center) and Carole (right). Carole passed away a couple of years ago from melanoma. A very tragic passing. Erin's marriage unfortunately did not work out, and she moved away emotionally. I have tried to contact her to no avail. Hopefully, she will come around in her own time. Joanne's birthday is today. I am so grateful to the gods that I can call her my best friend. We have been through the good and bad, sad and happy times together. There have been gaps of communication due to work, travel, etc., however, we always come back as if there was no time lapse. I love her laugh; it is hearty and makes me laugh even more than I already was laughing. Happiness is what I wish for Joanne - my very dear friend. Happy Birthday Jo-Jo!  

The blurry photo was taken at the Glenora Jazz Festival at Seneca Lake, NY. www.glenora.com and if you like different types of jazz music, a beautiful finger lake nestled in upstate NY, picnicking and champagne...well, then this party is for you. Think summer jazz under the sun and then under the stars.There are only two concerts scheduled: July 20th and August 17th. I have been talking about going to one of them, probably August 17th as it is my b-day as well. I want to toast Carole in the elements that she loved: the great outdoors and to life. So Joanne, get out your sun hat and let's go toast to good friends.

A Window Treatment Question

This is a show room window treatment

Does anyone have experience with casual roman shades that look like the ones above and have a filter for screening out light (for night time sleep?) The challenge I have is that the windows do not pull up and down; they roll out, which is lovely except for now when I want to make a change from traditional shades/curtains. I like the look of a roman shade. There are four windows on one wall (two and then two.) I'm confused. This may be almost as bad as trying on bathing suits...but then again not quite as bad.   ; ) 

Do you want to dance?

When I came across this photograph and quote, I knew it was a keeper. There is no need for You Tube; I can hear the music. The woman dancing is a young Maya Angelou.

Chester Higgins Jr./NY Times

There is no giving up.

Even though we are expected to get yet another snow storm early this week, I am standing firm, and setting my sights on Spring. My daffodils are starting to peep their tiny heads up through the soil, as are some of my early blooming tulips. So, I cannot give up...and I won't. Tonight before I fall asleep, I will continue to look through my "Fine Gardening" magazine (it's a great one) and tomorrow I plan to visit one of my favorite Garden Centers and walk through their greenhouses. They have a beautiful selection of orchids. I need to feel warmth and see bright colors. So if Mother Nature is not done with winter, I will find another way to see and feel Spring. 
Below are flowers from last year's garden.

Happy Daffy's

Juliet Rose with our little girl

Knock-out roses, poppies and clematis

Those were the days my friend...

"Those were the days my friend. We thought they'd never end. We'd sing and dance for ever and a day."
Did Peggy Lee sing that song? It describes my Uncle Dan perfectly. He was a man who enjoyed his Italian family heritage. Cooking, eating and singing were a big part of his life. Today I went to his funeral. No cooking, no eating and no singing. Today his family laid him to his eternal resting place. 

However, we acknowledged the man. My uncle had a great sense of humor; he knew how to make people laugh. And that is a fine legacy. He would always greet me with a big "Kathleeeeeeeeen!" I will always remember his voice and the way he called my name.

When we had a funeral service for my Father years ago, My Uncle Dan looked around the room and said "It is a short walk from there (where the casket was) to here" (where people were sitting.) It is indeed a short walk, a brief ride or however you wish to think or say it. I believe each of us has our own path in life. My Uncle's path was to "live it up." And he did...and I am glad. 
To make people smile, to welcome them into our homes, to feed them silly; it is what we are about as a family. It is how we live our lives. When it was my turn to say my final goodbyes to my Uncle, I quietly thanked him for his life gifts and also to tell my Father "hi" for me.

A Parable

A 92-year-old man was moving into a nursing home. He waited in the lobby for his room to be ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, the Nurse provided a visual description of his room. “I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old. “Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.”

“That doesn't have anything to do with it,” he replied.“Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. As long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away for this time in my life.

Remember five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Be kind.

Author Unknown

A little Irish...

I love different shades of green (almost as much as purple.) Aren't these delicate clovers just delightful to look at? Very sweet. Although my ancestor lineage is not Irish, I am happy about my name being "Kathleen." Thanks Mom & Dad! 
This is my Mother's favorite poem. I hope you like it too.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sunshine warm up on your face,
And rain falls soft upon your fields. And until
we meet again, my God hold you in the 
palm of his hand. 
Irish Words of Encouragement

On another note, a Happy Birthday to Patrica of PVE. http://www.pvedesign.com/ Patricia is one of my dear blog friends and the Artist who created my banner. Stop over and wish her a Happy B-Day.

Theresa

My sweet friend Theresa

I am blessed to have a friend by the name of Theresa. We did not meet by chance; I believe we met by divine intervention. When Allen and I moved into this neighborhood, I knew I wanted to plant a garden. Theresa was already settled and an avid gardener. She quickly took me under her green thumb and set me to work on my flower garden. For years now we exchange plants, read each others garden magazines and anything else that has to do with mixing one's hands in Mother Earth. 
We also like to go out together. Sometimes I will take her to appointments, so she doesn't have to muddle her way through highway traffic. She's a native New Yorker and only began driving when she moved to the suburbs. One of our favorite things to do with is to have long conversations. Even though we are years apart, age does not matter. This photo of her was taken at my wedding as she watched our ceremony. I love her Irish blue eyes and the way she winks when she smiles. I am so very happy to be able to call her my friend. Every year I give her an Angelonia flower plant. It is a tradition and a token of how I feel about my friend.

Angelonia plant

Happy Visions!

The snow is just about melted in our front yard, and I can begin to see a few green sprouts popping up from last year's plantings. One of life's simple pleasures which makes me smile...a lot. Today's weather forecast called for a light weight jacket sans scarf and gloves. I squealed with delight just opening my front door to see if the local Meterologist had the correct address. I along with most people I know am thrilled that Spring is on its way to the Northeast. Yippee Yahoo!

I leave you with a few photos of last year's garden, along with a rather cozy Victorian house that I would love to play in.

Long-Horn Daffy's that smile in the wind

Key West Tulips

 

A most charming cottage

March 8th -International Women's Day

§   “It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” – Moliere

Oxfam (Oxford Committee for Famine Relief) is an global organization working in approximately ninety countries worldwide to find long-term solutions to poverty and campaign for social change. Their goal is to fight hunger and injustice with a particular focus on empowering women worldwide. Every March 8th, Oxfam celebrates International Women's Day. This specific day highlights women who are acting locally and helping globally. Showing that actions do matter sends a powerful message about the role of women as a force for change. 

Helping to feed a village-Southern Sudan

Woman Farmer - Peru

Farmer Volunteer - Iowa

Woman testing quality of water- El Salvador