HAPPY HALLOWEEN

The funniest Halloween card I ever saw had a great big hotdog pictured on the front.

Inside, it read, "Happy Halloweenie." It cracked me up. I bought it and sent it to our son.

Like most holidays, I love Halloween. Especially enjoy decorating the house and waiting for the little trick-or-treaters. A scary atmosphere adds to the fun. Usually, we play frightful Halloween music on a cd player in the dining room window. The eerie sounds can be heard in the street.




Some years, when the trick-or-treaters ring the doorbell, the door opens very, very, ssssssssslowly. The inside hallway is completely dark. But all's in fun and I reassure the kids that everything's okay by giving candy and smile.

Today I'm sharing some of the decorations we have around our house this Halloween. Have FUN with this holiday.

Life's Little Luxuries

One lesson learned from my life mentors is to surround one's self with objects one loves. It's important to make one's home a place of comfort and beauty. I like to think of my home as a kind of refuge from the world. When I walk in the front door, I'm more than just home. I'm in a place where I can find the people and things I love. That's extremely satisfying and fills my heart with deep gratitude.

For instance, Alexandra Stoddard, one of my life mentors, taught me to always include flowers in my decor. She's a stickler for living bouquets but I use a combination of living and silk flowers. Sometimes it's really impossible to tell whether the flowers are real or artificial. I don't see anything wrong with using both real and silk flowers to decorate.

A friend brought over an eye-catching bouquet I use in the living room. (See picture to the right of this column.) She's a talented floral arranger and her gift could not be more breathtaking.

With all of the above in mind, I've started to include a new little blurb on this blog called Life's Little Luxuries. It will have pictures of some of the small objects used to decorate our home. Some cost very little money, yet bring a lot of joy. Some pictures will show part of my collections such as dolls or stained glass pieces!

I hope, so much, you will enjoy looking at them and maybe get some ideas for your own decorating.

Enjoy!

Just "Not" Singing in the Rain

Halloween is almost here and Thanksgiving will be right around the corner after the goblins go away.

We all know what comes after that----Christmas. Some years, when very organized, everything goes off without a hitch---cards out, decorated tree, house, gifts, guests, and so on. Other years, when I procrastinate, I'm running around like a chicken with the head cut off, on Christmas Eve day. That's not fun.

So this year, I'm trying to prepare in advance for the holidays. The goal is to have all the Christmas shopping done by the second week of November. With that in mind, I decided to go shopping yesterday. One family member requires specialized clothing so off my husband and I went on a spontaneous trip to Men's Wearhouse in a town an hour away.

The skies pelted down torrents of rain as we headed for the turnpike. I figured it would clear-up as soon as we got on the highway but I was wrong. Dead wrong. Visibility was similar to a drive-through car wash. At one point, a huge trailer truck threatened to come within two feet of my car's bumper. A second monster truck passed us to my left and a third was a short distance in front of us. Talk about petrified!

My voice shook when I said, "I'm scared."

"Keep your eyes on the road," my husband cautioned. "Just watch the white line." Having wanted to drive, I'd better suck it up, I thought.

Another moment of horror came when we had to drive on a high bridge. All I could think of is one of the trailer trucks whamming into my car, sending it flying through the air, and landing hundreds of feet below in the river. So much for positive thinking!

When we finally drove past the bridge, I thanked the Lord for taking the wheel.
Needless to say, it was a wretched day for shopping. Rather than feeling in the spirit, I felt happy just to be alive. Luckily, we found all the gifts on the list. had a quick lunch, made a stop at the Christmas Tree Shops (one of my absolute fave shopping venues), and headed home. The return trip was a re-run of the way down. Never was I so glad to drive into our driveway.

So that's my experience with this year's early Christmas shopping. In the future, if it's raining torrents, I'm staying home.

Angels in Disguise

Health is wealth.

"Ain't that the truth?"

It's so human to take something like health 100% totally for granted until it's gone. Then, one yearns for the good old days.

Recently, I visited a family member in the hospital. While I stayed only a few hours, it felt like an eternity. All I can say is, "God bless nurses." They are truly angels in disguise.

Hospitals, while necessary and the place to be when one is very sick, still freak me out. Patients have very little say in such an atmosphere. Procedures are strictly followed and routine is rigidly enforced. After all, lives are at risk.

Hospitals could not stay open without nurses. They are the backbone of that kind of establishment. It takes very special people to be nurses and they have all of my respect. Nurses put the needs of patients first. They have to remain quiet when sick people yell at them. There are smells and sights on a daily basis that would make others retch. To nurses, they are part of a typical day. Nurses have to take orders from doctors and everyone knows some of them are not very nice.

Nurses should be paid a bare minimum of $100 an hour for all they do but they make a lot less. That's a wretched shame.

When I left the hospital after my visit, I took a deep breath of the cool autumn air and feasted my eyes on trees with brilliant yellow leaves shining like gold in the afternoon sun. Immense gratitude for my own good health filled my heart to overflowing.

Never again do I want to take good health for granted. It's a treasure with untold value---better than anything money could ever buy.

Thank you, God.

Like Sleeping On a Cloud

Sometimes we get a gift and don't immediately appreciate its value.

Such is the case of the light green sheets. They came in a transparent plastic package with a white handle. My husband brought them home on a plane from Florida, a gift from his elderly sister. She's always worried about his being too cold in the northeast.

When I scanned the label and read the sheets were "fleece," I put them away for safekeeping. Who needs fleece sheets in the spring when daffodils are popping up from the ground?

Now, spring is long gone. The other day, the temperature in our house dropped and I felt my teeth begin to chatter.

"Where did I put those fleece sheets?," I asked myself. Once I found the package, I took out the sheets, washed and dried them, and put them on the bed.

That night, at bedtime, I slipped under the covers and felt like a bird in a warm, soft, secure nest. The wonderously luxurious sheets hugged my body and I drifted off into a deep sleep. "Boing." My eyes opened and it was time to start the day. No way did I want to leave that sumptuously comfy bed. The fleece sheets have turned-out to be one of the best gifts I ever received.

Who would ever have thought I'd wish winter would hurry up and arrive and last forever?

Candles Light Up The World

From little ones on birthday cakes to tapers in sparkling crystal holders, candles add a festive touch to any special occasion, dinner, or room. I have always used candles in decorating our home.
Candle light flatters, especially when a woman wears sparkling earrings or other jewelry. It’s romantic and can help create an appealing atmosphere.
In a bathroom, votive candles in deep red glass holders can make a bath special. It’s like creating one’s own at-home bed and breakfast establishment!
For more years than I care to count, I have proclaimed Yankee candles as my number one favorites. When the kids were little,our family used to take trips to Yankee Candle Company in South Deerfield. In the fall we'd take hay rides on their grounds and everyone had a blast.
Yankee Candles are wonderfully fragrant and come in a huge variety of scents. Visiting the company now is more like a Disney experience. The company has grown and so has their flagship store. There’s a lot to see and do there now and a day trip is great fun for adults,as well as children.
Awhile back, at the supermarket, there were some candles in jars and I bought one called Orange Cinnamon. It was made by a company called Village, based in Maine. When I burned it, a rich scent of oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and mandarin filled our front hallway. If I left the French doors to the dining room and living room opened, the fragrance filled those rooms, too! So today, I admit that Village Candles are pretty much on par with Yankee. Both companies do an absolutely great job of producing quality candles with huge varieties of delectable scents.
On a recent trip to Weston, Vt., we walked into a general store across from the famous Vermont Country Store a delicious sweet scent filled the whole place.
“What’s that wonderful smell?” I asked the girl behind the counter. She lifted up a glass container with a burning candle. The scent was Maple Butter and it was a Village Candle! Of course, I had to get one. When I burned it recently, a guest walked into our house and said,
“I smell pannycakes.” That made me chuckle. At least the candle isn’t fattening!

Forgiveness

One of the hardest lessons in life to learn is the ability to forgive.

When somebody does us wrong, or says something that hurts us deeply, or rejects us in some way, the last thing in the world we want to do is forgive that person. Clobber him on the head, maybe, but forgive? No way.

Personally, when someone criticizes me, I want to get away from that person and run for the hills. To forgive the critic takes superhuman strength. The ego, after all, is sometimes made of eggshells that are easily crushed.

I've been known to hold a few grudges over the years, too, usually over being hurt or insulted in some way. It's so easy to let resentment and anger churn like a volcano in one's heart. It takes some doing to cool down and forgive.

Once, when I was furious at someone, a wise friend shared some good advice, based firmly in Twelve Step philosophy. (The Twelve Steps are adhered to in Alcoholics Anonymous and related programs.) She told me to get down on my knees and pray for the person's "happiness, peace, and prosperity."

"WHAT?" I gasped. "Pray for that so and so's happiness, peace, and prosperity after what he did?" That was the LAST thing I wanted to do. Instead of listening to my ranting and raving, my friend told me not only to pray for the "enemy's" happiness, peace, and prosperity, but to do it on my knees, even if I had to pray through gritted teeth.

Well, I was willing to give it a shot because I was absolutely miserable carrying the anger. After a few days of praying for the person's "happiness, peace, and prosperity," it was less difficult to do and after a couple of weeks, an almost impossible transformation took place. I no longer had raging anger toward the person. I realized that he was really not responsible for some of the behavior. He had been given a pretty rotten deck of cards in life and had, in reality, suffered some pretty difficult abuse. No wonder he acted the way he did.

While I never became kissing cousins with the person, I was able to eventually feel more compassion toward him than anger. Forgiving him felt good.

As Norman Cousins, author of "Anatomy of An Illness" once said,
"Do you prefer that you be right or happy?"

I decided it was more beneficial to me to be happy.

There have been poems written that refer to forgiveness as the scent a flower leaves on the heel that crushes it. Think about that. One steps on a fragrant violet and the most lovely scent is the result! That's a nice analogy.

Even Mahatma Gandhi coined some pretty convincing words about forgiveness:

"The weak can never forgive," he said. "Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

Of course, the greatest act of forgiveness is well known to Christians everywhere, through Jesus Christ. Before He took His last breath on the cross, Jesus' last words, amid all the suffering, were,

"Father, forgive them,for they know not what they do."

Forgiveness helps us to become better human beings---happier and more peaceful.
At this stage of life, I want peace more than money, or prestige, or anything else.

Peace is achieved through forgiveness--what a good lesson to learn.

For The Love of a Banjo

Every December, I like to grab a blank piece of paper and write a list of goals for the coming year.

Last year, one of my hoped-for goals was to learn to play the banjo. A long time ago, one of my late uncles, who happened to be a music teacher, gave me a banjo. It traveled with us to Arizona and sat in our garage for more than a decade. I knew it was there, "just in case."

My uncle played many different instruments, including guitar. He had a thriving studio and taught literally hundreds of students how to play. Sadly, ill health took over and he spent the last years of his life in a nursing home. Once, when I visited, I brought my guitar to play for him. He reached over and indicated he wanted to play it but arthritis had stiffened all his fingers. He tried, in vain, to strum the instrument he had once played so beautifully. He handed it back to me with tears brimming in his light brown eyes. It was a moment I won't ever forget. If he could no longer play an instrument, I was determined I'd play "for" him!

Music is a great gift. It's a soother of emotions and can lift one's spirit in a few minutes. I love all kinds of music (except heavy metal). It's always been an important part of my life and is a gift passed down to me and my siblings by our late mother who played a mean piano. (I can still hear her playing and singing, "Won't you come home, Bill Bailey? Won't you come home?")

One of my favorite movies is O Brother Where Art Thou, a rollicking comedy about three inmates in the south who escape from prison. The music in it, filled with banjo, is joyous and uplifting. I think the seed for wanting to learn to play the banjo was planted the first time I saw that movie.

The first two months of 2009 went by and I finally called Wood Brothers Music Store in Pittsfield, MA,to inquire if they knew any banjo teachers. They recommended Paul Rice who taught right on the premesis.

Waiting for the day of my first lesson to arrive was an exercise in sheer patience. I couldn't wait to learn how to play the banjo. It's not an easy instrument to learn. Paul was a gentle, extremely patient teacher. He taught me my first "roll," which is plucking of certain strings with different fingers.

He explained that by learning even three chords, one could play dozens of songs on the banjo. Every Thursday morning I loved going to my lessons. Little by little, I learned songs like "Oh Suzanna," "Cripple Creek," "Camptown Races" and "Banjo in the Holler."

It was impossible to go to bed without practicing, at least a little bit. Sometimes, after an extremely busy day, I'd pick up my banjo as late as 10:30 p.m. to pluck those strings. Soon I graduated to using finger pics!

Unfortunately, Honey Cat, our resident feline, does not care for my banjo playing. As soon as I pick up the instrument, she hops down from whatever piece of furniture she's on and beats it quickly out of the room. That's very ego-deflating but it won't stop me from continuing to play.

As we are coming up on December, I'm happy to say I accomplished the goal of learning to play the banjo. Of course, there's so much more to learn. I'm no longer taking lessons but I practice frequently.

Eventually, I'm going to share my banjo playing in some way. It's such a picker-upper and playing it fills me with tremendous joy.

I think my uncle would be happy to know I'm carrying on one of his traditions and putting the beautiful instrument he gave me to good use. Yee hah!

Hope for Tomorrow

We received the sad news that my husband's sister, a Florida resident, had died.

The phone call came in the night. I heard my husband's muffled voice talking on the phone downstairs and knew something had happened. She had been ill for awhile and was hospitalized.

I heard the sound of my husband's footsteps coming up the stairs and when I saw the sadness in his face, I knew. My heart filled to the brim with sorrow and compassion. It was also breaking for him because I know how much he loved his sister.

It is always devastating to lose a sibling. It's something I cannot even imagine yet those of us who have sisters and/or brothers are going to eventually face it. Dying is, after all, part of our journey here on earth. Still, it's not an easy thing to come to terms with.

When we lose a sibling we love, our minds go back to childhood and all the images associated with that person. We think of the excursions taken together and of the sibling's likes and dislikes. Some of our memories may make us chuckle and others fill us with regret or sadness.

Thank goodness our memories are like an inner photographic record of what was and of how life used to be. Any time we want to remember our loved one, the record is there, within us, ready to be viewed. Memory can be such a great gift.

Looking through a scrapbook, I look into the eyes of my husband's sister. She was a beautiful woman in her younger days. She had thick, lovely hair and sparkling eyes. She adored her own daughter and grandchildren and dedicated her life to them. She was very sweet and kind and leaves a legacy of great dedication and love.

I'm so happy my husband took a trip to visit her earlier this year. He knew,then. it would probably be the last time he would see her on earth.

Another gift for which I am deeply thankful is faith. It's my parents greatest legacy to me. When a loved one dies, I believe it is only the earthly life that has ended and that death is really a new beginning. The next realm of life is one in which there is no pain, no disappointment, no tears, and no regrets. There is joy and supreme happiness. How could it be otherwise when one believes that in the next life we come face-to-face with our Creator, our Heavenly Father, who has given us all the gifts we've ever received?

So many of my loved ones have gone to the other side now, including my own parents and grandparents. When I look up into the night sky and see all the millions of stars sparkling in the heavens, I think of my loved ones as looking down on the rest of us here on earth. And many days I "talk" to my parents and ask them not to forget all of us left behind.

So tonight, even though I'm sad, I know my "sister" is in a better place. I like to think I hear her laughing and see her, in my mind's eye, hugging the people who are in the other realm, waiting for her.

Good night, dear "sister." May you be the newest twinkling light in a star-studded sky, watching over us until we meet again.

A "Honey" of a Cat

 

As I write this blog entry, our only pet, Honey Cat, is snuggled nearby on a blue and yellow plaid kitchen chair cushion. Wherever the humans of our household are, Honey Cat is right near them. She just loves to keep humans company.

Stretch out on a sofa and "plop." You will have an 11-pound blob of fur pounce on your chest in two seconds flat. Honey Cat loves warm bosoms. Most times, she puts her whiskery face very close and rests her head near the human's chin. (Most disconcerting is when she lands the other way around.)

She's a grandmother cat with pretty hazel eyes and honey colored fur, mixed with white. Her face looks like she dipped her nose and mouth in melted caramel. Honey Cat's a very quiet cat, except when it's time for her early morning or supper hour tuna. Then she pumps up the volume to let you know she's waiting not-so-patiently for her chow. She's a kicker, that Honey Cat.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, she joined our famly when she was just a tiny baby and could fit snugly in the palm of my hand.

As she grew, Honey Cat was quite a huntress and reveled in bringing home her booty. Once, she dropped a twelve-inch lizard (no kidding) from her mouth onto the living room floor and it took off under our couch. It's a wonder my voice is still entact. I screamed so loud I thought the patio glass door would shatter into a million pieces. Oh, yes, Honey Cat gave us quite a few scares over the years.

She even survived a snake bite, a cross-country plane ride under my airplane seat, and a major fight with a neighborhood dog who she beat the crap out of, but I'll save those incidents for other blog entries. They are stories in themselves.

Honey Cat's about 15 years old now so she's slowing down a bit. She does a lot of sleeping and in the winter, she parks her weary body right near the fireplace. She views the falling snow from the inside windows of our house and wouldn't be caught dead getting her paws wet with snow. She's a smart cat!

Our pets are among our greatest blessings. They give so much and ask so little. As for Honey Cat, give her a bite of tuna, a sip of half-and-half, and a warm bosom and she's a very happy camper!

A Heart Filled with Gratitude

Gratitude is so much more than just a word on a greeting card.

As a way of life, it brings quality living, joy, and peace. If only we could know, while young, the importance of having gratitude, life would be so much easier. In my own life, however, it took decades of living to hone this precious skill.

One of my favorite authors, Sarah Ban Breathnach, who wrote "Simple Abundance" (Warner Books, 1995) is one of my life mentors who taught me about gratitude. She wrote "reading books changes lives" in her foreward to "Simple Abundance." Well, her book certainly changed mine and continues to do so.

In her book, which is a daily must-read on my bedside table, Sarah recommends keeping a Gratitude Journal. She mentions the age-old spiritual law "the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you." Put to the test, this spiritual law becomes reality.

I have kept a Gratitude Journal for a long time now. Each night, before going to bed, I write down as many things as possible that I am thankful for that day. It might be simple things, like seeing the morning sunlight filter through the trees in our backyard. Upstairs in my tiny but window-filled office, I can see the spectacular sight whenever the sun shines. Not only am I grateful to see such splendor, my heart also feels deep gratitude for the gift of sight. It's unimagineable to fathom life without eyesight. To be able to see is one of the greatest gifts I've been given in life.

Each night, I am usually able to write down at least 10 things I'm grateful for that day. It might be a greeting card from a dear friend in another state or a great find in a thrift store! (Like so many others, I simply love thrift store shopping. It's like going treasure-hunting! Anytime I'm able to find time to go, I'm grateful!)

I often repeat having gratitude for my husband, my "forever" love. He's stuck by me through all of life's peaks and valleys and I cannot imagine life without him.

It stands to reason I'm grateful for my grown-up son and daughter and now,their life mates.

Faithful friends who have enhanced my life continuously surface in my journal. Friendships are a tremendous gift since "no man is an island." Whenever I can share certain aspects of my life with another person, I feel so grateful that I am not alone.

Honey Cat, an Arizona feline who moved with us from the desert to the "Arctic tundra" of New England, often shows up in my gratitude journal.

As soon as one of my journals is filled to the brim, onto a shelf in my home library it goes and then I pull down an empty one. I always feel grateful be begin again in being thankful for such a preponderance of blessings.

When one is thanking, it is impossible to be complaining. Pretty soon, the first words uttered at daybreak are, "Father, thank You for a new day of life and for the night that has just passed." What a great way to start the day! It helps one get ready for all the blessings to come.

Off The Beaten Path

After doing an hour of laps and an hour-long aqua aerobics class this morning, I was feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

It’s great to move the body and know that you are doing something good for yourself. We live in a world filled with challenges and problems. Sometimes it even seems the world has gone slightly mad. That’s why it’s important to think of ways to de-stress.
For me, swimming is one way. I really look forward to the hours spent weekly in a local public indoor pool.

So after swimming, I had an errand to do and decided to take a shortcut to the supermarket to pick a few needed things. Driving on an unfamiliar road , I kept looking on my left for the road I planned to turn onto. It never surfaced. I must have buzzed right past it, unaware that I went way too far.

When I finally did turn left, the road was wooded and beautiful, lined with trees dressed in colorful autumn attire, but quite remote and empty. Couldn’t help wonder where I was or where I’d end. Actually, I love driving by myself and discovering new places but driving alone in the woods can be a little unnerving. At one point, I saw a beautiful lake in the distance. I was driving far above it. The vista was incredible! I felt like I was somewhere in Europe on vacation , privy to spectacular scenery.

There was a road to the right called Turkey Trot. That’s when I knew I was really off the beaten path. Would a flock of turkeys come dancing across the road? What would I do? Stop the car and wait for them to pass or what? I have to say I was a little bit scared.

Finally, I came back into civilization and recognized some familiar landmarks but boy, I sure was a long way from the supermarket.

Just like in life, sometimes we go where we do not plan but the views are great and we are better off for having had the adventure. That’s how I felt about my unexpected morning jaunt in the boonies.

I’m also very glad I didn’t see any wild turkeys near Turkey Trot Road!

Soggy Sunday

Today the rains came. Because it was so dark, gray, and cold, one had to work hard at making one's own sunshine. That's a hard but possible thing to accomplish.

The first thing to do on a gloomy day is turn on all the lights in the kitchen. I flick the switch for the light over the sink, on the counter, and the kitchen light over the table. Instant "sunshine"! Then comes brewing a large cup of coffee. Lately I've been drinking Green Mountain's hazelnut. I first tried it at my daughter's house and loved it. It's quite delicious.

Half-and-half makes any coffee taste better but it's fattening. So, I've been substituting evaporated milk instead. To be honest, I don't know if there's much difference, calorie-wise, but I like to think it's less fattening.

My fave of all faves in coffee, however, is bagged coffee from Dunkin Donuts. I can't wait for the sales around Christmas time when one can buy two pounds for $10 instead of the usual $7.99 a pound. To me, Dunkin Donuts coffee is just the best. (And I don't know anyone in the company.)

It was so dark most of the day today it was hard to tell when dusk arrived. Just switched on the lights in my three front porch pumpkins. They make a happy trio. Got a bunch of Halloween cards today, too. I love to send them to my nieces' children as well as to my own four sisters, my two biological kids, and so on. I still haven't ventured up into the attic to get the rest of the Halloween decorations down and before I know it, the holiday will be here. Then it will be too late to decorate. Better get up those stairs tomorrow.

Speaking of Halloween, I love to look at decorations people put up around their houses. I cracked up laughing the other day when I spotted a front yard filled with fake tombstones. I was driving so was unable to read all of them but I did manage to see one that read, "See? I told you I was sick." That was my chuckle for the morning.

Did some shopping today. Stopped in at Family Dollar to get large packages of Scott toilet tissue and big containers of laundry detergent. Then, zipped into Price Rite to do some more shopping. I think that supermarket has the runaway shopping cart dilemma solved. One has to put in a quarter in order to get one of Price Rite's shopping carts. When all the groceries are purchased and safely put into the trunk of the car, the cart is returned. When you push it into a chain of other carts, you get your quarter back. Smart thinking on the part of the Price Rite managers. There are no runaway carts to bam into your car in that supermarket's parking lot. I think all other supermarkets should follow suit.

Sunday night I always look forward to 8 p.m. That's when one of my favorite shows is on, namely, Joel Osteen. Never in all my life did I think I'd recommend a television preacher, of all people, but Joel Osteen is the pizazz. He has a strong Texas accent and is really good to look at, even if he didn't have a gift of preaching. His messages are always upbeat and inspirational. I have never listened to his program and gone away uninspired. He's a very gifted man of God, or at least he gives that impression. I'm sure he's very rich but he's also humble. That's an almost impossible combination to achieve. Anyway, I almost never miss his show and feel sad when I do.

Well, soggy Sunday is almost over. Hope the forecast of snowfall is dead wrong. Who needs snow in October?

Saturday Happening

This beautiful autumn day marked one of life's greatest moments, namely, the marriage of two young people whose entire lives are in front of them.

The first throught that ran through my mind when I opened my eyes this morning was, "Oh, I hope it's a beautiful day today for the sake of the sweet bride and groom." Luckily, wishes do come true. While far from being toasty warm, the day was intermittently sun-splashed.

Don't ask why weddings make me cry, even before the bride walks down the aisle. I guess it's because the couple is just starting out in life and filled with hope, expectation, and new, adoring love. They haven't yet faced life's hardships, disappointments, and sorrows. It's so refreshing to see two people look at each other with deep admiration, excited to begin life as man and wife.

Sure enough, as soon as the organ began playing and the wedding party members in red, deep orange, and dark green dresses started walking down the long aisle of the church, tears welled up in my eyes. Seeing the parents of the bride and groom so happy also tugged at the heartstrings. I had to sniff, sniff, sniff because I made the worst of mistakes--leaving the house without a single tissue to sop up the tears.

I'm always happy when young people decide to say wedding vows in front of friends, family, and society since it's so much easier to just live together without benefit of marriage, as so many couples do. As old-fashioned as it sounds, I'm all for commitment and life-long marriage, despite problems and challenges that will inevitably arise.

At today's reception, set in a lodge above breathtaking views of Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield, it was evident a lot of people had taken a great deal of time and effort to make everything look beautiful. Strings of autumn leaves, interspersed with white lights, adorned the edges of the main tables. In the centers of all tables were lighted candles and wrought iron pumpkin cut-outs, surrounded with wreaths of berries in fall colors. Small brown and orange boxes, topped with matching bows, held candies and tea lights.

Seven sparkling chandeliers dazzled above the tables in the reception hall and were reflected in the mirrored walls. Truly, the entire atmosphere made guests feel like they were being entertained in a royal palace.

I wish the young, now married couple the best that life has to offer. May they find happiness all the years of their lives. When the storms of life threaten to rock their stability and composure, I hope the beautiful beginning they had will keep them strong and reliant upon each other as well as upon God.

May He bless them both, always.

Fabulous Friday

Today was a sunsplashed day in New England. Morning temperatures felt chilly but by afternoon I peeled my jacket off like an onion skin.

Best part of the morning was hosting a breakfast for my daughter, Gabriela, and two of her houseguests from Arizona, Kate and Brian. In the quaint town of Stockbridge, stands the Red Lion Inn where I first tasted eggs with chevre and asparagus. The flavor of that dish exploded on my tastebuds and I've been able to recreate a pretty good imitation of the dish at home. In addition to the yummy chevre/asparagus eggs, the guests ate crisp bacon, old-fashioned homefries, warm biscuits, cantelope chunks with lime sugar glaze, grapefruit juice, and coffee.

The breakfast table looked festive with blue and yellow plaid cloth, yellow matelasse placemats, and white plates with blue and yellow floral borders. The company was great and I had a splended time. Hope the guests did, too.

Then came a little exploration enroute to a friend's house in a different town, North Adams. I check out an antiques/used furniture store (Sanford and Kid) that I had never even heard of before and it was a gem. There were many lovely pieces of furniture that I would have bought immediately if the holidays weren't creeping up, right around the corner. Need to restrain myself from making extra expenses until the avalanche of holiday spending is over. I do try to economize and not go overboard but sometimes I don't quite make it. It's just oo tempting to not buy things that I know will make others happy.

The Highland Restaurant in Pittsfield has the most mouth-watering fried scallops you can imagine. I pulled out $15 out of my precious birthday money fund to order a take-out meal and then split it for supper with my husband. Every bite was succulent and delicious. The extra treat was part of my Fabulous Friday!

Capped the day off by asking my husband to put three lighted "plastic" pumpkins out on our front step. Stepping into the chilly night air, I love to go to the end of our sidewalk and look up toward the pumpkin trio.They look like a "chorus" of goblin faces. I'd like to hear them sing!

Fabulous Friday is almost done and now I look forward, with a grateful heart, to tomorrow!

Pampered Thursday

How often do we have the opportunity to pamper ourselves? I mean a 100% pampering that makes us feel like Queen or King for the day? I'd venture to say, for most of us, the answer is, "Not very often."
Well, for me, today, Thursday, October 15th, was THE DAY!!! I had previously squirreled away my September birthday money by tucking it safely inside a pink envelope. Into a hiding place it went. Little by little, I've been dipping into that envelope to pay for incidentals. Today, I decided, I'd better use some of the birthday money on me, or before I knew it, it'd be completely gone, used, frittered-away.
So off to the hairdresser I went and ordered the works! Wash, cut, style, and tint! Wowsers. I found a great new place on Tyler Street in Pittsfield. The sole proprietor is a new business owner and I love to support new businesses. The owner, Jill, is personable, hard-working, and does a fabulous job. My new "do" makes me feel like a million dollars.
After she finished, I told her we weren't done! I wanted my eyebrows waxed. Yeah. Now I was into full decadence. Of course I let her know how much I like very thin eyebrows. Onto my brows went the warm wax. Then, whooosh-- off came the little pieces of cloth and the result was thin, perfectly shaped eyebrows.
Think that was the end of my pampering? Nosiree. Off I went to my favorite nail salon and asked for a pedicure. This is a fabulous treat because you sit in a chair that massages you all the way up and down your back while the technician works on your toesies. As always, I ordered the water to be hot as I soaked my weary "feetsies" in the basin.
Usually I bring my own nail polish because I like to have the polish in my house in case of knicks, in between pedicures. Because we are so close to Halloween, this time I picked out a flashy orange. The technician, from Vietnam, always does a great job. I absolutely love having pedicures. There's something wonderfully therapeutic about having one's feet massaged. Of course, I love having the toes tended to, also.
After all the toes were finally painted eye-popping orange, another technician, who's an artist, got to work on the tiniest of canvasses....my big toe nails! Yeah! Black nail polish swirls interspersed with gold polish gave the finishing touch to the pedicure.
I carefully slipped on my sandals and walked , smiling, to my car, ignoring the fact that the afternoon temperatures had dropped significantly. My feet were freezing but gorgeous! I was a very happy pampered mama.
Before I went home, there was one more stop in this memorable day. While driving on one of the city streets, I had seen a lighted pumpkin in the window of an antique store that I had not yet explored. Pretty soon, my red Camry was driving right in the direction of that store, instead of home. It was a delightful shop, stuffed to the gills with every kind of treasure imaginable. The favored pumpkin was only five bucks and will join a few other ones on our front porch to spook up each night of October.
So there you have it----a description of my day of pampering. Would I recommend it? You bet I would. And don't forget your orange nailpolish, in the spirit of the season. Pampering brings pure joy and I'd like to do it again tomorrow!

A Change of Scene

I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to have a change of scene (and scenery). It just does my heart good to see a new place.

Today, a friend drove to Worcester, about a two hour drive from where we live. I was a more-than-willing passenger. A splendid New England day made the day extra special, with golden sunshine, chilly temps, and a gorgeous blue sky. Couldn't possibly have been a more perfect day, weather-wise and otherwise.

We had lunch at a tea room. I had a cup of pumpkin/cider/bacon soup and a curry chicken salad with cashews and currents, served on lettuce with slices of tomato and one small slice of sweet, succulent pineapple. My drink was a glass of iced creamy vanilla tea. Located in an old house, the restaurant was quaint and decorated in chabby chic decor. There were dining tables in three rooms. The waitresses were friendly and kind and everything tasted yummy. (I would've eliminated the cider from the soup but it was still pretty good).

The day gave me the opportunity to get to know this friend more, since I had previously never spent a lot of time with her. While some of our views differ markedly, she is sweet, kind, and pleasant company. We had a delightful day.

When I got home, there was still more than a half-hour left of my absolutely favorite program, Little House on the Prairie. Now, maybe today's generation would think I had a few screws loose to like this show but I don't care. Michael Landon and all the other characters in Little House are just so believable and the story lines of all the episodes are terrific. It makes me sad to think that handsome Michael Landon died from pancreatic cancer. He was such a great actor and so good looking, too. I hope he's found happiness and peace in the other realm of life.

A Blog Is Born!

Today is Tuesday, October 13th, 2009.

It's a momentous day for me because it's the first time in my life I've ever written a blog! I am taking a three-part blogging workshop at the local library. I'm not very techie but I want to learn how to do a blog. It's very exciting to me to be able to share parts of my life with others, through writing.

The library, which is located in Western Massachusetts, is actually called the Berkshire Athenaeum. When I was a child, my mother (God rest her soul), took my four sisters and me to the library every week. In those days, the Athenaeum was located in an architecturally wonderful, old building that's still standing but it no longer serves as a library. Today the Athenaeum is housed in a new building, not far from the original one.

I remember how I looked forward to those childhood trips to the library. There was a wide staircase that led to the Children's Section and a distinct smell of wood floors and thousands of books. My heart used to pound when I started looking through shelf after shelf of books. I carefully selected the ones I wanted to take home. Leaving the library, I always felt incredibly rich, even if I didn't have a dime in my pocket. This feeling has been repeated thousands of times throughout my life. Even in the worst of economic times, a trip to the library has always made me feel like a million dollars! It still does!

Those early trips to the library definitely resulted in my love of reading. Today I have a home library, too. My husband built floor to (almost) ceiling shelves on two of our living room walls. The day he finished them, I hauled dozens of boxes of my beloved books down from the attic, carefully unpacked them, and arranged them on the shelves. What a joyful chore that was! Today, some of my most pleasurable moments are spent curled up in a corner of the sofa with one of my precious books. I have books on a huge variety of subjects from gardening and religion to interior decorating, health, poetry, and so on. Four of the large shelves are filled with just cookbooks.

There are so many things I want to share with readers in this blog in the future. I want to learn how to add pictures, too. It will be a kind of work-in-progress.

So there it is.....my very first post for my spanking new baby blog, Writing Straight From The Heart!