Make Friends With The Angels

Some Christmas presents can be left on display all through the year.

A friendship angel is one gift in our house spared the fate of being wrapped in tissue and packed away in the attic until next Christmas. A dear, long-time friend gave her to me. Both my friend and the angel are very special.

Friendship is one of the best parts of life. Some friends touch our lives for awhile, and we touch theirs, and then they are gone. The friendship lasts for a time, during a certain phase of our lives, but then it fades and, finally, ends. There can be any number of reasons why this happens but, in the final analysis, it doesn't really matter. Long-term friendship in such a case was just not meant to be. The friend was there for the time he or she was supposed to be there and then moved on.


Then, other friends become permanent fixtures in our lives. Even moving far away from each other doesn't stamp out the friendship. We can pick up a phone and resume warm and loving feelings in a conversation, catching up on the news in each other's lives.


It's apt that my friend gave me an angel for Christmas. That's what friends are in our lives---special angels.

Cherish the friends in your life at this time. Treat them with the love and kindness they deserve and know they are gifts for however long they are in your life.


Have you had friends who are no longer part of your life? Are some life-long?

Driving Through The Eye Of The Storm

Today's post was going to be about a visit to a magnificent flower show at the Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut .

For photos, I had visions of spring beauties such daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips in all the colors of the rainbow and absolutely couldn't wait to share them with you, my dear blogger friends.

Yesterday morning it was easy to jump out of bed very early, anticipating the drive to Hartford and subsequent show. Of course, outside there were blizzard conditions. My husband reminded me the weather people predicted more heavy snowfall and difficult driving conditions.


"Oh, it's New England," I said. "Who cares about the weather? The weather doesn't stop New Englanders. We are hardy people! Besides, the weather people might be dead wrong. The storm will probably ease up soon and pass right over us. They are forever calling wolf."




So off we went. Another prediction I made, of the driving getting better as we got closer to Connecticut, was way off the mark. As a matter of fact, we were driving right smack into the eye of the storm.

"Oh my goodness," I said, as snow fell fast and furious and visibility became extremely difficult. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." My poor husband, who knows my determined ways and spontaneous decisions, quietly reminded me he had warned me about the storm. The gigantic bite of humble pie stuck in my throat like a golf ball.

Trailer trucks sped behind us like charging monsters, their headlights looking like white eyeballs in the fog and snow. I flicked on the car's flashing lights to let the monsters know I was not going to speed up. It was impossible to convey that I was scared whit less! Would we survive this trip to the flower show? Would our car get bumped off the highway and land on top of some icy lake or in it?


Thoughts of being home by the crackling fire in the living room fireplace came to mind as we inched our way to Hartford. The experience turned out to be quite petrifying, to say the least.

To add insult to injury, the printed directions had our exit in the city going to the left. Barely able to see two feet in front of me on a four lane highway, filled with trucks and cars with their lights on, my husband told me the exit was to the right. It was virtually impossible to navigate across four lanes so the car went right by the exit. We had to get off way ahead, turn around, and come back to downtown Hartford. Honestly, I wanted to bawl my head off.

When we finally got to the Convention Center, we parked in the multi-story garage, and made our way inside. Down one elevator and up a second, we finally found the Exhibit Hall. All the signs indicated a Fishing and Hunting Show.

"Excuse me," I said to a very unfriendly lady behind a desk. "We are looking for the flower show."

"That was last weekend," she said. Her words struck like hammers in my ears. I looked at my poor, dear husband who survived driving the last two hours through the blizzard with me.

"I'm sorry honey," I managed to say. "I must have read the dates wrong."



All was not lost. We drove to an Olive Garden to have a nice lunch and then made the long, snowy way home. Thankfully, the roads had improved since the morning but driving was still not smooth sailing. When we finally drove into our snow-filled driveway, I heaved a huge sigh of relief. It felt so good to be alive, in one piece, and blessedly home!

So, instead of photos of the flower show in Hartford, I'm sharing shots of a past visit to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens in New York. At least there are flowers to look at instead of snowbanks! ha!



Every time huge mistakes are made in life, I ask myself, "What did I learn from this?" In the case of the long gone flower show, what I learned was to always call ahead of time to double check that an event is taking place. Secondly, I learned to stay put inside when there's a blizzard outside. (Duh)

So, dear blogger friends and visitors, I hope you enjoy the photos of the Botanical Gardens. Maybe next time I'll get to take and share photos of the Hartford flower show.

But if there is a blizzard again, will I still go? Not on your life, or mine. A valuable lesson has been learned. If I miss the flower show again, we'll just have to be patient and wait for spring!

Have you ever gone on a botched day trip?

Pantry = Storage and Convenience

(Step in to My.....Pantry!)




Every house should have a pantry!

Old houses always had them. They served as storage places, maybe before cabinets came on the scene.


In my own childhood memories, my paternal grandmother's pantry stands out as clear in my mind as if it were yesterday. Grandma lived in a very old farmhouse that had one of those old-fashioned iron woodstoves with a huge pipe going up the wall.

The pantry was located off the main kitchen. When one walked into it, the change in temperature was amazing. The kitchen always felt warm and cozy. The pantry was chilly to the bone. Grandma's pantry had rows of shelves all the way along both walls. It was a narrow room but still stored quite a bit.


The thing remembered most is Grandma's pies. As soon as they came out of that big monstrous oven, she'd carry them over to a pantry shelf where they probably cooled off pretty quickly. Needless to say, the pantry always smelled divine.




When we found our current house six years ago, it was thrilling to learn a pantry had been built off a hallway. It has a push-through door on hinges. There are glass panes so one can glimpse inside even before opening the door.

Glass-fronted cabinets line both sides of the long, narrow room. In the huge window at the end of the room, hangs a piece of stained glass and it reads, "Home, Sweet, Home."


















Down below are wains coating doors that open up to reveal more shelving. Floors are old-fashioned wood slats.



This catch-all room is a wonderful and useful addition to the house. It's chilly in there, too, but these days, I don't make any homemade pies.(Sad but true).



Do you have a pantry in your house?

Pocket Full of Charm

There's a small store in a town nearby that sells tons of second hand jewelry and hats! That's quite a unique combination of merchandise for a small business.

Mannequin heads wearing the fancy hats can be seen in the front window which faces a main street. Once inside the small shop, there is a lot to see but not much room to move around.


While not in the market for jewelry because of way too large a collection, browsing in the shop is still fun. One day, a purse of sorts caught my eye. It was made of deep purple velvet with a combination of black, brown, pink, and turquoise beads hanging from the bottom. More bead work covered edges of the purse. It seemed very Native American.



It was a little pricey at $14 but I really loved it so parted with the 14 bucks. Unfortunately, a long beaded handle that went around the neck broke the first time I wore it. Guess it wasn't meant for wearing in public.

Still, the little purse remains a nice accent piece for a table. Can't help but wonder about its history such as, who made it, where was it from, and was it meant to be used or just admired? Hmmmmmm. Guess I'll never really know the answer to those questions so I'd better just enjoy the purse for its color and eye appeal.






Do you have a favorite style of purse?

Spring Flew The Coop

The weather predictions sounded like a trumpet of doom but no one paid much attention.

The weather people had been wrong about upcoming storms on numerous occasions this winter. Maybe the storm they talked about would never materialize. It could easily pass right by, like a gigantic black balloon in the sky.










When the first few flakes began to fall from the sky yesterday morning, still not much attention was paid to them. As the snow began to accumulate on the ground, I began to wonder if the predictions of another major winter storm had been right. They were.


This time, the weather people hit the snowplow on the head. We got whammed. Holy crow, that snow came down like a blizzard and came and came.





My determination to refrain from posting any more snow pictures on this blog melted when I saw what a gorgeous winter wonderland the snowstorm made. Stepping out onto porches, I snap, snap, snapped that camera. Wow! It was so awesome.


Today, 24 hours later, the snow is still falling. Thinking of driving in the Arctic Tundra does not appeal but I will definitely be driving in it soon, after, however, I shovel out. The car looks like it's sitting under a huge, white blanket.






So, pardon me for posting snow pictures at a time when people who live in cold climes are yearning for spring. I just couldn't help it because it's so doggone beautiful!







Nature is not ready for spring to arrive. So, we must enjoy the incredible artistry Old Man Winter left in his snowy path today. He's a master at creating a snowy wonderland right before the eyes!

Is there anything YOU like about winter?

Picking Daisies

Sometimes, works of art immediately appeal upon first glance.


This is the case with a picture of a woman, dressed completely in a long, white dress, and a little girl dressed in a white pinafore. The little girl's hair is tied back with a ribbon and she is very intent on what they are doing, namely, picking daisies.

The woman's dark brown hair is swept up onto her head. She wears a white necklace and has a pretty face.

Perhaps it's a mother and daughter from Victorian times, out for an afternoon stroll, when they come across the patch of daisies. There is obvious closeness between them and that is very sweet to observe.

There was a visceral response the minute I saw the picture for the first time. It had to come home with me and did! It's set in a gold frame and sits on a miniature easel.


Passing by this piece of art in the hallway always makes me smile. Perhaps it's because the lady and little girl seem so happy. They are engaged in the simple act of picking daisies, maybe to give to a grandmother or to put in a glass of water on the kitchen table. It speaks of simpler times.

Plus, it must be spring in the picture and right about now, that, in itself would make anyone immersed in winter very happy!

Do you have a favorite piece of art you absolutely love? Would you describe it?

Driving Into Sunrise

(Click on photo to enlarge)


Some people are natural early risers. They jump into the day and are raring to go.

For a non-early riser, getting up in the pre-dawn hours is quite challenging. Starting the day before the sun comes up give a new perspective on life.

After the initial shock of getting out of bed while it's still dark, one settles comfortably into doing daily routine tasks. Extra crunch peanut butter and honey on stone ground wheat toast with coffee make a delicious breakfast. Soon it's time to bundle up and open the front door. Winter is still very much in season in New England.














Icy cold air makes its way down into the lungs as one crunches along the snowy path to the car. Breath makes a smoky trail in the pale morning light.

Once on the road, the sky lightens. Hundreds of intricately patterned tree branches make eye-catching outlines against the horizon. Towering pines stand majestic and tall as the car whizzes pat them to its destination. Pink and gold clouds now rise up behind the trees as morning dawns.

We pass ice formations that were once streams of water trickling down from a mountain. Today they are solid layers of ice, captivating in their frozen beauty.



Someone somewhere in the heavens is turning-up the lights! Above one of the hills, a long column of light shoots into the sky like a geyser. As the car turns around a bend, a huge ball of molten gold causes the driver to squint and adjust the visor.

This is what driving into the sunrise is like. The new day has officially arrived so let he fun begin!

Do you ever get up in time to view a sunrise?

In Memoriam

The angel of death has knocked on a door in our family and we have lost a loved one.

May his soul rest in peace in the other realm of life.

I will be offline for a couple of days.

My wish for all bloggers out there is peace. Peace be with each of you.

Please remember how precious life is and how tenuous. Make this precious day of life count for, truly, it is a gift!

With love, Susan

Is It Spring Yet?

(Click on photo to make it larger. Maybe that will hurry spring along.)




Winter's Lament

I'm sick of snow
And winds that blow.
I'd rather fight
Than see more white.

I'd just as soon "grovel"
Than grab a shovel.
Windows won't open
Doors won't close.
A frozen ice cube
Resembles my nose.

Shivers, slush, and where's the light?
Just like autumn, it's taken flight.
Hey! Snow clouds above, put on the brake
I don't want to see another frosty flake.

Under the covers I hide my head
The best thing about winter's my warm, comfy bed.
No matter what the coming weeks will bring,
Don't wake me up 'til you say, "It's spring!"

(Just for the record, when I looked out the window this morning, guess what I saw? MORE SNOW. The cars and ground are covered with it! Because I cannot go back to my warm, comfy bed, guess I'd better learn one thing fast. LIVE WITH IT! Have a great day!)

Food for the Soul!

(If you need a full screen of spring, click on photos to enlarge!)


Every human being needs food for the body in order to survive.

However, it's also important to give food for the soul. Flowers fit that bill!





Today it is my delight to show my Valentine's Day bouquet. Rather than being comprised totally of roses, which doubled in price for the holiday, (the scalawags), this bouquet looks like a breath of springtime.


There is one red rose and a single yellow tulip as well as snow white daisies. (Oh, perish the word "snow." Just make those "pure" white daisies. We do NOT need more snow!)

A really gorgeous part of the bouquet are iris, flowers that remind me so much of my father. Every spring, he'd alert us to the first blooms of iris in the side yard of my childhood home. They are so delicate and exquisite. Their scent is gentle and sweet. They are a very unique looking flower, too. The shade of iris in this bouquet sets the heart on fire with its beauty!


Wish I knew the names of the other flowers in the bouquet but I don't. Maybe some of you flower people out there in blogland can identify some of the flowers. There's a cone-like purple flower and some green ones that look like miniature carnations. Another one in the bouquet looks a little bit like snap dragon. See? I told you I am clueless in the flower naming department.



My husband did a nice job picking out the bouquet and my heart filled with gratitude. (Okay, so it wasn't the new laptop I wanted but do I want to be an ingrate? No way. Plus, there's always Mother's Day!) He also bought a beautiful card with a heartfelt message. What a guy.

So, please, enjoy the beauty of these lovely blooms.


How do you think flowers get their names?

Remembering My "Mummy"

(click on photo to enlarge. You'll see something special to the left! All of the photos were taken at Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine in Lackawanna, N.Y.)



It's four years ago today that my mother died.

She fought a courageous battle but, in the end, cancer won. Even during the last weeks of her life, my mother never complained. She said she wished she had just one more year to live but God wanted her home. Her earthly life came to an end as she began her new life in eternity.

It's heart-wrenching to lose a mother. She's the one person who has always been there for you, in good times and in bad. Even though my own mother clashed with me on a number of issues, I knew her love was unconditional. She always loved me, no matter what I did to annoy her. She was proud of my achievements and wept with me when the disappointments of life seared my heart.

When little, I couldn't even fathom life without my mother, thinking she would live forever. Doesn't every young child think her mother is immortal?

For many years, my mother and I lived far apart from each other. Her weekly cards and letters, often filled with newspaper clippings, never stopped coming. She was the most faithful correspondent a person could ever have, filling me in on all the family news and then some. Every holiday from Valentine's Day to Christmas, she sent cards to me as well as to my children. "Mummy," as I endearingly called her, loved sending greeting cards and she picked them out with care.






She was not from a generation of women who generously complimented so in my later years, when Mummy wrote that I had a "heart of gold," it brought tears to my eyes. She knew how much I loved her and wanted to make her last days on earth as happy as possible.

Mummy died surrounded by loved ones. We all sang as I played my guitar for several hours, until she took her last breath.



Four years have passed but the sorrow in my heart is as fresh as if Mummy died yesterday. She's a part of me still and always will be. When I look at white roses, her favorites, I can see her smiling face. I can still hear her singing and playing the song "All of Me" on the piano. Her bottomless faith, her dark brown eyes and little girl innocence, her ongoing prayers for anything and everyone, and endless love for her family, are all part of my memories of Mummy.

She's still here with me, safe in my heart, and always will be until, in the next life, I can run toward her and hug her once again.

Keep the Spirit of Valentine's Day Alive All Month

When birthdays roll around, I believe in celebrating for all the weeks prior to the special day and all the days afterward, until the month is over.

The same goes for holidays. Their celebration can be stretched well past the special day. For example, even though Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday, the 14th of this month, its spirit of love and joy can be carried out through the rest of the month.


All the Valentine cards received are taped to a doorway in the hall. A beautiful bouquet of flowers, a gift from my husband, adorns the kitchen table. The table, itself, looks like a great big Valentine.

First, on went a red tablecloth. A white crocheted cloth was draped on top of the red. The double effect looks very festive.

A rosebud heart-shaped wreath is on the wall in the kitchen and a white crocheted heart with a bright, red ribbon hangs from a door.













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Holidays are special times that bring smiles and good feelings. The longer we stetch their celebration, the better!




What's your favorite holiday?