Falling Palm Fronds Versus A Cold Seat!

The first part of today's post is for anyone who is sick of snow.

Isn't it refreshing  to see the beauty of blue skies and  palm trees in the above photos? Can't you almost feel the warm air?  Bear in mind, however, there are drawbacks to wherever one lives.  I snapped the photos shown above in southern Arizona in November.

While basking in the warmth, this sign still made me chuckle.  Even in the sunny southwest, one had to be careful where one walked!

Now, fast forward two months and cross country to the eastern part of the good ole' USA. 

Everyone has heard the expression "sitting on the hotseat?," right?  It's not a place most of us would choose to be. Well, guess what? Sitting on the cold seat would also not be particularly comfy either.

 Take a look at the chairs in our back yard right now:

                                                                                                                                               

Whoever would like to sit on the "cold seat," here's the table to go with it:

OKAY, FOLKS. WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE? FALLING PALM FRONDS OR COLD SEAT?                                   

Peace

         (This photo was taken at Tumacacori Mission in Arizona. It was that state's very first
           Spanish Mission and still stands today.)



Today, my wish for you, dear reader, is peace.

May peace fill your very being. May your heart be calm and also at peace.

Today, may nothing be more important than obtaining peace.

Peace in your mind.

Peace in your  spirit.

Peace in your thoughts.

Peace for all your family members.

Peace for all your friends.

Peace in the very depths of your soul.

Deep, endearing, everlasting peace to you.

Peace.

Cookies for College Kids

When I was in college, many moons ago, a package came for me in the mail.  I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to see the slip  in my small, student's mailbox, telling me about its arrival.

I brought my slip to the main post office station, my heart beating fast inside my chest. When the clerk returned from the back, he was carrying a fairly large-sized box.

Once back in the dorm, I excitedly ripped it open. It was from my sister in California and contained a ton of homemade cookies. Many of the girls in the dorm came by my room and asked what was in the package. When they saw the cookies, they oooed and ahhhed and asked to have one.

I never forgot the joy of receiving that package, not only because of its content, but because my sister had though enough about me to go to the trouble of making cookies, packing, and sending them!

Consequently, this week when a blizzard hit with a snowy vengeance, I was prepared. Having been to the supermarket, I bought all the necessary ingredients to make oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies for two college students heading back soon to their college classes.

As the snow swirled outside and wind whipped the trees, I was happily inside in  the kitchen, mixing and baking mounds of dough. The house smelled divine and the oven kept everything warm and cozy. Four tins got packed with both varieties of cookies for two students.

Of course, a sinkload of pots, pans, bowls, and spoons had to be washed but the having the cookies for the college kids made it all worthwhile.

Rather than incur the high postage costs, I delivered both packages personally and was assured they would go back with the students  to college campuses, one in New York and one in Vermont.

As for recipes, I use the Toll House one right on the chocolate chips package and the oatmeal recipe from the inside cover of the instant oatmeal box. This time, I soaked the raisins ahead of time in boiling water to soften them  and that worked out great.

Cookie anyone?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF  COOKIE?

Vignettes in the 'Necessary Room'

Household members as well as guests constantly use the "necessary room"  so why not decorate it to the hilt?

In our house, I like to make little vignettes.  On top of a small white storage cabinets there are two gold frames with roses inside of them.  A very dear sister of mine who is an artist painted one of the pink roses.  In front of the two frames is a small wooden African sculpture of three girls dancing. That one I picked up in a thrift store. It was love at first sight.

Also in the room is a small stand with three mirrored shelves. On the top one is my collection of Indonesian cats. There's a Mama and four babies, all very comfortable and all with big tails! Believe it or not, the Mama cat was purchased separately! (These sweethearts are also pictured in this blog's header. Because of their wild colors, I absolutely love them.)

On a wall shelf there is a variety of nick knacks including this two inch doll baby who makes me burst into a smile every time I lay eyes on her. Isn't she the pizazz?

So there you have it--- some art pieces from the "necessary room."

Joining Linda's Junkin Friday and Cindy's Show and Tell Friday! Be sure to check out Cindy's enchanting blog, My Romantic Home, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/   to see some of the other entries for Show and Tell Friday and Linda's blog, A La Carte . http://ljm-alacarte.blogspot.com/ for Junkin Friday finds!

DO YOU PUT ART IN THE 'NECESSARY ROOM?'

Simple Pleasure: Mother Nature As Artist

These days, as New Englanders are immersed in the heart of winter, my simple pleasure has got to be daily ice sculptures on the windows.

In the morning, after getting out of my warm, comfy bed and lifting up the window shades, magnificent art by Mother Nature is etched on every window pane.

Incredible designs, not one the same as the next, catch the sunlight and startle with their intense loveliness.

Who could be a better artist than the Creator?  No Picasso, Michaelangelo, or Van Gogh could even begin to "paint" the windows in more exquisite designs.

Cannot wait for the art gallery display tomorrow!

Dayle, from the blog "A Collection of This and That" sponsors today's Simple Pleasures party in which Writing Straight from the Heart is participating.  Please take a minute to check out all the other simple pleasure entries by clicking on :(http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/ ).

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011: Day Trip Brings Frigid Delight

The weather forecast called for a day time temperature of minus 15 degrees last Sunday.

Most people hunkered down in their homes, not daring to poke their noses out their front doors. The rebel in me, however, said,

    "Time for a day trip."

So I put on a warm jacket, hat, gloves, shirt, velvet pants, and boots and headed out. 





There's a  fairly large city within driving distance from here and I yearned to go to a few of my favorite stopping places, like Trader Joe's; Final Markdown (where I buy greeting cards at 3 for $1); and, of course, make a stop at Savers.

The vistas on the highest point of the route I was on were quite heart stopping. Ice covered entire trees, making them look like strange art pieces of a gigantic size.  Wind randomly blew wisps of snow, creating an eerie scene from the front windshield.

On the way home from my fun day, the setting sun peeked out from behind tree silhouettes. The scene made me want to stop the car and just take in the intense beauty of the scene but I didn't stop.

As the skies darkened, it felt like driving through an old-fashioned sepia photo negative. 

   

   "Wow," I said to myself. "Despite the freezing temperatures of New England, this has got to be one of the most incredibly picturesque places in which to live."

Ice-covered trees, millions of sparkling diamonds on snowy hills, waterfalls frozen into stalagmite-like statues, and the stillness of a frozen afternoon in January are quite unforgettable.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WINTER?

New Tea Cup for Martha and Terri's Tea Cup Tuesday!

A new tea cup has joined a collection around here and it has quite a story.

A dear friend of mine, who has been in my life for many decades, now lives cross-country from me.  In her Christmas card, she wrote how she hoped I liked the gift she sent to me. 

     "I just knew you'd love the tea cup," she wrote.

The problem with her note is that I had not received a gift. Nothing. Nada. No tea cup or anything else had arrived at our house!

After the holidays, I called my friend and let her know neither the tea cup or the other gifts she mentioned had ever arrived. She was irate. She had purposely sent the gift on December 3 so I'd get it in time for the holidays.

My friend called UPS and was informed the package had, indeed, been delivered to a house on the street where we live!  She had put the wrong house number on the package. The really perplexing thing is that UPS had a slip with my signature on it, indicating the box had been delivered. (oooooo, that made me really mad because it sure wasn't me who put my signature!)

One afternoon this month, I approached the owner of the house who has some tenants and explained the dilemma of the missing package. She said she'd talk with the tenants.

To make a long story short, one day last week the doorbell rang. The owner of the house down the street had a box in her hand that had been given to her by the male tenant. His wife apparently had signed for the box and put it in the laundry room on a shelf and forgot about it. That was last December 10th of 2010.

Actually, I had pretty much kissed that package goodbye so was perfectly delighted that it eventually got to me despite my pessimism over it ever showing up. Inside was the lovely cup shown in this post plus two books of quotations and some painted tin tree ornaments. I loved everything.

The tea cup, made in China, is covered with flowers primarily in varied shades of pink and blue. It's very dainy and pretty.

Best of all, I'm so happy to, for this week anyway,  to participate once more in Martha and Terri's Tea Cup Tuesday.

See?  Sometimes things do, indeed, come to a good end. God bless that landlady for tracking down the missing box.

 As for my friend, I'd like to wish her a very belated  "Merry Christmas" and thanks for the long lost giftie!

Now be sure to check out Martha's blog, Martha's Favorites, and Terri's blog, Artful Affirmations to see all the other tea cup submissions!

Lots to See and Buy at the Red Lion Inn Gift Shop

Gift shops and boutiques often offer a unique shopping experience. The shop at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, fits the bill.

One section of the shop is all windows so it's filled with light. Jewelry, books, posters, toys, scarves, and cards are among the dozens of items sold. Many are made by more than 50 area artists who sell things in this shop.

 This chipper puppy bounces from the ceiling during a recent visit to the shop.! Looks like all his little stuffed animal buddies are standing guard on a nearby shelf, shown in the photo above.

Local maple syrup would make a nice addition to the breakfast table.

Wouldn't you love this little pink floral lamp or this knockout purple and white glass one?

A quick walk from the gift shop into the inn can be a delightful experience. This mirror reflects some eye-catching antiques:

In the lobby of the inn, a crackling fire in the fireplace sends out woodsy smells. On the mantle, these singers still remain from the Christmas season.

One can even take a little stroll to Country Curtains, also on the premises, which is filled with high quality curtains and accessories for just about any room in the house. Check their website where you can order  their free catalog!

The inn is a great place to visit any time of the year. At Christmas time, of course, it's magnificent.  Soon this festive holiday wreath will be taken down and in the spring, flowers will abound.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE BOUTIQUE OR GIFT SHOP THAT YOU FREQUENT? IF YES, WHAT IS IT LIKE?

Post for Sunday, January 23, 2011: Artistic Bowl Bites the Dust---Boo Hoo

More than 15 years ago, while shopping in a Savers thrift store in Arizona, I saw three extremely attractive  pottery bowls in three different sizes.

A huge one, a medium sized one, and a small bowl could all be purchased for a total of $19.  Although I didn't have very much money, for that price, the bowls could not be passed-up. They came home with me and I used them for everything from making cakes and pies to mixing meatloaf and marinating chicken wings for  a decade-plus! 

Whoever originally made them did an absolutely fabulous job. The bowls were primarily beige but had variations of that color. They were so attractive that when anyone visiting ever saw them, they always commented on the bowls and inquired where I got them. (Savers Thrift Stores, by the way,  found all over the country, benefit the organization Big Brothers, Big Sisters.)

When we moved from Arizona to the east, the bowls got carefully packed and traveled cross-country with us. For the past seven years, once again they have been in constant use. Once, I accidentally broke the rim of the big one but my handy hubby used something to "glue" it back together. It sufficed and more than a year has gone by since that initial break.

This week, while making cookies for two college students I know, the unfathonable happened. I had the big bowl too close to the edge of the kitchen table and it slid off onto a nearby chair.  As it hit the seat, it cracked into two neat pieces.

I couldn't believe my eyes. My beloved pottery bowl had broken in two!

"Susan," I heard myself say out loud."That bowl has had a good, long run. It's time to give it up."

Carefully picking up the two halves of the bowl, I gently deposited them into the glass recycling basket. Bye bye bowl.  As I walked around the kitchen, I hummed "Taps."

      "Dun tah dun. Dun tah dun......"

Who in the world would, if in her right mind, would feel sad over a pottery bowl? 

     "Me," that's who.  It was a great, artistic  bowl, made by someone with a master's touch.  I loved it and now it's gone forever.  It was part of an entire era that has now disappeared.

HAVE YOU EVER LOST AN OBJECT THAT YOU MISSED?

Post for Saturday, January 22, 2011: LATELY

While visiting Lynda's blog, "On the Write Track,"  (CLICK TO GO THERE) I read about a meme called "As of Late"  from yet another blog, "Critty Joy's."  (CLICK TO GO THERE, TOO!) 

What it consists of is writing what has been happening in one's life "lately."
Why not try it yourself?  Just write your "lately" happenings, post them on your blog, and go to Critty Joy's. Then, hook up! 


So, here goes:


Lately...being near the crackling fire in the fireplace is a great place to be.


Lately...I've been watching "Little House On the Prairie" re-runs and loving them.


Lately...good health has been at the top of my gratitude list.


Lately...have been writing in different colored inks inside my Gratitude Journal.


Lately...it's been fun to work on organizing dollhouse miniatures.


Lately...fresh flowers on the kitchen table have given me great joy.


Lately...I've been yearning to get back to indoor
            swimming which I WILL DO in February.


Lately...my heart has been filled with happiness over being able to blog, read other
              peoples' blogs, and meet all the sweet peeps in blogland.


Lately...I have been enjoying movies on the Hallmark Channel.


Lately...thoughts of daffodils and tulips, bobbing in the front yard, have been on my mind. Could
             that be a yearning for spring?


Now, why not write YOUR list of what you have been up to lately and hop on over to Christy's blog, "Critty Joy."

Colorful Tin Candle Holder Lights Up The Room For Junkin Friday!

The use of bright colors is one of the reasons Mexican styled art is so appealing.

Artifacts made from brightly painted tin are hard to pass-up.  While perusing a favorite thrift store, Saver's, which benefits the organization Big Brothers, Big Sisters, I came across this Mexican wall mounted candle holder.

Some artist had fashioned pieces of tin together and painted it in bright, happy colors.

It's been adorning a kitchen window ever since. To date, kitchen curtains still have to be found so for the time being, this delightful piece of art will remain.

DO YOU LIKE MEXICAN STYLED ART?

Today, Writing Straight from the Heart is joining Junkin Finds from Linda's blog, A La Carte . http://ljm-alacarte.blogspot.com/  Be sure to stop by Linda's blog to see all the other entries!

Simple Pleasure on Dayle's Blog: Tulips in January

While strolling through the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, a pleasant surprise waited for visitors in one of the rooms near the gift shop.

Temperatures dipped outside, causing everyone in sight to shiver, but inside, on a table, stood a bouquet of cheery, yellow tulips. They lit up the room with their bright and sunny color.

In just a few, short (please?) months,  tulips in all colors will be brightening up walkways and gardens throughout New England.  What a perfect delight to find them while outside the ground is frozen solid and overhead skies tend to be slate gray.

That discovery of  a yellow tulips bouquet in January turned out to be a first class simple pleasure. 

Please take a minute to check out all the other simple pleasure entries on Dayle's blog, A Collection of This and That by clicking on (http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/ ).

Thanks again, Dayle,  for hosting this weekly Simple Pleasures party!

What Are Your Favorite Color Tulips?

Fresh Flowers in the Heart of Winter

Roz, from the blog "la bella vita,"  hosts "Fresh, Clean, and Pure Friday" and this week, Writing Straight from the Heart is joining.

Fresh flowers are the theme for today.

Flowers are welcome and heartwarming any time but they are especially magnificent in the heart of winter.

The other day, as the frigid air outside kept everything frozen and still, someone rang the doorbell. I had just arrived home.  It was a neighbor holding something covered with a plastic bag. Underneath were these extremely charming and perky flowers.

Dark and light pink carnations; a sassy, yellow sunflower; deep purple stems; pastel lavender daisies; baby's breath; black eyed Susans; and more flowers all combined to make a startlingly attractive bouquet.

Dear friends sent the flowers in memory of my aunt, who died last week. As it turns out, she loved flowers and in the day, grew a large variety that she turned into table top bouquets. Oh, how I will miss this dear soul, until we meet again some day in the other realm of life.

So this is a post dedicated to fresh flowers to light up your soul!  To make you smile!  And to keep you warm in the heart of winter. 

WHAT WERE THE LAST FRESH FLOWERS YOU BOUGHT FOR YOURSELF? 

OR, BETTER YET, WHAT FRESH FLOWERS DO YOU PLAN TO BUY SOON?