Celebrations Make Life Worth Living

This has been a very busy weekend, filled with lots of activity and celebration. It's the kind of weekend that makes life so very worth living.

 My family is celebrating two birthdays and a baby's baptism.  Balloons and buffets, candles and gifts, laughter and hugs, fruit and veggie platters and cake, and on and on--- all are part of the partying.

Yesterday afternoon, the sun shone down like melted gold, and guests filled the birthday girl's house as well as filtered outside into the backyard. A splendid moment came when a two-year-old did ballerina moves on the grass for the surrounding guests. She twirled and lifted her tiny hands above her head and her face mirrored sheer joy as everyone clapped.   What a moment to treasure!

The birthday girl's bash made me think of that day, 28 years ago, when she was born.  On that memorable day, I was unable to contain my joy and my mother's heart filled to the brim with love. Then, yesterday, while celebrating my daughter's special day, all the same feelings came back and then some. My baby is now a grown woman with many talents.  No doubt she will give a great deal to the world.

Today is the baptism of my one of my niece's handsome little boy. After the church service, there will be more festivities and feasting until an evening birthday bash for one of my sisters!




Such weekends fill my heart with the deepest reservoir of gratitude. How blessed we are to have families and loved ones to celebrate life's special events. Gratitude and love rule the day.

WHAT WAS THE LAST FAMILY CELEBRATION YOU ATTENDED?

Bride Dolls Ready for Their Special Day

The splendorous royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is now part of history but images of the handsome groom and attractive bride will last for a long time.

The bride's classic gown looked quite enchanting and sophisticated and her veil, simple and elegant. She made a truly beautiful bride, don't you think? How she ever maneuvered with that nine foot train remains a mystery.


It was a wedding and day to remember and millions of people all over the world watched as the event unfolded.
Just in case you still have brides on your mind, today's post is on a couple of bride dolls who live far away from England. They are New England girls and part of my collection.

Thought you might like to see their lovely dresses. 

Their attendants have attractive outfits, too.

While they are not quite as outlandish as some of the mad- hatters at the royal wedding, the dolls' attendants and one guest have some pretty fancy hats, too.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE ROYAL WEDDING?                                                                              

Flowers Are Food for the Soul

Today, Writing Straight from the Heart is joining Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

 Check out her blog to see some of the other entries for Show and Tell Friday.




The most beautiful sound in the world is a doorbell ringing to announce the arrival of fresh flowers.

Last Saturday, while immersed in baking, cleaning, cooking, and decorating for Easter, the sweet ding dong came!  My adorable niece, who was bringing her new boyfriend to Easter dinner, sent them to me.

Now why did tears come into my eyes when I saw the enchanting flowers?  Guess I'm a sentimental marshmallow heart but receiving flowers always makes me cry.

The colors, shapes, and scents of flowers never cease to amaze me.

The Creator is a wonderful artist, isn't He?  How could He create such a magnificent array for His children on earth?

Swirls, soft petals, brilliant and pastel colors, and every possible shaped flower are part of a bouquet. It's all so breathtaking.

Whenever your spirit feels down, and you cannot bear another disappointment, go get some flowers. They truly are food for the soul!

WHY DO FLOWERS MAKE US HAPPY?

Simple Pleasure: The Waltons

Every Thursday, Dayle, in Texas, hosts Simple Pleasures at her blog, A Collection of This and That.

It is a series of posts that was created by Dayle to remind people "to stop, to look, to listen, to slow down and pay closer attention to the simple things in life."

Here's my simple pleasure for this week:

Call it corny or call it lame, this week's simple pleasure, for real, is watching re-runs of The Waltons on the Hallmark Channel.

                                                                 Olivia, the Mom               

                                                                 John, the Pop

The show has no sex, no violence,  and no "f" words yet it captures the hearts of thousands of people. It's just the simple story of a large family and all the catastrophes, struggles, joys, and experiences they have on the mountain where they live. To me, it is the epitome of heartwarming.

                                              John Boy, the asiring writer (played by Richard Thomas)

It's family drama at its best.  It takes place in a simpler time, has great values and morals, and spins tales that mesmerize. Why can't they make shows nowadays that are as endearing as the Waltons?

                                                   Grandpa Zeb ("gruff exterior, soft heart")

                                                              Grandma (Matriarch) Esther

There are seven Walton  kids, each with his or her own unique, distinct personality: (John Boy, Mary Ellen, Jason, Jim Bob, Ben, Erin, and Elizabeth); a charming, pretty, but tough mom, Olivia, and a simple,honest,  hard-working pop, John;  and tough ol' bird  but loving, Grandma Esther, and warm-hearted jokester, Grandpa Zeb, all living in a big old house in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina. Okay, admittedly, I love every single one of those characters!

The series ran from 1972 to 1981 and racked up quite a few Emmys. Earl Hamner, Jr., a professional writer,  created the show based on his own life experiences growing up in a family of eight children near Schuyler, Virginia.  In the Waltons series, John Boy, the eldest son (played by Richard Thomas), is also an aspiring writer.


The colorful Baldwin sisters                                                                                Little brother, Jim Bob

                                                                                          

                            Cora Beth Godsey, Ike's wife



Ike Godsey, general store proprietor


The show has an entire host of great characters who can make a viewer laugh, cry, and sometimes do both in one show.  For instance, who could forget the Waltons cousin, Cora Beth, and  the colorful character, Ike Godsey, (he runs the general store) and the totally zany yet charming spinster Baldwin sisters, Mamie and Emily? 

Grandpa Zeb is said to have a "gruff exterior and a soft heart." He plays an endearing part as well as his wife of more than 50 years, Esther.

The Waltons is a true simple pleasure for me. Forget the movies, forget going out to dinner, forget going shopping, if the Waltons are on the Hallmark station, I'm there!

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE WALTONS?    DO YOU LIKE TO WATCH RE-RUNS OF THE SERIES?

The Cuisine of India

Part of the joy of dining out is trying different cuisines.

Whenever a "new" restaurant opens, it's fun to go and check it out.

Aroma Bar and Grill opened fairly recently in Pittsfield, located in Western Massachusetts,  and features traditional cuisine from India.  Pittsfield is about an hour away from both Springfield, MA, and Albany, N.Y.  The new restaurant is situated in the Allendale Shopping Plaza, 5 Cheshire Road.

For those who are unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, let it be known that it does not have to be so hot that it sizzles your nostrils. There are wonderful flavors and spices in Indian dishes. One can always ask that a main dish be "not too spicy." (Personally, hot cuisine from any ethnic cuisine agrees with me very well and is enjoyable.)

A waiter placed three sauces in small silver containers on the burgundy tablecloth. One was made from mint, another was chopped and peppery onions, and a third was tamarind that got its sweetness from raisins and sugar. The onion and tamarind sauces were my faves.

Lunch came on large round sectioned silver trays that looked aluminum. (Personally, I'd prefer china.)

The description of lamb curry was "boneless lamb in onion tomato gravy tempered with ginger garlic and Indian herbs and spices." It was tasty but, unfortunately, just barely warm. Regardless of the degree of spiciness, I like food to be served at a very warm or hot temperature. Still, the flavor was quite good and definitely not too spicy. Next time, though, I'd order chicken curry since the lamb has a slightly unfamiliar taste.

Lunch also came with rice; a couple pieces of "Vegetable Pakora" (veggies dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried); a small portion of "Raita" (whipped "yoghurt" blended with cubed potatoes, chopped cucumber, fresh coriander and herbs) ; and a piece of plain but puffy Indian bread (not unlike pita bread). Putting some of the "yoghurt" blend on the rice with a bit of the sauces made a flavorful combination.

In between bites of food, I took sips of lassi, a delicious sweetened yogurt drink.

A dining companion also ordered a lamb dish and was very satisfied with it. The desserts at our table included  "Badami Kheer," homemade rice pudding made with coconut milk, almonds, cardamon, and raisins as well as cream balls in syrup with rose water.  The rice pudding tasted rich, creamy, and delish.

There were so many offerings at the restaurant it was enough to make one's head spin. A person could go there every day for months and still be able to order something different each time.

Would this restaurant merit a return visit? Definitely.

It would be fun to try the Sunday buffet from noon to 3 p.m. where one could sample an extensive variety of Indian appetizers, salads,main courses, breads, and desserts.

Leaving the restaurant, there's a sign on the wall that reads, "Hospitality is our passion." Who could argue with a message like that?

HAVE YOU TRIED FOOD FROM INDIA? IF YES, DID YOU LIKE IT?