Special Guests on Memorial Day Weekend

Special guests are coming to visit today and Sunday.

They are very loved and go back several decades of life in time.

My late husband met them first, in his native Nicaragua, Central America.

That was another time, another life!

Many members of their large family live in the USA now which is wonderful because we can visit from time to time.

It has been fun getting ready for their arrival!

Most Central Americans love fruit so I have purple as well as green grapes on one plate and blackberries and raspberries on another. 

We are also having ginger chicken wings, made this morning; a cannellini dish; and tortilla chips with cilantro/lime salsa. 

There are also shortbread vanilla cookies and coffee for dessert.

Hope you have a great weekend and feel your heart fill with love for the gift of being alive. 

Finding Treasures

 A Methodist church in western Massachusetts has really great tag sales.

Some people call them yard sales.  The proceeds of the one at the church are for missions, which takes away a tad of guilt over buying more "stuff."

These days, I am extremely discerning about purchases since I had to move from a home to a small apartment that has no storage area.

However, tag sales are recreational fun so they have not been eliminated completely.

At this week's sale, only one item came home with me.

It's a very lovely, ornate, crystal/glass pitcher that will double as a vase for pink roses.

It's quite tall, say, a foot and a half.

The flowers can be gifted and that will include the beautiful vase.  

I keep all special vases on a top shelf in the tiny kitchen.

That's cheaper than ordering from a floral shop and the 

"vase" is unique and long-lasting as part of the gift.

It cost only $5 and worth every cent. 

DO YOU LIKE TO ATTEND TAG (YARD) SALES?

Lovely Fragrances Enhance the Enjoyment of Life

Some people are unable to wear perfumes or body sprays while others enjoy and love them.

I'm among the latter.

My teenage granddaughter gave me a small vial of a perfume called "Cashmere Kumquat" by Korres.

On the small wrapping enclosing the vial, it states, "Warm, refreshing, yet sensual.  Capturing the beauty of blooming Greek landscapes."

Holy smokes, could a fragrance bring one back to bright, sunny Greek islands once visited?  

It is also described as being "floral, Oriental, and woody" with top notes of kumquat, mandarine, and orange; heart notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and almond; and base notes of cashmere, cedarwood, and vanilla. 

Wowsers.  

The bulk of the vial apparently is made in Greece but packed in France.  

Under "Scents of Greece,"  also in the folding cover around the little bottle, are the words, "A collection capturing the essence of bountiful nature, iconic sceneries and memorable moments."

I like the scent of the Eau de Toilette "Cashmere Kumquat" by Korres.

With eyes closed, the fragrance does make me imagine the beauty of  blooming Greek landscapes.

 Ahhhhh, such is the miracle of imagination mixed with beautiful fragrance.  

(Speaking of all things Greek, please pass the baklava.)

DO YOU WEAR PERFUME?  IF YES, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FRAGRANCE?

A Baby "Grand" Piano for the Dollhouse

Surprises make life exciting.

Last weekend, a niece of mine generously and graciously gave me an absolutely wonderful surprise.

In her travels, she brought home three used miniature pianos and planned to give them to people who play them.

She also let me pick the mini piano of my choice since she knows I'm crazy over anything for my dollhouse.

My joy of dollhouses and miniatures has been a lifelong (obsession?) hobby. 

While I play primarily the banjo and guitar,  the "big" piano is the instrument of my childhood.  

The miniature baby grand played to my heart when I saw it so that's the little piano I was blessed to select.  It's also in absolutely pristine condition.

It even has a small piano stool. It's so utterly adorable.

The new possession is now in the dollhouse living room.  

It looks fabulous and I love it as well as love my thoughtful niece.

Certainly, once "people" move into the dollhouse, hopefully music by Chopin will be playing one day.

Now, wouldn't that be a surprise as well?

Hoping for Hummers

Last year, despite having a hummingbird feeder on a wrought iron shepherd's hook, in front my the apartment, very few hummers visited.

The sugar water was replaced frequently but to no avail.

By summer's end, the humming bird feeder got a thorough washing and was put away.

My thought was to just give the hummingbird feeder to my daughter. 

However, a very dear friend gave that feeder to me so I wanted to keep it.

Plus, hummingbirds, with theincredible rapid beating of their wings, seem magical to me.

They are sooooo tiny but  totally adorable.

Now it's spring again and hope springs eternal.

After seeing darling hummers at my daughter and son-in-law's house recently,  the decision has been made to give the hummers another shot.

So two cups of water to a half cup of sugar are going into the hummingbird feeder today. 

There will be some hoping for hummers around here once again!

DOES ANYONE KNOW SOME FACTS ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS?