Saving the Best Til Last

Childhood hobbies can become grown-up obsessions.

Such was a case pertaining to dolls.

As a child, playing with dolls brought untold amounts of utter joy.

My father built a playhouse, the back wall of which was one side of the backyard garage.

That playhouse became filled with a rag tag collection of no less than 30 doll babies in all kinds of conditions.

Each one said a prayer at night, too, so nighttime rituals were nothing quick.

Even as an adult, a very large doll collection moved cross country with us and back to the east when we returned.

Then, when my spouse died, everything in my life changed radically.

The house had to be sold, plus hundreds of items in it, many of which were  beloved dolls.

There simply was not enough room in a tiny apartment for a large doll collection.  

Letting go of each doll was terribly difficult but it had to be done. 

Still, I kept a few very precious ones.

The doll seen in today's post was given to me several years ago by a sister, Barb.  

The doll baby is adorable with a mass of brown curls, a beautiful all pink outfit, including pink shoes, and lots of white lace against a pink dress.  

She even has a big pink bow in her hair.

Right now, she's sitting on the couch, looking as adorable and sweet as possible.

I'm glad she is one of the dolls who stayed.

 Guess it is a case of saving the best til last.

Lunch In an Upscale Restaurant

One of life's fun and memorable treats is to meet a long-time friend for lunch in an upscale restaurant.

Luckily, one of my very few "forever" friends drove an hour to my apartment.

Hopping into her car, we drove to a very lovely, upscale restaurant, Zinc, for a special lunch.

It was in the charming Western Mass town of Lenox.

I ordered roasted trout with haircut verts, olives, capers, cherry tomatoes, and lemon. 

Oh, it tasted way beyond delicious.

My friend had French dip which is a combination of braised short rib, garlic aioli, arugula, and crispy onions.

Best of all was seeing and spending time with my beloved friend. 

Life goes by quickly so lunches like my friend and I had are part of life's dearest joys.

WHAT SPECIAL ACTIVITY DO YOU LIKE TO DO WITH A FAITHFUL FRIEND?

The Essence of Happiness

Everyone's perception of happiness differs.

What something one person thinks brings happiness, another may have a totally opposite opinion.

For as many years back as remembered, it's been my joy to jot down and save inspirational sayings and quotes that cross my path.

One, that used to be on the back of a business card of H.C. Mattern, gives these things as the way to happiness:

1) Keep your heart free from hate

2) Your mind from worry

3) Live simply

4) Expect little

5) Give much

6) Fill your life with love

7) Scatter sunshine

8) Forget self

9) Think of others

10) Do as you would be done by

The author wrote, "Try this for a week and you will be surprised."

NOW, MAKE YOUR OWN LIST. WHAT IS YOUR OWN WAY TO HAPPINESS? 

New Month, New Day, New Life

Here we are on the first day of a new month, November.

One of the best aspects of this month is, of course, a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings on Thanksgiving Day.

But that is toward the end of November.

We, hopefully, have many days before that in which to live, love, and do our best.

The new life part of this post's message is simply that given a new month, and each new day, are proof positive that God isn't finished with us yet.

There is a reason we have been given a new day and month.

Perhaps it is to draw closer to God.

Or work harder at creating peace and boundaries in our lives.

Maybe we need to compliment more and complain less.

Whatever it is that you would like to acheive this month, just do it!

You will be sooooo happy, in the end, that you did it!

Bless each moment of our lives, Lord.  And thanks for giving us the gift of life. 

Happy Halloween

                This sweet kitty is the cover of a Halloween card.

On this Halloween holiday, thoughts go back to childhood days.

That holiday was always wonderfully exciting and fun. 

My sisters and I would start dressing in our costumes as soon as we got home for school.

         This witch potholder came from a thrift store bargain basement for 50 cents.

After all, trick or treating was something we looked forward to all year long!

Our Mom would remind us that it was still afternoon and we had to eat supper as well as wait for it to get dark before we could leave the house.

                        Here's another greeting card front.

Once we did, however, it was a full fledged blast. 

We had favorite houses to go to because we knew who gave the best treats from year to year. 

One was a neighbor who even made candy apples one year. Oh wow, that was a big treat!

We used either bags or pillowcases to collect the sweet loot.  

When we finally got home, we'd empty all those bags and pillowcases into piles on the living room floor.

We'd each save Snickers' bars for our Mom as those were her favorite.

By Halloween night, all the ghosts, goblins, and little witches would be full of sugar, brush our teeth, and head for bed.

Halloween was over until the next year with promises of more fun to come!