Crickleberry Cottage Conversations

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-02-12T08:19:00.004-05:00

Many blessings for a happy and balanced Sunday ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2012-02-10T00:06:00.004-05:00

Big Blue Brings It Home . . .

2012-02-06T09:52:00.006-05:00

What a wonderful weekend we had around here!!

Congratulations to our beloved New York Giants who beat the New England Patriots last night in the Super Bowl !!! We're HUGE Giants fans in this house and are so happy for them!!! We're toying with the idea of going into Manhattan tomorrow for the victory parade. It's going to be a mob scene but so exciting and worth it to get trampled on just a little bit!! : )

Many blessings for a peaceful and happy Monday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-02-05T11:21:00.003-05:00

I borrowed this from Liz Lamoreux . Click on her name to find her incredible blog. I've signed up for her Create Space online course. My heart and my head have been in need of finding my authentic self again. I feel like she's been lost for a while and it's time to reclaim her. I've been asking God to help me with this and, once again, He comes through for me. When the student is ready, the teacher will come. Namaste.

Many blessings for a peaceful and happy Sunday ~ Wendy

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!

{this moment} . . .

2012-02-03T16:00:00.003-05:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful weekend ~ Wendy

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!

B'ball on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2012-02-01T07:29:00.003-05:00

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-01-29T10:09:00.002-05:00

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Sunday ~ Wendy

Mexican Food on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2012-01-24T21:10:00.003-05:00

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-01-22T08:51:00.004-05:00

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Sunday ~ Wendy

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!

{this moment} . . .

2012-01-20T12:54:00.004-05:00

this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Many blessings for a happy and safe weekend ~ Wendy

GO GIANTS!!!

On My Mind . . .

2012-01-19T10:03:00.006-05:00

My mother and Megan on Christmas day.

I woke up at 3:00 this morning to use the loo ~ just one of the side effects of getting older and having four babies lay on my bladder over the years. My mind went to my mother who is faced with a major surgery very soon. She has severe spine and neck problems and is in constant pain. If she doesn't have the surgery, she could be faced with being in a wheelchair the rest of her life. She's only in her mid 60's so hopefully she has a lot of life ahead of her. She's going to need months of recovery and rehabilitation. She lives by herself with her two wonderful dogs. My stepfather passed away almost ten years ago and she's lived alone ever since. My sister is less than ten minutes away from her and my other sister and I are about 35 minutes from her so we'll be going back and forth a lot. My sister that lives near her is going to take her dogs to live at her house until my mother feels well enough to have them.

She should have a date set for the surgery some time soon.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make her better. : (

Many blessings for a beautiful Thursday ~ Wendy

Trying on Mommy's Lipstick on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2012-01-18T07:07:00.004-05:00

Many blessings for a beautiful Wednesday ~ Wendy

Let it Snow . . .

2012-01-17T09:38:00.006-05:00

After a very nice three day weekend (thank you Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!!) the kids are back at school. They were hoping for a snow day today or at least a delay to school opening but it was not in the cards. There has been a dry pattern here in the part of New York where we live. The temps have gone up and down and so many people are sick because of it. The days are starting to get noticeably longer. I love the feeling of hibernating in my home this time of year but it just hasn't been the same without the snow. The sleds the kids got for Christmas have sat untouched in the garage and the season passes my husband bought for our local ski/snowboard resort are collecting dust. I know that one good snowstorm could turn this around so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. : )

Everything looks so much nicer covered in the white stuff. Especially the dog poop in the backyard!! : )

Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

* Photos were all found on Flickr.

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-01-15T08:50:00.002-05:00

Many blessings for a beautiful Sunday ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2012-01-13T08:56:00.003-05:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Many blessings for a peaceful and wonderful weekend ~ Wendy

New Year's Eve on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2012-01-10T23:41:00.003-05:00

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

Football Mania . . .

2012-01-09T07:32:00.006-05:00

We've got a bad case of football fever around these parts!! Our beloved New York Giants beat up the Atlanta Falcons in a BIG way yesterday. Even Megan got into the spirit!!!! Now it's onto the Green Bay Packers. Go Big Blue!!!!!!! : )

Many blessings for a happy Monday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-01-08T11:23:00.002-05:00

Many blessings for a wonderful and peaceful Sunday ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2012-01-06T11:34:00.004-05:00

More Christmas Memories on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2012-01-04T09:06:00.006-05:00

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

Christmas Memories . . .

2012-01-03T09:18:00.006-05:00

It's so hard to believe that another Christmas has come and gone so quickly. We already have Valentine's Day cards and candy in our local drug store!!

Once again, we were so blessed to be able to spend the holidays with friends and family.

My niece, Taylor.

My niece, Annie.

My "nephew", Tank. : )

And, in spite of a very unhappy baby with a double ear infection who wanted her Daddy and ONLY her Daddy . . .

Santa still got a thumbs up!! Not too shabby!!!! : )

Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2012-01-01T01:08:00.005-05:00

" Celebrate endings for they precede new beginnings. "

Many blessings for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!! ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2011-12-23T09:06:00.004-05:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Many blessings for a beautiful and peaceful Christmas ~ Wendy

Family in NYC on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-12-21T10:47:00.007-05:00

It was so wonderful to see Jim's brother and our nephew for a few days. Megan was sick so she and I didn't get to go with them. Thankfully, my husband took lots of photos!!

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

Searching for the Perfect Christmas Tree . . .

2011-12-20T08:59:00.004-05:00

On Thursday nite we were faced with a dilemma. Do we get a tree first so Brendan could be a part of our search but then he'd miss going out to dinner afterwards due to basketball practice or do we eat first and then drop him off at practice and then go for a tree without him. OR . . . do we go out to dinner, drop him off at b'ball and wait until after school the next day to go for a tree?? We left it up to him. He chose to go to dinner and let us decide on the tree. I was a little sad that tradition was being broken but he was adamant that it was okay with him. I wanted to tell you that little story so you would know why he's not in any of the pics. : )

I really wanted one of those trees that looks like a giant Charlie Brown tree with the thinned out branches but we couldn't find anyone that sells them. My Grandmother had one every year and I absolutely loved it. We're bound and determined to cut our own tree next year so I'll have to do some research into who has them.

These two have a very special bond. It makes me smile. : )

Some beautiful handmade wreaths.

This looks like it could be the one!!

Unfortunately, the vintage Santa wasn't for sale. : (

Thank you for the snowman, Mr. Christmas Tree Man!!

I had to get a shot of the 1969 trailer that the tree salesmen used to bring some of their goods from Canada to New York. All it needs is a woman's touch and it would be perfect!!

Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

Our Annual Visit to the Polar Express . . .

2011-12-19T08:51:00.004-05:00

Last week we made our annual journey to the Essex Train Station in Essex, CT for a ride on the Polar Express. This year was extra special because the ride was shared with Grandparents and cousins and Aunt Michelle (my beautiful sister-in-law)!!

All aboard!!!!!

The Sleepytime Elves served us hot cocoa and cookies. It was delicious and my nephew, Andre, even noted that the cocoa "wasn't watery like it was last year." LOL!!!

Megan with MiMi and Grandpop.

Brendan looking out the window for Santa.

The anticipation was clearly getting to them!!!! : )

Wait a minute!! Is that who I think it is????

Finally, the moment had arrived!! Mrs. Claus (who I almost blinded with my flash!!) and The Big Man himself . . .

Santa Claus!!!!!

We had such a wonderful time and are already making plans for next year's trip!!

Oh, and I had to sneak a photo in of me and my honey. : )

Many blessings for a happy Monday ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2011-12-16T08:42:00.006-05:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Cousins on the Polar Express. True joy on their faces!!!!

Many blessings for a wonderful and peaceful weekend ~ Wendy

To Wear or Not to Wear - that is the Question . . .

2011-12-12T13:23:00.008-05:00

Remember this from "A Christmas Story" ??? : )

This morning, I dropped Megan off at daycare for a much needed few hours to myself. Jim has been working nights and Meg's schedule has been a little off. She's been taking later naps and, therefore, wanting to stay up later. She's also been getting up in the middle of the night pretty much every night for the last couple of weeks. I feel like I have had zero time to myself to recharge my parental batteries. For me, time to myself equals having more to give of myself to others. Just a couple of hours and I'm good as new.

I ventured to our local mall to find winter coats for Meg and my youngest son, Brendan. I've looked in several stores for a coat for Meg but wasn't able to find anything that wasn't too girly or loaded with patterns and colors. I wasn't concerned about her lack of a coat until a couple of days ago. It's been unseasonably warm here in New York so I've been able to get away with layers under a heavier hooded sweater. Realistically, we go from the warm house to the car to our destination which is usually warm and back again. No biggie. And with Brendan, he doesn't get cold EVER. He'd be perfectly content wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a hat and gloves if it gets REALLY cold. I don't fight him on it. He's always been very healthy and my older boys were (and still are) the same way. I have to admit though, when he came home from school the other day and told me a teacher had asked him if he had a warm coat I kinda sorta got worried that people must think I'm a bad mother because my kid isn't bundled up on the first cold day. I told my friend about this and she told me a story about how one of her friend's sons was the same way with the not wanting to wear a coat thing. She said that a passerby saw her friend's son walking without a coat and assumed that his family couldn't afford one so she went home and grabbed an old coat out of her closet and drove back to look for the boy. She found him and handed the coat to him. On one hand, that is a wonderful story of a random act of kindness. On the other hand, the mother was mortified when her son came home with an old coat given to him by a stranger when he had a new one hanging in the closet collecting dust!!! LOL!!! I thought that was a great story on so many levels!!!

By the way, I did find a coat for both of my kids. A plain pink quilted one for Meggie and a thin but warm one for Brendan. Now I pray that they fit!!

Many blessings for a happy Monday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-12-11T09:21:00.002-05:00

I loved this one.

Many blessings ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2011-12-09T06:30:00.002-05:00

College and Christmas Cards . . .

2011-12-08T08:49:00.006-05:00

Last night we got a very pleasant surprise in the form of our oldest son coming home from college a couple of days earlier then expected. The front door swung open at 9:15 and in he walked. I had just been thinking about him and how much I wished for all of us to be home safe and sound under one roof on the cold, rainy night we were having and in he came. Don't you just love moments like that??? So now he's home until next Wednesday and then back to school for another day or two and then he's officially back home full time. My son made a huge and very mature decision to not go back to Hofstra after his first semester. The amount of student loans that he would've had to pay back after attending four years there would've been astronomical. We explained this to him but it was something that he had to find out for himself. I think the realization of how bad our economy is finally hit him when he spent a day at Occupy Wall Street (before it got crazy down there) and spoke with some of the people who were in the same boat he was putting himself into ~ no job, minimal job opportunities and major debt hanging over their head already at a very young age. He told me his biggest fear is that he'll graduate from college and there will be no opportunities for him. He's now enrolled in our community college and will be starting the end of January. He's also going to be working where he worked over the summer until school starts again. I'm so proud of him and the knot in my stomach for him has gone away. He's such a great kid and I know there will be lots of opportunities for him when he graduates but now he won't have to live with us until he's 40 while he's paying off his student loans!! : )

Yesterday, I finally sat down and made up our Christmas card for this year. I find it extremely difficult to get all four kids together for a photo. I took some pictures of them at the beach this summer and I thought they came out nice. I used Picnik for my editing and ordered them online at our local Walgreen's pharmacy. It took me about a half hour for the whole process. I'm crossing my fingers that they came out okay. I still have lots of Christmas shopping to do. December always seems to be a busy bill paying month for us and since we don't use our credit cards anymore we have to rely strictly on cash. It's pay day for both of us next week so I'll be able to finish up then. I work well under pressure so I'm not worried. It will all get done!! How are you all doing with your shopping? Are you done and wrapped or are you more like me???

Many blessings for a happy Thursday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-12-03T19:42:00.006-05:00

"The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."—Mother Teresa

Many blessings for a peaceful and happy Sunday ~ Wendy

Some More Etsy Lovin' - Aqua Christmas Style

2011-11-30T14:37:00.010-05:00

In an effort to help support small businesses this holiday season, I've brought you some more Christmas pretties that I've gathered from Etsy. Some old and some new. I'm not too sure about borrowed but some definitely blue!!

Above is a set of vintage Shiny Brites still in their original box at efinegifts. A truly fantastic shop.

Below, linocut/letterpress aqua and red Christmas garland from rubyvictoria. There are 22 printed coaster tags on each strand of twine. I think I'd string them along the top of my kitchen cabinets or above my double windows. Great to keep out all winter, too!!

I absolutely love this aqua and red stocking found at kathischristmas. Polka dots and daisies are two of my favorite things. : )

This pillowcase dress found at graceparks is perfect for that little girl in your life.

And while you're shopping for that special little girl, stop by ViviansKitchen to pick up some hand-felted goodies, too!! Good luck picking out just one. They're all absolutely yummy to look at!!!

This beautiful yarn wreath can be found at HeartfeltYarnWreaths where you can find a large selection of yarn wreaths including many holiday ones.

I really love the aqua ceramic stars that I found at MissPottery. They are wonderful for a rustic touch or for a country home. Great for the beach house too!

Who can resist this incredibly gorgeous rhinestone snowflake hair comb??? I found it at OhFaro.

At the top of my list of Etsy favorites is this adorable holiday house that I found at HolidayHouseStudio. I love all of the sparkle and the two chimneys!!

If you're looking for that extra special Christmas card this could be the one for you!! I found this at aLittleCard and loved it. I also love the little rhinestones that have been added for a little sparkle.

Loaded with flower pick balls and flocked bells, chenille stems and foiled leaves this gorgeous 1950's corsage is being offered at thelongacreflea. Such a pretty addition to your Christmas outfit.

And, if you're like me and are stuck making the Christmas dinner (I really don't mind!!), do it in style with this beautiful retro colored apron from CreativeChics.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more Etsy gift ideas!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

What I'm Lovin' on Etsy - Tuesday Edition . . .

2011-11-29T10:15:00.008-05:00

Christmas shopping and decorating are in full swing around these parts so I thought I'd share some of the pretty pink things I've discovered on Etsy recently.

I found this gorgeous 5 X 5 photo at KClarkPhotography. So pretty!!

Below is a rose colored Starlette crown created by Sue Eggen of giantdwarf. They come in an array of colors and styles. I would love this to wear on Winter Solstice.

How about these adorable little retro gift tags?!!? They can be found at bostonbaglady.

I found this shabby chic tulle wreath at ohcrop16. It's perfect for the front door of your little shabby chic cottage. Or how about the door to your powder room?

Hand-painted and glittered clothes pins found at SugarandPaint. I'm sure you could come up with lots of different uses for these!!

If you're looking for the perfect pink Christmas cards, here they are!! I found these at polkadotshop. They are handmade and machine stitched and blank inside so you can add your own special message. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!!!

Below is a beautifully created sea urchin tree that can be found at beautifuldetailswed. I think I'd have to keep this out all year 'round because it's way too pretty to put away!!

If you're like me and like to use gift bags as well as wrapping paper these adorable aqua and pink muslin bags would work beautifully to hold gift cards. You can find them at CraftyClementines.

I am loving this oh-so-pretty snowflake print cotton ribbon that I found at diycloset. This shop is packed to the rafters with bits and bobs of all kinds!!

Pink plus vintage equals CANDY FOR THE EYES ! ! ! How incredibly beautiful is this??? I found this vintage pink glass ornament at ExhuberantHousewifery. Don't you just love the name??!!??

Last but certainly not least, I found a shop called CharonelDesigns that sells the most wonderful gift tags, handmade cards and all things paper. Pay them a visit this holiday season. I promise you won't be disappointed!!

Let's all make an effort to support small businesses during this season of giving!! A handmade gift from the heart speaks volumes. : )

Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

What I'm Lovin' on Etsy - Monday Edition . . .

2011-11-28T16:28:00.007-05:00

This Christmas season, I've made the conscious decision to keep things as simple and cost effective as possible. I've set a limit for each child and I'm really going to try to stick to it. We don't use credit cards anymore. That makes a HUGE difference in spending for us. Having the awareness that you're done once the cash is gone whether you want to be or not is a real eye opener. We do keep a card for emergency purposes only but that's it.

I'd also like to give "handmade" when possible so I've been perusing Etsy a lot in the past couple of days. I am truly an Etsy addict when I'm allowed to be!! It has grown and changed so much since I first discovered it several years ago. The photos that people post of their offerings are phenomenal and really make you have to raise the bar on your own. I wanted to share a few samples of just some of the wonderful things I've marked as "favorites" during the last few days.

Above is a gorgeous handmade patchwork child's quilt that I found at SweetPeaandCo and below is a beautiful vintage plaid carrying case found at susantique. I love, love, love this!!!

I fell in love with this antique gathering basket that can be found at ImSoVintage.

A cordial tea trio from the 1970's found at forEYESandHANDS.

Above is a 1950's sky blue baby boy's onesie with bowtie that I found at starfriendsonearth.

Below is a pair of white and mauve porcelain earrings from NotenboomCeramics.

I'm loving this antique spice tin set that I found at WillowTreeAntiques.

This owl powder box is beyond adorable!! I found it at Mmim along with a whole lot of other goodies that are perfect to give as gifts or to put a little something something inside. : )

When I first found this vintage Italian necklace I would've bet the ranch it was edible!! Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was beads!! This can be found at socaljewelbox.

Above, I found this little cat plush cutie at dancingintherains. There are many other equally adorable offerings to be found there too.

And keeping with the child's theme, I found this sweet little cotton onesie at CausticThreads.
Her shop is choc full of wonderful handmades for all ages!!

And finally, I couldn't resist this vintage Kodak Holiday Flash Brownie camera. I see so many great vintage cameras when I'm catching up on some of my favorite blogs. This one caught my eye and I thought would make someone very happy on Christmas morning!!

So tomorrow I will be back with my Etsy Lovin' Tuesday Edition. I'm honestly having so much fun doing this and I hope it shows!!! : )

Many blessings for a happy day ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-11-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Many blessings for a peaceful and happy Sunday ~ Wendy

On This Day of Giving Thanks . . .

2011-11-23T23:44:00.004-05:00

. . . may we all say thank you for our blessings ~ both big and small.

Happy and peaceful Thanksgiving blessings to you all ~ Wendy

The Love of a Family . . .

2011-11-22T09:30:00.009-05:00

. . . is life's greatest blessing.

Megan with Daddy and Mimi.

Hanging with Grandpop at the fall fair we attend every year.

Beeping cousin Andre's nose!!

Andre adores his cousin. It's the sweetest thing to see them together. : )

Mimi and Aunt Michelle.

Getting lots of lovin' from Mimi!!

Cousins Jason, Megan and Andre when Aunt Wendy (me!!) decides to take a picture at 9:00 at night when Megan is done for the day!! : )

I'm sticking with the family and friends theme this week because that is what I'm most grateful for during this season of gratitude.

Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

A Typical Weekend Around Here . . .

2011-11-21T09:04:00.005-05:00

. . . is filled with lots of good friends.

. . . is filled with lots of good food.

. . . lots of playtime.

. . . and lots of just laying around the house doing nothing. : )

Many blessings for a happy Monday ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-11-20T09:55:00.002-05:00

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Sunday ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2011-11-17T22:45:00.004-05:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful weekend ~ Wendy

A Gathering for a Hero . . .

2011-11-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

Last month, on a beautiful autumn day, family, friends and co-workers gathered in Manhattan at Marine 1 headquarters to pay tribute to my uncle Harry who passed away last year from a 9/11 related illness.

This is a photo I took of a photo that was given to my aunt. My uncle, by the Grace of God, was not working at the time the planes hit the World Trade Center but was there immediately afterward. He is the man in the blue shirt that is standing on top of the pile of debris. He worked there tirelessly for months following the attacks. Because of this, he developed severe respiratory problems and cancer. His name has been added to the list of 9/11 heroes that tragically lost their life due to this horrendous act of terrorism.

My Uncle Harry was the epitome of a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He was also blessed to have been able to do what he loved as a member of the FDNY where he worked for over 40 years.

His wife, children and grandchildren standing next to the plaque that was dedicated in his memory.

This is Marine 1's new fire boat that was purchased post 9/11. It is a beauty.

Before my Uncle passed, he told his family that he wanted to be in charge of the clouds when he went to Heaven. On this day, there was not a single cloud in the sky and we knew he had taken the day off from his Heavenly duties to be with his loved ones. : )

My Uncle's brother FDNY firefighters lined up on Marine 1, holding his plaque.

This is a picture of every member of the FDNY that was killed on September 11, 2001. My Uncle knew of or had worked with many of them.

On September 11th, we lost a young member of our community who worked in the World Trade Center. His name was Welles Crowther. You may have heard of "the man with the red bandana." There have been many articles and documentaries about him. He was trained as a volunteer firefighter and repeatedly walked up and down the stairs of one of the towers to save many people. He had been carrying a red bandana with him like he had done since he was a little boy and had it tied around his face so he wouldn't breathe in as much dust and smoke. Several of the survivors told the story of this "man with the red bandana" that had saved them. His parents knew it had to have been him.

My Uncle was very good friends with Welles' parents and would stop by their home every day after he came back from Ground Zero to give them any news about Welles. When the debris of the towers was being cleared, his body was found in the lobby with other firefighters. Their son had died a hero.

This is a photo of my cousin, Paul. He has been a member of the FDNY for 30 plus years. He was very close with my Uncle Harry. He's standing with Welles' parents. They are both wearing red bandanas. Welles' father, Jeff, mentioned my Uncle's name at the reading of the names this past 9/11. They are an incredible family.

This incredibly beautiful statue was made by a firefighter out of Marine 1. It is made of steel from the World Trade Center.

My Uncle's son-in-law, grandchildren and my cousin, Tracy.

It was an incredibly sad but beautiful day. Just typing this brings tears to my eyes. Tears for my Uncle's premature death at a young age. Tears for my Aunt, my cousins and their children. Tears for everyone who lost someone on September 11th or as a result of that horrific day. Tears for my surviving Aunt and Uncle who lost three brothers suddenly and way too early in life. Life does go on as we all know and, thankfully, we will always have our own special memories of my Uncle.

As we left Marine 1, in the distance we could see more proof of life going on.

On the left of the picture (the building that looks like there is a "V" on top of it) is the Freedom Tower that is being built at the site of the World Trade Center.

May God bless America and all of its people.

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-11-13T10:34:00.003-05:00

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Sunday ~ Wendy

{this moment} . . .

2011-11-11T14:28:00.003-05:00

The Many Moods of Meg . . .

2011-11-10T08:51:00.003-05:00

I fall more and more in love with this face every day!!

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Thursday ~ Wendy

Autumn Delights . . .

2011-11-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

On a beautiful fall day, a couple of weeks ago, my sister and I and our kids met and took a ride upstate to find a new place to get our pumpkins. We were pressed for time so we settled on a roadside farm stand that met all of our autumnal (I love that word!!) needs.

These beautiful chairs were for sale but, short of tying them to the top of my car, there was no way I was getting them home. Between pumpkins, apples and kids we were packed to the rafters!! : )

They had a cute little area filled with chickens, ducks, roosters and a big ol' Tom Turkey. They are just amazing creatures to look at. Not the prettiest but amazing nonetheless!!

Megan checking out the chickens.

This guy kept getting very close to the highway and made me a nervous wreck!! LOL!!

My niece, Annie.

The cousins made me take a picture of them by the stream that ran alongside the parking lot. I almost broke my neck trying to get up to the top of the hill with clogs on!!

We had a wonderful day, filled with lots of great food and memories. These autumn days go way too fast!! : (

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Friday . . .

2011-11-04T11:50:00.004-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

An Autumn snowfall in New York that was so pretty yet so devastating to our trees. This tree lost three huge branches not long after this picture was taken. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.

Many blessings for a safe and happy November weekend ~ Wendy

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy . . .

2011-11-02T09:35:00.004-04:00

The three words I'd use to describe the weather here on the East coast!! Oh . . . and did I mention CRAZY !!!!!

In the last several days, we've endured weather unlike anything I've seen in my lifetime. It snowed very wet and very heavy snow on Saturday. We lost our power until Monday. My father in law and many of our friends still are without power. The house got down to 51 degrees. Needless to say, it was very cold. We still had hot water and our stove worked and I had gone food shopping on Friday and made a huge pot of chicken and dumpling soup in anticipation of the storm. The time without television was actually kind of nice and we took turns charging our cell phones in the car. We had also purchased a battery operated radio and several lanterns when Hurricane Irene came through a couple of months ago. We listened to the Giants' game and watched Megan dance to the music in between ordering take out food once the soup was gone. We were very blessed to have minimal damage to the few trees and bushes on our property but our neighbors weren't so lucky. Some areas look like battlefields. So sad for all of the trees!!

I can't thank our Emergency response workers enough for all that they do!!!! The fire department, the ambulance volunteers and paramedics, the police department and the utility workers have all done a phenomenal job keeping things going. Hopefully all of the people that are still without heat and electric will have it returned soon.

Many blessings for a wonderful and electricity filled day ~ Wendy : )

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-10-23T09:02:00.002-04:00

Many blessings for a peaceful Sunday ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Friday . . .

2011-10-21T09:10:00.006-04:00

Fall in Full Swing . . .

2011-10-20T10:34:00.011-04:00

It feels like Autumn is finally starting to get into full swing around here. The temperature is still a little too warm for me but I love that the days are getting shorter and there's a chill in the air. I've been having a wonderful time looking at some of my favorite blogs and how they're starting to batten down the hatches for the impending cold weather that's rapidly approaching.

Stacks of firewood.

I thought this was so pretty. The fireplace reminds me of my grandmother's when I was growing up.

Remnants of summer flower and vegetable gardens.

Autumn asters.

Pulling out last year's cold-weather clothes to see what still fits.

Found at Merchantship on Etsy.

The beginnings of holiday crafts and gift making.

Found on Etsy.

Hand-felted pine cones found in Family Circle magazine.

A gorgeous way to gift wrap. Original source unknown.

Photos of Mother Nature's beautiful fall art work.

I live for this time of the year and it seems to me that a lot of my blogging friends do, as well. Lucky for me!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Simply Ten on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-10-05T09:37:00.005-04:00

Over at Soulemama , Amanda Soule's wonderful blog, she posted ten simple photos of things that inspired her today and told us all to "give it a go" if we felt inspired to do the same. So, without further ado, here are my ten simple photos that were taken over the summer while visiting my favorite little antiques shop in Cape May, New Jersey.

Many blessings for a peaceful and happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Friday . . .

2011-09-29T08:10:00.002-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Happy birthday to my love!!

Many blessings for a safe and peaceful weekend ~ Wendy

Looking Past One Day at a Time . . .

2011-09-28T07:36:00.004-04:00

Today is a dark and dreary day in New York ~ my favorite kind of weather. I love the rain and the gray clouds and the little breezes blowing thru the trees. The house is still quiet. Probably the last bit of quiet I'm going to have for the next few days since the kids are off from school Thursday and Friday for the Jewish holidays and my niece and nephew are going to be here for a couple of days. Connor comes home from college today for five days and my honey has a week off so there's going to be a house-full. We might actually be able to sit around the dinner table together as a family!! Those times are few and far between lately.

My husband and I were talking the other day and we got into a discussion about long term goals for ourselves and our family. The first thing that came into my head, of course, was the kids and wanting to keep them happy and healthy and to be the best parent that I can be for them. After that, I got stuck. I've been living pretty much One Day at a Time since my first husband very unexpectedly passed away almost seven years ago. There's nothing wrong with living this way and it's served me well and gotten me thru some very difficult times. However, I think it's time to work toward something in the future. It's almost like taking a leap of faith for me ~ letting go and trusting that it's okay to make long-term plans.

We've been talking a lot about how much we'd like to move north to Vermont or New Hampshire when my husband retires. He has a wonderful job but, unfortunately, for him to receive full retirement benefits he'll have to work almost twenty more years. This will put us into our mid 60's (GULP!!). I've been so unhappy with the changes in the county where we live. I grew up here and adored this area and was thrilled that my children would be able to graduate from the same high school that I did. It is still a wonderful community but has grown by leaps and bounds and I'm not happy with the direction it's going in. I want that small-town feeling again. I want a slower pace again. I want to feel like I'm a part of a community again without there being so many people everywhere you go. I want a simpler life-style.

While driving to my sister's house over the weekend, I noticed how peaceful I felt when I got to her town. It's a 40 minute drive up the Hudson River from where we live but it's like going to another world. Lots of trees and little brooks and streams and rocking chairs on the front porches and old barns and people that wave to you and smile when you drive thru their neighborhood. And then it hit me . . . it's like going to Vermont but much closer.

So here is what we've decided . . . when our middle son graduates from high school in three years, we're going to put our house on the market and move to that peaceful little Vermont-like town. Our youngest son is okay with leaving his friends behind and going to a different school. My niece Annie is the same age as him and would be going to the same school. They are like frick and frack so I think that made his decision much easier.

Of course, I don't know what is in store for us for the next three years but I'm going to trust that we're moving in the right direction (so to speak). I'm not used to having long term goals but I have to say that it feels good. I feel like I'm focused on making this happen ~ One Day at a Time. : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Autumn . . .

2011-09-27T10:05:00.004-04:00

All of these photos, along with their credits, can be found on my Autumn Splendor Pinterest Board.

What's your favorite thing about Autumn? I dare you to try to pick just one!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-09-23T10:05:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Pony tails and monkey jammies.

{this moment} was inspired by Soulemama .

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful weekend.

~ Wendy

Autumn on Pinterest . . .

2011-09-22T07:07:00.004-04:00

My name is Wendy and I'm addicted to Pinterest!! If you're not quite sure what it is that I'm talking about you can find it here . Once you get a taste of it, there's NO turning back!!! You can't say I didn't warn you. : )

Some of my favorite recent "pinnings." Very autumnal . I love that word and use it as often as I can this time of the year!!

A felted brooch found at Intres on Etsy.

Crocheted lace earrings found at FebystsanDesigns on Etsy.

Vintage bud vase found at willowonthewater on Etsy.

Felted wood pumpkins found at mmwolters on Etsy.

Orange felted brooch by crafts2love on Etsy.

Falling leaves applique earrings by ThatOldBlueHouse2 on Etsy.

Linen pillow cover from sukanart on Etsy.

Hanging wool acorns by Fairyfolk on Etsy.

Fall Days art print by saranorris on Etsy.

I could go on and on and on . . .

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Thursday.

~ Wendy

Ponytails on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-09-21T00:04:00.003-04:00

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Around Here . . .

2011-09-20T09:02:00.006-04:00

. . . we've been nursing Megan back to health after being in the emergency room with 105.4 fever yesterday morning. All tests were negative for anything serious so we're treating it as something viral. Doing the Tylenor/Motrin, lots of liquids and baths thing. I don't know about you but fevers scare the heck out of me and 105 was the worst fever any of my kids has ever had. She had quite a morning yesterday but was such a good girl. We follow up with the pediatrician later today.

. . . I had all of my chickens home to roost this weekend. You don't realize how much you miss somebody until you get to hug them again. Even when they're only an hour and a half away at school.

Connor and Megan the day he moved into his college dorm.

. . . we've been watching the approximately twenty hydrangea bushes that line our property grow into the visions of loveliness that they've grown into every year . We cut them back a little late this year and I wasn't sure if they'd grow or not but, thankfully, they did and should be at their peak in a couple of weeks. I love to give them away to people so please feel free to ask if you live near by. I have so many, I don't know what to do with them all!! Such problems, I know!! : )

. . . we've made arrangements for our favorite little man from the Bronx to come and visit us over Columbus weekend!! The kids have off from school on that Monday so we thought we'd take advantage of it and spend some time with Jakhai who was the boy we sponsored as part of the Fresh Air Fund over the summer. We miss him so much and can't wait to see him again!!

This is Brendan and Jakhai right before he left to go home. I didn't handle saying goodbye very well. : ( Jakhai always says, "Later" instead of goodbye. His mom told me it's because he thinks goodbyes are forever so he doesn't like to say it. He is such an old soul and I know that he'll be a part of our family for many, many years to come!! : )

What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Many blessings for a wonderful and peaceful day ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-09-17T21:58:00.001-04:00

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-09-15T22:31:00.005-04:00

Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-09-14T08:02:00.004-04:00

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Boardwalk Memories . . .

2011-09-13T08:07:00.004-04:00

We had such a wonderful vacation this year and the kids really loved the boardwalk. We go to one in Wildwood, NJ. There are so many photo ops!!! Next year, I hope to have my new camera lens so I can get some shots of the kids on the rides. Megan will be big enough for some of them and you'll get to see my biggest kid of all ~ my husband!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Monday Morning Meggie . . .

2011-09-12T07:42:00.006-04:00

I took so many photos this summer and am just now getting around to editing them. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites of Megan this morning.

Daddy's girl all the way!!

My beach baby!! She absolutely loved the sand and the water!!

I loved this shot of her in the pool. Those are water drops, not tears. : ) She actually loved the pool. I swear I could bite those lips and I do!!!

This is probably my favorite shot of the summer. Megan is checking out her belly. I laughed so hard!! I found this bikini in Target at the beginning of the summer and couldn't resist!!

Movie star!!!

Love the hair blowing in the sea breeze.

Winning a prize on the boardwalk.

I have so many more photos to share and I'm having fun editing them. Finding the time to do it is another story. : )

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful week ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-09-09T09:58:00.004-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. As inspired by SouleMama.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Best of friends playing in the flood waters left by Hurricane Irene.

Many blessings for a safe and peaceful weekend. God bless America.

~ Wendy

New Beginnings . . .

2011-09-08T08:42:00.007-04:00

Summer is officially over around here and, with that, I'm starting on my much-needed new life of living in a more organized and structured way. I'm not making any promises and I'm going to be gentle with myself if I resort back to my old ways. I am the eternal "fly by the seat of my pants" kinda girl but I feel like it's not working for me as well as it used to.

Years ago, when I was actively participating in a 12-step program, I was introduced to some literature that referred to "living a life of sane and happy usefulness" and that has always stuck in my mind. Lately, I have found the more organized I am the more sane I feel and that, in turn, gives me a feeling of happy usefulness. A feeling like I'm in control of my life instead of the other way around. I'm not a big fan of the word "control" HOWEVER another 12-step "programism" (as I like to refer to them as) taught me to "take what I want and leave the rest."

I'm off to begin my life of sane and happy usefulness!! Wish me luck 'cause God knows I'm gonna need it!!!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-08-26T08:55:00.004-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama .

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

We're preparing for Hurricane Irene, here, in New York but wanted to take some time out for some fun. Brendan and our beautiful Fresh Air Fund sponsee, Jakhai, have become instant best friends since Jakhai's arrival on Monday. On Wednesday nite, we met up with several other families who are sponsoring an inner-city child this summer and attended a minor league baseball game at the new stadium that was built in our area. I took lots of photos but this was definitely one of my faves!!

Tomorrow, we'll be making our final preparations for Irene as she should be arriving some time early Sunday. Thank you to my friends for their wonderful words and prayers for our safety. We are hoping for the best but are preparing for the worst. I will be back on the computer as soon as I can be to let everyone know how we fared. : )

Take care and God bless.

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Feeling a little anxiety about the unknown . . .

2011-08-25T08:46:00.005-04:00

We returned from a wonderful vacation almost two weeks ago and I have been feeling sorta lazy since then. I think I'm ready for the summer to be over and the school year routines to begin again. I've made an effort to enjoy every day and try to stay in the moment this summer and I think I've done a pretty good job of it. I've taken lots of photos but haven't posted many of them. I still have my beach pics in the camera!! Right now, our focus is on preparing for this possible unwelcomed guest.

This is Hurricane Irene and we live right above the little dot where New York is. The news and weather channels are reporting that we could be experiencing weather unlike any other in an entire generation. We're starting to prepare for Irene today by taking down our backyard tents that we've had up all summer and bringing everything inside so it doesn't blow around. Our basement hasn't had any problems with water, thankfully, so we're hoping it will be okay and we'll be able to go down there if we have to. Our neighbors have decent sized trees in their yards but hopefully they are far enough away to not do extensive damage if they fell. My husband has already been called in to work on Sunday morning for a 6 am to 6 pm shift. He works for Con Ed which is the major electricity and gas supplier to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. We're hoping he can make it back home after his shift is over but it's not looking too promising. Everything is just a big question mark at this time . . .

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-08-13T10:42:00.003-04:00

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Fun in the Sun . . .

2011-08-04T22:59:00.002-04:00

I'll be back in a week!! We're off to Wildwood Crest, NJ!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Bitter and Sweet . . .

2011-08-02T07:32:00.007-04:00

My son just pulled out of the driveway headed toward Hofstra University where he'll be attending his freshman orientation for the next three days. I feel like I'm in a dream and someone is going to be waking me up any minute and he's going to be the baby in the crib in our bedroom upstairs instead of my daughter. I don't think that anything can prepare a mother for how quickly the time goes from when you first hold your newborn baby to when you watch him drive off to the beginning of his adult life.

Roots have been pretty easy. It's the wings part that I seem to be having a little trouble with. : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-07-30T23:18:00.003-04:00

Many blessings ~ Wendy

I'm Sooo Ready for This . . .

2011-07-30T10:16:00.006-04:00

We're in the midst of yet another heatwave here in New York. Hazy, hot and humid are three words that I could do without!! Although I'm definitely not ready for the kids to go back to school I am definitely ready for this . . .

and this . . .

and this . . .

and definitely this . . .

Ahhhhh. I'm feeling cooler already!! : )

Many blessings for a happy Saturday ~ Wendy

All photos from Tumblr.

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-07-29T10:02:00.009-04:00

Introducing the Newest Member of Our Family . . .

2011-07-26T11:20:00.006-04:00

This is Mr. Bigglesworth. We adopted him from our local animal shelter. He is a year and a half old and was brought to the shelter by someone who kept him as a pet in his dorm room but was unable to keep him when college ended. He was at Hi -Tor (the name of the shelter) for three months before we adopted him.

I first fell in love with Biggles (he came with his name so we shortened it instead of changing it) when I took my cat Rollie to be neutered by the mobile spay and neuter clinic that had come to Hi -Tor. They go by the name of TARA and are an incredibly wonderful and loving group of people who travel around to help control the pet population. When I had gone into the office to write a check for their services and to make a donation there were several cages in there due to the over abundance of cats and kittens that are surrendered this time of the year. I had seen Biggles on Hi - Tor's Facebook page and couldn't wait to see him in person. He was laid back and took everything in as he watched people coming and going. When I bent over to write the check, Mr. Bigglesworth reached his paw thru his cage and touched my butt. LOL!!! Of course, I instantly fell in love with him and wanted to take him home then and there!!

Biggles meeting Rollie for the first time. They're still working on getting along but I know they'll be best of friends in no time.

It wasn't until a month later that I was able to see Biggles again. I kept track of him thru Facebook and saw that he hadn't yet been adopted. It was also during that time that my cat Rosie had passed away. We went back to Hi - Tor to make a donation of towels and pillow cases that they were in need of and there was Biggles still in his cage. I asked one of the shelter volunteers about him and she told me his background story. She also told me that they were starting to worry about him because he was going stir crazy being in the cage a lot. They took him outside on a leash to walk around but he was starting to lose his spunk. Needless to say, my heart hurt for him. My husband told me that he wasn't ready to have another cat again. The rest of the day all I could do was think about Biggles and literally cried when I thought about this beautiful creature being in a cage.

The next morning, my husband woke up and told me he was going to take my son and his friend to drive some golf balls at our local golf course. They were back in less than an hour. Unbeknownst to me, they went back up to the shelter and adopted Biggles and surprised me with him.

He is so loved and is living the high life here with us!! He has a fresh side to him but we're working on that. We call it his "cattitude." : ) He has found his forever home and is being spoiled rotten. Oh, how I wish every animal looking for a home could have a happy ending!! Please adopt a shelter animal and save a life!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Creatures Big and Small . . .

2011-07-21T00:21:00.006-04:00

While riding bikes at the elementary school behind our house, Brendan and my niece, Annie, came across a baby bunny that couldn't have been more than a couple of weeks old.

He was hopping across the parking lot and the two of them were scared that one of the landscapers cutting the school's lawn would accidentally hurt him.

So they scooped him up and brought him home. They named him "Hope" and found a box in the garage to keep him in. They filled it with grass and rocks and carrots. I found an old hat that I thought would be perfect to use as his nest. I explained to them that he had to go back to the school when the landscapers were finished because he was a wild bunny and needed to be put back in the wild. Needless to say, they weren't exactly thrilled with the idea but understood that it was for the best.

After dinner, Brendan and Annie decided it was time to bring Hope back to where they found him. They decided it would be a good idea to bring him to the playground and wait until we saw another bunny so he wouldn't be alone. After a few minutes of going down the slide with Hope (that poor little thing!!), another rabbit appeared out of the woods. Annie put him down and he quickly hopped over toward the other rabbit and then under a bush where we knew he'd be safe.

During the time that we were on the playground, Brendan's friend Tyler showed up so they seized the moment and played on the swings and then kept a close eye on Hope from the jungle gym. By the way, yes, that is Annie wearing Hope's nest on her head. I warned her that there could be bunny pee in it but she didn't care. What a woman!!! : )

After a while, I told them it was time to go. They were a little upset about leaving Hope but were happy that he had gone into the woods with another rabbit. We got back into the car and took a drive around the lake across from where we live. I could hear them talking about how much they missed Hope.

And then we came across this guy who walked right over to the car looking for a handout and, suddenly, Hope became a distant memory.

Look at that face!!!!!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-07-15T10:20:00.005-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by Soulemama.

Many blessings for a peaceful and wonderful weekend.

~ Wendy

Watching the Parade Go By . . .

2011-07-14T08:26:00.008-04:00

This year, Jim had to work on July 4th. Rather then sit home by ourselves, Brendan, Megan and I took a ride up to my sister's house to spend the day with her and my niece and nephew. My sister lives in a town called Cornwall-on-Hudson. It is the epitome of Smalltown, USA. At 5:00 we walked down the hill to see the parade that the town has every year. There were droves of people coming out of nowhere to see this parade and it gave me such a good feeling to see that patriotism is still very much alive.

Megan watching the parade go by. She loved the music and clapped when the bands came marching by. She hated the fire trucks when they blared their sirens and I had to hold her ears. The other kids were celebrating "Independence Day" by sitting on the other side of the road. : )

This is Grandma Doris. She and her family own Jones Farm which is the most wonderful place to visit if you're ever in Cornwall. There's a gift shop, a bakery filled with all of Grandma Doris' homemade goodies, apples and pumpkins in the fall and a barn with chickens, a miniature pony and donkey and a pig. We love to visit there whenever we can. FYI ~ her snickerdoodles are TO DIE FOR!!! Oh, and the carrot cake is the most sinfully delicious dessert you have ever tried. EVER!!!!

Megan wanting to share her lolli with the people watching the parade next to us.

A fun time was had by all but, by the end, Miss Meggie was ready for a nap. Pink eyes and her thumb in her mouth are a dead giveaway. I guess all that excitement wore her out!!

We look forward to next year's parade and I told my sister that I want to make it a new tradition. I love this country that we live in. Sometimes, I get discouraged and wonder how future generations are going to clean up this mess that our government has created. But then I spend a few hours in Smalltown, USA and know that there is still so much more good in this country than bad.

God bless America!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-07-13T10:26:00.005-04:00

Many blessings ~ Wendy

The Second Leg of Our Adventure . . .

2011-07-11T10:06:00.001-04:00

Our second day in Connecticut, we visited Mystic Seaport and had a wonderful time. It was the perfect day weather-wise and I was in my glory taking lots of photos!!

Meggie dipping her toes in the water.

Mystic Seaport gives you a real feel for what it was like to live in a tiny seaside village many, many years ago.

One of my favorite little houses was the one pictured above. It is a replica of what a colonial home looked like. Below is the kitchen.

Here is the parlour where the family would spend lots of time together. The vintage wallpaper was so beautiful.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of these beautiful daisies peeking thru the weathered fence.

The gang.

Lots more photos tomorrow!!

Have a happy and peaceful Monday. Boy, did this weekend fly by or what?!!?

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-07-09T19:06:00.004-04:00

Hoping this will start your day off with a chuckle!!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

A Big Brother and a Little Sister on Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-07-06T09:59:00.003-04:00

A Few Days Away . . .

2011-07-03T18:56:00.002-04:00

Last week, we packed up the car, the kids and a couple of their friends and drove to Connecticut for a few days for a mini vacation.

First stop . . .

to be continued . . .

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Goodbye My Rosie Girl . . .

2011-06-26T22:58:00.004-04:00

My beautiful cat, Rosie, passed away yesterday. She had been sick for a while but was doing well up until a couple of days ago. She passed away while we weren't at home. I think that was how she wanted it to be. Rosie was my shadow. Everywhere I went, she followed me. She slept with me every night and followed me into the basement to watch me do laundry. She loved me unconditionally. I rescued her twelve years ago as a six week old kitten whose mom had been killed by a car. She was the last kitten in the litter to be adopted. She was meant to be mine. I wanted to share this. I'm sure most people have read this before but it's so beautiful that I wanted to post it here. Until we meet again, my Rosie Girl . . .

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Many blessings ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-06-24T10:52:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Also, visit SouleMama, the inspiration behind {this moment}.

Happy Weekend to you!

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Lovely Lavender . . .

2011-06-21T07:43:00.015-04:00

It seems like everywhere I go lately I see lavender. Lovely bunches of this.

In pretty pots and wreaths. Making everything smell so wonderful!!

Bordering gardens and beautifully weathered fences.

Imagine running thru a field of this!!

Truly one of nature's most brilliant works of art!!!

Many blessings for a beautiful day ~ Wendy

First Time in the Pool . . .

2011-06-20T10:43:00.004-04:00

The pool water finally got warm enough for Megan to take her first dip in our pool.

Big brother, Trevor, held her tight but I could tell what she was thinking . . .

she even had her first surfing lesson . . .

but in the end, she just wanted to be safe in her daddy's arms.

Many blessings for a happy day ~ Wendy

A Happy Fathers' Day to All . . .

2011-06-19T11:55:00.004-04:00

Today, I'll go about my business without trying to think too much. I will celebrate this day with dinner at 4:00 with my father-in-law (my hubby has to work until six). He is the father of my first husband. For those of you who don't know, my first husband passed away six and a half years ago at the age of 40. It was very sudden and very shocking but myself and our three young sons made it through with the support and love of family and friends. My father stepped in to help with the boys. He attended their sporting events, took them to the mall, gave them hugs and came to visit "just because." This was a very big thing for my father because he wasn't really known for that when we were growing up. I always said that his grandchildren were reaping the benefits of a kinder, gentler Grandpop.

Almost a year to the day that my husband passed, my father passed out in a local deli. We were told it was some kind of heart event but not a heart attack. The police defibrillated him and got him breathing again but his brain had been deprived of oxygen for too long and he was severely brain-damaged. We held vigil at his bed for 10 days knowing that he was going to die. He passed away at the age of 59. Again, my life was turned upside down. My father and I were just starting to scratch the surface of our relationship. He had just retired, bought a fishing boat and had a grandson named for him. It's five and a half years later and I could still cry a river when I think about it.

When my father was in that hospital bed I talked to him a lot. It's said that your sense of hearing is the last to go so we made sure that everyone that came to see him spoke to him. We laughed and reminisced and my sisters and I heard stories of his childhood from his cousins. We celebrated his life while he was still with us.

On one of the rare moments that I got to spend alone with him I told him that after losing my husband and now my father within a year of each other "I had better get a good man out of the deal." Those were my exact words and, little did I know, the plans were already being put into motion for exactly that. Almost a year to the day after that conversation, I met Jim.

From day one, Jim embraced the boys and John's family and they did the same in return. My mother-in-law passed away last year and this has brought us even closer to John's dad. Also, last year we had our baby girl and even though she and my father-in-law aren't related by blood there is a bond there that is so strong it makes me teary just thinking about it. God is good.

My wish is for everyone that is feeling a sense of sadness today for the loss of their father. I hope that they will think about the joyful times and not the fact that they're no longer here in physical form. There is such a thin veil that separates us from them. They are always with us and listening to us. I take great comfort in this. I still cry but can smile while I do it. Yes, God is good.

Many blessings ~ Wendy

Stress-Free Saturday . . .

2011-06-18T08:38:00.002-04:00

And always remember ~

“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” — Ernestine Ulmer

Many blessings for a happy (and stress-free) Saturday ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-06-16T20:59:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see and go visit SouleMama, to see the inspiration behind {this moment}.

Many blessings for a happy weekend ~ Wendy

Cherries ~ They Aren't Just for Eating Anymore . . .

2011-06-16T10:56:00.003-04:00

On the Way to NYC on Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-06-15T11:50:00.004-04:00

Rollie's Busy Day . . .

2011-06-14T08:07:00.007-04:00

The mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic came to our local animal shelter last week. We've used them in the past but had to travel 45 minutes away for them so we were thrilled to hear that they were going to be close by this time.

These people do God's work, as far as I'm concerned. For a minimum cost compared to what a veterinarian charges, your cat (they only fix cats) gets spayed or neutered and a rabies shot for $60.00. We paid the extra $10.00 for a distemper shot since he's an indoor/outdoor cat. Rollie was actually our neighbor's cat but decided he wanted to live with us instead. We also have his mom who came to us as a stray. She had four babies and Rollie was one of them.

I knew that by choosing to go to the animal shelter to have Rollie fixed I was also facing a bit of a fear of mine. I am a huge animal lover and I don't deal well with seeing homeless animals in cages. I "friended" Hi-Tor (the name of our local shelter) on Facebook and have been able to see how wonderful they've become in the last few years. They didn't have the best reputation in the past but that's all changed now. The volunteers there are nothing short of incredible. They are always sponsoring community outreach activities where they spotlight some of the furry residents of Hi-Tor, having fundraisers, sending out mailings and updating on Facebook. This has greatly increased the number of adoptions that are taking place.

Right now they are at full capacity so they have to put some of the cats and kittens in the small lobby of their building.These babies were so sweet. I caught them in mid-meow so the two white ones look kinda fierce in the photo. LOL!!

If I didn't think my husband would take me to divorce court for bringing another animal into this house, I would've taken this guy in a heartbeat!! His name is Mr. Big and he was an absolute sweetie pie!! He was right next to the front desk in the lobby so while I was bent over writing a check he kept putting his paw on my butt. Thankfully, he's declawed!! : ) He's been at the shelter for about a month and the volunteers all adore him. He's treated like a king so please don't worry about him. I NEVER could handle this at all if I had any doubt that these babies were all okay!!!!!!

And here was one of my favorite residents. His name is Gully and he has the most beautiful eyes that you've ever seen on a dog. I watched him play in his kennel and then chase around a butterfly that flew into it. After breakfast, they get to run around in the fenced in yard behind the shelter and then swim in the kiddie pools that people have donated. It's donations that keep this place running as well as it does.

Rollie made it thru his surgery very well and came home and slept for about 24 hours and then was good as new!!

PLEASE spay and neuter your pets and give what you can to your local animal shelter. It will be greatly appreciated. : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

NHS Class of 2011 Prom Night . . .

2011-06-10T22:03:00.001-04:00

Our oldest son, Connor, attended his prom on Friday nite. It was a little emotional for me on several different levels but so exciting at the same time. My first born is about to graduate from high school and begin the next phase of his life. He is so ready to spread his wings and fly!!

Aunt Stephanie (my sister) helping Connor with his bow tie. Thank goodness she was there. I'm terrible with this kind of stuff!! : )

This is Connor's beautiful date, Allison. They've been friends since elementary school. Most of his friends went with each other just as friends. I really think that's why they all had such a good time. Less drama that way!! : )

I just had to get a picture of Allison's shoes. They were gorgeous and her toenails matched the color of her dress perfectly!!

My handsome son looks just like his father. Although John was not physically here to see Connor on his special day, I have no doubt that he was looking down on his son with nothing but pride for the young man that he has become.

Connor with his football coach and a few of his closest friends. They were all so handsome!!!

It was a special night, filled with lots of friends and special memories to look back on. Everyone had a wonderful time and made it home safely. Who could ask for anything more?!!?

Next stop . . .

GRADUATION!!!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

2011-06-09T23:02:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see and go visit SouleMama, to see the creator of {this moment}.

Many blessings for a happy weekend ~ Wendy

Look Who's Two . . .

2011-06-08T22:32:00.004-04:00

Happy birthday to my cousin Pam's adorable English Bulldog, Gidget!!! She came to the baseball field last nite wearing her birthday hat and carrying her special cookie that her mommy and daddy bought for her. She kept trying to bury it in the gravel that was under the bleachers we were sitting in. This photo was taken at the end of the game. She jumped up into "her" chair and struck a pose. The paparazzi went wild!!!!! : )

Many blessings ~ Wendy

"The Party's Over" on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

2011-06-07T22:36:00.004-04:00

Crackers in Bed . . .

2011-06-06T23:11:00.012-04:00

Daddy says there's only one person who's allowed to eat crackers in his bed . . .

and I'm only allowed to eat them on Mommy's side!!!

Many blessings for a Happy Tuesday ~ Wendy (and Megan, too!!)

Why Oh Why, Meg Ryan ?!!? . . .

2011-06-06T00:01:00.001-04:00

One of my most favorite movies ever is "When a Man Loves a Woman" starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan. It was made in 1994 and is the story of an airline pilot (played by Andy Garcia) and his wife (played by Meg Ryan) who are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While she enters detox, he must face the truth of his enabling behavior.

The way Garcia's character looks at his wife in this film takes my breath away. I'm getting butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it. : )

I laughed and I cried during this very poignant film. I also fell in love with Meg Ryan as an actress and wanted to be her, even if it was just for a day ~ tall and skinny with gorgeous blue eyes and a haircut to die for!!

This weekend, I came across this current photo of her and I wanted to cry. I know that getting older in Hollywood is not exactly welcomed with open arms but, for the love of God, why do you have to go to a plastic surgeon and completely take away the beauty that you were lucky enough to be born with? I'm all for being tweaked here and there but when you start to have an alien look about you it's time to stop.

Goodbye, Meg Ryan. I'll miss you and your adorable former self!! : (

Many blessings for a wonderful week ~ Wendy

Sunday Sayings . . .

2011-06-04T14:07:00.005-04:00

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

– Mark Twain.

Many blessings ~ Wendy