A Halloween Whirlwind . . .

  We've had a wonderful whirlwind of Halloween activities going on for the last couple of days that began with the family donating a few hours of our time at Hi Tor, our local animal shelter.  They asked me if I could take some photos again and of course I jumped at the chance.

Megan and Scarecrow Tom.

My honey Jim, son Brendan and daughter Megan.

Beautiful Cocoa.  She's a big mush!!!

Zorro kissing the Scarecrow.

This sweet baby is named Lucky.  He was found on the thruway after being hit by a car when he was just a couple of months old.  He is a sweety pie with the most soulful eyes.  He needs his forever home and a family to love him the way he deserves to be loved.  If my house wasn't at maximum capacity I would take him in a heartbeat.  : (

How do you say no to those beautiful faces??  I'm hoping they all get their forever homes during this season of giving and I know those that don't are still in wonderful hands at the shelter.  The workers and volunteers are a group of amazing people that are there purely for their love of animals.  My kind of people!!!  : )

Next up was a party at one of the churches in our town on Saturday night.  We picked up Megan's friend Gracie and headed over to St. Thomas of Canterbury for games, treats and a screening of  "The Great Pumpkin" which is definitely one of my all time favorites.  I have to admit I do get sad when Charlie Brown gets a rock in his trick or treat bag though.  : (

Yesterday I headed over to Megan's class where I helped the kids put their costumes on and get ready for the annual costume parade.  I can't tell you how happy I am that they still do this.  So many schools are banning celebrations at school and it makes me so sad.  This is what life is all about.  There is so much negative in this world.  We all need something happy and positive to look forward to.  The happy buzz in the school was contagious!!

Megan and her friend Ava getting ready for the parade.

Marching in the parade with her class.

Megan's class after the parade.  These photos are just so classic and timeless to me.  In the blink of an eye, they'll all be teenagers!!! 

Back in the classroom loading up on sugar and popcorn balls!!!

We went trick or treating with friends last night for the first time in our new town. We moved here the week after Halloween last year.  Everyone told us how great it is for kids.  It's actually been voted one of the best trick or treating towns in the country.  See for yourself.  : )  We got home right before 8 o'clock.  It was a long day and Megan was pooped.  So was Megan's mom.  : )  


So now it's November 1st and we all know what that means.  The beginning of the holiday season.  The beginning of hustle and bustle.  I'm going to make some promises to myself . . .

I'm going to keep things simple.  I'm going to take things one day at a time.  I'm not going to have any expectations.  I am going to accept things for how they are today.  I am going to accept that I am right where I'm supposed to be.  I am going to accept the things I cannot change.  I am going to try to stay in the present moment as best as I can and take this season all in.  I want to see things thru the eyes of my daughter who still believes in the magic of Christmas and all that comes with it.  I want to count my blessings each and every day because I have so very much to be grateful for.

 Happy Tuesday to you ~ Wendy

Something to Make you Smile . . .

Do you remember a couple of months ago when I posted that I thought the female cardinal that visited the feeder outside my office window was pregnant?

Mom.

Dad.

 Well guess what???? . . .

IT'S A GIRL!!!!   Tell me she's not the cutest thing you ever saw!!!  As far as I can tell, there is only one baby.

She sits in the bush outside my window and chirps incessantly while her parents look on and, my goodness, does she have lots to talk about!!  I can't help but laugh whenever I hear her because it reminds me of Jim and I when Megan "chirps" incessantly.  Lol!!! 

I hope that put a smile on your face.  : )


Wishing you a beautiful day ~ Wendy

July 4th Celebrations in Cornwall-on-Hudson . . .

We took a drive up to Cornwall-on-Hudson to celebrate July 4th this year and I have to tell you that any doubts I had about moving up there were completely erased as I drove thru this beautiful little town.  There were American flags everywhere you looked!!  Hanging on porches, flying in the back of pickup trucks, on the front of cars, on bandanas around dogs' necks and on and on and on.  People were preparing the floats for the parade that went thru town at 5:00.  There were bbq's and gatherings on porches.  The gazebo in town was decorted in red, white and blue.  Honestly, it was kind of surreal and made me feel like I was in some sort of patriotic movie of yesteryear.  LOL!!! 

Waiting on the parade.

After feasting on sausage and pepper parm heroes, penne a la vodka and peach pie at my sister's house, we walked down the street to where the parade was held. 

A refurbished milk truck, complete with old milk bottles and crates!!!

A giant wooden eagle.

I could not resist taking a photo of this guy's pants.  He was dressed in red, white and blue from head to toe!!!  : )

This is Grandma Doris.  She is the matriarch of Jones' Farm, the cutest place to visit in Cornwall and the subject of many blogs here thru the years.  : )

The back of Grandma Doris' float.

This band really surprised us.  We thought it would be some little Dixieland band until they started playing some serious disco music.  Fantastic!!!!!

Brendan and Jakhai waiting for the parade to start.

No Main Street USA parade would be complete without the Boy Scouts!!!

It was such a wonderful day.  The skies cleared up right before the parade started and it wasn't too hot.  That is ALWAYS a plus for me!!!  This time next year we hope to be residents there and not just visitors. Still working on getting the house on the market.  We can't believe what a long process it is to get all of those unfinished projects done but it looks like we should be good to go by next weekend.  From my mouth to God's ears!!!  : )


Happy Wednesday!!  ~ Wendy

Easter Goodies at Jones' Farm . . .

Spring has arrived at Jones' Farm along with lots of wonderful Easter goodies.  I wanted to share some of them so you can see why we love visiting there so much!!

I fell in love with these adorable little chicks and ended up bringing two of them home with me.

Some hand-crocheted eggs and chicks.

Not for Easter but I fell in love with the hippo in the middle!!!

I really loved this faux jellybean and chocolate  bunny garland.

 And these don't really have anything to do with Easter but I thought they were great!!!

We had a brilliantly gorgeous day here in New York today!!!  I drove into the city to pick up Jakhai and he'll be staying with us thru next week.  The windows are open and there's a nice breeze coming thru without it being too cold.  There's lots going on at the house.  Hammering and sawing, packing and soon to be painting.  I feel the winds of change in the air and I'm feeling a little excited about it.  We hope to have the house listed some time in May.  My cousin (also our realtor) has given us our final TO DO list and it's a long one but we're up for the challenge for sure!!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful day ~ Wendy