{this moment} . . .

{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 safe and peaceful weekend ~ Wendy

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy . . .

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 : )

{this moment} On Follow Friday . . .

{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 safe and happy weekend ~ Wendy

Fall in Full Swing . . .

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

{this moment} On Follow Friday . . .

{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 . . .

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 . . .

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

Ponytails on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

Many blessings ~ Wendy