Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Great Mushroom Adventure



Among the gifts my husband received at Christmas from our daughter Aria was a kit to farm oyster mushrooms (the other was a kit to make Barola wine but that's another story).

About a week ago he started his little oyster farm. Every day he would mist the small box of soil and soon, very soon the beginnings of mushrooms started to appear. It was truly amazing to watch them grow almost before our eyes.





Tonight Mike was ready to harvest his "oyster" mushrooms. He had a plan.



Here he is. I think he looks very pleased with his first crop.








He wanted me to take a "before" picture of his mushrooms. Then he got to work cooking.

It didn't take long before dinner was ready. Here it is! He made a divine, out of this world mushroom risotto! Wow, I can hardly wait for the next batch of mushrooms to grow!


















Tuesday, February 28, 2012

It's Not Over Yet







"Sam: But you know, the thing about romance is...



people only get together right at the very end. "
-Love Actually

Monday, February 27, 2012

Once Upon a Time

“Once upon a time there was a girl I knew, who lived across the street.



Brown hair, brown eyes. When she smiled, I smiled.

When she cried, I cried.

Every single thing that ever happened to me that mattered,

in some way had to do with her. That day Winnie and I promised each other that no matter what, that we'd always be together.

It was a promise full of passion and truth and wisdom.

It was the kind of promise that can only come from the hearts of the very young.”
The Wonder Years

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Diane's House Warming Celebration, Saturday Feb. 25, 2012












Spent a wonderful afternoon and evening celebrating with family and friends Diane's new home. It sits on a little over an acre of land and feels like a precious jewel. The yard has a rose garden, wisteria pergola and many beautiful places to wander and to sit to breathe in the beautiful landscape. As the sun set lots of twinkling lights lit up the garden area. Diane had said the previous owner had this painted on the wall above a door leading to the courtyard:



"You are exactly where God wants you to be." And with that she told the realtor,



"I'll take it!"






Here is a little peek with a photo smilebox of Diane's wonderful new home.






We wish her many wonderful warm and loving times with family and friends in this lovely setting.






"Home, Sweet Home Diane!"































Click to play this Smilebox photo album
Create your own photo album - Powered by Smilebox
A photo album by Smilebox

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Gotta Love Some Ice Cream Time







"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither,

but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate." – Thornton Wilder

Friday, February 24, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Books We Love to Love



"For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die." -Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Monday, February 20, 2012

Saturday Night With Childhood Friends

We had a wonderful time with our friends and family this past weekend. It's so special to share childhood memories with old friends. Here' s a little glimpse of our time together Saturday night.









Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook
Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox
This digital scrapbook personalized with Smilebox

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Before Our Eyes



“If we could see the miracle

of a single flower clearly,
our whole life would change.”
Buddha

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Making Life Yours-A Matter of Perspective



Perception:
There is no secret recipe for happiness and contentment. The individuals who move through life joyously have not necessarily been blessed with lives of abundance,
love,
success,
and prosperity.
Such people have, however, been blessed with the ability to take the circumstances they’ve been handed and make them into something great.

Our individual realities are colored by perception—
delight and despair come from within rather than without.
Situations we regard as fortuitous please us while situations we judge inauspicious cause us no end of grief. Yet if we can look at all we have accomplished without dwelling on our perceived misfortune and make each new circumstance our own, the world as a whole becomes a brighter place.

A simple shift in attitude can help us recognize and unearth the hidden potential for personal and outer world fulfillment in every event,
every relationship,
every duty,
and every setback.

The universe is often an unpredictable and chaotic place, and the human tendency is to focus on the negative and assume the positive will care for itself. But life can be no more or no less than what you make of it.

If you are working in a job you dislike, you can concentrate on the positive aspects of the position and approach your work with gusto. What can you do with this job that can turn it around so you do love it.

When faced with the prospect of undertaking a task you fear, you can view it as an opportunity to discover what you are truly capable of doing.

Similarly, unexpected events, when viewed as surprises, can add flavor to your existence. By choosing to love life no matter what crosses your path, you can create an atmosphere of jubilance that is wonderfully infectious.

A change in perspective is all it takes to change your world, but you must be willing to adopt an optimistic, hopeful mind-set.To make a conscious decision to be happy is not enough. You must learn to observe life’s complexities through the eyes of a child seeing everything for the first time. You must furthermore divest yourself of preconceived notions of what is good and what is bad so that you can appreciate the rich insights concealed in each stage of your life’s journey.

And you must strive to discover the dual joys of wanting what you have. As you gradually shift your perspective, your existence will be imbued with happiness and contentment that will remain with you forever.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Thursday, February 16, 2012

You Should Do This





"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,
but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Magic Key




"Love unlocks doors and


opens windows that weren't even there before." -Mignon Mc Lauglin

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day 2012




Here's to a Happy Valentine's Day and to "young love" no matter what your age.




I'm dedicating this Valentine post to my two daughters and the wonderful young men in their lives. May each of your hearts always be filled with the gift of true love.




Aria and Daniele









Athena and Mat




lyrics from " I'll Take Romance"



"I'll take romance,
While my heart is young and eager to fly,
I'll give my heart a try - I'll take romance.
I'll take romance,
While my arms are strong and eager for you,
I'll give my arms their cue - I'll take romance.



So when you want me, call me,
In the hush of the evening;
When you call me in the hush of the
Evening I'll rush to my
First real romance,
While my heart is young and eager and gay,
I'll give my heart away - I'll take romance."

Monday, February 13, 2012

It's That Time Of Year



"Let's fall in love



Why shouldn't we fall in love?



Now is the time for it,



while we are young



Let's fall in love." -lyrics and music Arlen and Koehler

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Following a Princess


Everyone Loves A Fairytale





Princess Kate on the eve of her 30th birthday.


































I am a huge fan of Princess Kate. One of the blogs I follow: http://holledayz.blogspot.com/



posted this site which follows Princess Kate and details things she has worn and events she has attended. I am posting that web site for interested Royal watchers and Princess Kate admirers in particular.




Friday, February 10, 2012

Let's Rendezvous

"Meet me where the sky touches the sea, wait for me where the world begins." -Sid Malone

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Happy 28th Birthday Aria !!

Christmas 2011


Hope you have a wonderful birthday today! I will miss being with you to celebrate your 28th year. Just think next year you and I will be the same age!





Here's your big virtual Birthday Party...lots of room for all the family and friends to celebrate YOU! Close your eyes and picture everyone at your birthday table.
















then,





Blessed be the mind that dreamed the day
The blueprint of your life
Would begin to glow on earth,
Illuminating all the faces and voices
That would arrive to invite
Your soul to growth.

Blessed be those who have loved you
Into becoming who you were meant to be,
Blessed be those who have crossed your life
With dark gifts of hurt and loss
That have helped to school your mind
In the art of disappointment.

On this echoing-day of your birth,
May you open the gift of solitude
In order to receive your soul
Enter the generosity of silence
To hear your hidden heart;
Know the serenity of stillness
To enfolded anew
By the miracle of your being.

For Your Birthday by John Donohue




Happy 28th Birthday Aria!


May the year ahead hold many gifts of joy and happiness.

Big hugs to my girlie on her birthday!

I love you so!

Love, Mom
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