"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep....

...In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep....
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru...
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing....
the dream that you wish will come true"
 - Cinderella

Thought of the day...

Opportunity is missed by people
because it's dressed in overalls....and looks like work.

Antsy, antsy, antsy....

We are having some serious renovations being done to our yard in a few weeks.
I didn't think I'd be this frustrated waiting for them to take place, and yet....here I am, actually almost irritated at having to wait until the 15th of July.

We have a beautiful yard, and I think I'm a little irked that our landscaper has sort of shrugged off maintaining what isn't being modified at the moment; because it's all going to be done when the "project" is completed.  But, we have so much that has to be maintained in the mean time...

...and it's making me... antsy.  irritated.  frustrated.

The "project" is we're clearing out about 6-8 ft deep of woods, about 50 yards wide - which really expands our yard (which is already quite big, truth be told...) and we're expanding the patio around the pool and building an outdoor fireplace.  Fun, right?  But, ugh - the wait is ridiculous.

I didn't think I'd be quite this excited, and yet I am.

Yes, I'm borderline whining, but it's only because I hate the fact that my landscaping is a bit overgrown. I don't like it messy.  I like it neat and weeded and pretty.... !!!

Ok.  I feel better now.
Sort of...

The Not So Real Peeps...of the la la world

I'm sorry but ....does anyone watch the "Real Housewives of OC" -- and notice how different Brooks is now?

It almost accentuates the fact that he was clearly so over the top fake last season.   He's probably being more real and himself this time - but it almsot makes him seem worse than before. 

Gross.

And I'm sorry - I know that the lovely Tamra Barney just married her boyfriend Eddie Judge.
But.

I don't know.
He just doesn't seem like her type.
Actually.  It's more like she doesn't seem his type.

I just wonder how long this one is going to last....

Time keeps on ticking....and how quickly it flies.

It's almost the end of the school year for the kiddies.

Yesterday, Princess Petunia had a function in school where we were invited to see their "Wax Museum".  All the 3rd graders were assigned a historical character and they've worked on speeches, presentation boards and costumes leading up to yesterday.  They were all in costume and as we approached them, they came to life as if they were figures in a wax museum - and gave us informative speeches about who "they are".  Everyone from Tituba to John Hancock, to Myles Standish - which is the person Princess Petunia was assigned to be.  It was really fun - and a great format to teach the kids history in a way they'll never forget.  We certainly didn't have that kind of thing when I was a kid...!  (Of course, if you ask my kids that was back in the "olden days"....)

Today was a function at my son's school - a Celebration of Learning.  We got to see all of the different projects they've worked on all year in each subject and they had fun little activities for us to do with them while we were there, like origami and art.  The best part of it for me, outside of just being there - was the fact that my son was still okay with being affectionate with me in front of his friends.  Actually - most of the boys were, now that I think of it!  He still was grabbing my hand to walk me to each class room and didn't hesitate to give me a big hug and a kiss and tell me he loved me as I was leaving.

It's hard to imagine that this fall I'll have a 7th grader and a 4th grader.
It seems like just yesterday I had two little kids, giggling and laughing...
I just want to keep their little hearts with me always......

Be the change you wish to see in the world....

Finally, fortunately, fabulously Friday....

Okay, so today it's 55 degrees and monsooning out.
Rewind to a week ago today and it was 99 and tropical.
What's the weather in New England?  Um, wait a minute....it's bound to change!

So, I poured myself a nice big glass of Pinot Noir and made a chili for dinner.  It's the perfect meal for a raw day like today.  Even though a "summer" 55 is still warmer than a winter one.  It's amazing how relativity works....

It's a pretty laid back weekend on tap.  Tomorrow I'm looking forward to a lazy day around the house, catching up on things - like polishing my hardwood floors.  I love, love, love to do that.   Then, my Son has a Red Sox game so we'll drop him off at school to meet the bus and then take the Princess Petunia out for a bit.

Sunday is supposed to be gorgeous once again....and I'm thinking poolside.  A little bbq...a little splashing...a little sun.

However you spend your weekend - I hope it's filled with laughter and love. 
Maybe even a little more sunshine than what we have here at the moment...

Ben, the two of us need look no more....

 I've mentioned before - we have pet rats.
We love "our boys"... they're affectionate, lovable, clean and just fun.

So, imagine my reaction when I received a text today from G saying that one of my sister in law's friends (who also is a fancy rat owner) said that she was given a rat that was abandoned - and surprise - she was pregnant.  So on Tuesday, her new girl gave birth to 6 teensy tiny babies.  Of course, the next question was -- did we want one? (or two....)

To my shock, G said "yes"....
(Insert big smiley face here....)

So, while I do have to buy a new tank and condo top - since we have to do that anyway, we might as well take two.  Two rats are no more work than one, and honestly - we'll have 6 rats at that point.  (I know, you're thinking "intervention", right?)  Well, truthfully - 6 rats go through no more food than 4 do.  And they're so clean!!  They don't smell, they keep their cages neat (except for oldest boy Snake who is a bit messy....) and sadly, they don't live for very long.  Two and a half years is the most usually.  Snake is a year with us in July, and he could've been 6 months when we got him so....we don't know how much longer he'll be with us; Pop Tart will be with us a year in September, and while we know he was younger, it may not have been by much.  Stefano & Wilfork are just babies....and then we'll have these new guys.

(Honestly, my house is big enough that these guys basically have their own floor!  They're up in "Kidtown" which is sort an au pair suite, so it's not as if we're over run with animals.  It sounds worse than it actually is. )

We've determined that these will be "Pokemon" boys.  The kids each get to name one after their favorite Pokemon creature.

We can't get them until their 21 days old, so we have about 14 more to go.
...the countdown is on!

Hiatus Haiku

Sure I have been gone
Life had just got in the way
But I am back now.

Quiet with out the blog
Miss speaking my mind out loud
Feels good to write again.

So much has happened
Will be tough to fully express
But I will try to.

Summer is here now
Life is full of excitement
Looking forward to share.

Hope that I've been missed
As much as I've missed being here
Sit back and enjoy.

Bluer than blue...or maybe a little blah...

blue

/blo͞o/

Adjective Of a color intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky or sea on a sunny day.

Noun Blue color or pigment.

Verb Make or become blue: "the light dims, bluing the retina"; "blued paper"; "the day would haze, the air bluing with afternoon".

Synonyms adjective. gloomy - azure noun. azure 

From farm...to table

It's significantly cooler right now than it's been all day.

I'm sipping wine inside my screened gazebo, listening to the rain drizzling down.  I just finished the starting of the planting of my garden.  Early this morning I went shopping and found my window boxes that fit over the deck railing, as well as the cedar whiskey barrels.  I also bought some of my vegetables....I didn't get everything until later today after Princess Petunia's softball game, because she wanted to pick some things out herself.

So it's only the starting - because I need more soil, and actually more window boxes.  But those I'll get tomorrow.  Besides we still have flowers to plant!

What did we do for veggies you're wondering? 5 lettuce mix, iceberg & radicchio; chocolate mint, sweet basil, rosemary and cilantro;  white onion, chives and garlic; blueberries, cherry tomatoes & bear tomotoes; watermelon, canteloupe and broccoli.  All in pots and boxes, if you can believe it.   I almost planted swiss chard but didn't....and I couldn't find kale.  But if I find it....we're growing it!

I was so excited driving home today to get started on it.
It's funny how something so simple and so basic, can be one of the happiest and simplest things in life.  That's the key though, right?  Keep it simple...

Things that I'm crushing on right now....

1. "Bent" aka "Just give me a reason" - Pink
2.  Anything with Cab Franc in it, most especially Merlot. (I totally crush on those two anyway, so together - it's practically the Reese's Cup of wine!)
3. Krishna incense that I bought at the Namaste Gift Shop on Macdougal St in NYC (Greenwich Village)
4.  New York City, in it's entirety. 
5.  My new Brooks Avenna 4 Running Shoes.  (Now, to run more consistently....)
6.  Tocco Bianca

...the sounds, of silence.....

Yes, I disappeared for a brief moment in time.
Just so much going on in this girl's world these days.

We lost a family member this week...and it was a whirlwind.
And a good friend of mine lost their Mom as well.
And Wednesday, when we buried our family member - it was the 3rd anniversary of my Mom's passing.

Prior to that, I can't remember the last time I blogged - or what I wrote about, truthfully,  I know that over the last week or so I've had some great rants but yet here I am, logged in - and they're all escaping me at the moment. 

Well, I've got a few thoughts I can share actually.

Regarding the dead bomber - I look at it this way:  it costs at minimum 30k a year to imprison him, had he been alive.  Why not ship his body back to Khazakstan, or where ever he is from.  I've got to think one dead person is going to cost less to ship back to the Mother Country than to keep alive in the prison system.  Just sayin'.....

Regarding Jody Arias, that sick twisted maniac.  I don't believe a word she says.  She doesn't want to die - she wants to live, which is why she's saying it.  I'm sorry, not only was the crime atrocious, but her cavalier demeanor after the fact is equally as bad.  I have zero compassion for her, and personally think she'd be a waste of taxpayer's dollars.  But that's just my opinion....

Regarding the Ohio kidnapper, Ariel Castro - I'm sorry, did I read that the judge actually set a bail for him?  Really???  And not for anything but did anyone else pick up on the disinterest and disdain in the 911 dispatcher's voice when the call came in?  Clearly, he thought our hero was "cuckoo for cocoa puffs..".  Its obviously a socio-economically depressed area where he kept these girls hostage for years, but I'm sorry - this girl thinks that the police department definitely dropped the ball somewhere along the line.  How do you get called to that location years ago regarding stories of naked women and they don't find them?!  Someone's got some 'splaining to do....

Clearly, it's been a rather dark week or so in my world.  And yet, I've managed to try to keep the sun shining..... every day is another day to have a good day, right?

Onwards - and upwards.

Inquiring minds want to know....

So, here's one for you.
Why is it, that when you buy trail mix -- it's predominantly raisins?

Even the "Magical Mystery Mix" from Whole Foods - isn't that magical nor mysterious.
It's clearly, predominantly raisins.  And not just plain raisins, but yogurt covered ones as well.

So basically, I bought a container of raisins with a few nuts and chocolate chips scattered in.

I hate raisins.
HATE them.

I don't like them cooked in food...I don't like them in bagels or bread.  And dear God, don't give me plain raisins.  I do however, tolerate yogurt raisins.

And of course - wine.
But I will qualify with that I don't particularly care for Amarones (heavy raisin flavor) or dessert wines.  Outside of the cloyingly sweet flavor, I don't love ones with a raisin like quality.

Where this disdain for the dried little grape came from, I'll never know.  I remember my mother giving me the little Sunmaid raisin boxes when I was little and I remember loving them.  I don't know if I ate a bad one or what - but man, do I not like them.

And yet here I sit, eating the very un-magical and un-mysterious mix from Whole Foods.
Trying to avoid the raisins......

“We don’t need a list of rights and wrongs, tables of dos and don’ts: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever.” — Philip Pullman

(Before I begin this post - let me just say that Angie Miller from our very own Beverly - is insanely good.  She could be the next Kelly Clarkson/Carrie Underwood.  Crazy talented....nice to see "Boston" represented for a change!)

So I recently found my charger for my Nook (which, actually was G's Nook- I bought it for him for Xmas one year, but unfortunately he was not impressed...so mine it became.)  I am definitely more of a "see, touch, feel" kind of girl with the reading experience.  I love the book store.  I love the feel of the books, the smell - and the visual of it all.

At the same time - it's almost like walking into a DSW; it's sensory overload and I don't know where to begin so sometimes....I wander aimlessly, and end up leaving empty handed. 

(Imagine, a girl leaving a shoe store emptyhanded? Yes, that is a horror.  But trust me, I've done it.)

I also hesitate to buy the "trendy" books.  A while back, I did the book club thing -- and some of the books we read, or books I read on my own that were Oprah's "must reads" were really not that great.  Disappointing even.  Of course, reading books like Memoirs of a Geisha or Kite Runner can pretty much ruin you for all other books.  Brilliant writing, whether it's in books or music can make you incredibly particular for future enjoyment.

So my question out there to any of you bloggers - are any of you on the Nook?  Are you interested in sharing books?  And at a minimum - could you share titles that you found to be interesting to read?  I'm game for just about anything but Nora Roberts types of books. 

Let me know! I'd love to start reading again....

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero. - Marc Brown

I'm 5 years older than my younger sister.  
While it doesn't seem like a lot of years - it truly is.
The age difference between 10 and 5 is tremendous.
15 and 10; 20 and 15 - equally so.
By the time you're 30 and 25 it pretty much equals out and you're both "grownups" on the same page.

But I was never mean to my sister.
I might have played a prank...but I never set out to hurt her feelings, or make her feel badly about herself.  Had I known more of the people that weren't nice to her when she was younger, I'd have "kicked their asses".  I had no one to protect me, and I would've definitely protected her. 

I've never, ever laid a hand on my sister - ever.  (Trust me, there have been times when I've wanted to, but I'd never done it....)

So I don't understand the dynamic between my son and my daughter.
He's just so mean to her.

He doesn't get that he is her everything...her best friend, actually.  And that she hangs for his approval on everything. The quote I chose for my title is almost verbatim of what I try to explain to him - about how important he is to her.  I can't tell if he doesn't understand --or maybe he does get it and just doesn't care - which makes his unkindness to her that much worse.

Don't get me wrong - there are some days when they are frick and frack.  Best buddies and life couldn't be better.  But lately, it just seems like he's all about tearing her down and making her doubt herself.  He's just being mean...and that, I don't understand at all.

Of course,  I never had a brother -so maybe that's just what they do.

Anyone...?  Anyone?

What a week...

I was absolutely riveted to the television, as probably most Bostonians were this week.
We were in NYC when the attack initally took place.  While I was happy to have fun with the kids, it was overshadowed by the want to be home.

I'm usually there on Patriots Day.  It's amazingly awe inspiring watching the runners cross the finish line, and it was rare for me not to be there.  I'm very happy that I wasn't - but I can't promise I won't be there in the future. 

I am always proud to be an American.  I am supremely proud to be a Bostonian....and I always have been - and will continue to forever be - in awe of our law enforcement.  96 hours from attack to capture....not all cities would be able to pull that off. 

Boston proud - Boston strong.

Dear COWARDS,

Um.. where to begin?
Seriously, are you that stupid?
You look like young men - typical prototype for brain washing by political activists.
Throwing your lives away for what?

What?
Nothing.  That's what.

You can run - and you can try to hide - but trust me, we will find you.

Whether you are domestic kiddies influenced by international causes - or international kiddies who are just stupid - we see who you are. 
Dumbasses.

Clearly reconnaissance was not a strong suit of yours when plotting this out.
Did you really think that there aren't cameras everywhere?
http://www.fbi.gov/news/updates-on-investigation-into-multiple-explosions-in-boston/photos

Did you really think you didn't stand out?  In your Ralph Lauren baseball cap and Bridgestone Golf cap?  So very American....tsk, tsk.

I don't care what anyone else thinks - this does not feel domestic to me.  Hiding in plain sight, impacting innocent civilians, the type of bomb...I'm sorry.  I'm sensing jihad.  Sure, they could've recruited American citizen sympathizers, but my gut says this has an international feel.

If only you were SUICIDE bombers.  Ah, now that would've been cool.  Come on, the best of terrorists are willing to die for what they believe in.  What's your excuse?? Cowards.

Let's see how this one shakes out, shall we?

'Cuz I love that dirty water...ahh, Boston you're my home.."

And it's clearly not the home of the absolute morons who bombed the Boston Marathon.

Criminals, are certainly not brilliant.
And we are beyond fortunate because of that.  As devastating as this Marathon Monday was, realistically it could have potentially been a lot worse.

Thankfully, it wasn't.

Boston, while a major metropolitan city - is a small world.  We're all connected in some way.  We all know someone who was there that day, running or watching.  Injured or Safe.  Not only are we tough and resiliant, we are tightly bound.  There is a kinship amongst us that is a tie that binds us, especially during difficult times.

The people who did this atrocious act, basically just poked the bear. 
And they best be careful, because it bites.

(We were in NYC when this awful event happened.  It was hard to not be completely glued to social media, tv and cell phones.  While I was happy to be there for our family vacation, my heart longed to be home.  Funny how life happens sometimes.  One of our stores is about 1.4 mile from the finish line; and I'm usually there on Marathon Monday, after attending the Sox game - watching the inspirational runners cross the line.  So very thankful that we were in my second favorite city.....

Speaking of which - so very hard to hate the Yankees.  Class act organization, supporting so very publicly their arch rivals.)

Spirit can be found everywhere....

....but it wasn't in the front row last night.
Or the front section. 
Except for the last reading of the night which was 2 rows behind me.

The whole night was balcony & back floor.

However, I adore her.  Loved her perfume - must find out what it is.
And I loved loved, loved her shoes!
And of course - I just enjoyed HER.

She's adorable.  And while yes - I did feel that some times she was reaching, out of probably 35 people, only two of them were that way.  There was far more things that were very specific than werent. 

Besides, it's hard to interpret symbolism they way an energy may want it presented.

I always have a healthy dose of skepticism with regards to mediumship.  Not everyone has a gift. But I do believe that some people are capable and more sensitive to energy than others.  And while it's not science, nor is it religion - it's something I choose to believe in. There are alot of people out there who are just taking advantage of those who have lost someone - but she is not one of them.

As a matter of fact - I'm on her waiting list for a private reading. 
I'll be driving down there in a Long Island minute!

Supercalifragalisticexpialidoches....

I am taking a day off from work tomorrow.
I can't wait.

So, first thing I'm meeting with the owners of the building that we're thinking of opening a 3rd store in.  We've gone 'round and 'round with them the past few months but I think this round we might actually seal the deal.

Then, it's a mani/pedi kind of morning.  Followed by some fun window shopping...and then a hair appointment.  Nothing special, just a wash & blow dry...because....

After a fabulous dinner in Boston, G & I are going to see....

 

(Not the dark haired girl....but the blonde - the fabulous Theresa Caputo, aka Long Island Medium)

 

 

Love her.  Love her!

 

I hope I have some fnn news to post about after.  We're sitting front row, so you just never know....

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” - Albert Einstein

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.” 

“The truest form of love is how you behave toward someone, not how you feel about them.” 

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners” 

“Respect is a two-way street, if you want to get it, you've got to give it.” 

"Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you.”

"The secret of a happy life is respect. Respect for yourself and respect for others.” 

Flowers, and grass...and patio furniture and pillows and rugs...and.....

Spring has finally sprung here in NE.
For real.

And I can't wait to get my house all prettied up again.  I'm itching to get the patio furniture out and arranged....We need a new screen gazebo for one of our decks, because Hurricane Sandy was a little too strong for the one we had last summer.  Granted, it wasn't an overly strong frame but still.  It took my father and I over 3 hours to install so...to say I miss it isn't an understatement.

I'm thinking I'm going to do a deck garden as well this year.  We have so much wildlife in our backyard that I really can't do a traditional garden.  But one one of my decks I'm thinking I'm going to go back to planting in window boxes and some pretty planter pots.  I've done onions & peppers in window boxes succcessfully - and lettuce and herbs do well in pots - as do tomatoes.  I am really looking forward to doing that.  I wish I could plant lemons!  But those are trees and truly I don't think that they'd be well suited to New England winters.  Something to think about anyway....

I've been browsing online for fun outdoor carpets for my deck, and I've decided that I really really really want to put a pergola over our hot tub.  How pretty would that be, with curtains hanging down?

Granted, our hot tob isn't a Mediterranean pool such as this - and we wouldn't use a such majestic pergola - but you get the idea.  I still think it will look pretty.  Maybe some twinkle lights as well.... We'll see.  Baby steps...

I'm just so happy to have the sun for longer during the day, and can't wait to start living outdoors again.  Coffee in the mornings....lunches and dinners in the yard....winding down in the sun room at night...evenings by the fire pit.

Winter can be fun; snug and cozy, full of delicious comfort food and fireplaced snowy days.  But there's nothing quite as good as the fresh air, and good ol' fashioned sunshine.

“Deep down, everyone wants to believe they can be hardcore. But being hardcore isn’t just about being tough. It’s about acceptance. Sometimes you have to give yourself permission to not be hardcore for once. You don’t have to be tough every minute of every day. It’s okay to let down your guard. In fact there are moments when it’s the best thing you can possibly do… as long as you choose your moments wisely.”

Today it sort of hit me that my Mother's 3 year anniversary of her passing is quickly approaching.

Actually, I spoke about it yesterday - with a sales rep - who's Mom passed away 6 years ago today.  And as a result of thinking about her Mom, I sort of tucked mine away.

I had a dream with her in it, two nights ago.  Which in of itself is really odd, mostly because I don't see people's faces in my dreams.  Except for the ones that she is in.  Which aren't many, truthfully.  This was the 3rd one since she's died.

Rather ironic, in retrospect - since she's been gone 3 years this May.
I hadn't thought of that until this very moment, as I write this.

I didn't think much about my Mom's passing until tonight's dinner.  It was rather impromptu actually; I was supposed to be at basketball practice, and I was planning on making chicken marsala.  But, G didn't pick up the chicken while he was at the store - and my Son was still not feeling well after his stomach bug the other day - and so I turned to my freezer for leftovers.

I'd made beef stew a few months back and froze what was left.  That and some biscuits were the perfect choice for this night, which still has a chill to it - even though Spring is so close we can taste it.

This stew is my Mother's recipe.  Which is actually, my Nana's recipe.  Which was often made by my Auntie Saralee -when I would sleep over her house, when I was little.  My mom made it a bit thicker, as a typical stew would be; my Nana and Auntie Saralee made it a bit thinner, more like a soup.  But I loved it all ways that it was made.  It's quintessential comfort food for me.

And as I was eating my dinner, sitting at the table with G - gazing out into the beautiful woods that are in my backyard and so beautifully seen from my table - I imagine my Mom, Nana and Auntie Saralee sitting together, enjoying a bowl of stew.

And for a moment, I felt sad....truly sad.  I miss my family, the closeness we once had - and I remembered it, and savored it - in each and every bite I took tonight.

There is a season...turn, turn....

This generational, growing older thing we call life is pretty amazing.

Yesterday, we were at my MIL's house having Easter dinner and while everyone was laughing and talking - I took a minute to pull my attention from the conversation and peek into the kitchen and watch the kids for a few minutes. 

Suddenly, they weren't 'the babies" sitting together eating.  They weren't just kids either; they were little versions of us - sitting at their table, laughing and talking.  Joking with each other, planning on what they were going to do after eating. I looked back at our table and thought, "that used to be us".  We were the "younger generation", the "kids".  And now we're all older...the 40 something crowd, with kids planning their futures.  (My oldest nephew is going to be 17!)

And it makes you realize just how quickly time moves.
And how precious it is.
And how you should cherish every stolen moment of it.....