Stand By Me

Do you have a go-to bag? For as longo as I can remember, an L.L.Bean Canvas Bag or Boat Tote (monogrammed of course!) to carry me through my days, months and years. 

Like a good old friend, my canvas bag has been with me through the years. I actually have good memories of places my bag/s have carried me (metaphorically.)

L.L. Bean canvas totes through the years (please sing along with Willie Nelson if you feel compelled...that's the song in my head as I write!)

1. High School books

2. College weekends

3. Toting my shoes while wearing Tretorns for my walk. from the Upper East Side to Brooks Brothers...like everyone else in the 80's!

4. Using the large tote to carry my laundry while living in the city.

5. To the beach and visiting friends for weekends...getting out of the city.....

6. As a magazine "rack" at home

7. Mom gave the large tote to Biff and I, with our married monogram! Great gift, by the way.

8. Packing baby books and little toys for big road trips with Grace and T.J.

9. Grace and T.J. for there weekend totes, monogrammed of course!

10. E-Bay tools for biz

An Overnight

Dark. Quiet. Empty. Missing. 

When Biff has to be out on business, we miss him. It's just not the same. We all know it....that's just the way it is. But.....after I take care of all of my own projects, work and home....kids, dogs, cats, fish and me......I'm exhausted and ready for a good nights sleep. Moms can do that....sleep from exhaustion or sleep because we're just plain tired.

 It's something else. After kissing the kids goodnight, I go to our room and I miss Biff. Sure, we say our "Good night and God Bless you" over the phone...even by text these days. It's just not the same. I'm grateful for the fun we have together....even at good night!

One Day At A Time Makes Sense To Me

As mom used to say,"Don't wish your life away!"

Today

February ...I can feel it already. This month is the beginning of the end of winter! Winter is wonderful..each season is special to me. 

It's not that I feel the need to rush the seasons....there is still some skiing and skating that Biff and I want to do with our family. Here are my thoughts on why its no fun to wish our Connecticut winters away:

1. The reflection of the sun, which has crept slowly into our days, has given me that awesome feeling of basking in the sumptuous summer sun. 

2. It's the daylight, the clear sky at night with spectacular clusters of stars dancing in the heavens.

3. The sweet sunsets with pinks and blues and perwinkle sweeps across the sky.

4. The air I breathe feels so pure and cold and clean.

5. Cherished memories of winters past.

This is the beginning of the end of my winter. One day at a time as they say.

When does your winter end? When do you consider it to be Spring? It's fun to think about what signs are out there in our world that are little landmarks in our days, months or years.

Bunker Hill

Still. Since the quiz show ran a bit late, we did not go to The Museum of Science as we had planned soooooooo we took a spin from the pbs station across the Charles River, around Harvard, Radcliffe, MIT and Charlestown. Biff and I decided that we were doing a drive-by history tour. We had wonderful conversation and lots of fun. 

As I drove up the narrow street that led directly to Bunker Hill, I had a flashback to my grammar school days and my visit to Bunker Hill with mom and Grandma....we drove by while mom recited the midnight ride of Paul Revere....or the bits and pieces she could pull together. 

At that moment, I realized that mom and Grandma had only done the drive-by too. I instantly became determined to park the car, walk up the steps to this National Park and take in some good old historical plaques.

NOPE! Parking possibilities were less than ideal with snow and slush everywhere so.... as we sat in the double parked car, I ordered my family to get out of the car, walk up the steps and gather intelligent historical information to retain for the rest of their American lives. I told them to read everything. It was their mission. They WOULD NOT have the drive-by that had been my history lesson!

I did attempt to get a parking spot.....bad parking karma. I noticed the park ranger was just getting off duty for the day. late afternoon... That was when I knew the real hard truth....again, I would do the drive-by BUT our children would get more.....it would be better for them!

I circled Bunker Hill and didn't stop until I saw the whites of their eyes! They were less than thrilled but my conscience was clear!

Reading

Ahhhhhhhhhh. The library. One ofpokm my favorite places. Shhhhhhhhhhhh. The quiet is something I can count on and my head spins with delight at the rows and rows and rows of reading treasures. Today I stopped in to pay an overdue fee which was worthy of putting a new wing in with our family's name. After returning books, books on tape and a couple of videos, it was a treat to cozy up in one of the big cushy winged back chairs and read magazines to my heart's content! 

I have created a little challenge for myself in this rather new year. I am not buying magazines this year! I love magazines....lots of them....they foster my creativity and in general, they are filler with pretty people, places and things. But I don't need them filling up my tabletops.... while this newly begun magazine freeze has already been challenging at times.....like those spontaneous pickups at the grocery store.......and it's only February! 

I can admit this. I have a problem. I need serious help. I love to buy magazines. There are so many to choose from.They are my escape. With a cup of tea or coffee, I can sit and read, get inspired by colors or designs or artists and be swept into my own creative whirlwind!

Don't feel pity for me....I still have an annual Christmas gift subscription that's from an old friend , great selections when I'm at the hair salon or treating myself to a pedicure and the library!

It's only February .....I think it's possible to keep it up. Very much a habit....buying magazines for a little treat and a quiet moment......it sure seems like even more fun stopping into the library to leaf through my favorites. Sometimes I even bring a Starbucks just like old times!

Magazine Junkie

Congratulations!   Your request for tickets to The Nate Berkus Show has been granted & we are thrilled to have you join us! Please read the guidelines below to ensure your reservation. Print this and bring it with you. No physical tickets will be distributed until the day of taping.

Show Date:  THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 2011

Murphy's Law! You know this before your read any further.....I cant' go. As the plans were being made, calling friends to join me....I was invited with THREE friends.....very involved when you're friends are moms with all kinds of crazy schedules and kids(the kids aren't crazy....oh wait, many have teens so maybe they are!) and Biff's schedule......I learned that Biff's plans were not coordinating with mine. Business got in the way. Schedules got in the way. I think even I got in my own way!

That's that.  But....we could have guessed that as soon as I clicked on the date of the show!

Friends

littlemarymixup!

Can you believe it? My good friend found this Littlemarymixup Book for my Christmas present! It's funny that I have only come to realize where my mother got this nickname for me in the last year....maybe the last 6 months. Mom just died a couple of years ago....imagine that in all of the years that she would toss out her "littlemarymixup" line after one of my own little stories, it never occurred to me to ask her where she got the name! Now that she's not able to answer, it's been coming to me slowly....through others. 

We just met a lovely older woman and her husband while we were in Vermont skiing at New Years. The gentleman was 80 years old, the lady was 78 when we began chatting over lunch in the Stratton lodge. Since their age came up in conversation, I thought to ask if they knew of the littlemarymixup cartoon. THEY DID! 

Of course they did...they were of a certain age and proud of it, like my mom. They  were most interesting and so upbeat! Well, to say they were upbeat was an understatement.....the gentleman had just come in from skiing!!!!  80 years old and skiing! Their generation seems to be the good, strong Americans that keep on going no matter what. It seems to me that those of that generation have been the get it done generation. 

They have all lived through so much change and have survived the difficult days without big complaints or whining about troubles.....most I know seem to keep pushing onward and upward! How could we not look to them as role models. They're not all around anymore but the ones who have left us have given us their strength and good example to emulate.

We are truly blessed to learn from the generations ahead of us. We learn from history and those that go before us. 

How many wonderful older people are in our lives? How can we all give them the respect that they deserve? Do we ever thank a veteran for protecting our free country? Do we really give them the respect that should come with age and life experience? Do we take time to look an older person in the eye and smile as we pass through the doors of the local coffee shop or pharmacy? 

We may not have everyone we love with us anymore. I know I wish I could ask mom more questions. More than just the littlemarymixup questions. I had lots of time with mom and we spent plenty fo time chatting and discussing the world, the family, the fashions of today, our feelings, our ups, our downs, our joys and blessings.....and still, there's so  much more I wish I could know from her. Everyday, something comes up and I wish I could call her to ask. Sometimes little things. Sometimes family history. 

I am grateful for so much time with mom. I am grateful for our laughter and even some of our little frustrations with each other along the way...they made our relationship stronger and deeper. I was blessed to really know my mother and much of her family. But, I'll always have questions. Mostly about the simplest things. 

Smarty Pants

Our team had a great day! We had a great day! I had to hold my Biff back from blurting out the answers to the general knowledge questions! He was bursting with random information and correct answers.....BUT it was a HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ SHOW!

WGBH BOSTON

HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ SHOW! Here we are at WGBH Boston to see our friend Camden participate in this public high school quiz competition. We're with a full audience and waiting for the show to begin. We're watching Billy Costa, the host of the show, chat with the audience and the competitors. Awesome to be here today!

Oh what a Beautiful Morning!

(Substitute evening)....

Just Beautiful!

Soooooo Beautiful

Beautiful

That's her name. We're up visiting our friends near Boston. Late arrival. Very tired. While getting comfy cozy on the couch, I find that I'm not alone even though Biff, Grace and T.J. and our friend, Graham have just tiptoed up to bed.

As I read the day's emails, Beautiful gets snuggled on my chest.....like every kitty I've ever known, on the prettiest color accessory available to call attention to her fancy feline fur!

We have known Beautiful from her Kitty days when she found our friends. She just appeared one day and made herself at home. She lives a nice life and gets lots of love. It's such a gift to have animals in our lives...they allow us to see things from a different perspective...with no agenda or itinerary...just being where we are.

Daisy and I Out For a Ride in the Car...

What fun we have when we're out on our own.....we have no leashes like we do when Fitz is with us. I don't have to straddle the groceries while driving and swat at her to keep her in the back....hopefully keeping her from eating our dinner for that night.
Daisy and I have our quality time and Fitz gets some quiet time at home. Daisy is so gentle, sweet, well behaved and nurturing. Fitz is a gentle soul with a need for speedy runaway time on the lookout for food at the neighbors' kitchens, garbage cans ....or in their cars if the doors are opened.

Without missing a beat, she has leapt into our neighbor's car, globbed up all of the loose Cheerios on the floor of the high end s.u.v. and dashed out the door to make an attempt at the little girl's Easter Basket....but my hero, Biff, intercepted and tackled the adorable beast to the ground. As for the little girl's mom who is terrified of dogs....she now drives her car directly into her dog free garage and doesn't get out of her car until the coast is clear!

Quality time with Daisy is just some time in the car with a good friend. You know that friend....the one you can talk to about anything...day or night....the friend who's always up for any adventure....the friend who listens to you through ups and Downs....the friend who will jump in the car for any road trip...the friend who makes you happy just because you know that she's there...a truly good friend...a loyal friend forever!

Connecticut sunshine,snow and steeple!

What a day! Cold isn't cold to me anymore. We've had so much freezing cold that today seems like a mild spring day. Then again, not.

Sunshine

To have sunshine.....it may as well be Spring! There's more snow on the way but somehow it's no big deal. We've lived through so many storms, one more seems insignificant. This will be the big one...I haven't bought more milk or bread this time!

Ice Skates

What great weather for ice skating! It's easier said than done....even in Connecticut. Yes, this is New England. Skating on ponds is wonderful but someone has to shovel off the snow in order to skate. Indoor rinks are another possibility...BUT ice hockey is big business in New England and ice time is precious and pricey! Hours for public skating is limited. Not all rinks are open to the public. I'll keep my skates in the car....maybe Biff's too. We need to skate....skate and date.p

Running Wild at the Beach

Happy doggies!

Re-Lilly: Celebrating 3000+ Re-Lilly Fans, Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2011 & Purselady Too Giveaway!

Re-Lilly: Celebrating 3000+ Re-Lilly Fans, Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2011 & Purselady Too Giveaway!