New Habits!

I am giving this a try! I am not too old to learn new things and I don't want to be living in the past, not all the time anyway!I have been stuggling each day this month to learn how to use Photoshop Elements. I started with regular Photoshop and got nowhere fast but I am trying. I watch Cathy Zelski's video's and I keep going! I will see how it all works out by the end of the month. If I have learned nothing else in my 53 years I have learned patience and that slow and steady wins the race.I did so well last month,I erged every day!!! and I made a scrapbook layout every day!! (although I must admit a few were pretty lame but none the less!!) It was fun to see my streak continue every day on the Lift app on my phone. So far in November I have exercised every day, walking, and I will row again soon. I have tried to do something creative every day and I can't wait to get back down in my scrap room! I want to add stretching or maybe some ab work like planking but haven't quite started that yet! I ahve also learned in my years how hard it is to gain new habit s that continue for very long! So everyday this month I will- do something creative and work on my Gratitude Journal - exercise! walk or row - stretch - plank or such! And also work on Inbox Zero!!! Wow, I hope I can continue this motivation!!! Mostly I want to read and eat and scrap what I feel like! :) I'll check in at the end of the month and let you know how it goes!

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Hello, my name is Karen and I was born in Chinon, France at a US Army hospital. I grew up in NY on Long Island. I now live in a small town in Washington state near Tacoma. I have lived in NY, DC, Georgia, Landstuhl Germany, and mostly in Washington state. What makes me smile is observing and receiving kindness and love. My children enjoying each others company, my husband laughing and chatting, the camaraderie of the groups I belong to- my church and my fellow Girl Scout leaders. Even noticing random strangers being kind makes me smile. I try to smile at everyone I meet because you just never know what they are going through. The life lessons I have learned in my 50 plus years are many, too many to share. Be kind to others and yourself, BE yourself, don't worry (as much as possible), life will go on, you will survive. I will have to think on this some more. My deepest fear is losing my loved ones but most especially my husband and children. I can not even think about that. My biggest dream is to be able to travel the US and the world and photograph and somehow share this with others so that all may know how very much alike we all are. Just reading the comments from all over the world right here on this post shows this. It's an amazing thing to realize that despite looks and language and lifestyle so many of us truly just want kindness and love and good health! I am a daughter,sister, wife, mother, dietitian, Girl Scout, volunteer, reader, eater, photographer, scrapbooker, a lover of life. Thank you for reading my story! This was written in response to a blog post on this website. I was so inspired by reading others posts from all over the world that I shared my own story. I hope you will share your story too! http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/08/13/one-question-you-should-ask-everyone-you-meet/

Project Life, memory and why?!??!

Another blog post that really touched me... MAY 14, 2013 Why I wish I had done this sooner (a short essay on my personal view of the value of Project Life) I am 47 years old and I don't remember things the way I used to. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. I probably didn't remember things all that well in my 30s either. Or maybe even in my 20s. In fact, if it weren't for the diaries I kept from ages 11–14, I probably wouldn't remember anything from those awkward tween and early teen years. And if it weren't for the journals I kept in my late teens through my early college years, same deal. Sure, I can remember sweeping events. But it's the little things. The details. That is the stuff that is pretty much gone from the old noggin'. A few weeks ago, Aidan and I were talking about doing a college campus tour to one of my two alma maters, the University of Washington. I was trying to recall stories of dorm life but the only one I could really remember was the night I downed an entire six pack of Olde English 800, passed out at 7 p.m. and woke up in the middle of the night on the bathroom floor. After throwing up a few times, I noticed that someone had drawn giant black bats (thank you, Billy Kincaid) all over my body with Sharpie. Sure, that's some detail. (It's also the last time in my life I ever got quite that schnockered.) But that's what I call a sweeping event. What I don't remember was daily life as a freshman at UW. I don't remember how I made my way through campus and found my classes for the first time. I don't remember if I was ever stressed out at the work load. I simply don't remember the little things. My daily routine. What I ate for lunch. What I thought of the weather. Hell, I even had coffee with one of the guys from a band that would later become Pearl Jam, but I can't even remember what he looked like, or what we talked about, though I know that his name was Stone Gossard and I sort of remember thinking: not my type. I don't even have many photos from that era. But such were the times in olden days, pre iPhone and Instagram. It's the same with my life as a newlywed. It's the same with my life as a young mother. I don't remember the every day aspects of those times in my life. It's all going to sweeping now. The specifics are so much harder to hold onto. Just last week I was telling a friend, who used to scrapbook but no longer does, "I wish I had done Project Life since Aidan was born at the very least." I went on to tell her that this past year-and-a-half contains more detail of the stuff I want to remember than anything I've ever done before. And it is so not about being some crazy Scrapbook Mom. You know, the Moms who are so busy documenting that they miss out on the actual living part of the memories they're making. I've been there and done that a few times over the years. Project Life is really about the little stuff… the minutiae… the specifics… the glorious mundane trappings of every day that I wouldn't trade for all the L-Series lenses in the Canon arsenal. I think many of us agree that this is the stuff we want to remember. Not the fence posts of life, but the slats that make up what contains our everyday existence. My therapist and I have talked a lot about the facts of a human life. We are born, we have a life span, we have emotions and we eventually die. It's not overstating to point out that this span of time is utterly and completely precious. Some of us get more of it than others. Some of us have an easier time in the process. But all of us can connect to the gratitude for the opportunity. Project Life is helping me to savor this time span. It's letting me report on my life in a simple way. It doesn't stress me out. It doesn't take up all of my time. It simply lets me acknowledge this life I'm so grateful to have. It's just something I felt compelled to share with you today. now here is my response on her blog... Karen said... Why do so many of us feel so alone and like we are the only ones who forget or can't start or get behind? Reading your post and all these comments just shows me how very alike we all are! I love the idea of Project Life and have all the stuff! but starting ? Not so much. I have tens of thousands of photos of my family but somehow writing down the words and thoughts is sooo much harder than snapping the photos. I wish I had learned to write things down sooner...I wish I could remember the everyday moments of my life...I wish I could just start now and not feel lost and behind... Thanks Cathy and friends for inspiring me!!! I will start today!!!!! Reply May 15, 2013 at 11:02 AM

A Tale of Two Rings!

Another journaling for a scrapbook page but such a good story I wanted to save it here! A Tale of Two Rings A Best Man has only a few important responsibilities. Get the groom to the church on time and hold on to the ring. Curt’s Best Man, Bill Burkhalter, a fellow medical school classmate and housemate got the first right but not the second! The night before the wedding is always exciting and stressful, family and friends are arriving, there’s the rehearsal to attend and a dinner to follow. Our rehearsal went as smoothly as these things ever go and Curt gave my ring, a simple gold band with a beaded edge, to Bill to hold onto until the ceremony. We had a fun dinner at a restaurant near the airfield, The 56th Fighter Group. I headed back home to try to sleep and Curt went off with Bill and his family to the hotel. The next morning all was going well, the tent was set up, my mom and sisters were decorating, Dad was working on the food. The kitchen phone rings…it’s Curt. “ I have to tell you something so you won’t notice at the ceremony and get upset.” “Bill lost the ring.” ! A high-pitched scream is heard from the kitchen! “Don’t tell your parents, they will be so mad.” “Don’t be upset, we have a ring but it’s plain, so I knew you would notice.” Oh, boy! At this point it was only a couple hours before our noontime wedding, I really couldn’t get too upset, it was just a ring and as long as there was a ring we could still get married! The wedding was perfect and no one noticed the different ring. Curt had even managed to get it engraved, although it looks like a 6 not an 8 for August. Now it is 28 years later, I have worn this simple gold band every day. Never once did I miss that other band, because this is the one he placed on my finger and pledged to love me for a lifetime with. It’s okay Bill, I forgave you then and I still don’t mind that you lost my ring, although I do occasionally wonder what ever happened to the other one! Story - August 11, 1984 Page- February 18, 2013

I can hear her voice...

Curt’s Aunt Dode, his father’s sister, my aunt for the last 28 years passed away last Saturday. We were with her when she died. I think it was especially hard to see her so quiet because she was so very full of life! Her voice was distinctive, perhaps a bit loud sometimes, but always glad to see you. I can hear her - calling on our birthdays to sing Happy Birthday. I can hear her – Oh, look at you, I haven’t seen you in a hundred years! I can hear her - If she needed anything she’d call, “ Tom, Tom, Tom! Come here!” Dode liked to dance and sing, she liked to play Yahtzee and card games. She loved dolls and Halloween and decorating for Christmas. She loved flowers and Uncle Tom’s garden and making pickles! Dorinne loved her family, her 4 kids, her 9 grandkids, her 19 great grandkids! And also her brother, her sister in law and her 2 nieces, 1 nephew, their spouses(me!) and our kids. I can hear her now and I will miss her so. Farewell Aunt Dode, we love you! February 15, 2013 Aunt Dode - 1930 – 2013 I can hear her voice…

Dear Mercedes CLK-

I have been participating in LOAD this month. It's been quite a fun one with some thought provoking prompts about happiness and what make us happy. If I do say so myself some of my journaling has been pretty great! I am particularly pleased with this letter to my car! Only got 1 comment because the layout itself was not to exciting, which I must admit makes me feel a touch peeved. Anyway, over my pity party heres the journaling! Dear Mercedes CLK 320- Just wanted to write a letter to tell you how much I adore you! I have been waiting all my life for you. Ever since I was driven around in your much older cousin as a child, I have loved you. As an adult I coveted you but you were too small for a family and too much money for our budget. But now, now that I have turned 50 and my chicks have mostly left the nest, I could have you! My wonderful adoring husband, who tolerates with much good grace my love for you, found you for me. From the moment I saw you on the lot, shining in the sun of that September day, I loved you. You are my dream come true! In the beginning I was nervous every time we went out together. My hands would grow sweaty on your smooth leather wheel. I would anxiously watch every other driver to be sure they didn't get to close to you. I parked in only the safest spots. I washed you carefully, shining up your lovely silver hubcaps. Now, I drive with pride, smiling at the other drivers in their boring, ordinary vehicles as I glide along, top down,wind in my hair, powerful engine at my control. I live for the days that it is warm enough with little chance of rain so I can take down your top. Feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, putting a hand in the air as I cruise the streets singing along to my favorite tunes, perhaps played just a bit too loud on your fine Harman-Kardon speakers. I love your gorgeous platinum color, the way you sparkle just a bit in the sun. I love your perfect figure, curving in all the right place. I love your smooth leather seats, warm in the winter and cool in the summer, that hold me oh so comfortably. I love all your buttons and controls, that tell me all that important information, speed, temperature, radio station, direction, and when it's time for your next tune-up. I love how you make me feel when we go out together, beautiful and sexy and loved and special. It's amazing what you do for me! Thanks for always being there when I need you, day, night, sun, rain, no matter, you are ready and willing and able. I hope that we will have a long, long time together, until I can no longer swing myself into your low, leather seats. I love you my Mercedes and I just wanted to let you know that. Yours forever, Karen

February goals for 2013

Where to begin? I know it’s not just me that constantly has too many goals. But it seems like others accomplish theirs. I think I’d feel better about my goals if I didn’t seem like I always fail. I am still overweight, I only exercise in bursts, my house is not organized completely….Sigh… My One Little Word for this year is ADAPT. I am not sure how I can set a goal for that though. I’ll have to think on that some more. I guess if I make it through the year without a stay at Western State I’ll have succeeded! I have been inspired by the book “The Happiness Project”. I will be working on some of her ideas this year. Already I have tried (albeit briefly) to show more appreciation, just do it, and be Karen. But the decluttering and tackling tough projects seems overwhelming to me. I think it will have to be a year long project for me too, and I guess it’s really a lifelong project. Well If I have learned nothing in my 50+ years it’s that every day is a new beginning! And I can accomplish anything with baby steps!! So I guess I will start with some baby goals. **Walk at least 28 miles this month – aim for walking 5 days a week. **Cut my portions by a 3rd, eat mindfully and a bit less. **Spend 15 minutes 2 times a day to tackle tough chores, de-cluttering , bills, phone calls etc. Just Do It!!! **Complete a LO every day for LOAD!! OK I am stopping there! **I will also try to show gratitude and appreciation as much as I can! Now really I’ll stop…and go finish this LO! February 4th, 2013 (Would be my Mother in law’s birthday and also the 30th anniversary of the week I met my husband!) I wrote this for ascrapbook page but thought I should save it elsewhere too, so here it is!

Another Big Picture Class to love!!

Hoot!

Don't know what it is but I just love owls!!! Me and everyone else lately or should I say again! Back in the late 70's owls were a fad too, and unicorns. Sadly unicorns have not really returned but owls are everywhere!! My cute new dishes feature owls. Erin loves owls and they are everywhere!! Like on this cool free calendar at My owl Barn blog!!! So cute! I will print one for me and one for erin I think! What fun!

Rounding up September 2012

This is  a scrappy thing  that I have thought about but never tried. I am too tired tonight to do this but I copied this other person's and will fill in the blanks I hope at a later date.  most of the info is Kim's.

Rounding up September 2012

Will add photos later...

***

1. READ

• 
  

2. WATCHED & LISTENED

• TV
  • Green Acres is our newest family show!
  • 
    
• DVDs/Movies
  • The Avengers = such a great adventure!
  • Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp
  • 
    
• Podcasts (K)
  • 
    

3. EVENTS & OUTINGS

• Laurel took the girls to Avonlea where they walked from the golf course to Dunnet Park with their 

4. RECIPES TO REMEMBER

• Cinnamon Honey Yogurt (my recipe: 500 ml Greek ~10% mf plain yogurt, 1 cup kefir or a lower-fat ~3% mf plain yogurt, 3 Tbsp unpasteurized liquid honey, 2 tsp cinnamon) - yum!
• Grandma Mantay's Cucumbers & Sour Cream (cucumbers, salt, vinegar, sour cream)
• 
  
• Vanilla Steamer (my recipe: 2 cups milk, 2 Tbsp sugar (1 coconut/1 regular), and 1/4 tsp vanilla)
• Alton Brown's Oven-Roasted Broccoli (without bread crumbs) - best broccoli ever!
• 
  

5. GIFTS

• 
  
• for my birthday, I received some lovely cards, messages on Facebook, phone calls from my brother and Grandma M, and a 

6. SPECIAL PURCHASES

• 
  

7. HEALTH

• 
  

8. ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 
  

9. DISAPPOINTMENTS

• my old computer (iMac) quit working and I had to get it repaired; it needed a new power supply (but I'm happy it wasn't the hard drive)
• still not finished with the basement - but we're getting there! We've done so much work and the improvements are HUGE; I just wish it wasn't taking so long
• still did not work on July or August photos - ugggh

10. GOALS

• did not process last month's photos - again
• 
  
• almost cleared my collection basket once
• cleared my email inbox (<20 1="1" li="li" weeks="weeks">
• no scrapbooking :(
• took our family photo - quickest, easiest one so far!

11. NOTEWORTHY

• 
  
• Sophia and Madeline participated in Cross Country (M's first time) with two practices before school and one after-school meet every week for 5 weeks - it was great to have friends pick them up for practices (so Neil and the other children didn't have to go anywhere until 8:45)
  • 1st meet: 5th (S) and 25th (M) - both were pleased!
  • 2nd, 3rd, and 4th meets: M was in the top 50 each time, while Sophia didn't run or finish (didn't feel well, stepped in a gopher hole, had trouble breathing)
  • 5th meet: 19th (S) and 53rd (M) - more breathing trouble for S; we don't know what the problem is, and she's frustrated (she has no trouble running continuously in practices)
• I was enrolled in 30 Days of Lists and BPC's Big Idea Festival (free), as well as Twelve at BPC (all year), and kept up with the reading/watching of content, but I didn't do anything with it - saving it for later!
• we picked up a small desk from Neil's cousin (originally from the Clarke family; hand made a few 

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One more time...!

       Well I read this this morning on FB courtesy of George Takai who is about the coolest former Star Trek actor/ Boy Scout ever! I am not really struggling with insecurity these days. I actually am pretty self confident most of the time. I am blessed with a wonderful life and a wonderful family and things are good! But I sure used to struggle!!! I am not sure that even a great thought like this would have helped me back then. The old keeping up with the Jones' and am I good enough and why does anyone care and ... etc. I think TV does this especially...how can they keep their house so clean and cook those great meals and still do all the kid stuff and have a cool career? No-one can!!!!! My life is mine and it is terrific!!! and by the way so am I!

     In other thoughts, I am still discovering things I have lost when the bloody hard drive on this laptop failed this summer. A couple of days ago I thought I had lost all the 'Day One' journal entries I had made this year. Somehow the next day I found them! Whew! but this is teaching me to find ways to store my stuff not just on my laptop but out in the www or cloud! I have gotten all my Ella books back but very soon I will print them all so they are safe. I may go print some BPC stuff too, although that is supposed to be safe there forever.

      Excited and nervous about the camporee this weekend . Camping is cool, Mindy and the team is on top of things despite my apparent need to control things! I am still adjusting my brain around the fact that some people think I am over controlling! Trying to let it go. Anyway, looking forward to Matt's session on electricity, seeing the girls sewing, hoping they all love Dragon boating etc. Not so sure about the whole lashing thing and not sure I want to be stuck there either while Bettye gets to take pictures. :( but it will be good!

     I am down about 5 pounds since last month. Very slow going but am starting to get into the move more eat well mode...more on this another time soon. I am optimistically planning to be miss susie homemaker/scrapper after this weekend. things should really settle down, except for various birthday's, and oh yes a WEDDING!!! OMG! But really I'm the mother of the groom , not much for me to do. Better get Curt to find a restaurant for the dinner!! Think on the dress a bit more... think on my dress a bit more...plan for my families visit.

Ok, enough for today...here's another goal write more often!! Couple times a week is good. And write here so it will be safe...or as safe as I can get right now. Ciao!

2003 Road Trip

This year the Hobbs decided on a Road Trip for Spring Break. Our plan was to head to San Francisco, stopping at the Redwoods and various beaches in Oregon. In April 2003 Marc was 15, Erin 13, Sean was almost 10, and Niki was 7. Everything was going well, we enjoyed a short stop in Eugene, OR and then a beach near Coos Bay. We were headed to a hotel in Grant’s Pass, OR. That’s when things got interesting!

As we drove along I-5, 10 miles or so out of Grant’s Pass, in a very deserted stretch of road, the engine started smoking. That was a bit scary so we pulled over on the side of the highway. Luckily we did have a phone and AAA so we called for a tow truck. It took awhile because we were out a ways. While we waited I tried to find a closer hotel and cancel the other one. The original hotel kinds gave me trouble but finally gave in and didn’t charge us. We found a Best Western that was closer and near a Chrysler dealer.

Finally a guy shows up with a flat bed tow truck. I got in the tow truck with Niki, the other kids and Curt were on the side of the road while he hooked up the van. I watched out the rear view window of the truck as he began to winch the van up onto the flatbed. Suddenly the chain snapped and our lovely blue van started rolling backwards down the interstate!!! It began to pick up some speed and crossed towards the center and crashed into the guardrail!! Thank heavens no-one came driving in our direction while this was happening.

The tow truck driver was in a state. I am not sure if he was just incompetent or having a bad day or just bad luck but he did then manage to get the van hooked up and on the truck. He dropped us at the hotel as it was pretty late by this point, and took the van to the shop. We found a nearby Applebee’s and could finally relax after a very long day!

We did end up having to stay an extra couple days there while they sorted out the damage and got us a rental van. We then took off for the Redwoods, and Eureka, CA. We wandered about looking at the Victorian mansions and enjoyed a fun dinner at the Samoa Cookhouse. They serve family style at long tables, lumber camp style. The redwood forest is amazing! We really enjoyed admiring the incredible beauty of those trees.

Unfortunately the van was not repaired by the time we were heading home. A couple weeks later I had to take another road trip alone down to Grant’s Pass to return the rental van and pick up ours, but that’s another Road Trip story!!

Just wrote this up for a scrapbook page. I have realized that the little details are gone from my mind. What did the kids think, how did we feel being stuck in Grants Pass. What did we really think of the Redwoods...what did we do in the car all those hours...you really think you won't forget but you do...

Starting Atkins today!

Well this is it! Ash Wednesday! The perfect day to give up something and add something better! I am starting the Atkins diet. I am terrified, terrified of not having the willpower to do this. Terrified of being so crabby and grumpy that I annoy everyone around me. Terrified of failing and staying fat!
For my whole adult life I learned that low fat is it, low carb is wacko. It's been so hard to be at all supportive of Terry and then Patti and then Karen when I am at turns worried about their health and unbelievably jealous of their success!
I still have a hard time internalizing that this ok, all the meat and fat I  want? How can that be good? Won't my cholesterol go to hell? I'll have a heart attack! Ack!
And how can I stay away from carbs? I LOVE chips and salsa! It's my go to, every day, make me feel comforted and loved snack of choice!  I routinely cook extra pasta so I can eat it for lunch and I'll usually have 2 big bows full. I love top ramen with extra peas or corn and cheese. Those whole wheat bagels…yummy! And our favorite family snack is bread and cheese or cereal and milk!
Just writing about them is making me feel bad.
So my first 2 feedings…scrambled eggs with bacon! and then for snack I had tuna mixed with some spicy ranch dressing and a dill pickle half and a cup of beef broth. I am feeling ok. To be honest I didn't feel all that great when I got up or yesterday. Not sure if it's a cold or allergies kicking in. I am just real tired and my throat hurts.
I hope I can do this…maybe some positive thinking will help!

OK, I will be able to do this! I will lose enough weight that it will help my blood pressure and cholesterol, not hurt them. I will stay full on all the tasty meats and veggies I can eat! I will lose 15 pounds in the first 6 weeks and I will lose 30 pounds by Erin's graduation!! I will keep walking and talking with my friends!

I will buy a really great dress, maybe purple, for that graduation and it will be a size 10!!! And maybe some stylish shoes!

so there it is…in black and white! I am printing this out for my Move More Eat Well album and I will work on that today! And I will post this on my blog for all to see! (of course no-one reads that so it's all good!)

Go Karen!!!!

Baby Blue Cords

I am going to confess right off that I borrowed the inspiration for this journaling from someone's blog post. I am not going to plagiarize but I will admit to a few direct quotes. This unknown to me blogger is a great writer!http://www.leewoodruff.com/blog/2011/11/1/my-levis-cords.html
     We can not choose the decade that we grow up in. We can not choose what fashions we will have to look back on. This is a difficult fact of life that anyone who grew up in the 70's and 80's must deal with. "Hands down, it was the most hideous fashion decade of the last millennium, with the possible exception of being a man in the Court of Versailles or during the Victorian bathing era."
   The 70's were the days of hip-hugger pants and super wide bell bottoms, granny dresses, Quiana shirts for guys in those horrible prints with long pointy collars, I actually kind of like the sparkly disco dresses but we weren't wearing those to high school! The guys had to have a mustache and girls, well, it was Farrah Fawcett 'wings' or nothing! 
  There is one fashion statement however that I loved then and love the idea of now, Levi corduroy jeans! In particular baby blue cords! As I recall Levi cords came in lots of lovely colors, greens, browns,pink,and baby blue. They were pinwale cord and softer every time you washed them. I seem to recall they were pretty expensive but I know I did own at least that one pair. Pretty sure it was 1975 or 76.
     "Those of you Levis jeans and cord wearers, lets pause reverentially to think about the leather tag stitched on the back right hand side of the waist, displaying your inseam and hip size like a butcher’s cut of meat.  Given the societal paranoia women exhibit over revealing their exact ages and dress sizes, this was a bold move.  We never thought about the fact that the pants were fitted for boys, that Levis had yet to discover a woman’s hips or come up with their brilliant concept of personalizing jeans to a woman’s body." At a recent event she says, "We all recalled the pre-back pack years when high school halls were jammed with girls in shag hair cuts clutching books to their chests, all sporting the multi-colors of Levis from the waist down."
   I can't say that I remember my friends being as obsessed with which jeans they had or the color. I think this is mostly because I was a teenager and obsessed with what I was thinking at all times! And what I was thinking about was how great I looked in my baby blue cords with the cool striped sweater or especially the matching mini check gingham shirt. It just matched my eyes and with my newly sun bleached hair I was sure to catch a boyfriend! I was into some older boy at the time who also wore baby blue cords and had blue eyes to match. Not sure he knew who I was or that we ever spoke but I loved his cords and mine!
    I wish I knew what happened to those cords. I happened upon some colored cords a few years back, not blue but green, but when I wore them there was no magic. Maybe because they weren't Levi's or more likely I wasn't 15. 
   As my fellow class of 78er writes, "On a recent weekend with some high school pals, we opened our yearbook from 1978, half-wincing, half awestruck at the absolutely awful styles that reigned.  It was so much worse than we remembered.  The haircuts, those head gear braces straps that wrapped around the skull (really? was that emotional scarring necessary?) the eye glasses (think Charles Nelson Reilly), the over-abundance of facial hair, the unibrows on Miracle Grow.  Don’t get me started.  Our black and white doe-eyed looks of innocence in the face of so many fashion crimes were cringe worthy.  How could we have been so oblivious?

There I was, standing with the rest of the year book staff, my loud polyester print shirt shining, my bangs feathered and curled back like the Flying Nun about to lift off.  And yes, there they were, my baby blue cords, slight flare at the leg, riding down on my hips, hanging over my wooden platform shoes. Total proof to myself and my children, that I had once been the living end, the absolute height of fashion."  

    All I can say is I wish I could still feel as fabulous as I thought I looked in those baby blue cords.

Summer Home

I have lived in at least a dozen places in my life. The only place that has been home for my entire life is our family summer house in Southold, NY. It was built in 1937 when my Dad was a baby. Every summer for his whole life he has returned there. Almost every summer of my life I have been there too. There is nothing like the feeling of turning into that last dirt road and knowing in moments you will be home!

Home to sound of the waves and the wind and the doves cooing in the morning and the crickets chirping at night.

Home to the smell of the sea, sunscreen, and old wool army blankets and antique furniture.

Home to the same mantel clock, the same view across the bay, & the same old chair by the window.

Home with family… coffee and reading on the lawn in AM, playing on the beach all day, Hearts on the porch in the evening.

Good food, good times, good memories.

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