Wise words for Friday

Black and White with a touch of color

Just a little experiment with black and white. I love color and don’t do a lot with black and white alone, but once in awhile it’s nice to try out different things.
It’s a sunny but cool day in Bradford. It seems the daffodils survived the frost. The hills are looking a little green with leaves starting to pop out. This is so far in advance of our normal that we are praying that the buds don’t all freeze and eliminate the apple and fruit crop. But we sure are enjoying the lack of snow!

A question for you

What things tend to lift

your spirits? Do these things have more to do with people, or solitary pursuits?


Going on a traveling adventure always lifts my spirits. Life can be so predictable at times and leaving town and visiting someplace new can put some fun and excitement back into life. It lends an air of uncertainty and anticipation. First there is getting there, whether by car or plane. There is planning involved and packing and researching what you want to do when you arrive. (Thank goodness for the internet because now it is so easy to preview your trips). When you reach your destination the adventure begins. There are new things to see and do that you have never seen or done before. It energizes you to discover new ideas and participate in activities that you have never done before. No matter if it’s a trip to Europe or just visiting a new location in the states I always feel charged by traveling. 

Another thing that lifts my spirit is music. I have always said that you can gage how happy I am by how much music is in my life. I love attending live musical performances, plays or concerts. Just being around the energy of a musical group revitalizes me. I have a wide range of musical taste and love nothing better than listening to great music.

Of course a great time with my friends or sisters lifts my spirits. My sisters and I call our time with each other our “sister fix” because when we three are together we have the greatest time and it leaves all of us feeling so happy and charged.  

As you can see I like doing things with people. I like to be around people having fun. It just makes me more happy to have my friends and loved ones around me.

How about you? What charges your batteries?

Bed and Breakfast

What was the best welcome that you ever received?  What made it so special?


I’ve only stayed at a Bed and Breakfast just a few times. I thoroughly enjoy the experience of the accommodations that are more private, the knowledgeable innkeepers, and the local flavor. But the part that I always like best is the breakfast surprise.
In August Don and I visited the Boston area and stayed at this B&B north of Boston that had handpainted murals (by the innkeeper) on the walls. 
  The breakfast room area was closed off so when the innkeeper opened it in the morning we were surprised and delighted.
  Everything was prepared for us and served which always makes a breakfast taste better. I love a beautiful table and the china and linens were so pretty. It is so welcoming in the morning to come down to a prepared breakfast.

In France my sister and I stayed in a town that was famous for its salt glazed cobalt blue decorated pottery. We stayed upstairs at a Potter’s home. In the morning our breakfast was served on a table laden with blue and gray dishes. We oohed and aahed!

It is so welcoming to be surprised with a lovely table!

A gift

Today’s journal prompt:  What virtues do you admire in others?


There are some people who always know the right thing to say. I have a friend with that virtue. She has the ability to converse with anyone about anything at anytime. Whether it’s a simple hello or how are you she turns it into a conversation. She remembers personal details about everyone and always asks how things are with your family by name. It’s not just a gift of gab but a genuine interest in other people that makes her so well liked by all. She is supportive as a friend and seems to always have the right words to comfort or advise you. Her happy smile is so cheerful that she rarely shows when  she is having a bad day. She is attentive to all..young and old alike. She shares her life with interesting stories and draws the reluctant conversationalist out to speak. She always has a friendly hello to even strangers that she sees. I so admire this gift that she has to put the right words in place when they are needed. She is so unassuming that she won’t even recognize herself in this post. Joan, I’m talking about you. You are admired for your ability to say the right things. Not everyone has this trait.

Journaling

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and what would you do there?

This blog has always been like a lifetime journal for me. I have been blogging since 2006 almost every day. It’s nice to look back and have a record of things that have happened in my life. It’s not easy always coming up with subjects to blog about. There are personal things that I don’t care to share at times. But I try to keep it real. A lot of people who keep journals use journal prompts to stimulate the mind’s thinking. When I saw the one above I knew I’d like to talk about that.

Everyone has a dream, right? If I could go anywhere I would like to go back to sunny Provence, France. It is such a lovely part of France and being in the countryside it is a lot like the hills and valleys that I live with at home. I felt quite comfortable there. And what would I do there?  My dream is to take a watercolor painting class with an expert, then have lunch under the trees and dinner under the stars.

Now it is your turn.  I know you are reading this. And now you need to comment. Please share your dream with me.  All you have to do is click your mouse below this post right after the time where it says “ comments”.  Then write something and click on anonymous where it says “choose an identity”. That’s all there is to it.  I’d love for you to tell me what your deep down dream is.

Messing around

 

Just messing around with Photoshop today. The temperatures are cooler today, around 57 degrees. We are headed for 37 as a high on Monday so button up your overcoat.

Fish Fry

According to Wikipedia:
Fish is often served on Friday nights during Lent as a restaurant special;A fish fry is a meal containing battered or breaded fried fish. It typically also includes french fries, coleslaw, hushpuppies, lemon slices, tartar sauce, malt vinegar and dessert   Fish fries are very common in the Midwestern and northeastern regions of the United States. This is especially true for predominantly Roman Catholic communities on Fridays during Lent, when regulations calling for abstaining from most meat products.

Friday night is Fish Fry night in our town. Every restaurant in town is crowded with people all enjoying a fish dinner. Don, Linda, and I went to the Eagles club where the most generous pieces of fish are served. It’s great to eat out..no dishes, no cleaning up the kitchen afterwards.

Just a few thoughts

My Favorite Day

“What day is it?” asked Pooh.  “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.  “My favorite day, “ said Pooh.

Don’t we appreciate each and every day? Especially these warm sunny days with pops of yellow from the daffodils and forsythia.









Isn’t this view glorious! Our forsythia bush out back is full of blooms.

I had high hopes that today would be the day that I would get some cleaning done inside the house. But not a chance. I’m going to enjoy this gift of a day and sit out on my swing and read. I’ve started the new Rob Lowe autobiography, Stories I only Tell My Friends.

I’ve always loved Rob Lowe ever since St. Elmo’s Fire




and adored him in The West Wing on tv.
I’ve just started the book but the first chapter tells of his encounters with John F. Kennedy, Jr. I can’t wait to read more.

DAFFODIL DAYS

You know it’s Spring when you see the first daffodils popping up with their bright yellow color. These are in the front of the picket fence where they get the most light. The other Spring flowers will be up soon too. They leaves are pushing their way out of the ground.  

Today was another kind of daffodil day for me too. I volunteered to help sell bouquets of daffodils for the Cancer Society’s annual charity fund raiser. This time I sat in the local drug store for a few hours this afternoon. I’m always glad to help out a good cause.

A meme

Now what is a meme you might ask. The term "Internet meme" refers to a concept that spreads rapidly from person to person via the Internet, largely through Internet-based email, blogs, forums, Imageboards, social networking sites, instant messaging and video streaming sites such as YouTube.
It can be like a party and today Vee of A Haven for Vee asked bloggers to choose four of their photographs which would be great turned into note cards. 
  Here are the four that I think would work for that purpose.

March

 

March 2011


March 2012
What more can I say!!

Sadie’s Walk

Sadie loves her daily walk, especially in this nice weather. Right down the street from where I live is the Willow Dale Cemetery. The paved road that wanders through the cemetery is an excellent place for dog walking. And since the pond has been recently revived it makes an ideal spot to visit. Here are some Photoscaped pictures from our walk this afternoon.
Sadie loves the ducks of course.
Sadie would like nothing better than to swim with the ducks. This picture was taken after I said, “Sadie, get away from there.  ”
 
Here Sadie is crossing the little bridge.

We have a few signs of spring.