Older

I really don’t mind getting older but my body is taking it badly. 

It’s international hygge day

I was first introduced to hygge when I visited Denmark with my friend Yrsa. I had never been overseas and my first experience was delightful. She had many relatives there and they treated us like princesses. We were wined and dined and enjoyed many activities in their homes. Her cousin took us all over and to Germany and Sweden. One of her cousins told me about hyggelie...the feeling of comfort for which there is no English equivalent. I was able to experience this many times with them wether it was having morning breakfast where the candle was always lit or sharing a time around the table during dinner with lots of toasts..skoal. 

   So this is international hygge day. Ever since my visit I have been practicing the art of hygge in my home too. There is something magical about candlelight so I try to have one lit as often as possible. 

Hygge also involves coziness so sitting under a blanket with a cup of tea also happens often here. 

And today would be a perfect day to sit in front of our fireplace. I don’t often have a fire going but with the snow coming down and the cold temperatures it would be perfect to sit there and read today. 

   I hope that you can find hygge in your day today too.

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Another great day with the giggle girls. We had lunch at the Model T (split a white pizza with Sandy) and played Five Crowns. Just being with these girls makes me happy. It was a bad day, snowy and the wind was whipping but it didn’t keep us from gathering. This group is so important that we don’t want to miss. The next time it will be at my house in March.

A surprise discovery

You’ve heard of serendipity? 

ser·en·dip·i·ty

/ˌserənˈdipədē/

noun

1. the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

   "a fortunate stroke of serendipity"

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Today that happened to me. I was in Olean to have me hearing aids checked so I went a few other places while I was there. There is a small mall in town and I stopped at Kohl’s to get a watch battery replaced for Don. What should have been an easy task actually took a long time because they couldn’t get the back off of the watch and then couldn’t get it back on. The gal had to call for reinforcements and then more reinforcements and after a half an hour they finally managed. I also went to Bath and Body Works since I had a coupon for a few free items. I am well stocked up on lotions but who can resist something free? After a trip to the library where I found a few new books I decided to stop at a store on the Main Street that I have been passing by for quite a while. Every time I passed it I would say, I should check that out. Well, today that huge people sized rabbit made out of a log that was out front had me more curious than ever so I stopped in. 

   
   

   
   
   
   

Oh my, how had I not known about Christine’s Boutique before? Have you ever been in a store that you liked so well that if you closed your eyes and pointed anything that you pointed to you would be happy to take home? That is the way I felt about this store. It was very high end and had beautiful things. The wreaths were delightful with bows made of three kinds of ribbons. It had spring and Easter things and I had, (I mean, I just had to) bring home a little white bunny *the cutest ever! I also picked up a few spring flowers to add to my collection. I have been holding off putting out spring decorations, (especially with the forecast of winter weather this week). It was a gorgeous store and I will make it a must stop every time I am in town. 

A little February fun

Last night we celebrated Wendy’s birthday with a night out a Sprague’s. Chris and Wendy wanted to duplicate one of their first dates by wearing the exact same clothes and ordering the chicken in the shape of a heart. (Aww..) Dinner was delicious as always and made even more special because Don’s brother and wife joined us. We had a great time telling stories and finally had to break up the party to go home. It’s always fun to be with family. We came home and played a few rounds of Five Crowns before bedtime.

Linda's Kitchen minus peninsula

Linda wanted me to photoshop her kitchen without the peninsula to see what it would look like.

A little touch of Paris

Bonjour! France is always in my heart so I created a little French vignette on a small table in the sunroom.

Any French vignette must include an Eiffel Tower of course and my musical snow globe is just the thing to put there as well. 

The Paris book is a new addition and I placed some faux tulips on top to add to the drama. 

When I gaze over there it brings back those fond moments of visiting Paris and all the sights and sounds of that glorious city. The surprise of the boat on the Seine turning around and discovering that the Tower was right in back of us. Watching the sky turn night and the lights come on while we were up in the air of the Tower. Shopping on the Rue de Rivoli buying a scarf, (which I have to this day and still wear). Sitting at the outdoor cafes. Almost pressing our noses to the glass to view those intricate French pastries. Those memories are burned into my brain.


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Hedgehogs

When I saw this pillow at a consignment store it called out my name...loudly. First of all it had a hedgehog and I live a stone throws away from Hedgehog Lane. Then there was the French text. And look at those mushrooms. The color fits perfectly on my green couch and gives me a hint of summer. He’s a cute one!

Everyday

Every day one ought to "hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fin picture and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." This quote from Goethe spoke to me. I had recently read a very good poem on our local Facebook group's post. (I grew up in Bradford PA) It  expressed a lot about why I love living where I do. I thought maybe you would enjoy it too. 

Hometown

I left you for warmth, but I missed the feel of your chill, your imprints left on window panes and

scarf bundled faces. I left you for the squawk of the seagulls, but I missed the call of the turkey,

its rapid gurgling waking up the sunrise. I left you for navel orange trees, but I missed seeing the

star-shaped pink Mountain Laurel, a carpet for the forest glen. I left you for the scent of the sea,

but I missed your pungent smell, wafting throughout town, its heavy scent left on clothing.

I wanted to permanently leave you for glamour and skyscrapers, but I couldn’t. I wanted to

ignore you, move out and never look back, but you wouldn’t let me. I thought you were boring,

your facades never changed, and you were even ugly at times – scarred, pockmarked like a

ruffian from an old mobster movie. You cried incessantly and clouded the joys of a sunny day.

Yet, not until I left then returned did I realize your charm and what you had given me: salmon-

colored roses and magenta lilacs in summer and slopes to ski in winter; nighttime noises like the

pumping beat of the power houses on the hillsides and the train as it whistled through the valley.

You let me relax and meditate within the reds and oranges of the maple leaves, without any

hurry. You showed me shade under the weeping willows, as tall as they are wide, and fields of

soft-white Queen Anne’s lace; finding cold streams filled with minnows and boulders large

enough to climb, I wandered off by myself, safely hidden among the hills, because you protected me.

Some made fun of you. They thought they were classier, more refined. They had traveled and

experienced worlds unknown to you. You were criticized and compared to what they had seen–

miles of seamless asphalt melting into the horizon, bright lights screaming for attention, bustling

congestion flowing on every sidewalk–but they offered no way to make you better. But maybe

you are fine the way you are: old and small and slow paced in a modern world– that is your

appeal. And though many have left you, the new ones have discovered your secrets:

Milk cows lumbering across the road, from field to barn,

Chirping crickets, bedded in the dewy grass, looking for mates,

Spotted fawns nibbling at the hundreds of crab apples dripping down from trees,

Sacred silence, at the summit of a cemetery, overlooking the broccoli tips of forest trees

grooming the sky, exudes the presence of a higher power.

You are the secret garden, ours to enjoy, naturally.

And though your name is not on my birth certificate, I think of you as mine.

Ann Hultberg is a retired high school English teacher and currently a composition instructor at the local university. Her degrees are in English and reading education and educational psychology. She writes nonfiction stories about her family, especially focusing on her father’s escape from Budapest, Hungary, to the United States.

 

A little whimsy

Who could resist this little fellow?  I found him in the At Home store and he had to come home with me. I found the perfect spot for him leaning against the Louisa Mae Alcott books. The basket and carrots were found at Hobby Lobby.  I need a little whimsy in my life.  

   

February FUn

I had a great week visiting with my sisters in Virginia...shopping and eating out. On the way home Wendy invited me to stop by for a Valentine’s dinner. She also invited her mom and dad and cousin Amanda. Chris cooked a chicken dish and made fajitas and we had appetizers too. Amanda made strawberry cupcakes for dessert and her mom surprised Wendy with an ice cream cake for her birthday next week. Afterwards we played Dominoes and had a night full of laughter and fun.    Things have really worked out for Wendy and Chris. She has a job with the government as a soil conservationist and was working in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania so after they met they would take turns on the weekends driving back and forth to each other’s homes. But luckily after they were married in September she took a temporary position in Harrisburg so they could ride to work together every day. The job ended in February but she was hired full time now. She had to come to work in Port Allegany for a few weeks to finish out her year there but now is down there permanently. 

    

Happy Valentines Day

Alice in Wonderland

Today was our small skit for Literary Club at the Valentine’s Day Tea. We had so much fun putting on the little play for our members and our guests from the Current Events Club. The tables were decorated with tea sets, a bookmark favor with quotes from the book, some sweet candies and vintage Valentines. 

When you’re just not satisfied

Last week I was very anxious for spring to be here that I moved all the blue and white off the mantle and made a new vignette. I love this old green tool box and it felt like Spring. I added bird cages, old books, moss balls, and ribbon. Above I hung the painting I did of a farm scene. 

Each day I woul walk by but I just wasn’t happy with what I had done. It just didn’t sing to me. I didn’t like the balance of having two large things above each other. The cages seemed out of balance too. 

So one day I took it all down and replaced it. 

I placed some of the blue and white back and added some of my watercolors. The horse came from the bedroom and the straw case is a vintage one that I have always loved. Now I am happy. Much better. 

Declutter

I am not a minimalist. I am an over buyer. I see it in clothes, food and decorations. And that has always been fine with me. But now in this stage of my life I am finding that having so much is more of a burden than a joy. There are more things to keep track of and know where they are. Even though I am organized there are a lot of things taking up space in my small house. I have a bottom freezer full of food as well as a large freezer extra. And yet I keep buying.  Is it a disease?  I am trying to use up things before I buy more. Who needs so much extra shampoo?  Or cleaning products?  Each day I move more and more to having less. 

Marbles

What fun today at the annual Zonta Club Queen of Hearts card party. Here my Giggle Girlfriends and I are playing marbles. It is the most fun and we laugh a lot. They put on a big spread with sandwiches and cookies....I only had one. Don’t want to undo this last month of dieting. 

Friday was practice for our little skit at Literary Club  to get ready for our Valentines tea next Friday. 

I’m looking forward to watching the super blown tomorrow.  How about you?