New favorite

For those who visit Noble Pig's blog, please know that I am not trying to copy her. She does post pictures of wine labels and goes on to give a clear and accurate description of the wine she's featuring.

I've always liked taking pictures of the labels of the wines I enjoy and when I saw her site for the first time, I was happy to find a kindred spirit who also enjoyed photographing her wine labels. I am doing the picture only. Unfortunately, the awesome description of the wine is not going to be forthcoming.

Have you ever heard that Alison Krauss song, "New Favorite"? I'm always having new favorites of things I like. I never was one for easily answering questions such as "what is your favorite color?" Because today, my favorite color may be orange, whereas yesterday it was black. Not that I was in a bad mood yesterday, but you get my point, don't you?

Let me state that I am not, by any means, even in the slightest bit, a wine connoisseur. I'm probably like most people, who know that wine is made from grapes. Pity us, you connoisseurs of the noble grape out there. We are but simple morons. I know what I like and I know what tastes good, though, and over the weekend, when I went into a local wine store, there was a sampling being offered. In good wine glasses, nonetheless, and not those tiny little plastic cups. I forget the name of the wine I tasted, only that it was a Pinot Grigio from Australia and I was expecting something really good (probably because of the glasses). But after sipping it, I told the gentleman I didn't like it at all. I couldn't even finish it. I'm not a snob; it just tasted really bad.

When I pour myself a glass of Frei Brothers Chardonnay 2005 Reserve, I am uplifted to a place where sheep graze in meadows of deep green and little fairies rain down pixie dust on my skin and suddenly I am flying above everything. Then I open my eyes and realize I'm at home, on the horse farm where I live and there's a fly I need to swat.

And then I take another sip and . . . I'm transported back to the meadow and the little sheep are running now and . . . Holy Guacamole, Batman, what was in that salad I had for lunch?

Ok. Seriously. This wine is pretty decent. I picked up a bottle when I visited my girlfriends two weekends ago and when I poured this wine into our glasses, my girlfriends actually stopped what they were doing and asked "what IS this?" And that's when I know I've brought along a decent wine. In Delaware, near where I live, a bottle costs 14.99.

And I've yet to have had a bottle of wine from the Russian River Valley that I haven't liked. Well, except for Bear Boat. But that's another story for another day. Actually, it's not even a story. Let's just leave it at that.

So if you're out and about, and happen to come across Frei Brothers 2005 Reserve Chardonnay, I suggest you pick up a bottle, and give it a taste. If you don't enjoy it, ah well. But I think you might. And it's certainly worth a try.

New favorite

Today was glorious! Parents were coming into the school office all day long and telling us they hoped we could get outside soon.

Some of the classes were held outside.

Windows were open.

Gentle breezes were blowing.

And most people were downright happy.

 

So I thought I would take some photos of the happy faces of the pansies I bought last weekend.

I wasn’t thrilled with many of the pictures but I’m fine with the ones I’m sharing with you today.

 

On another note, the dinner I made tonight was a complete disgrace and showed just how little I care about getting a proper meal on the table by 6 PM.

I’d be happy just eating a sandwich.

If I were still eating wheat, that is.

The losing weight thing on the no wheat way of life is S L O W going. But I’m not discouraged. I love having none of the night time cravings that I used to get. That’s the best.

 

My husband has Survivor on. I’ve only been half-watching this season but have decided that I absolutely loathe one of the players. I’ve felt this way about him from the first time I saw him in action. His name is Colton Cumbie and he’s a manipulative little liar.

Ok. Breathe . . .

. . . it’s only a TV show . . . it’s only a TV show.

Speaking of which, I missed The Walking Dead the other night. But there’s a marathon happening on Sunday leading up to the season finale.

I didn’t miss Smash, though. That’s my new favorite.

 

As is this photo.

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It sounds like I watch too much TV, doesn’t it?!!

Hope your week is filled with beauty ~

and thanks for coming by today.

And speaking of new favorites ~

I love this song.

 

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Heads or tails

Okay.

Heads

or tails.

Heads, you win.

Tails, I win.

Wait a minute, was that a squirrel?

Heads it is. You win then. (And yes, it was a squirrel, George).

Unfortunately, there’s no prize. But you’re the winner today. And I’m the weiner, then. I can live with that.

I took these photos yesterday afternoon before I skipped out to spend an evening with two of my co-workers. Earlier in the week, I’d ordered a new camera lens from Amazon.com and yesterday it came! I’d always wanted a little 50 mm lens and I am now the proud owner of a Nikkor AF 50 mm 1.8 lens which I used to take all the pictures above. They’re all SOOC, which is rare for me as it always seems I have to do something to my pictures. But the 50 mm is a great little lens for portraits.

Oh, and about last night. It began as a simple get together to share a glass or two of wine, and some fruit. My favorite new snack, by the way, is strawberries with a dollop of whipped cream cheese and a dunk into some soft brown sugar. I’ll have a new favorite next week, but for now it’s this.

The evening ended up, however, at a local blues bar after Nancy called to see if they had any live music that evening. Sally was balking about going, but by the end of the evening, we had trouble dragging her away. We got there just before the musicians arrived and found a table that we moved to the edge of the dance floor. The musicians began arriving and we sipped our wine while we watched them setting up. They played a rousing set of rockin’ blues music including a favorite Allman Bros. Band song of mine (One Way Out). We all ended up dancing after a lesbian couple bought us a round of shots. I think they didn’t want to be the only ones on the dance floor, although they were quite interesting to watch.

I love to dance, and by the time the set ended with the band playing Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, we had a full dance floor and I was jumping up and down (as were others) and ended up peeing my pants.

Now THAT’S my kind of evening.

Sorry I mentioned the pee. I’m just keeping it honest here.

Respectfully submitted,

Thanks for your kind comments on my last post. I didn’t mean to worry anyone. It’s just that sometimes I get bummed. ‘Nuf said.

Quiet evening

I was so looking forward to this evening and a night out with an old friend. We were going to a cool café in the nearby college town to have a meal, then to see her son perform later tonight. He’s a musician who’s been living in NYC and I love his music.

Her son is Rory Sullivan and he graduated with my youngest son from the school where I work, back in 2005. Here’s his website:

Rorysullivanmusic.com





Like I said, I was really looking forward to it. And then I felt ill right after lunch and had to come home. After a big nap, I’m actually feeling much better but I’m sitting tight tonight.







"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."     ~Kahil Gibran

This was last night, though.

Taken from my chair at my new favorite salon.

The place was packed, but during a momentary lull, I managed to capture an empty space. I haven’t been to Hoitytoityville since last fall because I remarked on a friend’s hair at school and she told me where she has it done which happens to be so much closer to me. My new hairdresser was not a fan of the red highlights that my other hairdresser was (nor was I, actually) and has encouraged me to let my hair grow a little longer, something I kept asking my other hairdresser to do.

So I am content, although I’m not sharing a photo of the new do. Maybe another day. I’m not big on posting pictures of myself.

: : :

And now, if you will, I have some Friday evening fill-in-the blanks.

Outside my window ______________________________________ .

I am hearing ___________________________________________ .

I am wearing ___________________________________________ .

I am reading ___________________________________________ .

One of my favorite things _________________________________ .

: : :

I love reading your answers and responding to them. I do so through my e-mail account because that’s where my comments are directed. I can’t reply if your e-mail is not enabled. (It comes up noreply-comment@blogger.com). If you have a blog with a Blogger platform, go to design/dashboard/edit profile/then click on ‘show my e-mail address’. I’m still using the old version on Blogger. Not sure how the updated version works but it’s probably similar.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friends. See you in the comment section ~

I used only the good notes

The holiday season used to be so joyful when I was young. I couldn’t imagine ever being sad during Christmas and the New Year. But then I became older and it wasn’t until after the children were grown and my husband became sick that I truly understood why people can become depressed at this time of year.

I had to force myself to put up the little tree this year but I’m glad I did now. I kept putting it off all morning and then finally, it clicked and it began to feel right. “Snap out of it,” I told myself in my best Cher impersonation. (Name that movie). And later in the day, I popped in one of my favorite Christmas movies, and I really began to feel better.

The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law, and Cameron Diaz is what I watched this evening. One of my favorite parts is the one with Jack Black, who writes musical scores for films, and Kate Winslet who is listening to one he’s just written for their new friend, 90-year old Arthur Abbott (played by Eli Wallach) . He’s also written one for her and he tells her that he’s used only the good notes. It’s very sweet.

My tiny tree in the windowsill of the living room. Some day I’ll have a regular sized tree again. But for now, this one suits me just fine.

This year, my sons and I are doing something quite different for Christmas. We’re taking a trip to Florida to spend it with my in-laws in their new house down on the Gulf Coast. I am really looking forward to it.

And now, a question . . .

What are your favorite holiday movies?

See you in the comments ~

Random musings, a Giveaway elsewhere, and I won something!

I recently entered in a Giveaway over at Drivin' 55 and was surprised to find that I had actually won. The prize was to be a Christmas Memory Book that was being handcrafted by Deb, the blog host. And guess what just came in the mail?

It's a beautiful little book, ready for me to paste in my own photos. In years to come, I'll open this treasure and think back not only to my holiday this year, but to the new friend who made this for me.

Look how intricate the box lid is. The inside is completely lined in a rich holiday red and the little accordion-style book sits inside.

Deb personalized the front of the book as well as some of the inside pages.

Look at all the detail that goes into this little gem. I'm thinking of maybe getting a couple of these for gifts next year. And Deb, if you're reading this . . . why don't you have an Etsy shop?

My favorite page! I can put a picture of George right here! She even personalized my dog's name in this book. Can you tell how excited I am?

And while we're talking about Giveaways, I've found one on a new blog called Cottage Farm Villa that's going on until the end of next week. You can enter to win on this post. Tell Cheryl that I sent you.

Readers, please remember that A Giveaway A Day has just that. Every day a different giveaway. I've got a direct link on the sidebar on the right, but you can click the link right here as well. I go there when I remember to do so.

And while we're talking about new blogs, I was wasting away in Bloggeritaville one day recently and came across the most interesting story. It's a blog that reads like a good book and every day there's a new little chapter. I haven't left a comment yet because the new google comment thing confuses me (and I'm easily confused). The blog is brand new and looks like it may have started over the holidays. I am just finding the story SO VERY intriguing. Head on over to Leif and see what you think. It's just so well-written! And mind you, begin at the first post. It won't make sense if you don't.

And, as always, thanks for your support.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

George gets a new toy and I get an award

I took a different route home in order to stop at the Hallmark store and I happened to drive by a pet store. I realized that I hadn't bought George a new toy for quite some time now and so many of them are getting pretty ratty, so I turned my Honda Element into the parking lot and went in. I came out a short time later with a couple of fun new toys and a new ID tag for my favorite dog. When I came home, my husband was doing the dishes. You have no idea how much I love seeing a tall, strapping man doing the dishes. And then he started getting out pots and pans to begin cooking dinner and I had to get outa there before I just got way too excited! I took George outside and let him choose one of the toys. I tossed it and he caught most of them and kept bringing them back for more. These pictures are not blog-worthy as far as I'm concerned, but they're all I got tonight! It is pretty difficult to toss and snap at the same time and there was no way I was going to disturb the dinner process by asking my husband to come out and toss while I snapped photos. Then it was walk time and George decided to bring his new toy with us, dropping it just ahead of me so that I could keep picking it up and throwing it to him. By the end of the little 20-minute walk, he was tuckered out. And as I'm writing this, it's an hour and a half later and this dog is STILL playing with this toy. He loves it!


And now on to the award. Ever since I started fooling around with the little black box, I've been getting visitors from all over the globe on both this site and my Picture A Day photography blog. And some of them are becoming regular visitors. Hello to all of you. Yes, you out there. You know who you are. One such visitor is Suzy at Soo's Stuff. She hails from Cornwall in the UK and has a couple of brand new puppies. I also must mention her vacuum. It truly has a personality of its own. Suzy has bestowed the "I Love your Blog" award to me. And I am thankful. I received another one of these last month and will add this to my collection of wonderful awards. And because I've already sent this award on to three deserving other bloggers, I have decided to be lazy and not pass on, but I will say that I love all the blogs that are on my sidebar here. To me, they all deserve this award.

Until tomorrow, my friends.

The postman cometh. For George.

I have this strange aversion to the act of picking up mail. Oh, I always pick it up eventually, but I tend to let it pile up for as much as a week couple days before I break down and collect it. I do have several sound reasons for my mail-phobia, one of which is that I just don't want to see all the bills that the postman brings.

 
And another other reason is that it's just downright dangerous going to my mailbox! It's way out on the main road and directly across from a much-used intersection. If a car is turning left from the main road into the road opposite my driveway, other cars will travel around it, passing on the right and this is exactly where our mailbox sits. It's been hit once, too, since we moved here last October. Smashed to the ground back in November. So I'm really careful about picking up the mail and keeping my eyes on the traffic.

Today was one such day that I did my duty by collecting the mail. Traffic was light and the road looked good. And wow! The mailbox was jam packed.

There was something I had ordered from Le Jarden girl, who was having a buy one print, get one free sale on her blog. There was that apron I ordered for myself (I'm not sure if I like it yet), and there was a package addressed to George Young.

 

In the package it was a pair of soft frisbees and a note from Dixie and her owner, Chere. Dixie's knees are poor and she can't run and fetch frisbees like she used to, so she gallantly gave up her favorite toy to a friend in need.

I must have been making a fuss over the new toys because George jumped up to have a look-see.

When he saw what it was, he wanted it right away. So we headed outside to try one of them out. And these frisbees are great! They are so much softer on his mouth. And they fly really well.

It's now his new favorite toy. In fact, I saw him sleeping with it later on. So, thank you Dixie! And thank you, Chere. You've made my dog very very happy.

Have a great day, all. Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

My Favorite Gift

A few posts down, I participated in a meme that I turned into a Christmas one and in that meme, I mentioned the gift that my husband bought me years ago. It was a Nikon SLR camera that I fell madly in love with.

You've probably seen those car ads on TV where the small child inside of you reminds you of your most favorite gift ever, then suddenly the child is now an adult, and there is a brand new car in their driveway. And they realize that this is now the Best Gift Ever.

This Friday, I was given a gift at school that blew the Nikon out of the water, and I just had the burning desire to share it with you.

I can't share everything about it, because it's rather personal, but please let me try.

It's a bit of a tradition at our school, as it is at most, I expect, to give teachers and staff sweet little presents from the parents and students. I exchange gifts at school, as well, with a few teachers and my co-worker extraordinnaire, Bonnie. This year is a bit sparse for me in the giving department, but I managed to come through and am always happy to see the look on my friends faces as they open their little presents.

That's the best part, isn't it?

And then my friend, the art teacher, came into the office with a present for me. You remember her, right? The one I went to NYC with a couple of weekends ago? The one I've been friends with since the day I started at the school ten years ago? She and her husband are also the ones who arranged that visit for my son with their architect friend to spend a day working with him at his firm.

She looked really excited when she came into the office. And she had a big, beautiful box. "Open it!" she said. What a beautiful box it was that she handed me! I put it on the counter, admiring it while I slowly pulled up the flap. Inside I found a small flat package wrapped in gold tissue paper and tied with a beautiful red ribbon. "Open it!" she said excitedly. I pulled the ribbon off the package and saw that inside of it were white cards, all handwritten. I looked at my friend.

She told me she'd seen this idea on Oprah, and that on each card a faculty or staff member had answered questions like "What I love about you", "My wish for you this holiday is" . . .

When I realized that this box was full of these precious cards, the emotion overcame me and I began to cry. Cry and laugh at the same time! "No, no, don't cry!!" my friend said. "Here, here is one that's funny . . . read it, ok?"

So through my tear-filled eyes and the damn Dior mascara that runs every time I tear up (I have got to go back to Lancome, honestly) I read what our friend Diane, our gym teacher, wrote when she answered the question,

"What I Love About You" . . .

is you really know how to dance! Oh, wait a minute, that's what I LIKE about you, by the Romantics! But what I love about you is how you stay calm in any storm that comes your way. You are a rock for so many people! Happy Holidays!"

I couldn't read any more, I guess because I was so surprised. Margie went on to tell me that all she did was organize it, hand out the cards, and then ask for them back. Her husband, Charles, went out and found the fantastic box, and the faculty did the rest.

I was planning on going home Friday night, pour a glass of wine, and then read them. And I did pour that wine, and I did begin to read. But I couldn't after the first one. I don't know if I was embarassed, or maybe I felt that I didn't deserve all this love and kindness that was in this box. I just don't know!!!

So the box had been sitting on the bookshelf all weekend. Every now and then, I would walk by and touch it. It's a precious thing, you see. And this morning, with my husband's coffee in my little holiday mug, and a fresh-baked cookie made by him, too . . . I opened the box.

I read twelve of them until I couldn't do it any longer.

I had no idea that this is what people thought of me. And, at the risk of sounding so sappy that my sister-in-law's eyes will roll like they've never rolled before, I will tell you this:

I have only read twelve of them. And my heart is so full that I've decided to take it slow with this box. I had to stop after I read Cheryl's and I will share this one with you. Cheryl is one of our Lower School librarians.

What I love about you . . .

besides your great hair, I love many things about you! You are very capable in everything that you do. That's a great quality. I love how you appreciate the little things in life & I love your humor. But most of all, I love your kindness. You have blessed me and my child with it over the years. You are a blessing to everyone in your life. Thank you! Love, Cheryl.

Oh. My. God. I may not make it through the day through my tears and my appreciation.

Margie, I don't know how to thank you for organizing this gift. It is such a wonderful idea. And to those of you out there, this isn't a gift that can just be given at Christmas. This Gratitude Box or Memory Box is something you can do any time. For more information on the gift and to download the templates for the cards, please visit this site.

If you know someone in your life who is having some trouble and who needs to be reminded how much they are loved, then I strongly suggest giving this gift as a group effort.

I didn't know how much I needed the thoughts until I opened this . . . my new Favorite Gift Ever.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

Humbly yours,

A Saturday Drive (& some link love)

It’s been an insufferably muggy day around here and the temperature outside was too high for comfort. It’s sad to say that most of the day was spent in air conditioned comfort but I kept busy with a few housekeeping chores and then playing around with some images I snapped this morning during George’s first outing in the new car.

To those of you who are new here, George is our 5-year-old border collie. The only car he’s ever really known is our Honda Element and exactly one week ago, we bought a new Subaru Outback and he had yet to go for a ride in it.

So today was the day.

He looks a little disconcerted to me.

But he soon perks up as we head down the driveway for a “ride in the car.”

Say that in our house and watch what happens.

(Pure doggie bliss).

We drove south for awhile, then headed over the Chesapeake City Bridge after buying some fish at a market along the way.

This is a high bridge that traverses the C&D (Chesapeake & Delaware) Canal.

My view west.

When I looked at all these images on my computer, I felt they were too glaring. I wanted softness, something much more calming, and so I edited them in Photoshop using a Gaussian blur technique I learned. Let me know if you'd like to learn it and I'll do a post about it.

Now the images were what I was looking for.

Hey!

It’s hay.

:  :  :

We drove around for a little while, looking things up in the car manual, my husband getting a good feel for this vehicle (which is awesome, btw) and then we headed north towards home, coming through the back side of Chesapeake City.

The town park by the water.

My favorite restaurant is the last building by the water there.

We have been going there for (OMG) nearly 30 years, since back when we lived in Pennsylvania. It was so good, and so worth travelling the extra miles for this place.

The Bayard House Restaurant

And then some more driving, and finally home and we were heading up the driveway towards the old manor house on the hill. We opened the windows so George could stick his head out (one of his favorite things).

Exciting, yes?

You don't have to answer that.

Almost home.

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And now for some Link Love:

Please don’t be hurt if I read you regularly and you don’t see your name here. These are simply a few blog posts that I read early this morning that either touched my heart, made me swoon from the photography, or just plain had me smiling. And so, in no particular order, I give you:

not necessarily in that order by Kelly Letky at that’s mrs. mediocrity to you

Once in a Blue Moon by Hilary at The Smitten Image

Hello September by Caroline Manrique at Constantly Evolving

To a Beautiful Weekend, Dahlings! by Georgianna Lane at her Photography & Other Magic

DC Drama by Kat Warren at Low Tide High Style (there’s a Giveaway there, as well)

waiting by Daryl Edelstein at Out & About in New York City

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And, with that, I bid you adieu for now, my friends . . .

thank you for stopping by to visit.