NumberNineteen

NYC Family Follies 2014

Two weeks ago at this time,  I was in Manhattan, eating a pretzel from a vendor & wandering around the Metropolitan Musueum of Art.  The city was *magic*.  Cold & crisp, making preparations for the holidays.  We got to glimpse the beginning of the season in the city, while it was still calm.  The holiday window displays were just starting to make their appearances.

Lord & Taylor had wonderfully imaginative windows, including ones inspired by children's stories.  Tiffany took it one step further by adorning their entire building in a giant "necklace".  Absolutely stunning.

We spent a few hours at the Met as well, seeing some of our favorite works.  There is so much to see there that we always wish that we had more time.

It doesn't hurt that this room was one of the scenes in one of my favorite movies, When Harry Met Sally.

My favorite painting.

Hope in front of a stunning Tiffany mosaic fountain.

We stopped by Macy's to show Hope the store in the Thanksgiving Parade. While there, she dropped a note to Santa and we checked out their holiday decorations.

 

The reason for our visit was a truly special family get-together.  For years, my father has told us about going to Radio City Music Hall as a child, seeing movies there and performances.  I knew that he would love to share that experience with all of us, especially Hope & Rainer.  So, my parents, our family, and my sister's family gathered in the city to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

The show was absolutely the highlight of the weekend.  True to it's name, it is spectacular.  Hope & Rainer were leaning out of their seats, with looks of awe on their faces.  I don't think that I stopped smiling the entire show.  Honestly, I was so thrilled to be there with my family in that historic & storied place, that tears came to my eyes.  I think that it meant a great deal to my dad to have us all together in that special place where he had so many good memories.

It was a magical trip, one that I hope Hope will tell her children about one day.

 

Caught My Fancy -- November

November has just flown by!  I can't believe that it's almost Thanksgiving.  We'll be heading up to Boston in just a few short days to celebrate with Terri, Ezra & Rainey. 

Since I won't be as involved in the cooking as usual, I've appointed myself the leader of kid activities.  I've found some super-cute ideas on Pinterest, of course.

Handprint Turkey Hat

Pilgrim Hat

We'll start out with one of these projects.  You need appropriate attire for the Thanksgiving feast, of course.

I Am Thankful For Printable

I'd like to do this activity to remind them about the meaning of the holiday.

The Turkey Pokey

Finally, who couldn't use more Hokey...I mean Turkey....Pokey in their life?

On a completely different subject, the apartment of the late great Lauren Bacall is for sale and we have an opportunity to see where the legend lived.

 

The apartment is located in the Dakota -- one of the most desirable buildings in Manhattan, once home to John Lennon, Judy Garland & Leonard Bernstein.  Her place is how I saw her -- elegant, intelligent & worldly.  If you'd like to see the rest of the photos, they are located at yahoo.

As Thanksgiving draws near, I've been doing a lot of thinking about gratitude and how it affects my everyday life.  I always remember to be thankful for the big things -- my family, our home, health & security.  But, I find that every day gratitude is what really affects my outlook on life.  Paying attention to the way the light fills the autumn morning sky on my way to work.  The smell of the leaves.  Coming home at night & having my daughter shout "Mommy!" when she sees me at the door.  When I'm forgetting about the goodness in my life & need to be reminded about gratitude, I visit Susan Branch.  Every one of her posts is an ode to every day joys, to slowing down & being in the moment.  To loving the stove that brings you pleasure every day, to finding your cat's stash of hair bands (aka toys), to giggling over the kitty sneaking onto the table, to being thankful for the view out the window.

All photos by Susan Branch & used with permission.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of family & friends, good food & good times and much gratitude.

 

 

 

 

40 For Fourty -- 40th Birthday Gift

This summer it dawned on me that my sister would be turning 40 in November.  I couldn't believe it -- my little sister!  I thought about knowing her for 40 years and what a lucky sister I am.  I really wanted to make it a special day for her, so I decided to pull together 40 for 40 -- 40 gifts for 40 years of Terri! 

I couldn't post about it until Terri's birthday because I didn't want to ruin her surprise, but the big day was yesterday so I'm free to share!

I started the process in August, figuring that I would need some time to come up with 40 gifts.  I'm glad that I did because I would think of a few ideas and then stall.  I'd call my mom, ask Glenn and try to steer Terri in the direction of giving me ideas.  I didn't come up with the 40th idea until last week. 

Here is what I gave Terri in her 40 for 40 package:

3 pairs of fun socks (Terri loves socks.  She was once featured on the Boston Globe's style page for her cool socks.)

3 vintage Christmas ornaments

5 antique Christmas postcards (She collects them -- I believe that she has over 500)

1 little vintage pitcher, just because it caught my eye

2 Yardley Soaps

1 container of her favorite Ginger Peach Tea

1 sodoku book

1 pad watercolor paper (she paints as a hobby)

8 Owl Page Markers

1 Leaf Bookmark

1 Burt's Bees Lip Balm

1 bag of candy raspberries

1 bag of yogurt covered pretzels (this & the previous are her favorite candies)

10 Le Pen Pens

1 note from Hope (Hope very much wanted to be part of it)

It was well worth the effort when I spoke to Terri yesterday & could hear how much she loved it.  She said that it was like I was buying her things that related to all parts of her life. 

Happy Birthday again Sisterfriend!  I love you!

 

 

Halloween 2014

Another Halloween is in the books & the weather has turned appropriately Novemberish.  Chilly & cloudy, the wind whipping up the leaves.  I took a long walk today, enjoying the solitude & peacefulness that is this type of fall day.

The weather turned overnight it seems, as we had a perfect Halloween around here (avoiding the SNOW that fell in the midwest!).  Hope was dressed as a blue butterfly, probably one of my favorite costumes that she has had in recent years.

I know that I'm extremely biased, but didn't she look just beautiful?

Here she is, in classic Hope style, demonstrating how a butterfly flies.  I love this kid.

I was extremely tired so Glenn took her out trick or treating and I stayed home to distribute candy.  I just love seeing the little ones all dressed up.  Hope stayed out for almost 2 hours & came back with quite a haul.

I am very intentionally taking it slow this weekend.  No obligations, no to-do lists.  Sleeping, reading & taking walks.  I have been overwhelmed these past few weeks and it is taking a toll on me.  I am a person who gets very enthusiastic about things and takes on far too much, to only find myself at the end of a very frayed rope all too quickly.  I'm hoping to re-charge my batteries and recover a bit this weekend.  I hope that you are enjoying your weekend & re-charging as well.