Happy Father's Day!

I have a very special heart stone in my garden that was given to me by my friend Sue and her son Danny after my father had passed away.  

I keep it tucked in the corner of my garden.  Last year my neighbors were weeding out their perennials and asked if I would like some.  I transplanted a rose bush that looked like sticks with roots but hoped for the best.  The other morning, my last day of work, I walked out on to my patio to see that the roses were in full bloom and later in the day, they cast a shadow on my special heart.   

A message from Dad saying, "I'm here, don't worry, it will all work out."  : )

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

"The roses have gone by.  We had 3 of them.........beautiful"

James Wheeler

The garden has lots of roses for you this summer Dad...

Happy Father's Day!

I love and miss you, xxoo

Liz

Happy Memorial Day!

I love this photograph taken by my friend Tom Rourke.

I feel it says so much.

On this unofficial opening day of summer, let us remember those who served, those who lost their lives serving and those who are currently serving and their families who keep it all together while their loved ones are away.

As I was reminded at a beautiful ceremony at my school on Friday, honoring 2 young men from it's town, who lost their lives serving our Country, 

"Freedom is not free."  

God Bless those who make freedom possible.

Life to date....

Saying goodbye to a school I will always hold dear  : )

Getting all my ducks in a row for the next chapter...
putting our condo on the market.

I was too embarrassed to take "before" pictures of all the boxes in this room from our attic.  My son's friend thought maybe he could earn his upcoming Eagle Scout Award cleaning out our home.  

(He was just kidding but that is how bad it looked!  : )

Much cozier now!

Sometimes all I need is some good advice and a hot cup of chai (Starbuck's) when I start to feel overwhelmed.

(Wonderful book by Daphne Rose Kingma)

...and dinner with my brother and his wife while my son and his friends enjoy a day at Six Flags.

(Payback for helpng me get all those boxes out of the attic, redeeming over 500 cans (from our neighbor) which were stored in our outside closet, and for helping with the trips to Catholic Charities  : )

Now onto the hallway and our bedrooms and maybe a catnap.  

: )

I believe : )

Video from You Tube uploaded by Habitation Tracy

"Iron Swirls" by elizabeth steele

With a vintage suitcase and a floral carry-on bag.  A short waisted coat and a belted dress.  Looking up at the hotel as the cab driver pulls away...

taking it all in.

 The concierge looks up my reservation and refers to me as "Miss".  He gives me my door pass and points towards the elevator while giving me directions in his thick French accent.  

Inside the elevator, (which is gold and brown and elegant),  I watch as the numbers light up, one by one, above the double doors and then watch it stop at number 5.  

Down the hall I go, with my suitcase and carry on and a skip in my step.

I place the key card in the slot, and push the handle down.

The room says hello with the coziest of fashions.

 A flower duvet on the double bed.  The matching pillowcases cover down pillows which are fluffed against the white wainscoted headrest.

A china cup and saucer are thoughtfully placed with a small vase of pansies on the night stand.

The cream frosted lamp is lit, giving the room the loveliest softest hue. 

 Rod iron swirls of the balcony await, as the  sheer curtain lifts in the breeze against the gorgeous glass doors.

A writing desk and softly upholstered chair beckons to come to sit and write.

Something I hope to do lots of while here.

I plop down onto the bed, carefully remove my heels and take a long, deep breath.

Paris.

I knew someday I'd be here.

Happy Birthday to my Uber-Creative Sister!

 Here's a postage size picture of us

but a BIG Happy Birthday wish!!

In need of a shot of sparkle : )

I have been advised that having a sacred space will help me to relax and get into my zen place.  Whenever I get the chance, I take a drive and park to look out to what I have found to be my zen place.

The water was just so beautiful this morning (minus the blurry spot on my camera lens : (

So sparkly!  

The sunlight was dancing so quickly it felt like my eyes were getting a workout trying to capture all of the sparkles.

Now...On to my list of To-Do's : )

Choosing to embrace the unknown....

I have had the pleasure of working at a school that I have truly loved for the past 2 years.

Due to budget cuts my position will no longer be there for next year.  

I am heartbroken....

but so grateful and a better teacher for having the privilege of working at such a wonderful school with such supportive administrators, hard working teachers and creative and fun-loving students.

I have learned over these past few years when the unknown looms overhead,  I am so much better knowing what my options and choices are.

I asked on Friday what my fate was.
They planned on breaking the news on Monday...

but as I explained when I asked,
I am not good at the fork in the road. 

I am so much better knowing.

So this weekend as I get all my ducks in a row in my search for something that feels like home, fits like a hand in a glove or a mitten...or for now, even just a comfy knit cuff will do : )
I must remember that things always work out....

it is just this space in between that can feel a little unnerving

but today.....

I am casting my line out, taking things slow and steady, and choosing to embrace the unknown.

Changes...

Mary Engelbreit puts it best : )

Happy Tuesday!

Busy day...late dinner...but I thought I'd at least make it interesting : )

Changes...

Last night I went out with my friend Sue to talk about some possible big changes coming my way...then this morning I found this song entitled, "Frame The Clouds" by Christina Wells featuring Sara Groves (who Sue and I had the pleasure of hearing this past summer)   

  I thought the lyrics fit perfectly with how I felt last night trying to sort out my life...which is like trying to frame the clouds : ) with my good friend sitting across from me listening...

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_2097310

Thank you Sue!  : )

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

I won a pair of Converse sneakers on a talk radio show and I was so happy to see that they were green when I opened the box!  Today was the first day I wore them to school in honor of Saint Patrick's Day!  My students loved them and I felt right in style with my middle school students!

We baked loaves and loaves of Irish Soda Bread to the sound of all the Irish music I could find (that were not pub drinking songs)!!  It took me hours last night to sift through the Irish selection on Itunes hoping all the while they would enjoy listening to songs about the Emerald Isle  : )   I knew I was successful though when a periodically throughout the day students in their kitchens broke out into a jig!

It was a good day had by all....I only wish I had planned ahead and had a corn-beef dinner waiting at home for me in the crock-pot!  Next year for sure!  : )

P.S.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER PATRICK!!

Who is happily celebrating his special day in Ireland today!

February Vacation snippets...

This vacation I am trying to take moments to rejuvenate my creative spirit and take mini vacations wherever I can find them... 

Several years now, on our way home from visiting our family in Vermont, (which was a very nice visit by the way : ) we come to this intersection in Brattleboro in which this store called Dragonfly stands.  I quickly try to take in all that I imagine is inside.  I am immediately taken by the Emma Bridgewater cups in the window.  We tried once before to stop but found parking difficult.  But this time, on our way home, we managed to find parking and take a step inside.

The store was very cute with such a nice selection of Emma's dishes and cups.  Honestly, I do not own any of her dishes but love them.  I remember years ago when I first saw her dishes I loved the one that said, Bubble and Squeak.  I waitressed with a girl from England who told me that was the name for leftover sausage and hash or something to that effect and that was the noise it made in the pan while heating up.  

What I do own are some tins that Emma's husband illustrated, as he illustrates all of her pottery.

Brattleboro has an Artist type walk the first Friday night of every month.  They feature different music and serve wine and cheese : )  It sounds like it would be lots of fun!

We only made it in 3 stores this visit with plans to visit 3 more our next time we are passing through.  

The Blue Blinds Bakery has been mentioned by me before but it is worth mentioning again.  It is located on North Street in Plymouth and it is such a cozy place to stop for a cup of tea or coffee.  I chose hot chai with pumpkin pie.  It was delicious.  The murals around the bakery are incredible depicting the history of the Plimoth (as it was once spelled).  The bakery also has a fireplace which really adds to the ambiance, but there were people sitting in front of it so I didn't want to disturb them : )

 Across the street form where I was sitting is a wonderful old bookshop.  It is chock full of all kinds of books and down in one corner I found a box of old "78's.  I called my brother to see if there was anything he would be interested in for his victrola and we took a chance on this one.  Looking forward to hearing it on a future family visit : )

I hope you too are finding time for mini vacations that bring you inspiration and respite : )

So nice to see the blue skies : )

I went for a drive before Church this morning and stopped to take a picture of this snowy driveway.  Imagine if this was what met you at the end of the driveway at the end of the day!  : )