Sunday Serenity

The sky might implode.

If it does, I'll run for cover!

And be glad I'm safe.

~~~

xoabb

expect safeness!

SWF & a Bit of Sushi

7:14 pm Thursday - totally overcast skies

leaves are just about completely filled in...

but late this year.

~

AND NOW

One of the very best lunches I've had..

First, salmon tartar - a disappointment only because

we were expected to pick it up with chopsticks...

would have been better and easier on a sesame cracker.

Second, a phenomenal spicy tuna roll, totally thrown over the top of excellence by a drizzling of red raspberry sauce with a sprinkling of toasted almond slices on top. Somebody certainly knows what they're doing!

Thank you, Daryl for our introduction to the superb Momoya - what a wonderful food experience (and good times with friends new and old)! Ohhh! The lunch we all had! Excellent!!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

~

Sky Watch Friday!

Do join us!

Stairs (& my P.I.F. - at last!)

N'awlins...

Nahhhh!

NYC!

5/23/9

Yes, I know any native New Orleans person would be appalled

at the above N'awlins spelling and pronunciation!

~

An embarrassing amount of months ago, I was chosen as one of AsthmaGirl's (aka the lovely Diane) recipients of her pay-it-forward post. She sent me a lovely sour-dough starter, the beginnings of which is many years old. More recently I got (by subterfuge, I must admit, but how that subterfuge was done, I'll never tell) a wonderful pay-it-forward from Ms. Daryl! She sent me a lovely and much loved vintage Vera Bradley bag she had received from a very dear friend who has since passed on, and a totum key chain, which, if I understand this correctly, any time I have it on me and eat, no calories actually are consumed by me - and that I like a LOT, (if I'm wrong about this explanation, please do not tell me!).

And now it is my turn to Pay-It-Forward.

Anyone who'd like to participate, just leave a comment here. Eventually I'll throw the few or many names into a hat and let MPM choose 2 or 3 to Pay-it-Forward to! I have in mind what I'm sending the winners (appropriate even if you're a guy), and all you have to do is promise to, well, Pay-it-Forward! If you want to take part in this, but have already participated in P-I-F or don't have a blog, just make a donation to your local food kitchen instead if you win. That'll make nice. Hmmmm....matter of fact, in honor of this, I think I'll make a donation to our food kitchen! Any excuse to do that is lovely, and P-I-F seems a better excuse than most. (And if you want to play along but don't want a physical present, I'll make a donation to our food kitchen in your name.)

So, my friends, there you have it!

~~~

xoabb

a lovely evening to all!!

The Secret Pathway of the Steps...

(Sounds like a Nancy Drew mystery!)

Miss Lauren and I went on a field trip to the Big Apple to meet two other blogger-met friends, Miss Kate (for the first time), and our hostess Miss Daryl (we've met twice before - lovely!). Daryl wanted to show us the Boat Basin and Riverside Park before we had lunch, and we all gladly agreed (visit their blogs here and here for more pics of our adventures - you won't be sorry!). As we were walking out of the park, we came across this charming Secret Pathway of the Steps. Of course, we had to follow it. 

Surprise! At the top of The Secret Pathway of the Steps...two seats! Imagine that! In the middle of this most lovely park were two seats, that obviously didn't belong there, but still, were just waiting to be filled...

 

And so, Kate and Daryl sat, and enjoyed a laugh at the 

randomness of the many different and sometime silly 

Seats of NYC.

(Ok, I'm conjuring up what they were thinking.)

~~~

xoabb

expect NYC salutations!

ABC Wednesday - It's S!

Do join us!

P. S.  Tomorrow I'm payin' it forward from Daryl (and Asthmagirl (Diane), too, from a time I forgot about, sorry Diane, feeling small now). Also have a little continuation of the ABC ~S~ theme - just one photo, I promise, but it's good! So do join me for a little PIF giveaway fun!

Rays Reflected on Ripples

Above is a photo of the setting sun's rays reflected and shimmering in the ripples of Lake Champlain. I spent a weekend there last Spring and during the time I was there, a large thunderstorm passed over the lake just before sunset. The remnants of that storm left the most spectacular skies! And I just happened to be in the right place at the right time!

~~~

xoabb

Roger and the Bees

Possibly a bee whisperer?

~~~

xoabb

Our World Tuesday

The Planting is done!

Tim, Rem & I worked hard and finally completed the planting of our community garden plot. As you can see by the tape measure in front of the tomato cage, Rem took the placement of veggies very seriously - down to the half inch. As you cannot see, Tim was the muscle behind our garden debacle adventure! THANK YOU TIM!!! You get the first ripe tomato! (If there is one.)

This is our first year and we know we'll have our successes and failures. BUT, the fun is in the learning...and ultimately in the harvest!

~~~

xoabb

Expecting wonderful garden delights!

P.S. A most happy and wonderful birthday to our baby -
Our Brynn Lee, the delight of our life.

May you have a perfection day - and life!

That's My World Tuesday!

Do join us!

Two Words...

Memorial Day at

St. Paul's on-the-Green,

Norwalk, CT

Their annual tribute to our

fallen soldiers in Iraq/Afganistan.

One flag for each of our fallen.

Around 800 new flags had to be added this year.

~

Two words:

Thank you.

From the very bottom of my heart.

~~~

xoabb

Just two words...

There are more Memorial Day cartoons here.

Cartoon by John Cole - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com

Heart of My Heart

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

~ ee cummings

~~~

xoabb

~ peace

Photo taken 5/23/09

Riverside Gardens

NYC

~

Uh Oh....

Good thing: Walking into the kitchen at exactly the right moment. 

Bad thing: Leaving the dish towel on top of the skillet's lid. That's on the lit gas stove. 

FIRE!

(Sadly, a dish towel died in the making of last night's meal.)

(Sadly, it was my favorite.)

(Happily, said towel was the only casuality.)

OK, people, do you kinda see a trumpeting elephant in that first 

photo,and a more contrite one in this second photo? 

Good! I thought so! Me too!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

The above happened last evening. 

Now on to more important things! Today at 9:45am, MPM and I are driving into NYC to meet Daryl and Kate for lunch. Can't wait - what fun we'll have! Plus, we're bringing Daryl dirt. For her window box. We're nice like that.

And one last important thing, I got my ~pay it forward~ box from Daryl today. A lovely tote passed on from a dear departed friend of hers that I am TOTALLY HONORED to have recieved, plus a wonderful funky hand-made key ring. Not sure how I'll pay-it-forward, but I will, oh yes I well. Actually this is the second time I've been the chosen recipient of ~pay if forward~. The first time Diane (AsthmaGirl) PIF and sent me a sourdough starter. I never PIF for that one and I feel very very baaaaad!  So I guess I'm just gonna have to come up with sumpin wunnerful!  Twice over! Pooh!

Backyard a Week Later - SWF

Finally filling in

The green canopy. It is

Just magnificent!

~~~

xoabb

Spring at its finest!

~~~

Sky Watch Friday

Do join us!

My Tote

Sippy cup. Safely

Within Mom's reach. Just in case

I have a melt down.

(Which I certainly will...

I'm just sayin'!)

~~~

And now a definition: 

I've been asked what makes a haiku poem, well, a haiku poem. According to wictionary.org: 

haiku (plural haiku or haikus)

1. A Japanese poem of a specific form, consisting of three lines, the first and last consisting of five morae [syllables], and the second consisting of seven morae [syllables], usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme.

2. A three-line poem in any language, with five syllables in the first and last lines and seven syllables in the second, usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme.

Haiku, a poem

five beats, then seven, then five

ends as it began.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

P. S. Community Garden update:  WE HAVE TOPSOIL! A big delivery came today, and it's such a very marvelous thing! That garden of ours is gonna ROCK! Soon! (Shut up, MPM!)

Glorious Glory

Just blooming

A morning glory

Unfurling in morning light

A thing of beauty

~~~

xoabb

.

RRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

The Garden Boys...

Getting their RRRrrrrrgh game on!

(Maybe they're The Pirate Boys??)

RRRrrrrgh!

There's lots of gardening to do!

(Connor-man & Tim-man gettin' their gardenin' game on!)

Soon after this, down the two boys went to our plot. Lots to be done, and the two of them did it well...for the most part. Tim dug out the dirt from the sides of our frame, and Connor-Man threw the clods of dirt into the wheel barrow...well, except for the times he was throwing the clods at Tim's head. Needless to say, the job took a bit longer than necessary. Instead of a ~job~ expeditiously done, much fun and many giggles were had by all of us - it was simply wonderful!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

ABC Wednesday - It's R week!

Do Join Us!

P. S. Though we have no top soil, we obviously have been supplied with LOTS & LOTS of wood chips to line our garden plots with. (sigh) How I wish that pile was top soil. RRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhh!

My World - It's Watery...

In more ways than one...

As you know if you've spent a time or two perusing this little old blog of mine, I have a strong affinity for water. We live by the side of a beautiful pond, my parents live on a pond as well, with a gorgeous creek flowing through the valley below their home. For years we spent Christmas on the ocean in Cayman, and I live a stone's throw away from Long Island Sound. Water everywhere I go. It simply fills my world. 

There's not much left here in lower Fairfield County that says New England. Too many "foreigners" have moved in to destroy the vestiges of what New England was - think the old "Christmas in Connecticut" movie. (Ahem...I happen to be one of those foreigners.) Today, to really get a taste of the ~human~ personality of New England, you really must travel to the north or north east (and quite a ways at that) of our fine state.  Just not a lot left here. 

However, we still have the quentessential New England shoreline. 

Completely unique, our cold-water coast,

Whether in Connecticut or Maine. 

And simply beautiful.

Isn't is amazing? The two photos above were taken within minutes of each other. 

Look at the difference in the light! 

Nature. Just Awesome!!!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

That's My World!

Do Join Us!

P. S.  Monday, we spent a few hours at our Community Garden. Not much we could do - we're waiting for the delivery of the community top soil, and, of course, no one knows when it's to be delivered. And, of course, with night-time temps hovering in the 40's, that doesn't help at all either. Pics tomorrow of the itty bitty progress being made - Oh!! The anticipation you must be feeling! ;-)

Wind Blown

Purple Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius) Seeds,

originally uploaded by bbum.

My brother's photo - it speaks to me,

Such incredible beauty!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

A very happy birthday to my eldest girl!
And many more my dearest Rem-Rem.

Sunday Serenity

Living beside water

Peaceful

Always

~~~

xoabb

expect serenity!

SWF - Day Late...As Usual...

The leaves are growing!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Stormy Cemetery Sky w/Dogwood

Cemetery Sky,

Over my East Norwalk. I

Find quiet time here.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Sky Watch Friday

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Comunity Garden Plot, First Day

Remy, the Master Nailer

3 - 2" x 10" boards, 2 whole, & 1 cut into 4' lengths - $39.06

1 hammer - $17.32

1 box nails - $2.79

3 bags top soil - $34.96

Learning all of the above is supplied free of charge??

Priceless!

~~~

xoabb

State grants. They ROCK!!!

(Obviously there's a LOT I need to learn about community gardening. Tools, wood chips, top soil, wheel barrows, organic fertilizers, you name it, is supplied to us because of a state grant!!! Who-da thunk??)

Quiet Glen

Reach out in the early morning mist,
As the day's sun
Breaks the calmness of night,
And rise to the new day,
A new awareness of being.

Shake hands with the world,
And smile.

It's great to be alive!

~Jonivan

~~~
xoabb
expect anything!

ABC Wednesday - a Q kind of day
Do join us!

My World - Beautiful & a Trifle Irritating...

We've ended up having just a lovely Spring here in lower New England. Though I've been complaining heartily about our weather, the blooms have been nothing to complain about. Now my wisteria the bane of my hubby's existence as he thinks it is ugly for 98% of its yearly existence - how could anyone say that looking at those magnificent blooms??? are in full and glorious bloom, most of the trees are leafing out, (well, except for the hickory and oak trees as I've been chronicling every Friday), and the birds, bees and butterflies are busy flitting about each doing their Springly thingy.

That brings me to the above photo. Anyone notice the broken fence to the right of my wisteria? Anyone wonder how that happened??? Wonder no more! A certain son of mine, who will remain nameless, backed out of the driveway, in a hurry as usual, and took out the fence. Car suffered no damage (which disappointed me), but fence? Down two rails. Nameless son is replacing the rails. We hope sometime in the next decade...

Ahh Wisteria!

Such beautiful blossoms and

Color I adore.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

My World Tuesday!

Do join us!

P. S. A haiku lesson is soon to come! At least haiku as I know it!

Sunday Serenity

To every woman who nurtures, 

Be it their own child or a child they simply love, 

No matter that ~child's~ age, 

No matter if the child is two- or more-legged. 

The happiest Mother's Day to each of you.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Stella's baby when she was young

She loves her baby!

Bad Email from my Parents: "Poor Bluebirds"

DAMN that circle of life!                                                                                                                                                                

"Dear Ones, 

We do like snakes - but really! By the time Grand Roger, aka Dad, pulled this black snake out of the bluebird house, we had a snake about 5 - 6 feet long. He had a bulge from one recently eaten baby bluebird, with another one in his mouth. Snake was removed and taken - alive, mind you -  at a great distance from the house area.  I know they have to eat, too, but I would like it more if it wasn't in our backyard!  (By the way, Mama Duck  is doing fine, hatch date is May 26.) 

Love, G-ma Mary/Plain Mom"

~

(an Annie aside:  Had I have had to pull that snake out of that bird box I could not have done that - I'm a country girl to a point, and I must emphasize "to a point"! - but I am not my daddy's girl when it comes to snake removal. Simply couldn't do that. At. All!)

~~~

xoabb

expect unpleasant snake happenings at times!! 

SWF - The Spring Leaves...

Are finally beginning to unfurl!

5/7/9

Please do not expect blue skies here in CT.

They, obviously, do not exist anymore.

5/1/9

4/23/9

Tho, obviously, once they did,

And just a short few weeks ago!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!
~
Sky Watch Friday
Do join us!

P. S. Just to clear things up, SWF does NOT stand for Single White Female
(as one of my friends thought at first).

Intruder

I really must remember to always look at all the details of the picture I'm about to take. Not for the first time, (go here for that), there is an extra unwanted ~thingy~ in a photo I've taken. And for the second time, again it's a mosquito. I'm either just darn unobservant & unlucky, or it's a sign that in some way or another, mosquitoes are about to invade my life! Dear me! Hellllooo calamine lotion, you are my friend!

Oh, and it's raining.  Again. Just thought you should know.

~~~

xoabb

expect rain rain rain!

written 10:35pm Wednesday night

Pinkilicious Perfection...

Perfectly off-center...

...or perfectly centered.

ABC Wednesday - It's P week!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

ABC Wednesday

Do join us!

My (Bizarre) World Tuesday...

Stella and I were in the kitchen when we heard and then saw a great flapping of wings, followed by a big splash of water. I knew it was a turkey - they always have a certain clumsy way of flying - but couldn't imagine the splashing sound as turkeys and water just don't come together on any regular kind of basis. Much to Stella's consternation, I blocked her from leaving the house as I snuck out on the deck to see what was going on. Lo and behold, there was a turkey knee deep (well, turkey knee deep at least) in the pond! (And who really was looking rather embarrassed about the entire land-in-the-pond thingy.) Can you imagine? After standing there for about five minutes, said turkey nonchalently wandered back onto the land he/she belonged on as if the entire water incident had never taken place. Ahhh...order restored!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

My World Tuesday!

Do join us!

2nd Post Today - Another Indigo View

Blue Bunting

Gold Finch
Red Cardinal

Beauteous!
(To see more, go here.)

~~~

xoabb
hoping for a return visit!

Look Who Finally Stopped By!

See that little blue spot?

(might need to embiggen the photo.)

28 years living in this home of ours

and this is the very first time we've

been visited by an indigo bunting!

 

Needless to say, I'm beyond thrilled!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!