From England with love

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A wet and windy day was magically transformed into a sunny, bright one when I received a most special gift from my dear friend Olive.

All the way from England (land of  my dreams :0)

A beautiful bag and a photograph of Penny Lane's sign!

"Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes..."

Abby refused to be left out :0)

The fact that Olive thought of me when she saw the bag and that she remembered my huge love for The Beatles fill my heart. Thank you Olive, you are the best! XO!

I can't wait to use my gorgeous bag this weekend when we finally return to our Purple Caravan. My husband went out this past week and with the help of our friends pulled out the wall to wall carpet. We now must decide on the type of wood flooring to be installed. I  love the wider planks (but they are so much more expensive)

The caravan came with one bigger bedroom and two small sleeping quarters furnished with two bunk beds each. They were way too small (even for someone as short as me :0) so we decided to knock down the dividing wall and make just one room.

A platform was built to place mattresses and big fluffly pillows.

It's now a cozier, more private area in which our friends can actually sleep and stretch their legs.

Needless to say my mind is just swimming in pools of colors. I lay awake at night planning and imagining how it will look once it's done.



We will be building a screened porch (hopefully soon) and then I will be able to garden and decorate to my heart's content. I will, of course, keep you posted and would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

And speaking of ideas, I am totally obssessed with this butterfly bench I saw on the Internet. I can't stop thinking about it!

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Wedding plans are moving along. We have already made arrangements for the venue and photographer, but best of all, the gown has been selected! It was quite a moment to see my little girl stand in front of me with her cheeks aglow with excitement and a sparkle in her eyes. She really took my breath away! I promised her not to show any photos of her gown until "the big day" but it looks somewhat like this...oh, to be young and slim and have all our body parts in their proper places... sigh

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And so, life goes on, another week is about to close, another month has started. Tiny buds are getting bigger and stronger, the cycle continues. Hope you are full of exciting plans and innovative ideas!

Love and light, always...

A month to remember

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March did turn out to be quite an interesting month, not only weather wise (we've had very warm days as well as snow)  but also full of important events. My mother's passing, an incredible full moon,  frantic planning to re-open the Purple Caravan and begin the renovations/additions, and now to make this month even more memorable, our dear, sweet daughter Adriana is engaged! 

Adriana met Mitch while they were both attending the university. After five years of being inseparable he finally "popped" the question. The wedding will be October 7, 2012. We couldn't be happier for them, we truly believe they are great together.

A wedding on the horizon and already our home's energy has changed. Tons of magazines are already piling up, lists and plans are being made. We are hoping to find (soon) what we feel are the most difficult: the banquet hall and of course, the gown. Needless to say, we will be busy for a while.

My dear Abby can feel the excitement and is acting "nuttier" than usual, but she is a good girl and has patiently allowed me to take this photo sporting her new Spring bonnet :0) I love her!

Due to all these events I had been unable to thank my dear friend Rosa Phoenix for giving me this:

Thank you Rosa!!

According to the rules of this Award I must share seven things about myself.

Here they go:

1- I can't stand people who constantly praise themselves.

2- When amongst strangers, I may seem a bit aloof.

3- I never really knew the love one can feel for a dog until I got Abby. I had heard about it but the actual experience can't be described!

4- I love the sound of water, whether it's a fountain, a bubbling brook, or rain falling on a tin roof.

5- I adore foggy days. Give me fog and all at once I feel am a mystical creature, mysterious and elusive :0)

6- I love, love Peter Sellers. No matter how many times I watch his movies I will laugh until my sides hurt.

7- I am not interested in celebrities or their lifestyle, nor do I care about designer names or tags at all.

 Answering seven questions is easy, the tricky part is choosing who will get it next! So, as I've done in the past, I dedicate this Award to everyone. Your Blogs are not only Stylish, but they are simply perfect. So, please don't be shy, just grab the button, have fun, and pass it on! After all, that's what Blogging is all about, right?

I must go now, have a hairdresser's appointment  (I hate sitting there but one must pay the price of beauty :=)

Love and light, always...

Moon Child

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I step outside with a heavy heart, worried about another possible war. So lost in my thoughts it takes me a couple of minutes to notice the extraordinary light illuminating the garden. Then I remember, tonight's the night when the Moon would be at it's fullest. 

I look up and there she was, the grand dame, the royal queen of the sky. It's beauty takes my breath away. Something warm and wonderful wraps itself around my shoulders. I can feel the magic and I cry.  

Oblivious to the troubles of the world and just for a little while, the Moon and I become one...

Happy St. Patrick's Day



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"May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day,

May songbird serenade you every step along the way,

May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue,

And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through."

Irish Blessing

Beautiful, isn't it?

Thank you

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I want to thank you, dear friends, for reaching out and touching my heart during this difficult time. Your sweet and thoughtful comments are, and will always be cherished.

I've spent the week going for walks with Abby, pondering, reminiscing. It has done me good. I feel better, stronger. Spring is almost here, during my walks I've come across tiny green leaves peeking through the sidewalk cracks. They are timid as they feel their way.  They are preparing for that special moment when everything will explode with color. Old Man Winter is waking up. He is getting ready to pack his bags and visit other parts of this world.

I find an anchoring force in Nature. The fact that no matter what happens, the circle of Seasons will not stop. Summer will follow Spring, Winter will bring snow. Our hearts may sing or cry, we may  have money troubles or not, we may live or die, but Life itself goes on.

It's hard to feel sorry for oneself when there's so much more sorrow in other people's hearts. I came across this photo and everything fell into the right perspective...

(Image Source: Bing)

Looking at this it's hard to imagine that the sun will shine again in Japan, and that it's people will go on, re-build and someday be able to see and enjoy the beauty of the Seasons.

Love and light....always,

Tears in the rain



For the past few years I've seen the slow journey of her mind try to leave her body. Her once watchful, alert eyes became vague, dreamy. Her once sure, determined steps became unsteady.  Her once clear voice became a whisper. Her once commanding, forceful attitude shifted, she was directed, supervised. I've watched this once beautiful woman shrivel, fade, evaporate, until she became a fragile shell. 

My mother passed away. In the still of the night, as she laid peacefully sleeping.  Her body has finally joined her mind.

The quiet lingering hope I've always carried that someday things would change between us can no longer live. On this rainy, dark morning, I grieve not only her death, but the death of the mother/daughter relationship I wish we'd had but never did.

I love you Mom

1923-2011