Recent adventures

Feeling a little French?

 French women always seem to look.....pulled together....classically chic.  They say it's just a matter of using a few quality wardrobe pieces and knowing how to wear them. Here's a blog with a list of basics: how to create 5-piece wardrobe (though there's whole lot more than 5 pieces listed, but just go with it.)

Homemade croissants  

What is more French  than croissants?  Flaky, buttery bites of perfection! I love every decadent calorie of them! I have actually made them before.  I would say that to make them well takes practice and they are a lot of work, but, OH!  The joy of presenting these to your loved ones is unmatched! 

Or

You could just go to the bakery and buy theirs. Still wonderful. 

Who hasn't longed to speak French?   le sigh.... here's free app that I found on Amazon. I haven't tried it yet, but it's free and you have to begin somewhere!

Learn French

Things to begin doing RIGHT NOW

Movies For A Rainy Day

A Rich stockbroker inherits his uncles vineyard in France.

 A famous actress has everything, but love

 The story of a middle class family in England before and during WWII

Can a movie star find true love with a book store owner?

A widower meets a young woman who's been given a new lease on life.

 A debutante on  the eve of her 2nd wedding

 A retired boxer returns home to Ireland

 A toll booth attendant meets the man of her dreams

Other movies worth watching:

Indiana Jones

The Mummy

Rear Window

Star Wars

Casablanca

Arsenic and Old Lace

Sabrina

I woke up this morning feeling blue. Nothing is really wrong. It's just the whole empty nest thing seems to hit me especially hard some days. Here's what I've done to cheer myself up:

First a lovely cup of Hazelnut coffee with a dash of cream.

Not half and half or any of those chemical laden powdered creamers, but real, luscious, rich cream.

Next I ran a hot bath and crumbled in a large of piece of a bubble bar. This one was milk bar that I purchased at Lush. It smelled divinely!

After I got out from the bath, I did my my Bible study. I must say, that since I bought an old study Bible and began coloring in it with my colored pencils, I have looked forward to my Bible studies a bit more.

 When I was done I began listening to Anne of Green Gables.  It's really hard to be sad while listening to a story like that.  All sweetness and joy.  I think we need a lot more books like that, today. Don't you?

Breakfast sounded appealing today, so I had bacon and eggs.  I always feel better with a full stomach.

And now I am sitting on the couch in the den with my dog beside me.  I don't know that I am cheery enough to do cartwheels, but I do feel much better.

What do you do to chase away the blues?

Enjoy A Fun and Spooky Halloween

decorating for Halloween

Candy Coupons

                  Halloween Trifle

Things I love about being alive

Beach combing

My husband's hand in mine

Laughing

Birds and flowers

            Wood fires
                                                                                      Poetry  
                                                                                                Jeans and sweaters

Travel
                      Days on the lake
                                                                                                                      Going to the theater.
                                                                                                                    Trains
Listening to music. All kinds of                                                                      music!   

Letters

     Going to Mass

Romantic comedies

Puppies

Dark chocolate and red wine

             Dressing up

                     Glamping

                           Ice cream

Gardens

Little kids

Red Lipstick

Yoga 

Rainy days where you can cuddle up and read all day long.

Cream in my coffee

Room service

Convertibles

The closeness of my family

 
Museums

Radio shows
           Twirling when I dance
English Country decorating
                  Meals with friends

It's good the great green earth to roam,
Where sights of awe the soul inspire;
But oh, it's best, the coming home,
The crackle of one's own hearth-fire!
You've hob-nobbed with the solemn Past;
You've seen the pageantry of kings;
Yet oh, how sweet to gain at last
The peace and rest of Little Things!

Perhaps you're counted with the Great;
You strain and strive with mighty men;
Your hand is on the helm of State;
Colossus-like you stride . . . and then
There comes a pause, a shining hour,
A dog that leaps, a hand that clings:
O Titan, turn from pomp and power;
Give all your heart to Little Things.

Go couch you childwise in the grass,
Believing it's some jungle strange,
Where mighty monsters peer and pass,
Where beetles roam and spiders range.
'Mid gloom and gleam of leaf and blade,
What dragons rasp their painted wings!
O magic world of shine and shade!
O beauty land of Little Things!

I sometimes wonder, after all,
Amid this tangled web of fate,
If what is great may not be small,
And what is small may not be great.
So wondering I go my way,
Yet in my heart contentment sings . . .
O may I ever see, I pray,
God's grace and love in Little Things.

So give to me, I only beg,
A little roof to call my own,
A little cider in the keg,
A little meat upon the bone;
A little garden by the sea,
A little boat that dips and swings . . .
Take wealth, take fame, but leave to me,
O Lord of Life, just Little Things. 

Robert William Service