Posts Tagged: family

Happy New Year 2016

December 31st, 2015
Posted By:

HappyNew Year

 And now let us welcome the New Year

Full of things that have never been.

                                   ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

On this last day of 2015, I find myself reflecting, probably just as you are, on how the year went by so quickly, on some of the good and bad things that happened and what I have might learned from all of these amazing experiences.

It seems like the natural thing to do.

2015 has been quite a year, bringing all sorts of surprises, but it also brought me a renewed sense of discovery.  A sense of appreciating instead of just … Read More

Experiencing The Holiday Spirit

December 28th, 2015
Posted By:

Don’t you find that every Christmas has its own vibe and dynamic? I reminisce about Christmases past and there are things that stand out that I will never ever forget. From childhood Christmases, there is always the cozy sounds of Johnny Mathis while running around in my pajamas getting ready to put out cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve.  Adult Christmases bring back loving memories of my late husband and those first Christmases with our young son.  I remember those Christmases as being simple in decorations and gifts and always having a feeling of innocence. And then there… Read More

You Are Merrily Appreciated

December 24th, 2015
Posted By:

  I pause today to extend my best wishes to all no matter what holiday you may celebrate this time of year. Throughout this holiday season, may peace and joy be with you and your families. Holidays are great opportunities to celebrate life but I find they are also difficult to manage because we bring so many emotions and expectations to them each and every year.  Don’t think I am being a Scrooge when I say that the decorations, the music, the food, and the rituals are important, but I am of the mindset these days that if something doesn’t… Read More

Holiday Breathing Space

December 11th, 2015
Posted By:

As the calendar pulls me closer to the holidays, I am feeling those inner twinges that happen when my time starts being crunched by competing priorities at work and home. I try to look ahead and plan to prevent this feeling of running out of time to shop, cook and decorate but this year, somehow, it snuck up on me. It started a few days ago when I thought I knew what to buy for some family members and then I found out that the person already had the thing I had in mind and then some of the other… Read More

Help! I Can’t Find The Right Card

December 7th, 2015
Posted By:

This has happened to me at least a million times and I bet this has happened to you too! You find yourself in the card section of CVS or your local card store and you’ve been standing there for about 10 to 15 minutes scanning the cards, taking them out one by one, reading them and then quickly rejecting them and putting them back. Totally Dissatisfied. Nope. Nope. Nope. When that happens, here’s what I’m usually thinking: I so liked the picture or drawing on that particular card and it was so so close to what I was looking for… Read More

Holiday Temptations

December 4th, 2015
Posted By:

Photo Courtesy of Katie Lee Kitchen Oh my goodness! A few days ago, I looked in the refrigerator and spied the last containers of homemade mashed potatoes and stuffing and I couldn’t take it anymore. I hate to waste food yet I had to throw the rest of the Thanksgiving leftovers away!  I know I overindulged over the holiday and it was yummy and fun but it also is time for the food party to stop. But it’s really hard, right?  I know it is for me.  Maybe it’s a little easier for you.  I definitely like to think you… Read More

The Boys In The Boat — NonFiction

November 30th, 2015
Posted By:

Having a holiday break is so great on many levels. I’m not on a regular schedule, I’m surrounded by homemade holiday food and I have the time to read.  Over this past Thanksgiving break, I had the extra time to finally finish an amazing and beautifully written  book that I enjoyed so much I would like to recommend it to you: The Boys In The Boat. Officially,  The Boys In The Boat is a true story about nine young working class American boys and their gritty quest to win the gold medal in rowing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  But… Read More

The Ever Expanding Thanksgiving Table

November 23rd, 2015
Posted By:

For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving in our family is about reaching out and sharing. During our childhood, my parents always reminded the six of us that we could invite anyone that we knew who might not have a place to go and might possibly be spending Thanksgiving alone. And they meant it. The Cranston Thanksgiving table always had room for more people.  For friends who couldn’t make it home to their families, for people who had no where else to go and for elderly relatives who had paid their dues in preparing Thanksgivings past and now needed… Read More

Happening Monday

November 9th, 2015
Posted By:

Me (left) and My Sister Sheila (right) with our Dad Wow! I don’t know about you but this past weekend just flew!! Mine was full of family activities and I was glad to get to all of them but in making sure it all got done, it seems that the weekend was spent going from one event to the next, and now I find, in the blink of an eye, that it’s Monday morning. I hope your weekend was productive and/or lots of fun and that many good things happened to you. Looking back on the past several days it… Read More