Gone Country - This Ain't Nothin'

Every year when ever we went to Maine (it was 29 years this summer) we came away with what we now call a "Maine Song"; you know that song that you hear playing on the radio all the time, when you're in the car, pool and even in the store.

It started kind of innocently - we'd reminisce about something we did or where we were when we heard that song, and soon it became "A Maine Song". Sometimes we'd wait to see what song was played the most that trip, while other times it just happened - every time we got in the car - it was playing, or the time we went to camp, it was playing or if we were just hanging around the house, the radio would play it a dozen times.

Now even my son is into the game, he waits to see what song it's going to be. This summer, I really got into Country music a lot. The radio in the garage was tuned to a country station and rather than change it, I left it on for background noise. But as I was washing & hanging clothes or doing some other mundane chore, I actually listed to the words of many of the songs, and realized that that stuff was GOOD!

So this summer, by a unanimous vote, the following song is this years Maine Song ( I love it & love the video even more! - who'd thunk!!!!)

Watching Hummingbirds from the porch

For years, when I was visiting Maine, my mother-in-law Marie & I, would while away the afternoon sitting on the porch swing, sharing a cup of tea, quietly talking and watching the Hummingbirds.

Each Mother's Day, we would give her a plant for her garden. Every year it would be something different - Lilacs, Azaleas or Bleeding Hearts; whatever it was, she was always thrilled and she planted each one in a special spot.

One year I picked out a pink Phlox, which she planted directly in front of the porch. Perhaps it was beacause the ground was rich, or because it got the hot afternnon sun, it grew and grew. It grew so tall, that we were able to see it from the swing.

One visit, we were surprised by a visit from a tiny Hummingbird. We sat fasinated by it, and it returned everyday for days and kept us entertained for hours. Every visit thereafter, we sat and rocked and waited for the Hummingbird, and it never disappointed us.

This trip, while not able to sit on the swing, I still kept an eye out for a visitor and today was the day! Yup - a sweet little Hummingbird showed up to take a nectar break! I'm sure Marie is smiling from above!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad - 58yrs

Flea Market Memories

Dh & I love to "sale" & "flea" every weekend. This is how I find so many of my garden, house & shop treasures. Today, instead of the usual jaunts through the south shore, we decided to venture into Queens (NY) & visit the flea market at Aqueduct Raceway. Boy, were we in for a surprise! We never realized how big it is, nor how diverse in ethnicity & cultures it was. We did a lot of bargain shopping & we will definately re-visit!











This got me to thinking of how many other flea markets we've frequented over the years - many out of state, stopping as we pass them, but none were like the ones we visited as teenagers and young adults - like the one of a kind Roosevelt Raceway flea market





Sadly the raceway was demolished to make way for "senior housing" & more stores.

Then there was Bethpage Farmers Market - which I went to with the parents, almost every weekend for fruits & vegetables, fish & other assorted goodies. Guy & I used to visit there a lot too - one of our favorite resturants, The Crystal Ship, was located there




Mysteriously, this caught fire & burned to the ground & Lowes now stands there.

Finally our current favorite, The Bellmore flea market. It is held at the train station every week, alternately being sponsored by The Bellmore Kwians Club & The Bellmore Synagogue - one of the best!

"A spell lies on the Garden......

Summer sits. With her finger on her lips as if she heard the steps of Autumn echo on the hill."
~Getrude Huntington McGiffert, writer

This time of the year has always been bittersweet for me.

My garden now has a life of it's own - I raised everything from infancy, nurtured it, grew it, let it mature & for the last two weeks, let it do it's own thing, as it is matured & doing well without me - it too is getting ready for Fall'snap & Winter's sleep.

That crispness in the morning air, yet mild afternoons, stirs an inner feeling in me that somehow only comes out in September. The exciting sense of a new, fresh start as school begins - even as a child I was always excited for school to begin, to me this has always been the season to refresh & renew.

Yet I am sorry to see the last roses of Summer, the tinge of yellow on the curls of leaves, the waning of the crickets chip & the increased activity of the geese flying overhead.

It's funny what can ping your heart making you sad & happy at the same time.

Ryan's Hope...Loved that show

I am NOT a soap opera fanatic - but for some reason this one caught my heart. I was so disappointed when Soap Net stopped showing this daily - I am not even sure if it's on any more. Of course I gravitated towards Mary Ryan (Kate Mulgrew) - I wonder why it was always that sort of character I liked.

Saturday Nights & Mary Tyler Moore

Growing up, I wanted to be Mary Richards. She was pretty, wore groovy clothes, lived in a great apartment, had a nice job & drove a Mustang! Yes many a dreams were dreamt every Saturday night in my room when she was on - yes I was going to be just like Mary Richards.

St. Brigid Elementary School

When I was growing up in Brooklyn, we lived down the street from a Catholic Church/School (St. Aloysius), yet I was sent to St. Brigid's about 12 city blocks away (we used to get a "bus pass" for $1.00/ month & ride the City bus to school - many times I hoofed it too - but I digress). Anyway I never understood why -my mother explained that the priests there were more compassionate in her time of need - so it was there she sent me. Understand - I LOVED that school - & I have so many memories of the sweet days in my life in both the school & Church - so imagine my surprise that when I was surfing today - I came across this picture - WOW!!! instantaneous floods of memories came rushing back to me - I only wish I could find the school. Any way - there was never any doubt that I was going to send my kids to Catholic school so they could experience what I did - and yes - Guy's education/experience is ten fold what mine was - I am so very happy for him - I keep reminding him to cherish these days. I remember every teacher & event - from the ordinary to the extraordinary (Kindergarten Halloween party, Mission Sunday, safety patrol, Jesus Christ Superstar, Confirmation - even the candy stores on either corner).

Baby Feet to Man Feet

Baby Feet
~Edgar Guest
Tell me, what is half so sweet
As a baby's tiny feet,
Pink and dainty as can be,
Like a coral from the sea?
Talk of jewels strung in rows,
Gaze upon those little toes,
Fairer than a diadem,
With the mother kissing them


I start this post with this poem & this picture because my son's feet were one of my favorite things in my life. So sweet, so small, so perfect! I remember playing with them, kissing them, tickling them and just marveling at them. As he grew, of course I couldn't do as many things to them, but I still played little piggy & of course brought him the cutest little shoes.

His feet eventually got as big as mine (size 7) and for a while we could "borrow" each other shoes - his crocs, my muck-lucks, his flip-flops - we wore what ever was available. But lately, I began to notice something - he was developing "man-feet"! Yup - right before my very eyes - you know what I mean - those funny, odd shaped toes - wide and just plain guy like. And they kept growing! Last night we had to get new school shoes (yes the shoes from September did not fit him anymore. So we went to the 7 1/2 section, 8, 8 1/2, 9 - yikes - 9 1/2 & brought him three pair.

And so it goes - where did my little boy go? It is silly - but this concept disturbs me so I want those cute little pink toes again!
And know now I will never havethem again.

Cinderalla finds Her Prince

This movie - this scene - brings me instantly back to when I was seven years old - I remember watching this in Irving Ave.'s living room behind the store (my grandparents apartment building/grocery store in Brooklyn) being so enchanted - I'd watch it every year until they one year never showed it again. I cry when I hear the songs or at long last, see the clips again - Why? I am not sure - is it because of the wonderful feelings I can so vividly remember, the days that I can't capture again? the memories of that dimly lit living room - the love there? This is truly bittersweet.

Guy's first boy girl dance

Last night was my DS first boy girl dance. He is in 7Th grade in a private school & traditionally the school has a dance for 7Th & 8Th graders in the beginning & end of the year. No he did not have date - he just hung with the boys & would not tell me if if actually danced! While the kids danced, the mom's went to Piccolo's - a local favorite Italian restaurant & ate, drank and gossiped. Then when we picked up the kids, we took them to Applebee's so they can eat - we left them almost on their own so they could feel grownup. It was a nice night.
I can't believe that he is 12 already & our SEAS (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School)days are winding down - that school has become the center of our universe - with all the volunteering & committees I am on - the wonderful friends I have made - even DH is super involved. I am going to feel horrible when he graduates - but that is two years away & high school follows that so it will be a new beginning.
On his first day of school this year, when he came down in his new uniform (7 & 8 graders change uniforms to make them feel older & different from the younger grades) there was a catch in my throat seeing him that way - older & handsome - I still have his kindergarten picture on the refrigerator - my what a difference - but I guess that's what motherhood is all about!