Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

You would think we lived 100 miles from any metropolis, rather than next door to a packie. Last night while 4 generations of my family played in the backyard, (before the little one's concert) we came across a baby bunny.

See that patch of dead grass in the foreground. Well seven, YES seven, other babies were tucked in and resting underground in a very substantial nest -- marked by that dead patch of grass. It's not as if we avoid the backyard. I walk through there to the garden and compost bins everyday. Thankfully I never stepped on the nest.

It was a great concert.

Be Our Guest?

Look who came for dinner. Or maybe, Can you guess who needed a nice porch to birth and raise her 5 kittens under? Right, Momma. (One kitty is still tucked under the stairs.)

Despite their apparent appeal, our porch can't be Nobscot Feral Cat Central. It starts with six great cats, but pretty soon there will be 20.

Running errands yesterday I ran into Martha, owner of the local farm. I said to her, "I have a problem that I think you can solve for me... six feral cats."

Happily she will take them. They could use a few good mousers up her way. And the Hansons will take good care of them.

Thank God. There are no coincidences.

The Game Is Afoot

Life is in play. You're up. What's your next move? Do you always keep score?

Memorial Day

We Remember

Tools that Empower

What empowers you? What gives you that overwhelming sense of accomplishment? What tasks have pulled you up by your boot straps; only to drop a smile upon your face?

I am a weeding, flower gardening, porch floor painting, lawn mowing, mice evicting, screen fixing momma. Hear me laugh. Watch me smile.

Ever been transplanted?

It can be tough at first. But with nurturing, and time -- all will be good again.

Water liberally with love.

Success?

Would you say this cake is a success? I would and do for many reasons.

1. My middle one baked it. From scratch: the cake, the burnt caramel filling and the chocolate frosting.

2. She took over the kitchen and did her best. She cleaned up!

3. When the results didn't meet her expectations, she didn't toss the cake in the bin. Instead she pressed on.

It is delicious! Next time instead of hollowing out the cake for the filling she is planning to make it multi layered.

Can You Hear Me Now?

I can't recall the last time I posted an image of myself. Spending most of my time on the other side of the camera, images a few and far between. But I thought this image, taken by my daughter, the true owner of the hat, would enhance today's topic.

Blogging for close to seven years, I've made a few friendships over the internet miles. Some, like Tammy, Mary, and more recently Jeff, I had the pleasure of meeting over a walk, cup of tea, dinner, or quick hello after Mass. And what is so interesting at the first meet up is hearing the other person's voice.

Blogging is similar to pen pal writing of old. The obvious big difference being one person writes, while many others have the opportunity to read and reread for as long as the blog is active. All the while the reader puts their own interpretation and inflection on the text. Giving the writer a voice.

One way I've connected with other bloggers is through maple sugarmaking. A few years ago I searched for other backyard sugarmakers and that is when I electronically met Mary, and then through her blog I surfed over to Tammy's, and also hit upon Rick.

Rick, who keeps his sap from different source trees separate; creating single sap maple syrup, besides blogging about sugaring, shares on other social media outlets about his family. For years, having never met, I've watched his daughter Syd, grow up into a lovely young lady; full of spunk and adventure. With her recent 10th birthday, Rick posted a video of Syd's actual birth day.

The love and tenderness and the joy were infectious. But I had an ah ha moment when after all the years of reading and admiring Rick's photographs, I heard his voice. So that's what you sound like.

Life is... The little things

It's listening to the birds singing at the start of a break-neck day.

It's stopping to photograph a flower between meetings.

It's giving the one or more extra smooches at the school drop off I Love You.

Little things.

Like the flower?

It's raining again. Again.. .

While people huddle under umbrellas and don raincoats the flowers flourish and shine. Such beauty. Truly thank God it's raining.

Wait For It

There are always two sides to every situation. Two driving perspectives that fuel the actions of those involved.

Before reacting, wait and listen.

A half acre of grass and weeds

Are not enough.

Someone has been getting into my garden and eating my peas and cilantro . I set the small trap, thinking it was chipmunks or perhaps a nimble and determined rabbit jumping the fence. I set up the wildlife camera to watch over my plants. Busted... No, it's chuck... Climbing over and making himself at home. Not happy.... It's a garden not a killing field of summer. Too bad he doesn't realize the fence was put up to keep him out. Not to offer him an exercise opportunity before feasting. Silly groundhog....

For Memere and Diane

Thought of you every pedal of the way.

Boston Brain Tumor Ride

On the Road

Boston Brain Tumor Ride

We are off!!

Learning and Life

It comes, full on. And then it's sometimes an inch (worm) at a time.

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life.

C'est fini!

This window is done and it's on to the next.

"Do a small thing with a great love."

This years flip top total: 24 pounds. Topping last years total by a whopping FOUR pounds. Collected by 11 eighth graders, their families and friends. Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, MA.

Do You Love Me?

Life and living is a puzzle. Sometimes it seems like a 5000 piecer. At other times all sorted and laid out in a preschool board. Regardless of size and difficulty, the one question, Do you love me? has an ever clear answer.

Boston Brain Tumor Ride

Live for God. Recognize the Divine found in those around us.

Fiddleheads

Each of our days unfolds like a fiddlehead; oh so young and tender and full of sweet surprise.

Jack In The Pulpit

The preacher of the woods speaks softly. Walk quietly and listen. For there are great lessons to be learned.

On Mother's Day

Forget-me-not.

Shack Sweet Shack

Love

Love is a winter walk (carry) on the beach. Yeah baby it was tears running down your face cold that day.

TGIF, but I love my job... Is that possible?

I love my job. Look forward to it every morning. Though this morning when I woke up I muttered, "Thank God it's Friday."

Shock! Can I love my job and also be so glad that I have a couple of days off?

Picture from ours days of old.

Went to my first client and once again, walking through their front door was like walking through a portal of Italian love and laughter. Of happiness and forgetting worldly problems. An oasis, where we talk about days of old and recall the good old days when horses delivered coal to the houses. Amazing actually.

Thank God it's Friday.

Lady

Every Single Day: Start to Finish

How do you get from day 1 to 100? Same way you get from 100 to 101: One day at a time. Every day, no exception, is a milestone. No matter the weather, no matter the number. Be present. Be accounted for. BE.

Tried but I couldn't do it.

A funny thing happened this morning, I tried not to blog. To skip a day. To give myself a break. But what I found was that until I blogged my day would not start. It felt like I was experiencing a psychological trip and fall.

Found this little guy in the library parking lot. Despite being roughed up a bit I love how he still smiling and welcoming. Tinkie winkie, dipsy, la-la, poe.... Have a great day!

Milestone

Make A Difference

Last day of religious education for the year was yesterday. Ice cream sundaes, a questionaire and a quick review.

Parting Message: Be the one to make a difference. Refuse to use negative labels. Share the divinity within you with others. For it is giving that you will receive.

There and Back Again

The journey is just as significant as the destination. Don't waste away time looking forward to getting somewhere. For you will miss out on so much.

One For The Gipper

Whatever you do today, "Win one for the Gipper." Who was the Gipper? According to Wikipedia he was George Gipp. A Notre Dame football player, voted the most versatile athelete, who died of strep at the age of 25.

Would he have played so hard, excelled as he did, if he knew he was going to die? No one can really say. If we knew we would die tomorrow, what would we do differently today? (Image from Wikipedia)

Better to Fail Than To Never Try

Keep trying.

ONE DAY!

Driving home from school I asked my daughter, "What was/were the best things that happened this year?"

Her answer, "One thing Mom is I heard Matisyahu sing One Day."

OMG!!!! One lucky daughter.

--> Dad praying for you. Love you.

The Last Day Is The First Day

Today was my lovely daughter's last day at college as a freshman. Today is her first day home for the summer. She left in September a kid out of high school and came back in May a soon to be college sophomore. On the excellent drive home I asked her two questions:
1. What was the best thing(s) that happened this year?
2. What was the worst?

Mind you we texted every day she was away. Love her.

First Light

Solder enough to be propped up. First light is this baby's first step. First indication if all the hard work to date might pay off. Are the colors right? Lines clear?

First light. First step. Day one, again. For there is still so much work yet to be done on Day two.

First Day?

Day One? Again? What about yesterday? Yesterday was day one also.

Yesterday is in the past. Today is right now. Right now put your best foot forward. Right from the start. First foot, touch the floor and go.

BTW: Good Luck Dad!!!!! Praying for you. Love, Your Daughter