Make Me Smile...

I love the precision and playfulness the trash men demonstrated in their can stacking here. Why not make the most of your job?

Is there anything more fun than a little boy chasing sea gulls?

My husband says his dirt bike is a beast, but did he mean a giraffe? Look at this shadow. 

I love the simple things every day that make me smile. Please share!

One Two Knock-Out Punch Bowl

While browsing in the thrift store last week, I noticed a proliferation of punch bowls.  Back in the day, every chic hostess graced her buffet table with a grand punch bowl set.  What happened over the years to relegate it to the bottom shelf in a body bag?

As much as I appreciate the appeal of the punch bowl and my nostalgia over grandma’s sherbet ginger ale concoction, I can understand the punch bowl graveyard I encountered.  First of all, who has the space to warehouse this delicate monstrosity? And, if one of the twelve cups gets broken, will you ever be able to replace it? Not to mention the inevitable ladle sloshing that occurs commonly with spiked punch.

Interestingly enough, in some circles, punch bowls are making a comeback. Trendy cocktail lounges all over the country are offering happy hours featuring punch bowls that serve as a sort of communal “water cooler” where partygoers congregate.  If you want to beat ‘em to the punch, I know where you can pick up some punch bowls on the cheap.

Wreath In, Wreath Out

Nothing says “season change” like the wreath switch.  As one season yields to another, this ritual tells us that it’s time to embrace the transformation in the air.  I admit I usually follow the lead of my neighbor, whose front door is always impeccably dressed and on time to welcome the changing weather.

The switch is always bittersweet. There’s no turning back once you pluck the wreath from your front door and tuck it away in the attic.  It’s the ancient process of loss and renewal played out on doors all over the world. Come winter, spring, summer, or autumn, I’ll keep changing with the seasons – with a little visual reminder from my neighbor, that is.

Life is Good (and Imperfect)

As I was browsing in TJ Maxx the other day, I took delight in finding this imperfect Life Is Good imprint. It got me thinking how sometimes the flawed things in life are actually the best.  A crooked but sincere smile, a rainy day, the Leaning Tower of Pisa…

I love the irony of the cup and I may just run back to get it.  It will give me a chuckle every morning to drink to the mysterious beauty of imperfection.  Hmmmm…I wonder if they’ll give me a discount.

Watching Us Like a Hawk

My daughter, Gigi, and I were in the kitchen last Saturday morning when we spotted a giant hawk landing on our neighbor’s roof.  We were a little stunned when it dropped something out of its mouth and we watched in disbelief as a dazed squirrel hobbled through the yard. Needless to say, we both lost our appetite. But, we couldn’t deny that we were in awe at the sheer magnificence of nature right out our suburban window. 

Later in the day, at Gigi’s field hockey game, the hawk made another appearance, swooping down and startling the other team’s goalie.  (Too bad we missed a scoring opportunity).  Then, after dinner, we were taking a drive and spotted him again on another roof in town.  Where was a telephoto lens when you needed one?  Anyway, I felt like it was a good omen to see this beautiful creature three times in one day. And I couldn’t help thinking what a lucky day it was for that squirrel.

What's in Your Closet?

My friend, Sue, is starting a job as a Career Coach and sent out an email plea for gently used clothing donations.  As I scoured my closet for blazers and sensible pumps, I ran into an item I haven’t thought about in a long time.  My overalls. Yes, my denim overalls that I bought when I was 14.

Back then, it was all the rage to adorn our overalls with hand embroidery. Monarch butterflies were big in the imagination of a carefree teenager.

As you can see, I didn’t quite finish these flowers.  Who knows at what point I put down my embroidery needle forever.

Somehow, over all these years, I could never quite send my overalls to the goodwill pile. I guess I have a sentimental attachment to them since they accompanied me through the ups and downs of high school, my marriage, the birth of my three kids, and a move overseas and back.  Although they occupy a space in the deep recesses of my closet, just knowing they’re there makes me happy.

Signs that speak to me….

I drove by a bus stop in Barrington and saw this poster for the past month. I made a mental note to stop yesterday and take a photo, but, as fate would have it, it was gone by the time I arrived. I quickly searched the Internet and found another copy because it’s worth sharing. What an extraordinary man to break through the barrier of baseball and to be such a stunning example of a human being.  In his words, “There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.”

A shop in Italy boasted that red chili peppers could increase blood flow and consequently one’s mojo …

 And finally, here's a photo (in a restaurant in Haddonfield) where the homeless man cuts to the chase with his sign. Sad, but his sense of humor and honesty probably made him lots of cash.

When a sign speaks to me, I take its picture and do my best to carry on the conversation.