Found: A study in Pink

Found: Gratitude, thanks to a Turkey!

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays - the warmth of the holidays has just started, it's a relaxed holiday with friends and family gathering and, of course, lots of great food. 

I try to count my blessings each day, but for some reason Thanksgiving always brings home the feeling of a bigger gratitude.  It's always been more like a New Year's celebration for me, at least what I think a new year's  celebration is all about.  You look back on the year and count your many blessings and hope is waiting anew for the upcoming year.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

The photos below were taken on one of my jaunts to an antique barn in Lancaster, PA earlier this year.  When I arrived at the barn, I heard the turkey but couldn't see him. The owner said he was a pet bird and literally called him by name and the bird called back and came trotting across the pasture with all his feathers poised perfectly.  He then continued to gobble and follow me all through the barnyard, demanding that I pay attention to his fineness.  I finally had to take his picture - all I had with me was my camera phone - but I think it captured his beauty and personality as he strutted his stuff.  Isn't he magnificent -picture perfect - it always makes me smile!

Found: Pure Friendship

I recently had one of the most wonderful experiences of my life....you know, one those times when you feel you are watching one of those well-produced episodes of Oprah, only it's about your life!  It was that "joy rising" feeling that we all hope for and it all started oh, about 40 years or so ago.  Let me tell you the story from the beginning!

Bloomington circa 1969/70.
That's me, my sister Laura, my Mom (behind me) and my
Godparents, Brant & Jeanine - aren't we all so 60's stylish!
That's Tulip Tree in the background where Lisa W. lived.

As a young child, my family moved to Bloomington, IN when my Father enrolled at Indiana University to get his Doctorate degree in Education. It was quite the adventure for a 7-year-old, I was very excited; we moved to an apartment building called Campus View and my new school, starting first grade, was just a few blocks away.  Our school campus was "avant garde" for the time - open spaces, a common area where all grades gathered and my sister's classroom had a tree house with a parachute for a roof and a monkey named Petey! What I remember about my classroom were the cubbies, we each got our own and we kept our gym shoes and nap mats in there - how special were we! 

Lisa W. circa 1972 (3rd Grade),  looking just like I remember her - cute and bubbly!

More importantly, that was the year I met my best friend - Lisa Winkler (yes, another Lisa, seems it was a popular name for my generation). Lisa and I became fast friends and were completely inseparable that year. In fact, we had become such good friends, that when my family moved back to Illinois, after my Father graduated that Spring, we stayed in touch writing letters to each other frequently for the next 10+ years.  You know, from little girl stuff,  like what we got for Christmas to - as we grew older - more important issues,  like boys! Oh yea, and reminding each other when our birthday's are (a little inside joke between us - btw, your birth date is on the back of the photos above ;) We had tried several times to get together and see each other, but each time it just didn't seem to work out.  Life marched on and we both went on to college - her to University of Wisconsin, Madison (which, by the way, my Grandfather went to, class of 1926 - this is just one of many coincidences and life overlaps that we have had) and me to Northern Illinois University.  The letters dissipated through those years and we eventually lost touch with one another. 

Fast forward to 2011 and after trying to find each other for many years (like the last 30 years), prior to internet resources (yes, we are that old) with no luck, I decided to give Facebook a try.  Earlier this year I took a series of courses on social media and one course focused on Facebook. Our first assignment was to search for somebody - who else would I pick? Lisa Winkler, of course! But, I wasn't very hopeful, since I didn't even know if she was married and had changed her name.  Three minutes later into that assignment, among the several other Lisa Winkler's around the world, there was my Lisa's profile picture looking exactly like she had in first grade!! I knew in an instant that was her, I had found my long lost bff Lisa W.!  I was so excited, having to cover my mouth to keep from screaming out,  I actually starting crying right there in class!  Needless to say, I emailed her immediately and waited for her reply.  That very day I heard back from her and the conversation hasn't stopped since!  We rambled a few updates via email and then by phone - after all we had over 40 years of catching up to do!  I felt an instant connection to her and truly it seemed that time had not changed a thing - we had only had a few more life experiences to share from the missing years.  I think I knew in just those few short conversations that we would pick up our friendship right where we left off. Time could have changed either or both of us and what a wonderful blessing to reconnect with someone and find a new best friend in your oldest best friend! 


We discussed getting together to see one another soon; as it turned out, Lisa would be coming to NYC in October and could I come see her? Could I? I wouldn't miss this for anything.  Look out NYC, the two Lisa's are coming your way.

Meeting again after 40 years !! Still cute and bubbly - I would have recognized her anywhere!

Our long-overdue reunion happened just last week and I'm still in amazement as to what we discovered about each other's lives. We both studied Journalism in school and worked for non-profits; our political views - albeit from different parties - are pretty much aligned; we both love the same TV shows and types of books/movies; we are both "thrifty" and enjoy experiencing new places via the subway (I feel so proud that we mastered that like natives!)...I could go on and on.... it's just what you think of when you think of a best friend (cue the sweet music and the shots of us laughing, hanging on each other's words and saying "oh my gosh, me too" a lot - really it was just like that)!  We were able to spend good quality time catching up and reminiscing, all while exploring the neighborhoods of NYC (we both love the city, even though we each currently live in small towns)  - how fun is that. We talked and talked and talked and it was like she had been in my life always; which, of course she had, always in my heart.  The bartender, Collin, at the wine bar where we sat and chatted for the evening - a wise ol' sage at the age of 20-something - said it best when we told him our story and how easily we picked up where we left off "You are your most authentic self when you are in first grade" - brilliant!! 

A true friend is one that is never lost or forgotten and when you are your authentic self with that friend time nor distance that passes between can't change that friendship, now I know that for sure. How absolutely blessed am I to have such a friend named Lisa W. (dot)  

The next 40+ years have only just begun......I think the adventures of the two Lisa's will write themselves.
    

Here's to pure friendship!!

Friends for a lifetime, catching up at Pastis in the meat packing district NYC
(so "Sex and the City" like)

Here's to pure Friends!

My Grandparents visiting us in Bloomington. That's Grandpa George who attended
University of Wisconsin.

My Grandpa George circa Class of 1926
University of Wisconsin

Found: Appreciation for nature and it's glory and power

The end of summer here in PA has kept us on our toes - first an earthquake, then a hurricane and lastly a flood - what a wild ride!  Luckily we survived each one without damage or harm, and the only thing that happened was during the flood we were "stranded" in our house for a day, due to all roads being either blocked by debris or flooded.
I am so ready for fall!!  Little signs are showing everywhere....welcome Autumn!

This is "our" groundhog who lives under the evergreen tree in our side yard.; we've seen the family grow and move on, but one always resides in this home.

Perfect specimens direct from the farmer's market - glorious!

This is our oak leaf hydrangea bush, beckoning fall by being the first to turn this year .

Before:  This is the quaint one-lane bridge near our home, I had plans to feature it on the blog and took these pics a week before the flood. 

Before:  Here is the serene little creek that is normally about 10 feet wide and only a few inches deep

Before: Headed towards home

After: Here is the creek midway through the storm, it's hard to tell from this photo, but it widen to to, I'd guess, about 60' and had debris rushing downstream.

After: I thought it looked like frosting, the water just slide the pavement right off the street.

Found: "One-day List" Trip

o.k., so this found: silver lining happened a few months ago (before I started my blog); in May to be exact, but this trip had been on my "one-day" list for over ten years now.  So, now that we live near the East coast, I thought "I will never be any closer than this to Brimfield and all it's treasures".  For those of you who aren't totally addicted to vintage pursuits, Brimfield is a mega antique/flea market that has happened twice a year in Massachusetts for the last 40 or so years, it is considered the "mother" lode of markets.


So I planned a little buying trip for my new store and what an experience!  The photos don't even begin to tell the story.  It is a spectacle in and of itself . When you get in town (which is normally I think only about 1800 people) there are just thousands of people walking along the street shoulder - they can't close main street because it is the only road to the next town - and vendors are set up on the open fields up and down main street of Brimfield.  So you ever so cleverly find a parking spot that is not too far away and doesn't cost your first day's buying budget and start hoofing it. At first glance you might think "oh, here are a few interesting booths" and as you turn each corner, about 50 more booths are stretched out in the field.   Eye candy everywhere!  From the mundane to the jaw dropping. Some booths are comprised of only wooden tables, to one shop that appeared like "Brigadoon" popping up in the green field overnight, complete with copper floors, cool electrical lighting and merchandising to rival Pottery Barn.  This was my favorite booth and I could have bought everything, but where do you exactly put a dozen male mannequins?  By the way, they were all sold by the next day! 


All told, it was a wonderful jaunt....found a few new treasures for the store - and myself - and got to be inspired by all the theatrics, colors and characters. Also, can't forget to mention the "Pilgrim Sandwich" had for lunch one day - it is Thanksgiving on a roll - turkey, stuffing, cranberry - scrumptious, never had "festival food" this good before!


Highlights:  Loved seeing the diversity - young...old...scrappy to chic (picked up a few fashion ideas along the way),....the most interesting woman in the world (you just know from looking at her that she is the female version of that Dos Equis man from the beer commercial) hails from England, wearing dreadlocks piled up high, with beautiful high cheekbones to match...to the man wearing leather shorts and combat boots....hmmmm...thank goodness for personal expression or the world would be such a boring place! 


Here's to checking one off the "one day" list!!!

Industrial rust - my favorite - should have bought a couple of these

My treasure bag filled up fast!

If it would have fit in the car, this would have been mine

Found: everyday muses

Wanted you to meet my muses - Spencer, Tucker and Remi(the two that look alike are not related, but the orange one (Spencer) and the darkest one with a white chest (Tucker) are brothers; they are rescues from Katrina. Needless to say they are my babies and keep me laughing, calm and they are always up for a hug or two. I couldn't live without them. 

Found: My creativity

I recently created a photo book for my friend Margie's birthday.  She is a lover of all things Bingo, so I new that had to be the theme for this piece.  This "little" project turned into something more as each page developed - my creativity was sparked again - and I have the craft store receipts to prove it :)  Such fun and she really enjoyed the gift.