Terrariums

Is feeling very inspired this morning to create a terrarium. But I must leave for work and will be gone all day so maybe it will inspire someone else. I can't complain though this is my second to last day of work for the season.

what birthdays are about

It starts the night before your birthday, (or, for those of you like me, weeks before) that tingling sensation that goes shooting up your back when ever you start thinking about your birthday or when someone else even happens to mention it. It is almost more then some of us can bear...

You wake up hours before everyone else and then proceed to lay in bed waiting, waiting til everyone else wakes up, waiting for them to call to you and say " you can come down stairs now". As you wait you can smell the mouthwatering aromas of your specially requested birthday breakfast being cooked downstairs. As you wait you can hear the rushing of feet as last minute preparations are made and the hushed whispers as well as the stifled giggles from a few of those who can hardly stand the wait as much as you can. And as you wait, that tingling sensation gets worse as the seconds go by....


Then the call finally comes and you rush downstairs, breathless, amid the shouts of "Happy Birthday" and a very loud, yet trying very hard not to sound off key, version of Happy Birthday being song..... Your Birthday has now begun.

Paper ripping ...



silence because words just are not enough when you have realized you got "just what you wanted"....

new red shoes...

and the traditional ' Dad with birthday girl" picture...

Happy Birthday Anneke! You will always be our favorite Duck!

Anja loves...

going on coffee dates..

with her bestest...

and especially loves it when her date surprises her and picks out her coffee for her...

best date ever...

~
"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts... We live outside the the touch of time."
Clara Ortega

October

October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came-the chestnuts, oaks, maples- there costumes all aflame. The sunshine spread a carpet, and everything was grand. Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind the band, the guests were all aflutter and danced off hand in hand.
Afton D. Cooper

Mom's annual Fall arrangement which she makes each year to grace our door.

Happy Friday

pureed-butternut-squash-soup in a mug topped with a little sour cream and toasted pumpkin seeds....MmmHmmm
( f.y.i. this soup is very healthy as well as being vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, if you don't add the sour cream on top and very delicious )

Summers loss seems little, dear, on days like these.
Ernest Dowsen

Today

There are many things you do because they feel right
and make no sense
and make no money
and it may be the real reason we are here.
So today try
following your heart.

What is the best way to celebrate your 60th Birthday?

You could start by inviting your best friend and his wife over for dinner...

begin the evening with some light hors d'oeuvres...
( brie with crackers and a mushroom-tart . I must say I did make a few corrections to the recipe when I made it 1. one should never roll out store- bought puff pastry as it ruins the buttery layers, so when making the tart make it the size of 1 sheet of puff pastry do not roll it any bigger. 2. It says to add 1 tsp of salt to the onions as they caramelize, but when you add salt it makes them sweat which will prevent them from caramelizing, so add the salt after. 3. Also, be sure when you are sauteing the mushrooms to saute it in batches. Put only enough to cover the bottom of your pan, if you add them all at once like it says the mushrooms will only sweat and prevent them from caramelizing properly. When you have sauteed them all you may then add them all back into the pan with the spinach. 4. I used Lively run goat cheese for the top. It is very mild goat cheese which can be found at Wegmans )

have your daughter cook you some of your favorite foods...
( chicken picata, baked potatoes and cesear salad)

~ Its not age that matters its attitude ~

and be sure to not forget about dessert...
( Raspberry pie and Tiramisu)

Happy Birthday Dad

What we wore on Wednesday

So if you're anything like me you're just not ready to put away your favorite cotton dress which you have been wearing all summer....

Here is what we have done to keep that dress around for just a little bit longer.

By layering with a little, knit sweater, adding leggings, boots and, of course, a scarf we turned our summer dresses into the perfect look for Fall.

And we all know that
its all about the details...

(I really am quite jealous of Olivia's
new red boot, aren't you?!)

I must say I am a huge fan of my latest additions to my jewelry collection.
I found the green beads at our local thrift store. They are glass and deliciously heavy around my neck. The longer pendant is also a thrift store
find. And lastly, the third necklace is my recent purchase from silpada ,yes
I splurged and am not having one moment of regret about it :). I am a huge
silpada fan their jewelry is amazing!
Olivia's outfit:

dress: thrift store
sweater: thrift store
leggings: thrift store
boots: thrift store
scarf: garage sale
bracelets: thrift store


Anja's outfit:

dress: thrift store
sweater: kohls
leggings: childrensplace
boots: kohls
beaded necklace: thrift store
long silver pendent: thrift store
silver pendent and chain: silpada
silver bangles: thrift store

"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way"

because I know you love it

"just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower"

Hans Christian Andersen