July Superlatives

Brighter days have appeared, in comparison to June anyway. July was largely spent at family gatherings, enjoying each others' company and a rather busy staycation. Some happy occasions this month: Celebrating our sixteenth anniversary, a wedding between two former speech students, a fun baseball game attended by the rival Pirates and Indians fans of my...

Fall Fun Series: It’s the Great Pumpkin post

Back in the swing of posting for Fall Fun series with pumpkins aplenty, and combating the sadness of this week for my family with as many happy pumpkin pics as possible: Starting with a family trip to a pumpkin twilight walk in a lovely park about 40 minutes' drive from home. The pumpkins were carved...

Summer Superlatives

Hey, hi, hello there. As sleepy summer days have slipped swiftly by, it's been a bit quiet around here. August concluded quietly, but not quite peacefully. Of course, I'm referring to the recent national instability, in which the hateful actions of some Americans have been baffling and upsetting. Most recently, watching the hurricane devastation occurring...

June Best & Worst: I’m still learning

"I am still learning"-Michelangelo I had a visceral reaction to reading this featured quote while at the New York Public Library. Unable to explain why exactly, but those four simple words feel so meaningful. Maybe it's because if one is still learning, they are still willing, still striving, still living. There's a freedom in admitting...

Empire state of mind

The New York City 4 day/4 night 40th birthday vacay recap you've all been waiting for! Or if you have no idea what I'm referring to, I just returned from my dream NYC trip that I'd been saving for the last few years. It was my first visit and I enlisted three best friends to...

May’s monthly highlights and NYC itinerary

Hello friends, I hope nobody minds an early recap this month. I'll be too busy with last minute travel plans to push it back any farther, as this Memorial Day holiday provides a perfect opportunity to whip up a quick post. May was full of many lovely melting and blog-related moments. I received generous gift...

Fall fun-Color Collage

Glorious golden color displayed on a perfect little tree in the village park near the library where I work. With brightly hued foliage so resplendent this tree deserves a place in the setting of a classic tale by Washington Irving, Edith Wharton or Nathaniel Hawthorne. At least the subject of a stanza or two in...