It happens so quickly - minutes really and it's gone - you know - that light that happens just before the last moments of twilight immerses itself into the night.
The light as it's fading does something to my soul - truly - it's just magical to me.
But the mornings - oh my gosh - the mornings !
Something pretty incredible happens at the end of my street - at the little Church on the corner to be precise. You have to catch it at just the right moment............and you have to be living in MY house and be sitting in the upstairs office to get the perfect angle...............
And then it happens.
When the sun hits the glass ( there are NO lights on in the Church in these photos )
it leaves me breathless..............
I watch as it dances and then settles in precisely the right spot - as if the Church were its primary destination before lighting up my corner of the world.
And then it gives off one last glorious burst before it continues upward.....................
and the Church window goes dark again.
This spectacular event lasts for perhaps 5 minutes and yet somehow on the mornings I catch it - that light?
It fills me to the brim -
It restores me.
And fills me with joy - enough to last the whole day.
Every single time I see it.
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine.......................
Even in my home.............
I'm going to let it shine
Mr. Sam Cooke
Have a wonderful day everyone !
Hugs,
Me
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There's a whole world out there filled to the brim with people that live completely normal lives.
It's not my world - I live just outside of that - but I know it's there and every once in a while I long to be a part of it.
John asked me to make some cookies last week.
Halfway through the process I realized I was running low on flour and asked him if he'd go pick some up while I worked on the first batch.
The music ( Bob Seger ) was blasting away in the background as I sang along - whipping - beating - creaming ..............
Until I turned around and bent down to place the tray in the oven.............
AND. COULDN'T. GET. BACK. UP.
I seriously could not get back up. Something happened to my back just like that ( cue me snapping my fingers ) and since I was able for some reason to bend DOWN onto the floor ( as opposed UP to a chair ) I simply laid there until John got back.
I had my head resting on one hand - while I drummed my fingers on the floor with the other - tapping my feet to the cd that was still blasting away in the background when John walked in.
John says - WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING DOWN THERE?
Suzan says - Oh - just waiting for you to get back - sometimes I get bored sitting on chairs
John says - Ok get up - I got the stuff you asked for
Suzan says - I CAN'T GET UP !
John says - WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T GET UP ? JUST GET UP !
Suzan says - I've done something to my back -
John says - What did you do?
Suzan says - DO YOU THINK YOU COULD HELP ME UP FIRST - or would you like to lay down beside me to have this conversation ???
I screamed out in agony a couple of times as he helped me to my feet.............
John laughs - You're such an actress
Suzan says - You have no idea the agony I'm in - it's not funny
Suzan says - I can't make any more cookies today
John says - You made me go to th-
Suzan interrupts - WATCH IT JOHN - JUST WATCH IT - IT'S GOING TO GET PRETTY DANGEROUS AROUND HERE IN A MINUTE !!!!!!
I hobbled out of the kitchen and up the stairs and collapsed on the bed -
John came running upstairs with a cane he had from a sprained ankle he had many years ago.
Suzan says - GET THAT CANE AWAY FROM ME !
By this time John is roaring .................I have no idea what on earth he found so funny about all of it -
John says - I'll leave it by the door here - you may need it to get up and down the stairs.
And off he went...........around the bend in the landing and down the stairs.
Chuckling all the way.
Until he completely missed the bottom 2 steps and went flying across the floor
All I could hear was BING BANG SMASH SCRAPE
and a groan.
Now you have to try to picture the next scenario.
Envision me as a female Groucho Marx if you will - since I couldn't stand up straight ( all I was missing was the cigar and the tux ) screaming over the landing " OMG - ARE YOU OK DOWN THERE "
He didn't reply and so I had to go downstairs sitting on the steps - bumping my way down one at a time
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
etc.
To find him spread eagled and holding his head.
I poked him with the cane to make sure he was breathing.
He was.
So.......for those of you that have been worried about why my blog went dead for a week - you now have an explanation !
Oh - and here's the recipe for those Crippling Crispy Cookies !
Ingredients :
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup ( softened ) butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup rice crispies
1/2 chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup of toffee bits
1 cup of shredded coconut
1 package of Robaxacet 1 cane
Preheat oven to 350
Combine flour - baking soda and salt.
In separate bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy
Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth.
Add mixture to flour bowl and stir in the cereal - chips and coconut.
Shape into circles between palms of your hand and place on cookie sheet ( sprayed with cooking oil )
Bake for 12 minutes.
Yields between 2 to 3 dozen cookies - depending on size.
Optional - I put chocolate drizzle across the top.
Stay tuned for my
PUT YOU IN A COMA CHOCOLATE COOKIES !
This was going to be THE year
The year of greatness - of well being - of getting into shape with yoga !
So far I've had a cold from hell that lasted 2 weeks - and another week spent flat on my back nursing whatever it is that happened.
And that's just the first 3 weeks -
I can't wait to see what this next week holds in store for me !
Maybe a full blown case of Cholera !
Zippity Freaking Doo Dah !
Love all of you
To the moon and back
But I may be silent for a few more days here..............
Hugs,
Me
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Psst ! I thought you guys would never get here - get inside - quick !
Sorry for grabbing your arms like that but I don't want to leave the front door open !
OMG - my heart is pounding !
Look at the comment I got ! ( I've deleted it )
شات صوتي شات شات غلا شات صوتي غلا غلا الصوتي غلا غلا الصوتي غلا غلا What in God's name does it mean? Does anyone read Arabic here? That's it - I'm never mentioning what's going on over there again....................... UPDATE - DO NOT click on that writing - it's apparently an Arabic Sex Site - WTH ??? Only me. _________________________________________________________________________________ So another year over and a new one's just begun.
I still have all my Christmas up in the front porch and outside because I have no idea where to store any of it.
I think Christmas decorations have bunny genes - they seem to multiply every year in vast amounts.
The living room - kitchen - bedrooms - den have all been put away.
How about if I just spray paint all the outdoor wreaths in a nice " SPRING-y " color and leave them up all year LOL ???
A sunshiny yellow perhaps?
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My eyes are sinking into my skull at a dangerously fast pace - my cheeks are losing muscle tone - my lips keeps getting thinner and I have 2 very pronounced scowl lines on my forehead. I'm not a scowler so how the heck did that happen?
Some women do all they can to look like Barbie - I'm doing everything I can to NOT look like a freaking Cabbage Patch doll.
And nothing is working.
I thought they were creepy when my girls had them............trust me the look is a lot creepier on a real face.
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I have a friend whose Dad used to cut his toenails with pliers.
I have no idea where that memory came from - I wish it hadn't popped into my head but since it did I'll just pop it into yours. Sharing is caring - always remember that please.
The day we walked in and caught him doing it ( in the kitchen - vomit ) we gagged and ran out of the room.
Horrified !
My toenails are getting thicker.
If I EVER have to use a pair of pliers on them I'll just shoot myself.
Seriously - I think that will be the last straw.
Ooops - I scowled as I typed that !
_________________________________________________________________________________
Which reminds me of a time once when I was at the manicurist - having a pedicure.
An older man walked in - his wife apparently had insisted.
There were 3 women ( myself included ) sitting with our feet soaking - he sat between 2 of them - I was in the end seat ( Thank God )
They started working on his feet and all of a sudden these clippings were flying all over the place - bouncing off everything - and one flew out at the women sitting next to me - who shrieked in disgust.
She looked at me with horror - while I sat there trying to gag inconspicuously ( I have a terrible gag reflex - I gag over anything really - but this time I think it was quite justified )
The pedicurist kept shaking her head and exclaiming " velly tick nails "
I'm peeing my pants remembering this story but at the time we all sat with scowls on our faces.
Hmmm............I guess I am a scowler.
There isn't much I can't imagine myself doing.
Except for working on people's feet.
I'm grateful that there's people willing to do it because I really just can't imagine.
Whatever they earn is not enough and they have my undying respect.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The beauty of this winter.
The stars have aligned.
Literally.
Between El Nino and Menopause ( a match made in heaven ) our heating bills have been very low !
_________________________________________________________________________________
Upon reviewing my year on the blog in 2015 I was stunned to realize some of my most read posts were the I WANNA LIVE THERE WEDNESDAY series - and my FRIDAY CHATS !!!
All that work I did on furniture and this is what's most popular LOL ???
Pinterest tells me that 679,000 people viewed my pins
Google + tells me that I've had 46,746,353 views on that page ( all time - not just last year )
Blogger tells me I had over a million views on my blog last year ( a little more believable )
Why don't I believe them?
Why would they lie?
Why do I have such a conspiracy theory mind?
These are questions that need to be answered in 2016.............
Suzan says - You won't believe this but my Friday Chats are some of the most read on my blog
John says - You've got to be kidding me?
Suzan says - No - I'm not
John says - I don't get it - it's mostly nonsense
I'm guessing ( and it's just a guess mind you ) with all the crap going on in the world - nonsense has it's place after all !
_________________________________________________________________________________
I'm quite embarrassed - I offered a giveaway on my blog for a Paw Print necklace - ( honoring Soda ) and I still HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT !!! I ordered it end November - Anyway - they've asked me to give it one more week and they'll send out a replacement...............
_________________________________________________________________________________
The saga with the new tea towels ( here ) continues.
John used one of them last night without my knowledge.
Suzan says - DID YOU USE ONE OF THE NEW TEA TOWELS????
John says - Yeah - they're great - good call !
Suzan says - I DON'T WANT YOU USING THEM !!!
John says - Stop being so ridiculous - you're NOT putting them in frames
Suzan says - YES I AM - and if I don't I at least want to keep them nice
John says - WHAT FOR???
John says - You make living so complicated.
You make living so complicated.
He's right.
I do.
Extremely so.
And now I'm quite embarrassed actually.
What am I doing saving tea towels?
I need a therapy session.
Right after I find the perfect frames for those tea towels.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Last week I noticed my eyebrows are becoming barely noticeable - just fading into my head like.
So I took a pencil and tried to pencil them in - you know - like models do ?
The most perfect eyebrows on the planet?
O.M.G. !
The pencil was too dark.
I looked like Joan Crawford in Whatever happened to Baby Jane !!!
I went downstairs and sat beside John who was watching t.v. - and I didn't mention them.
But I kept them arched up to look younger - very very important ladies !
(AND I have to learn how to darken them properly because how can you lift eyebrows that aren't even there?)
Anyway - I started chatting with him - but he replied while keeping his eyes on the t.v.
When he finally looked my way - he visibly jumped back.
John says - WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR FACE?
Suzan says - Nothing - why?
John says - Something looks wrong - really wrong
Suzan says - Thank you
John says - What did you do?
Suzan says - NOTHING !
John says - I don't know what it is but you look scary
Suzan says - Thank you
John says - WHAT DID YOU DO???
Suzan says - Just darkened my brows a little
John roars - absolutely roars
But I'm a little upset that he couldn't even tell what it was that was so different.
What did he think I'd done?
I could probably get a facelift and he'd ask if I'd changed the color of my hair.
_________________________________________________________________________________
My daughter posted the most amazing New Year's Resolution on her facebook page - she's incredible don't you think?
And wise - very very wise - go Ashley ! So far I have celebrated 32 New Years Eve's. I have celebrated with family, with friends and loved ones, and also by myself. I have tried to re-invent myself every time ...with ridiculous resolutions to better myself...and failed. EVERY TIME. diets, exercise, fashion, being nicer to those I dislike, taking the higher road, turning the other cheek, and so on and so forth. What I have learned is that diets suck, I last an hour and then sob into 12 kit kat wrappers screaming at myself that I'm fat...ok, so its 13 wrappers, but whose counting? Exercise is boring when you're alone. exercise is boring at the gym. exercise is just &@#^ boring.- fashion changes more than I can keep up with or afford. Being nice to people you do not like makes you repress too much anger and I'm almost positive that fake smiling too much leads to irritable bowel syndrome, better to cut them off completely and save on toilet paper... the higher road is too high sometimes, it gives me nosebleeds. and quite frankly this turning the other cheek nonsense is too frustrating. All you're left with is 2 bruised cheeks and an idiot who thinks they can get away with it...I guess what I'm trying to say is...you can make all the resolutions you want, it won't actually change you. Instead of trying to change ourselves this year, why not just OWN ourselves? so if you're hungry...eat. if you're upset...cry if you're angry...let it out if you're a hopeless romantic...be romantic!!! if you're a gym enthusiast... go to the gym (i dont get it but i respect it lol) if you bite your nails...dip them in sugar to sweeten the deal! if you're a fighter...fight for everything you believe in without compromise, just know when the fight is over. if you're happy...teach others. Just please don't make yourself miserable trying to live up to some unattainable version of perfection , you already are perfect. a perfect YOU! And nobody, nobody can do it better! Don't forget every cloud has a silver lining.......it may not be REAL silver and it may leave one of those gross green rings, but who cares...it always washes off Happy New Year! _________________________________________________________________________________
smile emoticoHAPPY NEW YEARSI just received an email from Zulily - with a caption readingI just received an email from Zulily advising me to STOP EVERYTHING
That's my girl !
Zulily just sent me an email advising me to STOP EVERYTHING
So I am.
Thank God they sent it or I may have just gone on writing forever ........you know
like...........
This is the post that doesn't end
Yes it goes on and on my friend
Somebody started writing it not knowing what it was
And they'll continue writing it forever just because
This is the post that doesn't end .................
Now isn't that just the song you needed stuck in your head all day today?
You're Welcome !
Have a wonderful day everyone - and an even better weekend
I'm off to buy a lighter eyebrow brush !
See ya later alligator - plant you now and dig you later ♥
Hugs
Me
John says - Not again !
Suzan says - What ?
John says - More words????
John says - We don't have space for anything else on the walls - give up already !
John says - the house looks like a living dictionary - there's too may words ( he ALWAYS says that )
Suzan says - It's like an open book !
Suzan says - And it's our love story !
John says - Baloney !!!
Suzan says - I'm trying to keep my heart young !
John says - Well start eating more oatmeal for crying out loud - words sure aren't going to do it !
John says - I think you're becoming eccentric !
Suzan says - I'm certainly not !
Suzan says - I just love words !
He didn't notice the chalkboard sign I hung on the door
He did however notice that I added extra pillows to the bed but it's not blog appropriate to share that particular conversation !
BTW - I'm thinking I may be eccentric after checking out the true meaning LOL
noun
1.
a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior.
"he enjoys a colorful reputation as an engaging eccentric"
a disc or wheel mounted eccentrically on a revolving shaft in order to transform rotation into backward-and-forward motion, e.g., a cam in an internal combustion engine.
Don't you know that it's worth
Every treasure on earth
To be young at heart?
So says Mr. Sinatra !!!
( and me )
Have a beautiful day !
I'm going to make some oatmeal now !
Eccentrically yours,
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
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I haven't done a IWLTW post in awhile now - and after looking at top posts from last year I realized they are some of my most viewed !
So here we go again :)
I found this one on ZILLOW - a spectacular old farmhouse in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
( close to Montreal actually - I've been to this picturesque town many times )
It was once a Carmelite Nunnery - a Sanitorium - a Nursing Home and a boarding house !
The last owners fell in love with it and turned it into a single home ( private residence )
$695.000
8500 square feet ( more a farmhouse mansion actually )
14 bedrooms ( 8 with sleeping porches )
8 baths
Built in 1896
Realtor - BOB MARTIN
This would make the most glorious Bed & Breakfast !!! ( if you were so inclined - and if you were I would be your first customer ! )
Let's go !
I'm in love with the back !
That fireplace - those windows !
A butler's pantry
view to the sleeping porch
Radiators - oh how I love old radiators !
A view from the - drum roll please - WIDOW'S WALK !!! The ad says there's fireworks on the 4th of July
Can you imagine sitting out there watching that?
What a truly glorious piece of history !!!
Nestled in a gorgeous location
Yep - I most definitely would want to live there ! I'd fill it to the brim with Shabby delights - although it's not too shabby exactly as it is !
Many more pictures on the site zillow
Have a wonderful day everyone - the first week of the new year is half over !
Hugs,
Me
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !
