Generally the mall is the last place you will find me, ever, but Wednesday I needed something and I had already been to Target so I thought I would give Macy’s a try. I did find what I was looking for, but then I also found this t-shirt. It immediately brought me back to a Christmas when Jason was 2 or 3. All he wanted for Christmas was the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. I remember Jason playing with that toy everyday for months. Who knew that the same marshmallow man would someday grace the front of a young girls t-shirt?
Next I decided to walk over to the shoe department, don’t ask why, it certainly isn’t because I like buying shoes. But lookie what I saw...
Jason certainly wasn’t concerned about relationship goals when he was younger, but he and Jessica both loved TMNT. Wednesday was a night that I was bombarded with memories of simpler times spent with my little ones. Grateful for happy memories. Blessed, always to be a mom with two wonderful children that are now wonderful adults!
Scent is such a strong reminder of days gone by. Last night, while I was heading into the gym, my nose caught a whiff of honeysuckle. Memories came flooding back.
As a youngster, I had a penpal from Japan. In our letters we shared little snippets of our lives. Once, we each shared our favorite scent. Mine was honeysuckle and hers was sweet pea. I sent her a candle and she sent me a sachet. I think I was 9 that summer.
Also, I remember as a young girl, riding my bike in Barnegat Light, smelling the sweet honeysuckle as the vines wrapped their tendrals around anything they could grab on to. As an adult, I recognized the same familiar scent as Jess and I would ride our bikes around Beach Haven, especially on early June weeknights, when there was very little car traffic and the smell of our surroundings was very clear and recognizable.The year I met Mark I remember smelling the honeysuckle as we would walk each evening that summer. Honeysuckle has a very distinctive smell and I just love it. Last night I just had to grab a photo of the delicate honeysuckle flowers. They bring such happy memories.
Today, as I packed away the balance of our Christmas decorations, I stopped a minute to reminisce about our tree skirt. It really isn't much to look at, but I love it.
The year was 1979. I was living in Boston, not quite a block away from Northeastern University. My first home of my own, I loved that apartment! As Christmas approached I tried to think of the best way to decorate, knowing that I would be in New Jersey for quite a bit of time around the holiday. In my mother's home we decorated with fresh greens in every nook and cranny of the first floor. Fresh greens seemed a bit impractical knowing that I would be away. My sister Suzy, who was also living in Boston at the time, graciously agreed to drive me to the burbs so that I could purchase myself an artificial tree.
I perused Faneuil Hall marketplace for ornaments. I took the T to Cambridge, Harvard Square to search for decorations. I found a quilt shop. What a treasure! I had never been in a shop devoted to quilting and I was inspired.
The red and green fabrics with the white dots spoke to my love of everything Swiss Dot. So, with a little bit of figuring, I purchased my fabric and went home to create a tree skirt. No pattern, no clue about what I was doing, just the idea that I could make my own tree skirt.
Don't get me wrong, I was a proficient sewer at the time. But I was in a rush and I wasn't sure about creating a circle. This was before cutting mats and rotary cutters. So I fold the fabric into a diamond. I cut a semi circle out of the top corner and circled what would become the bottom edge. Next it was time for the ruffle. I really wanted a ruffle. As you can see, I didn't create the ruffle. I was in too much of a rush. After creating a little bit of a hem, I only basted one line of stitching along the unsewn edge of fabric. I tried my darnedest to gather the ruffle. It would not work!
I was so frustrated that I tore the basting out and quickly created the pleats you see along the bottom edge.
There was no measuring involved, who had time for that. Perhaps I felt that I would "fix" the tree skirt after the holidays and make it the way I envisioned, but who can tell. Now, 35 plus years later, it is still the same as it was that very first Christmas. I love it. It brings back such warm memories of the holidays that I have celebrated in homes that I have called my own. Homes where I lived alone, with my husband, with my husband and children and then finally with my children, alone.
When Mark and I married I was glad to know that he was not bringing along a tree skirt. How could I not use mine, it has seen so much of my life? There are those moments, once in a while, when I consider creating a new tree skirt. Last year, in March, I actually bought a pattern. But, I am a stickler for tradition.
Eventually I will make a tree skirt for any of my other seven trees, but my main tree, whatever tree it happens to be, will always be skirted by my first attempt at creating a tree skirt. That makes me happy.
Today I decided to switch things up just a bit. We are going to play a game called "What's Missing?" I will post a picture and you, my lovely readers, will try to figure out what's missing. Now, for those of you that did not grow up in my hometown, this will be a bit difficult. But, the rest of you should have no problem with this.Just a hint, this patch of grass is located on the property of the Park Lane Apartments.
Let's see how you do before I give you another challenge!
Wow, I am feeling so far behind that I may never catch up. I am busy adjusting to life with Mark and trying to balance school, home and family.
Sunday, December 5th, was a relaxing day spent pretty much at home. I love a Sunday that gives me the opportunity to sleep in, loll around and watch football. Not much more that I could ask for. On top of everything else, my house is decorated. Mostly. The tree is not quite done and the tree upstairs hasn't been touched! What is the skinny on that?
I must admit, what is done looks pretty good!
We did manage to venture out in the later part of the afternoon. Of course we waited until after we were sure the Giants would end up on top of their game. A quick dinner at the Cheesecake Factory courtesy of a gift card and a brief visit to the mall. JC Penney's was having a coupon sale and my children needed some basics.
The mall was disappointing, it didn't even look like Christmas. A couple of silver trees not taller than a five year old and a couple of silver reindeer that were even smaller. I didn't even see where they had settled Santa. Another case of "What's with that?"
On the good side, we absolutely picked the perfect time to go, very few people to contend with and no lines. Perfect!
A trip to Starbucks on the way home and we were able to call it a night. Quick, easy and no stress. Just the way I like my holidays.
Today I was remembering what seemed like a stressless Christmas in the little town I grew up in. The festive decorations of the downtown stores, the holiday lights on Main Street and the beautifully decorated windows are burned in my memory. One of my favorite memories finds me standing on the corner of Stevens and Main, in a plowed pile of snow, listening to the Bing Crosby version of Silver Bells. A great song and a sweet memory that reminds me of how I felt as a child. I truly love this time of the year!
Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
In a year filled with wonderful moments that served to help me feel alive and connected to this world, one moment does stand out.
Today, when I close my eyes, I hear the waves as they crash rhythmically against the shore, the soft sound of the bubbles that form in the breakers and the squeals of delight coming from the children that surround me. That moment, a few seconds really, was experienced at the beach.
The scent of salt water tickles my nose as I organize our stuff on the beach. Emma grabs my hand and pulls me, with all of her might to the water line where it pauses along the shore. Our feet sink as the wet sand oozes between our toes. My arm is being pulled from it's socket as she yells, "faster, faster, all the way in, all the way in."
Her tiny fingers, wet, slip slowly from my grip as the wave crashes and drags her up toward the beach. I turn, afraid she might be scared. Rolling beneath the breaks, she brushes the water from her eyes, giggles and holds out her arms so that I can help her up and she can do it again.
Of all the moments I experienced in 2010, a day at the big beach is what comes to mind, first and foremost because the sensations experienced still re-play over and over again in my mind. I have always felt most alive on the ocean beach and that experiences is always magnified when I am in the company of children that delight in the experience.
Tonight the full moon is suspended over my side yard, silhouetted against a deep indigo sky. It's surreal, beautiful. As I was driving over the bridge this evening I found myself following the moon toward my house. Not sure why it happened, but I also found myself remembering Paper Moon, the movie starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neal which I saw at the Beach Theater on Long Beach Island with my sister and my grams. Do you remember that movie? For whatever reason memories of summer full moon sightings and the movie filled my mind.
Full moons, starry nights and sunrises remind me that each day begins anew. The thoughts and memories of recurring events help to keep me grounded and, in some strange way, moving forward. Grateful for that.
i am - feeling good about accomplishing some organizational things.
i think - this is going to be a great week!
i wonder -
why time flies when you're having fun.
i wish - for more great evenings like this one, when I feel like I have accomplished something.
i save - too many pieces of paper.
i always - feel like I am behind in something.
i can't - remember where I put my glasses.
i believe - everything happens for a reason.
i promise - to be more gentle with myself and others.
i love - my blessed life with all of its imperfections.
i scrap - to validate the life I live, to share our stories.
How about you? What if you were to respond to these prompts today, what would you write? What if you were to create a scrapbook page with these prompts, what would it look like? I think I am going to do just that, when life calms down just a bit!
through my window today... Those were the first words that came to my mind as I saw the sunlight streaming in between the open areas of the lace curtains hanging in my bedroom windows. I have two windows that meet in the corner of my room. The little window captures the first light of the day and the second, double-sized window allows me to watch the sun's descent in the evening. All of this from the comfort of my bed. I am a lucky girl!
So, what to do. I jumped out of bed, okay, so I didn't actually jump, and quickly put together a Donovan playlist. The perfect music for a window open, breeze blowing, spring springing kind of day. Found this old video which made me smile...
My fondest memories of Donovan come from the first spring that I had my driver's license. My "job" was to pick my sister up in Morristown. She attended a private high school during the week and came home on the weekends. The drive was a good 45 minutes out and another 45 minutes back. Route 46 to Route 80 and nothing but clear open road. With the windows down and the radio blaring I thought that I was all that. There is nothing like a beautiful spring day to make you feel free and unencumbered. Of course, at 17, how free was I. Let's face it, I was driving my parent's huge, 5 child, 3 full seat, silver-grey station wagon. Well, at least my memory serves me well. There is something to be said for perspective!
I spent a good part of the day outside, perusing the springtime changes in my yard. I also needed to spend some time assessing the winter storm damage to trees and bushes. There is a significant amount of work looming in the near future. But, the little morsels of new life really had me giddy with anticipation.
This little hyacinth will probably be the first to bloom. If I remember correctly, it will bloom white. I have a special affection for these little flowers and their powerful scent. Both my children are April babies, Jess, being born right before Easter and Jay, born just 3 days after Easter. For each occasion, much to the chagrin of my room mates, I received boatloads of hyacinths. Really, there should be a ban on this type of flower in a hospital, but I enjoyed every overwhelming whiff. Tomorrow promises to be another beautiful spring day, extra recess sounds like a plan!
Tonight the house has that eerie, too quiet thing going on. Perhaps it is a good thing that I need to travel to the beach tonight! Generally I do not mind the quiet but tonight - it is too quiet. One of my favorite memories is listening to my son practice his bass while I am busy doing mommy things in the house, like laundry and cleaning. Or the occasional shout outs from my daughter as she wanders around the first floor as I go about my business upstairs.
Tonight, there is no playing of the bass. Tonight, there will be no shout outs from Jess reminding me that she lives here.
I believe there is nothing as quiet as an empty house that has known the laughter of children and family - good thing I need to get going.
