hi auntie!

Today is May 27th and the birthday of Aunt Helen, who would be 87 today if she were still alive. She passed away in 2004, and I think about her all the time.

Her essence, I think, lives on in many of the people whose lives she touched, but it especially lives on in my two sisters and me. She used to say, "Some day you will want to bite your elbow, and you won't be able to." She'd give us this knowing look with her playful eyes. I never knew what she meant back then, but I think I do now.

Let me just list a few of the things I miss about her.

1. Her loyalty. She was always on my side. If I cried, she cried.

2. Her undying energy, she was the antithesis of laziness. I often think of her when I am pushing myself really hard, especially around the house.

3. Her love of family and her insistence and hard work to ensure that we (our siblings) always stick together (we do!)

4. Her courage to face so many hardships and still forge on.

5. The slight overbite that she'd get while laughing.

6. Her dedication to her appearance. I NEVER saw her in slacks. She never left the house (as I often do) unkempt or improperly dressed. I have to admit that often I thought it was vanity to a fault, but now, when I realize how hard she worked, I must admire her dedication.

7. Her ability to always make me feel better, no matter how sad or angry or desperate or hurt I felt.

8. Her cooking and dedication to the comfort and value of good, slow food, plus the joy she instilled in me of big family meals. And her ability to welcome anybody to the table.

9. The smell of her house, which was always pristine. I can still smell that smell on a few of her things, especially the beaver hat which is still in the box. I have not worn it in a year, but I refuse to throw it away. Sorry to break that one-year rule she taught me (must admit I break it quite a lot).

Hi up there in Heaven and happy birthday, Auntie. I miss you!
xxxoooxoxoxoxo.

Aunt Helen (right) and her best friend Margaret. They did everything together.

Cousin Anne, another of her dear friends (left), with Charlie, and Aunt Helen, with newborn Cynthia.

Aunt Helen in our Swedish house, with Ceasar (who fell in love with her!) and Patti.

Aunt Helen with Charlie at Cathy's house.

Name that blog!

We've started a farm. Yes we have. A nearby historic farm estate (http://www.harritonhouse.org/) has a small community garden, where we have a 10 ft x 10 ft plot. It is going to be so cute. So far we only have pototoes in, but more stuff will come this week, probably tomatoes, garlic, and something else. It will be completely organic, yay.

Yesterday, as we were planting, Ulf looked up and said to me, "I love this!"

It made me so happy.

Ulf and I are going to start a blog together to celebrate and report on our little garden plot. What should we name the new blog?

Here are some choices-- Please vote for your favorite or suggest your own (click on COMMENTS below). If you make a suggestion we end up going with, there's a surprise in it for you! But if you don't feel like thinking please vote! Vote as much as you like.

Mostly gardens
The plot thickens
Our Harriton Patch
Harriton Garden
Colony Lot
Garden Adventure
First-time farmers
Go as you grow

Help!!! Thanks in advance!

(Photo above is from a recent visit to a nursery in Lancaster County, but I was playing with some settings)

Mostly covers

My goodness, how time slips away. Sorry for my long absence. 

First there was that ten-day rainy period, and I couldn't bring myself to make a list! 

Then I broke my Ipod at the gym, which was sad but it was an antique so I didn't really mind. I went to the Mac store to replace it and bought a monster Ipod Classic, with 120 GB of space. Woo hoo! 

But when I went to sync my Itunes library I was so depressed because it was such a mess, and the thought of introducing so much crap to my nice, new Ipod was bringing me down.

So I researched a few solutions and I bought a nifty program called TuneUp. It magically cleans up your dirty music files. This project took days and days,  because I had over 7,000 songs, and  many of them were called Track x, or had the wrong artist, made no sense, no rhyme, no reason. After I cleaned up all my dirty tracks I was able to delete most duplicates. And now my Itunes library is in great shape and fit for my spanking new Ipod.

One of the things that made this project take so long is that I have re-familiarized myself with all my music. As I was looking for duplicates, it made me realize how many covers I have, and what a big covers fan I am. It is a reinterpretation that lets you listen to the lyrics in a whole new way!

Here is my list for today, called Mostly Covers. It is in no particular order. And the songs at the end (*) that are not covers are some favorites I like hearing right now. And as a bonus to anyone who has managed to read this boring blog to its end, I will burn a cd of the songlist below upon request (leave a comment). The first ten to reply get a cd. And if you don't live nearby, don't worry. I promise to mail it!

Mostly Covers playlist

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Cat Power

When Doves Cry, The Be Good Tanyas

Gold Digger, Kanye West Feat. Jamie Foxx

Ghost Train, Counting Crows

Like The Sun, Zucchero with Macy Gray

Muoio Per Te, Zucchero with Sting

Big in Japan, Ane Brun

Desperado, Johnny Cash

Wlndmills of Your  Mind, Sting

Staying Alive, Wyclef Jean

I Will Survive, CAKE

Gin And Juice, The Gourds

One, Badi Assad

In The Sun, Joseph Arthur*

Dogs, Damien Rice*

Consequence Of Sounds, Regina Spektor*

Is A Woman, Lambchop*

Puppylicious

So many reasons to love puppies!

Cathy & Andy got a new puppy. They used to have two dogs, but their faithful beagle Jake died a few weeks ago. So they wanted to get another beagle to keep their Yellow Lab Maggie company. The new puppy's name (I think) is Max. He is adorable. He thinks he can do anything Maggie can do! Maggie is so loving and gentle with him. It's so sweet. 

Welcome to the family, Max!

Ten things I am a sucker for*

1. Good harmonica playing

2. All white clothing, especially when worn with brown sandals.

3. Anything made from the fabric Modal(TM). It's light and heavy at the same time--and so soft!

4. Kitties

5. Sliced ripe tomatoes with salt

6. Chocolate covered peppermint (dark chocolate)

7. A good game of Boggle (or bridge or Scrabble)

8. Plexiglass things (thickly made and sleekly designed)

9. Paper and pens and colors and fabrics

10. Old black and white photographs.

*Being a sucker for something means that you wish time would stop when you are with it. 

A treat: Some black and white photos from my own personal collection (and one that does not belong here, of me playing the harmonica on a camping trip. I believe I was attempting Kumba Ya!)

I believe this is my maternal grandfather as a child with his mother and brother. It's funny that until I scanned this photo tonight I never realized there is a fourth person in this photo. See her? (Click on photo to enlarge). I have no idea who she could be. She is behind the boy on the right hand side. My grandfather was born in 1896, so if I am correct in believing it is him, this photo must be 100 years old! (Laundry runs in our family!)

This is my dad, all duded up for my Uncle Charlie's wedding.

This is Cathy and me; I think the photo is from 1964.

This is my mother as a young girl.

This is my mother as a small child. 

This is me, 'round the campfire, playing my harmonica while dying of smoke inhalation. 

Win some, lose some

But first: some of my favorite girls....

(Please note that some of my favorite girls are, sadly, missing!)

I made a full list yesterday of things I had to do. Some progress, yes. But not complete success.

- Got caught up on all my bookkeeping, to prepare for taxes, yet did not get them filed (got an extension, though!)

- Wrote many notes that were long overdue, yet did not yet get them in the mail.

- Cleaned out all my paperwork, yet desk is a still a complete mess.

- Finally dealt with all the laundry, yet the ironing is piling up!

Still, I'm feeling pretty good about it. And to celebrate... a yummy salad and the cutest Easter cupcakes ever (made my Tati!)

I'm back!

Six feeble excuses I've been absent from my blog:

1. I gave up blogging for lent?

2. The kitty ate my blog?

3. I lost my blog?

4. My blog was in the mail?

5. I was blogging at that other place, where were you?

6. I completely forgot to blog?

In any case, I am back. So I'll see you soon.

(The photos above are taken at Pennhurst, an abandoned mental institution we recently visited and trespassed upon! Very beautiful in an eerie sort of way.)

Oh my

The fun we can have on the Internet sometimes boggles my mind. Pity on those of us who need to get work done! These images were created using my top website for the week, a little site called obamicon.me. Try it and send me your images!

PS Sorry there is no list!

a few signs that it's spring!

1. The kitty is frantic, she wants to go out
2. Kids in the neighborhood play and shout
3. Plants in the yard are beginning to sprout
(they seem to know what it’s all about)

4. Students are wearing their sneakers and shorts
(A shedding of their fur, of sorts)
5. Everyone seems geared up for sports
6. And many are hogging the tennis courts!

________________________



And some photos of a recent trip to Ephrata, PA!



A local flea market had so much stuff ....



But oddly enough I couldn't find anything I wanted to buy

At a conference center ladies room, detailed instructions on How To Wash Your Hands. But there's no indication of what to do after "then...."

Such pretty sprinkles!

Wordsmithery

Isn't this so pretty?

I happened upon this amazing little web tool today when I was looking for an illustration for an article. Wordle takes your words and makes a collage. There are loads of settings for colors and fonts. I made a a few test collages with my favorite words. It's an incomplete list in no particular order and I'm probably forgetting a million of 'em. I'll do more later! Isn't this so cool?

Try it, it's free!

• moxie
• haberdashery
• money
• fluxy
• girth
• surprise
• goofy
• sweltering
• whimsical
• sibilant
• missy
• love
• smooch
• persnickety
• snarky
• sunnier
• benign
• dowse
• lozenge
• serendipity

Here are some more, I can't stop!

Surprise!

I've come to the realization that the older I get the more I like surprises. I guess it's due to the fact that the older I get the less I happen upon surprises, maybe because I am weathered or because my life is all too predictable.

This delight over surprises is one of the things, I guess, that draws me toward the Garage Sale.

There is something so serendipitous about it. My friends who know I garage sale sometimes ask me what I'm looking for, and I answer, "I don't really know." And I don't! The truth is that I usually have my eye out for something that I like that doesn't cost a lot of money.... a surprise!

Take the last garage sale I went to, last weekend. It was actually an estate sale--the entire contents of the house was up for grabs. It was years and years of accumulated stuff.

The woman who had lived there (I try not to think about what's happened to the people who've abandoned their worldly possessions) was clearly a sewer (read that as a person who sews, not the pipes in streets where water goes).

She had many old sewing notions, zippers, fabric, snaps, buttons, hooks, books, etc, all of which were practically being given away. No one was interested in them, that is no one except me and Tati (who is Emma's daughter and my sidekick for the day). 

I am careful not to hoard, so I chose only two books of old patterns from the 1960's, one package of piping, one package of rick-rack, and two aprons. I spent $1.50, and these few possessions are among the things I love. The books are so inspirational and fascinating!

I did some scanning and am sharing some highlights; these books are from 1968.

The yellow onezie to the right is adorable. I would definitely wear that, maybe it should be in another color and maybe a tad bit longer. But I love the styling and love the gold chain belt. The other outfits are not my cup of tea but I am in deep love with the pink shoes which the gal to the farthest left is wearing. (I'd marry them.)

I am completely weak for a onezie. The fabric is so darned fun. Her hair is so adorable (it makes me want to get mine cut). I love her accessories. The shoes are To Die For, so darned cute! One thing that scares me though about this photo is: what in the world is this woman doing? Is she dancing? Who poses that way? Is she climbing over an invisible fence? Getting in the mood for a key party? Words fail me.

Do you love the flowered number to the left as much as I do? It is girly and mod and the tights and shoes go so well. It reminds me a little bit of some things I recenly saw in the Lilly Pulitzer line, but this is way cooler. I would wear the sunglasses in a heartbeat. (The girl to the right, admittedly, looks goofy, and what is with the way she's standing?)

Finally, let me just say that this woman looks beautiful. Refined, elegant, the dress looks like something Michele Obama might wear. I love the shoes. But what fascinates me most is The Hair.


Is it real? I want me an extension that looks like that! I'd wear it every day!

(Later on I'll take some photos of the aprons and post them! I have quite a collection! Uh-oh, am I hoarding??!)

Why it's better to watch the Oscars with girls rather than boys

1. Girls are content to eat carrots and tomatos and nurse a glass of white wine, and don't need to tank up on Doritos
2. Girls know the skinny on who's who, who's dating whom, who's out of rehab and who's just had a baby.
3. Girls can discuss hair, gowns, shoes, boobs, make-up, etc until the cows come home and they do not shush you or roll your eyes or act like they don't care (because they do care, they really do!).
4. Girls have crushes on the same boys you do.
5. Girls do not change the channel during commercials to see the score of the hockey game.
6. Girls do not fall asleep and snore so loudly you cannot hear the acceptance speeches.
7. Girls are girly!

The shudda wons

After last night's Oscars, I wanted to publish my own list of who should have won in a couple of the categories.

• Best actor: They chose Sean Penn; I chose Mickey Rourke, followed closely by Richard Jenkins. Mickey Rourke might look a bit distorted (um, mangled) these days, but he was absolutely amazing amazing amazing in The Wrestler. It was painful and moving to watch. I just found him fascinating. Richard Jenkins in The Visitor was stunning.. that was an excellent movie.


• Best actress: They chose Kate Winslet; I choose Anne Hathaway.


• Best supporting actor: They chose Heath Ledger; I choose Michael Shannon from Revolutionary Road (Kate was amazing in that!)


• Best supporting actress: Those chose Penelope Cruz; I choose the same! (And I loved that Vicki Christina Barcelona, too!)

Best dressed women? Natalie Portman & Tina Fey; Tilda Swinton looked gorgy in an androgynous sort of way. The Fugly Girls say some funny things.

A silly list I found someplace

For lack of a better blog theme today, here's one of these silly lists that are making the rounds.

1. Where is your cell phone? Right here

2. Your significant other? Right here

3. Your hair? Right here (where it always is!)

4. Your mother? dead and buried.

5. Your father? ditto.

6. Your favorite thing? my camera, my kitty stamp, my bed

7. Your dream last night? scary

8. Your favorite drink? cai pirinha (but cannot spell it)

9. Your dream/goal? be really good at tennis, play the harmonica

10. What room you are in? den

11. Your hobby? photography, garage saling, bridge

12. Your fear? anger

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? someplace warm

14. Where were you last night? right here

15. Where were you this morning? with the Amish

16. Muffins? lemon poppy seed

17. Wish list item? a place in the sun

18. Where you grew up? Philadelphia

19. Last thing you did? wrote an article

20. What are you wearing? cozy stuff

21. Your TV? Ulf bought it

22. Your pets? meow

23. Friends? so dear

24. Your life? lucky and happy

25. Your mood? hopeful, tomorrow is friday

26. Missing some one? always

27. Car? wish i could drive with the top down

28. Something you're not wearing? boots

29. Your favorite store? Bookbinders Design, NK

30. Your favorite color? to wear: white; to view: bluegreen/aqua (like the sea in Southern France)

31. When is the last time you laughed? just before I began this inane list

32. Last time you cried? yesterday

33. One place that you go to over and over? trader joe's

34. One person who emails me regularly? my boss & emma

35. Your favorite place to eat? Pattis's? Mary's? Home?

What's good about coming home from Florida to Philly in February?

We were all asking ourselves that question at the airport yesterday. I was trying really really really hard to think of positive things about coming home, with much difficulty. Then, as my day progressed, I got my answers!

1. Finding a birthday present outside our front door (two books from Susan W, one Anne Lamott book, Traveling Mercies, and one called Listography, which will provide fodder for my blog for a long time to come!) Thanks Suz!

2. Seeing my sissies and the whole family for dinner, and the wonderful meal made by Cathy for my birthday. Thanks Patti and Cath!

3. Worth a special mention: Getting one of the cutest cards ever made... from my neice Sophia... see picture at right and click on it to enlarge.

4. Seeing Findus, my little kitty. (She was, by the way, Very Rude to her lovely surrogate parents, not coming out for a single a cuddle or purr, only appearing at mealtimes or to Steal A Piece Of Fish not intended for feline consumption, very very bad kitty!) But we missed her while we were gone.

5. Sleeping in my own bed (simple pleasures are the best)

6. Being able to drink tea in the morning again.

So it's not so bad. Summer is soon here.... i think. Still. Florida was a blast and I can't wait to go back.


Me on a Sanibel Island beach, shelling.


Tati in hysterics..........


because Emma literally collapsed on the beach!


A bird was fishing (what kind of bird?)


The boys were shelling



Taking my dogs for a walk


Other beachcombers