Family and Fun Up North

It was a beautiful weekend in Jersey City and it was hard to leave everyone. But I had to come back home to my Bella, now didn't I? I found this awning in Hoboken.

This is City Hall. There are so many wonderful buildings in Hoboken. Times sure have changed. When the hub first brought me here in the mid 80s, it wasn't as happy as it is now. Sure wish we still had the condo! Whew!

And what do I do whenever I'm in the NYC area? Go to my favorite bakery, Carlo's. Now you know, all of a sudden, since Cake Boss, the place has become a tourist trap. And so, we had to WAIT IN LINE to get into the shop. Oy! They even have a door man that gives you a number at the door. Well, I suppose that's the smart thing to do.

And since I've been there a million times before, I went right to the cookie counter and grabbed three tins of Italian cookies, some lobster claws (sfogliatella) and, of course, rainbow cookies for the kid.

After drooling over everything, including all the canolis, we were boom, done, outta there!

Afterward, we walked up Washington several blocks to our favorite pizza spot. Now, this is real NY pizza baby. YUM.

And yes, we opened the rainbow cookie box.

After leaving Hoboken and heading to the hub's brother's house, we got stuck in traffic from the Holland Tunnel and then the George Washington Bridge--I'm sure all due to the Time's Square bomb. How thankful we are that it didn't go off and no one was hurt. Oy.

Here's my little nephew Daniel. What a cutie. I fell in love immediately, of course!

More food! The hub's sister had a family gathering at another brother's house celebrating my nephew's second birthday. Big D was born in Korea and we celebrated with Korean food. YUM, again!

This is about the time that I heard that Nashville was flooding. And I mean REALLY flooding. I called home and found out that our house and neighborhood was good, but so many others have not been so lucky. Beth has some photos of the flooding around town. It is so sad.

Sunday was a beautiful day and my nephew was Christened in the church. Look at his little sear sucker suit! Awwwwww. My niece and son are the Godparents. How cool is that?

Here is my son lighting the Baptismal candle. If you click on the photo, you can see the priest glaring at someone. This is about the time, almost finished with the ceremony, when another family enters the church and parades to the front. OMG. Were these people raised on the streets? Do they not have any manners? They had a son who was being baptised at the same time. The priest waited for over 45 minutes for them until finally Bob's sister said Ok, enough! Let's do this thing! Then they barge in like they own the place in the middle of the sacrament? Wow. Doesn't get much better than that!

But a lobster claw makes it all better, guaranteed. We finally finished them last night at home.

We were lucky enough to get out of NY just before storms hit there and the storms here in Nashville had cleared. There was a small delay, but considering there was a bomb scare and weather was wreaking havoc, we did pretty darn well. Dodged another bullet there.

And on Monday? You never would have known there had been any storms here or that downtown Nashville was flooding.

Now, all we have to worry about is the oil gush in the Gulf killing so much wildlife, not to mention hitting our little Riverside. Please keep the Gulf in your thoughts and prayers and let's not let BP off the hook on this one. How horrible.

Palm Sunday, 2010

It's been a wonderfully lazy Sunday--Palm Sunday--on the river. The hub is back on U.S. soil, amen! He's at home with the kid who seems to be needing a lot of DK time (dad/kid) right about now. Oy. To be a 16 year-old boy. No thank you. Not even a 16 year-old girl, that I somehow remember oh-so-well--even more so. Ooooof. Palm Sunday.

There was a time when I would have spent Palm Sunday, first thing, in Church with all the boys. Hub, teenager and kid. Growing up, I attended a Baptist church through my best friends. While, we, as a family--three boys and girl respectively--were brought up more spiritually, my brothers and I, by my parents. Yes, we believed in God and Jesus, but we weren't expected to attend church to prove it. As a teenager, I knew I would find my perfect partner and convert to his religion--if, in fact, he were religious. Never dwelled on it--just seemed the course. Low and behold, I met the hub. My one-and-only. I began the process of becoming a Catholic. I was baptised in the Church, having never being baptised. Go figure. Amy was my "sponsor," and I still think of her as my Godmother sent to me from Heaven above way before I was baptised. The hub was my "sponsor" when I was Confirmed into the Catholic Church. And, so, we brought the boys up Catholic. Went to church every Sunday with them. Well, almost. Once they were confirmed, it was their decision to go to church or not. Today? Me? I dunno. I still SO believe in God and Jesus, as I was brought up to do. But church? Hmmm. I have seen so much hatred and bad coming from organized religion these days in the United States, I just don't know. . . . . How can people call themselves a child of God and push so much hate? I just don't understand. And it breaks my heart. Today? I seem to be more in being with the river.

K, off my soapbox.

Yesterday, I went into town and was in the mood for finding something "fresh" for the house, Riverside. Coming home, I took the "scenic" route and had to stop off at the park and take a few snaps. It is absolutely breathtaking from the top of the bluffs. The sailboats, in the distance, were mesmerizing. I love the views from here. It is absolutely gorgeous on and off of Mobile Bay.

Everything is popping here. And I have the pollen all over the place to prove it, including the bedroom. I had, mistakenly, left all the windows open for the weekend. Oy. (Painter coming in the morning so all is closed up tight now!)

Beautiful, in spite of having to take extra Zyrtec. Well worth it. Of course.

At home, at 8:30 pm., it was lights' out. Earth hour. I did it. I thought I would forget--after all, I'm on the river and quite riversorry, in truth. But alas, I remembered.

And, what did I do for an hour? lol. Once a photog, always a photog. Or should I say phot-hog? What in the world did I do all those years when I gave it up? Oh yea, raised my boys. Heart heart.

I do so enjoy it--trying to get that snap that relays your feelings at the moment. Notice the word snap. No longer do I spend hours in the darkroom.

Bella, trying to be a tough-ass in the candle-lit room. This, Riverside, is her first and absolute home, btw.

She does love it here; and, thus, another OMMMMM moment by the Bell. Bad girl.

K, moving forward to Sunday, Palm Sunday. Dar called from a couple of houses down and said that she and Linda were painting--NOT the kind of painting going on down here on the river, mind you. Nope, that girl is an artist. She was artistically painting--painting several signs for a local studio in Magnolia River. So talented that woman. Brought my camera. Did I take a photo??? Nope. In the short time I have known her, I already call her a dear friend. And a talented one, to boot!

MmmmmkK (as Jacq would say), here's our inspiration. Actually, Darlene's inspiration. Mine was blue for the back door--and I'm not a blue person. NIXED! We went into her front yard and she picked a few azaleas. This is it! The back-door color! Knowing that I am THE most "fuchsia" person ever, I knew it right then that it was the correct color. Then, as if that weren't good enough, Dar, being the perfect person she is, whips out a paint-color fan? How many people do you know has one of those, easily accessible, Sherwin Williams' fans???? Now, how awesome is that? Darlene rocks the river! Not only is fuchsia my all-time favorite color way back from childhood (60s Crayola land) , but the azalea's in her front yard? These are the SAME old-fashioned color of azaleas from my childhood. Sniffle. The ones from our front yard growing up on Fox Street in Arlington, VA. Sniffle. Sniffle. Sniffle.

I am meant to be here. Right now.

Wow.

Bollywood

We were talking, about the love we all could share
When we find it, to try our best to hold it there,
with our love.

With our love, we could save the world, if they only knew.

Try to realise, it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change.
And to see you're really only very small,
And life flows on within you and without you.

Who can forget when the Beatles went to India to find themselves? While I was only eight years old, my brothers--mainly Johnny--were die-hard fans.

While I know this song was written by George before the Beatles (as an entourage) went to India to learn from the Maharishi, it still fits today within the realm of things. Or so is my thinking. I suppose it was my first introduction to India. I doubt I was learning about such places on the globe in the second-grade classroom of the mid 1960s. (Oh, and to this day, I still feel for Cynthia {Lennon} who missed the train; but I'm sure it was the best thing for her in the long run.)

I do, however, remember choosing to learn about Budhism around this time. Go figure. But then again, I am the one who wrote a quote at bible school at the wee age of 6 or 7, "All You Need Is Love." Thank you my brutha, for molding me early to the power of The Beatles and LOVE.

While Paul was my first love, sorry hub,

Ringo later became my hippy-of-choice. Who knows why.

Maybe it was because Paul started smoking. Yuk. Quite the turnoff to an 8-year old. Ya think? lol

And who knew George would become so strong in his belief? Love him for that.

So, what in the world is Rosa rambling on about and why? Well, sniffle, the hub is heading out to exoctic places once more without the love of his life (I think me). Just look at the gorgeousness here.

Being the spoiled brat that my husband has made me into (yes he spoils me rotten), I have made a list of things to look for. tehe!!!! Now, mind you, some of these "ideas" are for family members. So don't think I am THAT spoiled! I know that the glass bangles, copper, wood, scarves and bags are quite the bargain there. He'll let me know on the miscellaneous stuff. He's been home so long, I've kind of gotten used to it. I wish, kinda, I was going with him to this wonderful land. I'm thinking, just thinking, about me and the kid following him to China this summer. What do you think? Do you think I could last that long on a plane????? Ooooof!

And moving along into the now. . . . a house a day keeps the drearies away, as promised. Perty.

Momma was in a great frame-of-mind today. We went outside again and it was an absolutely perfect day with a capital P! Nice breeze, sun, warm, NO HUMIDITY. Per-fect. We took Mr. George's spot again. He was inside and didn't visit us under the tree today. The admission's lady said, in passing, she thought it was going to "work out." I'm taking that as a positive, the first true positive yet. Who was that who said a good day has to be followed by a bad???? Just smack her if you see her! lol

I called an old friend I've known since grade school tonight. It was so refeshing hearing a voice from my past. I miss my old buds from Virginia so much. Nadj, if you're reading this, I love ya!!! Sistas, through and through. I have several sisters that I grew up with that are so very dear and important to me to this day. No matter that we're not blood siblings, the ties will always be there. And you all know who you all are.

With our love, we could save the world.

xo
ro

Monochromatic Peace

The weekend is here which means I'm perusing Apartment Therapy with a vengeance. I came across this bedroom shot which I just adored. When it comes to our bedroom, the hub's and mine, I've always preferred the scheme to be light and airy with some nice color pieces thrown about. The bedroom is such a personal space that I fill with with all of my nostalgic pieces that really mean something to either myself or the hub--my grandmother's quilt hanging over the bed, my baby clothes hung on peg boards, the boys' pottery made in preschool, and the like. I enjoy being awoken softly in a gentle-to-the eyes sloom.

While the rest of the house is quite the mishmosh of color that peaks the curiosity of the child within me, the bedroom, I feel, should be soothing to the soul. Most all of our wood pieces throughout the house are a very heavy wood, a lot of antiques and just plain dark. After we were married, I got so tired of all the old dark art deco bedroom furniture we had collected that we finally moved it to other rooms of the house. I first worked with the iron bed that we purchased on a trip to Atlanta visiting my mom's sister, Aunt Mary. It now proudly slumbers guests in the downstairs bedroom. (We upped to a king this past year!)

Then there was a closing sale at the then Woodward & Lothrop's where we found this perfectly cheap armoir in a pickled oak. I loved it. (The upholstered off-white chairs came from the same going-out-of-business sale.) Perfect for that light bedroom feel I was looking for. From there came different sales, piecemeal, that somehow fit in with the scheme over the past 20 years. While nothing truly matches, it works for us quite pleasurably.

I feel the same about the kitchen space. It, being the heart of the house, should feel open and airy and inviting. Over the past ten years, I planned almost every aspect of the kitchen I desired. For it to come to fruition (well, almost) is a dream come true. I clipped pictures and articles of everything I liked--again the monochromatic cleanness came into play. I hadn't even realized it until I took all my folders, ideas and clippings to the kitchen remodeler (the idiots that they are) and spread it all out on the table.

I'm pretty darn happy with it overall. I'm trying to release the negativity that came with it because it is such a darn gorgeous kitchen, if I do say so myself.

Which brings me to my latest endeavour. I am truly trying to teach myself how to meditate. I have never been able to! I remember in Lamaze class, I would giggle when the teacher would ask us to find a peaceful spot in our minds. It was ridiculous! Breathing, I'm ok with. Trying to get thoughts out of my head? Not so easy. My niece Madeleine is enamoured with Buddhism which thrills me to no end. I purchased this book, really, for both of us. I will be passing it on to her this week in the hopes that she too will enjoy learning to meditate. Perhaps if I had started out when I was a wee teen, that would have helped. lol I so want to get this Tonglen practice down.

If we all could breathe in the darkness and exhale with only light and goodwill, what a wonderful place it would be. I'm trying.

Happy weekend everyone!

xo
Ro

Blessings of the Season

This has to be one of the best photos of Bella ever. Thank you kid for capturing her inner beauty. We have so much to be thankful for this Season and I have been thanking our lucky stars each night before I fall asleep. We are truly blessed.

Our dear friends (and neighbors) are back from Los Angeles for Christmas. I can never get enough of them when they visit for a short time. I miss all of them dearly. They surprised us and came over and we had a little time to catch up.

They brought with them they're adorable little Bunny Bentley all dressed in her Chanel best. Too precious!

And they brought gifts! Edi knows my love of angels. Too sweet.

The hub was freshly back from Europe with the freshest of Swiss and Belgian chocolates. Of course I opened the box of Wittamer's fresh cream chocolates to share with our friends.

Oh my. There is nothing like it. Can you see the vanilla bean in the cream? Oh my, again.

Today, a beautiful Christmas bouquet arrived for my mom from my oldest brother Joe. She is already in bed, so I arranged them and will put them on her table for when she awakes. Blessings.

The kid took a closeup of my eye. Loverly. Look at the lines beginning to form. More blessings of age.

A little more decor I put in a copper pot for the kitchen.

My amaryllis is blooming. Such beauty.

Bella is never far from my side at any given moment. Blessings.

Lovely packages and greetings from loved ones.

And a promise to myself to be more healthy as I age. I saw Suzanne Summers on Larry King the other night and purchased one of her books. Taking it to Riverside with me to begin anew.

And before I even begin the book, back to my tea --chock full of antioxidants. I found these blends at the Teavana in Atlanta. Yum. I'm drinking the MateVana/Rooibox Chai. The smell fresh from the tin smells of chocolate which I didn't think I would like. But once you steep it, the chocolate is a hint in the backflavor. I would say the fruits come out more than the chocolate.

I also got the Dragon Jasmine/Roobios Tropical blend.

Indeed, blessings abound.