My Favourite Drummer

I am so loving all the time I've gotten to spend with Jax this Summer - seven days in August already! Today I picked him up at his friends' house, where he spent the night and early morning practicing with them and additional pals that have formed a Rush cover band. I arrived and we packed Phineas to the proverbial gills with his drum kit and took it back home. Then we went for dessert at Lena's Water Ice, Lowe's to pick out paint samples (he was such a big help!!), and then dinner at Greens & Grains. As always, Jackson played DJ in the car and he switched my Ozzy playlist off and put on Rush. I never thought I'd like their music - love the fellas of Rush, but could never get into their songs - but Jax has broken me down and now I actually like them for real. I'm so lucky to have had this kid as one of my besties since he was a wee lil' babe.

Widow's Bay

Finally got around to watching this series and holy macaroni - it is so good! I've always liked Matthew Rhys and he's never been better than as the mayor of this creepy-as-hell island. One minute I'm in a full blown anxiety attack and grabbing for the remote to hit pause until I recover and the net I'm busting out laughing. I'm definitely re-watching this in October.

Keep On Dreamin'

In my ideal life, which hopefully exists on another plane of reality, I'd have this for my engagement ring and this cake from Vegan Treats at the wedding with my perfect guy. I think it's sophisticated, but also charming and sweet, feminine, but not overly so. It's stunning.

(post scriptie: this cake was most certainly inspired by Taylor and Travis' engagement bc Tay was wearing a striped dress when he proposed and the flowers match the ones that Trav set up in the back garden. That and it's already known that the peeps at VT are Swifties.)

It's Fire

Yesterday I was in a market on the Main Line in Bryn Mawr when a teenage boy on his cell phone walked past me, stopped his conversation and said, "Your hair looks great. It's fire." A child paid me a compliment and frankly, it doesn't get better than that. 

The Onion - Veggie Posts

Few things in this miserable world of ours can make me laugh like reading old Onion posts off Instagram. Good gravy, they are a dang riot. These two still make me LOL for real.

Helen in Leeds

This spectacular photo by Helen was published to her Insta page on 27 November 2019 with the note "Tree with fairy lights, or festive Stranger Things monster? 🧐 rainy days in Leeds followed by cosy evenings with mulled apple cider 🧡" 

28 - The Library

The Library

We almost destroyed our brand new library. The architect did a fine job but we thought the top was rather plain. We wanted something majestic. The architect suggested a dome or a clock, perhaps a turret or a steeple or a crown. We said yes to all of these ideas and suggested adding a screen that displayed the temperature and a lighthouse so everyone could find our library from all directions. We also asked for a statue of a lion because we thought it would look wise and grand. The architect sighed. When he was finished, we gathered beneath the sweeping beam of a lighthouse on a 52-degree afternoon and oohed and aahed at our library. Then it began to wobble. Our library would have collapsed if we had not used all of its books to build columns to support the weight of our beautiful rooftop.

The grand gesture often threatens to destroy our endeavors. Do not allow your desires to threaten your well-being. The center of gravity is always in the middle.

Waits Brilliance

(Someone said that this is a paraphrasing of Ezra Pounds.)

We Heart MASH

26 November 2019

Jackson in Ohio!

This week Jackson and his parents were in Ohio on a little vacay and he kept me up on all their adventures. The main reason for the journey was to see Foo Fighters (yawn) and visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (double yawn).

Molly at The Eras Tour

On November 3rd 2024 Molly posted that she got to see Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour in Indianapolis. I was only peripherally aware of the tour at that point, but seeing the photos she posted on Instagram left me with my mouth open at the sheer size of the audience. 

Bring On Fall!!!

I genuinely NEED Krispy Kreme to get it together and start churning out some vegan doughnuts. These look super-crazy yummy, especially the Café Mocha.

Beyond Inviting

(photo kidnapped from IG account bugungunlerdenkitap - terrible handle. I have no idea how I found them, but I loved their account.)

Texting with Emily

Emily and I are both super sentimental and nearly every conversation we have goes back to the past. Especially about when she and Peter lived with us for a while, all the gatherings and holidays we would have, about my Dad and of course, our beloved Nana. In September of 2019 I sent her a slew of photos that I thought she'd like and we got to reminiscing. 

Violence Is Sometimes The Answer

RIP Sony Trinitron

I do not like to part with things. I can find a sentimental attachment to damn near anything. I also feel immense guilt when I get rid of something. I'm still that five year old that worries about leaving her stuffed pals alone on a long vacation, or having to throw out sneakers that I've outgrown and fearing that they think I don't love them anymore. The rational, adult side of me knows that sneakers and stuffed animals have no soul, no pulse, and no feelings. Still, I feel awful, physically awful, when I have to let something go. My brother, Dave, has been near begging me for the last five-plus years to please get rid of my old-ass television and upgrade to something bigger and better. I resisted. The Trinitron was my first grown up TV and has worked perfectly for the last twenty-six years. Why should I trade it for something new when it still has so much life left in it? Well, I finally gave in yesterday. Momma Rose had bought Aunt Berne a new TV for her place earlier this year and after Berne passed away last month, Mum needed to re-house it. I felt like the universe was nudging me to take advantage. Throwing out my Trinitron has left me with a lot of guilt and as Dave took it out, I said to it, in my head, "I'm so sorry. You deserve better." I mean how pathetic that a fifty year old is upset and near tears that she has to retire a television set? But, weirdo that I am, I took the opportunity to get a couple selfies with it and one of our fave shows to watch together. Twenty-six years was a good run. Rest in peace, old pal.