Home Sweet Home in Philly

Our last week on the road before heading home and my eyes are brimming with tears imagining how nice it will be to snuggle with Blue tucked tightly in our own bed, with our own pillows, with window that face the morning rays of the sun. Coffee brewing in our own pot, bacon sizzling in my cast iron pan, eggs so light and fluffy that they could melt on your tongue like clouds, and lemon blueberry pancakes drizzled in locally tapped maple syrup… Followed by a long walk or drive in the country or surrounding areas. Each breath we take reminding us how important it is to live simply… Yes, those are the morning I dream of when we are on the road…

But, as they say, home is where your heart is and mine was in Philly with Blue this weekend. So, yes this weekend we walked the streets hand in hand gazing at the jaw dropping architecture, the eccentricities of the city, and the subcultures of people that no doubt led lives that we could only dare to imagine. This city could so easily become my home and if I ever had to choose a place to re-write and re-create myself… this would be it. As much as I love the country and serenity of Ohio I love the chaotic and eclectic pace that all of Philadelphia seems to breathe in to those who walk her historic streets.

If this was our life, I am sure you would find Blue in I in a colorful loft apartment set in a funky borough walking distance from all we could possibly need or imagine. We would still wake up snuggled tightly in our own familiar bed, maybe to the sounds of the heat cranking though the building’s ancient radiators and hopefully to a glimpse of the morning sun. I would slip on my bight pink slippers and head to a tiny kitchen to whip up a breakfast with the exotic ingredients I found the day before in Reading Terminal Market. Coffee infused with some fresh ground spices, Omelets made with leeks, caramelized onions, exotic mushrooms, and some lightly grated cheese from a paper wrapped block I bought at Salumeria. Maybe even some juice freshly squeezed from a variety of colorful fruits I found in China Town… When finished we would walk the streets, stroll through a green space just to soak in a tiny taste of the season, maybe even venture in to a museum or exhibit on tour. Each breath we would take would energize us, remind us to create, remind us of our individuality and drive us to push the limits of our existing boundaries. There would be nothing simple about it, but yet it would still be ours…


I do not have any recent pictures to share this time. I have long quit bringing my camera to Philly except when seeking out a new site. It is the place I go when I want to view the world with the naked eye choosing to capture the experience with another type of medium. Charcoal, oil crayons, paints, multimedia, felt, yarn, wood, clay, words, and sometimes with thoughts of what if…

Below are some links of places and flavors we savored this weekend.

South Street:
http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_...treet/1173.html

Pink Rose Pastry Shop for breakfast:
http://www.pinkrosepastry.com/item.html?PRID=1230701

South Philly Jean Madeline for a cut and color. This place is locally know as the Harvard Education for hair. There is never a doubt that your stylist today will be working in a hip salon charging you $$$$$ tomorrow. I sure did leave feeling like a million bucks, was nice not having to spend it to get there.
http://jeanmadeline.com/jmi_locations.html

Dinner was at South Street Soulvaki. This was no doubt the best Greek food we have ever had. The creamy Red Roe on top of my Greek salad was a treat all by itself.
http://philly.urbansavings.com/southstreetsouvlaki.htm

No Picture or Links for Macys Center City. :-( Just know that this place is not to be missed...

Reading Terminal Market:
http://readingterminalmarket.org/about.php

Lunch at Delilah's (Southern cuisine) was too die for!
They were voted "Best Macaroni & Cheese in the country by Oprah Winfrey in 2003." I had the Barbecue Baked Chicken Wings, Candied Yams, and Greens with a side of Cornbread. Blue had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and greens with corn bread. We devoured the huge portions and decided that if we ever decide to give our hearts back to Jesus, it will be in a ghetto in the deep south in a church that has regular church suppers and women who can cook. I am not kidding... it was just that good!
http://readingterminalmarket.org/merchantView.php?id=20

Walked Past the Liberty Bell and the fairly new Independence Center:
http://www.independencevisitorcenter.com/

Spent some time strolling through Chinatown. I try never to say never, but I really doubt that I will ever try those 1000 year old preserved eggs. Still I love browsing the markets especially when I find ingredients and produce I have never seen. This time we saw a big basket of these things that could only be some type of pod. They were small, black, felt like plastic and looked like tiny replicas of the devil's horns. I do not speak Chinese, but could tell that the ladies next to me that did were just as perplexed as I was. Of course that made me even more curious...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinat...a,_Pennsylvania

Hurt

I like to journal early in the morning not long after I first wake up, when my sense of self censorship is still asleep, when my mind is full of new thoughts, ideas, perspectives, and possibilities. Opening my eyes slowly to catch a glimpse of the sun shining through my windows is my favorite way to start the day. On mornings like that I wake up practically jumping out of bed to greet the day and all that it will bring. And on mornings like today, when the sun is hidden by the clouds, I crank the stereo or turn on VH-1 or MTV to catch the morning videos. Nelly Furtado’s Video, Say it Right is blaring right now. I love her voice and it is chasing the away the clouds in my mind that the sun has yet to clear. What she missed, Christina Aguilera has found with her song, Hurt. She has really evolved as an artist and this video is as colorful and surreal to me as a Mark Ryden Painting. Her voice captures my soul and the lyrics almost always bring tears to my eyes.

Ohh I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself, ohh

If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been away
Ooh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line
To try and turn back time

How many times did I hurt like that when I chose not to forgive, but rather to hold on to my pain while it slowly tore me apart from the inside out? Was it really their fault or were their actions just the result of their own shortcomings, limitations, and ignorance? Did they try their best or did they just not know how? If it was all different would I be who I am and where I am today? Yes, to forgive and to let go is sometimes more of a gift to yourself then it is the recipient, who often is too blinded by their own ignorance to fully absorb your pain or ever acknowledge it the way you need them to. Sometimes you can walk away and cut your losses and other times you never really do find that way out, that way to let go and never miss what was or what could have been if the pieces of that broken puzzle had only been found…

Do you have any tree trimming traditions?

We will finally be home this Sunday and I really hope to head to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out a tree for Blue to chop down. Traditionally, we set up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. The Blue Spruce is our all time favorite and every year no matter how hard we try, we get the tree home only to find out that it is larger than life. By this time we are ravenous, so we feast on Thanksgiving leftovers. This year I am considering making some Pureed Carrot Ginger Soup, some baguettes, and maybe even a salad.

If you were peeking through our windows, you would see Blue arranging the lights on the tree while I help with the slack. I used to do them till the year Blue told me that if I squinted while doing it that I could see all the gaps. Well, several boxes of lights later, there was not a gap to be found, but we did have to put our tree on a few different breakers and you need sunglasses to look at it.

Our ornaments are a mix of the old and the new and there are no set rules where things should go. Honestly, I am just happy if it all fits and nothing breaks.

Christmas Music will be playing and occasionally one of use will sing along. Sometimes we will have old Christmas Movies playing on the TV. It's a Wonderful life seems to be a tree trimming tradition.

We laugh, joke, share memories, and snack on whatever desserts are left over from the big meal. By this time the liquor makes an appearance Frangelica in hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff, Kahlua in coffee if there is still much to be done, Shots of Irish Cream is we are too busy to sip, plain eggnog if we indulged to much the night prior, or ice cold toasted almonds if we are in sunny FL where the weather is hot. Somehow the alcohol just makes the night sparkle and I would dare Ebenezer Scrooge not to have a good time.

By now the lights are brighter, the music louder, and there is a good chance we are all singing. Blue and I are just too excited about Christmas and are ready to burst with our secret gifts. I can usually talk Blue into exchanging one early , especially if I am the one mixing his drinks.

This day is so much fun for us and I dare to say that it might be just as much fun as Christmas itself. I am excited about the Macy's parade and all the fun we will have, but it is really our tree trimming day that has had me checking the calendar since November 1 st.

This makes me wonder what your tree trimming traditions are.

Life Challenge #6

I think there may be too many matriarchs in my family... someone really should have had the foresight to cap that number long ago... so many fights, too much competition, and not one willing to just play fair. I had a fairly good time visiting my grandmother... tried my best to make the visit pleasant and something worth remembering... wish it were as easy as it sounds...

My big mistake, going to see my Godmother (Grandma's 86 y/o sister/arch enemy) on my way out of Long Island. I suppose that I should have chosen sides and not gone to visit my favorite aunt who is awaiting results for a biopsy that could very well prove to be cancerous...
Maybe I should have just gossiped about my Aunt Jean as my grandmother wanted and jumped on the bandwagon of women in my family that like to stir the pot as it seems to be expected maybe even required...

Yesterday my grandmother chose to pick a fight with me ruining what I could call a semi-nice visit if I try hard enough to be positive about it... Unlike the others before me, I called her on her actions and behavior ... Did the unspeakable and held her accountable for her own part in the ugliness. (GASP!) Pointed out the example she was choosing to set for the rest of us...

She backed down, the phone call ended, and I realized that as far a matriarchs go, that I was the new blood… the one that stood next in line to wear the crown and hold the reins… The thought made me cringe. I crawled into bed for the entire afternoon and I wondered just at what point the Grandma that used to give you milk, cookies, and a hug turned into the grandma that liked to play cowboys and Indians... handing you a gun and insisting on being on opposite sides.

With the words, "Your giving me a stroke!" ringing through my ears, I wondered how I could fix a negative mess that has existed long before I was born. Short of joining a convent, how could I disengage forever and never have to hear another word, vicious story, or feel the need to constantly run offense as every family member that I have ever loved is incessantly degraded in front of me?

With these thoughts in mind, I wrote my Grandma a letter and decided what challenge #6 would be...

Challenge #6:
To focus on the positive and to look for the good... to try my hardest not to engage in conversations that are focused on the past and all of our many faults and failures permanently captured with in it... To excuse myself from these conversations and situations as they do not support the life I wish to lead and the person I am choosing to be. To give myself permission to walk away, to end a phone call early, and to break the cycle... I will choose not be ugly or raise my voice, I will just gently remind my relatives where I stand, tell them I love them and that I look forward to the next time, when hopefully we can discuss better times or other topics that are more neutral...

I certainly can not expect them to change, but I can change myself and walk away from the role I have been groomed for… Become the change I wish to see…

Blue and my mom suggested that I write a letter as it is my only chance of truly being heard. Lets hope they are right…



Grandma,

I am really glad that you enjoyed the photo albums. I really enjoyed looking at your wedding album with you. I also really enjoyed going through your cookbook with you as well. I have so many wonderful memories spent in you home, especially your kitchen. From the time I was still small enough to take a bath in your kitchen sink with the Ivory dish soap (the smell of that soap still to this day brings back a flood of warm memories), making cookies in your kitchen, many family dinners, and the first thoughts I had ever given to meal preparations and menus. My love for cooking truly began with you. You always knew how to make that learning process so much fun for me. It is also because of you that I learned to love books, the library, and the adventures you could embark on just by picking up a book. So many wonderful memories...

I also am thankful for all of the holidays we were able to share... The excitement of waiting for you and Grandpa to come over Christmas day... Grandpa pulling me on a sled down a street completely covered in snow, all those trips to the duck pond and the park. Growing up, I never doubted that I really did have the best Grandparents in the whole world.

I remember shopping with you, mom, Aunt Jean and Michael... The visits you and Aunt Jean used to make together and how wonderful I thought it was to be able to get to see both of you at the same time. I may have been a little girl, but even then I knew how special it was to have lots of people around you that loved you and lots of people to love in return. I also remember one of the few times that Aunt Jerry and Uncle Joe came to our home along with everyone else for Christmas. All that love made me feel like I was one of the luckiest little girls in the world. I have always wished that there were more times like it...

I remember Uncle Joe picking inedible berries in the back yard with me just for fun, Uncle Eddie singing me the funniest songs, and Grandpa helping me clean my room so I wouldn't get in trouble. Very few memories of Uncle Richard, but our few visits to their home gave me a glimpse of a better life, one very different then my own at the time and one worth striving for. For that I am thankful, because through it, I learned that it was important to work hard to reach your goals, that the sky really was the limit…

My parents had their troubles, but still I love them very much too and share many wonderful memories with them as well. Dancing to disco music in the living room with mom, how hard she worked to always make the holidays special for us no matter what, the way that she always encouraged me to be myself, and all the times that she let me "mess" up the kitchen as I learned how to cook or bake. I remember singing in the car with my dad everywhere that we went, and how much fun we had when he taught me how to ride my bike. I also remember how good he was at listening to me when I thought I was wronged, and he taught me that you could never be too big or grown up to not have to apologize for the wrong you had done, the mistake you had made, or the mess you had caused.

Of course, there are the bad memories too, because of everyone listed above, none were perfect and they all made their mistakes. Even from this, I learned that life goes on, that when you fail, you try again, and no matter how bad the fight, you can always find a way to forgive and patch things up even if you know that the peace may not last forever... I also learned that even when it seemed as if the whole world fell apart that there will no doubt always be better times ahead to look forward to. In your own ways, all of you taught me all I know about the world and helped shape me into the person that I am today. I feel very blessed for the time spent with all of you and there is not one in the bunch that I do not love, admire, and respect for the part they played in my life.

In all honesty, it is the good things that I like to talk about... the kinds of memories that I like to remember and it is the times that we spend rekindling that good that I truly enjoy the most. Yes, there were the bad memories, but life is short, and there is no way to go back and change what was or what could have been... As far as I can see, those negative thoughts and memories add nothing positive to the present and do nothing to benefit my life or the lives of those around me.



Life is short, and in my opinion, it is not and could never begin to give us enough time... I just want to make the best of that time whatever it is and whatever it may bring... So, after much thought today I have decided that the change that I want to see has to begin with me... That change is nothing Earth shattering, just a small decision, just a slight change, but one that will no doubt leave an impact on my life... and I can only hope that maybe one day in my life time, that change will cause ripples through the whole pond. But, there is no doubt in my mind that it has to begin with me…



So, from this day forward I am making a very personal choice to focus on the positive and to look for the good... to try my hardest not to engage in conversations that are focused on the past and all of our many faults and failures permanently captured with in it... I will be always available, always willing, and very eager to chat about the better times no matter the day or time. Yes the past is there, but that is where I am choosing to leave it… Of course there are always other things up for discussion. Our world is a very fast moving, complicated, and wondrous place… so much to learn… and still so much to discover… so many ideas yet to discuss…



I am sure that this will not be easy and I have no doubt that there may be times that I fail. But I am going to try my hardest and I hope that you will respect my attempt to change something within myself, that I do not like and that as always you will be supportive in helping me achieve my goals.



I love you more than I could ever express in one lifetime and I am thankful for the role you have played in my life.



Love always,

Mini Goal/Challenge #5 1/2

I tried so hard to be a good girl, to slow down and not add anymore new goals this week... Just focus on the ones I already started...

On Sunday weigh in, I did lose 1/2 a lb and 3/4 of an inch but, we are now on the road again and traveling just seems to throw me off. I kind of feel bloated and sluggish right now and not so good about the way my clothes fit... Must be all that good food up here.

Also, I am a celebratory eater. I will eat more when we are celebrating something or I feel like we are on an adventure... Being on the road like this sabotages me time and time again and what do you do when you start to celebrate everyday for it's own ups and downs...? This is where I am at right now and I just do not want to lose my momentum this time. Worked to hard to lose focus now...
Yes, I know I am hard on myself...

I can expect that when we get to LI, there will be Pizza, Italian bakeries, and Cannoli's, bagels, and all of my favorite foods... Plus we will be heading out to Riverhead, where my Polish Great Grandparents had a farm... already have picked out a really good Polish restaurant...

To be honest, I want to have my cake and eat it too! I do not think I can conquer celebratory eating in a weekend, but I really don't want to pig out and eat till I have to secretly undo the button on my jeans at the dinner table...

My main focus all along has been to bring more balance into my life, so this morning I made a decision to intervene and give myself just a small goal to focus on. Something I know I can handle...

So, my goal is this... to eat what I like, but to savor each bite and eat a little less then I usually would...

__________________

South Philly/Election Day 2006

Yesterday Blue was off for Election Day, so we ventured into South Philly for the day. I feel like a traitor to NY (my birthplace) but, I have to admit, Philadelphia is by far my favorite city. The architecture here is amazing and we are always captivated by the rich history, melting pot of cultures, and all of the flavors this city has to offer. One thing is for sure, they do not call Philadelphia the restaurant city for nothing. The food here is incredible no matter where you go! Don’t even consider coming here on a diet…

South Philly is known for its Italian Market district and no trip would be complete for us with out a stop here. We love walking the strip and absorbing the sites and sounds… the butcher, the baker, the produce markets, the fresh fish staring up at you from their chilly bed of ice. Walk through the doors of Di Bruno Bros. house of cheese and you will swear that you could literally taste the air. Blue and I bought several boxes of imported Porcini Mushroom Bullion, some Dry Sanbitter , an old world loaf of bread, some chestnut honey, and an assortment of olives and antipasti which we are saving for tonight’s dinner.

After the market, we drove down to Tony Luke's eager to try his Italian Philly cheese steaks. Blue and I never really understood the hype surrounding cheese steaks. They were good and we tried all of the most popular places in South Philly Pat’s, Geno’s etc... But, in all honesty, we thought they all seemed kind of bland and unimaginative.

That was until Tony Luke’s. I had recently seen Tony Luke do a thrown down with Bobby Flay on Food Network. Bobby Flay came prepared with a wide array of gourmet ingredients brilliantly combined to make a cheese steak that could no doubt put most places out of business. However, Tony Luke competed with his Italian… A fresh in house made crusty roll, sharp provolone cheese, sauteed broccoli rabe , and thinly slivered steak. Surprisingly to me, Tony Luke won the throw down by a landslide! Curious, Blue and I decided to see for ourselves…

Arriving at Tony Luke’s the line was already out the door… the smell of their food wafting out the building like a life force of its own. Blue and eagerly got in line and pondered the menu. Meatballs bigger and better than your mother used to make, burgers, an assortment of cheese steaks, fries, all kinds of yummy sides, and things guaranteed to make you leave one size larger than you already were… We decided to both get the Italian cheese steaks, fries, and some drinks. Waiting for our food was a form of torture, not because service was slow, but because it all just looked incredible! A few minutes and one bite later… we were hooked… Each bite revealed a complex dynamics of flavors. Tony Luke no doubt uses the best ingredients he can get his hands on and it shows. The combination of all of them was simply indescribable… Definitely worth the hype and we look forward to returning again and again!

Completely full and satiated, we decided to walk South Street and make our way to some of the mosaic buildings we always seem to pass, yet have never found the time to explore…
In all honesty, I am utterly speechless when it comes to describing what we now know is Philadelphia’s Secret Garden. Isaiah Zagar , the artist that created this installation, is no doubt a genius and we greatly admired his vision and creativity. Since being there yesterday I am having fantasies of breaking things around the house only to mortar them back together in a creation of my own… God help us when we finally buy our forever home… I am already having visions of garden installations I would like create with Blue… We certainly now have a greater sense of respect for all things that are broken…

Here are the images of our day:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandb...ElectionDay2006

Uwchlan, PA

We have been traveling to West Chester, PA for Blue’s job for at least 3 years now. We have seen many seasons here come and go, but I have to admit, this year has been an amazing year for fall leaves here in this corner of the state. Monday morning we woke up to a gold, burnt umber, sienna, and crimson colored world. Not even the grey clouds that drifted overhead could suppress the brilliant display of color lighting the sky like a fiery torch.

These are just a few images I was able to capture right behind our hotel. We have laid our heads to rest here many times, yet never knew the treasures that lie waiting for us just beyond or window. As the sun set, we trekked through the back of the hotel’s property into an all encompassing autumn stain glass scene.

Here are the images of what we found:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandblue2/UwchlanPA

History of Uwchlan, PA:
http://www.uwchlan.com/history.htm

Busy Fall Weekend

It is only Wednesday, but it feels as though Blue and I have lived a hundred different lives in the past 7 days. Around this time last week I was shopping in the quaint town of Mason, Michigan while Blue was working. The snow was falling hard and fast making me feel as though for just a moment in time, that my life existed in a snow globe.

In a modern 5 & 10 store, I found the most adorable vintage looking snowman. I could not resist buying him and he quickly set the theme for my kitchen and dining room this year. I had the best time in Mason’s antique district searching for vintage ornaments and other ephemera to complete the vintage holiday look I had envisioned…

This past weekend was busier than normal as we prepared to head out of town for 3 weeks. Spur of the moment; I decided to decorate my kitchen and dining room for the holidays. I just could not leave that snowman sitting wrapped and tucked away in a dark and gloomy shopping bag for long. We will also be gone until after Thanksgiving, so I thought it might be nice to come home to a little bit of a head start on our own merry little Christmas. This is the earliest I have ever decorated and it is normally something I would not even consider, but I am glad I did. Between decorating, packing, and baking a batch of an old family recipe for honey cookies, I was exhausted, but in a good way. I was the kind of exhaustion that brings you the sweetest and most glittery dreams as your head hits the pillow easily finding sleep at night.

On Sunday, Blue and I drove to Pittsburgh to spend time with a good friend “M”while on our way to West Chester, PA. So much has changed since the last time we saw her in the beginning of summer. M has moved from Morgantown, WV to the Outer Banks, to Charleston, SC where she was practically homeless for 3 weeks, to Parkersburg, WV to re-group, and then on to Pittsburgh.

I am not sure I have ever encountered someone quite as fun or free spirited. M, is so young, yet such an old soul, and truly bohemian at heart. I still can not believe she is not yet 21. Reminds me of myself and Blue at that age, only we were just a little less adventurous... Blue kept us grounded…

After a wild whirlwind of a summer, M has settled down to her very first apartment and real job. Blue and I feel so proud of her; she has come so far... still a wild child at heart... but strong now that she is holding/anchoring her own kite string. No longer running from everything including herself... It seems along the way she learned how to pair down and get rid of her extra baggage both tangible and that which she had carried within...

I want and wish the best for her... Wish I had my charcoals and sketch pad. I would like to sketch her as a sea turtle for Christmas... So many more years to go… yet already weathered and wise from the moons many cycles...

Glad we were able to splurge on her a bit… was never done for us at that age, but it made us feel really good to be the people we wished we would have had back then...
So many back home, believe she may fail, little do they know their cruelty will be one of her greatest drives. She doesn't see it yet, but we do... and know from experience that it can be nice to be the butterfly flying above those down below eating crow sometimes.

Pictures from the weekend:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandblue2/BusyFallWeekend

Daylight Savings Weekend

Last week was a whirlwind of activity for me that carried right over into the weekend. Roy flew home from Atlanta and I picked him up Friday early evening. It was our last full weekend home before being on the road for several weeks, so there was a sense of urgency to enjoy the tail end of the Fall leaves, our 2 short days of Indian summer, spend time with the family, and pack once again for almost a whole month on the road.

Looking back, I believe my weekend was as packed as my luggage is now. Bursting to the type of excess where you really are not to sure of the details in retrospect… But, it is all good and I think that is what matters most. I worked on a Christmas concept for my dining room. I have just been bedazzled with all of the glittery retro silver, red, green, and white ornaments this year and plan to incorporate that look into my kitchen and dining room. I found a box of retro red, silver, and white glass blown ornaments in an antique shop and they are proving to be the foundation of my dream design. I even was ambitious enough to buy some red glittery felt to get this… make my own table runner. Will be interesting as I have no idea how to sew… I bought some components to make a wreath for my kitchen and I can not wait to get home, so I can start on some of these projects.

Blue and I made homemade caramel corn and mulled some cider. Saturday night was spent with the two of us playing cards, munching away in utter bliss. Blue taught me how to play poker and it seems I am a natural. I beat him several times… could just sense what his cards were… He never did figure out when I was bluffing… LOL Big surprise, he has a hard enough time figuring me out in real life, have no idea why he thought poker would be easier. But, don’t you know he is a glutton for punishment and I believe the man likes it when I keep him guessing… always a new surprise and no reason to be bored.

Sunday morning we invited Blue’s Dad and brother join me, Blue, and my brother for brunch. I kept the menu simple as the guys would have just bugged out a bit if there were flavors they could not identify and titles they couldn’t pronounce. No frittatas, Soufflés, Crepes, or Brulees for these boys. As it was, they thought I had simply out done myself with Hot Coffee/Pumpkin Spice Creamer, Mulled Cider, Bisquick Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, and the good old Bisquick Sausage Cheese Balls. Men are so easy to please… Add a good game of Poker after breakfast and I think Blue’s family would disown him if he ever considered leaving /divorcing/or cheating, not that it is even in Blue’s nature. But, I think I have insured my title of Queen Bee till the next time.

After Blue’s family left, we went for a walk and gathered some of the abundance of pinecones that seem to be everywhere this fall. The trees are loaded with them and all though I have no plans in mind; I could not resist picking up 2 huge shopping bags full to the point of bursting.

Blue and I also took a drive to Newark's Earthworks . “The Newark Earthworks were the largest set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world. Built by prehistoric Hopewell people between 100 BC and AD 500, this architectural wonder of ancient America was part cathedral, part cemetery, and part astronomical observatory.” We took a million pictures throughout this ancient Lunar Observatory and walked the grounds marveling over the complexity of such a project. It was a great end to the weekend and I was thrilled to have been able to catch a pic of the perfect ghost moon, in my last shot. It was the perfect ending to such a wonderful Daylight savings weekend, our last full weekend home.

The weekend in picture:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandb...806378997743634