My Humble Little Home Sweet Home

The front of my house to the left of my front door down to our garage. Notice how close it is to the road! It was built in the late 1880's when horses were still the prefer ed way to get around. I still dig up horse shoes in my garden! The old Victorian next door (double click on photo and you will see it to the left) is abandoned. I keep daydreaming of buying it and turning it into a B&B. It has a beautiful view of our town from the back. Oh my ~ my side walk certainly needs weeding!!!!

Grape's from Tino

Tino was my next door neighbor who past away several years ago. His wife Kay thankfully still lives next door. He was straight off the boat from Italy. He spoke VERY broken english and had many delightful "ways" that I loved to observe. He had a HUGE garden every year and alternated his garden bed from year to year from one side of the yard to the other. The side not used each year was covered with old carpeting. He planted all his tomato plants side ways with just the tip coming out of the soil. His seeds were from his childhood farm in Italy.He saved seeds from his plants each year. One year ~ we took our family on a fall vacation. When we came home ~ all my tomato vines were hanging from my basement pipes covered in green tomatoes! A frost had come and he didn't want to see the green tomatoes go to waste. It was a wonderful treat to come home to. I had a small grape vine growing on my front picket fence. Throughout the summer on his evening walk ~ he would often trim my vines as he walked by. Never ask ~ just trim away. My grapes were always sweet and abundant! One Christmas time ~ I was quite pregnant with my youngest daughter.Frank and I went over for a visit and he insisted I eat his homemade jared cherries. They were delicious ! I gobbled a bowl down ~ only to find myself quit tipsy! Turns out they were preserved in alcohol. Now this is a girl who didn't even drink a glass of wine when pregnant. When Tino passed away ~ I took care of my neighbors yard for a while. One day I found this tiny remnant of the grapes from his grape arbor that had been long ago torn down.I planted it in my yard and this year was blessed with grapes! They are hanging from the fence that divides our yards. If he were here ~ the ground below would be covered in bits of trimmed vines ~ and this little cluster would have been a huge bumper crop! We miss you and love you!

My Summer Garden ~ Up Close

My place of refuge is my garden. I love to work hard and long in it ~ mentally and physically. It's one of the places I hear God's voice the clearest.

Sailing off of Mystic, Ct. on Labor Day

Our Friend Howie invited Frank (dh),Franky(my son), and myself on a wonderful day of sailing off Mystic Seaport. It was a picture perfect day! For me it was also a lesson in overcoming a longstanding fear of mine.....sailing! Silly as it sounds ~ I feel now that my kids are grown I have the freedom to take risks again. If I die ~ I know they will be okay. Now come on ~ I know other Mom's must know what I mean! We went out to the spot where the water from the Atlantic enters the Long Island Sound. Suddenly the waves became a good 3 feet and boat was tipped clearly on it's side. It was GLORIOUS! I wasn't scared! YIPPEE! Of course Howie is the guy you would want to be at the helm! He started sailing with his grandfather at a young age and has vast knowledge on sailing. His grandfather happens to be Hervy Garrett Smith who wrote many highly acclaimed books on boats. His book "Marlin Spike Sailor" is a must have for all sailors. Thank you Howie for a WONDERFUL day !!!

The calories consumed drinking this are all Pat's fault! Her latest post left me high tailing it to Friendlys for this icy cold orange drink.

Teddi and Jake get a new sofa & loveseat!

At our house ~ it's all about the dogs! Ted and Jake LOVE their new sofas! They are willing to share with us from time to time. Jake loves the view from the window ~ looking for a stray cat walking by that he can bark at.

Gatherings: Open request for all,"Giving with your heart ,made from your hands"#links#links

Gatherings: Open request for all,"Giving with your heart ,made from your hands"

Dolls for abused woman

Would you like to use your creative talents to make someone smile? Please go to Pat Winters blog for details http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/ Look for the entry for Sat. June 23, 2007.

Kitchen Redo ALMOST done.....but not quite!

Oh my! I would have never thought when I started this "little" project in Jan. that it STILL would not be done at Junes end! I still have some grouting. painting, and decorating but am ever so thankful to be cooking and having my morning tea again! How do you like the school house lights? I replaced all my recessed lights with those and just LOVE them!I also love the pantry and cook book nook ~ which is recessed in the wall studs. I highly recommend going a little overboard with the cabinet lighting! I don't use them everyday but when guest come ~ it is such a wonderful touch and makes the kitchen a bright cheerful place to be!

My Beautiful Ashley & Ryan

My Precious Ashley before going to her senior prom.