More Painted Ladies

More...

And just a few more....

I had forgotten just -how- much I love these houses.
I know they are all over the country but they make me think of
New England most often.

A new day is dawning

Hope Happens

Hope is what happens when you first see a light

Just a distant, small star in the darkest of night.

Hope is what happens with the first buds of spring

When dawn touches the sky or a bird spreads it's wings.

Hope is what happens when a wound starts to heal.

Whether skin deep or soul deep, you begin to feel real.

Hope is what happens when you're poor but not broken

There's a goldmine of dreams-just not yet awoken.

Hope is what happens when someone is kind

A feeling not lost-just misplaced in your mind.

Hope is what happens when war turns to peace

After everyone prayed that the fighting would cease.

Hope is what happens with the smell of fresh rain

When your long drought of dreams is renewed yet again.

Hope is what happens when clouds finally clear

Troubled thunder falls silent-courageous whispers you hear.

Hope is what happens when your heart skips a beat

And, so least expected, a soul mate you meet.

Hope is what happens when fresh bread is baking

And what hungers your heart, will one day stop aching.

Hope is what happens when kindling ignites

You rediscover your passion that burns day and night.

Hope is what happens when the pain eases a bit

And deep down inside, you find your true grit.

Hope is what happens as long as we breathe

For although it takes time, the sorrow will leave.

Hope is what happens long after the pain

Hope is what happens-again and again.

~Catherine DeVrye~

My little ladies in their fur coats...

Lily and Iris are the other two flowers who make up the Flower Girls. And although Iris has "helped" with some of my previous posts, this is their first blog debut...

This is Lily on her chaise lounge which was actually bought for Mr. Bonomo to use as a kitten bed. Yeah, dumb but I couldn't help myself when I saw it! (Kittens and puppies can make a person do and buy -very- nutty things!) He was about Lily's size when he finally found it and curled up for a nap. Lily does not like cameras much so of course she tried to turn her back on it as soon as it was spotted.

The face of Iris! She loves the camera and will pose, roll around and talk while doing so. This is a picture I took to enter her into a "best cat face" contest in our local newspaper. I forgot to enter her but I still think she gives good face!

As I mentioned, she loves to talk to the camera!

And this one is for Miss Zola who is making her blog debut at http://parisapartment.wordpress.com/

PSA: When I adopted Iris she was almost 7 pounds over weight. Her humans were both Dr.s, one a pediatrician! They thought nothing of it. It has taken almost a year and a half to get her back to a healthy weight. There is nothing funny about a fat cat and I promise you, it will bring on lots of vet bills and an early parting so please be kind to your kitties by feeding them lots of dry food and only an occasional tasty treat.

Painted Ladies

When the words painted and lady are put together one could be speaking of a fallen woman, a lovely flower, a beautiful butterfly or in this case a Victorian home all dressed up in color. I can imagine myself living in all kinds of homes, castles, cottages, (did I mention castles?) but to walk up the front walk to one of these beauties and know that it is mine? That I could curl up in a wicker rocker, cat on lap, coffee on the table, reading my latest best book on her front porch or gaze around my gardens at the other painted ladies (that would be the flower and butterfly kind, not the fallen one)? Well, there would be no words. I have found a way to create my own painted lady on a much smaller budget...

...a pink Victorian bed! It's called a porch bed so it would serve as the house and the porch all rolled up in one! I know the sugar plums would dance and the dreams would be sweet in a grand bed like this!

Bonomo's Turkish Taffy

One of my fondest childhood memories is going with my mother to William's Market in North Branch, NJ. to buy candy at the candy counter. The best of all the best candies, and there were a lot of bests, was Bonomo's Turkish Taffy. It came in three flavors, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. I wasn't a big fan of the strawberry flavor but in a pinch, it was just fine! Turkish Taffy wasn't Turkish at all. Although though the creator had Turkish roots, the candy itself was born in a Coney Island, NY. candy factory and the name was all about marketing. This taffy was not gooey or sticky but was rock hard and would last forever. It was necessary to give the candy a good smack on a hard surface to break it into little bite size pieces and then the goodness that was Bonomo'sTurkish Taffy would begin. With careful conservation, one bar could last all day. Well, I suppose it could but I don't ever remember one lasting that long! A few posts ago I wrote about Mr. Bonomo, my first Turkish Van mix kitty. When I found out there was something Turkish about him, well, what else could I name him? Occasionally, I will look around the web to see if someone else out there has decided to make the candy again or if someone thinks what they are making is similar. The closest seems to be French Chew Taffy but I have to say, it's in the ballpark but not a home run. I think it's time to send letters/emails and demand a childhood memory to be put back into production. And sold on the West Coast.

"Bonomo's Turkish Taffy changed hands a few times, in 1980 becoming part of Tootsie Roll Industries of Chicago, which stopped making the candy in 1989. Ellen Gordon, president of Tootsie Roll Industries, said that the company phased out the product when demand declined as tastes changed. "

I want to know who tastes changed? I bet Ellen has an email address....

My virtual Birthday trip

My new friends at Giraffe Manor are beauties....

...if not a bit nosey.

See? No mosquito nets!

I have no desire to go to Africa, the rain forests in South America or even Australia for that matter. I'm sure they are very lovely places to visit but during this life time I will pass on gracing those places with my presence. Why? Two words: bugs and snakes. Yep, that's enough to keep me away from many continents. I read about these far away places and somewhere in all of that travel literature is says "most snakes anywhere in the ENTIRE world", "must sleep under mosquito netting because the bugs are big enough to CARRY you off in your sleep", "pack your heavy duty hiking boots so (cobras, anacondas, snakes I have never heard of before) can't bite your ankles as you travel deep into..." You get the picture. Frankly, short of my own bedroom, where it is nothing more than a fabulous accent, I wouldn't sleep -anywhere- where I would need mosquito netting for protection and back in the day, hiking boots were, again, a fabulous fashion accessory but not meant for protection. That being said, I have decided to take a trip to Africa and the best part is? There will be no airport security, no jet lag , no bag of four peanuts and most importantly, no snakes or bugs! What will be there? Animals, and the bigger the better! I love animals and think they should all love to be touched and pet. I found a link to this wild place at Petunia Face's blog and I think it's perfect for my little birthday get away. So, I will gone be for a bit but I will return with many wonderful memories of a nightmare-free African safari! Just click on the title of this post and you can go, too. It's just amazing...