Friday Fotos....

 Last Friday....

Fun times at Fantasy Island - 

followed by pizza and fries at Panzones. 

Simply the best!!

Mums are in!!!

Wishing everyone a cooler and safe Labor Day Weekend!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Tip for a Tuesday....

Enjoy wearing makeup?

Find it difficult to purchase products that aren't screaming, 

"Look younger!"

Then check out this site.

https://www.lookfabulousforever.com/us/

I discovered this website months ago while reading through one of my British magazines, Woman & Home. The founder, Tricia Cusden, was frustrated trying to find makeup that suited her aging skin so she started her own company.

"At LFF we are not just a beauty brand, we are a movement.

A movement to celebrate mature beauty. To challenge perceptions, and to embrace the benefits of aging."

The site contains step by step video tutorials, pages on choosing the right colors for your wardrobe and product information. 

And photos of real women - not models!

Whether you are young or mature, I think you will find the information, especially the videos, at Look Fabulous Forever very useful. 

I have ordered several products but unfortunately a couple of them were not compatible with my sensitive skin.  However, I love the lipsticks and eyeshadows and would order them again.

A Monday Memory....

This little disaster was my first attempt at baking a favorite brownie recipe last week. 

As I finished stirring up the ingredients, something didn't look quite right to me, but I poured it in the pan, placed it in the hot oven and hoped for the best.  

Clearly, something was missing.

Now normally, I would feel like a failure and scrap the whole effort. But just then a memory came to mind.

Many years ago my parents' friend, "Auntie Kay" had come to our house to help celebrate an occasion for my brother. Since only parents could attend the actual event, due to large numbers of participants, my sister and I stayed home with Kay. For some reason, she decided it would be fun if we baked a cake for the celebration after. Well, the cake turned out about as good as these brownies. What shocked me was Kay's reaction. She laughed!! Can you imagine? If that had happened to my mother, she would have been very upset so to see someone find the humor in the situation was astonishing to me. 

I decided to follow her example and laugh it off. The Englishman encouraged me to try again if I felt so inclined. I did and I'm happy to report that the second batch was a success and enjoyed by all at our family lunch on Friday.

Oh - and the missing ingredient - was one cup of sugar. Silly me!!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

GUILTY.

WITSEC Lady, The Feds, Depot Demons....

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Or as a dear friend often reminds me:

 "I can't change you - 

I can only change my reaction to you."

Today - when in the outside world - 

I'm going to respond with patience and a smile.

If I look for the positive, 

I suspect that is what I'll find.

And I can choose to ignore the rest.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Anyone remember the tv series Dragnet? 

And the memorable phrase "Just the facts, ma'am." uttered by Sgt. Joe Friday in each episode?

Well, that's what you get with this news feed.

SmartHer News.

For women.

Just the facts.

No opinions.

How refreshing in this age of everyone loudly and emphatically sharing their opinion on nearly every news program and in everything in print.

Check it out.

I follow this on Facebook, Twitter and in emails.

Here's what it's about:

https://smarthernews.com/about/

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

via "Power of Positivity" on Facebook

Wednesday's Wisdom....

"As the years pass, 

I am coming more and more to understand 

that it is the common, everyday blessings 

of our common everyday lives 

for which we should be particularly grateful."

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

 including the early arrival of Autumn mums!!

Tip for a Tuesday....

I highly recommend the following...

The book

The film....now available on Netlix

If you are a Downton Abbey fan, 

these fine actors in the film will be familiar faces to you.

A Monday Memory....

I was recently perusing my Pinterest Boards and came across these on my "I remember this" board. 

Sun-in was a product that came out, I think, in the early '70's. We used to spray it on our hair and then go lay on the beach for the day. Since my hair was a dark brown, the effect was hardly like the highlights shown on the box. Ah, but that didn't deter me, did it? I usually ended up with a bit of red tinge to my hair.

My friends and I then graduated to using jolen face bleach. Yup, would pull two strips on either side of our center parted hair, anywhere from a quarter to full inch, and apply a thick coating of bleach. Oh yes - it did turn our hair white. It also made it very brittle. But we looked so cute, right? So worth all the time, money and bother.

Over the years since then I've dyed my hair at home, had daughter #3 do highlights from a kit, and had it professionally done in the salon. A year ago I finally threw in the towel. My "halo" as I came to call the white streak down the center of my hair,  would show up after only three weeks from my previous hair appointment. Enough!!  Now my hair is naturally highlighted - but with grey and white streaks on top of a shrinking base of dark brown. 

And actually, as a woman whose glorious mane is all grey shared with me last year, it really is freeing not to color it anymore. And cheaper. Waaaaay cheaper. 

Friday Fotos....

 Sleepy Basset Boy

Isn't this a peaceful scene? 

I took this photo at daughter #1's house, as I was watering her plants while she is on vacation.

This "privacy wall" is the result of some old trellis the Englishman installed for her on the outside of her deck a few years ago. She then planted several pots of ivy, which grew up at an amazing speed, and now gives her this lovely view. 

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend. 

And if you happen to have rain in your area, could you please send some down our way? 

We are in dire need of a good soaking. 

Thanks!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"If we're really honest with ourselves, 

there are probably times when we think, 

'What possible use can I be in this world? 

What need is there for somebody like me to fill?' 

That's one of the deeper mysteries. 

Then God's grace comes to us

in the form of another person 

who tells us we have been of help, 

and what a blessing that is."

Fred Rogers ~ Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers 

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Tip for a Tuesday....

Friday Fotos....

A couple of weeks ago it looked as though a large dinosaur had invaded our neighborhood as a huge crane quickly tore apart a house and shed standing derelict since Hurricane Sandy. It is a relief to have the property sold, the moldy dwelling and contents taken away.

 It was an absolute joy for me to go to the American Girl store in NYC recently with granddaughters #1 and #2. We celebrated C's 7th birthday in the cafe. I must say, the food and service were outstanding!! The girls brought two of their favorite dolls and had their hair done in the salon. And of course, several special items came home with us. I highly recommend a visit there!

Girl Power!!

We literally shouted "photo" and quickly got all my girls together as granddaughter #3 was about to run out of the room.

Three daughters.

Four granddaughters.

Dozens and dozens of blessings.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

The following is found in every issue of  "The Magnolia Journal" magazine, a product of Joanna Gaines, from "Fixer Upper" tv show on HGTV.

Worth a look....

Wednesday's Wisdom....

"Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."

~ Isak Dinesen

from Simple Abundance, July 31

Or as Son-in-law #1 says, most things we worry about are "First World Problems." 

I'm learning to put them in perspective, 

then put them out of mind.