the kindness of strangers

So there we were - my husband, daughter and me (and the dog) - shoveling the GRAVEL driveway of over a foot of snow AGAIN. Just when we thought we would never get to the end a fellow appeared with a snowblower. He explained that he was on his way to help an elderly friend but, when he saw us toiling away, he thought he would lend a hand. Five minutes later he left and what a difference it made. Just when you least expect it...

how much snow did we get this time?



so much!



wellness wednesday

This is a term I borrowed from a dear friend, Constance. She has pilates and tennis every Wednesday - a full morning of exercise. I am not as active but my Wednesdays are also well - either yoga or book group followed by bridge group: a healthy mind in a healthy body. Yoga is the Iyengar kind: it's formal and structured and it provides a mental and physical focus. Book group meets approx. once a month: it's informal but informative. I am delighted by bridge having played with the same group most Wednesdays since my older daughter was three years old (she's now 20). There are five of us, all mothers in town: we play bridge, have lunch and talk. It's a good day.

clearing out cabinets

I would never have thought that emptying out a kitchen cabinet, assesing the contents, swabbing it down and replacing items would be "a favorite thing". BUT that's what I did today (after plans to go into the city were derailed by another round of snow showers) and it feels great! Thinking about what I should tackle next... The fact that I got a workout shoveling the driveway by myself again (no gym for me today, thankfully) helps too.

the playoffs

Having not grown up in the US it has taken me a while to get the appeal of American football. I was hoping the Jets would prevail last night but it was not to be. However, big B.J. Raji's touchdown was a treat: all 300 (and more) pounds of him running into the endzone holding the football like a hot potato! Definitely a touchdown to be remembered.

snow

It snowed last night - a few inches of fresh, fluffy sparkly flakes. The snow sticks on the branches of the evergreens so that they look like different types of trees. I love the way the holly bush looks in its winter splendor.

a project

Welcome to my blog. I've been inspired by others - blogs by people I know, as well as by strangers. I plan to share simple pleasures and "a few of my favorite things" and I hope that you enjoy the posts and pleasures as much as I do. What better than to start with a photo of a few perfect roses? My mother had a glorious rose garden in our family home in Johannesburg, South Africa - she got so much joy from each individual bloom. 



"Marmalade Skies" Rockefeller Rose Garden