wine in the afternoon....

I taught soapmaking in the late 90s through the continuing education program in my school district. It was delightful to teach adults and I met wonderful people who took to the art of saponification like a ducks to water.

Victoria was one of my students. She went to live in Paris 8 years ago, and I haven't seen her since Sarah and I were in Paris in 2005. She has returned to the states and we had some leisurely time to catch up and have lunch yesterday.

She is now working as a LMT, but coming from 8 years in France, I knew I needed help choosing the best wine for lunch. I called ahead to the wine store and asked for recommendations before sending Pentti off to make the purchase.

So...2 bottles of Greek wine, Greek salad, and grilled sausage...and interesting conversation and a lovely day was complete.

Greetings from Sunny Florida

We came from Houston,Texas; Southampton, New York and from my own Mohegan Lake to visit my friend Lorraine in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.

We taught together before we all retired in 2002.

It's sunny but not WARM......we've had a great time laughing and catching up.

Home today to the remnants of the big SNOW!

Dinner for 2

No Kidding. This was meatloaf for 2. Since we're eating pastured meat, portions have become much smaller. Don't we just eat too much meat anyway?

I'm off to FL tomorrow to visit with friends.

Not sure if I'm taking my computer.

Au revoir.

from sun to snow

Here I am today in a snow storm that will probably nix my plans to go upstate to Rochester for an annual New Years Day get-together with my cousins....damn!

We planned to spend New Year's eve at my favorite hotel, then go to the family gathering tomorrow. Another night at the Rennaissance...then home on Saturday. Oh well.


I've been a lax blogger because I just came back from 4 days in Las Vegas with two friends. I took my computer, but the internet access in the hotel was not the best....

We stayed at the Luxor and I had the view below of the 'pyramid' from my room. Our rooms were in the 'west tower'.
Here are Barbara and Judy in front of New York, New York. We had a great time and it was wonderful to get away from soap for awhile!

We had great food, fun gambling, and also took in The Beatles™ LOVE™ by Cirque du Soleil® It was amazing!!

Las Vegas is such an 'over the top' place. Where else can you find a factory like this?

Fall colors and friends

Big batches of soap went down this weekend so that I could have a couple of days off to spend with friends who are visiting from San Francisco.

Joan and David arrived Sunday night and it is really good to spend time with them again. Haven't seen them in over a year!

Dinner out on Monday and Tuesday Joan and I will have lunch with our librarian cohort from Southampton. The three of us worked together for years and now that we're all retired...we are many miles apart and seldom get together.

This weather is gorgeous and Joan is enjoying our lovely fall colors! A short but sweet visit!

Celebrate Dad

Spend time with your dad if you can.

Mine was patient, kind, and wise.
Always there to help a neighbor, lend a hand.
Spoiled my children, let them eat sugared cereal.
Was frugal and funny.
Could make anything grow.

11 years .....and I still miss him.

Here's something for those of you old enough to remember family sitcoms:



Wow! Shelley Fabares, Carl Betz, Paul Petersen and of course, Donna Reed!

Happy Father's Day!