A Day In The Life

01/25/2015
DailyMusings

Sunday Stroll

Today the weather was warm enough to melt the ice on the sidewalks, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. I took full advantage of it with the news of a major snowstorm heading this way. Join me on my stroll through the park, starting here by the lake

I look up as I go as you never know who you may see just hanging out. I almost passed this bird he blended in with the branches he was sitting among.

Here I saw a nestA tree with berries and one with leaves that never let go back in the fall I spotted some colors through the bare trees- a garage someone had painted-a burst of color in otherwise drab surroundings A lovely afternoon saying hello to people as they passed, while also enjoying the quiet and beauty of nature

01/25/2015
DailyMusings

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If We Were Having Coffee

Well hello again- the view out the garden window is a little different from last week as we had six inches of snow fall yesterday.

If we were having coffee I would tell you this is my last day of winter break from school. I had a wonderful week off, starting off with driving out to the”country” to spend the day with my BFF. Actually we didn’t do very “country” type things, we went shopping to take advantage of the winter sales. Then of course we drank a few cups of coffee and caught up.

I went into NYC one day and visited The Morgan Library and wrote about it here. It was amazing!

Selfie with the Empire State Building

The rest of the week I enjoyed not having any set schedule and met friends for coffee and catch up in the middle of the day which really made it feel like vacation.

Then my nephew(actually my great nephew) came to spend the day with us which was a lot of fun. Games of Connect 4, Checkers and Bananagrams, just hanging out which was a welcome change for him as he has four siblings. A little piano time too.

There was snow on Saturday totaling about six inches which meant breaking out the shovels for only the second time this winter. They will remain standing in the front vestibule waiting to be used as apparently some giant storm is supposed to pay a visit Monday night and Tuesday. They are predicting 14 or more inches. Well it looks like a snow day off from school might be in my future!

I hope wherever you are this week you are safe and warm (or cool if it’s summer!) until next week when we can sit down and share a cup again!

01/25/2015
DailyMusings

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Bench Challenge-In The Garden

Jude, the author of Travel Words says,

For the month of January let’s see your Garden Benches

This bench is overlooking the Hudson River at Wave Hill Gardens in Riverdale, New York. The lattice across the top allows just the right amount of sun and shade to filter through.

01/21/2015
DailyMusings

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Cee’s Share Your World

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

Truthfully I would like my mother in law to come back from the dead for a visit. There were a few things I still wanted to ask her before she died that I never asked. There are things I am more aware of now than I was 18 years ago, and would like to talk about them. My husband had the same reaction when I posed the share your world question to him. His included his father with his mother, as his father died when he was only 10. He wanted to be able to sit down with them both for dinner as an adult.

When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

I sing in the car all the time, and today was no exception. I drove an hour to visit my BFF and sang along with the radio most of the way. Especially when Meatloaf’s You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth came on. Reminded me of a time long ago and the friends from then, two of whom would always sing along with the song out loud. I sing to my husband all the time. Real songs, made up songs. He’ll say a word that will remind me of a line from a song and I’ll break out into it. He does it to me too.

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Patience.

What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

Illness. Being hurt physically. Unless the person afflicted makes a joke. When I broke my elbow and people tried to find humor in it, to me it was no laughing matter. I remember thinking how insensitive they were. It does not help to ease the pain, does not change what happened or help in any way. I injured myself in Whole Foods, tripping over someone and crashing down on my elbow. A friend said to me thinking it was funny, with a lilt in her voice, “that’s what you get for trying to be so healthy- next time you won’t go to Whole Foods, you should have been in Dunkin Donuts maybe it wouldn’t have happened.” Not really so helpful. The same with someone who has an illness. If that person wants to kid about it, okay, but there is nothing funny about Cancer or other illnesses and no one has the right to make light of it or joke about it in my opinion.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Grateful it is almost the end of January and there has been no major snow so far! This week I have been on winter break from school and am happy to have spent a day in the country and a day in the city and a day at the Mall!

Cee’s Which Way Challenge

01/21/2015

01/21/2015
DailyMusings

10 comments

Visiting The Pierpont Morgan Library

I had a wonderful day in New York City yesterday, visiting the Morgan Library with my sister. It started when the NYC skyline came into view on the helix approach to the Lincoln Tunnel.

The Freedom Tower in the distance

It was cold but I walked across town taking in the sights on my way.

Selfie with the Empire State Building

Upon entering the Museum I was greeted by American artist Spencer Finch’s installation called A Certain Slant of Light. He used the four-story, glass-enclosed area to apply films of color to the windows and hang additional glass panes in the center of the Court to create a kind of calendar based on the movement of the sun. You can read about it here.

Then through the Rotunda, a vaulted entrance foyer.The decorations on the blue and white stucco ceiling of the Rotunda’s apse are a tribute to Raphael. Its height staggering, filled with variegated marble surfaces and columns, and mosaic panels.

The Library, is breathtaking- it was built between 1902 and 1906 and just recently updated with lighting that showcases the beauty of the room. The walls, reaching to a height of thirty feet, are lined floor to ceiling with triple tiers of bookcases fashioned of bronze and inlaid walnut. Two staircases, concealed behind bookcases at the corners of the room, provide access to the balconies above.

The Triumph of Avarice is a 6th-century tapestry with a moralizing Latin inscription that translates, “As Tantalus is ever thirsty in the midst of water, so is the miser always desirous of riches.” The tapestry belongs to a series depicting the Seven Deadly Sins, designed by Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502–50) It hangs above the massive fireplace.

It was then back out into the cold and a short walk uptown for lunch!

01/20/2015
DailyMusings

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Finding Common Ground

I received the story below from a friend, and I thought it was an interesting way to get a point across, so I am sharing it here. Life often is about finding solutions to problems that arise between our friends, our family, our co workers. Often it seems impossible, that we will never be able to find that common ground. Compromise must come into play, an attempt must be made to look at the situation from the other person’s perspective. Sometimes it means relinquishing power for the better good. In the end if we are able to find that common ground, solve the issue at hand, we find we are happier for having done so. We need to keep ourselves open to the fact that there is always a solution

A father left 17 camels as an asset for his three sons.

When the father passed away, his sons opened up the Will.

The Will of the Father stated that the Eldest Son should get half of 17 camels,

The Middle Son should be given 1/3rd of 17 camels,

Youngest Son should be given 1/9th of the 17 camels,

As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the sons started to fight with each other.

So, they decided to go to a wise man.

The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one camel of his own & added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels.

Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will.

Half of 18 = 9.

So he gave 9 camels to the eldest son.

1/3rd of 18 = 6.

So he gave 6 camels to the middle son.

1/9th of 18 = 2.

So he gave 2 camels to the youngest son.

Now add this up: 9 + 6 + 2 = 17

This leaves 1 camel, which the wise man took back.

MORAL: The attitude of negotiation & problem solving is to find the 18th camel, i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times.

However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution.

If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!

01/19/2015
DailyMusings

11 comments

Travel theme: Mischievous

Weekly Travel Theme

01/18/2015
DailyMusings

4 comments

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Night Shots

I am usually in the car (not doing the driving) on the way back home from New York when I take night photos. Attempting to capture a night scene is still a challenge for me, and in a moving car even more so.

This one I took on the approach to the George Washington Bridge. The small red lights on the left are cars on the Cross Bronx Expressway, you can see the green signs telling which way to go to get to where you need to be. Other cars on the right, are wending their way to the Major Deegan. You can see an apartment building in the distance in the Bronx. Click to see more detail.

The Empire State Building lit up for July 4th. Taken as we made our way up the East River Drive.

You can see a slice of The Freedom Tower on the right, it’s spire alight, but a building is blocking its lower half. Photo taken at the entrance to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

An apartment building on the Upper West Side. Cars waiting at a light

Home again- a wonderful full moon to greet us as we pulled in the driveway

Sunday Stills

01/18/2015
DailyMusings

20 comments

Bench Challenge-In The Garden

Jude, the author of Travel Words says: For the month of January let’s see your GARDEN benches.

This week I am found sitting on a bench in The Lois Blonder Sculpture Garden located on the Campus of Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey. The gardens are beautiful and found among the flowers are interesting sculptures created by Lois Blonder.

01/18/2015
DailyMusings

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If We Were Having Coffee

If we were having coffee I would tell you to sit facing out the garden window where the view is best, even though there is freezing rain hitting upon it. I would tell you that I am now on winter break from school. The week leading up to winter break was filled with fun activities as our first grade class geared up for vacation and the head teacher and I were right there with them. We had a puzzle party and did winter craft activities. The week also held two very nice experiences for me. One was when one of the students approached me and asked if he could tell me something. This child is having a very hard time learning to read, it is really a struggle for him. I sat and worked with him a few times this week giving him extra attention and help. I told him he could tell me anything. He responded by saying he wished he could stay in this class forever. My heart melted. The other moment of the week was when a group of 4th grade girls I know from my job in the library, saw me coming down the hall. Suddenly I heard a cacophony of voices screeching my name and saw them running down the hall towards me, to then find myself totally overtaken and engulfed by hugs from all five girls. It was a spontaneous and unexpected moment, making me laugh right along with them. A wonderful display of the joy of youth and being uninhibited.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I had a wonderful catch up with a family member which allowed me to share with someone who could understand completely how I felt. We are not really related- she is the sister in law of my sister in law, but we have always enjoyed each others company over the last 24 years when we meet at family functions and both understand the feeling of being an “in-law”-or as she put it an “out law”-being excluded or feeling left out from that bloodline circle. It was reaffirming and reassuring to be able to speak honestly and openly with someone who understood.

I would tell you it has been freezing cold endlessly it seems, but thankfully no snow has appeared. I have joined in a photo blog event and went to a local park on a frigid day to take some photos this week. A truck pulled up and a man with a large dog got out. I was a little nervous for a moment, being alone in a somewhat secluded area spotting him getting out of his truck. As I approached my car I took one last photo of a tree. The man called over and asked if I knew that the tree was a Beech tree, and started to approach me. I said I did not know that and looking at his face, taking in his features, he began to seem familiar. I asked if his name was Harvey to which he responded- “I thought you looked familiar!” It was someone I had known in High School and had not seen since 1975. What a surprise.

I would tell you I ended my week having lunch with my grandchildren Friday afternoon, which was a total pleasure, and a great way to end off the week.

The frozen rain is supposed to stay all day today, so I see many more cups of coffee in my future. Now I must get out to feed the birds, they so need the seed when it is cold and bleak as it is today. So until next week, I wish you all a great day and hope you’ll join me again at the garden window next week.

Harvey & Me

01/18/2015
DailyMusings

10 comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Serenity

Serenity

01/17/2015
DailyMusings

16 comments

Monthly Photo Challenge: The Changing Seasons 01

I am joining in the photo blogging event prompted by Cardinal Guzman in which he asks:

Find a location near your home, take somewhere between 5-20 photos and post them in a gallery in your blog. Continue to do this every month. Choose an area like a park or a building a field with some trees, a beach, a mountain, or just a simple dirt road. It can be whatever. The idea is to capture all the changes: the seasons, the weather, different times of the day, some night photography perhaps.

I took the following photos yesterday, January 16th, in a park near my home. The Hackensack River runs behind the park and it is a lovely place to walk or sit. The weather here has been frigid for days, but I was still surprised to see the river so frozen solid in some places. It will be interesting to return as the weather changes or at a different time of day. Click on the photos to see them full size.

#MonthlyPhotoChallenge

#TheChangingSeasons

01/16/2015
DailyMusings

12 comments

Seagull Sighting

I passed a pond yesterday filled with a flock of seagulls hanging out in the sun ad standing around on the frozen part of the pond. Ducks and and few geese were there too, including one very large white duck who had found family among the Mallards. I stood watching them, drinking in the sunshine on a cold winter’s day. I was amazed the seagulls showed no fear, I was able to walk right up to them and take some photos. They looked bored by it all, and maybe permitted my presence in hopes that I had a morsel of food to share. Part of the pond was frozen and part not, some of the seagulls chose to stand on the frozen part, their white bodies reflecting off the ice. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise to see them there and walk among them- bringing thoughts of summer on a cold day. As I turned to go they suddenly arose in unison and flew off- I was lucky to catch them as they departed.

01/15/2015
DailyMusings

8 comments

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Wood

01/15/2015
DailyMusings

8 comments

Proverbial Thursday–Proverbs and Sayings from around the World

I’ve joined Amanda at Something To Ponder About in Proverbial Thursday this week.

Mentsh Tracht und Gott Lacht.
מענטש טראַכט און גאָט לאַכט

Man Plans, God Laughs

The origin of this Yiddish saying is found in Psalms 33:10

“God annuls the counsel of nations. He thwarts the designs of peoples.”

Men may plan but God has plans of His own. It serves as a reminder that even though we may think we are in control, in truth we are not. In a way it can be freeing to abide by this, to know that sometimes things will take a certain course despite our best efforts for them to go a different way. It is those times that we must relinquish control and “go with the flow” realizing that it is not us who rule the universe, but a higher power. Assuming you believe in a higher power, fate, whatever you want to call it.

01/14/2015
DailyMusings

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Thursday’s Special: Multicoloured

Thursday Special at Lost In Translation

01/14/2015
DailyMusings

17 comments

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: You Are My Sunshine

This week’s theme is the chorus from the song You Are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

(or in a black out with no heat and lights in November)

01/11/2015
DailyMusings

2 comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadowed

Shadowed

01/11/2015
DailyMusings

35 comments

If We Were Having Coffee

If we were having coffee, I would tell you the sunrise this morning was stunning. A mix of pinks and blues coming up behind the trees. It’s been bitter cold here, and this morning is no exception. It’s 20 degrees, but it is supposed to warm up into the 30’s. A reprieve! The birds arrived in the backyard at day break munching the left over seed from yesterday. Poor things must be so cold.

I would tell you that last week in school (I am an assistant teacher in first grade) I witnessed, not for the first time, what speaking unkindly to a child can do to them. It has been bothering me all weekend everytime it comes to mind. Some teachers are still of the mindset that berating a child to get them to do better is the way to go. Seeing this has strengthened my resolve to always be aware of how I speak to a child, and choose my words carefully. Getting the point across using positive language instead of negative.

I would also tell you that my niece got engaged (well technically she is my great niece) and we are all very excited!

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I need to pull myself away from the warmth of my kitchen and get out to the gym right now! I would wish you a happy Sunday and hope your day is filled with good things!