If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.
September 29, 2017
Friday Foto Friends ~ Tracks
Anyone that knows me, knows my love for trains and seeing empty tracks at different times and seasons brings out the awe and wonder in me. There is something about those empty tracks that are beautiful besides being forlorn and lonely. I can almost hear the distant whistle and rumbling train coming down these lonely lines. You can find beauty in almost anything in this world if you only look for it.
The Fog and Tracks of Georgia 
The Empty Track of Mt. Pocono, Penn. 
The Rails and Rainbow of Nashville, Tenn. 
The Sunset Tracks of Secret Pass, Nevada 
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If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.
If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.
September 27, 2017
Dancing With Falling Leaves
Thinking of falling leaves in the coming month of October, had me remembering a couple of poems I wrote a couple of years ago. I thought I would share them with you for today's poetry day.
Come Play With Me
How gentle the autumn breeze blows today,
I listen intensely as It seems to say.
"Come play with me as I joyously dance around,
I promise your feet will never leave the ground".
It's early morn and leaves are twirling too,
And I think, "they are dancing just for you".
No more hesitation on my part, I run outside,
But sadly the breeze does suddenly subside.
With a sigh and a smile to myself I say,
The autumn breeze will be back to play.
And I will be there to dance around,
As the leaves swirl softly to the ground.
Toni Taddeo ©
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Every Falling Leaf
Every falling Autumn leaf
now dancing to the ground
With grace and softness moves
to music without a sound
With awe and wonder I watch
as they circle to the ground
Such color and beauty to behold
while they dance to silent sound
The autumn chill does warm
the coldness in my heart
As circling leaves come down
my feet happily take part
And every falling Autumn leaf
now dancing to the ground
With grace and softness moves
with me to music without a sound.
Toni Taddeo ©
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Painting are wallpapers I've had awhile. Until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.
How gentle the autumn breeze blows today,
I listen intensely as It seems to say.
"Come play with me as I joyously dance around,
I promise your feet will never leave the ground".
It's early morn and leaves are twirling too,
And I think, "they are dancing just for you".
No more hesitation on my part, I run outside,
But sadly the breeze does suddenly subside.
With a sigh and a smile to myself I say,
The autumn breeze will be back to play.
And I will be there to dance around,
As the leaves swirl softly to the ground.
Toni Taddeo ©
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every falling Autumn leaf
now dancing to the ground
With grace and softness moves
to music without a sound
With awe and wonder I watch
as they circle to the ground
Such color and beauty to behold
while they dance to silent sound
The autumn chill does warm
the coldness in my heart
As circling leaves come down
my feet happily take part
And every falling Autumn leaf
now dancing to the ground
With grace and softness moves
with me to music without a sound.
Toni Taddeo ©
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Painting are wallpapers I've had awhile. Until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.
September 26, 2017
Autumn In My Neighborhood
Autumn photos I've taken around the neighborhood through the years. My old apartment window view, Vanderbuilt Mansion back area with view of the Hudson, My Sister's burning bushes also her driveway looking down the road the tree on the left is no longer there. In that order. I'm so looking forward to seeing the beautiful fall colors which should reach its peak next month.
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Not much going on today and the weather is still the warm summer like kind here in upstate NY. So whatever the day brings dear friends I pray you have a day of blessings.
Not much going on today and the weather is still the warm summer like kind here in upstate NY. So whatever the day brings dear friends I pray you have a day of blessings.
September 24, 2017
The European Castle
Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures Please do not copy from here. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below the meme and add your name & blog to Mister Linky. Thank you.
The European Castle
1. While visiting in Europe and driving along the country road you spot a famous castle that has long been empty. Excited you decide to check it out. Your curiosity getting the best of you, you drive through the large iron gates to the castle and get out of your car and walk past the large fountain in the court yard to the main enormous door and much to your suprise you find it opened.
2. Entering the castle you are in a large completely furnished hall and a room with two large sliding doors closed on your right, a beautiful spiral staircase ahead and another room on your left also with closed doors. You decide to take the room on your left. Walking over you slide open the doors and let out a silent whistle and..
3. Much to your surprise you find the largest Library Room you've ever seen. There's a fire roaring in the fireplace and by a large leather easy chair you see a book, a bell and a note. You read the note which says, Relax in the chair, the book was especially chosen for you to read but first ring the bell. Curiousity getting the best of you, you ring the bell and in walks a rather proper butler with a tray of tea and pastries for you to enjoy. The butler serves the tea to you not saying a word and then quietly leaves. The tea is your favorite Earl Gray, curious as to how he would know this, you drink and enjoy the pastries. Later you relax and read the book of beautiful poetry. Once finished with both tea and book you pick up the pen and write, "Thank you so much for one of the loveliest days I've spent in my life.
4. Upon leaving and driving off, you know you will never forget this adventure and think to yourself, "Maybe some day I'll find out who the good samaritan was and how he/she knew I would end up there". Smiling to yourself, you count your blessings and drive off continuing on your way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.
1. While visiting in Europe and driving along the country road you spot a famous castle that has long been empty. Excited you decide to check it out. Your curiosity getting the best of you, you drive through the large iron gates to the castle and get out of your car and walk past the large fountain in the court yard to the main enormous door and much to your suprise you find it opened.
2. Entering the castle you are in a large completely furnished hall and a room with two large sliding doors closed on your right, a beautiful spiral staircase ahead and another room on your left also with closed doors. You decide to take the room on your left. Walking over you slide open the doors and let out a silent whistle and..
3. Much to your surprise you find the largest Library Room you've ever seen. There's a fire roaring in the fireplace and by a large leather easy chair you see a book, a bell and a note. You read the note which says, Relax in the chair, the book was especially chosen for you to read but first ring the bell. Curiousity getting the best of you, you ring the bell and in walks a rather proper butler with a tray of tea and pastries for you to enjoy. The butler serves the tea to you not saying a word and then quietly leaves. The tea is your favorite Earl Gray, curious as to how he would know this, you drink and enjoy the pastries. Later you relax and read the book of beautiful poetry. Once finished with both tea and book you pick up the pen and write, "Thank you so much for one of the loveliest days I've spent in my life.
4. Upon leaving and driving off, you know you will never forget this adventure and think to yourself, "Maybe some day I'll find out who the good samaritan was and how he/she knew I would end up there". Smiling to yourself, you count your blessings and drive off continuing on your way.
September 23, 2017
Autumn's Reflection
When the colors of Autumn are in full bloom, I think of myself sitting by the park lake with trees blossoming with gorgeous colors and watching their reflection in the lake. Inspired by this thought, I wrote the following poem.
Autumn's Reflection
I found me a wondrous place
a place to sit and be alone
to sink in Autumn's beauty
and feel like I'm at home.
Where fluttering leaves
color the peaceful lake
in the Autumn reflection
while no sound they make.
I found such a wondrous place
where the worries of daily life
are left distantly far behind
calming struggles and strife
Yes, a peaceful joyous place
a place to sit and be alone
to sink in Autumn's beauty
and feel like I'm at home.
Toni Taddeo ©
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Not much going on today and the weather is still the warm summer like kind here in upstate NY. So I'll either read, watch tv or just hang out. In the meantime dear friends have a day of blessings.
I found me a wondrous place
a place to sit and be alone
to sink in Autumn's beauty
and feel like I'm at home.
Where fluttering leaves
color the peaceful lake
in the Autumn reflection
while no sound they make.
I found such a wondrous place
where the worries of daily life
are left distantly far behind
calming struggles and strife
Yes, a peaceful joyous place
a place to sit and be alone
to sink in Autumn's beauty
and feel like I'm at home.
Toni Taddeo ©
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not much going on today and the weather is still the warm summer like kind here in upstate NY. So I'll either read, watch tv or just hang out. In the meantime dear friends have a day of blessings.
September 22, 2017
Friday Photo Friends ~ My Autumn
Being this is the first day of Autumn I thought I would post some things in my home that remind me of my favorite season.
My Favorite Ceramic Pie Plate
My Crockpot Black Bean Chili
My Door Decoration
An Early Painting (1984) Of Mine Of An Area Landscape
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If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.
If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.
September 20, 2017
Bridges Into Autumn
No Words Needed, well, just a few. Since Autumn is around the corner coming in this Friday. I thought I would showcase Bridges into Autumn.
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I love this kind of stuff. Hope you enjoyed crossing over into Autumn with me. Until the next time be blessed my friends.
I love this kind of stuff. Hope you enjoyed crossing over into Autumn with me. Until the next time be blessed my friends.
September 18, 2017
My Thankful Tuesday
1. My Whole Family i.e; Children, Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, Siblings, etc...
2. The Roof Over My Head.
3. The Food In My Pantry.
4. The Clothes On My Back.
5. The Beautiful Land Around Me.
6. The Online Friends I've Made.
7. The Freedom We Enjoy.
8. My Independence.
9. Memories I Can Fall Back On.
10. To Wake Every Morning To A New Day.
11. But Most Of All, Our Lord Who Makes All The Above Possible.
September 17, 2017
Creative Adventures The Dead End Street
A fun Sunday weekly meme based on the old computer text Adventure game i.e., "You are walking through a forest." Only here you follow my creative adventures by filling in the blanks. Please do not copy from here. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below and add your name & blog to Mister Linky. Thank you.
The Dead End Street
1. While walking in my neighborhood I notice a dead end street that I haven't seen before. My curiosity getting the best of me I decide to walk down to the end. While almost at the end I notice a garden gate ahead opened and no keep out sign in sight.
2. In the garden there is a maze. Thinking it would be fun I decide to take a chance and walk through it hoping I can find my way out of it. It was a truly winding thick maze and..
3. Now a little worried that I might be lost in the maze I turn into the next row and see two openings ahead. Should I take the right or the left opening? I decided on taking the right one. As I walked through it I see the dead end street in front of me
4. Relieved and walking back home I think to myself, I wonder where the left opening led to?.. Hmmm..Oh well! I'll leave that for another day..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm a big fan of memes as anybody who knows me would agree and I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.
1. While walking in my neighborhood I notice a dead end street that I haven't seen before. My curiosity getting the best of me I decide to walk down to the end. While almost at the end I notice a garden gate ahead opened and no keep out sign in sight.
2. In the garden there is a maze. Thinking it would be fun I decide to take a chance and walk through it hoping I can find my way out of it. It was a truly winding thick maze and..
3. Now a little worried that I might be lost in the maze I turn into the next row and see two openings ahead. Should I take the right or the left opening? I decided on taking the right one. As I walked through it I see the dead end street in front of me
4. Relieved and walking back home I think to myself, I wonder where the left opening led to?.. Hmmm..Oh well! I'll leave that for another day..
September 15, 2017
Friday Foto Friends Flower Power
As soon as I saw this photo.gif animation I just knew I had to post it for today. I call it "Flower Power"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. Until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.
September 14, 2017
Another Great Recipe
Got this delicious and real easy recipe from Allrecipes.com. I'm an anything lemon in desserts but I also like vanilla goodies and will be making these for the holidays.
Cream Cheese Squares
Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I might use lemon)
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
Press one can of the crescent rolls into the bottom of the prepared pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread over the crescent layer. Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and lay them on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not press down. Pour the melted margarine over the entire pan. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the top.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is crisp and golden.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Let me know if you make this or thinking of making them, I'm curious to know. When I make them I'll let you know how they came out. Until next time dear friends and family, be blessed.
2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I might use lemon)
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
Press one can of the crescent rolls into the bottom of the prepared pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread over the crescent layer. Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and lay them on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not press down. Pour the melted margarine over the entire pan. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the top.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is crisp and golden.
September 13, 2017
Time For Apples & Baking
Here is a favorite muffin of mine this time of year when apples are fresh off the trees, a delicious and easy muffin. Great for your family, guests or just for yourself they can be made ahead and can be frozen besides. For me it's always hard just to have one and so with a freshly made cup of coffee I might have two.
Autumn Apple Muffins
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup sweet butter, melted
1 cup apple - peeled, cored and chopped
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 6 or 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners. Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together milk, egg and butter. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until combined. Fold in chopped apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.
NOTES: I use a 6 large muffin pan and I don't use the salt but that's me. Usually 1 good sized apple will make a cup chopped.
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Have a blessed day my friends, until next time.
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup sweet butter, melted
1 cup apple - peeled, cored and chopped
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 6 or 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners. Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together milk, egg and butter. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until combined. Fold in chopped apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.
NOTES: I use a 6 large muffin pan and I don't use the salt but that's me. Usually 1 good sized apple will make a cup chopped.
Have a blessed day my friends, until next time.
September 10, 2017
Creative Adventures The Library
A fun Sunday weekly meme based on the old computer text Adventure game i.e., "You are walking through a forest." Only here you follow my creative adventures by filling in the blanks. Please do not copy from here. Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic below and add your name & blog to Mister Linky. Thank you.
The City Library
1. While driving home from work you stop in front of the city's hugh library building to pick up 2 books titled "Death On The Nile" and "Body In The Library" both by Agatha Christie my favorite author.
2. Upon entering the library through the front door you see a spiral staircase on the right leading to the second floor where all the classic murder mysteries are kept. You climb to the top of the stairs and are amazed to see how many aisles there are on that floor.
3. Walking through the many aisles of books you hear two distinct voices, one male sounding French and the other female sounding English. You walk closer with curiosity to the aisle where the voices are coming from thinking no, they can't be. As you turn and look down the aisle hoping to see both Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, you see instead a large TV screen showing an older taped interview show of David Suchet dressed as Poirot and the late Joan Hickson dressed as Miss Marple discussing their favorite murder cases. A little disappointed you stop and watch the show for awhile. Picking up the two books you came for, you return to climb down to the first floor desk and order a large coffee to go.
4. You check out your books, smile to yourself and think wouldn't it be wonderful if you had really seen the spirits of Christie's Poirot and Marple. But then, who believes in spirits of book characters! Laughing to yourself you leave the library knowing you'll be back again soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm a big fan of memes as anybody who knows me would agree and I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.
1. While driving home from work you stop in front of the city's hugh library building to pick up 2 books titled "Death On The Nile" and "Body In The Library" both by Agatha Christie my favorite author.
2. Upon entering the library through the front door you see a spiral staircase on the right leading to the second floor where all the classic murder mysteries are kept. You climb to the top of the stairs and are amazed to see how many aisles there are on that floor.
3. Walking through the many aisles of books you hear two distinct voices, one male sounding French and the other female sounding English. You walk closer with curiosity to the aisle where the voices are coming from thinking no, they can't be. As you turn and look down the aisle hoping to see both Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, you see instead a large TV screen showing an older taped interview show of David Suchet dressed as Poirot and the late Joan Hickson dressed as Miss Marple discussing their favorite murder cases. A little disappointed you stop and watch the show for awhile. Picking up the two books you came for, you return to climb down to the first floor desk and order a large coffee to go.
4. You check out your books, smile to yourself and think wouldn't it be wonderful if you had really seen the spirits of Christie's Poirot and Marple. But then, who believes in spirits of book characters! Laughing to yourself you leave the library knowing you'll be back again soon.
September 7, 2017
Little Lily
Went to visit my newborn great niece at the hospital today! Her name is Lily Anna (Anna being her middle name). She was born at 1:59 Am, weighed in at 8 Lbs. 1 Oz. and is 20 inches tall. She has a flock of black hair and resembles her daddy Rob. My beautiful niece Joelene had a natural birth and is not only as beautiful as ever but was positively glowing. This is their first child. Here are photos of the parents, and of course adorable Lily. I got to hold her in my arms and hated to hand her on to the other great aunt, my sister Phyllis.
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I had a great lunch with Phyllis after the visit at our favorite diner George & Sons and then stopped at Super Cuts for a long needed haircut. That's all the news for today and until the next time dear friends, have a day of blessings.
I had a great lunch with Phyllis after the visit at our favorite diner George & Sons and then stopped at Super Cuts for a long needed haircut. That's all the news for today and until the next time dear friends, have a day of blessings.
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