Wednesday's Poetry Day ~ The List

Thought I would write a different type of post featuring my poem with one of my drawings and photos  (not mine)  along with a photo of my favorite type of stone Tudor cottage I always dreamed of having. Here is my wish list revisited.

The List

Here I sit pencil in hand wondering where to start

First to list a place from where I will depart

Of course I do know I have to follow my heart

It must be a place with warmth and set apart

Second must be a small cafe where people meet

A place with outdoor tables on a quiet street

Of course I do know I have to follow my heart

It must be a place with warmth and set apart

Third on the list be open to new adventures

And a world of wonderful joy and treasures

Of course I do know I have to follow my heart

It must be a place with warmth and set apart

Fourth will be take a companion along with me

For out in the world there is so much to see

Of course I do know I have to follow my heart

It must be a place with warmth and set apart

Fifth on the list is knowing when to return

The time will be when there's no more to learn

Of course I do know I have to follow my heart

For home is a place with warmth and set apart.

Toni Taddeo &copy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hope you enjoyed my wish list "voyage" as much as I did writing it. Until the next time my friends have a day of blessings.

Birthday Wishes and A Short SWD

I thought I'd do a shortened version of The Simple Woman's Daybook meme again. I used to do it weekly when I had a different blog and I always enjoyed it.

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it's 1:00 AM and dark.

I am thinking... about my granddaughter for today is her birthday. I miss her as she lives in Texas.

I am wearing... a knit tunic, slacks and slipper sandals right now. (I don't wear shoes in the apartment).

I am creating... this post entry right now.

I am going... to try and get some sleep after I finish writing this and putting it online.

I am looking forward to... maybe being able to spend some time with both of my sisters. No cards today and I'll miss it.

Around the apartment... Nothing to do as I do my household chores early in the morning, every morning. It's easy when you live alone.

One of my favorite things... To do is relax with a cup of coffee and maybe create some new graphics or write a poem or read a book.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Actually I don't have any as Winter is not very active for me.

Birthday wishes and photo... for my granddaughter with a poem I wrote for her.

Jessica

Remembering back to a beautiful little girl
And of picking her up to give her a whirl.

Giggling out loud as her arms hold on tight
Around the room we both take off in flight.

Now looking at photos of times gone by
Remembering those days with a soft sigh.

Those happy days as she spent time with me
Now miles apart as the years swiftly flee.

And seeing her photos now a mom all grown
Married and four adorable sons of her own.

She calls every weekend to tell me what's new
And always asks, "what's happening with you?"

Then ending the call with "I love you"
She answers with, "And I love you too".

Toni Taddeo &copy

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Not much else to post and so dear friends have a day of blessings.

The Art Museum

Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures. I enjoy doing this meme as It's always fun seeing how a story adventure can be created with just 4 fill in the blanks questions.

The Art Museum

1.   With not much to do and living in the city, tonight I decided to visit the local art museum before it closed. As I entered I encounted - standing in front of me the late Norman Rockwell. It took me awhile to get over the shock that he was standing right there in front of me.

2.  Looking straight at me and greeting me with a smile he said - Please come with me as I am your guide for this evening and will introduce you to the greatest artists of all time. Not believing that I was actually seeing one of the greatest American Illustrators of all time, I pushed myself to follow him.

3.   Guiding me through the Great Room where all the great masters of art and their paintings and sculptures stood I was amazed to see - he walked me to the American Wing of the museum to Gallery 771 which contained paintings by John Singer Sargent and a Victory Sculpture By Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Rockwell described the works of these two artists. He showed me many others but my mind was so full of the fact that it was Norman Rockwell acting as my guide, I could barely remember what he was saying. After the tour he walked me to the museum's door to the outside as it was closing time. He bid me goodnight and hoped I enjoyed my visit.

4.   Upon leaving I wondered If what I had seen was truly - the great artist himself or an actor portraying him. As I slowly walked home from the Metropolitan Art museum, I remember thinking whatever or whoever guided my tour, it will be a night I will always remember with fondness and joy.

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Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic

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I hope you join in and play along too. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.

Friday Foto Friends ~ Hudson River Wildlife

Not being able to take any outdoor photos in awhile, I decided to post these wonderful photos from last January of birds on the Hudson River in my area. I thought I would re-post them again as it's so rare to see these birds on the river in Winter.

Eagles Male And Female On The Hudson

5 Swans Swimming Down River On The Hudson

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Thought For The Day

If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. It's a wonderful photo meme and a wonderful bunch of ladies who join in. And now until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.

Wednesday's Poetry Day ~ A Crazy Rhyme

I wrote this poem while I was in a silly mood. Every once in awhile I go off like that and create fun type poems.

A Crazy Rhyme

Either foul weather or fair
The daylight could not care

The morning will always come
Though night time now for some

Breakfast is being served
Or a dinner table reserved

Dressed up and out the door
It's bedtime now don't snore

A crazy rhyme written here
Having fun without a care

God Bless those who pray
Now I'm really on my way

The end there is no more
Goodbye I'm out the door...

Toni Taddeo ©

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Thought For The Day
Take Time To Dance

"Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre".
~ Psalm 149:3

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Not much going on in my neck of the woods. Taking it nice and easy and hope you are too. Until the next time dear friends, be blessed.

Sunday Bits & Pieces

Here's the past week's Unconscious Mutterings meme. Haven't done this one in a very long time. It's a fun and brain challenge as all you do is answer with the first thought that comes to your mind for each question. Usually one word answers will do. Most of the time I answer tongue in cheek. :-)

1.  Train ~ Ride
2.  Anxiety ~ Attack
3.  Wasted ~ Breath
4.  Bread ~ And Water
5.  Open face ~ Sandwich
6.  Cheese ~ And Crackers
7.  Booth ~ Kissing ;)
9.  Line ~ Up
10.  Weird ~ Strange
11.  Mattress ~ Memory Foam


Now hopefully you'll try either on your own blog or answer here in comments.

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Thoughts For Today

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Toni's Creative Adventures Update: Thanks to Annie and Pamela, I've decided to do a couple more TCA's and will be posting a new one on the 28th on the TCA site. Hope you will participate.

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And now In the meantime dear family and friends, have a day of blessings.

Friday Foto Friends ~ Paintings Of Lights

Today I'm featuring two paintings. The first painting is by the artist Dave Barnhouse.  (This from his Bio)  An all-American man, who's every bit as comfortable behind the wheel of his John Deere, as he is in front of the easel. He's a man of simple passions, who paints the things that he knows and loves. To sit with Dave in his little, cabin-esque art studio, you would never guess that this humble man was one of our nation's most valued and accomplished painters. But a look at any of Dave's canvases tells the story. These paintings are more than attractive home décor. Dave's paintings are a window into the heart of small town USA. To times and places where the air is clear and life is just plain good.. This is one of the oil paintings from his site titled, "Serenity ©". Beautiful isn't it! Can be bought for $100.00 on sale. Dimensions 17 1/2 x 28.

And of course we all know the late Thomas Kinkade, the Painter of Light™, who emphasized simple pleasures and inspirational messages through his art. Here is one of his paintings titled, "Conquering The Storm ©".

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If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. It's a wonderful photo meme and a wonderful bunch of ladies who join in. And now until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.

The Sounds of Winter

As much as I hate  (strong word)  snow, it is pretty to look at when it's fresh and clean. So I'm posting a painting and a poem for today.

The Sounds of Winter

Just listen to the sounds of a chilling winter morn
See the cleansing beauty of the falling winter storm.

Breathe the chilling coldness of the air all around
Feel the icy crystals gathered high upon the ground.

Hear the crunching sound of your boot prints in the snow
While waiting for the plow to sand with slow and easy flow.

Laughing children pushing sleds along the snow filled ground
You can smell the coffee brewing in the houses all around.

Yes It's the sounds of winter echoing through the air
Every winter season its sounds are loud and clear.

Toni Taddeo ©

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With this crazy weather I haven't been outdoors in almost 3 weeks, 2 weeks because of the flu. Hope you are all doing fine. Until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.

Visit To Olana

Thought I would show you 2 photos taken by my grandson Dominic and his Ashley who I consider a lovely inside and out granddaughter. They were here from Texas for Christmas until January 6th to celebrate my 80th surprise birthday this past December 27th along with my daughter who flew in from Florida for Christmas week. The photos are high on a hill facing the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains seen in the background.

Olana State Historic Site, the home and studio of eminent Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church, is a historic site administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Taconic Region. It is a designated National Historic Landmark and one of the most visited sites in the state. The Olana Partnership, a private not-for-profit education corporation, works cooperatively with New York State to support the restoration, development and improvement of Olana State Historic Site. It is 8.5 miles north of my place and just a 15 minute ride by car. Here is a photo of the majestic home. It is truly a beautiful place.

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I'm only sorry I have no photos of the party my family gave with my son and daughter-in-law, sisters, nieces and nephews even great nieces and nephew. Pictures were taken but I haven't seen them yet. So until next time dear friends, be blessed.

The Quiet Place

Here's this week's Toni's Creative Adventures. I enjoy doing this meme as It's always fun seeing how a story adventure can be created with just 4 fill in the blanks questions.

The Quiet Place
1.   While looking for a quiet place to rest my tired body after a bad day at work I stumbled on - a garden hidden behind an ivy doorway that opened automatically when I walked up to it.

2.  It was the most beautiful place that I - had ever seen. There were gorgeous blossoms, a beautiful calming waterfall and wild flowers everywhere. It was breathtaking to the point that I didn't know where to turn and look first.

3.   I turned and spotted to what was perfect for - my tired body to rest, a lovely bench under an arbor of climbing roses that faced a vast view of this beauty of nature where chirping birds and butterflies play. Where after a stress-filled day was so very much needed, and I automatically knew this beautiful peaceful garden would draw all the day's stress and worries away.

4.   After a long quiet while I knew I had to - leave this magical hidden garden but also knew that whenever I had another day like today, I would just close my eyes and find my quiet place of peace and beauty again without having to look for it.

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Go to the Toni's Creative Adventures blog to copy the meme questions by clicking on the graphic

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Sad to say this is the last Toni's Creative Adventure meme post I'll be posting as I've run out of ideas and very little interest by bloggers. Thanks to those who participated. In the meantime dear friends have a blessed day ahead.

Friday Foto Friends ~ Sunset On The River

Not taking many photos lately so I thought I would post three I had of the two boat launches during sunset here in Germantown on the Hudson river. These photos were taken during the summer last year. I'm posting for today's Friday Foto Friends. I tire of looking out my window at winter cold, ice and snow.

Anchorage Boat Launch Sun Starting To Set

Anchorage Boat Launch at Sunset

Cheviot Landing Boat Launch at Sunset

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If you're interested in joining the Friday Foto Friends you can visit Debbie by clicking on her name. It's a wonderful photo meme and a wonderful bunch of ladies who join in. And now until next time dear friends have a lovely weekend.

Winter Waterfall

Seeing this photo online of a frozen waterfall in winter reminded me of a little poem I wrote a few years ago and thought I would post it for today. Let me know what you think.

Winter Waterfall

Winter waterfall silent and still
The long icy tendrils stop its cascade.

Just frozen in place suspended in time
Like a brushless painting with camera made.

Longing, waiting for an early spring's thaw
to allow it to finish its majestic downpour.

Winter waterfall silent and still
Soon to flow steady and ready to spill.

Toni Taddeo ©

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So until the next time my friends, have a day of blessings.

Happy Birthday In Heaven

I thought I would repeat Annie's Meme list of questions she had on her blog two years ago as part of a tribute to my Mom who is with Our Lord and today would be her birthday. I miss her more and more with each passing day.

1. She is sitting in front of the TV, what is she watching?  She likes watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and other shows.
2. What dressing does she eat?  Her favorite was blue cheese
3. Name a food she hates That I can't answer for I never saw her not eat anything that was in front of her. My mom was an excellent cook.
4. You go out to eat and have a drink, what would she have to drink?  A glass of wine.
5. Favorite music to listen to?  She enjoyed Italian music.
6. What is her nickname for you?  My Italian mother never used nicknames for me.
7. What is something she collects?  I don't remember if she was a collector anymore.
8. Where is her favorite place to visit?  I would think Italy where her sister's family lived. Although she loved to travel and went many places with her late Canadian cousin.
9. What is her favorite breakfast?  Not sure, she ate whatever she made.
10. What would she never wear?  Makeup. She would only use lipstick when going out. My mom had perfect young looking skin.
11. What is her favorite sports Team? I think like me she liked the NY Yankees
12. What is something that you do that she wishes you didn't do?  LOL!! Too many to name but she loved me anyway.
13. What's her favorite animal?  Her cat Buttercup who passed a couple of years after she did.
14. What could she spend all day doing?  Working in her garden and walking before her illness.

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My Mom Who Walked In Beauty

The saying goes, "She walks in beauty"
Her smile and kindness never ending
A mom now gone, did that for all to see
And oh her faith was never bending.

The perfect wife and mother was she
Her strong example shown each day
The love she held in her heart so special
To all of her 5 children in every way.

Now looking down and still protecting
A son above, a son & daughters here on earth
With prayer and open arms she holds
Just as she did from their early birth.

Oh yes, my mom who walked in beauty
Her smile and kindness never ending
A mom now gone, did that for all to see
And oh her faith was never bending.

Toni Taddeo ©
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hope you enjoyed reading about my mom. Have a great day ahead my friends. Until next time be blessed.

My Staples Shopping List

This time of year I thought you might like to see what I usually buy as staples when I go shopping. Cooking for one doesn't have to be a shopping cart of Frozen Dinners, there's an easier way. Stockpile most of these basic groceries and you'll have a few weeks' worth of cool meals at the ready. This also works for busy Moms with families. Of course you mustn't forget the coffee and tea of which I keep plenty in stock. ;-}

Pantry:
1. Canned Tomato sauce
2. Pasta and Macaroni
3. Canned Tomato puree
4. Low sodium chicken broth
5. Natural Peanut butter
6. Canned beans (chickpeas, cannellini, black beans)
7. Dry breadcrumbs (I get the no salt)
8. Canned mushrooms
9. Brown rice
9. Extra-virgin olive oil and Wesson Canola oil
10. Dried herbs and spices
11. Onions and Garlic
12. Yellow Potatoes
13. Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder and Soda
14. Lemon, Vanilla and Anise Extracts
15. Quick Oats (Oatmeal)
16. Maple and Pancake Syrups
17. Croutons
18. Dried Raisins and Cranberries
Refrigerator:
1. Fresh herbs
2. Eggs
3. Butter
4. Plain yogurt
5. Milk
6. Cheeses (such as cheddar, grated Italian, and mozzarella)
7. Lemons
8. Condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise etc.)
9. Polaner all fruit preserves and jams
10. Romaine salad
11. Celery and carrots
Counter:
1. Tomatoes
2. Fruit (bananas, apples, pears, oranges)
3. Bread
4. Dried Herbs and Spices
Freezer:
1. Bacon
2. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3. Ground turkey or beef (divided into one pound portions)
4. Boneless pork chops and sausage meat
5. Frozen vegetables (spinach, broccoli florets, peas, and mixed vegetables)
6. Cooked, peeled and de-veined shrimp
7. Pizza dough
8. Frozen fruits (strawberries, blueberries, etc.)
9. Breyers Lite Ice cream or Frozen Yogurt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I also keep other groceries, baking staples and flavors but with the above type of staples list you can make a multitude of different quick delicious meals. What kind of staples do you use not seen here? Well that's all there is. So my friends until the next time, have a day of blessings.