InkWell Chronicles

Official Wedding Photos

2011-06-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Finally, here are some "official" photos of our wedding.

Walking down the aisle following the ceremony.

Outside the Inn before the reception.

Our close-up.

The wedding party.

It was a glorious day.

Off we go!

Our first dance. James Taylor sang, "How sweet it is to be loved by you."

The reception was a blast.

Special Event Painting

2010-06-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

As part of our reception, we engaged an artist to paint our event. Live event painting is a unique way to capture a special day with a beautiful and lasting work of art. Artists who create these works must be extremely adaptable, as subjects move and lighting changes as the evening progresses. Sheila Foley is the very talented artist who created our painting.

Sheila arrived early to begin sketching in the background.

While the guests are up dancing and talking, she continues to paint the scene.

As the evening progresses, our painting is coming along. Scott and I will be painted in later. She took some photos of us dancing, and that is how we will appear in the painting. Wedding paintings always include the bride and groom and the cake. The cake has started to take shape on the right of the painting. After the evening ends, Sheila takes the work back to her studio to add the finishing touches. We are looking forward to our beautiful work of art that will commemorate our special day.

You can see more of Sheila's artwork by visiting her website: http://www.sheilafoley.com/.

Unofficial Wedding Photos

2010-06-06T11:14:00.001-07:00

It's been one week since our wedding, and we're just beginning to settle down to a normal routine. We don't have official photos yet, but friends have sent us few of the photos they took, and these wonderful photos help us relive our special day.

In this photo, I've arrived at the church, and my nephew, who will escort me down the aisle, met me outside.

This is a close-up of my beautiful bouquet.

My very beautiful niece was my maid of honor.

Scott was waiting inside the church for me to arrive.

He waves hello to some of the waiting guests.

Then he sees me walking down the aisle.

After the service, and the vows have been said, we embrace as husband and wife.

We exit the church as the organ plays Handel's Hornpipe from Water Music, and our best man rings the cast bell in the church's steeple.

We prepare to greet our guests as they exit the church.

But we share a laugh before the guests begin greeting us.

After greeting all our guests, we get into the car for our ride back to the reception.

We prepare to have photos taken outside the Inn. Our photographer is on the left, and she prepares to start shooting. My niece looks so beautiful in her beautiful green Grecian dress with her bouquet of green and purple flowers.

I share some hugs with my family.

And then we have a good laugh.

The cake was beautiful, AND delicious! It was Boston Cream Pie Cake.

Our favors were these bride and groom cookies. They, too, were quite delicious.

The evening was over all too soon. It seemed as if everyone was on the dance floor all night. Our DJ was great, and he played a lot of songs from our past. I was barely able to walk at the end of the night, and I had to put ice on my knees the next day, but it was well worth the discomfort. We had a fabulous wedding, and a wonderful day full of special memories.

Wedding Day

2010-06-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

I married my Scott on Sunday. The day was beautiful, the weather perfect, the sun shone and a gentle breeze blew. My hairdresser came at noon to work on my hair and my niece's, and then we left for the Sherborn Inn to get ready. My friend, Lisa, arrived with a bottle of wine and we had a glass in the room while we put our dresses on. Her husband, Greg, was our chauffeur. Soon it was time to leave for the church.

The church was full of all our friends and family. The ceremony was moving, and I was told there were a few tears from the observers. Seeing my Scott at the end of the aisle was one of the most special moments of my life.

The photos won't be ready for a while, but a friend took a couple of snapshots, which I offer as a tease. In the next few weeks, I'll write more details, but for now:

My nephew, Mark, walked me down the aisle.

We greeted Scott's brother outside the church.

Wedding Preparations

2010-05-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

My wedding is only three days away!!! Preparations began a year ago with looking for a venue, then a dress, then the photographer, DJ, etc. We had to plan the meals, think about favors, flowers, the ceremony, the music. Most recently, it was making the invitations. Here are a few of them already tied with ribbons.

The picture on the front is of two swans. Vellum paper is on top of the picture. (Getting the vellum to print from my printer was a real challenge.)

My dining room table has been a workspace for the past couple of months.

After the invitations, it was time to print and assemble the programs. Here they are, tied with blue ribbons.

After the table assignments were determined, it was time to print the seating cards. They are occupying the other side of the table.

The votive candles are ready for the tables. Each table will have four candles, which should create a warm feeling at the reception.

There's no room left on the dining room table. The bird cage on the right is for cards that people will bring to the reception. The beautiful white roses were a gift from a girlfriend when I recently got together with two of my friends from high school.

Everything is ready to be packaged up, and transported to the Inn where our reception will be.

The gifts for the maid of honor and best man are wrapped and ready for the rehearsal dinner on Saturday.

We are busy now visiting with out-of-town guests, and finishing up the final details. This year of planning is finally coming to an end with our beautiful wedding day on Sunday.

Thar She Blows!

2010-05-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Scott and I accompanied the Revels Repertory Company on their bus trip to Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, where they were scheduled to give a performance of "A Celebration of the Sea," an evening of sea tales, accompanied by music and singing from the New England whaling era. This was an experiment for the theatrical troupe, as they sometimes have empty seats on the bus when they travel, and they thought it could be fun to include a few guests. Scott and I were one of three couples.

Our trip included a tour of the recently-restored Charles Morgan, the only remaining original whaling ship in America.

Here is the Charles Morgan on dry land, as she is currently undergoing a restoration.

Her hull looks huge from this vantage point. It is amazing to think she carried 26 sailors and six or more whaleboats.

This is the wheel of the ship. Many captains stood behind this wheel, hands gripped on the pegs, and steered the ship in search of whales.

These tiny compartments served as beds for the sailors.

The whale blubber was boiled in these huge vats. The implements are original.

After their performance on stage, the Revelers gave an impromptu performance outside the theater.

Here are Scott and I as "members of the band."

A cherished memento of this fun-filled day in Mystic Seaport was this lovely mermaid, which is actually a pair of bookends, that Scott bought for me. I love all things mermaid, as I love the ocean, and I love to swim. This beautiful sculpture will be a special reminder of our day as invited guests of this very talented theatrical group.

Jane Austen Dictionary Book Review

2010-05-15T07:26:00.001-07:00

Yikes! It's been over three months since I updated my blog, and I'm feeling very neglectful. With today's blog, I hope and plan to be more dutiful. I have missed blogging, and I so enjoy the blogs of friends, especially www.cafechatelaine/

.blogspot.com, who posts such beautiful photos and interesting stories.

Today I'd like to share a book review of my latest book, Jane Austen Dictionary. I wrote this book last year, having been inspired by members of my Jane Austen Book Club, as a quick and enjoyable reference for Jane Austen readers and film aficionados. It's a dictionary of all the words in Jane's novels that have become obsolete, either because the objects they describe have themselves become obsolete, or because the language has shifted in such a way as to alter the meaning of the words.

Last week, Hannah Sung, from the CBC Book Club, gave my book a very favorable review, which you can read on-line at www.cbc.ca/books/MT/2010/05/hands-up-if-you-need-a-jane-austen-dictionary.html. You can also learn more about my book at my website, http://www.janeaustendictionary.com/. You can purchase my book through this website, or from amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

Moving

2010-02-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

Moving -- the word perfectly describes what is happening in my life right now: I'm moving from one apartment to another. But I'm also moving on, moving up, moving forward, moving things, moving around, moving out, moving in, but mostly just moving, moving, moving.

There is so much more involved with moving than just packing. For starters, there is the cleaning. When the curtains come down, they need to be washed. All the dishes that aren't used regularly need the dust removed, the drawers need to be cleaned out, the stove and refrigerator need wiping. Holes in the wall where pictures hung need to be patched and touched up. It's an endless series of chores.

Here are some vases that have been on the shelves for years, freshly washed and ready for the move.

And then there is the packing. When I look around at all my possessions, I feel overwhelmed. How did I acquire so much stuff, and how will I possibly move it all from here to there? After a big sigh, I begin the process of what I call The Assessment and Purge. The first step is to eliminate as many things as possible. You take a look at all your possessions and decide what you no longer want or need in your life. I tried asking the questions, "Do I like it?" "Do I want it?" "Do I need it?" "Will I use it?", but the answers were always the same: I do like it, I do want it, I don't need, and I may use it, but I'm not sure. So that didn't help. But what did help was to say, "I do like this item, but I've had it for a very long time, enjoyed it, and now I need to make room in my life, and this object needs a new home."

I washed my collection of Victorian house spice jars. Here they are drying on top of the stove, alongside two lamp shades freshly washed.

The tops are back on, and they're ready to be packed. I love these jars, and would never think of purging them from my possessions.

Then comes the purge. I don't think this is easy for anyone. It's difficult to give away perfectly good, useful items, or things that are pretty or interesting, or that have a pleasant memory associated with them. It's difficult to throw away gifts that were given with thoughtfulness from treasured friends. It feels like throwing away a part of yourself. But life is an evolutionary process, and if we cling too tightly to the past, we can't move into the future. And so you say goodbye to the pretty swag that once adorned a door, and to the jacket that you wore on so many walks in the woods, and to the cracked bowl that held popcorn on Saturday nights when you watched a scary movie with your big sister. Away they all go into a box to be sent to an unknown destination. And the strangest thing is, once they're gone, you don't miss them. Even as I write this, I'm having trouble remembering the things I packed away last night.

This is the result of my very successful purge. These boxes and bags will be carted away tomorrow.

And so it's time to move on....

New Digs

2010-01-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

With the holidays behind us, and our wedding only a few months away, we decided it was time to look for place for us to live together. We saw a few properties, but we fell in love with this beautiful two-family home not far from where we both live. It has everything we wanted: a great location, lots of space, lots of sun, with a sun porch and a front porch. Our lease begins on February 15th, so the next few weeks will involve lots of boxes and newspaper.

We will be living on the top two floors of this beautiful home.

This is the living room, with lots of windows. Notice the leaded glass windows on the left. The floors throughout the entire house are hardwood. The walls are painted a soft peachy color.

This is the spacious, eat-in kitchen. The stove pictured here has been removed and replaced with a new gas oven. I love the railings at the top of the cabinets. There is an small area at the top of the photo that will be perfect as an area for coffee. The refrigerator is in the corner.

Here's a close-up of this extra area, with a window that adds nice light.

This is one of the two full baths. I've always loved a shell-shaped sink.

This room on the second floor will be our office. It is very sunny, and the walls are painted a soft yellow.
Although you can't tell from this photo, this is a huge clothes closet, with poles on both sides.

This is one end of the master bedroom, but the room extends to the right where our bed will go.

We have a skylight over the bed.

The stairs from the second floor. I have the perfect piece of lace in mind for this window.

This small room is at the top of the entry stairs, and the door leads out to the front porch. We plan to make this a foyer area.

I think we'll be spending a lot of time on this front porch.

This is the first piece of furniture we purchased together. I found this lovely table in an antiques store, and Scott came to look at it. We think it will be perfect for the foyer room.

Dancing with the Stars

2010-01-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Scott and I have been taking ballroom dancing lessons at the Fred Astaire Studio. We love our classes. The studio has such a fun atmosphere, and you feel like you've entered a party every time you arrive for class. We take both group lessons and private lessons. We also love our teachers, who are very patient, and expert at teaching us the moves that will eventually turn us into dancers.

Recently, we attended a "showcase" event, where the more proficient students performed dance routines with the teachers. The event involved a fabulous dinner, wonderful performances by both the students and teachers, and then later the general audience was invited to dance.

A fellow student took this photo of us.

This is one of our teachers, Michael, dancing with one of the students.

This was quite the number!

Our teacher, Michael, is on his knees on the right side of the photo, and our other teacher, Erica is standing on the left.

You can see how nice the tables looked in preparation for our gourmet meal.

At the end of the evening, we all got up to show off the steps we had learned. We have found dancing to be such an enjoyable activity, that we plan to keep up with our lessons and make this a part of our lives.

Full Moon, Blue Moon, New Year

2010-01-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

The year 2009 has ended, and I look forward to this new decade, this new chapter, with wide eyes and happy anticipation for what is to come. The year was ushered in with a blue moon: two full moons in one month. The last time a blue moon occurred in January was 19 years ago. Although I'm not an astrologer, I believe this augers well for this new year.

We began New Years Eve day with attempting to go ice skating in the afternoon. Our friend, Peggy, works at Harvard University, and she often invites us to skate with her at Harvard's rink when it is open for general skating for Harvard personnel.

But when we arrived, a hockey game was in progress! (I guess someone forgot to update the schedule.)

So we decided to stay and watch the game. Although none of us know anything about hockey, we are all skating fans, and so we appreciated the seemingly effortless and skillful skating of the players.

It was snowing lightly as we left the rink, blanketing the trees with a pretty dusting of snow.

We regrouped with our friends later in the evening for a lovely dinner in their home. We drank champagne by a warming fire, and Peggy's husband, Rich, who is an expert cook, treated us to a delicious dinner of beef bourguignonne, while Peggy made a fabulous celery root salad. We spent the evening filled with great conversation, fabulous food, and lots of laughing, as we watched the ball descend in Times Square.

Happy New Year to all.

Wedding Rings

2009-11-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

We went to Boston to buy our wedding rings. The day was beautiful, and we walked through the Boston Common, through downtown Boston, to the Jeweler's Building. I had walked past this building many times, but this was my first time inside. It is such a strange and unique place -- an office building really, but the "offices" are actually jewelry stores. There are several floors, with a directory in the lobby. Unlike a mall, where you can stroll past storefronts, you need to know where you are going. We were given a recommendation for Barmakian Jewelers, and so we noted their office number and got on the elevator.

The building is quite old, and has managed to avoid renovations. The floors, walls, ceilings, and doors all speak of another time. I wonder how many engaged couples have made their way through this building through the decades in search of the rings that would seal their unions. I felt as if I was following in an age-old Boston tradition.

We located Barmakian Jewelers, but there were different offices for different jewelry needs. Engagement and wedding rings had their own office. So we walked down the hall, and pressed the door bell. (You don't just open the door and walk in. You have to ring the bell and be buzzed in.) Since my engagement ring is a beautiful pearl with a leaf design in the setting, we chose a vine design to encircle the ring, with leaves that reflected the leaf design on my engagement ring. I had to leave my ring there, so they could make a ring that would fit perfectly to my ring. Scott's ring has the same vine design. Our rings would be ready in one week.

After the Jeweler's Building, we took a walk along Charles Street, and then through the Boston Public Gardens. The day was beautiful, and the gardens were still in bloom.

We stopped to admire the adorable statues that depict the ducks from the book, Make Way for Ducklings. Of course, I liked the real ducks and geese.

This goose stopped to chat with me. We promised to visit him next week, when we return to pick up our rings.

After our walk, we stopped for drinks at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was a lovely, memorable day of shopping for wedding rings.

The Met and The Met

2009-11-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

Our weekend started with seeing the Metropolitan Opera's live HD broadcast of Turandot. It was a spectacular production crafted by Franco Zefirelli. The story is about a beautiful princess who asks three riddles of her suitors. If they do not answer the riddles correctly, they are beheaded. Many have tried and failed, but the intrepid Calef is smitten with the princess and is determined to win her hand. After several angst-filled and dramatic arias, he triumphs and they live happily ever after.

Following the opera, we went to one of our favorite restaurants: The Met in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. I started with a lemon drop martini, then we had the most delicious soup I've ever tasted. It was pumpkin soup with lobster. It may sound strange, but it was absolutely delicious.

A fabulous Saturday at The Met and The Met.

Gary

2009-09-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

We when went to Michigan in July, we stayed with Scott’s brother and sister-in law, and one of the highlights of our visit was meeting their neighbor, Gary. Since Gary lived next door, he would often stroll over for a visit when we were outside in our hosts’ lovely backyard. It was such a great treat when Gary showed up! He was delightful beyond words. Handsome only begins to describe him – he was athletic, agile, and clearly very intelligent. His eyes were mesmerizing, and his personality was so charming that he had a way of making everyone in his presence feel at ease and honored to have his attention.

One morning, Scott and I were up early, and from outside our bedroom window we heard our hosts say, “Hello, Gary,” so we dressed quickly in order not to miss his impromptu visit. We threw on some clothes and went outside, and Gary met us with his usual warm, cheerful, and enthusiastic greeting. We felt honored to be sought after by this charming neighbor.

In the evenings, when were sitting outside enjoying a lovely dinner, the night took on an entirely new tone when Gary showed up. “Oh, here comes Gary,” our hosts would announce, and suddenly everyone would perk up and seek out his company.

Gary had a way of focusing all the attention on himself, but no one minded, as he was so engaging, entertaining, and compelling. In addition to being interesting and intriguing, Gary also had a playful side to him, that made those in his company delight in looking at things through his eyes.

Although he did make himself available to us, he could also be elusive, and so I was happy that I was able to get a few photos of him, which I share below. When you see these photos you will see why we were so smitten.

I know, I'm very photogenic.

I like to stop by my neighbors' house at least once a day. They clearly enjoy my visits, and I'm happy to say hello.

This hose and lawn looks very interesting.

This guy loved visiting with me. I can't blame him -- I know I'm very cute and irrestible.

Although the resident, Bub, isn't that enthustiatic about my visits, I'm determined to win him over. I think I'm wearing him down.

The Children's Garden at MSU

2009-09-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Part of our tour at Michigan State University included a Children's Garden. This colorful and enchanting entrance invites visitors to enter.
This treehouse was inviting, despite its spider-like sides.

A perfect place to hang out on a summer's day.

Mr. Sheep looks calm and majestic.

The archway entrance to this garden is the perfect size for little ones, but adults have to stoop over to enter.

Peter Rabbit presides over this cabbage patch.

There is a verdigris frog perched on the stone in this pond.

The sunflowers were a bit past their prime, but beautiful nonetheless.

Wilbur, the peacock, ended our tour.

Michigan State University

2009-09-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

Scott and I had a busy summer, and one of the trips we took was to Michigan to visit Scott's brother and sister-in-law, both of whom are professors at Michigan State University. We had a very enjoyable visit, and spent one day touring the beautiful campus, which boasts spectacular gardens.

Dotted throughout the campus were beautiful hanging flower baskets like the one pictured here, that were massive in size.

The lovely, sweeping lawns provided beautiful vistas throughout the campus.
The roses were varied and and there were many rose beds to enjoy.

There was also a "learning garden," with hundreds of plants that were labeled with names and interesting facts.
I loved this big old tree, which presided over the Learning Garden.

Our day began to turn overcast, and it started to rain just as we were finishing our tour. It was perfect timing!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

2009-07-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

It’s been raining here in Boston for the past 23 days. The whole month of June seems a blur, like looking through a windowpane of raindrops. Occasionally the sun popped out for short visits, but then was gone again just as quickly. I actually love the rain and all its aspects, but the dampness, darkness, and cold are starting to outstay their welcome. I awoke last night to the banging of radiator pipes as the furnace in this old Victorian house kicked on. I was actually glad to hear the steam hissing, as I was curled up under the covers feeling a bit chilly. And then I remembered it’s July! The ceiling fan should be humming, and the sun should be pouring in the window as we think about 4th of July cookouts and fireworks this weekend. It seems a bit silly to complain about the weather, but I think 23 straight days of precipitation warrants a few moans.

This morning the rain was pounding on the roof, and cascades of water streamed from the overfilled gutters. The house was dark as thunder rumbled overhead. My cat, Whisper, who usually is tapping on my arm and meowing at the crack of dawn, decided to sleep in, curled up on the window seat near the warm radiator. We finally abandoned our soft bedding, and I turned on the lamps, giving our apartment a soft, cozy glow, while I made coffee and Whisper rubbed contentedly against my legs. It was such a pleasure to not have to venture out, and to enjoy the comfort of our home. I guess a rainy day isn’t so bad after all.

And the Winner Is...

2009-07-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Sherborn Inn. It's a lovely New England Inn, located in the restored residence of Colonel Samuel Bullard (1733-1807). The Dining Room is very elegant, and the food is fabulous. We think it will be the perfect setting for our intimate reception.

More Wedding Venues

2009-06-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Unable to find the perfect location for our wedding on the south shore of Boston, we took at trip to the north shore to Newburyport.

We looked at a very beautiful and elegant room, and the room itself was perfect...

the size was just right, we loved the green color on the walls, and the large windows and curtain treatments were lovely.

But this beautiful room was located on the top floor of a very unattractive office building! And the only parking was in a municipal lot, and we had difficulty finding a spot on a weekday afternoon. We knew that Saturday afternoon parking in beautiful Newburyport would be an impossibility, and our guests would end up driving around looking for spaces. So our search continued. But first a stop for lunch at one of the seafood eateries by the shore.

Although our trip didn't result in finding our perfect wedding location, we enjoyed our day of scouting. And so our search continues....

Wedding Venues

2009-06-20T10:16:00.001-07:00

It's not easy finding the right place for your wedding. Some places are too big; some too small; some don't allow dancing; some allow dancing, but only with a live musicians and no dj's; some are difficult to travel to; some don't have parking; some come with a wedding coordinator, but some don't; some provide food services, others don't; some only provide outdoor settings; some have both outdoor and indoor settings...the list is endless. And so Scott and I have been looking, looking, looking.

First, we began by looking at places by the ocean. The first place we went to see was a restored lighthouse keeper's house. We liked the idea of an historic building by the ocean, but getting there wasn't all that easy. The road to Cohasset twists and turns through numerous cities and towns, and we feared all our out-of-town guests would get hopelessly lost.

The view of the ocean from the front terrace was very pleasant.

The backyard was also very pleasant, and we thought about having our ceremony out there, but I am very anxious about our New England weather.

There was a beautiful porch for the cocktail reception.

And a charming front veranda overlooking the ocean.

But ultimately we decided the room was too small for dining and dancing, and we decided to keep looking.

So we went down the road a bit to another, larger room in a restaurant. The views of the ocean from this room were spectacular.

But the room was more suited to larger gatherings, and it lacked warmth and charm.

The "walls" on the left are actually garage-type doors that can be raised to open up the adjoining room for very large weddings. It wasn't the look we were going for. So our search continues....

Tea at the Library

2009-06-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, my friend, Jill, asked me to go with her to afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library. She wanted to scope out the new room for a possible tea for our tea group.

This is the new elegant dining room at the Library. It's an oasis in the middle of the busy city. The large flower bowl is filled with white orchids.

The beautiful Palladian windows overlook the courtyard.

The peaceful courtyard in the middle of the old McKim Building provides a peaceful setting away from the bustle of the busy streets. Years ago, when I worked in Copley Square, I would often come here during my lunch hour.

This is a photo of my friend, Jill. The tea was quite delicious, and as you can see, the only items left on the etagere are a flower garnish and the dishes that contained the clotted cream and marmalde. Our scouting expedition was quite successful, and we agreed this would be a perfect place for our tea group.

Proposal

2009-06-05T06:56:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday my sweet Scott surprised me by proposing to me on the beach in Sandwich. We have known for some time that we would marry, but the “official” proposal with a ring had not yet taken place. I had no idea that it would happen on Saturday. We walked across the boardwalk to the beach late in the day. There were only a few scattered people on the beach, and most of them were packing up to leave. We walked along the shore for a while, and then sat down on the sand to watch and listen to the waves and smell the salt air. We were talking and laughing as usual, when suddenly a beautiful pearl ring appeared in front of me and Scott asked me if I would be his wife. I was so surprised and very happy.

But then a remarkable event took place. A woman walked up to us seemingly from out of nowhere. She said she had been taking photos of us because we looked so happy, and she offered to send them to us via email. She had no idea of the special moment she had captured. When we returned home from the Cape, there were the photos in my email, and I would like to share this treasured moment with you.

Here we are, alone at the beach, talking and enjoying the ocean.

We're chatting and laughing, as usual.

This is the moment after Scott proposed.

If you look close, you can see the surprise on my face.

If you zoom in, you can see the ring on my pinky finger (it's a bit small and has to be sized).

Sealed with a kiss.

A magical, special moment in our lives.

We are very grateful to this stranger, who must have been very sensitive to have picked up on the aura we must have been giving off. We were two strangers on the beach, with our backs to her, in our own private world. I think this occurrence is a testimony that the power of love does emanate to others in the world and they are profoundly touched by it. I can see the joy that others feel when we announce our engagement, and it is a privilege to be able to share our love with others.

The Mayor of Sandwich

2009-06-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Scott and I went to Sandwich at Cape Cod. After checking in to our Inn, we went for a stroll down the main street in town to do some window shopping. As we began our walk, we encountered an orange and white cat walking straight down the middle of the sidewalk! It's quite unusual to see a cat walking a straight line down a main sidewalk, and we were so impressed with this unusual feline, that I took a photo of him.

Here's "The Mayor" on his rounds about town.

The next day, we packed our bags and were getting ready to check out of the Inn. We had the door to our room open slightly, as we were preparing to put our bags in the car, when who should stroll right in to our room? It was the Mayor himself! He casually walked right in and strutted about the room as if he belonged there.

Here's the Mayor paying us a visit.

We would have liked to have spent more time visiting with His Honor, but we had to check out, but not before Scott gave our visitor a thank-you pat for his thoughtful visit.

As Scott gently put him down on the porch among the wisteria petals, you can just imagine our friend thinking, "Hmmm, whom should I visit next?"

Rhododendron Sunday on Cape Cod

2009-06-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

Our Sunday began with a lavish brunch at the Dan'l Webster Inn. We joined the tea group that I belong to for this occasion. The food was fantastic and included two carving stations for beef and turkey, an omelet station, and other delectible entrees such as eggs Benedict, seafood crepes, stuffed haddock, pasta, sausage, and bacon. There was also a table with cheeses and fresh fruits, and varied pastries and breakfast breads. And the desserts -- carrot cake, flourless chocolate cake, cheesecake, tarts, brownies, cookies -- the list goes on.

After brunch, the tea group went to the Heritage Plantation in Sandwich. The Rhododendron Festival was in full swing, and the plants were spectacular.

A beautiful walk with spectacular rhodies.

This looks like a great place to stop for a while.

We loved the ivory color of this rhodie.

In addition to beautiful flowers, Heritage Plantation also has other interesting things to see, including a maze of flowers, an antique automobile museum, and this windmill.

There was also a restored carousel, and Scott and I jumped on two of the horses and took a spin. It's been quite a long time since I've ridden on a carousel!

Here is Scott enjoying his ride.

This was my noble steed.

I loved the cat with the fish in his mouth.

We could have spent a lot more time exploring Heritage Plantation, but the sky began to turn dark, and it was time to get back to Boston to see our own kitties.

Saturday on Cape Cod

2009-06-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Scott and I went to Sandwich, Massachusetts for the weekend. Sandwich is the oldest town on Cape Cod, having been incorporated in 1639. We stayed at a beautiful, old Inn and we had a lovely room, complete with a fireplace and a king-size bed that required a step stool to climb up on.

This is a picture of the front of the Inn.

Outside our room, we had a lovely porch, with wisteria hanging down. The smell from the wisteria was fabulous, and we sat here on Sunday morning and enjoyed our coffee as the gentle breezes blew the fragrance of the flowers.

Then we set off for lunch, and had a delicious meal at The Belfry Inn, a restaurant and inn that had been converted from a church.

After lunch, we went to explore the town. Our first stop was the Dexter Grist Mill.

Then we came upon an cemetery, with many of the stones dating back to the 1600s.

The cemetery was bordered by a beautiful lake.

Then we went to the Sandwich Glass Museum, and saw a demonstration of glass blowing and glass pressing. The museum was quite interesting, with many examples of glass through the centuries. I took this photo of lamp bases because the one in the middle very closely resembles a pair of lamps that I own. You can see a bit of my reflection in the glass as I took the photograph.

After our walk about town, we went back to the Inn and sat in the gazebo and admired the lovely gardens.

After a brief rest, we set off for "Boardwalk Beach," so named because of the boardwalk that stretches over 1,000 feet across marshes to the beach. The original boardwalk was destroyed by Hurricane Bob in 1991, but through a grassroots effort, the boardwalk was re-built by contributions from individuals and local businesses.

Some beautiful beach plums leading to the beach.

The beach at last! It was so beautiful to be by the water on such a pleasant day.

Later the evening, we had a lovely dinner at The Conservatory Restaurant at the Inn. The Conservatory was open to the sky, and we watched the sun set as we enjoyed our meal. But tomorrow is another day on Cape Cod, and we still have lots to look forward to.

A Candlelit Memorial

2009-05-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, our friend hosted a memorial tribute for her husband who died last summer. The memorial began with a reception at the All Newton Music School, where she and her husband were active members of the Board of Trustees. The program began with a wonderful jazz trio, followed by modern pieces on the piano. The highlight of the program was a performance by the renown violinist and conductor, Joseph Silverstein, who played a Bach piece on an actual Stradivarius violin. It was a great honor to hear this talented musician play this rare violin in such an intimate setting.

The reception was followed by a dinner at our friend’s nearby home. At one point, all the guests were invited to assemble by the swimming pool, and each guest lighted a small floating candle to place in the pool as a personal remembrance of the deceased. It was a lovely way of honoring and remembering the person who had died, as it gave everyone a chance to participate in the ceremony, and the lights floating in the pool in the moonlight evening were a earthly representation of the light his life brought to the world.

The candles floating in the pool reminded me of the candles we light on a person’s birthday to celebrate their birth, and the lighting of the candles to celebrate this man’s death seem appropriate and meaningful.

In Search of Warblers

2009-05-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Scott and I got up early, and met up with a group of birders and an instructor from the Massachusetts Audubon Society at the beautiful Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge to set off on an expedition to find warblers. This time of year is when they undertake their long migration north and pass through this part of the world on their exhausting journey.

Mt. Auburn Cemetary is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, with magnificant landscaping, unusual trees and plantings, and interesting sculptures. This is one of the pretty vistas from atop a hill.Another beautiful vista. The memorial in the background is for Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science religion.

This inviting path leads to one of the ponds. It was so pleasant being at such a beautiful place on such a beautiful day early in the morning. I hope we see a warbler.

This looks like a perfect place for warblers, but I don't see any yet.

Mt. Auburn is one of the loveliest cemeteries in the country, maintained by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and is home to some of the most spectacular and rare species of trees.

This magnificant beech tree sits near one of the ponds.

If I were a bird, I'd like to take up residence in this gorgeous cherry blossom tree.

This serene weeping tree provides a cool, shaded spot.

It seemed that everyone in our group (with the exception of Scott and I) were expert birders. They were finding birds left and right, and were very kind in pointing them out to us, showing us photos from their bird guides, and helping us locate the birds in the trees.

Oh, look, a robin. That was one bird I could identify!

We did see some interesting birds, including a white bellied gnat-catcher. We also saw a great horned owl, and we located the nest of a red-tailed hawk high up in an evergreen tree in the forest section of the cemetery. We also saw four red tails hawks circling on rising winds, and we saw a robin sitting on her nest in one of the trees.

We spotted a woodchuck, but he was too quick for my camera, and we saw mallards swimming in one of the ponds. There were some snapping turtles swimming and sunning in this beautiful pond. I wonder where those warblers are.

This pond looks like a perfect place for a warbler to light.

The heavy stones marking these graves are no match for the strong roots of this tree.

After two hours of climbing, hiking, walking, standing, watching, looking, and listening, we finally ended our expedition in search of the very elusive warbler. We had a lovely spring morning, but we never did see the object of our quest. But, no matter, as we can always try again next year.

Spring Has Sprung

2009-04-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Flowers, warm breezes, birds singing, color after so many months of brown and grey…spring has arrived!

Because of the warm temperatures yesterday, I went to bed with all my windows open, and this morning I awoke to the smell of fresh air, spring blossoms, and the sound of birds singing. The crocuses and daffodils heralded spring’s arrival several weeks ago, but it was still chilly and damp when they first made their appearance. But now it is warm, and everything has popped open. The buds on the trees are green, the cherry blossom trees and magnolias have sprung to life, and the entire world rejoices in this miracle of renewal and rebirth.

In a recent walk at the Garden in the Woods (a beautiful sanctuary of wildflowers in Framingham, Massachusetts) we saw the first wildflowers of the season, and in the pond we saw a sack of salamander eggs about ready to pop and release the new generation. It was so nice to be outdoors without heavy jackets and gloves, and to see the beginning of what would soon be an explosion of growth.

I have a spectacular forsythia bush outside my front door, and the expanse of brilliant yellow color is a joyful greeting each day. I planted pansies in the window box that sits on the porte-cochere, and they too offer a pleasant hello each time I step outside.

What can be better than a Sunday morning, with the windows open, the fresh air filling the room, the birds tweeting outside, a cup of coffee, and the Sunday newspaper to peruse? Later, Scott and I are going to a concert of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Our friends’ son, Nathan, is a very talented cellist, and we are going to hear him play. What a lovely Sunday….

Patriots Day 2009

2009-04-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

I live in Arlington, Massachusetts, one of the earliest settlements of colonists in North America. It is located between Cambridge and Lexington, and I live on the original route that Paul Revere took when he left from Old North Church in Boston and galloped through the countryside warning the militia that “the Regulars were coming.” Every year, on Patriots Day, this famous ride is reenacted, and people gather along the route to cheer him on.

Here comes Paul galloping up Appleton Street.

He stops to chat with my boyfriend, Scott. I think he's telling him to load his musket.

He doesn't seem all that concerned about the impending skirmish!

Return from the Abyss

2009-03-11T04:03:00.000-07:00

It was a week ago today that it hit: the dreaded stomach bug. It started in the morning, and lasted almost 24 hours. I can’t remember ever being quite that sick before. The next day I started drinking water and clear chicken broth, and then on Friday I progressed to jello. But by Saturday I was almost back to normal, just in time to enjoy a day of opera.

Scott and I went to the Met’s matinee of Madama Butterfly, which was telecast live in selected theaters. It was a fabulous production. The set was stark, yet effective, and part of the production included the use of puppets, which was very interesting and unusual. The day was warm, and it was so nice to get out of the house and smell the clear spring-like air, after being inside and sick for several days. After the opera, we went to dinner, and I had my first meal since Wednesday. It was especially yummy.

The weather on Sunday continued warm, so we went for a long walk on the bicycle trail near my home. We walked past an old, historic mill close to where I live, and stopped to watch the water coursing over the rocks. The warm weather made me long for spring and the end of the cold and snow. But later that night, it started snowing again, and by morning we had several more inches on the ground. But I’ve started “thinking spring,” knowing it won’t be long....

Jane Austen and Oscar

2009-02-24T11:16:00.001-08:00

The Jane Austen Book and Film Club that I belong to took a hiatus last year after reading our second book, Sense and Sensibility, but on Saturday we re-convened for a viewing of the film. Deborah was our host at her beautiful home in Concord, Massachusetts. When we arrived she had a delicious assortment of fruit and veggies, along with dips and a party mix. Lori Lee brought a fabulous home-made dessert, and Deborah made a big pot of Earl Grey tea. We took our lovely dishes and cups to her family room, where she had made a cozy, warming fire in the fireplace. Then we settled down for a wonderful film adaptation of this enjoyable book. Emma Thompson played the part of Eleanor (she also wrote the screenplay), and Kate Winslet played the part of the more emotional sister, Marianne. Hugh Grant was the charming Edward Ferris character, and Alan Rickman played the love-thwarted Colonel Barton. The scenes from the English countryside were spectacular, as were the indoor settings and costumes. It was a lovely afternoon, and we left with our next assignment to read Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's house in Chawton, England. I took this picture when I visited there last June.

Some photos of Jane Austen's garden at Chawton.

On Sunday morning, Scott and I went to a very popular breakfast place called “Sound Bites” in Somerville, Massachusetts. There is always a long line outside on the sidewalk waiting for a seat, but standing in line is part of the fun. It was a relatively mild day (45 degrees), so we didn’t mind the wait. The breakfast fare is the best imaginable, and the portions are huge. After breakfast, we went for a walk around the historic Powder House Square area.

We walked through the park that commemorates the site where the colonists stored gunpowder. In 1774, British Troops seized 250 barrels of gunpowder that were stored there. This seizure prompted thousands of colonists to prepare to march toward Boston for battle, one of the events that led to the Revolutionary War. After this occurrence, the colonists moved their stores of weapons to more remote areas, like Concord.

As it was Academy Awards Night, we popped some popcorn, and settled in on the couch to enjoy the telecast. We watched the celebrities arrive, and followed along with our scorecard, trying to guess who would take home the coveted Oscar. Slumdog Millionaire was named Best Picture. We saw this movie some time ago, and enjoyed it very much. We also liked Milk, and thought Sean Penn’s award as Best Actor was well deserved.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-16T10:37:00.001-08:00

I have always loved Valentine's Day. What a wonderful holiday that celebrates love! When I was a child I loved cutting out heart shapes from red construction paper, and embellising them with white paper doilies and bits of ribbon, beads, threads, petals, and leaves, and any other trim that I could find from my mother's sewing bags.

On Saturday, my Scott arrived with a dozen beautiful red roses, as well as few other special treats. We had a lovely dinner at Il Capriccio, an renown Italian restaurant in Waltham, MA. We had a private table for two, and we started with sparkling wine and an appetizer of steamed mussels. Scott has his favorite, bolognaise, for dinner, and I had lobster and monkfish. We had a delicious wine with dinner, a melange of desserts to end our meal. Everything was very yummy.

I don't know how long those candies with the sayings on them have been around, but I remember them from my childhood. Our table at the restaurant was sprinkled with these candies, as well as other decorations, and Scott handed me the one that said "my girl," which I've kept as a keepsake of our special night.

A Cultural Weekend

2009-02-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, Scott and I attended a performance of The Metropolitan Opera's Lucia di Lammermoor. It was a high-def presentation at a local theater, but broadcast live from the Met in New York. I love these broadcasts, as it gives you the feeling of almost being there, and you are able to see backstage during the intermissions. Watching the stage hands disassemble the previous set and assemble the upcoming scene is quite a spectacular sight.

This presentation of Lucia was staged as a "Victorian ghost story." I loved the sets and Victorian costumes, and the final act had a big full moon as the backdrop. The story is something of a "Romeo and Juliet" theme, with lovers thwarted by warring families, and it has a similar, dramatic and tragic ending.

Then on Sunday,we went to a performance of the Hubbard Dance Company of Chicago at the Majestic Theater in Boston. We had great seats on the floor, and the dances were very imaginative and exuberant. After the performance, we walked to the South End to the restaurant "28 degrees," where we had drinks and hor'dourves. It's a very unusual restaurant, with a water theme as the decor. The food was delicious and unusual. A very fun (and cultural!) weekend.

New Kitties!

2009-02-06T18:31:00.001-08:00

A friend brought home two kitties from a shelter this past weekend, so, of course, Scott and I were quite eager to meet them. Sophie and Stella are beautiful sisters, who have already adapted to their new home. Their markings are unusual, with white bodies, but color on their faces and tails. Stella has caramel-orange markings, while Sophie is black and white. They are both playful, affectionate, and of course, very curious. They were very happy to have company, and were quite sociable. Stella curled up on my lap for a nap later in the day, and I felt like an honored guest to have been so chosen.

Sophie comes out to greet her guests.

Stella emerges from a cat nap on the dining room chairs.

Sophie endures hugs and kisses from Scott, but is eager to resume exploring her new home.

Stella will outdoubtedly be spending many afternoons in this sunny spot.

They have found a beautiful home with lots of windows, sunlight, and plenty of love.

Robert Burns Tea in Kennebunk

2009-02-02T14:27:00.001-08:00

On Saturday I attended a tea commemorating the 250th birthday of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. One of the members of my tea group hosted the event in her beautiful home in Kennebunk. Some of the ladies dressed for the occasion in Scottish regalia, which made the event quite interesting and festive.

One of the highlights of the tea was a performance by a bagpiper, who played several traditional songs, and then gave a brief talk about the history and traditions surrounding bagpipes.

The tea and food were exceptionally delicious, and included shepherd’s pie, as well as many other delectables, and the table settings were beautiful.

The day ended with a reading of a few of Robert Burns’s poems, including my favorite: A Red, Red Rose. Here is an anglicized snippet:

My love is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June.
My love is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.

As a parting gift, we were given a beautiful minature rose plant. It was a lovely and memorable day.

Skating Away

2009-01-28T13:07:00.000-08:00

A few blogs ago I mentioned I was taking ice skating lessons at our local rink. My first lesson was a great success. There were 12 adults in the class, and although I expected our teacher to be young, she is actually 78 years old(!), which is a lesson for all of us that skating has no age limits. Clearly she had spent many years teaching hapless adults how to navigate the slippery surface of the ice.

She began by lining us up against the boards and showing us how to “push off.” Then we turned to face the frightful expanse of treacherous, slippery ice, without anything to grab onto, and off we went. We were all a bit wobbly at first, but as the lesson progressed we started to get the hang of moving upright (with knees bent, of course!) across the ice. Somewhere toward the end of the class I felt like I was “getting it.” The teacher took my hands and skated backwards, and I felt like I was an ice star, gliding effortlessly and easily. The lesson had met my most optimistic expectations.

Yesterday I had my second lesson, where we attempted to learn “cross overs” and skating backwards. It’s clearly going to take several more lessons before we can even approximate any move that resembles these maneuvers, but at least we’re attempting it. Our teacher is patient, encouraging, and helpful, and with more practice, I’m sure we will all be gliding effortlessly around the rink.

Scott's Birthday Weekend

2009-01-26T06:04:00.000-08:00

Saturday was Scott’s birthday, and we went to La Campania, a very lovely restaurant in Waltham to celebrate. Our tiny table for two was against a wall in a small room at the back of the restaurant, and adjacent to our table was beautiful bouquet of red tulips on a small serving table. It was very romantic, and we felt like we were in our own world. Also in our room was a round table with six people who were also celebrating a birthday. Shortly after we were seated, another couple arrived. The man was an extremely tall, Black person, who apparently was a celebrity of sorts, as all the people from the round table had their photos taken with him. Scott and I didn’t recognize him, and the next day I looked up Boston Celtics players on the web (we assumed he must be a basketball player because of his height), but I didn’t see him among the roster, so our celebrity remains a mystery man. Our food and wine were fantastic. For dessert, we ordered a chocolate torte to share, and since I had casually mentioned to our waitress that it was Scott’s birthday, the chef put a single candle in a sliced strawberry and wrote “Happy Birthday” with chocolate on the edge of the plate.

Earlier in the day, Whisper and I wrapped a gift for Scott, and I’ve included some photos of her “helping” with the ribbon, and giving a final tug to the finished bow to assure a pleasing presentation.

On Sunday we had a lovely breakfast of bacon and eggs, as we still had bacon left over from our inauguration day breakfast. Later we went to the movies with one of our friends to see “The Wrestler,” a very powerful film with an award-winning performance by Mickey Rourke, and then we went to our friends’ house for wine and cheese and delicious spanaikopita hor’dourves. Rich made a beautiful fire in the fireplace, and it was very cozy sitting around the fire with our wine and food, enjoying each other’s company. It was a lovely weekend that seemed to end all too soon.

Inauguration Day

2009-01-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

On inauguration Day I had some friends over for a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, pumpkin waffles with butter pecan syrup, and fresh squeezed orange juice. This was a day to celebrate and share with friends, and that’s exactly what we did. As we ate breakfast, we watched the preliminary activities as the office of president began to shift from the old regime to the new one. We enjoyed all the pomp and ceremony, and reflected on our good fortune to live in this country of hope, promise, and opportunity. At noon, after President Obama was sworn in, we popped open a bottle of champagne and toasted to our new leader and to the renewed hope he brings to our country.

I was overwhelmed with emotion at President Obama’s thoughtful, eloquent, and inspiring Inaugural Address. We continued to watch the day’s activities long into the night, ending with the inaugural balls. It was a day of joy and celebration, and one I feel blessed to have witnessed and to have shared with friends.

Snow Storm on January 17

2009-01-21T06:08:00.000-08:00

We had another snow storm this past weekend. It was predicted to begin in the late morning, but when we got up early on Sunday morning, we already had about six inches. There is something so cozy about being “snowed in” on a Sunday morning. We made breakfast and luxuriated on the couch knowing we didn’t have to shovel out to get to work. I went out later in the afternoon to take a few photos and clean off my car. Then, we had another snow storm during the night! We got about a foot of snow in total. The snow was the light, fluffy kind that easily brushed off the cars. Then it warmed up, and we had a bit of a melt, creating giant icicles hanging from my house, giving it an ice palace look.

Tap Dancing

2009-01-13T05:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I attended a class in PhotoShop at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. During a break in the class, I was drinking my chai latte in the corridor when I heard a piano playing, accompanied by intriguing, rhythmic, thumping sounds coming from a room at the end of the corridor. The closed doors had pull handles on them, and although I knew this was a private class, I was so desirous of finding out what activity could possibly be making such a sound, that I pulled the door open a tiny crack and peeked inside. What I saw was a room full of people tap dancing in unison in a very intricate series of steps. It was a sight so joyful and unexpected, and the fact that this group of people had gathered in this place on a Monday afternoon to tap dance gave me a surging feeling of hope for our world.

Ice Skating

2009-01-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I am taking an ice skating lesson. It may seem a bit late in life for a lesson, but it’s really a refresher course, as I loved to skate as a child and young adult. Recently I thought I would get back to enjoying this activity after many years of not skating, fully expecting my skating skills to return after a few laps around the rink, but my body has forgotten how to move without being stiff and fearful. And so I thought a lesson or two would be just the thing to jog my body’s memory. This theory remains to be proved.

I’ve always loved to ice skate. One of my earliest memories is skating with my big sister at the local high school football field, which became flooded every winter. I had just turned five years old, and it was always a treat to spend time with my sister, without parents in sight. I had on a pair of adult skates, and was wearing multiple pairs of socks, with additional pairs stuffed into the toe to make them fit. When I was growing up, this was how you learned to skate – with any pair of old skates that were in the basement or back hall. No one I knew had “children’s skates,” and certainly no one ever took lessons, as the entire object of ice skating was simply to have fun. We didn’t know there was such a thing as proper techniques. We didn’t wear helmets, but the layers of clothes our mother made us wear in winter were sufficient padding to prevent most injuries.

It was cold, and so much fun to be outside on a weekend day. I remember the swirling chaos of clothing colors against the white backdrop of the ice and snow covered trees that surrounded the field. I also remember how strange and silly it felt to be walking on these blades, and I’m sure my feet were angled inward as I navigated the slippery surface with the edge of the boot and the edge of the blade forming a pyramid-shaped platform.

Toward the end of the afternoon, I began to get the hang of gliding on the blades, but I still hadn’t mastered any skill at stopping or changing direction, and so I ended up gliding helplessly right into a foot of icy water near the edge of the ice. To this day I remember the shock of the freezing water feeling like an intense burning sensation. This dunk put an end to our day of skating, as my sister took off my skates and stuffed my freezing, soaking wet, and somewhat numb feet into my rubber boots. As I walked home, chunks of ice formed and clung to the several pairs of wool socks I was wearing, and my boots became full of slushing, freezing water as the heat from my feet melted the ice.

The important thing about this incident was not to let our mother find out, because having wet feet in the winter was about as serious a sin as could be committed, compounded by the transgression of an older sibling not looking after the younger one. So on the way home, we cleverly concocted our plan of emptying the water out of my boots while still outside, entering the house through the basement, leaving boots, skates, socks, mittens and all wet clothing on the banister to dry out, and entering the house happy, cheerful, with rosy cheeks and smiles. Our plan worked perfectly, and despite the chilly emersion, we shared a memorable day of winter skating.

Birthday

2009-01-06T06:15:00.000-08:00

Today is my 57th birthday. Yikes, it sounds like such a big number, and I certainly don’t feel like the age this number represents. In “delusional years” I think I’m about 34. Maybe 36. Actually, a lot about my birthday doesn’t seem quite right. My astrological sign is Capricorn, represented pictorially by a goat. The accompanying picture shows a goat with a fish tail, and this I find particularly apt, as I am tenacious and earth bound, but I am also at home in the water. Apparently I have a dual-personality.

My astrological personality is more problematic. True Capricorns are driven by ambition, with a single-minded goal to climb to the top of their profession. Their physical characteristics are “tall, thin, and gaunt, with a slim build,” and they furnish their home either to impress or in an extremely Spartan decor.

My actual profile (really, ask anyone who knows me) is quite the opposite. I am the antithesis of tall, gaunt, and slim, more accurately resembling a soft ball of dough ready to be plumped into a dumpling. My home is designed for comfort, and as for my career…let’s just say I haven’t decided on one yet.

Scott is taking me to Flora, a local restaurant, for dinner tonight. I’m looking forward to going there, as I have heard many lovely things about it, and since it’s in my neighborhood, people often ask me about it. After tonight I will be able to respond with actual information.

New Year's Day

2009-01-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

The first day of the New Year was bitterly cold and windy. Scott and I started our day at an open house at the beautifully restored Victorian home of my historian friend, Richard Duffy. Then we were off to a lovely concert of Handel and Bach performed by Boston Baroque at Sanders Theater in Memorial Hall at Harvard University. I am always overwhelmed by the beauty and magnificence of Memorial Hall, and I think Sanders Theater is one of the most beautiful places to hear music because of its warmth and intimacy. It was a memorable concert, and a beautiful way to begin the New Year.

Today, the day after New Year’s, I filed for unemployment, having recently lost my job. Then I went swimming at my health club. I have been away from the pool for almost two weeks because of Christmas, and then because I was sick. It felt soooo good to return to the water. Swimming not only helps my body feel good, but it also restores my spirit. Tonight, Scott is coming over to snuggle and watch a movie (The Visitor). The year is off and running….

New Year's Eve

2009-01-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

The last day of 2008 seems an auspicious day to begin my blog. We’re having another snowstorm in New England as we say goodbye to 2008. My boyfriend and I had plans to spend the evening with friends, but since we've been sick over the past few days, and I’m on antibiotics for a recent sinus infection and bad cold, we thought it best to postpone. I would love to spend the evening staying in and watching a movie with Scott, but fear of getting sick has detoured these plans as well. And so I will curl up with my cat, Whisper, and look forward to tomorrow and a new year.

Since it’s New Year’s Eve, it seems appropriate to reflect on the year about to end. The first part of 2008 seems somewhat of a blur, and generally uneventful, but the second half was full of changes, challenges, accomplishments, and happiness. My trip to England in June was a high point. I went to Stratford-on-Avon to experience Shakespeare first-hand. It was a dream of a lifetime, and it fully lived up to my every expectation.

Then, after a year of sadness after the death of my sister, I started to live again. I began by going back to my source: the swimming pool. Exercise helped jump-start both my body and psyche, and in August I decided to shed the unhealthy and unwanted extra pounds I’ve been carrying around for so long. Weight Watchers provided the program, and as of this writing I’ve lost 40 pounds. I feel so much healthier and happier.

In May I met Scott, who has become an important part of my life. The time we spend together is full of laughter, love, learning, and nurturing growth. He brings me great happiness, and our relationship feels comfortable, natural, and perfectly right.

My job of 3+ years officially ends today. It was a “good job” by objective standards: good salary, excellent benefits, little stress, in a beautiful location across from the Cambridge Reservoir, but it was working against my being happy, fulfilled, and achieving any sense of accomplishment. It felt wrong, and to not try for what feels right seemed cowardly. It is fearful to leave the safe world of a paycheck and health insurance, but off I go to find a place that is nurturing and sustaining.

So although I begin this new year with the next leg of my journey uncharted, I set off optimistic, with a sense of moving in the right direction, knowing I'm in a good place, and following my heart’s compass, which I know is pointing true north.