Memorial Day Weekend

There's something magical about Spring and Summer mornings - especially when everything is new and wearing that shade of "new green." I'm always mesmerized by the morning light as it is filtered through the trees - so I found myself the other morning transfixed at the front door, a steaming cup of aromatic coffee in my hand, the still-cool breeze gently teasing the wind chimes, the birds raucous in the trees - raising a din and then falling silent. No cars. No people. Just peace and warmth and Spring - all captured in a moment.


Ah, Memorial Day Weekend - the American starters flag that signals the kickoff of the Summer season. A 3 day weekend of barbecuing, gardening, drinking and lovely times spent outside in the sun.

It's also the start of the great lumbering migration out of the cities and into "the country." (i.e., anything above the Bronx). From now thru the first weekend in September, the roads and highways up here in "the country" will be jammed with pleasure seekers heading from their concrete canyons to their weekend homes in the Catskills or the Adirondacks. Curbs and parking lots in small, quaint towns will be awash in a sea of yellow New Jersey license plates and SUVs with Manhattan dealership decals on their rear.

As for us - we're staying put. What we love about where we live is that it's close enough to things to be convenient - yet far out enough to be peaceful and quiet.

So every new season can be like a getaway.

We can take shady walks - or stretch out on the hammock...

Take in glorious local color

Wander though lush, manicured gardens...

Let the kids sunbathe and not have to worry about them for a while...


Enjoy quirky finds...


Listen to the sounds of nature (this guy was belting out like nobody's business!)...


And partake of cocktails and local food specialties on a gracious veranda.


So, we plan to have a lovely local getaway this weekend - one where we won't have to pack a suitcase, drive any distance, or even change our shoes.

I hope you are having a similarly wonderful weekend, wherever you are.

Ciao, darlings.