Blog

How fortunate I feel to have been able to spend an extended Thanksgiving holiday with my family and friends.  It was great to get away and clear my head.  The morning sunrises over Gourdneck Lake, MI were spectacular Sunrise on the lake As great as our vacation was, I celebrated when our plane flew over Rockaway beach, “there’s no place like home” View from our widow seat as we approached…  Read more

Thanksgiving, a time of reflection, we/I have so much to be thankful for, not just at this time of year, but throughout the year.  I wonder why we focus on our disappointments. Two weeks ago the Powerball was 1.6 billion dollars, our office bought tickets as a group in all our locations: Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey.  We didn’t win, but it was fine as we played for fun,…  Read more

I am thrilled to say that this week’s post is short and sweet as I am still on site at what I consider the most important conference I attend annually for the last 15+ years.  We are live at the Crest Hollow Country Club for the first time since November 2019 and it’s been too long.  It’s great to be back in person, I could feel the energy in every…  Read more

Sending best wishes and our thanks to our veterans and their families this Veteran’s day 2022.  We salute you and appreciate your courage and service to our country. Just this morning I received several “Remember Our Veterans” emails, I am borrowing this one from my California realtor Jackie Kurth who included this quote from  Elmer Davis an American news reporter, author and the Director of the US Office of War Information…  Read more

Halloween in NYC this year was overcast and a bit rainy so we only had a few “trick or treaters”; a wonderful treat for me was hearing a lovely childhood memory from my husband (see this week’s Take Away).  I am hoping you had many cute visitors, wore your own creative costume, or accompanied your own “trick or treaters”  through the neighborhood, maybe you still have some candy to share.…  Read more

I have been hearing “10 year Hurricane Sandy Survivor Stories” on the radio these last few days.  As one myself I have many memories of the how hard  it was to literally dig out from the sand deposited by the ocean while emptying  rooms of furniture, clothing, sheetrock, etc., destroyed by salt water. I know people love hearing the stories of how communities came together to work with neighbors, friends,…  Read more

Tax season is finally over and I love having more free time again.   I am back to taking walks on the beach where the sunrise is great, even on a foggy day, but nothing beats the amazing colors of fall foliage… Thank you Jeff and Emily for sharing this amazing shot from Telluride, Colorado, safe travels home. Thank you Ilene for sending me some great photo’s from your walk on…  Read more

The sukkot dinner Sunday evening was really lovely, with special red wine from the Ukraine for toasting and blessings I have also joined in for the  daily ritual of shaking the lulav and etrog.  The first 2 and last 2 days are the most strict, so I waited until Wednesday for photos. It was really nice to understand the meaning behind the traditions. Even as I am getting tired of picking, photographing, and…  Read more

All this rain brought me another 100+ fig week and I am so glad that I can trade my figs for my friend’s heirloom tomatoes… We are doing some work on my house (yes finally finishing our kitchen); the other day one of the carpenters explained that my figs and fig tree saved his hand:  he relayed that he was out in our backyard, smashed his finger with a tool,…  Read more

My fingers are crossed as I watch the weather and Hurricane Ian’s path.  Myriam is up in NY; she is safe and visiting with me, but her family lives in Orlando and we wish them along with others in Hurricane Ian’s path safety and good luck.  The IRS has a bit of a heart too as tax deadlines have been extended for residents and businesses in locations hit by the…  Read more

It’s been the week of 100+ figs, some days I pick 5 or 6 and others 20 to 30, then a friend will stop by and find yet another ripe one and pop it in their mouth.  My favorite way to eat them is split in quarters, sprinkled with feta cheese and then grilled; very easy, very delicious, very healthy, they can pass for dessert.  It’s also been a week…  Read more

My daughter Jessie and her dog Sampson have been the perfect house guests but they head back to Atlanta tomorrow night. It was great that Jessie could vacation here and then work remotely. Sampson has been spending time in the office with Raquel and me as we worked towards our September 15th deadline.  So this morning I know he will be happy to resume our daily beach walks, I think…  Read more

A recent New York Times business section article “Peloton Regrets? You’re Not Alone”, featured various household items in a garage sale, so of course I had to read it.  As many of you know, my exercise equipment gets plenty of use; being able to cross train has kept me “mostly” injury free for years.  I hope the exercise equipment that others bought as an alternative to their usual gym workouts served them…  Read more

Fun fact: Beginning in 1882 Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September as a way to honor the women and men who campaigned tirelessly for workers’ rights and give most workers a three-day weekend off from work.  In the true sprit I am getting ready for Labor Day Weekend 2022, with plans for planting my fall garden, continuing my hip rehab with barefoot walks on the beach, barbeques…  Read more

Don’t you just love the summer, most of us don’t want to be inside cooking; even if you don’t have your own garden there are many great options at local markets and farmer’s market which enable you to chop, slice, and mix your way to an impressive and delicious spread.  I am not complaining, but Raquel and I are “struggling” to decide which “garden to table” lunch to have.  This…  Read more

Week 6 seems to be a turning point, now I keep loosing my cane, I still hold it when I am out in the garden because I am a bit klutzy and the ground can be uneven, but it feels good to be back on two feet.  Enough talk about new hips, let’s talk about our summer harvest, are you growing tomatoes this summer, are they heirloom variety?  If so…  Read more

I am in mid-week 6 of my hip replacement recovery and glad to see real progress as I have returned to my office for 3/4 days and am able to walk without a cane and use just the hand rail for assistance on the stairs.   Now I am also back in my garden picking those cukes, and string beans that like to hide in their leaves… What could be better…  Read more

It may just be back to “business as usual” for summer 2022 as we’ve enjoyed great weather and I hear about vacation plans and see photos of family gatherings.  I am in week 5 of rehabbing my hip replacement and am now able to enjoy the weather as my daily physical therapy walk includes the handicap ramp onto the beach at the end of my block. Beach 131 Rockaway NY…  Read more

Get well wishes and lovely flowers have really boosted my rehab efforts. Get well soon I am 3 1/2 weeks into recovery from my right hip replacement.  Up until yesterday morning I was feeling better and stronger every day, and then… Weekly Take Away …after weeks of following the prescribed and ever increasing physical therapy exercise outline I woke up  feeling exhausted, with a 4/5 level of  pain.  I was…  Read more

Thank you for the support of family and friends through my planning and post-op; I have not been lonely, hungry or run out of dark chocolate.  How great to know that as I returned home from the hospital I would be met with such caring friends (luckily one is a Nurse Practitioner).  Nice to have a fresh brewed cup of coffee delivered to my room with an ice pack for…  Read more