Phabulous Phall in Philly!!!

It is my favorite season of all.  Like the porridge for Goldilocks - not too hot, not too cold - just right.  It's about sweaters and smells - leaves and cidar and earth.  It's dramatic sunsets and whirling wind and THE FOLIAGE -  the crunch, the smell, the boldness of the colors -  the yellow, the red, the orange, the PINK!!! 

FALL! 

MY FAVORITE!!!! 

(just sayin')

Oliver loves to get out and ROMP in the crunchy stuff!

What gorgeous pink leaves!  PINK!!!!! 

Like the Good Ole Days

I've known them since my twenties. 
We've been through all the ups and downs life can throw at you.

The boyfriends - the breakups, the weddings - the divorces, the births - the deaths, illness, aging parents, new homes, new travels. Life has changed our addresses, our jobs, the size of our families but we three prevail. We bring wine, an ear and support for the bad times. We celebrate the good times.  We always "show up" just when you need us to and we laugh - alot! 

But it sure is hard to get together and have a day of good old childlike fun. So this Sunday we did just that!  We headed out on a glorious fall day for a 3 hour house tour in Philadelphia. Then back to my house for cocktails on the deck as we caught up and solved all the problems of the world and a dinner ending with a decadent homemade rich creme pie and not a word was said that "we really shouldn't".  We even prolonged the day with re-watching "Bridges of Madison County" with Meryl Streep - our mutual hero.
We are all in our fifties but this Sunday we were just 3 women girls having a wonderful day of fun.   

"We don’t stop playing when we are old –
 We are old when we stop playing!"

A Once in a Lifetime Friend

This week is four years that Elsie Mae Tercha - dear friend, mentor, beloved, amazing lady - passed away.  I knew the anniversary was looming but not sure of the day when today, the first beautiful sunny days in ages, I had an urgent need to head for Sea Isle - to test my new camera, to run my exercise deprived dogs, to sit on the beach and read - or so I thought.  But the moment I headed into Sea Isle I suddenly knew to turn right, not left to the nature center where I could run the dogs.  I drove past Elsie's beautiful "L'Etage" - a summer home with wrap around porch, where Elsie had dreamed of chasing her grandkids and where I had visited and stayed many times.  I was disappointed to find no one on the porch or I would have loved to have seen her family and share memories and do as Elsie always said, "Make Memories".  I instead headed to the end of Sea Isle where I ran the dogs, snapped some shots, sat quietly by the sea and enjoyed the sunset.  I am not a religious person but can't help but think Elsie Mae was guiding my perfectly designed day today.

When I got home tonight I checked facebook to find her daughter Nina's post showing a picture of a bench dedicated in her honor in Sea Isle and some pics of her new grandson, who's picture alone makes you break out in a smile.  Maybe it was serendipity I headed to Sea Isle, maybe just a coincidence.  As I drove down to the beach today I worried that it was my lack of impulse control that had me throw my to-do list to the wind and with urgency "head to the sea" but now I am thinking it had more to do with Elsie Mae - A loud "Carpe Diem" shout-out from the beyond and a day to remember a once in a lifetime friend.   Thanks my friend.  It was a glorious "day by the sea."  As hung in Elsie Mae's beautiful seaside home, "If you're lucky enough to live by the sea, you're lucky enough."

The bench dedicated to Elsie Mae in Sea Isle, NJ

Her beautiful new grandson

 "L'Etage" - a magnificent B&B that Elsie and Tony restored

Elsie Mae and Dave Wagner and Me at a rare lunch date.

The Historic Homes of Philly

I spent a Glorious Sunday with 2 of my oldest dear friends.  To celebrate Marita's birthday Lisa, Marita and I did a tour of Philadelphia's Historic Homes.  Incredible!  Thank Goodness these gracious owners (who still inhabit these incredible houses) share them with the world.  They do not make houses like this anymore! 
For more than 3 hours we navigated from house to house sharing laughs, stories and marveled and critiqued each house along the way.  A great day followed by dinner on the patio at Chestnut Hill Hotel.  There are no friends like old friends.

A Day with Dad

I spent the day with Dad.  As a humanist, Lake Galena at Peace Valley Park is his church.  So we packed a picnic lunch, drove through beautiful Bucks County and then enjoyed sitting by the lake. What a gift to spend the day with a man who at 83, is not only aging gracefully, but is a man I adore.  As I once read, "The best in me I owe to him".  What a great, quiet, peaceful happy day it was.

Shine on Harvest Moon

A day of good intentions.  This Sunday morning started with a morning yoga class - the perfect class for "re-entry" into the gym after a long lapse and some unsightly results because of it.  Then to do the dreaded chore - revive the hair at the beauty shop.  Hours and hours were wasted with a painful result - due to faulty products I will need to return on Friday to correct the outcome.  So a wasted afternoon and then the solemnity of observing 911.  Day is done.  Relaxing.  And Then -   A late night step onto the deck and BAMM - the beautiful surprise ending of the day with this eerily haunting beautiful Harvest Moon.  Yes, that was really in the sky tonight.
                                                                               

Day 32 - Photo Challenge - another day canoeing at Peace Valley

Another great day to enjoy old friends - and new grandkids.  I was looking forward to spending the day with Karen and her grandbabes with both of us traveling far to meet up just before getting to Peace Valley Park - when BAMM, the car breaks down as we are 5 minutes from Peace Valley.  Refusing to let a car breakdown ruin the day of 2 old friends, 2 dogs and 3 darling toddlers we put our heads to the wind, had the care towed, crammed into Karen's car and enjoyed the day as planned. 
Canoeing and hiking and picnicing and throwing sticks for dogs then to Mom and Dad's with a surprise visit with sis Connie and their generous loan of their car.  Later met Karen to retrieve my cell I had left in her car and instead had happy hour and interesting conversation and a ride home where I spotted some deer grazing inches from the road.  Now that is making the best of the day and a great day itself!

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, 
it probably doesn't lead anywhere.”

TA DA - a great day despite all obstacles!!!