Anonymous said... Timing is Everything

You ever have one of those days, which start out with nothing in

particular in mind to do?

Well, yesterday was just that.

I collect stationary. Mostly blank, but with lovely pictures on the front.

A treasure trove of future messages kept in my head

like eggs in an ovary

never to be used up in one's lifetime.

A picture of an orange and rusted ecru female Northern Cardinal


caught my eye. As it was sitting on my kitchen table

along with other cards to be put away,

the pile of which, had been taken out

for selecting the 'right bird' to escort

a check owed to my sister for purchasing a tree.

This puffed up, cute Cardinal, I thought,

might make a nice Thank You

to send to a manager of a dining establishment

operating at the local Hunt Club

where I had been for a delightful lunch

a few days earlier

with a group of friends.

Fountain pen in hand

my thoughts filled the entire two sides of the

card's blank interior commenting on the food, presentation and staff.

So, done.

I decided to make the 5 minute drive

south of our home

to deliver it in person.

Greeting me at the entrance area

inside the building

was a pair of spring arrangements

on a chocolate brown carved mahogany sideboard.


from local blooms

found everywhere.

The manager,

a woman, I've known for years

who is married to a former

history teacher at the High School

and lives on Stissing Lake

complete with beautiful boathouse,

thanked me for the note

which remained sealed during our visit.

She asked me what I thought of the arrangements

made with flowers from her garden

of lilac and apple blossoms.

We agreed that a little more height

for line and balance was needed.

I told her I had something home

to add.

Back home, in a flash

I picked red-orange tulips, spirea, forsythia branches,

Aluminum greens, monkshood leaves, and hosta

'just for fun' to add to the paired display

as well as the tables, containing pastel green

napkin 'fans' balanced in stemmed wine glasses

and pairs of daffodils in small vases at the center.

The greens would act as a filler ( two per table).

Restaurant manager was delighted.

One of the waitresses, a lifeguard in the summer


was looking forward to our 'time at the lake'

where she watches the children swimming

and I do crafts with them

and tend the town garden there.

So, it was homeward bound.

Still too overcast and cold.

I decided to break with habit and

go to the local market earlier than usual.

Once there..I dawdled and shopped

Mainly for vegetables

the 'positive' part of my diet,

of which unlimited quantities

could be consumed.

Once back in the parking lot

I dawdled some more

bringing in all the shopping carts

patrons had strewn all over

as they do particularly on Fridays as part of the 'weekend rush'.

When out of the corner of my eye

I saw the back of a man with a RED PONY TAIL

Could that be?

Molto Mario Bataglia! (of the Food Network: Freshness and simplicity are the keys to Mario Batali's spectacular Italian cuisine. Molto Mario brings these principles home – it's a culinary tour of Italy with tips and secrets from one of New York's premier chefs.

Slipping back into the store

I spied this culinary king around the corner at the rear of the store

in front of the dairy case for cheeses.

His hand held basket was filled

to the brim with vegetables.

Are you Molto Mario?

'No. I'm Mario Bataglia'

Heh, heh, heh.

Kvelling like an idiot,

I blurted out that I was a big fan of his.

Noting, he had lost a lot of weight,

I told him so

as a question,

'You've lost a lot of weight'

He half smiled and nodded yes, in agreement.

No more 'Molto' to the Mario

As, we were both on the same quest

where lettuce is best.

And we are here………….Savannah. The land of Paula Dean and Spanish Moss……Jim Williams and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"…..….eclectic River Front Stores and where Tybie Island sea turtles meet crab house restaurants….this is the new home of our First New York Goddess. Oh how we’ve missed her!

We arrived about 5:30PM on Friday night after a 5 and ½ hour drive from the Raleigh, NC area. Over a magnificent Double Sail Bridge….through the Historic District, around and through several Monument Squares and Azalea lined corridors of historic homes of all shapes and sizes.

Our #1 Goddess is waiting in the living room and she is gorgeous in every way. The inconvenience of treatments have not dulled her smile or sense of humor. “Hello Rattlesnake” she giggles. Big hugs and sloppy kisses to her daughter and grandsons and me. Our Sister Goddess is an amazing woman!!!

So there we were, (two dogs, two kids and 5 adults) ready to spend a week with each other, camping out style in Downtown Savannah. We had a ball, the kids and dogs were great and we all managed to use the bathrooms when no one else had an emergency.

Easter was upon us and the Big Bunny managed to find Thomas while Heather worked her kitchen magic which revealed a marvelous dinner of all things good an fattening…We concentrated on the good part! And the lemon pudding filled powder sugar topped cupcakes were amazing!!

A lunch trip to Paula Dean's, strolling along the River Front and finding home made pralines and fudge, a Hearse Tour of the Haunted Mansions of Savannah, A trip to Tybie Island and dinner at the Crab House by the Sea…Who could ask for more? We didn’t ask- but we received!!!

Strength and Wisdom and Love and a little Sadness; but not much of that was allowed….. Jokes and Giggles and Warm Memories with a few tears…. Kisses and Hugs and Tickles and Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs……..Watching American Idol and worrying about who would leave next, Oh No, Not big Mike!!!! And though we thought the girl with the dread locks has a great voice, it made us itch to look at her hair……….

More hugs and kisses, we don’t want to leave. We all knew it was time to go but we held on. Has there ever been a family so in love with each other. Of course there has been; but, we act like it’s only us. Sisters and Brother, Nieces and Nephews, Children and Grand Children we gather in druid reminiscent style to share the strength of each other and this much loved Woman Goddess we call Noreen, Reenie, Sis, Mom, Nonnie, Aunt Reenie, our Port in a Storm, our powerful Wizardress able to conjure up a family get together in a moment’s notice and still look Maaaahvelous DaaaahlinG!!!

Our Trip to Savannah

My niece, two grand nephews, Hubs and I and the Dog all piled into the car last week to make our trip South. What promised to be a stressful and cramped trip turned out to be some of the best fun had in a long time. Never a dull moment with a 16 year old and an 8 year old together in loving closeness for 11 hours. Hey Billy, Hey Billy, Hey Billy, Hey Billy--Get off me Thomas, get off me, get off me NOW. MOM!!!

Hey Uncle Ron, did you know I have $63 for my trip. What a coincidence, just the price of gas at the next fill up............Awwwwwwwwwwwww Uncle Ron.

Hey Guys, did you know that I was stationed in the Army down here on one of the most famous Civil War Battle Grounds? Let me tell you about the time...........

What did that guy at the store say? I couldn't really understand him. That's a Southern Accent Thomas. OH.....

Hey Uncle Ron, When I tell my teachers I had an 11 hour history lesson and learned a new language I bet I don't get in trouble for taking an extra week of vacation.....

And then we were there near Raleigh, NC!!! Next day off to Savannah....

The Painter Flynn

http://thepainterflynn.wordpress.com/ A lovely blog written by a Twitter Friend of Mine. David O'Brien a/k/a The Painter Flynn is a very interesting person. He is an exciting artist, a humorous tweet pal and now a heartfelt author. Enjoy!!

Valentines' Day

Valentines' Day, will we receive any heart shaped candy boxes? I'd rather have cheap candy in a gaudy heart shaped box than expensive candy in a square box from the best store in NYC. To receive a Valentines Day Heart from your boyfriend was a coveted prize, but what really did that mean. Bragging rights of course. Look what Jimmy or Johnny, or Davie, or Ronny gave to me. We would keep our jewelry, love letters, school notes passed in the halls, dried corsages (does anyone get them any more?) in that heart shaped keepsake. I received a heart shaped candy box this year, still means a lot to me and we have been married 39 years. WOW!
This is a picture of a Valentine Card (Hallmark Shoebox) I received from my "Sister Friend", Lori. She says I am the one with the skirt split in the front!I wonder why?!She said that the picture represents Lori, Me and my Sister Debbie. Another Goddess to add to the family of Goddesses!! "There might be girls that think they are as hot as we are; but they're wrong!!"

American Woman, A poem, A song, My life

American Woman
By Marti Doyle-Steed
3/27/2007

We didn’t feel poor while growing up;
But I knew I wasn’t drinking from a silver cup.
We ate rabbit, partridge, pheasant and quail.
We ate so much venison Dad could have landed in jail.
I helped cut the fish in the back garage.
I dressed like a boy and they called me little Rodg.

****I’m an Irish, English, French & German
Sepasco, Mohawk, American Woman

Dad said that we’re related to the Earth, Sun, Wind and Water,
We are all Mother Natures Son’s and Daughters.
Hunting, Fishing, Trapping and such,
Are just hobbies today they don’t matter much.
To live off the land might mean killing and plunder;
But how does that compare to today’s wars I WONDER.

Don’t wear your furs; you’ll be hit by some paint
Tell folks you eat wild game and they’re liable to faint.
Each year we wore deerskin gloves and tanned moccasins;
But to admit you had Indian blood was the worst kind of sin.
When I learned the truth I was nearly forty
Dad was finally free to tell us his story.

Dad’s Mother had died, the reason he lied.
Claiming your true blood could now bring some pride.
To be just part Indian had been reason for shame,
They had all been afraid of the prejudice, finger pointing and blame.
There was light in Dad’s eyes and a smile on his face,
He was finally allowed to take his rightful place.

****
Mom taught us how to cook and to keep the house clean;
She washed clothes by hand without a machine.
She was tall and beautiful with long chestnut brown hair;
She held us and rocked us ‘till we didn’t have a care.
We had homemade bread and tea with milk and honey
Sugar on fruit slices was our candy; we didn’t have much money.


Mom was always our best friend
It was that way until the very end.
We would play and we’d laugh till the tears stained our faces.
She taught us our manners, to curl our hair, go to church and to say grace.
Education was a privilege, our daily job with rewards
There was never any choice we had to go forward.

****

When Martin Luther King preached non-violent change
We were all there with him, his ideas weren’t strange.
But I went to Birmingham some years later
Where the ghosts of freedom walk behind the folks that still hate there.
I’ve been marching for peace since Viet Nam
Though I’d kill for my children and still protest the bomb.

A fierce fighter for Women’s Rights
I’ve stood outside Family Planning, not afraid of a fight.
Rowe Vs. Wade gave women the right to choose,
Today the President wants those rights women to loose.
I still like my door held open for me;
But not at the expense of my right to be

****

I’ve been blessed with 2 children; a boy and a girl;
They’ve grown up so fast my minds in a whirl.
I love them, miss them, and rejoice when I see them.
The young years were good years; I knew where they were then.
And now that they’re older and out on their own
My husband and I now have time alone in our home.

Sisters and brothers should always watch out for each other
You know what to do; you were taught by your Mothers.
Hold hands together, see your doctor each year
Because, some day you might hear; you have Cancer My Dear!
But you’ll be alright
You know how to fight!

You're an Irish, English, French and German, Sepasco, Mohawk American Woman!

So I cut my hair short and free
That "Big Texas Hair" no longer mattered to me.
Radiation and Chemo, the words we all hate,
Now a part of the everyday; you can't predict fate.
My angels surround me, they carry me high,
We're with you they whisper, we'll teach you to fly........

The sun shines more brightly now, its warmth colors my face.
All of our parents have passed on and nothing can take their place;
But their strength it supports us, their pride it beseeches you and me;
To rise above our trials and be all that we can be.......
My sisters now too are fighting this fight,
Finding a cancer cure in this generation would surely be right..


We're Asian, African, European, North American, South American, Australian, Indian, Americans Women!

I wrote this poem a few years back after I had finished radiation treatments for Breast Cancer. Who knew then that today my two sisters would be battling Breast Cancer as well. But they will be alright, they know how to fight............

You've Got All Your Sisters With You

Reenie, We Love You Bunches!!!! Deb and Marti

Our sister Debbie was known for her constant drawing of "Little People". Most were lady ballerinas but sometimes she would add a man. Years later we found a treasure trove of little people in the old Encyclopedias and we framed some and had a few good laughs. Debbie did this one to give to our Sister to take with her to Savannah!!