flipster

During a recent trip to the library to research toilets (!) 

the librarian showed me a great app that has become a favorite. 

All you need is a library card to access 

hundreds of magazines including Consumer Reports.

Give it a try: Flipster - Digital Magazines

Product description

Flipster is a free digital magazine service provided courtesy of your library. The Flipster app manages your magazines downloaded from the Flipster website for anytime, anywhere viewing. Visit your library’s website to see if your library has subscribed to Flipster. Get access to popular magazines and read many of your favorite titles. 

If your library doesn’t yet offer Flipster, encourage them to sign up today. Now it’s time to relax, put your feet up and read your favorite magazines with Flipster!

rich full-flavored indulgence

At my son's house they drink Chock full o' Nuts coffee,

It is the least expensive coffee at their local Price Chopper.

While at the store I thought I would splurge 

and buy Eight O'Clock coffee for them.

With these two kinds of coffee to compare

I knew which one I would like better.

I was wrong . . . 

The clear winner was Chock full o' Nuts.

"Rich full-flavored indulgence" indeed.

may 2016

My daughter recently posted this
on her facebook page.

We are excited . . . 

up up and away

New to us was watching the launch of hot air balloons.

It was such an amazing process as they spread out, fired up

and lifted off.

We can only imagine what it must be like to be on-board

as they hovered in the Letchworth State Park Gorge

{this photo from @news8Rochester twitter}

Thanks Dave and Debbie for including us in this adventure.

the free design

When I was growing up my best friend Stefanie’s family formed 

a singing group that had moderate success 

although I am sure you have never heard of them. 

It was quite a surprise while watching TV last week that

I recognized one of their songs on a delta commercial . . .

And then I found the same song in a toyota commercial  . . .

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Free Design was a Delevan, New York-based vocal group whose music can be described as sunshine pop and baroque pop. They were all members of the Dedrick family: Chris Dedrick, sister Sandy and brother Bruce were the original lineup. Chris Dedrick wrote most of the songs. Younger sister Ellen joined the group later, and youngest sister Stefanie joined near the end of their initial career. They formed the band while living in New York City. Chris has said the group was influenced by vocal groups like The Hi-Los (who performed in Greenwich Village frequently at the time) along with Peter, Paul and Mary and the counterpoint experiments of Benjamin Britten. Their trademark sound involved complex harmonies, jazz-like chord progressions, and off-beat time signatures, all products of Chris's classical training. The band released seven albums from 1967 to 1972,

hot fresh coffee

I have a blog friend that I have been following for several years.

You would enjoy the bits of her life she shares along with plenty of inspiration.

Here is her lovely blog: Just a little something for you

Recently Judy had a fun little "give away" and

lucky for me, I won this very cute sign.

A perfect addition to our Leisure House . . . 

Thank you Judy!!

James McCartney

We are headed to a concert to hear our friend
Katie Preston and James McCartney.

How fun will that be?!

{google image}

The son of Sir Paul McCartney, James McCartney, a singer-songwriter in his own right, makes 

Rochester a stop on his 47 date U.S. tour, playing at the Lovin’ Cup Bistro & Brews

{google image}

Katie Preston opens the show at 8pm, followed by James McCartney!

From Yelp.com
Katie Preston Opens the Show @ 8PM!

Katie Preston used to entertain audiences with the beloved and now defunct group "Paul's Grandfather", aptly named after the character who played Paul McCartney's grandfather in the movie "A Hard Day's Night". Now embarking on other various musical endeavors, Katie will be playing solo this night to open for James McCartney. Or, one might even say, "Paul's Grandfather" will open for Paul's son ;)

"Preston will sooth and unsettle the senses -- miraculously all at once! Through her music, Preston channels the late Harry Nillson, Nina Simone and some other dead guy whom of which she's not really sure what he has to do with her music. Preston's music "builds a wonderful dark atmosphere devoid of hope but full of vigor nonetheless. It's a brilliant bit of songwriting with many layers, steeped in intelligence and a deep melodicism that's inescapable." (Wildy's World)


A song Katie wrote for her mother {our friend Debbie}:

wide right

Those of you who are Buffalo Bills fans,
sadly, need no explanation for the title of this blog.



Jim and I are looking for a church to attend while in Florida.
Today we went to a Presbyterian Church and
the serman was "Faith and Football: Wide Right".
I know it must be an omen but would you say . . .
stay here or try another church?!



The message: forgive yourself.

Non Bills fans can read about "wide right" here.

I come to the sea . . .

A surprise gift arrived just before Christmas
from a fellow blogger whom I now consider a friend.



How fun that I get to have my morning
coffee everyday in this thoughtful gift.

Thank you Christine for your kindness
and for keeping us "connected".
vista woman

bowties

A lovely surprise arrived while our grandbaby was visiting . . .
three cute homemade bowties and a blue shirt
all the way from a blog friend in Kirkland Washington



We had such fun putting them on Cedar.
{sorry we missed photographing the green one}

Aren't they just too adorable?
Thanks Kimmy!
oh my soul rejoice

Don't forget to leave a comment here
quilt bag ornament
to enter the give-away drawing on Feb 13th

as luck would have it

Can you imagine what it would cost to reserve a whole restaurant just for the two of you or even better, a whole rustic lodge all to yourselves? That is what happened to us purely by accident.



I bought a Groupon for a Glamping {glamorous camping} overnight in a town about 2 hours away from home.



We made our reservation for a weekday night, after the leaves had fallen from the trees, and before the winter snows begin to fly {off season}.



As luck would have it we were the only guests at the lodge that night and the restaurant isn't open to the public during the week.



A "better than camping" room with a view {of the forest}



A glass of wine, a bit of reading, a few games of dominoes, peaceful chatting, and a steak dinner all in front of this roaring fire.



Ham and cheese omelet for breakfast made by Rich the friendly owner, proprietor, and chef. In fact Rich was the only other person we saw during our stay.



A morning walk in the woods and then headed for home refreshed, relaxed and pampered.



I would definitely return and maybe bring a friend or two.

{the rest of our photos}

small blog world

I learned today through blogging that this is indeed a small world.
I recently left a comment on this lovely blog . . .


Just a Little Something For You

Someone from Pennsylvania {who doesn't have a blog but enjoys reading them} clicked on my comment thumbnail taking her to my blog.

From there she clicked on my side bar link that takes you to news of our trip to Cambodia where we recently spent a month welcoming our new grandson.

Well . . . Ruthie then emailed me to tell me that she and her husband had been in Cambodia as well to greet their new grandchild in January. Such a similar story.

So . . . I forwarded the email to my daughter in Phnom Penh to tell her the fun coincidence.

Here is her reply:
Mom,
That's so funny, Ryan & Bethany are friends of ours. They actually just came over for pizza last week. Small blog world. :)
Love A

neighbors

Last year at this time we had new neighbors moving in.



Now they are moving to their new house on the lake.



Although we are happy for them



we will miss them.



When I have my first cup of coffee I usually look out the back door



and see their kitchen light on.



This morning their house was dark.



We wish them well and wonder
who our new neighbors will be . . .

and the winner is . . .

Having a give-away is fun but I just wish that everyone could win.



Congratulations to Diana !


A reversible slouch bag will be on its way to Texas
as soon as Diana sends me her address.





Interesting side note . . .
Diana chose the very first bag I ever made.
It was at a sewing class with some of my friends.



What I want you to know is that I feel a connection to all of you
and thank you for hours of enjoyment reading your "stories".