Farwell to Summer

Tomorrow I will return to work. For the first time in 4 years, I am ok with returning to work after summer vacation. Summer with a four year old boy was fun and extremely exhausting.

I always find Fall to be an exciting time of year. Our calendar becomes filled with fun activities, I begin to cook more hearty meals, the windows are open, there are holidays every month. This year my little boy will be attending a new pre-school. I am excited for him and for myself as a parent. Just thinking about all the adventures he will have, all the discoveries he will make, all the memories that will be created, makes me smile.

Mommy Blogger Event at Peddler's Village

I have many fond memories of Peddler's Village . Sixteen years ago I took my bridesmaids to dinner at the Cock 'N Bull Restaurant. My sister-in-law had a surprise baby shower for me at Peddler's Village. Through the years I went to many events held at Peddler's Village: the Gingerbread House Displays, the Christmas Festival, the Easter Egg Hunt. My son had his 4 month old pictures taken at Clix Portrait Studios. When my little boy was about a year old we took him to The Celtic Rose, where we bought him his first cap. He still has it. Every time I walk through Journey's Spirited Gifts shop I feel relaxed.

On Wednesday I added another memory to my collection. I attended my first Mommy Blogger event held at Peddler's Village. I was able to invite one guest. I invited my sister-in-law and my two nephews.

The event was held at Giggleberry Fair where the children could play for two hours before eating lunch at Sweet Lorranie's Cafe & Bar. If you ask my 4 year old to tell you about his favorite part of the day, he will tell you about climbing through Giggleberry Mountain and playing in the game room with his cousins. He also enjoyed several rides on the Grand Carousel.


If you ask me about my favorite part of the day, I will tell you about visiting the Town Crier Bakery and receiving a complimentary cupcake. I also enjoyed our tour of Peddler's Village.

I am delighted to live close to Peddler's Village and be able to visit several times throughout the year.

wordless wednesday

Tea and scones

I had organic strawberries and did not know what to do with them. I decided to make scones. I called Gee Gee and asked her if she would like to join me for scones and tea. She said yes and we had plans. I set the table with my beautiful tea cups, fresh flowers, a small candle and two individual tea pot.

Living in the moment is the thing I love about summer. Schedules are more flexible, the days are longer, there is enough time to play. And there is time to enjoy tea and freshly baked scones with friends.

Why I started a blog

Over the years there have been many changes in my life. Some of the things that have changed and that I miss are:
1. Comfortably wearing high heeled shoes.
2. Staying up pass 9 p.m.
3. Speaking without worrying about saying a bad word. And I’m discovering there are lots of bad words.
4. Being in the bathroom alone. It seems the moment I make any kind of contact with a toilet there is a world crisis that only I can solve.
5. Having a conversation on the phone without any interruptions.
6. Eating all my dessert without sharing. No one seems to ever want to share my veggies.
7. My natural hair color.
8. Getting into the car in less than 20 minutes.
9. Reading books – grown up books.
10. Having a room without toys

However, the thing I miss the most is my ability to communicate with other adults. It seems 4 years of mother hood combined with a job where I spend most of my time with people under the age of 10 has resulted in my inability to use words with more than two syllables. It is as if I do not know how to communicate with anyone older than 10. My sentences both written and spoken are short and to the point. My writing is clinical in nature, dull and boring. My ability to spell has also been compromised.

I am starting a quest to rescue my vocabulary and creativity. Someday I dream of conversing with adults about current events, science, hobbies, or life experiences. I may even be witty.

For now, I remain in Poop and Fart Land without a GPS.

Visit to the Elmwood Park Zoo and Making New Friends

Last week I accepted an invitation to visit Elmwood Park Zoo from J.F., a lovely woman I met at Tilly Mint's Tea Room . She has a little boy who is 5 and my little boy is 4. Getting ready for our adventure I talked with my son about making a new friend, what to expect at the zoo and our lunch plans. Then I began think, "I am also making a new friend", followed by some nervous feelings and then an odd thought, "What will we (the mommies) talk about?"

The boys met and immediately began to talk and to play. My child was particularly impressed by his new friend's ability to share the Leap Frog game. It is now on our Christmas list for Santa.

The Elmwood Park Zoo had a beautiful butterfly exhibit. I saw my first blue and black dark frog. The boys enjoyed the playground inside the zoo. It was a hot day filled with fun and new adventures.

I was delighted to have adult conversations about blogging, vacations and chocolate. My nervous feelings were soon replaced with feelings of excitement. It is nice to make a new friend at any age.

Chocolate: A Life Goal

One of my life’s goals is to eat chocolate from different Chocolatiers worldwide. I set this goal after receiving a chocolate gift box from John & Kira's
I love the company’s story, philosophy, business practices and chocolates. My first mother’s day gift was a box of chocolates from John and Kira’s. Perfect and they are located in Pennsylvania.

I began doing web searches and discovered many Chocolatiers. I gathered several catalogs and placed them on my night table. My husband referred to my stack of chocolate catalogs as my porn.

Since my new goal coincided with becoming a new mother, I do not remember the specific dates of my chocolate encounters. I do have a list of Chocolatiers and many fond memories.

L.A. Burdick Hand Made Chocolates
was a source of many happy memories. I received a one pound box of chocolates for my birthday. The box included an adorable truffle mouse. I gave their nut trio to my husband and he generously shared with me. The nuts are the best I ever tasted. They are fresh and covered with quality chocolate.

Moonstruck Chocolate delighted me with their 16 piece collection. I especially liked their fruit truffles and the pyramid shape truffle.

Last summer I ate a champagne truffle from Teuscher A store opened in Center City Philadelphia. The truffle was amazingly delicious. The store smelled and looked like heaven.

Most recently I ate Easter Eggs from Caffarel The eggs came wrapped in different spring color paper. Inside each egg was a different flavor filling. I savored each bit and ate mindfully.

One of my dreams it to attend a private tasting session in Lyon France hosted by Michel Richart Dare to dream. And since I am dreaming, I would like to attend the private tasting with my good friend Knitting Zeal, who gave me the box of chocolates from John and Kira’s, which sparked my desire to set my goal.

Eating chocolate from different Chocolatiers is a lifetime goal that brings many smiles to my face.