THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

For lack of something new to write about, I took a hint from another blogsite and have shown you some of my favorite things. Some things I have inherited and, as my family teases me, these will go in the "Hollingsworth Museum."

The silver tea set belonged to my grandmother. I tried to polish it, but gave up and will let it age gracefully, along with me. The picture of the boy and girl are "Peter" and "Charlotte" -- I have seen these prints in antique stores, but these belonged to my parents and always hung by the front door. The snow globe of "Rudolph" was given to me when I was a very young girl. I have moved many times since then and always carry it wrapped carefully in my handbag for the move. The rooster belonged to my grandmother and I have treasured this for years and when she died, it became mine. The little yellow lovebirds were a wedding present to my parents. The Buddhas belonged to my parents and I think my grandmother before that. They sit in front of a cloisonne lamp that has the same provenance.

Maybe I will make this a Monday theme -- my favorite things. I have to start getting rid of the clutter around my house, but these are things with which I will never part. What are your favorite things in your house?

MIDDLE NAME MEME

iI was tagged by Meg for this "Middle Name Meme":








K for Kris Kringle -- a character in one of my favorite movies: "Miracle On 34th Street."


R for Ranger -- one of the male hotties in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. See my previous blog.


I for Imagination -- it is a gift we all have and should remember to use it.


S for my favorite food -- spaghetti.

T for "Tripod" - the three-legged pet raccoon in one of my favorite author's novels (James Lee Burke).


I for Imagination --- again.


N for "Nanny" -- what my daughter and nieces and grandsons called my mother.


A for Apple -- one of my favorite fruits -- I try to eat one a day.

Well, that was fun. Thanks, Meg. Instead of tagging others, if you read this and haven't been tagged yet, consider it done!

WHAT CLASSIC MOVIE ARE YOU??

I saw this on Tristi's blog and since I love old classic movies...................

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

What Carnival Ride Are You?

***You Are a Ferris Wheel***

Deep down, you are a fun, whimsical, and easygoing person. You often enjoy life for what it is, and the littlest changes in course can be quite thrilling. In relationships, people tend to feel what you feel. It can be liberating at first...But after a while, the people closest to you end up feeling a little trapped.
Your life has perfectly normal cycles of ups and downs. However, you can't help but sometimes feel that you're missing out on the most exciting aspects of life. You only are happy when you're experiencing the highest of highs.Your low points just make you feel depressed, restless, and bored.
At your best, you feel on top of the world with a great sense of perspective. You believe that anything is possible, and that you are happily looking down on everyone else. At your worst, you feel like your life is going in circles. You often feel like you're not going anywhere. This is sometimes psychologically disorienting. And sometimes it brings on a sense of hopelessness.

What Carnival Ride Are You?http://www.blogthings.com/whatcarnivalrideareyouquiz/

People closest to me feel trapped??! I don't THINK so! I don't like carnival rides anyway.

Beware Of Crocs!!

I recently read something online that said that despite their overwhelming popularity, crocs are causing accidents on escalators in Japan. Beware!!

IS TIME OF THE ESSENCE?

" Always late: thus I make you the prisoner of my freedom." - Mason Cooley

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!"- The White Rabbit - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

We had our weekly sales meeting today, for which I was late. I find it so difficult to get anywhere on time. You know the old adage about being late for one's own funeral? Well, that is me. Somewhere I read that people who are consistently late are subconsciously doing it as an act of rebellion. I wouldn't be surprised if sometimes that is the case with me. I was pretty rebellious when I was young.

I keep going back to reading the "What Color Green" post from a few days ago. That really is me, but warts and all, I like me (I really don't have warts), which is a good thing since at my age I won't be changing anything.

Stephanie Plum Overload

I think I am morphing into Stephanie Plum. I have read all of Janet Evanovich's books featuring this bounty hunter extraordinaire up to and including #11. I am now on one of the "between the numbers" books and then I will start #12. I am starting to feel like a place should be set for me at the Plum dinner table with Mom and Dad and Grandma Mazur waiting for the pineapple-upside-down cake.

I have removed my non-fiction challenge from my sidebar. I am a failure at challenges apparently. I would rather read what I want to read when I want to read it, and in life -- I would rather do what I want to do when I want to do it. Oh yeah, I am responsible and adult and all that mundane stuff. But, wouldn't it be fun to just, well, BE A BOUNTY HUNTER!!??

In someone's past post, the question once was Morelli or Ranger? If you read these books you know "whereof I speak." At that point I said Morelli. I am now leaning towards Ranger. Way towards. Stephanie Plum is nothing like me. I have always been and am still much more of a wimp. But really -- if I use my imagine I could see myself dressed in "Rangeman" black, including the utility belt with stun gun, pepper spray, and cuffs. Of course, it would be all about the outfit and the proximity to Ranger -- not the weapons. As the series continues and evolves, Ranger divulges more and more of his mysterious persona to me - I mean, to Stephanie. He is just so, so cool.

My daughter will read this and Beth, I guess you are saying in horror, "Oh, Mom, really!" as you wonder if this may be your dear mother's alter-ego. Don't worry -- it's just that life is so ORDINARY lately. Day in day out, same old, same old. I am still the same old Mom and Grammy for you and the boys, though.

I think I am reading way too many Stephanie Plum books, don't you?

School Days, School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days...

Well, back to school and the excitement is in the air, even if you aren't returning yourself. The yellow school bus is picking up in our community and I can almost smell school bags and pencil boxes. I guess school bags are now backpacks and pencil boxes (with the little drawer that pulls out) may be long gone, but in the days when school bags were made of leather the smell in the store was unforgettable.






My first school was an old military surplus quonset hut because we lived in a community built as post-war housing primarily for veterans. (Quonset hut: a structure made of corrugated metal still in use today) We called it the "Tin Castle." The photo is not of my school, but is the closest photo I could find that looked vaguely similar. The schoolyard was cinders -- nothing more. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Park and my best friend Ruth and I were teacher's pets. Ah, those were the days.

Two of my most vivid memories were that of Mrs. Park coming home to lunch at my house sometimes and that I felt very special as we ate our chicken noodle soup and sandwich. The other memory was of a terrible day when Mrs. Park bound and gagged a poor little girl in her chair because she was disruptive. Her mother came to get her and there were hysterics and general horror for all of us first graders. I remember they were very poor and spoke little English and the little girl had some type of behavioural or mental problem. A far cry from what would happen today. So much for education in 1950.



My grandsons started school today in Massachusetts. They both carry their lunches. Cooper (sixth grade) took a turkey and lettuce wrap with potato chips, strawberries and an energy bar. Ian (second grade) took spaghetti-o's in a thermos, chips, strawberries and an energy bar. These were their choices for lunch. This is a step up from last year when Cooper would only take bologna sandwiches and Ian would only take peanut butter sandwiches. I remember my daughter Beth always took Boursin cheese on a bagel -- her choice -- for the first few years of school. She didn't like peanut butter sandwiches or anything most kids took for lunch.



Speaking of school lunch -- I wonder if my friend Lynne remembers the day in elementary school when our friend Rita had just too much teasing from a boy and dumped her plate of spaghetti over his head. School days, school days, dear old golden rule days.

WHAT COLOR GREEN ARE YOU?

***You Are Teal Green***

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks.Your warm personality nicely counteracts with strange habits you may have.

Yep, that's me all right!

What Color Green Are You?http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorgreenareyouquiz/

MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY

I admit it: I like slapstick comedy - Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis, etc. If you appreciate this humor also (and even if you don't), you have GOT to see Mr. Bean's Holiday. It is rated "G", so take the kids. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face and at one point I think I was actually howling. I plan to go see it again and I seldom say that about a movie.

I knew Rowan Atkinson's character, Mr. Bean, from PBS's British broadcasts. He is too, too, funny -- a lot of physical humor, funny faces and sounds (Mr. Bean seldom speaks). And to make it even better, the movie took place in France! Mr. Bean wins a vacation to the south of France and the misadventures that get him there are priceless. The finale is the best and sit through the credits and see the cute final ending.

I mean it -- you really should see this film.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET.......

My husband and I took Beau with us and went to the local farmers' market on Saturday morning. The cool bike is one that was being raffled off and, unfortunately, I did not win it. Look at the hippy van -- it is so totally me. The gentleman comes every week with a guest chicken or rooster and if you get there early enough he has wonderful colored guinea fowl eggs for sale. He is a wealth of information for anyone who wants to raise some chickens. I wish I could. I am sure it would be a no-no in my community.

This week there were some plein air artists on site displaying their artistic techniques. What talent. The window filled with lovely things is the museum shop. The market is held on the grounds of the historical society.

We had a lovely three day weekend holiday and I hope you all did, too. Tonight we had dinner with friends who just returned from a three week trip to France (a week of which was on a river boat). I am so jealous. Abbie brought me back a photo she had taken of Edith Piaf's grave at the famous cemetery in Paris where so many well-known people are buried (Oscar Wilde, Simone Signoret, Chopin, Jim Morrison, etc.) Edith Piaf is a favorite of mine.

Bon soir, everyone!

No Name Meme

I was tagged by Lynne for this nameless meme. Here goes:

ACCENT: Like Lynne, I took a quiz and came up pure Philly.

DRINK: My favorite drink is Diet Pepsi -- I need to start my morning with it. I hate coffee; I like tea, hot and iced. Alcoholic drinks? Sometimes a glass of wine when we eat out. I like a glass of beer sometimes, esp. Rolling Rock. New Years Eve I have to have a glass of champagne.

CHORE I HATE: Any housework, especially unloading and loading the dishwasher. Oh yes, also folding laundry.

PETS: Beau the poodle and three cats: Violette, Pierre and Chloe.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Does TV count? Computer, cell phone.

PERFUME: Happy To Be (Clinique), Eau Du Val (L'Occitane - first bought this in Paris and all I have to do is smell it and it takes me right back there), Tova (Tova Borgnine).

GOLD OR SILVER: Both. I love jewelry and I sell a line of sterling silver.

INSOMNIA: Seldom. Sometimes have trouble getting to sleep, but once I am there I am gone.

JOB TITLE: Realtor, wife, sister, grammy and friend. Favorite is Grammy.

MOST ADMIRED TRAIT: Gee, this is a hard one. I am a good cook, but I don't think that is a trait. I am somewhat quiet and reserved, but most people think I am fun to be around. Is that a trait? I am loyal and honest.

KIDS: One daughter, Beth, and my son-in-law Dale. Of course, my two grandchildren, Cooper and Ian. I have two step-children and three step-grandchildren.

UNUSUAL TALENT/SKILL: I don't know if people still use this, but I can still use some of my old shorthand skills. I am sure Lynne can, too.

VEGETABLE: I am not a big vegetable fan. Corn, lima beans, peas, brocolli, lots of salad. My most hated things are mushrooms, beets and asparagus.

WORST HABIT: I am a disorganized clutterer. I also find it difficult to pass a MacDonalds without getting a "double cheeseburger, no onions ($1)."

X-RAYS: Dental every year.

FAVORITE MEAL: Spaghetti and meatballs or chicken parmesan, both with Italian bread and lots of real butter.

PHOBIA: Several: Driving over some bridges, mushrooms, a certain kind of cricket that I have only seen in Delaware, spiders -- especially Daddy Longlegs. Well, actually bugs in general. And yes, mushrooms are more a phobia with me than a dislike.

RELIGION: Catholic (since last year)

SIBLINGS: One younger sister, Linda.

TIME I WAKE UP: If I don't set an alarm and no one wakes me up, I can easily sleep until 11:00. Hey, I need the sleep! It's not easy being me!

This was fun. I tag YOU: kookiejar, kris, lidy, tristi

This n' That

I went to the local farmers' market this morning with my friend Kim. We opted not to bring our dogs, although there were a lot of dogs there. We noticed a new breed mixture that has been seen around here a lot -- a poodle crossed with a golden retriever. They are crossing other breeds with poodles also to form these hybrid crosses. This "Goldendoodle" is a funny, friendly looking dog, with a beautiful coat and long legs. Since I believe golden retrievers are one of the nicest dogs around, to mix them with a poodle who is very intelligent and non-shedding is a great idea. As Beau says, EVERYONE WANTS TO BE A POODLE!

On another note, here is a picture of a two-headed cat -- ha, ha -- it is my Pierre and Chloe stuffed together in a fairly small basket. Pierre weighs twenty pounds and was in the basket first. Somehow Chloe got herself in there, too. Can you tell where one cat starts and the other ends?

I am totally immersed in books by Janet Evanovich -- the Stephanie Plum series. I just finished Hot Six and am now reading High Five. I think her latest is a number thirteen and I am trying to read them as much in sequence as I can, according to when I can get certain books from the library. They are SO entertaining and so funny.

Okay, as kookiejar says...

Later

FAMILY, AUCTIONS AND BIRTHDAYS -- WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

I have had a full week -- my daughter (et al) left on Monday morning, my husband's old Air Force buddy arrived that afternoon, my husband's daughter and grandchildren arrived on Wednesday. By yesterday morning, everyone had left, including my husband and his friend to go on their annual roadtrip (they drive towards North Carolina, visit military bases, small boating communities and towns and just hang out). He will fly back here on Monday. Right now I am sitting here enjoying the "alone time."

Wednesday night I went to an auction. Here are a few shots of what I won as the highest bidder.

Russian lacquer boxes -- I really had no interest in these, but got caught up in the moment and was bidding against a dealer and I figured he knew their worth. I will probably sell them on E-Bay.

The teapot has a story. I had one identical to this since 1971. Thirty-five years ago a dear friend (now deceased) and I used to sit and drink jasmine tea from the teapot. I never thought it was particulary attractive as far as teapots go, but I was very sentimental about it. Well, the teapot broke a few months ago. My sister was sweet enough to give me another teapot which was lovely, but of course, was not THE TEAPOT that held the memories. But -- there this was -- at the auction. I had to have it. A winning bid of $5.00 gave it to me (no one else bid on it). Barry, wherever you are, I know you appreciate my sentimentality.

The silver tray -- hotel silver from the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Engraved with WA on the front and the back says Waldorf Astoria 1931. It is very heavy and I think very attractive.

The little green glass jar with a salt shaker top: This is for my daughter. She likes old glass jars. Beth, I hope you like it.

Last night - three friends (Suzanne, Gretchen and Christina) and I got together for Gretchen's birthday. We celebrated over paella at a Spanish restaurant and enjoyed the cake that Suzanne had made. We have been doing this for some years now. All of us are around the same age, give or take a few years, and we celebrate each birthday at a restaurant, with a cake and gifts. We usually force the birthday girl to wear a tiara which is handed down to the next recipient. This year we forgot the tiara. It wasn't missed. It was getting a little tarnished anyway -- like us, maybe.

The remains of the day.

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS TO GRAMMY'S HOUSE WE GO!

The treasures of my life arrived last Thursday night to pick up their dog Ohbe and to spend some time at "Grammy's." My daughter Beth, my son-in-law Dale, my 11 year old grandson Cooper, and my 7 year old grandson Ian were able to stay four days until they had to leave this morning and drive back to Massachusetts. The boys are used to long road trips and they are very good travelers. We had a busy and happy time together. The beach, the boardwalk (even I went on the bumper cars), the water park -- we did it all. The boys had just been to Disneyworld so they have had a full summer.

Being a parent is a highlight in anyone's life, but being a grandmother has to top even that. We know our lives go on through our children and hopefully, our grandchildren will remember us and treasure their moments with us as we do with them. That is why it is always so important for me to travel to visit them whenever I can, no matter how far.

THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN by James Lee Burke

This is Burke's newest book to add to his series of fifteen other "Dave Robicheaux" crime drama/mysteries. This author is the greatest and as the book jacket says, he is the rare winner of two Edgar Edwards. I have read all of this series and also all but two of all of his other twelve books.

The book jacket says that "critics are already calling (this) Burke's best work." I would have to agree.

From the jacket:

In the waning days of summer, 2005, a storm with greater impact than the bomb that struck Hiroshima peels the face off southern Louisiana.

This is the gruesome reality Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux discovers as he is deployed to New Orleans....Hurricane Katrina has left the commercial district and residential neighborhoods awash with looters and predators of every stripe. The power grid of the city has been destroyed...

In a singular style that defies genre, James Lee Burke has created a hauntingly bleak picture of life in New Orleans after Katrina.

The author has a home in New Iberia and all of his Dave Robicheaux books are set there and in and around New Orleans. This book appears to be based on real situations and actual facts. I think that Burke includes his own impressions of the political fiasco and failure (in Dave Robicheaux's voice) that occurred before, during and after Katrina hit. I have never been to New Orleans, but the image I now have of this city is probably nothing like the reality of what the city was. Burke's novels always include unforgettably complex and flawed characters, some likable, but often frightening. In this book I definitely feel the possibility of the author's persona expressed in the character of his protagonist. This series of books is violent and graphic and I do not identify with any of the characters, even his wife and daughter. Despite this, I love this guy's writing style. True poetry among the prose.

James Lee Burke's daughter, Alafair Burke, is also an author and I have just started one of her novels. (Alafair is also the fictional name of Dave Robicheaux's daughter!)

NICE MATTERS AWARD

Lynne has given me this award which I truly appreciate. She is the nicest.

Here's what the award means: "This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blogging friends, and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. It is also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world."

I am supposed to pass this along to other bloggers, but since everyone whose blogs I read are such nice people, I will pass this out into the ether-world for all of you truly nice bloggers.

LAZY SUMMER DAYS

I have been really been taking it easy for the last week. My daughter and son-in-law and grandsons came to visit overnight and to drop off their sweet Lab, Ohbe, for me to babysit while they are traveling for ten days. Ohbe and Beau get along great, even though Ohbe has to defer to Beau many times because he is so dominant. Little poodle with the big mouth and big gentle Lab. Pretty typical of the two breeds I guess. They will be back this Friday to pick her up and spend a few days here.

I have finished a few books, one of which was "No Corners For The Devil" by Olive Etchells. The author is British and has written many books, although this is the first I have read. The locale is Cornwall, England in a small village by the sea. I thought this would be interesting since I once visited a few of these small villages in Cornwall. The author uses a lot of English colloquialisms which I didn't understand, but all in all it was good reading. The gist of the story is that a violent crime that takes place on the sea cliff near their house changes the lives forever of a new family to the area, the Baxters. This was an easy, entertaining read with some descriptions of the local scenery. The characters were not necessarily outstanding in that I did not identify with any of them or find them particularly interesting. But, how often do we actually "identify" with characters in novels? Sometimes, just entertaining is good enough.

Famous Movie Kiss

I was watching one of my very favorite movies tonight -- "Dirty Dancing." I thought Patrick Swayze was especially sexy tonight. And then I read Tristi Pinkston's blog and took this quiz. SPIDERMAN??!! Really.

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Spiderman

"I have always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life?"

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

READING AND CLEANING

Despite my work and traveling schedule, I have managed to finish a few books:

One For The Money by Janet Evanovich (as always - great - the first in the series of Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter.)

A Year In The Merde by Stephen Clarke (comical insights of the cultural differences between French and British).

Out to Pasture: But Not Over The Hill by Effie Leland Wilder (this author wrote her first novel at 80!!!!)

I returned to the library the book I had started about Edith Piaf. The book was very long and I would probably have to renew it several times, so I decided to check it out later when I can do it justice.

I am reading several books right now. One is "Atop An Underwood" which are edited writings from Jack Kerouac.

I had borrowed James Lee Burke's latest ("The Tin Roof Blowdown") from the library, but had only started it and it was due back. Someone had put a hold on it so I couldn't renew it. I just ordered my own copy from Amazon.

I have been so busy during the past week. I am not the best housekeeper and I have been on a cleaning and organizing and tossing spree lately. Ok -- we have company this month - so there is an impetus. Maybe I will turn over a new leaf!