Nora, Sarah and Me

Apple picking in Vermont on a beautiful October day was an ideal outing during a whirlwind road trip with one daughter to visit another daughter and bring her some comforts from home, go out to dinner, stock her cupboards, buy some unexpected treats and take stock of this new chapter in her life. In the orchard we savored the smell of ripe apples, felt the Northern sun on our cheeks and the happiness of being together. Minus the boys, our tribe was incomplete, but the time together was lovely, stress-free and full of smiles. Amen to all that.

Betty Davis' Eyes

When you are under the weather and feel glued to the coziest, kindest spot in your home sometimes a movie or two can help pass the time while you are feeling awful. I love listening to Leonard Lopate in the car (although my children find it beyond boring) and happened upon an interview with Catharine Wyler, daughter of William Wyler the other day. She was discussing the restoration and re-relase of the film epic, Ben Hur, which was directed by her father. In the course of chatting away, she mentioned her other favorite films of her father's, one of which was The Letter. I got it out of the library and spent a very enjoyable interlude viewing this classic. Betty Davis infused so much feeling in every gesture of the character that she played that she made each moment of her screen time riveting to watch. Truly, a director's dream and an amazing example of artistry at work.

Forgive all the links, this post begged for all the extraneous sharing of information.

Preventive Measures

As we greet the cool days of October, certain members of my family start to complain about "how cold the house feels" and "when can we start putting on the heat?". Like many parents who eye the bottom line a little more rigorously than their offspring, I am happy to remind them of the cozy relief a few more layers might provide. But it's only a matter of time before another t-shirt and a sweater won't provide the comfort their thin skinned bodies demand. And getting teens up in the morning to go to school when the temperature hovers in the low 60's is no picnic either. Maintaining curb appeal also means maintaining our home's mechanicals. It helps to be on good terms with all the folks whose support we need to keep them in good working order. One of my favorite technicians is Robert from Blue Star Heating Co.  After he makes his annual visit to service our heating system I can rest easier, knowing that our lumbering furnace will continue to keep us warm for the chilly months to come. It makes everyone happy when mom keeps the home fires burning.

Ellen

Spending time with Ellen is a chance to feel inspired, relax in her minimalist world (something we don't really have around here) and chat with someone who has seen me through a lot of changes. Pre-marriage, motherhood, and suburban life, we bonded when were 30 something's. We were each trying to figure out how to be successful as artists and businesswomen while supporting each other through the ups and downs of our numerous romantic adventures as single girls. She has the best taste of anyone I know and her environments reflect her great eye. The day of my visit Ellen was busy editing files. We studied photos I had taken of her and we were both enamoured by a still which captured all of Ellen's elegant sweetness.

Later, we dodged the raindrops and grabbed a bite at a neighborhood restaurant. The noon rush, people hopping up and down, all framed by the backdrop of the window's neon sign created a lively tableau for our viewing pleasure on a stormy city day.

The Comforts of Home

My husband is a hard working guy. Up and out five days a week, commuting by train, working late, the whole nine yards of doing the dad thing to keep the troops housed and fed. So, when it's a cloudy Saturday morning and I get to bring him his morning brew that makes me glad. We are no longer kids ourselves, but surrounded by them, you have to keep up. It's good to see him linger in bed on a Saturday morning while reading a fascinating book with the companionship of his favorite four legged creature. Later, back from a quick run to the post office, another configuration emerges- 3 males nesting on a cloudy day.