love.....

Source: life-love-laughter.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

a review of the holidays....

I discovered that a dear friend is actually 

"Mrs. Claus"

Hence, Christmas-towne in her living room....

Then, to IKEA

my sweetie & I went..

Then home to decorate...

Another dear friend supplied us with a 

Charlie Brown tree...

one of my favorite ornaments....

the only time of the year in which my office is slightly presentable...

Another day, preparations for dinner for 10....

then a visit from

the daughter, who was single, blonde and pet-less last year...

who brought her new husband, dog

and....

RED hair this year!

An ornament to remind us of the V&A in London..

Lovely cards from all over...

These photos were all taken on the run...

mostly with my new iPhone....

I am still in the learning stage with it.

Hope your holidays have been 

interesting, calm and joyous...

smiles

This I believe...

(with apologies to NPR)

I believe that Thanksgiving is a time to 

affirm our core beliefs...

We, as Americans, have so much to be grateful for....

life...

liberty...

the pursuit of happiness....

all men created equal....

(someday, maybe, even women)

peace on our shores.....

and 

most 

importantly,

freedom

what a bold word....

such an "in your face assertion"...

WE

HAVE 

FREEDOM!

We are free to....

bitch

complain

cheer for our team

be lazy

cry

laugh

sob

groan

mock

protest

support

choose indifference

create

explore

think independently

show loyalty, or not

work

play

grow, or not

love, or not

wallow in misery,

offend

mend

bend

end

Yes,

we are a funny lot...

filled with angst

courage

fear

patriotism

We boldly go where no man has gone before....

We root root root for the underdog...

We hate injustice

We balk at orders

We resist categorization

We are similar

We are diverse

We love

We hate

We understand each other

We shun each other

We support others who seek freedom

We are Americans

We are so very fortunate to have this land 

at this time

Great potential have we...

if only we will look beyond our differences.

Please

today 

while you feast

look beyond your differences

seek common ground

be grateful

to 

be 

Americans

smiles...

P.W.D.R.T.I........

People Who Don't Respond To Invitations!

well,

to 

be 

honest....

Don't respond promptly.....

It 

drives

me 

crazy....

I don't even require a definitive answer...

simply an acknowledgement of the invitation would be 

sufficient.

Here's what the deal boils down to..

I love to entertain around the holidays.

My sweetie also likes to have people to our home.

We like the planning even....

So, 

once Halloween is over,

I usually pull up the calendar on my Mac

and start to scheme...

I love to have as many as can come...

especially at Thanksgiving.

We have children with parents other than ourselves,

so we are aware that the kids may not be with us on that day.

We also have extended family near by. 

We have friends with no family near by.

We like to extend our invitation to others, who have 

no place to go for dinner that day.

We can make it work.

I send the invitations 

early, so that consultations and plans can be adjusted,

if need be. I even gave a "drop dead" response date in the form

of "Please respond by;"

So.....

why don't people,

at the very least,

respond with something like

"I received the invitation, and we are still making our plans. We will let you know asap!"

nada

nothing

zip

Not one acknowledgement...

except my parents,

who are delighted to be a part of...

and confirmed that the invitation went out.

Is this what you experience?

Do you entertain?

Does your family respond?

What about birthday parties?

Do you host them?

Do people respond to your invitations?

Last May,

I hosted a bridal shower 

sent honest to goodness printed 

invitations of heavy card stock 

(which I love)

and slightly half of the invitees responded.

People attended that never acknowledged my invitation.

What's that all about?

If you have a tried and true method of 

inviting...

please share....

I am starting to feel a bit desperate...

smiles

I love Pinterest!!!

I find all sorts of wonderful inspirations there.....

Source: isleofview-facesoflove.tumblr.com via Susannah on Pinterest

More Londontowne....

If you ever are given the opportunity to 

escape your "work-a-day life"

and travel

Here is a tip...

try London first.

Not just because 

I've been there.

But, 

because

it 

is 

easy

for 

Americans.

And 

we do love

easy don't we?

This is 

Windsor Castle...

Home of the Queen

She wasn't "in"

as you can tell be the 

flag they were flying that day.

"Her flag"

only flies when she is in...

Yes,

tourists look the same 

all over the world...

Personally,

I like the little 

"crown" detail on top of 

her  coach-lights....

Maybe I will fashion a couple of those for my 

front lights out of papiermache'....

Not allowed through the front gate,

we had to go around the side to the 

"Pions Entrance"

(that's ok, I wouldn't have it any other way)

Below is a

slot (technical term)

through which they would 

shoot arrows, or weapons of any sort.

The small cross section is so that you can 

pivot your bow and arrow to the sides.

Not all enemies would be kind enough to stand 

straight in front of the slot apparently....

Now,

this surprised me...

a tropical oasis on the south flank 

of her castle...

Truly lovely...

Security was everywhere,

but not in an imposing way....

I felt quite safe.

The view is incredible..

the castle is on a small rise,

surrounded by flatlands.

Quite defendable I would imagine.

Below is an alien....

(that's what I call it anyway)

No!

I didn't get any closer,

I watch the Doctor

(Dr. Who)

and am aware of what aliens might do if bothered.

Below, a relative of the queen I would presume...

We were not allowed in this area either,

as you can see

it is being guarded...

As with any old house, 

one must constantly do repairs...

See the scaffolding on the right of this photo...

even the Queen has repairs...

And who doesn't want to have their picture taken with the

guards....these two shy middle-schoolers, my guess..

They don't allow photos to be taken inside the castle,

so back on the bus....

and a lovely bus it is...

Next time,
"Bath"
where we will smell sulfur,
eat fudge
and be grateful for indoor plumbing...
smiles...