Pinterest!

Yes, I have to admit it: I am now addicted to Pinterest!

When I first heard of Pinterest on different blogs, I said, "Oh, that sounds silly." Yes, I really did. And now, I am a slave to it. When I get on there, I can easily be on for an hour or two, seriously. If my son is home and I am sitting on the couch, quietly, not bothering him, he will say: "Are you on that Pinterest thing again??!!"

It's so much fun though. There are pretty rooms to look at, funny posters that make me laugh, beautiful outside photos, lovely 'inspirational' quotes... Oh, and the FOOD! Great food photos and links to the recipes. It's kind-of like going shopping and "buying" all of these little photos for your boards! You can also post your OWN photos on there, which I have done too.

I love it so much and there are SO many pretty things that people "pin," such as photos like this one below...

UPDATE: The Pinterest owner of the above photo is: Originally pinned by Shelley Berendt onto Halloween. From maddycakesmuse.blogspot.com

Here's another example: Of the FUNNY things that you'll see on there. Isn't this hysterical??!UPDATE: The Pinterest owner of the above photo is: Originally pinned by SusieBru onto anne taintor or 'ish. From: theberry.com

Anyway, if you haven't joined yet, please do. You'll love it. And FOLLOW ME if you'd like to! My button is on my right-hand side bar.

And if you have joined already, let me know your favorite things to "pin!" Oh, and please tell me your link and I will follow you!

Best, Gloria

UPDATE: The Pinterest owner of the top photo/upper left is: Originally pinned by Anna Davis onto Quotes. (From: Original location not listed.)

DIY Website

Did you ever hear of this website? DoItYourself.com

I saw it mentioned on another blog. It looks like a great website! I haven't had time to check it out fully, but I thought I'd share this with all of you, in case you are getting ready for some of your own DIY projects and might like to look up some tips. Enjoy!

Click here ---> Do It Yourself

Best,

Gloria

Note: logo from website

Happy First Day of Autumn!

It's the first day of Fall, and in my area, it is raining. I'm looking forward to the change in color of the leaves on the trees. Until then, here's a pretty photo from the internet... I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Best,

Gloria

Note: Photo from Google/youngwinosofla.com

10th Anniversary of 9/11

Dear All: I wanted to do a post in memory of 9/11, on this 10th anniversary. I have been watching the different shows today (especially those on PBS) and have been crying my eyes out. I'm sure there are many of you doing the same.
One story that I think is so touching relates to the photo below...
In Bryant Park in NYC, they have set up 2,753 empty chairs, honoring those that perished in the 9/11 tragedy. The exhibit was created by artist Sheryl Oring.
Bryant Park is located between 40th and 42nd Street on Sixth Avenue, in back of the 42nd Street Library in Manhattan. In the 80's, I worked on 40th Street, across from Bryant Park in the American Standard Building (which is now a hotel). Since the time I worked there, the city has cleaned it up, and it is now a wonderful, safe park.
I think this photo is very moving, and says a lot... it shows all of the precious lives lost, and relays in this humble way that they have not been forgotten...
As one lady, who lost a brother, is quoted in the article: "It is a simple and touching memorial..."
If you'd like to read the article, please click HERE.

I did a post last year on the anniversary of 9/11. If you'd like to read it, please click HERE. It also includes a personal story of a friend's NYC firefighter husband, who was there on 9/11. I hope you might have a minute to read it.

Best,
Gloria

P.S. I've turned comments off for this post. Note: Photo of Bryant Park courtesy of msn.com/Sophia Hall, WCBS 880

PHOTOS of Hurricane Irene

FINALLY! I know, I know, anyone reading this is saying, "Gloria is finally posting hurricane photos NOW? It took her long enough!"
I am sorry for the delay and hope you are still interested in seeing them! My son took these photos when he went on the following day after Hurrican Irene. Let's see, the hurricane was on Sunday, September 28th, and he took most of these the following day. We were so lucky that not one tree or branch came down on our property. The good Lord was REALLY protecting us.
We were without power for five days... from Sunday through Thursday (we got our power back Thurs night). Believe it or not, parts of the power outage were fun... we did everything outside, grilling our food, and we played Monopoly and Jenga and Poker too!! We had fun and it was great quality time with my son. Very, very special...
Well, for four days, that is. I will be totally honest to let you know that on the fifth day, things started to get stressful and we were REALLY getting on each others' nerves!! LOL! So much for bonding time. Now I know: four days, GREAT; five days, UH-OH. Keep that in mind for any black-outs you may experience in the future. ;)

Well, let me show the photos now...
I wanted to show this one -- of our cat, Little Buddy, relaxing and taking a nap in my son's room... Isn't she cute?

The day after the hurricane, my son went in to Burger King in the next town to get us something and when he saw the loooooong line, he said forget it! Do you believe that line??

A couple more of the next town over from us...

And here starts the photos of the downed trees and downed wires in our town...

This is the shopping center in our town, not bad at all, only one tree...

More of our town...

This is our town's Senior Center. My son just drove in there to see how it fared, and it fared very well!

More of the downed trees and wires in our town...

And here is a bright spot: this is a little bush/tree I bought this Spring in honor of my mother (she passed away almost six years ago) because it is supposed to have blue-ish flowers (her favorite color) and after the hurricane, I was SHOCKED to see its first little flower! I think it was a sign from my Mom that she was protecting us the whole time during the hurricane. :)

And this was the best part of the "black out" that we had after the hurricane: my son would go in the morning to the next town and get us coffee and delicious, soft, fresh, buttered sesame bagels from Dunkin Donuts!

And, when our lights came back on, we celebrated with a few fireworks...

Thank you for visting and, again, thanks to all of you who worried about my son and I and left such nice comments on my previous two posts. I appreciate all of you!!! xxoo

Best,

Gloria

We made it through Hurricane Irene!

Thank you all for your comments in my previous post! You are all so nice and I appreciate it!
Well, I wanted to just do a short post to let you all know that my son and I are OK. We just got our power back late last night. Trust me, being without electricity for five days really STINKS.
I will be back in a day or so and post all the photos we took of the downed trees on the roads near us. My son and I were VERY LUCKY that there weren't any trees that came down on our property. Thank you, God.
Take care everyone and I will post soon, and I will start visiting all of YOU soon again too! I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend also.
Best,
Gloria