Fond Memories of Our Childhood Home

Since this blog is all about nurturing the mind body spirit environment and other living beings, let me spew about where it all started, our childhood home and the memories these photos stir up for me, in a very good way.

the colors of the house are different and the landscape had many more flowers, which my Dad planted, namely lots of tulips and rose bushes.

The new owners seem to have taken good care of this house which was built by European immigrants in the 1940s, and provided a loving home to seven of us in our family.  There were 3 floors, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and a finished basement.  The neighborhood was special too - our Grandparents and other family lived "down the street" and many kids our own ages lived up and down the block - so many to play with.

I remember myself and a friend would do a kind of whistle to indicate to each other we were on the sidewalk on our way to meet and hang out together.  A group of us would have touch football games in our backyard.  We would bike all over the neighborhood for hours.  There was a park nearby where we would walk, play frisbee, softball, the guys played football, later, we would  meet up as young couples.

Our teenage years, we had parties when the folks were away that included a full DJ, bar, and late night dancing.  The signature drink was The Kamakaze - frozen lemon ice - a neighborhood specialty - was the key ingredient.

There were lots of family parties hosted in and outdoors.  Settings that included steak sandwiches, or lobster, sometimes both.  This house represents lots of love which provided the foundation of our lives established by our parents, dedicated to raising a family with work ethic and shared values.  These nurturing moments were so significant that today I'll dream of this house and wake up knowing that we sold it decades ago.

Childhood homes are precious to those families fortunate to have made fond memories.

Summer Fun

Good Fortune

a friend of mine gave me this for good luck some 25 years ago.  In my previous post, I recognized good friends and the value they bestow on our lives.  Good fortune has played a role in my life as well.  Through struggles and despair,  I'm also grateful for the good fortune I have had in the fulfillment of my dreams.  A simple one.  Being able to own and care for horses.

This gift from a friend which we hung on the dairy barn years ago is a reflection of that!

This is June Royal, Starburst - a pony, and L.S. Quinarius in the foreground.

Jim Dandy close-up.  his eyes are puffy from allergies to some of the wildflowers in the pasture.

Jim Dandy rough housing in the early morning just out of the barn.  Another one ready to roll in the snow.  Horses like to roll over first thing out of the barn - one way they groom themselves.

June Royal showing signs of aging - gray on her face /coat

Smokey Boots, our oldest horse who died several years ago - see my Memorial post 

Rosa Bonheur painting "The Horse Fair" hanging in the MET, my days in NYC from which I took inspiration and dreamt of having horses to care for.

Nurturer, Friend

Perhaps the greatest definition of a friend is one who nurtures - essentially being the support of another person for a moment in time - little by little, problem by problem - and one who shares in the joys of another - moment by moment, step by step.

Sharing these times with my friends and family - especially a day at the beach - is so uplifting for me - and this year we got together twice.  Once at Avon by the Sea, and than on the fishing beach at Spring Lake - a well kept secret...Shhh!

There are times when the ear of a confident helps us sort out the cobwebs of life - we offer our hand  - it will be alright, we say - knowing that each time we are setback in life - we'll get a chance to move forward  - if only we take the chance.  Assure each other that not giving up /not giving in - is half the struggle.

Seeing old and dear friends is another reason to Celebrate.  Remembering that you were once close friends -  times you shared were a treasure - and always will be - the distance of time and space is meaningless  - we see each other again and reminisce.

Stay around my friend, for another day, when things are lovely,  when you sail on a cool breeze of salty air, reach new heights - stay around my friend for we nurture each other.  Life takes us to new heights - we help each other hold on along the way.

Play Time

...children show us how to play again and enjoy the things they love!

"Notice what is # 4 on the list?" Our family takes time to visit us on the farm even tho we are many miles away...sometimes they even help us with chores- like milking a goat-feeding horses-sweeping the barn.

Most of all  - they give lots of TLC - showing love...something we don't always have time for... mostly, a large dose of LOVE for the animals...and we feel it too!

Summer Days

...most of our lives are spent outdoors, here, surrounded by nature.  This view from our pasture allows me to contemplate the depths of the world - with such vast space in my little corner of the Earth, and so much boundless energy - I can only imagine the entirety of the Universe.

There is very little time to stare into the sky, or take in the views, or be with the animals, but when it happens, it reminds me of the smallness of each of our lives, marking time by what we give to the Universe, absorbing the vast beauty around us, that which we can see, and that unseen.  Bringing light whenever we can, aspiring to reflect the blessings of life.