Ringing in 2011 with some vintage Times Square.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone! Be Safe.
~Suzanne.

The Holidays: It brings out the best in us. But sometimes not.

Yesterday at about 5:30 I was in our local grocery store picking up some bread and milk. Now that there are three children back in the house ( James is home on college break) it seems we are always running out of milk. I buy two gallons at a time but trying to keep up with a 6'4" 19 year old rower is easier said than done. And of course he has to drink whole milk and all the others drink skim.

Anyway, as I was going through the self check out I noticed because I was near the doors, a mother dressed nicely in a suit outfit wearing high heeled boots. She had two crying children with her. She looked annoyed to put it mildly. The childrens' ages were roughly two and a half and about five and they were bickering over who would go into the shopping cart. They both wanted to sit where the groceries go. I got the feeling that this mother did NOT do a lot of shopping on a regular basis because she was yelling and picking up a little hand basket saying. "well, I hope everything I need to buy will fit into this little basket." Of course this statement fell on deaf ears whereas the children were still bickering over who would get into the cart. The young boy now had his leg slung over the side of the cart and I thought for sure the whole thing was coming down on top of him.

The mom by now was yelling at the kids at a fever pitch and people were beginning to stare. Along came Mr. Store Manager to the rescue with a cart with a little truck attached to the front for kids to sit in. He showed them how to blow the horn, he showed the kids how the turn the steering wheels, he showed them how to buckle themselves in. "Yay", I am thinking to myself, "no accidents tonight at least."

In went the kids still bickering. Little boy was crying hysterically at this point. He couldn't fit apparently because big sister's coat was taking up too much room. As I walked by with my jugs of milk and bag the last thing that caught my eye was this mother, and how she took her high heeled boot and not too hard but none the less, kicked the little boy into the truck. More hysterical crying. Now the mom's head was down on the cart's handlebar and SHE was crying as well.

As I walked out of the store and looked back into the windows of the grocery store I could see Mr. Store Manager trying in vain to help. I said to myself, "that's it, I don't care if she thinks I am a nosey body, I am going back in there." I threw my stuff in the car and went back in somewhat nervously.

I approached her cautiously so the mother wouldn't think I was some kind of a nut or something. But anyone could clearly see she was at the end of her thread for reasons unknown to us. She was sitting on a bench where they have a blood pressure cuff available for those who do not have access to one at home and I couldn't help thinking, "how appropriate."

I produced from my big leather bag one of my youngest child's toys that I just happened to be carrying around. Now, I do not believe in rewarding kids for bad behavior but this was clearly a temper tantrum situation of two children who had probably been at daycare all day and now their working mother was dragging them into the grocery store on the way home for groceries for dinner. Overtired children are irrational, just the way overtired and overworked adults are.
It's common sense.

I asked the mother if a toy would perhaps keep her boy distracted while in the store. And then I spoke directly to the boy. He stopped crying for a bit. His face was all red and nose running. The mother said to them, "if you kids don't stop I am leaving you here," as I was standing there and she started walking out the automatic doors.

"No mommy!", was the panicked chorus.


She came back. I looked at her directly and I noticed I was probably at least twenty years older than she was. "Look, I know it's hard," was all I said to the mom. She looked at me with the tears still in her eyes; her face thin and drawn. She looked exhausted. With that, she took the little boy, and carried him on her hip. The little girl was in the truck part holding the toy I gave them and they went finally into the store to shop. This entire family temper tantrum took roughly 20 minutes to diffuse. I walked out of the store to my car, but I sat and watched for a moment. Things seemed to have calmed down.


I fear for those children. I hope she doesn't decide to kick them again with her professional boots. Or threaten to leave them alone in a store. They are only two and five.

Christmas in Connecticut

We went to church last night and had our Christmas Eve Italian fish dinner here in Old Lyme at my house. The children have opened their gifts and are now busily playing with them. Even my college guy still likes his "toys". The dogs are chewing on their new chew toys and kitty is outside prowling for mice full of the little catnip toy he received from the kids.

Dinner will be at 4 pm this afternoon here at my house so before then Audrey and I are going to the stables to wish our horse Faye a Merry Christmas and give her the treats and we made for her yesterday. Yes, I am cooking dinner but I have to set my priorities; horse first, food second. My family knows this by now! ;) We made enough treats for the other three stable mate friends too.


Barbara and I share the same cooking techniques. (from "Christmas in Connecticut", 1945)

Maybe I will break out one of my evening gowns for dinner tonight like Barbara in the movie...but who will play our piano? I might have to recruit someone.


Merry Christmas everyone. Joy and Happiness on this day to you and your families!
~Suzanne.

Hey Santa!

It's a season for wishes for people young and old
of course my Santa I was never so bold
To ask before what I would like this year
It is not something that comes wrapped up in a box
but it's something I hold very heart dear.

Perhaps on your Christmas Eve flight
there may be someone else watching at night
Who thinks like me, and wants a friend
a real partner in life, to have fun with too
not just someone to keep things on the mend.

Well Santa I know that is a tall order to fill
but I have been waiting for so long in this chill
I decided to ask you for your help tonight
and even though you have a million other requests
maybe, just maybe this year will be all right.

~suzanne.

2010 Christmas card.

You have seen the old ones and read the stories. Drum roll please...here is this year's edition. Audrey made her confirmation and James was her sponsor. I managed to get all three in a celebrating mood just a few Sundays ago! As you can clearly see I have a large height discrepancy; 6'4" to 4'6" hmmm, sounds suspiciously like the cereal commercial.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
~Suzanne.

Some Images of Christmas Cards Past Repost

These are some of the Christmas cards with photos of my children that I have taken over the years. I have not looked at these collectively in a long, long time. Therefore, I am posting them for myself and you. I am laughing as I look at them because of the memories of taking the actual photos and all the coordinated outfits of yesteryear...As you can plainly see, as I have gotten older and have gone from one to three kids I have become much more of a "relaxed" mother and tried to make the photo taking event a fun thing...(don't know if I succeeded but the older kids certainly laugh about it over and over, I think they think their mom is a little bit kooky.)
We'll have to see what this year has in store. Enjoy my favorites.

C'est Suzanne: Yes, those were the days of Christmas craziness, Dec. 1999.

C'est Suzanne: Yes, those were the days of Christmas craziness, Dec. 1999.

Click the above link for photos. This is a repost from last year I thought you might enjoy. It still makes me laugh each time I see these pictures. Audrey looks like she has lipstick on but her lips are red from a combination of being a little bit chapped and candy cane red. Oh, and what you see at the link is just a handfull of what I took back in the "film" days...Sometimes I wish I could turn back the clock just for one or two days.

We were waiting for Santa to come down the chimney. We were given candy canes everywhere mom went shopping that day and we ate them all. Now mom is going to go through one or two rolls of film, (back when she still used film) to get that one perfect photo for our Christmas cards this year. Well, as you can see the sun is setting so we don't have a whole lot of time. Willie our beloved Fox Terrier is getting in the picture too this year and maybe even our serial mouse killer Scamper. They really don't like having their pictures taken much. Willie thinks Audrey's hands and face taste like candy canes though. ~ James and Audrey.

This was December, 1999 a time before the world changed forever. I look at these photos and I just have to smile at the memories of taking them, the joy of Christmas on my kids' faces and the whole day. Such fun. ~ Suzanne.

The Three Kings' Journey

Three wise men.

Another wise man's home.


In this cute house in our town lives a couple. I do not know their names but they are about my age. I see them outside occasionally doing yard work or coming and going in their car. They do not live near my house but we pass this place each day sometimes more than once for it is on the way into town. This street is one of the main roads in our town although by most standards it would most likely be considered a back country road.

Each year, this couple places in their yard the figures you see below of the nativity. I remember these light up statues from when I was a child. Theirs look from the wear and tear on them to be from around the same time period. After dark the figures glow with color. They are about three and a half feet high I would estimate.

Well, the reason these particular Three Kings are so fascinating to my family and probably others as well is that the Three Kings are on a journey. Starting on Dec. 1 they slowly ever so slowly make their way across the yard to the manger. Notice in the photo however, that the manger is empty of course as of today. Baby Jesus does not arrive until Christmas Eve.

No one sees Mr. Three Kings (the owner of the house), moving the figures during the daytime hours. Once however, when I was passing by his house coming back from New York City last December I spotted a flashlight ahead of me on the side of the road. It was him, moving those wise men just a few feet closer and in a different position for the next day.

You see, sometimes the Three Kings face the street, sometimes they look at each other like they are conferring and sometimes they look straight ahead as if they are intent on getting to where they are going. I wanted to stop and chat but it was one o'clock in the morning and I didn't want to spoil his surprise.

Last year I swore I was going to leave this couple a note in their mailbox telling them how we love following the adventures of the Three Kings and thank them for doing this.

I have to make sure I make good on my promise.

Making their journey across the yard.

Their final destination.

Beekman 1802: encourages us to live seasonally.

...The countryside, heirloom seasonal veggies, goat cheese and goat milk soaps (you know how I love my Beltane farm soaps from Connecticut), a beautiful white house with a big kitchen, lots of snow? All they need is a horse...

For the past couple of weeks I have been busy getting ready for Christmas like many of us. I have had one get together here at my house so far. I served brie cheese with cranberries and almonds melted. It seems to be a crowd pleaser. But there are more get togethers on the horizon with family. I needed more cheese ideas maybe.

I like to do most of my Christmas shopping online. I really am NOT into store shopping unless I can actually go into a place that looks like the one above. But this store, Beekman 1802 Mercantile is located in Sharon Springs, NY. I mapquested it. It is exactly 201 miles from my house door to door. That's about 3 hours away, the way I drive. What caught my eye was their artisanal goat cheese called "Blaak" that I saw online. Click here to go to www.beekman1802.com. So I bought some. But I am not getting it apparently until 4-5 weeks from now. Bummer. I just love the name of that cheese...

My curiosity led me to read about the owners of the store. And what an interesting pair they are. Dr. Brent Ridge, a doctor who was instrumental in getting The Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai in New York City started is one owner of the Beekman 1802 Mercantile. His partner is Josh Kilmer-Purcell, a co-owner of a New York City based advertising agency. Mr. Kilmer-Purcell has also written several books including "The Bucolic Plague", "I am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir", "Candy Everybody Wants". Dr. Ridge as a physician, specializes in the field of aging graduated from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Columbia. He also holds and MBA from NYU.

As if all that were not enough, these two now own and run Beekman Farm in Sharon Springs, New York. Sharon Springs was at one time a tourist mecca for its spring waters. The wealthy would travel up to Sharon Springs from points south including New York City to "take the waters" as they used to say. But by the late 1960s the town's population had dwindled to less than 500 residents. But Ridge and Kilmer-Purcell are bringing new life back into the town.

Ridge and Kilmer-Purcell purchased a very large completely restored mansion once owned by a judge, built in 1802. A 2,000 square foot barn came with the 60 acre property. They had originally intended to use the place as a second home, a place to relax. The two saw the house and property purely by chance one weekend while going for a drive upstate from the city to pick apples. For them by their own admission it was love at first sight. They got together the financing and the sale was made.

But of course life changes things. Dr. Ridge wound up leaving his position working as a medical advisor and columnist for Martha Stewart's very large company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia., (MSLO).
And in that whirlwind of a year, a note was left by a local farmer in their mailbox that his herd of goats needed a home; would they be interested? A herd of over 100 goats later, over 50 raised beds of heirloom, pesticide free produce, a furry llama named Polka Spot to guard the sheep from coy dogs and a bunch of cats and a few pigs, Dr. Ridge certainly had his work cut out for him.


So, yes, the two were interested. So interested in fact that not only do they make goat cheese that I cannot wait to receive, but goat's milk soaps by the caseload that is shipped all over the US and the world. And in addition, the Beekman Mercantile sells wares made from Sharon Springs and the surrounding area local crafts people. Items such as heirloom quality linens, baby gifts, irons goods, and things suitable for garden work.

The entire crew at Beekman Farm have their own television reality show called "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" which airs on Channel 103/The Planet Green channel on Comcast in Old Lyme, Wednesday nights at 8pm. It's a show which chronicles their lives living at the mansion and dealing with the farm along with the helpers on the Beekman farm. Josh still works in New York City and comes up on the weekends. After all it is still considered a start up company.

But now they are on season two of the show and apparently business is booming. I mean, I have to wait a month for my cheese right? Business MUST be good. So I won't whine about it. Ok, maybe just a little. But only because it looks so good.

Click here to see the Beekman Farm that The New York Times did a piece on last year. It has some great photos.

Dr. Brent Ridge left Josh Kilmer-Purcell right with some of the girls.

"Blaak" goat cheese. Yum.

‘Twas the Night Click on this link to see Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell decorating for the holidays. It's a really cool holiday greeting video card from Beekman Farm.

She had a ball at The Old Lyme Winter Ball.

My daughter Audrey. Did I mention it was a masked ball?

Here we are Santa.

Red barn with green cement planters, that works...shine a spotlight, done.



The house is not visible at all most of the year from the road. But when the leaves fall off the trees and if you shine some lights at night, yes you can see us back here in the woods. Here is what I did this year. Every year I do something different. I like to mix it up.
Cheers.

My little antique chair on the porch is somewhat hidden but is underneath the doorbell.

We have to have one sparkly deer. We do have a nine year old in the house after all.

The house from the driveway.