...do you see what I see?

Hello. It is clear and cold today in Chester County, PA. There is a firing range very near home and on weekends it sounds almost too close for comfort. Yesterday on my way into work I took the usual scenic twisty road that passes a creek and waterfall. It was even more beautiful with the snow and I loved it. A funeral procession passed me going the other direction and as I approached the one lane bridge a black cat crossed my path. But I continued onward! I finally reached the end of the quaint road which intersects with a major road and that road was bumper to bumper; a literal standstill. So I went back from whence I came and got to work in fine time. This morning as I walked the boys we again had the park to ourselves. But wait! Not entirely to ourselves. A beautiful buck ran past, stopped for a moment and we said 'hi'. Oddly none of the dogs uttered a sound. The buck then proceeded to run across the nearest street with a car approaching at a fast pace. I yelled 'watch out' which probably fell on deaf ears as no one with a lick of sense would have a window open in this cold. But the driver did hear me. The car missed the buck and I felt such a sense of relief. Not so lucky occurred on this day in 1963. In Dallas, John F. Kennedy was killed and Governor John B. Connaly was seriously wounded by an assassin, identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, who was later captured and charged with the murder of police officer J.D Tippit. (who's name sounds like an author and I mean no disrespect) That same day, US Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. The teal fabric and lining arrived late yesterday and the runners are back from the binder. This afternoon is over the river and through the woods...but not to Grandmother's House. Friends are having Thanksgiving Dinner and it will be great. I bore you people regularly with how thankful I am for my friends and 'stuff' but I really am. Have a great day, keep your eyes open and please don't ignore the signs. Also, if you go anywhere this Holiday Season remember not to go empty handed! I am bringing a home baked (Marie Calendar's) Pumpkin Pie! If you are so inclined, bake something too! Shown are copper pots.

...inspiration...

Oh the weather outsides delightful! It is snowing here in Chester County, PA and everything looks beautiful. Unfortunately weather forecasters are not calling for any significant amount, but just seeing it fall is a welcome sight. I put my multi-celebratory tree up a few weeks ago and am glad that I continually rush the holiday(s) season. Tomorrow after work I am officially beginning my Thanksgiving Holiday as friends in Perkasie, PA are having their annual dinner. I will bring a pie! That should garner more than a few laughs...but seriously, my friend AL taught me years ago how to bake a Pecan Pie and it is about as easy as toasting bread. And it tastes a whole lot better. I know that we are in the Gregorian Calendar and have been ever since Ed McMahon was born or maybe even further back, but on this day in 1620, according to the Julian Calendar, Plymouth Colony settlers signed the Mayflower Compact. That would make a great name for make-up! Are you listening Cover Girl? The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the Separatists later known as the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower, seeking the freedom to practice Christianity according to their own determination. Think for a moment how daring and brave that was! Is that moment up? Ok, I will continue...There must be something in the planet alignment on November 21st because a few more momentous things occurred. In 1783 the first non-tethered Hot Air Balloon flight took place. Wheee! In 1789 North Carolina became the 12th United State, in 1877 Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph, in 1905 Albert Einstein's paper discussing E=MC2 was published, in 1922 Rebecca Felton became the first female U.S Senator, and in 1995 the Dow Jones closed above 5000 for the first time. I closed at 2 thirty yesterday because I had a client interview, but that pales in comparison to other historical facts. I placed the accessory order and aside from one declined credit card, the order is a success. The carpet for K and M is being bound as I type and I plan on picking up a desk either today or early tomorrow morning and I can't wait. My intention is to sell it, but I will look at it until that happens. B and G leave for Florida on Monday and I will miss them. I am also a little green but am happy that they can be bi-stately in their living arrangements. I think that I am going to Bethlehem on Sunday but will pick up the phone and make sure later today. Have a great day and I hope it is snowing where you are also!

...greetings...

Good day! It feels like Winter here in Chester County, PA. If I can stay at home for an evening I plan on making a roaring fire, but that will have to wait. I had a real nice talk with a client who has come back into my life. I think we get along so well because I can take her at face value. She is real, honest, direct and not at all about manipulation, trickery and lies. I find that to be rare in humans, not to get all negative here. I do have more than a handful of people in my life who fit the former description and I count myself lucky. As we all know, it gets tiring having to watch one's back all of the time when people who aren't so honest and direct come into our circles. Last night three of us went out to dinner and afterwards two of us had a great, honest talk. I mostly listened, as a good friend does and hope that my attention helped. The subject was, again, about honesty and in particular, how a person represents himself. It is a very telling trait. On of my favorite movies was, and is entitled 'The Children's Hour' and I first saw it many, many years ago. I still rent it on occasion today. The acting is superb and was written by the woman who also wrote 'Little Women'. Perhaps you've heard of that one. It was made into a movie from the team that I mentioned in yesterday's blog. "The story is not about lesbians," Hellman explained to Samuel Goldwyn's story editor, who wanted to buy the screen rights of the play. "It's about the power of a lie." Despite the controversial theme, the play ran on Broadway for nearly 700 performances. The premiere of this play occurred on this day in New York City in 1934. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it. You may want to smack the little b*tch who plays the tattle-tale in the mouth, but keep repeating to yourself...it's only a movie, it's only a movie. I am in association with someone who tattles on a regular basis and cannot understand the reason why. I am sure that many people are confronted with that and it is a shame. What isn't a shame are the new Robert Allen drapery weight fabric books. Even though they didn't make a black volume, the line is well done. I also received many new wallpaper samples and I will begin downloading them onto my website depending on how much attention may be sucked out of me today. If not during the day, then in the wee hours of the night. Have a great day everyone. I have at least one Guardian Angel looking after me and hope that you do too!

...smoke and mirrors...

Brrr. It is getting colder here in Chester County, PA but is to be expected. I can keep the inside warm and look out at the bright sunshine but that make believe is short lived once I step outside. I had to bring paperwork home last evening as a business associate continually talked, interrupted and did strange things to garner as much attention as possible, thus making for a long day! I guess that many people live with smoke and mirrors and have a need to pretend. On this day in 1990, pop group Milli Vanilli were stripped of their Grammy Award because the 'vocal' duo did not sing at all on the album "Girl You Know It's True'. Session musicians had provided all the vocals. The boys were pretty enough and had great hair extensions from what I remember, but... I had a couple of 'declined' credit cards this week and it's only Wednesday! I wonder if that has anything to do with the economy because I sure haven't felt any downward spiral, thankfully. And I can't remember the last time someones credit card would not go through. Thankfully also, I accept personal checks!

This afternoon a friend and I will select an area rug or two and then go out to dinner. I have been hanging wallpaper and fauxing her walls and it is really looking great. She is a wine aficionado and almost has a wine tasting room finished. The floor has to be laid and a few details completed and then she will have a party on 12/27. I am in the midst of painting and making new seat cushions for two ladder back chairs for another client and they are turning out very nicely. Back to smoke and mirrors... One of the biggest form of smoke and mirrors is the entertainment industry and on this day in 1916 Samuel Goldwyn and Edger Selwyn established Goldwyn Pictures (the company later became one of the most successful independent filmmakers). Why it wasn't named Selwyn Pictures is beyond me, but that's for those two to figure out. At least they didn't name it Milli Vanilli. Have a great day, don't take any crap and in a world of scripted 'reality' shows, let's do our best to truly keep it real. *waves energetically to KKK which is not the bigoted group, but my wonderful niece*