Thursday, June 05, 2014

PHC May

 

May is such a marvelous month... Spring is setting in, the flowers are in bloom and the warm weather is beginning to arrive.

Bits and Pieces

The month was filled with more toys and the Lego collection just continues to grow. This little guy was a Mothers Day gift from my daughter, one of three pieces that she knew I'd like to add to the ever growing population of Minifigs. My mother loved to collect clowns, she had us all looking for unique clowns whenever a special occasion called for a gift. So there's a special connection for me with clowns, they always make me think of her. Frankly, she was more into the Emmett Kelly type clown but this little guy just caught my fancy from first sight. There was a very strong connection with Mom as I looked upon this little figure... I'd say it had a very strong heart connection.

At times it may feel like the world is falling in on us, we must go on and pick up the pieces!

Once again I'm submitting to Kate's Photo Heart Connection...

http://kateyestudio.com/category/photo-heart-connection

Tuesday, May 06, 2014

The Simple Path



April... Spring has arrived according to our calendars, which means that the brutal cold weather of winter will soon be a distant memory. This photo was inspired by the AHA National Walking Day on April 2, 2014 and Andrew Whyte's Legography project. If you've followed this blog for any amount of time you are well aware of my love of toy photography, a practice that dates back to 2009 and can be blamed on a little stuffed dog called Snugg LePup on Flickr.

The real heart connection with this photo is to follow this path of life with passion and wonder, and to quote a fortune cookie "A truly great person never puts away the simplicity of a child".



http://kateyestudio.com/category/photo-heart-connection

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

The Road


There is a fascination with roads. Maybe it's an American thing, I don't know for certain, but there are many references to "The Road". On the Road Again, Country Roads, the right road, a fork in the road... it goes on and on.

As I was going through photos for February's Photo-Heart Connection, this image stood out and stirred thoughts and emotions plenty. A slight detour off the beaten path from a client visit after one of the many snowfalls we've had this winter. A bright and cheerful country road, open and inviting... much like life, when we take a moment to just take the blinders off for a moment.



Thursday, February 13, 2014

Throwback: 1962

Throwback: 1962
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

It's Throwback Thursday... and with all the Beatles press lately I'm kinda stuck in the 60's. Here I am just a short time before those Liverpool Lad's hit our shores. But wouldn't you know the #1 Single on the Billboard Hot 100 that week was "Telstar" by The Tornados, the first British group in the rock era to go to #1 on the US charts. The #1 Single for the prior two weeks was "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons. Ah, to be a very young girl at that time meant everyone would be singing it to you every time you acted your age.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Orchids

February 11, 2014 | Orchids
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

As Old Man Winter continues to flex his "Polar Vortex" muscles, a quick stroll through the markets flower stand brings warming thoughts of spring.

Stay safe and warm!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Moving a Generation


The last week has been filled with reminders of the big splash made by those mop-top youngsters from across the pond 50 years ago. I just couldn't pass this little Minion Rockstar figure up, he seemed perfect to commemorate the occasion.

All the fuss sure has lit a tiny little fire of Rock & Roll love, that along with my blogger friend Shirley's "Sound Track of My Life" series. I may have been too young to stay up late enough to see the famous Ed Sullivan show that brought the Beatles to America's living rooms back in 1964, but they were definitely a major piece of my formative years. Sunday's The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles was a fun and entertaining show everyone in my household watched from beginning to end. If you missed it, there's an encore broadcast planned.

Monday, February 03, 2014

Winter warmth

Winter warmth
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Spring might be six weeks away, but there is warmth to found all around us. From the warm light as the sun sets to tender moments with loved ones.

Sunday, February 02, 2014

Winter thoughts of spring


In midst of the Polar Vortex spotting flowers at the market bring thoughts of spring! Today is Ground Hog Day and Punxsutawney Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter. Another winter storm is predicted to arrive tomorrow, so this seemed to be an appropriate choice for today's post!

I've submitted this to the January Photo-Heart Connection and hope to get some inspiration to freshen up this blog in the coming months!

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

You're A Good Man...


You're A Good Man...
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Today is Charlie Brown's birthday... his first comic ran October 2, 1950. Wonder if he got his AARP card?

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

October 1, 2013 | Hello October!


Since October is National Apple Month and I found this recipe Crock Pot Pork and Apples today I thought I'd share it with you.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Goodbye September



So hard to believe September has come to an end... Seems to speed by faster and faster every year! Looking forward to a marvelous and colorful October.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Truest Wisdom

Truest Wisdom
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem


Working on Kim Klassen's Skinny Mini course. Applied Sybil texture screen @ 19%

Submitting this to Texture Tuesday... figure I have to start somewhere.

Friday, February 15, 2013

046/365 O = Opportunity

046/365 O = Opportunity
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Friday afternoon stuck at the desk cleaning infected computers gives the opportunity to chill with some jammin' tunes! On the iPhone:

Send Me Some Lovin' Sam Cooke
September Earth, Wind & Fire
Let's Get Married Al Green
Tired of Being Alone Al Green
Still The Commodores
Love You Most of All Sam Cooke
If Only Someone Said Tom Pacheco
Texas Red Tom Pacheco
Mystery Hill Tom Pacheco
Restless Heart Matt Hires
No Nay Never Irish Rovers
Broke My Own Heart Alana Amram
My Love Lionel Richie
I'll Be There For You The Rembrandts
On Bended Knee Boyz II Men
Hello Lionel Richie
Leaving Song Alana Amram
Catch Me I'm Falling Alana Amram
Begin The Beguine Artie Shaw Orchestra
Take The "A" Train Duke Ellington

Have a great weekend!

Sunday, February 03, 2013

034/365 C = Cute and Cuddly

034/365 C = Cute and Cuddly
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem


Maddox sitting in the warm and cozy window... And in desperate need of grooming, poor doggie in the window.

Saturday, February 02, 2013

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Cordon Bleu
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Quick snap of tonight's dinner... Haven't had Chicken Cordon Bleu in ages and my DD suggested having it the other day, according to her it "pretty good".

Monday, January 07, 2013

New Beginnings


It's a new year, a time of new beginnings. For me it's time to Focus, Organize and Share. It's been a long absence from this blog, a time when I couldn't find anything happy, funny, whimsical or pretty to share, not publicly anyway. The time was, and still is, a very trying time.

I've been thinking about this post for a very long time, I felt I had to share it, despite it's unpleasantness. I have to admit and share these feelings in order to move on and I have to admit breaking the silence is directly related to Tracey Clark's Breaking My Blog Silence post that got me thinking... It's time to let go and share stories that might help someone to not feel alone, to know that we all have feelings and keeping them secret helps nobody.

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.”  
- Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

I was never good at helpless, but that's what I faced...
I was never good at weak, but that's what I was...
I was never good at showing pain or letting the tears fall, but that's what I did
sometimes we all break... sometimes we shatter and all we can do is pick up the pieces and hope to get it all back together.

In April my brother Eddie was diagnosed with liver cancer, he passed away on November 26, 2012. I am extremely grateful we got to spend Thanksgiving together and know he was hanging in to share that holiday with his family.

More than just a brother, my closest friend.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

So handsome

So handsome
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Maddox is thrilled that he got groomed this morning... poor boy, that long hair in the heat of this summer was making him quite the mope! He was so happy for his haircut, look at that face {smooch!}

220/366

iPhone 4S
Instagram Hefe

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Morning Concert

If you are familiar in the least with the morning news/talk shows on the major networks you know that they all seem to have concerts on Fridays during the summer. This Friday I managed to haul my lazy bones out of bed at a ridiculously early hour to attend my first morning show concert.

I accompanied my darling daughter to the Midtown Manhatten News Corp. concert set of Fox and Friends. We drove in from NJ and arrived at 48th Street and 6th Avenue at about 6:30 am, if you should happen to take public transportation, this would be the nearest subway station.




Once we arrived on site my daughter quickly found a college friend and proceeded to catch up on all the news and move in close to the stage for a fabulous view of the performance. I took a little bit of a stroll over to 7th Avenue where I found a Smilers convenience store with cut flowers lining the 48th Street side of the corner store. I have a thing for market flowers and these sunflowers surely caught my eye.


The clouds and extreme humidity had Lazy Hazy Days of Summer going through my mind... well at least it's a happy tune :-)

As I stood back and took in the view of NYC and all it's glory the shop's keeper began to wet down the sidewalk in preparation of the day ahead. The city was beginning another new day and the hustle and bustle began. Workers can be seen rushing along the avenue and the lights of Broadway attractions were clearly lit in the background.


It was a quick walk back to 6th Avenue, where a very familiar scene from my many years of working in the city was encountered. The corner coffee cart, a workers' morning necessity long before Starbucks arrived in town. Coffee, rolls, bagels, donuts you could find them all right there at the corner cart. Quick, convenient and most importantly very inexpensive!


I couldn't resist... I got on line and partook in a delightful "regular" coffee. (Passed on all the carbs, breakfast would come after the show). I found a bench right on the corner


with a fabulous view of the stage and far enough from the speakers to avert deafness. (Yeah, I said it... I've come to really enjoy hearing and would like to keep it around for awhile)


The show's guest band was Gloriana... a country band that seems to be taking charts by storm. My daughter has been listening to their music for a couple of years now, she believes they are very talented and haven't received the recognition they deserve as yet. You can read her blog review of their latest album  A Thousand Miles Left Behind  [Stop by her blog and show her some blog love;-)]


The performance was fun and the band stills has a great love of their fans... they freely gave away copies of their CD and autographs were gladly shared.

After the show we had a quick breakfast and started to head over to Central Park. We made it as far as the bus stop on 48th and 6th but the heat and lack of sleep didn't play well for us so we just decided to head back to NJ and call it an early day.

It's hard to believe that I used to work just four blocks from here, it's even harder to believe that it was over 30 years that my career had move further downtown to the Financial District!


The move from Television & Radio to Brokers & Traders was quite a culture shock, but that's a story for another day.


White Plains rain

White Plains rain
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem


A road trip with my daughter and a visit with my brother... afternoon rain was welcome as it cooled down the 99 degree temps.
I'm submitting this to July's Photo-Heart Connection, this photo brings memories of a fabulous day enjoyed with loved ones!