Merry...Christmas?

Christmas came early this year when my mom decided she couldn’t keep her secret gift to herself anymore (she’s worse than a little kid, I swear!).

She wanted me to go with her to a local art gallery. I know the guys that own the place, so not an unusual request. But when she got kisses from both of them the second we walked in the door (and I did not) I was a little…how you say…curious. (Huh? Is she hanging out with my friends when I’m not around? Is she squatting in their gallery on weekdays? Do I smell?). As I was trying to figure this out in my tiny little pea brain, I looked at a painting . That looks like…is it…could that be…our HOUSE?


“Merry Christmas! I couldn’t wait!”

To be fair, this is what our house would look like if the wild wisteria across the front porch would produce the large, luscious lavender-colored blooms that this amazing artist miraculously cultivated with the stroke of a brush. And, from this vantage point, you’d typically see five (yes 5!) other houses (have I mentioned houses in this town are very, VERY close together?). As much as I genuinely like my neighbors, this painting has made me want to steamroll every one of them down. (KIDDING! Well…)

Other than that, it’s pretty spot-on and filled with incredible details, like Maggie in her usual perch on the front porch…


…and my mom keeping a watchful eye from the dormered window:

Pretty hysterical. We are honored to have received this amazing gift. And the mom herself isn’t too shabby. (Thanks, mom!)

I am also honored that lovely Pat over at Mille Fiore Favoriti, one of my blogs favoriti, gave me this fancy award.

Pat’s a New York-based blogger who takes readers through virtual walking tours of some of her favorite spots, with fabulous local history lessons along the way. Some of my favorites have been Flatbush (where my mom was born), Bay Ridge and Madison Square Park…and I even got to join her (virtually, at least) on vacation in Key West. And, Pat can cook (and bake. It was her blog that convinced me to join Daring Bakers.). So don’t visit on an empty stomach like I just did, because she’s cooking up lentil soup today.

Lastly, Thrifty Cottage Dreams recently said I was one of her Top 3 Fall-Inspired blogs. Coming from this thrifty goddess, I’m flattered. This lady can shop like it’s no one’s business! I'm passing this Lovely Lady Award right back to her for being...well, lovely! Truly I am grateful to anyone who stops by my online home, so thank you. You are all lovely ladies (and gents) to me.

Have a fabulous weekend! Weather's calling for rain, rain and more rain here. Maybe I'll clean toilets. The exciting life I lead...