Believe...

One of my very favorite pieces to read at this time of year especially, is the very famous letter that was written by Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun.  It was first printed in 1897 and has become a little piece of history that I am sure the little 8 year old girl had never imagined would happen.  It starts:

Dear Editor:

I am 8 years old.  Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says "If you see it in The Sun, it's so."  Please tell me the truth.
Is there a Santa Claus?

~Virginia O'Hanlon

The answer to her question is rather long, but all we really need to know is the part that says "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

If we just Believe...
If we just Believe that love is all you need...
If we just Believe that kindness matters...
If we just Believe that taking a minute each day to practice a simple act of kindness, we can all be Santa Claus...
Really, really...

Believe Earrings...in my shop today

Have a great night!

Tree Delivery...

As tradition in the Walsh nest has it, the annual tree cutting outing has been accomplished this year by the Dad and the Kids.  The Mom remained at home doing the traditional daily laundry as well as starting to decorate.  Each year we visit a local Long Island tree farm, Baiting Hollow Nursery, and cut our own tree.  Every year we keep a chunk of the stump and put the date on it.  These chunks of wood have now become part of our manger scene.  We love to stack them up and put those little plastic sheep on them to seem like they are climbing in the mountains!  It's so much fun each year to see the different sizes of trees we've had over the past 15 years or so.  When we get the manger set up, I promise to post pictures.  Till then, here's our tree, and the frozen Kids who picked it out this year!

Would love to hear some of your family traditions. Leave a comment if you have a minute!
Let the decorating begin!

WHERE ARE YOUR GLOVES LITTLE GIRL????

THE COLORS OF CHRISTMAS

THE TREE IS HOME

Joy...

My "Joy Earrings" have not only been featured in an Etsy Gift Guide but have also been featured in the very lovely blog http://etsyinspiration.blogspot.com/
Take a peek at both to see the many talented artists that are offering some of the absolute best holiday shopping ideas!  Many shops are offering FREE SHIPPING and many shops are also offering sales for this weekend.  Stay in your PJ's and do your shopping  in your slippers!  And leave me a comment to let me know what you found!

Have a fun weekend!

Fifteen...

Baby boy...
You're fifteen today...
We must have blinked...
Wasn't it just the other day you took your first breath?
Maybe it was last week when you took your first steps?
We remember the day your 9 pound baby body seemed so big...
Realize now you were so small then...
Still as proud of you today as we were 15 years ago...
Love at first sight...
Happy birthday, beautiful boy...
Love you.

Meet Princess Callie Pallie...

I was outside this morning attempting to take new photos of new bracelets, earrings and necklaces that I've been working on for the Holiday Craft Fair season that will be upon me in 2 weeks! While I was trying to get the right pictures, I noticed that my beloved little cat was desperately trying to come outside with me.

So I switched from taking pictures of my jewelry to taking pictures of Callie!

I'll introduce her as the kitten that called us to save her! Almost 3 years ago, my daughter wanted a guniea pig. We decided to go "look" at them at the local pet store where she declared that they were all cute...whichever one we pick out would be fine...she was going to look at the kittens. I told her that there were not kittens in the store and that we already had our cat Ash . "Oh yes there are kittens here...and they need us!" she said. So, I followed her to the back part of the store where there was a shelter that had kittens for adoption. There was a litter of 7 kittens that were born on Valentines day and all but 1 was adopted...the runt of the litter that was named Bitsy... We counted 6 kittens but couldn't find the little one named Bitsy. Then, from underneath the pile of kittens emerged what looked like, well, the runt of the litter. Barely able to stand, barely able to open her eyes, barely alive, she looked directly at us and tried to squeak out whatever she could manage of a meow. It took me about a second to realize why she had yet to be adopted... this was one little kitten that didn't look like she was going to make it. OK, so where do I sign the adoption papers? My husband and I went back the next morning to adopt her and you would think it would have been easy. Not so quick there. Although she had not been nursing from her mother and had to be bottle fed a special formula every few hours, they wouldn't let us take her home until she was at least a pound. Why? Their rules. So, every day, we all made the trip to the store to bottle feed little kitten. After 2 weeks, we asked if we could PLEASE take her home with us because she wasn't getting any bigger and she really needed to be in a home, not a cage. Agreed. So at 14 ounces, "Princess Callie Pallie" as we named her came home to meet "Queen Ash of Alot", our 18 pounds of fluff cat. Because she was so little, we did need to put her in a crate (cage), in a warm room, on a heating pad, and I made a blended formula and we all took turns bottle feeding her every few hours.

Fast forward to present. Callie is now a petite 7 pounds (maybe). She is absolutely beautiful, as you can see from her pictures. And she struts around the house knowing how much she is loved. Knowing how much she picked us. Knowing how to make us all smile.

The first day Callie came home...

Snuggling in a blankie, staying warm... Ash thinks Callie is her baby... They do love each other!
Can I come outside..please?

Thank you Callie for waiting for us to come get you!

Still here...

Busy like a bee making pretty bits for all the local holiday craft fairs...

I'll give you a sneek peek of what's in the works....

The "Angelina" bracelet soon to be in my shop...

Along with many holiday earrings that will be very affordable and very feminine!

Took some pictures outside today of the autumn garden...

such pretty colors...

I love this time of year...

Children are...

A busy few weeks in the Walsh nest! Last week was Meet the Teacher night at both the Middle School and the High School. It is going to be a great school year, without any doubt. A well rounded education includes not only academics, but the arts as well. We are fortunate to be in a school district that is very dedicated to the promotion of both music and art. Music theory, photography, marching band, jazz band and chorus... All are part of the school day. Every teacher we met had such a tremendous dedication to teaching. A special "THANK YOU" to all of them!

One of the teachers we met last week handed out the following poem that I thought was something we all should post on our bulletin boards... the author is unknown, but certainly deserves credit for a beautifully written piece!

Children are....
Amazing, acknowledge them
Believable, trust them
Childlike, allow them
Divine, honor them
Energetic, nourish them
Fallible, embrace them
Gifts, treasure them
Here Now, be with them
Innocent, delight with them
Joyful, appreciate them
Kindhearted, learn from them
Lovable, cherish them
Magical, fly with them
Noble, esteem them
Open-minded, respect them
Precious, value them
Questioners, encourage them
Resourceful, support them
Spontaneous, enjoy them
Talented, believe in them
Unique, affirm them
Vulnerable, protect them
Whole, recognize them
Xtraspecial, celebrate them
Yearning, notice them
Zany, laugh with them

Enjoy the day!

simplify...

Just thought that monday would be a perfect time to post a simple pleasure to share.

I love hanging out laundry on bright, sunny days. The air this time of year just smells fresh, crisp and clean. Sheets and towels just seem brighter and the smell of the fresh air beats any fabric softener I know. Taking the few minutes to hang the laundry is also a way to look up to the sky and be grateful for all the little things we so often take for granted each day. This morning the birds were all chirping, along with the crickets. The squirrels were quite happy with our apples. Kids went to school in a great mood. And I enjoyed a perfect cup of coffee without watching any news this morning. Life is good.

Jones Beach on Sunday

One of the best parts of living on Long Island is being so close to the ocean and the beautiful beaches. Jones Beach has always been one of my favorite beaches. There is still something about the smell of french fries and beach air that always brings me back to the boardwalk at Jones Beach when I was a little girl. That and clam chowder and oyster crackers in the little bags! It's so often the simple things we remember most! These are a few pictures taken down at Jones Beach on Sunday morning. Hurricane Bill didn't even touch land, but the surf did manage to submerge the entire beach under water!


The "Needle" tower that welcomes all visitors to Jones Beach.
No, that's not a lake in the middle of the beach...just what remains of what was under water!


Wild surf! Pretty sea foam!


Lifeguards taking advantage of the rough surf to practice training techniques. Hmmm...where are the guys? I'm sure they must be out there, but my husband took this picture!

And yes, this is a real surfer dude catching the wave at Jones Beach. Cool!

Summer Sleepover

Giggling girls having late night summer sleepovers ...

A simple pleasure as a mom just to see and hear such simple innocence...

What do 11 year old girls do when they have sleepovers?

Well...

they watch movies...

they make crafts...

for their friends...

Have a great weekend!

Too Cute!

So how cute is this little one trying to hide in my garden (ok, it's really the weed patch for those who have seen my "garden")! Although we have had some luck with our tomatoes this year, I think the lack of sunlight and the large amounts of rain we had early in the summer accounts for the rather slim pickin's. There's nothing that beats a good, home grown tomato salad in the summer with dinner. A little chopped up sweet onion, some balsamic vinegar and olive oil, a pinch of salt and that's about as simple as you get! Fresh italian bread lightly toasted in the oven and everyone in the Walsh nest is happy!

Going to start dinner now...

Ciao!

Cape May

Each year we take a mini-vacation down to the Jersey shore to spend family time together just having FUN! This year my mom and dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and joined us down in Cape May for such a great few days of fun-in-the-sun!

Spending time with family is what really matters most of all. My mom and dad have been constant reminders that it's not how much you have that makes you happy but rather how much you enjoy what you DO have that makes you choose to be happy! Their lessons of hard and honest work and unconditional love have been a cornerstone of my life. We love you Mom and Dad and are blessed that you are able to continue to pass those lessons down to your grandchildren now as well! We all had such a great time together eating dinners out, swimming in the pool (even gramps!), walking by the beach, playing games at the arcades.

Here's some pics!

I have a thing for seagulls...I especially loved this one!

Beautiful family, beautiful beach, beautiful memories!

Like father, like son!

Daddy's little girl...still and always!
When did she grow up?A few good men... my dad, my hubby, my son.

From This Day...

New beginnings...

Life in the Walsh nest has certainly been busy this past year with many celebrations of love.
We'll save my parent's 50th wedding anniversary post for later. We'll start with a young romance!

To start my new blog, I'd like to share the pleasures of the most wonderful wedding our family just celebrated on Sunday, July 12th, 2009. Our niece Jill was married to her sweet and very handsome boyfriend Sean on a day that couldn't have been more perfect in every single way!
To see how happy they both were, how inner beauty shines, and love makes you glow, just take a look at some of these pictures. The day was filled with more love and happiness than can be put into words. We love you Jill and Sean and are so very blessed to now call Sean our nephew!

We all prayed that the rain we have been getting here on Long Island would at least stop for a day! I know I did a few incense prayers myself (the old hippie sometimes come out, I confess!).
Not only did the rain stop, the sky was blue, not a cloud in sight, beautiful warm and sunny day.
Perfect weather? I told you Jill! The day was the best we've seen in months!

Take a peek at some of the highlights. This is LOVE when it shines!

CLASSIC PEARLS, PRETTY GIRLS A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE
NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY

THE WALSH FAMILY

MR. & MRS. MUNRO

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER