Trick or Treat?

I am all for treat....





Enjoy!

xx
Victoria


Pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Treasured weekend

Welcome to the cooler season! I love the glow of candles, an open book by the fire and all the things I love to live with in my house...






This weekend will give me time to work on some house projects. First to give my kitchen a tiny face lift. (Which I started already a week ago and now it's to the finish line. I will post....And then to re-upholster our dining chairs and a bench. Have staple gun, will use it!





Wishing you all a treasured weekend! And the time to do those things in the pipeline.....

XX
Victoria



Pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Fancy

Last Sunday my youngest and I hit the road to spend some time together. We planned on visiting one of the neighboring towns and on our way we crossed Tappan Zee Bridge, one of the old landmarks spanning the Hudson from Tarrytown to Nyack. Just as we were about to exit we we were passed by one of those lovely fancy vintage cars, white, ready to carry a bride and groom into their honeymoon...




(Proof that I had my hands on the wheel....my co-pilot took the pictures!)


This one I found at the parking lot at Wave Hill...


And I spotted this old VW Beetle model during our summer vacation in Volkach am Main.


This Chevrolet pickup drives around our neighborhood a lot...



Isn't this so cute?


I love an old convertible. Just classy!


I adore old cars. If I could have it my way - and a budget to splurge - I perhaps would drive one of those around town. When ever I happen to see one of those beauties, I take pictures, discreet or not, I have an absolute weakness.

Thank goodness I am not alone with my passion and as we arrived there was a beautiful Fire Engine, just waiting for the boy and his mom to be admired and explored. How good is that?





It was the perfect Sunday afternoon!


XX
Victoria

Be connected

Another Friday has rolled around, one with golden sunshine and a long weekend on it's heels!
Hope you all going to enjoy it!
Yesterday I dropped my oldest son and his sweet girlfriend off at the airport and it is always with a heavy heart that I see them go...Back to Europe, way to far for me. May the rainbow be a bridge....always! This one appeared only a few days ago in the sky over our house after a stormy day!


Thank goodness there was back to school night to attend that evening and I did not have a chance to think about it all the time.
My husband takes our daughter to a dude ranch for the weekend together with a friend and his daughter, so my youngest son and I will make a cozy weekend for ourselves. Perhaps a movie and dinner for two?



Do you take time out with one of your children? Or the child? Alone? We do it quite regularly and I feel we all benefit from a little one on one and TLC!
They begin to talk easier and the intimacy invites closeness. Especially these teen kids of ours need the chance to let go of the facade, which they carefully craft and just be relaxed for a while.




It's going to be fun and I am looking forward to it!

Wishing you all a time to re-connect!

XX
Victoria



All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Sunday visit

What a glorious day awaits us today, we will visit Brooklyn, I haven't been there in quite a while. My son and his sweet girl are visiting and I can't wait to see Bedford Ave and the lovely little streets around Williamsburg! It is supposed to be a wonderful sunny day and I hope to take many lovely pics to show you later!




Happy Sunday to you all!

XX
Victoria


Pictures/map via google image.

Bella Italy

It's Sunday, the first day of August! Oh, time flies...
Today we woke up to glorious sunshine after a few days of absolutely uncommon rain storms which send cold weather into a classic summer region...
But we did not bother and visited small towns nearby, all filled with historic treasures and plenty of things to do even when it rained!
On of them is Anghiari, just 6 miles away from Sansepolcro. Its a hill top town, high above the valley and so old, that stone age artifacts are proof for the desired location...The Etruscans have settled here and from then on various people have fought over and lived in this strategic important town. Today its a peaceful and well loved destination, filled with ancient houses, all sitting on top of each other, wedged between a 100 meter high wall and the hill behind.
The views are incredible!









Life in Italian towns differs quite a lot from what we are used to in America or other places in Europe for that matter. The day begins slowly and there is a very long siesta. That means the shops and museums are all closed between 1 and 4PM, a circumstance we had to get used to. After late mornings we were ready to stroll through the town to sight see or shop...Now we know better and the places all come to live after 4PM, going strong until midnight and beyond. The Italians have the lovely habit of walking the piazzas and narrow streets, chatting with friends and neighbors, sitting with large families around small cafe tables and generally enjoying themselves.
We adjusted fast and now walk nightly and come home after midnight...Something especially our teenage kids look forward to tremendiously.

We have expirienced so much already, cultural, historically, different landscapes and many encounters with wildlife. I have not seen so many rarely seen animals upclose before. The house sits quite far out, alone in the montains and we've seen deers and birds of all sorts, the occasional scorpion - small ones who are not dangerous to humans - but nevertheless fearfull to look at. Small lizzards have the run of the walls and stones outside. There are loads of large bugs and we live peacefully next to each other! Much buzzing around the lavender bushes!


We have rescued a fruitbat who accidentally came into the living room and a bird who flew into the hallway.
It is all wonderful!


I am thinking of you all and thank you for following me along on our journey, it is such fun and we recover from month of work and school and soak up a wonderfully different culture!

Take care, much love!


XX
Victoria


All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Service announcement

image

Dearest readers!

As of mid next week we will be travelling throughout Europe and I planning on keeping a blog travel journal. Hopefully I will be able to post once per week to keep you somewhat updated and show you lovely things I come across while visiting Germany and Italy! Yesterday I introduced you a little to our first itinerary in Germany, since these smaller towns are perhaps not so well known.
I will comment less or not at all during these weeks, but I will read my favorites with my morning cafe latte!!!


This is an exiting trip, since it combines family reunions, sightseeing tours and places we want to show our children for the first time. We will relax and hang out with all 4 children, grandparents too and I will learn to cook some authentic Italian dishes! In bella Italia... in that kitchen!!!!


Just imagine....


And don't forget, live every moment and create memories! A happy weekend to you all!


XX
Victoria



Images as indicated and google images.

Saturday morning post

The Palisades on Hudson near Piermont, NY

The last few days were so busy with first summer vacation activities, it stunned me to see that there was no time left to even read my e-mails...
Instead of watching butterflies I run all over the place fixing what needs fixing before everybody is settled into summer mode!

DEEP BREATH!!!


Last minute prep for my youngest camper and the organization of our summer travels have left me without a minute to myself.


Every year I seem to get surprised by this moment, when school is suddenly out and my children expect an entertainment program.
A summer ritual is to go to the community pool and swim and splash and hold out as long as possible in waters, I hardly want to put my toes in...


A local town puts up an art fair every beginning of the summer, it was again a lovely but hot show and we saw many pretty sculptures and paintings.





We visit a nearby fun park and summer is upon us! We sit at night on our deck and marvel at the sounds and the stars, suddenly so much closer! We burn our torches and by a chilled glass of Chardonnay we count our blessings!



There are many firsts every summer, like walking barefoot in the sand and just let the sun give us the first sun kissed look!
Eating out on the deck and enjoying the garden season extends our living quarters for good six month of the year!



Now I am organized, forms are filled out, many checks have been paid, the summer rental is completed, we are ready to go, where ever this summer will take us!

What will this summer bring to you?

Wishing you all a summer sunshine filled weekend!

XX
Victoria


All pictures by V.Zlotkowski