Elizabeth Taylor

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I was probably seven or eight when I first saw National Velvet. 

The English country side is breathtaking. 

I think my love for horses began

when I watched the scene with Elizabeth jumping the rock walls with the Pie,

seeing Mickey Rooney off on the train.  

 Ive been around horses ever since. 

She had such incredible strong features, a true beauty

and talented actress. 

You will be missed Elizabeth Taylor. 

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"My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked"

Sheep Shearing Day.

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Join for one of the most popular days on the farm all year!  Come watch and ask questions as our farmers shear wool from our flock of Finn-Dorset sheep. Enjoy family-friendly wool and weaving activities all day long: visit the sheep and wool education stations, watch spinners at work, learn to comb and card wool alongside our educators and experiment at our mini-loom and felting stations. Join our farmers for tours of the farm and demonstrations like egg collecting, pig feeding and planting seedlings in the field. Sample a variety of sheep’s milk cheese and yogurt. Artisanal lunch items and treats will be available for cash purchase from local vendors in the Farmers Market.
I took a beer brewing and compost class last year at Stone Barns.  I mean i have yet to start my own brewery but Ive perfecting this wonderful thing called beer bread. AMAZING.

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AVOCO & bow boutique in Dublin Ireland

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Avoca is a five-floor family-run emporium which has become a bit of an institution in Ireland. Offering everything from home furnishings, books, wellingtons, cutesy frilly Irish-designed fashion, and a lively top floor cafe. Avoca had its beginnings in Co.Wicklow where the weavers produced the beautifully woven fabrics which became Avoca's hallmark. Its cafe is informal and offers fare such as pasta, fresh fish dishes, home-made soups (are to DIE for...just saying) and hearty salads. We ate three of our main meals here and seriously just couldn't get enough.  It's a William Sonoma and Anthropologie put together with a fabulous bakery on the bottom floor and a Cafe on Top.  That's a perfect shopping day ladies.

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A fabulous Carrot Cake

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Homemade Ravioli with cheeses and Panchito

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bow boutique has been nominated as the top 50 most inspiring boutiques in Ireland and the UK by Drapers Magazine.  It was personal and fun, almost what a little girl would want her dress up room to look like. 

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Cafe Gitane in the Jane Hotel

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My Dear Friend David introduced me to this lovely French Cafe for

Brunch one weekend.  It feels like a little secret tucked into the left side of the Jane Hotel on the West Side along the water. 

 The fun electric decor is inviting and the wait staff are very friendly and not hard on the eyes by any means.  I think there might be a certain requirement to work here.  

There are five huge arched windows that are beautiful and the chocolate croissants are delicious. 

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An Irish Lass...

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An Irish Lass returns home after 5 years away and her dad is Furious.

He screams, "Where the heck have you been??!"

"Well daddy, I became a prostitute." 

"WHAT?" He yelled.  GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! You've shamed your family!!"

she sobs, "OK daddy, but before I go,

here are keys to a brand new Porsche for you,

a diamond necklace for mum, and a check for $250,000.

"WHAT?  where did all this come from?"

he asks.

"I told you, I became a prostitute." 

"A prostitute??" he says...

"Come here and give yer daddy a big hug...

I thought you said 'a PROTESTANT'."

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Happy St. Patrick's Day.



***UNBROKEN***

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I am reading Unbroken now, a book by Laura Hillenbrand. The book is written about a man named Louie Zamperini, a juvenile delinquent turned Olympic runner, turned Army hero is one of the most incredible lessons in perseverance. Louie NEVER gives up on the idea that he is going to survive through the series of catastrophes almost too incredible to believe.  Louie's life becomes a demonstration on how far a resilient will can carry a man.  This story reminds me so much of my younger brother John Spencer Wolfe. 
He absolutely was a mischievous boy who loves to run and loves aviation. He runs for N.C Wolf pack now.  I think this book is a perfect gift for Fathers Day.  It’s a book that needs to be passed on. 

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Louie Zamperini

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Spencer Wolfe

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Rustic With a Dash of Sophistication

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One of my most preferred and beloved resturants in NYC is SFOGLIA on Lexington and 92nd street. Sfoglia is owned by a husband-wife team of cooks who I think jumped into my head and pulled out every  idea dream I ever had, that is if im ever lucky enough to have my own place. The Short menue is perfection (Bigoli (a tubular pasta) with duck ragu, dried fava beans, cherries and grated pecorino), their approch to Italian cooking is far from drearily stereotypical.with less then 40/50 seats, and I love that they use dish towels as napkins, very Ina Garten.  

2007 Frank Bruni published a nice little bit in the NY Times about it. 

 "Sfoglia is great for lunch. One reason: light streams through its big picture windows, burnishing the gigantic bowls of vegetables and fruit that sit on or near its proudly mismatched tables. Another reason: you’ll never get in for dinner. Well, you’ll get in, but only if you plan a month ahead, and only if you’re O.K. with eating before 6:30 or after 9:30."

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Ash Wednesday

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In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent,

the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

During Mass, the ashes which give Ash Wednesday its name are distributed.

The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were

distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday.

The distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality

and calls us to repentance. In the early Church,

 Ash Wednesday was the day on which those who had sinned,

and who wished to be readmitted to the Church,

would begin their public penance.

The ashes that we receive are a reminder of our own sinfulness,

and many Catholics leave

them on their foreheads all day as a sign of humility.

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Have a Blessed Lent Season.

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Marching into March

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Then one day warm wind starts blowing.

Long and black winters come to an end.

The hard snow melts and birds begin to whistle in their silvery voices.

Their songs are broken and uncertain.

 They are still in the cruel grip of fatal cold.

The change is always difficult and painful.

 This change from certain death into a new life has made them miserable.

 We welcome the new season which is full of joy,

 hope and life we are ready to forget the disastrous cold and snow storms.

D.H. Lawrence
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Ive been waking up before my alarm clock lately and I know Spring is coming because i can hear all the little birds outside my window, along with a very loud woodpecker. 

Ive been wearing short sleeve shirts under my winter jacket thinking that maybe today will be the day it will go from 30 to 70 degrees in one big swoop.  Im so hopeful.

  I  found little buds sprouting out of the ground this past weekend, I cant wait for my kitchen counter to be covered in bouquets of daffodils.  Such a perfect and simple flower.  

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"What always happens. Life."

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 "There are things that we don't want to happen

but have to accept, things we don't want to know

but have to learn, and people we can't

live without but have to let go."

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Certain events and people happen in your life for a reason? For better? worse? Even if it was described as an unending circle of mingled mangled confusion. A very unhealthy cycle that eventually leads to the end.  You ask yourself what was it for.  Why was all this necessary? What lesson had to be learned so badly that you end up plaguing people you love with misery? WHAT'S THE POINT!

 I was staring in the mirror this morning and fixated on my eyes.  I noticed the sign of ageing and puffiness that not enough sleep brings.  I found stress and exhaustion.  I found laughter too.  To be insanely happy?  Is this a real emotion?  I cant remember this feeling. Maybe I was trying to find her again, me, I was talking to myself which happens more then I will share.  When you are uneasy or apprehensive about something and your looking for some kind of clarity that your making the right decision, you want to feel like you had a hand in the outcome. When you tell God I give these problems to you, It’s almost impossible to fully do this.  Because if we fully gave our distresses’ to him there would be no need for the heartache or unending days of depression that help you feel you participated in the final destination of the dilemma.  People are placed in your path for a reason.  Maybe this is true, No, I know it is.  We take the wrong road, path, bike trail or whatever it is sometimes, so we need these people to help us learn what he wants for our lives.  Someone very dear and very special to me said I am destined for great things.  I will come into my own one day then just take off.  Maybe he just meant one day I’ll be fulfilled and satisfied with exactly what I am doing, no matter how complex or simple it might be.  Maybe I need to just be happy and OK with right now.  Maybe I am Summer wishing I was Autumn.

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A Thought on Housewives

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Because without housewives, there would be no next generation.

My mother was and is a housewife, I find that it's one of the most important link of any society and ultimately the country.

My Mother would have made an amazing career women,

but a home and family was something she wasn't going to sacrifice.

Being there to raise us and assuring our proper upbringing and education was imperative to both my parents. 

Some of the most Brilliant women I know have chosen to be housewives and this I assure you is a never ending 24 hour & 7 day a week job.

There is no retirement but there are constant rewards.

Quote from Mona Lisa's Smile:

Joan Brandwyn: Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?

Katherine Watson: Yes, I'm afraid that you will.

Joan Brandwyn: Not as much as I'd regret not having a family, not being there to raise them. I know exactly what I'm doing and it doesn't make me any less smart. This must seem terrible to you.

Katherine Watson: I didn't say that.

Joan Brandwyn: Sure you did. You always do. You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image, but you don't. To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.

   

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