Monthly Archives: July 2015

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

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Hello, Vixens!!!  Hope you are all doing well & enjoying your summer.  If you are like me, you are counting down to the start of fall in about two months!!!

A couple of blogs ago I told you that I was getting ready to move again, this time to a small New England town in Litchfield County, Connecticut.  Today I want to share my new place with all of you.  These pictures were taken before I moved in.  Once I am fully unpacked and settled, I will share the after photos with you.

Here is the view from my living room and bedroom windows.  I feel so blessed to be able to see this each morning when I wake up!!!  If it is this beautiful now, imagine how spectacular it will be in the fall!!!

view new apt

Here is the entrance hall to my apartment.

entrance new apt

The kitchen features a flat top cooking surface (no more scrubbing drip pans!!!) and a dishwasher, which I have not had since my college days in Massachusetts!!!

kit new apt

The view of the kitchen from the living room.

kitchen view from liv room

The living room with the most important feature:  air conditioning!!!

liv room view from kit

Sorry for the lighting in the bedroom picture, but the sun was very bright and fighting me!!!

bedroom

The bathroom has additional storage thanks to the shelving unit left behind by the previous tenants.

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I know that medicine cabinets offer more storage, but I love the look of a stand alone mirror in the bathroom.  I think it is so much more elegant!!!

bath 2

My new apartment is in a quiet area but close enough to shopping so it is very convenient.  I am also less than 30 minutes away from one of my favorite places on earth:  The Elephant’s Trunk County Flea Market (read more about one of my shopping trips here).  But this could turn out to be more of a curse than a blessing LOL!!!

So now begins the next chapter of my life.  Thank you for coming along for the ride.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!

Happy 75th Birthday, Ringo Starr!!!

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Beatles drummer Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr, turns 75 years young today.

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Copyright 2012.  Photo by me.

His career in music started over 50 years ago when he replaced Pete Best as the drummer of the band that was about to become known world wide as “The Fab Four”.  Starr was the lead singer on several Beatles’ songs including “With A Little Help From My Friends“, “Yellow Submarine” and “Octopus’s Garden“.

After the Beatles reign as the greatest band on earth ended (yes I wrote that!!!), Starr had several solo hits including “It Don’t Come Easy“, “Photograph” (co-written with George Harrison) and “You’re Sixteen“.  The latter two hit number one on the charts in November 1973 & January 1974, respectively.

The younger generation may also know him as “Mr. Conductor” on the “Shining Time Station” PBS series & as the narrator from the first two seasons of “Thomas and Friends”.

Earlier this year Starr was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo performer, having already been inducted as a member of the Beatles in 1988.  During the last 25 years he has been touring with his “All Starr Band” featuring a revolving group of musicians.

I was lucky enough to see him live twice at the theatre on Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY.  The first time was during the early 1990’s and the second was in 2012.  The pictures featured in this post are from the second show where I was 10 feet from one of the Beatles!!!

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Copyright 2012.  Photo by me.

Thankfully, Ringo is still making music which you can listen to (while wishing him a happy birthday) here.

How do we thank a Beatle for EVERYTHING he has given us?  Music was never the same from the time we met him and the other lads from Liverpool via “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964.  A mere “thank you” seems inadequate.  I, for one, am eternally grateful!!!

Happy birthday, Ringo!!!

Fourth of July Music Celebration

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Hello, fellow Vixens!!!  Happy July!!!

With the long holiday weekend to celebrate our nation’s independence upon us, I thought I would share the songs I listen to whenever I take a road trip.  There is something about the open highway that is invigorating and inspiring to me. Seeing this beautiful country from different vantage points reminds me how lucky I am to call it home.

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One of my favorite buildings in Waxhaw, NC.

Copyright 2011.  

I celebrate that freedom with the musicians who have contributed to the soundtrack I live my life to.  The songs I chose may not specifically mention or relate to the holiday at all, but they or the artists singing them remind me of home.  This is my comfort music.

And given the current climate with the Supreme Court’s ruling and one state’s steps to see us all as equals under the same flag, this year’s observance of the 4th of July seems more important than ever.

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The view from one of my favorite antiques barns in Jeffersonville, VT.

Copyright 2013.  

So here is what I will be listening to this weekend:

10)  “Feeling Stronger Every Day” by Chicago.  A great American band named for their home city.  And what a message for anyone who needs some encouragement.

9)  “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.  America’s all American band born on the bayou by way of California.

8)  “The Weight” by the Band.  The late Levon Helm at his best.

7)  “American Pie” by Don McClean.  An unlikely anthem if ever there was one.

6)  “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha and the Vandellas.  Does it get more American than Motown-a/k/a Detroit-where Chevys were made?  Remember the car maker’s old tag line?  “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet”.  What a visual.

5)  “Roadhouse Blues” by the Doors.  The harmonica adds the perfect amount of Americana to this rocker.

4)  “Me & Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson.   A song about falling in love while on the road with the “windshield wipers slappin’ time”.  Jack Kerouac would have been so proud.

3)  “This Land is Your Land” by Pete Seeger & Friends.  Forget why they were there.  Just focus on the moment when Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and others stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to sing one of the greatest songs celebrating our country.

2)  “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen.  New Jersey’s elite music master celebrates the best of this country (see #3) and the worst (“Born in the USA”).  But no one does it with more passion, grace or heart than Freehold’s fortunate son.

1)  “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles.  It’s Ray Charles singing.  Enough written.

Bonus:  ANYTHING by Otis Redding.  My top choices are “Tramp” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay“.

What will you be listening to over the holiday weekend?

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, Vixens!!!

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The display in front of one favorite antiques stores in Babylon, NY.

Copyright 2011.