The T-Cozy

A Picnic, Presents, and a Parade

What a wonderful weekend! To celebrate Hannah's graduation and my birthday, we had a picnic brunch at the beach yesterday with family and friends. It was a beautiful day and John made pancakes on the grill. They were delish!

We asked everyone to refrain from bringing gifts, but that didn't stop them from bringing flowers. Look at all of these glorious bouquets!

John and the kids gave me some spectacular presents: a book that is just my style called Found, Free & Flea, the new John Mayer CD, and best of all, an iPad. Yay!

Or course the weekend wouldn't be complete without attending Rowayton's little Memorial Day parade. Here are my favorite views from the event: a 1958 turquoise and white Nash sedan convertible, a trio of Boy Scouts manning a vintage wooden go-cart, and the marching band from Hannah and Jacob's former high school.

What fun! But now it's time to get back to work. This afternoon, I'm photographing my new Elephant's Trunk Flea Market finds to prepare them for their Etsy debut. I promise to share them with you later this week.

Susan

So Proud

Hooray! Hannah is now a graduate of Johns Hopkins University!

Hannah worked her tail off all four years and made the Dean's List every semester. And in true Hannah fashion, she has found an exciting job in New York City that she'll start in early June. It's hard to put into words how proud we are of her.

We enjoyed the JHU graduation ceremony, gathering with Hannah's friends and their parents, and dining at a few yummy Baltimore restaurants. (I'm going to miss that city.) 

We also packed up Hannah's apartment and moved all of her furniture into Jacob's new college apartment in Delaware. Needless to say, it was a hectic few days. I'm so glad to be home!

I am also thrilled to have a full house again. I love having both of my beautiful children back at home. Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend and spending time with family and friends at my birthday brunch at the beach on Monday. 

Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend,

Susan

A Commuter Love Story

John and I are often asked how we met. As you may know, it was back in the mid-1980s while riding a commuter train home from work. I commuted by train from Connecticut to New York City for six years. However, John commuted for only six months. Lucky me that our paths crossed.

For your viewing pleasure, I unearthed this segment about us that originally appeared on television's Inside Edition back in 2001.

 

What a hoot! When I met John, I was the design director of the very railroad on which we were riding. So years later, when Inside Edition wanted to do a piece on couples who met on a train, they contacted the PR department at the railroad to see if they knew of anyone. And of course, my former co-workers led them to us.

You may wonder, why have I shared this video with you today? Because on this very day twenty four years ago, I married my commuter love. 

Happy Anniversary to John, my sweet husband, the love of my life.

Susan

Greetings from Charm City

This weekend, John and I are down in Maryland celebrating Hannah's birthday. We picked up Jacob in Delaware on our way and the four of us have had a fun time exploring Baltimore once again. I'm going to miss this city. It's hard to believe that Hannah will be graduating from Johns Hopkins next month. Seems like just yesterday that I was blogging about her going off to college.

It looks like another beautiful spring morning. We are heading to breakfast now and then back to Connecticut.

Whether you are celebrating Easter today or are in the midst of Passover, have a wonderful holiday!

Susan

Celebrate the Light

At our house, it's time to celebrate the Festival of Lights, the eight-day-long holiday of Chanukah. And contrary to what it may seem, Chanukah is not the Jewish version of Christmas. It is actually a very minor Jewish holiday with a very major theme. 

Chanukah is a classic underdog story that celebrates the triumph of faith over military might, a tale of courage, where the Maccabees, a Jewish rebel army, defied incredible odds and risked their lives to reclaim what was sacred to them.

Spiritually, it is a life lesson in risk taking, faith and remaining true to one's beliefs and practices, even when they are unpopular or even forbidden.

Today, the story behind Chanukah can be thought of as a cautionary tale, an important reminder to not stand idly by when a minority's rights and freedoms are taken away. 

Happy Chanukah!

Susan

A Room-for-the-Whole-Family Room

Hannah and Jacob arrive home from college tomorrow. John and I can't wait, and our revamped family room is all ready for them.

It's so nice to finally have a comfortable couch that all four of us can sit on at the same time.

Remember how I couldn't show you the entire family room before our kids came home for Thanksgiving? That's because we had a big surprise for them — a new flat screen television. You should have seen the look on their faces!

Our new sectional sofa is big. In fact, one of my friends described it as an ocean liner! Although it has taken me a little time to get used it, I now like how it provides some definition to a room that is otherwise wide open to our kitchen.

The exposed back of the sectional is such a large expanse, so I had to do something to break it up. It is a perfect spot for a console table, or in our case, a rustic bench piled with books and candles. 

My favorite part of the room will forever be the built-in shelves chock full of my ever-changing collection of vintage pottery.

I am always tweaking the arrangement of the items on these shelves. 

I recently acquired this charming little oil painting. I love how the artist placed it in a vintage wooden frame that tilts.

More new additions: a couple iron masonry stars . . .

. . . and a few old books sprinkled here and there.

Although our antique dollhouse isn't played with anymore, it will always deserve a place of prominence in the room. 

Along with art pottery, the family room has a small collection of picnic tins. (I have gobs more in my studio and master bedroom.)

I arranged a selection of tins that are in tones that blend with our new sofa and pillows. Love these colors!

A comfy sofa, a cushy ottoman, a great TV, and our children home with us. This winter break, we four will be spending lots of time together in our cozy family room. I couldn't ask for more!

Susan

A Weekend Away in Rhinebeck, New York

Last weekend, with the kids not yet home for winter break, John and I headed to a truly wonderful place for a little R&R — the Olde Rhinebeck Inn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this structure was built around 1745. From the beautifully furnished rooms to the sumptuous gourmet breakfast, this Early American bed and breakfast is first rate. Innkeeper Jonna Paolella has done a spectacular job creating a relaxing and most inspiring place.

We stayed in the Plow and Harrow room, a spacious upstairs suite with a separate sitting room, a queen size pencil post bed, gas fireplace, large windows, bathroom with converted primitive dry sink, a two-person shower and antique claw-footed tub. Perfection!

Doesn't my laptop, above, look out of place in this rustic setting?

Click here for more views of the Olde Rhinebeck Inn.

John and I had fun exploring Rhinebeck and its surrounding Hudson River Valley towns. So many charming restaurants and shops! I even found a few vintage treasures for my Etsy shop.

Before we had children, one of our favorite pastimes was traveling to cozy country inns along the East Coast. Now that we are empty-nesters, it's nice to have the time to do it again. 

Susan

Home for Thanksgiving

Yay! Our nest is a little less empty now that Hannah and Jacob are home from college for Thanksgiving.

I am so happy to have them home again. And I am so very thankful for these two terrific kids. They have grown into amazing young adults who make me and John proud each and every day. 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Susan

A New Spot to Curl Up with a Good Book

At last, the waiting is over! The last piece of our family room furniture puzzle has finally arrived.

Our newest edition is Pottery Barn's sea grass wing-back armchair. It's the perfect place to curl up with a good book.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, for our family room redo, we did one-stop-shopping at Pottery Barn. To lessen the cost burden, we amassed several PB gift cards obtained from points earned though our Citicard. Those gift cards paid for our leather ottoman and throw pillows. Then, we ordered the sofa using a Pottery Barn credit card which offers 10% back. The points from the sofa completely paid for this new chair!

I've really enjoyed revamping our long-neglected family room. And there is still more to show you, but that will have to wait a couple of weeks. We have another new purchase in our family room that our kids don't know about. So I will share the rest of the room after they are home for Thanksgiving. I don't want to ruin the surprise!

Susan

Just Peachy

One of the benefits of empty nesting is that now I can be more spontaneous. So you may be surprised to learn that I'm writing this post from The Big Peach. John has a trade show in Atlanta and I decided to tag along. I've never been here before and I'm having a wonderful time so far. 

We headed to the High Museum of Art yesterday to view an exhibit called "Picasso to Warhol, Fourteen Modern Masters." 

Here is a peek at a few of the more than 100 works, all of which are on loan from The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Next we strolled through the beautiful Atlanta Botanical Garden where we spotted amazing orchids, tropical plants, roses, and more.

Today, I went on a fun tour of Atlanta in an electric car. Tomorrow I'll be touring CNN and Coca-Cola. What a great city! 

Time for us to head out to dinner. I'll share more of my peachy trip to Atlanta with you soon.

Susan

Adventures in Brimfield

Yesterday morning, John and I got up at the crack of dawn and drove two hours north to the largest outdoor antiques show in New England. Taking place three times a year, the Brimfield Antiques Show has over 5,000 dealers from all over the country selling fine antiques, plain old junk, and everything in between. 

Only our second time in this tiny Massachusetts town, our first trip to Brimfield was 25 years ago, before we were married. But now that our kids are both at college, we can be a little more impulsive. We had fun spending the day walking the treasure-filled fields on the half-mile stretch of Main Street. The weather was pleasant, the dealers were friendly, and the traffic was light. All in all, it was an enjoyable spur-of-the-moment adventure.

I'll share my Brimfield finds with you in my next post. Until then...

Susan

Starting Fresh

Now that Hannah and Jacob are both away at college, John and I are reclaiming our family room. As we await the imminent arrival of a new sofa, were have cleared out the room in preparation.

For two decades, this large, bright space adjoining our kitchen has worn many hats. It has been a playroom, homework room, Xbox room, computer room, party room, craft room, board game room, and an eat-on-the-couch-while-you-watch-TV room. The space has been through three rugs and three different couches. Even the club chairs and ottoman have been reupholstered. So after years of our children and their friends enjoying this room, it is time for an update suited to our more mature, empty-nester needs. 

Two months ago, I ordered a stylish and super-comfy sectional sofa that should be delivered any day now. Another new purchase, a large leather ottoman that will double as a coffee table, has already arrived. We have a stash of new throw pillows for the couch, as well. To complete the room, we plan to buy a cozy reading chair. 

Though the room's furniture was worn, it still had some life left. Hannah requested to use the antique bench in her post-college apartment, so it went up to our attic. We gave away the two striped club chairs and ottoman on "Freecycle." They went to a nice family with twin boys who are filling up a container for a move to Jamaica.

And just yesterday, we donated our navy blue sleeper sofa to an organization called "No Vet Left Behind." Their mission is to offer food, clothing, furniture and other household items to newly returning soldiers.

It has been a while since we've bought furniture and I can't believe how expensive it is. With two kids in college, we wanted to be as thrifty as possible. We did one-stop-shopping at Pottery Barn because, for several months, I have been amassing PB gift cards from points accrued though our Citicard. They practically paid for the leather ottoman and pillows! When we ordered the sofa, we obtained a Pottery Barn credit card which offers 10% back. The points earned from purchasing the couch will pay for our new reading chair. Sweet!

In its shabby state, I barely spent time in our family room. Now I can't wait to read, watch movies and snuggle with John on our new sofa. But don't worry, we promise to share it with the Hannah and Jacob when they are home. We have only one request — no eating on the new couch!

Stay tuned for another family room post after it has its spiffy new furnishings.

Susan

The Quiet House

We're home! Jacob's move into his college dorm went smoothly. Now both of our kids are settling in nicely at school while we get into a new routine at our oh-so-quiet house.

We are finally done cleaning up after Irene, too. John and I are beat. It will be nice to have a three day weekend together to recuperate after all the hurricane crazyiness. 

Have a nice Labor Day weekend!

Susan

After the Storm

As expected, Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on our low-lying neighborhood. Lots of flooding, downed trees, and many folks without power. How did we fare? Our yard is a salty, soggy mess, we have no phone service, and our crawl space is in the midst of being pumped out. However, we feel fortunate. Thankfully, we didn't get a drop of water in our house and we still have power. 

We've spent all morning cleaning up after that messy Irene. Later today, we'll be off to take Jacob to college. So bittersweet: I'll miss him dearly yet I'm very excited for him.

Our nest is looking mighty empty!

Susan

Vintage clip art courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

Keeping an Eye on Irene

I have only one good thing to say about the upcoming hurricane scheduled to slam into the eastern seaboard tomorrow. It has given John and me an opportunity to spend a little more time with our son. The move-in and opening weekend festivities at Jacob's mid-atlantic college have been postponed until further notice.

Original artwork by Briana LaBonte.

I truly enjoy living near Long Island Sound — except when a hurricane is looming. And unfortunately, we may be in for some major flooding this time. Living here for twenty years, we've witnessed several floods, but it has been a while since we've had a really bad one. So now it's time to batten down the hatches. 

My first introduction to hurricanes occurred in September of 1985, less than three months after I moved into my first house. It was a sweet little cottage on the banks of a peaceful stream, one that Hurricane Gloria transformed into a raging river. We lost power, my sump pump couldn't work, and my basement quickly filled with water. However, this story has a silver lining. I got to meet all of my new neighbors when they graciously came over to help me bail out the basement.

The last bad flood in our current neighborhood was during a nor'easter back in December of 1992. Hannah was two years old and I was six months pregnant with Jacob. When the tide came in, it just kept on coming. Before we knew it, we were unable to leave the house and John couldn't get home until the tide turned. But luckily, our house is at the apex of the street and we stayed high and dry. We can only hope for the same once Irene comes to town tomorrow.

Susan

Our Soon-to-be Empty Nest

As this week winds down, both of our kids will be flying the coop.

So many mixed emotions — I'm sad that they are leaving, proud that they are going off to great colleges, wistful for the days when they were little, happy that John and I still have a wonderful marriage where we truly enjoy each others company, and so much more that I can't even put into words right now.

Yes, it's sure to be a busy and emotional few days!

Susan

Vintage clip art courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

Final Martha's Vineyard Views

I bet you're wondering when I'll stop gushing about my recent trip to Martha's Vineyard. Sorting through pictures and writing these posts about our beloved island has kept that relaxed, just-back-from-vacation feeling alive for me. So will you indulge me this one last time? I promise to move on to other topics after today.

Just look at this shot of the Edgartown harbor! Postcard worthy, don't you think? Here are more views of lovely Edgartown . . .

A trip to MV wouldn't be complete without breakfast at the Art Cliff Diner. It's a funky, intimate place that was established in 1943 and has retained a vintage vibe. I had one of their delicious French crepes filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Yum.

Flowers and more at the West Tisbury Farmer's Market. (Love that flower sign.)

Isn't this the most charming fish market ever? Called Larsen's, it is located in the quaint fishing village of Menemsha.

We attended a fabulous concert by Ben Taylor, the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. (He grew up on the island, that lucky guy.)

A final photo from our last night on MV. We had a delicious dinner at an Edgartown restaurant called Alchemy, took a leisurely stroll around town, and then headed off to see the last Harry Potter movie (which we all loved).

What a perfect trip! And the best part of all was that both of our college-aged kids, with their busy summer jobs and friend-filled lives, were able to join us. 

Susan

Views From a Lighthouse

Every year on our Martha's Vineyard vacation, we head up-island late in the day to Aquinnah and enjoy a beautiful sunset over Vineyard Sound. But on this trip, we ventured there mid-day, and for the first time in our many years of visiting MV, we were able to tour the Gay Head Lighthouse.

This lighthouse, a red brick tower that sits 170 feet above sea level atop the majestic Gay Head cliffs, is one of the most recognizable structures on the Island. For 155 years it provided a guiding light to mariners in what was once one of the busiest shipping lanes on the eastern coast of the United States.

This 51-foot brick concentric tower is threatened by the forces of nature. Experts say it is not in any imminent danger of crumbling down or falling into the sea. But they also agree it is only a matter of time because the cliffs lose several feet of land annually. 

It will probably be decades before the lighthouse is in any real danger — but officials do not want to wait for a crisis. So they are stepping up efforts to raise enough money to move the structure back several hundred feet from where it now stands.

Topped with a DCB-224 lens that flashes alternating red and white lights every 7.5 seconds, we were treated to a glorious view from inside. And we were more than happy to contribute to their fund-raising efforts.

The money raised will be used to shore up the tower structure and stabilize the bank on which it sits. Experts agree the lighthouse must be repaired and stabilized before it can be moved back from the cliff to a safer location.

On November 7, 1799, Gay Head Light was turned on for the first time. It wasn't until 1990 that it became open to the public for tours. On this trip, I'm so glad our timing was right. What a treat to step inside this historic beacon!

Susan

A Little Taste of MV

We're back from Martha's Vineyard. What fun we had! I am looking forward to sharing my trip with you, but first I need to get back in the swing of things here at home. So in the meantime, please enjoy this little taste of MV . . .

My kind of street. :)

An Oz inspired cottage, felted bags at a craft fair, the best farm stand ever, and fresh fish in Menemsha.

I never knew carrots could be so pretty.

Gay Head Lighthouse, gingerbread trim, a Morning Glory Farm bouquet, and a seagull tags along on the ferry.

The view from our new rental house.

In addition to all of the inspiring sights, I did some shopping and found an array of fun and unusual items to sell in my Etsy shop. I'll share them and much more with you very soon.

Have a great Monday!

Susan

Ode to Martha's Vineyard

We wait all year for this — our annual trip to Martha's Vineyard. How I love the sweet anticipation, counting down the days until we return to our beloved island. We'll be leaving soon, and to get me in the MV mood, I put together this array of some favorite views from vacations past.

I adore this song by Carly Simon about returning to the island.

I look forward to the week ahead in our most favorite place. I will do my best to savor our time there, because it always seems to fly by. And then the longing to return begins . . .

Susan

The Graduate

Rites of passage; they can sneak up on us quickly. A dozen years ago, Jacob strapped on a brand new backpack and bravely went off to his first day of Kindergarten.

Yesterday, he donned a cap and gown and became a high school graduate. 

My family and I are so very proud of him. And we know that great things await Jacob at college and beyond.

Congratulations, my dear son!

Susan

It's Dad's Day!

To my sweet husband John, and all of the other caring, patient and awesome dads out there — Happy Father's Day!

Susan

Woman vs Oyster

My daughter has always been an adventurous eater. She is truly a foodie who enjoys cooking and loves a wide variety of foods. While we had lunch together at a seafood restaurant on Tuesday, Hannah realized she had never eaten raw oysters. So she decided to give them a try. (And of course I had to document it, because that's what wacky bloggers do.)

Thumbs up! Hannah is now officially an oyster eater! And aside from a few blisters from all of the walking she did in New York yesterday, she had a great first day at her internship, too.

Susan

First Day

It's really quiet in my house today. Jacob is at school and I just dropped Hannah off at the train station. She is heading to New York to begin a summer internship. I've so enjoyed having her home from college. Yesterday, we went out to lunch and shopped for some work clothes. Now she's all ready and is on her way to the big city.

I have to admit, sometimes I miss Manhattan. I worked there for seven years and although it had its stressful moments, it never failed to be interesting and inspiring. But these days, I enjoy working in my cozy studio with its 30-second commute. And on nice days like today, I often take a break and head to the beach. Want to join me?

I do hope Hannah has a terrific first day on the job. I can't wait to hear all about it this evening.

Susan

Happy Memorial Day!

Rowayton had its always charming Memorial Day parade yesterday. The highlight for me was my daughter (on the left) and friends who road in a 1972 Pontiac LeMans that was all decked out in red, white and blue. 

That's the spirit! I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend,

Susan

Pass the Apron to Someone Else Today...

May you have a peaceful, pampered, relaxing, lounge-around-the-house, breakfast-in-bed, let-someone-else-cook kind of day. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Susan

A First Apartment

Do you remember your first apartment? Mine was back in college. What a great feeling it was to have my own place to decorate. Even back then, I filled it with vintage finds.

My family and I spent all of last weekend helping Hannah get settled into her first place. It's a typical college apartment in an older building with lots of character. Unfortunately, the main elevator was out of order, so we got quite a workout trudging up and down the stairs to Hannah's fifth floor apartment for three days! But we made a lot of progress and by the time we left for home on Monday, the place was looking pretty good.

We headed to IKEA because Hannah needed a dresser and a desk. Most everything else was purchased from the apartment's previous tenants or we brought from home. Jacob and John spent an entire day putting together furniture. Jacob was in charge of the dresser; John tackled the desk.

All the hand-me-down couch needed was a few IKEA throw pillows and a classic Milton Glaser print from my poster collection. We found the bird prints, below, at Target.

Hannah loves to cook, so she brought along her favorite cookbooks. She's so excited to have a fully-outfitted kitchen.

Her bedroom has a bohemian-chic vibe that is colorful and cheerful. The picture above the bed came from Pier 1 Imports.

We made the nightstand out of three stacked wicker baskets topped with a vintage tray.

Here is the desk John put together . . .

In the corner below is the dresser Jacob made.

We brought (and bought) a lot of stuff, but everything seemed to have a place in the spacious apartment. You should have seen how packed our car was! In fact, it was so full that there wasn't room for me and Jacob. The two of us took Amtrak while John and Hannah drove down to Baltimore in the car! But it all worked out because by the time our train pulled in, Hannah and John had unloaded the car and cleaned the entire apartment. I arrived just in time to help with the fun stuff.

I'm so glad Hannah is finally settled into her new place. She and her roommate will continue to feather their nest over the next week before classes start. I'm sure they will enjoy living there.

Susan

A Norma Kamali Coat Named Bertha

Thirty years ago in the bleak mid-winter, I used to wear a super-long, ultra-warm coat that seemed to have a life of its own — so much so that I named the coat Bertha! Designed by Norma Kamali, this is the signature item she became famous for. 

The story goes that Ms. Kamali was on a camping trip in 1975. It was mighty cold so she wrapped herself in her sleeping bag when she went out of her tent. After she arrived home, she cut up that sleeping bag and fashioned a coat out of it. Called the Sleeping Bag Coat, it became the winter uniform of the late 1970s and 80s. A version of it is still produced today and can be seen on the streets of Manhattan every winter.

I purchased "Bertha," my Kamali coat, at Bloomingdales in New York City in 1981. It is, by far, the warmest coat I have ever owned. Even though Bertha kept me toasty for years, she's still in perfect condition. And since I haven't worn her for a couple of decades, I decided it is time to give Bertha a new home. So my rare, vintage Kamali coat is now for sale on eBay.

Hannah was kind enough to be my model for the listing's photos. She's such a good sport. Thank you, Hannah!

Susan

A New Year's Thank You

Another year flies by . . . and what a year it was. For me, it was a year filled with many good times, and unfortunately, some bad times, too. Due to a serious health issue, I've had a very challenging year. I chose not to go into it here because I want The T-Cozy to be a fun, welcome diversion for you — and for me, too! But don't fret; things are looking up and I'm feeling great.

I'd like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to my wonderful family and close friends for your comfort and support. Thank you for being there when I needed you most. 

My sincere gratitude goes out to my T-Cozy readers, especially those who take the time to leave such lovely comments. Your words are most appreciated and really lift my spirits. It's so nice to know you're out there and continue to enjoy my blog. For those of you who have been too shy to say hello, don't be. I'd love to hear from you in 2011.

I also want to thank my blogging buddies for helping me feel connected. I find your blogs (which are listed in my blog roll) so inspiring. Please understand that I may not have had the time or energy to visit or comment as much this past year. 

So here's to a sparkling and bright new year. May it be filled with peace, good health, and much happiness.

Susan

Vintage bluebird image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

Remember Me To Herald Square

Whenever we take a day trip into Manhattan at this time of year, we make sure to stop by Macy's to view their beautiful holiday windows and decorations. I love historic stores like Macy's. Built in 1902, it is one of the last turn-of-the-century department stores still in existence. 

This year's window theme is "Yes Virginia," based on the animated Christmas special (it aired on CBS December 17) that was inspired by the true story of Virginia O'Hanlon. In 1897, the 8-year-old wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper asking if there really was a Santa. Editor Francis P. Church's eloquent reply included the now-famous lines "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

Macy's six window displays were made entirely from hand- and laser-cut paper. It took an army of artists, carpenters, animators and machinists 35 weeks to craft the scenes using over 315 giant sheets of paper in 100 colors. The results are magical.

The magic continues once you step inside the store. From the ceiling of the lobby covered in vibrant red ornaments . . .

 . . . to the "Believe Meter" just inside the front door. 

Macy's holiday theme this year is "A million reasons to believe." For every letter dropped into Santa's mailbox at the store, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation --- up to $1,000,000!

These days, department stores like Macy's are few and far between. I have fond memories of shopping at similar stores like Higbee's and Halle's in downtown Cleveland when I was a child. Unfortunately those stores are no longer, so to me, it's wonderful that a store like Macy's, in its flagship Herald Square location, is still around.

When I was a kid, even though we didn't celebrate Christmas, we always enjoyed the visual splendor of the holiday. My parents would take my sister and me on a ride after dark in our 1964 Bonneville through downtown Cleveland to view the holiday decorations. We'd wear our pajamas and take a couple of blankets in the back seat with us. It was so cozy and fun.

But what I enjoy even more than December's pretty decorations are the holiday gatherings with friends and family. Whether one celebrates Christmas or not, this time of year is all about love, togetherness, community, friendship, kindness, and generosity.

Happy holidays!

Susan