Work Life Balance: It's mostly work for now

I have gotten a promotion at work, and have moved to a new role and a new location within the company. Here I am, with both, my old and new bosses, and all our spouses, celebrating the new journey!  The moment is bittersweet, I'm going to miss my wonderful old boss . . .

My new official photo for the announcement . . .

I've also decided to go back and finish my Master's degree . . .  It's going to take me a long while, since I'll be going to school part-time only.  I'll probably be ready for retirement by the time I finish . . .

I was also selected to participate in this year's leadership development program for high-potential employees. The company is sending me to Atlanta in a couple of weeks for the kick-off.  

It's all work work work for the next while, but I'm very excited.  The head of my new department is a true leader, with a huge vision, and unimpeachable integrity, and my new direct boss is bringing a lot of ideas and energy to our team.  It's going to be a fabulous ride!

After becoming an empty nester, I'm finally catching my second wind!  Wish me luck.

A Tiffany Surprise!

Every woman, at least once in her life, ought to receive a gift from Tiffany's . . .

This one came directly to my office, sent by a thoughtful business acquaintance . . . Nice, huh?  My afternoon tea has just been elevated to a whole new level.  Now, what should I do with that lovely box?

A St. Patrick's Celebration

I'm not quite sure how it's come about that our family, who has barely a drop of Irish blood, ends up celebrating St. Patrick's Day every year . . .

Our celebration this year began in downtown Chicago, early last Saturday morning, where we went to see the annual dying green of the Chicago River . . .

A boat, manned by a small crew dumps about 40 pounds of a harmless vegetable dye into the river, turning its waters a bright green for a few hours . . .  Do you notice the brave little ducks trying to stay out of the path of the boat?  This article explains how Chicago's quirky tradition came about . . .

My husband is the guest photographer for all of the pictures taken downtown, since he has a shiny new smart phone with a cool new camera that he wanted to try out . . .

Me, I usually get so caught up in whatever is happening that I forget to take pictures . . .

We found a nice spot to watch on the Riverwalk, right across from Trump Tower, the skyscraper that has given so many Chicagoans heartburn because of its 20-foot-high Trump sign, which is seen as brash and tasteless . . .

Mr. Trump does seem to have a way of antagonizing folks . . .

The people watching was . . . marvelous . . .

The dyeing of the river was followed by the St. Patrick's Day parade . . .

But it was crowded, with so many young people walking in packs, and drinking, I felt like I was at Daytona Beach during Spring break . . .  

Even though we only stayed for a few minutes of the parade, by the time we got home our day was pretty much gone.  Chicago is always fun, but with a crowd like this, everything moves slowly.  We got home and collapsed on the couch and you wouldn't have been able to budge us if you tried . . . And I had to conserve my energy for our St. Pat's dinner party the following night . . .

Now THIS way of celebrating is more my style!  I really, really love my florist, Robert . . . He's made so many beautiful arrangements for me over the years, that I've lost count . . .

With minimal instructions from me via e-mail, this is what he managed to put together:  Three baskets that held white daisies, lime green button pom poms, white limonium, white wax berries, minty green carnations . . .

And, Bells of Ireland spikes gave the arrangements some height . . .

Robert placed the arrangements in brown rattan baskets, and that became the inspiration for the rest of the table . . .

I used my Spode Delamere Brown . . .  Somehow, this pattern feels right at home whether I dress it up or down, and seemed to get along very nicely with the rustic rattan baskets . . .

The napkins were an Etsy find.  I alternated the two designs throughout the table . . .

Each place setting included an individual butter dish that held delicious Kerrygold Irish butter to spread on Irish Soda bread . . . St. Patrick's Day is the best excuse ever for eating Irish Soda Bread . . .

And a great opportunity to bring out my Laguiole spreaders with the cute little bee on the handles . . .

The hurricane lantern votive holders added a touch more green . . .

Then I scattered some lucky charms on the table . . .

To hopefully lead us to the end of a rainbow, so we could find a pot o' gold!

These brownies with mocha cream frosting and chocolate chips would do very nicely for those who preferred chocolate to a pot o' gold . . . Especially when served with mint chocolate chip ice cream on the side . . .  After they finished their corned beef and cabbage, of course . . .

It was all so much fun, we were all happy to pretend being Irish for a little while! Éire go Brách!

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  Please stop by!

Gondola amore!

From the moment you step into the Alilaguna waterbus at the airport, you begin to spot them . . .

They can be found clustered in front of old palaces . . .

Gliding quietly down narrow canals . . .

Early in the morning . . .

When restaurants haven't even opened yet . . .

And late at night, when the water looks inky black, and you feel you've stepped back in time . . .

Out on the Canal Grande, competing for navigable space with water buses and power boats, while the winged lion, symbol of Venice, keeps watch over it all . . .

Trying to stay relevant in a city that today is largely a living museum . . .

You can spot them from the Bridge of Sighs - the bridge connecting the Ducal Palace to the Prisons.  I can easily imagine a gondola being the last thing a condemned prisoner might see as he crossed the bridge towards his incarceration . . .

How brave these gondolieri are, fighting for survival, physical and metaphorical, in the 21st century!

Some long-ago doge (reigning duke) decreed that all gondole should be black to eliminate unseemly competition for the fanciest rig . . .  (Notice the plural form of gondola is gondole, NOT gondolas, as it was emphatically, albeit politely, pointed out to me by a native) . . .

At one time, there were 10,000 gondole in the Venetian lagoon.  Today, there are roughly 500 of them left, all catering to the tourist industry . . .

And, yes, it was expensive and a bit of a cliché, but how could we NOT indulge in a romantic ride?  Our 4th generation gondoliere sang in a desultory fashion, more to himself than to us, while he steered us through quiet rii (small canals), and onto the Canal Grande . . .

Never ask a gondoliere to sing “O Sole Mio” - that's a Neapolitan song!  That travesty occurs at The Venetian, in Las Vegas!  But, to paraphrase the popular saying:  What happens in Vegas, most definitely ought to stay in Vegas . . .  Click here to hear a charming Venetian folk song . . .

I brought home this bit of lace - made in the island of Burano; and, just recently, had it mounted and framed . . .

The silk backing is Venetian Blue (I kid you NOT!). The gilded frame reminds me of the waves in the Venetian lagoon.  Ah, the romance of Venice has come home with me . . . 

Roses and tea . . . and a cupcake . . . oh, and a poem!

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay;

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

   

“To My Dear and Loving Husband”

—Anne Bradstreet

Lavender Hearts

Romancing the home continues, with these darling lavender-filled sachets . . .

Because I keep them in various drawers, I had not realized just how many of them I had collected over the years!

They are now being displayed in the Guest Bedroom.  The scent is heavenly!

I never pass up an opportunity to display my hankies.  My husband bought me this one at Marshall Field's many years ago.  Click here to see a better picture of this lovely handkerchief, and the story of how I came to have it.  Marshall Field's . . . every other day I think of that store . . .

I'd love a basket like this for every room in the house!  How do you romance your home?