Welcome Fall?

  It is almost October and we are deep into our Indian Summer - but I can't help feeling like I need to get out my Fall Decorations, go get my cornstalks for the front of my house - you know the drill - but it is so difficult to get in the "mood' for that when it is 85 degrees outside!  Don't get me wrong - I love the warm weather - but I think I am ready for the Fall -

I was able to really enjoy it this past weekend - I had to travel up north for a family function  - As I drove up towards Lake George - I noticed how gorgeous the trees are starting to look - There is so much "green" country up there - makes me wants to go for another drive up there in a few weeks - should be at peek then! 

What is it about the Fall that is so appealing?  I guess it is time for all the snuggly things that we all love - a good fire, or sitting in front of a friends fire pit, roasting marshmallows, having hot chocolate (at Jane's omg.. it is so good) I can't wait.. I am so with you cocoa.!  A nice hot cup of Jo.. no Joe, not you .. a good bowl of soup.. just the other day I had this great Mushroom Barley that Eugene recommended.. it was so good.. you can see where I am going with this.. basically all things comfortable and cosy.

So what to do to celebrate the Fall - Besides the apple picking, pumpkin picking - pumpkin carving.. there is that 'Blaze" thing in Westchester - but wait.. there is more.. oooh hot apple cider!!! (Jane has fresh apple cider at the coffeehouse.. she just got it in!) Cider donuts.. (yeah, she has those too!)  There are many things around to do - It is all good.. 

This weekend is Pearl River day - If you can come out to PR and check out the things we have to offer - I should be around.. ok.. I will probably be at Jane's.. who am I kidding.

So welcome Fall - I will try to find a sweater that won't make me look like woolly mammoth..

peace out kiddies...

m-

ps: the pic at the top is one of Jane's Root baskets with Freshly picked apples... great Fall gifty idea...

ORGANIC.......

As we sat at Jane's coffee bar one day, I heard two women talking about using only organic products. I realized that she was being rather holier-than-thou about it to her companion and I was feeling sheepish myself and then I checked out a few things.

Read some labels my friends, just because it says organic does not necessarily mean it is better. Check the fat content on some products one day. And frankly, I want my chickens to have antibiotics!

Technically - Water and Oxygen are not organic because they do not contain the element Carbon.

Here's a few things that are organic BUT are they really GOOD for us:

• Carbon Monoxide
• Heroin
• Snake venom
• A pack of angry, hungry wolves

Joking aside, do not let the organosnobs get you down; your best defense is knowledge, read some articles, read some labels and if all else fails, hit them with pepper spray - it's organic!

WHAT??

Jane's hot Cocoa season is coming soon - Hooray!! I know I will hear endless cracks from the backroom about Hot Cocoa and let me pre-empt them with this - Joe, keep your shirt on and your lips buttoned!! Thank you.

I am trying to get along in this multi-cultural world of ours but seriously - can we all get on the same page here!?!? I have enough trouble with the accents; let alone various languages.

There is one person I interact with almost daily and I RARELY understand a word she says. It is not her fault, she is from another country, has an accent and speaks softly. "Did you just ask me to buy a goat?" "Tie a boat?" "Fry a donut?" WHAT?!?!?

Even in Pearl River, at Jane's place, the lovely folks that come in with the enchanting Irish accents. I love an Irish accent, so much more fun and lively than most accents. It's rich and full of character with deep expression and passion. Have no clue what the hell any of them are talking about - EVER. WHAT?!?!?

Then there was the Polish cleaning woman and her crew, also from Pearl River, who spoke 100 mph and had a thick accent that actually resulted in me calling her by the wrong name for two years. She just gave up on me understanding and answered to the misnomer. To hear her speak you would think map and mop were the same word. Box and Backs - exactly the same. There was no differentiation between the letters a, o and u with this woman; you can imagine the chaos. Or is that Chaoooos.WHAT?!?!?!

I once worked with a man from the Ukraine that told me he had an AUDI TT. I was appalled and told him that he had given me entirely too much information. I had heard of an Outy Belly Button but never an Outy Titty and frankly that just sounded painful. Why I had to sit through "Sensitivity Training" and not him was completely a mystery to me. WHAT?!!?!

I did not grow up here and some people think I have an accent.
I was once in charge of orienting a new co-worker. She was young and perky, very sweet. I took her to lunch in the cafeteria to show her around the edible sections and noticed a young girl dressed in thigh high black boots and a mini-skirt. Immediately I thought, Oh boy! Let's just get this over with in case my new young co-worker gets any ideas that wearing this type of apparel is ok.

So I said to my young protege, "Would you get a look at her boots?" and then raised an eyebrow as if to say - definite no-no. She looked back at me with the oddest look I have ever seen. We sat down and at this point I realize she looks scared; I am guessing this is her entire wardrobe - hoochie mama/dance club outfits. So I ask her, "You don't have a pair of those same boots do you?" Relief washed across her face and she laughed,"Oh thank God, I misunderstood you the first time - you said `BOOTS' not BOOBS!"
She is now one of my dearest friends!

Auf wiedersehen

The first day of school.....(yahooooo)

I will start off by saying that I love my child. I really do - but by the end of August, it is time for the kiddies to go... get on that big yellow bus for the first time or the 8th... It is always exciting to go and get the school supplies,and the questions that go with it - "Mommy, look at this cool book cover, it smells like orange - smell it! Don't you think we need that?" Or, "Mommy, I think I need a new backpack this year AND a new lunch box! Soooo, can we get them.. huh can we?" And the questions and comments continue - and we as parents, sometimes have to count to 10. And sometimes... we count again. Our kids are so excited - new experiences, new friends, a new bus! We parents just want to get the shopping done - as we fly through the stores getting the back to school supplies, we don't take the time to realize (or we just forget) what an exciting time this is for them. So we try to listen to them, try to feel their excitement - but when someone is grabbing pens and yelling at their kids to be quiet and keep their hands to themselves, it is so hard.

So today as the kids get on the bus, remember how excited and nervous they are, take pictures and listen to what they say...and then go get yourself a cup of jo at Jane's... and breathe.


Peace out kiddies

Melissa

Given enough coffee, I could rule the world!

Holy September Batman....

What an awesome start for September - I decided to take my son down to Jane's for a waffle for breakfast - it was great - not very busy.. we walk in.. and then.. there was a meeting of a lot of.... toddlers. It was so cute.. so Eugene was hopping at the waffle maker - making waffles faster than he ever has.. there were blueberries and strawberries flying.. lots of little people giggles and the people kept coming.... Remember that movie "Field of Dreams"? The one mantra that was said through out the movie - "if you build it, they will come".. that is kind of how it was at Jane's today - It was great to see the store hopping, the ice coffee flowing, flowers being sold, kids happy eating delicious waffles.. and .. well there are the juice boxes for the kids.. don't forget the juice boxes...and the lemonade...I don't know, it was just a great morning ...