Fall Fun Days

On Saturday I went to the Apple Fest at Wachuset Mountain Park in Princeton Massachusetts with a group of friends. It was a gorgeous quintessential autumn day in New England! The sky was blue, the sun bright, and the orange and yellow leaves on the trees were brilliant.

a waffle's final moments

Don't try this at home...

We spent the day eating apple dumplings, cider doughnuts, caramel apples, and waffles. Activities included a fantastic raptor demonstration, a hayride, and two rides on the sky lift. Except for a bland lunch, I'd say it was a great day. Great company and lots of laughing too. We arrived early-- at 11 am -- which turned out to be smart. By 2 pm the festival was mobbed with people, including screaming children and wobbling elderly people. The Apple Fest attracts its share of large families, and the odd group of queers here and there too. 

Recent Acquisitions in the Museum of the Baronesque

It's 20 before Mona

Recent acquisitions in the Museum of the Baronesque

 Despite, or perhaps because of my recent purging in August, I've been on a collecting spree. Soon I'll be sick of it, or start buying oddities for others instead. Still, I'm proud to display my recent unique additions to the household. The kitties hopefully won't knock over any precious items.

Liquor cabinet?-- made by grandfather









bikini lady glasses-ou la la

 



Doggie peeing salt and pepper shaker!

 


Alice in Wonderland Demitasse cup-
How queer everything is today!





JUICE! Obviously





Naked Lady Mug



Mustache Mugs!From Etsy!

 



Nifty Mini Notebook




Witchy Shoes



Girly Eiffel Tower Bank



Mona Lisa Mugs



More demitasse cups- time for a party





The following books have helped me so much in my life in the past decade. Buddhism, psychology, cognitive therapy..... have been essential discoveries for me. Though I've hardly evolved to where I want, I'm trying! I made a list on Amazon's Listamania!. I love Listamania! Only a bibliophile would know....

Buddhism and Psychology
A Listmania! list by cataylor122

1.  Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron

2.  Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom by Rick Hanson

3.  Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

4.  Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation by John Welwood

5.  Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness (Shambhala Classics) by Sharon Salzberg

6.  The Wisdom of a Broken Heart by Susan Piver

7.  Real Happiness by Sharon Salzberg

8.  By Susan Piver: How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life: Opening Your Heart to Confidence, Intimacy, and Joy

It's Tiggy Upland!

Here is my friend Jen Bonardi performing in Boston in 2011. Hopefully I'll have her 2012 performance uploaded soon. Tiggy is her alter ego advice columnist creation. She writes for the BiWomen Newsletter.