Bonni Brodnick Blog

Pound Ridge Authors Society BOOKS & CHEERS ~ Give the gift of reading this holiday season ~ Pound Ridge Library Saturday, December 5  11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a cup of cheer ... come chat with the authors. I'll be signing copies of  POUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk and look forward to seeing you!

This Thanksgiving weekend was the best of my life. At our table for the first Thanksgiving in our new home was our son, my mother and two best friends. (Daughter is studying abroad.) The following day/night we went to visit my sister and brother-in-law and were joined by my mother, brother, neice and ex-sister-in-law. Husband and I later peeled off for lunch with my in-laws, followed by returning home and my brother and mother sleeping over. On Sunday morning, we hosted brunch for my mother, brother, ex-sister-in-law, and beautiful niece. As my parents used to say when I was growing up, "If you can't have harmony within a family, how can there be peace in the world?" I am deeply grateful for the love and peace in my family. Awomen. Amen.

 Now we're talkin'.

Ready set (the table) ... Gobble, gobble.

As I get ready to brine the bird and turn up the oven to 375, my anxiety for getting the fowl just-right is at 11. Why do I host Thanksgiving? Here's my Huffington Post ,  Thanksgiving Turkey: Let's Get Fresh

I went to art school in Aix-en-Provence and lived/worked in Paris for awhile. Some of my very best friends live in Normandy, Paris, Marseille and Arles. They are my French family and we have shared our lives for the past 40 years. "Are you okay?" was the text I immediately sent to my friends when I heard the news. Thank God, everyone responded that they were safe.  Below are photos taken of the French Embassy on Fifth Avenue today. I am sure there will be even more flowers and condolence notes in the days to come. We stand in unity with France as the world mourns the horror of Friday evening.

I am saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Jenni Oliver . Her gentle soul, high spirit and sharp wit graced my life and was a savior on many a Vineyard day. Following is a gallery of just a few of Jenni's beautiful New Yorker covers.

                                                                                                                                                                       This photo, that day, that place, that field, and my beloved Corgi, Willis, protecting me  as I edited my book,  POUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk , created this moment that I treasure forever.

I was at a Jake Shimabukuro ukelele concert this evening. While he performed, with passion and brilliance, this guy in front of me to my left started futzing with a bag of candy. #1. WHY do they sell bags of candy at music events? Will people die of hunger not eating for an hour-and-a-half? #2. Couldn't the guy have at least waited for a loud part before crinkling the wrapping? I am surmising that he must have been eating a Milk Dud, or a malt ball ... something r o u n d . Because even worse than the sound of scrunching cellophane, the guy dropped a piece of candy in front of his seat. As we were in the orchestra, where the floor tilts towards the stage, the candy rolled and rolled until it stopped just below the footlights.  It was excruciating on so many fronts. Jake Shimabukuro: Over The Rainbow In honor of the 74th anniversary of the first Hollywood screening of "The Wizard of Oz," Jake plays his rendition...

This morning when I walked into a hotel parking lot, I noticed this poor VW. SPLAAT.                         Bang.                                        Crunch.                                                              Ouch.

The first day of November brings to mind Veteran's Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving (November 25). Luckily, VDay doesn't have to be honored with a special meal. (But if you know a Veteran, be sure to thank him/her for their valiant service to our country.) I'm talking about the other calls. "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" If I'm hosting, I panic at the thought of the combination:  guests and turkey. I know, I know. For many, it's a walk in the park (which we like to do after eating the meal and are tripped out on tryptophan). Thanksgiving, for me, is like a crushing deadline to have the turkey, stuffing, yams, string beans, gravy and pies all cooked/baked and hot at the same time. Share my pain. ( Click here . )