Being Nora Bound

"You seem a little distracted today. Big plans for the holiday weekend?" "Holiday?" "Memorial Day weekend, A.J." With a shake of her head, Diane tucked her pencil behind her ear.
 "You know, three days off, the first weekend of summer. Sand, surf, sun."




Mind over Matter





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By Trent Yarnell tyarnell - https://unsplash.com/photos/a2QvtNSK5UM, CC0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62194768





25 Original Party Ideas For An Unforgettable Memorial Day


Memorial Day is this Monday. A lot of people only know the holiday is coming up because they get an extra day off from work or school, extending their usual 2-day weekend to a 3-day weekend.

LIFE BUZZ





Fun Ideas for Memorial Day

Memorial Day Made Simple





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"First thing Tuesday morning I'll put the squeeze on. Right now I have to go marinate." "I beg your pardon?" "Big barbecue this weekend," Abe told her with a wink. "It's the only t…

“Since you’re going to join the family, you might as well get used 
to certain ironclad rules and traditions.  Sunday brunch,” she continued when he grinned, 
“is nothing to play around with.”

Partners





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By Annie Spratt anniespratt - 
https://unsplash.com/photos/TQSB-suJu1k, CC0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61818059





Brunch is all about the Instagram-ability. Each one of these recipes is so pretty, you'll be convinced it was made with hashtags in mind -- and they taste as good as they look. These brunch recipes, which include ingredients like sweet strawberries, spicy salsa, and crisp bacon, are #brunchgoals.



BETTER HOMES & GARDENS

"Why do you want to marry me?" "That's it?" His brows rose, and then he was laughing and holding her close. "I thought you were going to ask me a tough one. I want to marry you because I love you and I need you in my life. It changed when you walked into it." "And tomorrow?" "A two-part question," he murmured. "I could promise you anything." He drew her away to kiss her cheek, then her brow, then her lips. "I wish there were guarantees, but there aren't. I can only tell you that when I think about tomorrow, when I think about ten years from tomorrow, I think about you. I think about us." He couldn't have said it better, she thought as she touched his face. No, there weren't any guarantees, but they had a chance. A good one. "Can I ask you one more thing?" "As long as I'm going to get an answer eventually." "Do you believe in Santa Claus?" What made it perfect, even more tha…

“You don’t believe in love at first sight, do you?” “Sure I do. It’s all chemicals and stuff. There was this whole program on it on PBS. I think it was PBS. Maybe it was The Learning Channel. Anyway.” She waved that part aside. “They’ve done all these studies on attraction and sex and relationships. Mostly, it boils down to chemicals, instincts, pheromones, then building on that. Besides, you know Vince and I met when I was in first grade. I went right home from school and told my mom that I was going to marry Vince Burger. Took us a while to get there. State law’s pretty firm about six-year-olds getting hitched. But it sure was the right mix of chemicals from day one.”


Remember When




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By Garry Knight from Bromley, Kent, England (In Love) [CC BY-SA 2.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons




A compelling idea, but is there scientific evidence to support it?

Love at first sight: Is it possible? Do people really meet and in moments simply know…

"I wonder just what he'd do if he were really crossed. He doesn't appear to have a temper. 
Cats usually don't until they're pushed too far just that one time, and then they're deadly." 

All the Possibilities


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By Paulo rsmenezes - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10599332




15 Signs Your Cat Is Secretly Mad at You



MSN




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Nijinsky growled. "Since I'm the first up," she said, casting the cat a rueful glance, "I'll have the shower first." 
She arched her brows at Nick. "You can make the coffee." As she darted into the bath, 
she called over her shoulder, 
"Don't forget to feed the cat."

Dance of Dreams

With that she pulled smoothly away from the dock. "How do you feel about St. Thomas?" "Jack..." "Only kidding. I've thought what a kick it would be to travel the whole Intracoastal. 
Take a whole summer and just cruise." He'd thought of it, too, as something he might find time for—someday. 
After retirement, perhaps. When Jackie said it, it seemed 
possible it could happen tomorrow.
And it made him wish it would happen tomorrow. 

Loving Jack



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By Skipper Michael 16:21, 12 May 2007 (UTC) -  Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2096873




The Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW, is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States. It runs from Boston, Massachusetts, south along the Atlantic coast and around the southern tip of Florida, then following the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas.



Sailing Britican

He'd had the marker replaced a few years before with smooth white granite. She'd have considered that a foolish expense, but he'd needed to do something. It held her name. Susan Lee Hawke. And the span of her life, that short forty-six years. Beneath, in script, was the line he'd paraphrased from Emily Dickinson.
Hope perches in the soul
She'd never lost hope. She'd lived her life believing in the power of hope, and faith, leavened with good, hard work. Even when the sickness had eaten away her beauty, had whittled her down to brittle bones she'd had hope. For him, Jordan thought now. She'd had hope for him, believed in him, and had loved him without qualification. He crouched down to lay the flowers on her grave. "I miss you, Mom. I miss talking to you, and hearing you laugh. I miss seeing that look in your eye that told me I was in trouble. And even when I was, you were there for me. You were always there for me."


Key of Knowledge


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By Lupus in…

...I would like to thank Dan and Jason and all the Sons and Daughters that share their Amazing Mothers with me. Your mothers enrich countless lives around the world, and inspire many with skills and free-giving of themselves. So thank you for all you did, or didn't do, that allowed them to be, also, ours. Even if "only" during, and through, a book, a tv appearance, a movie, a nice word at the school gate...






By Ion Chibzii from Chisinau. , Moldova. - "Hands of mother - 2"., CC BY-SA 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12799400





Compliment Your Mom



How a Man Treats His Mother Tells You Everything You Need to Know

“They’re wonderful. Charming and fun. Batman and Robin?” Kay strolled over. “Mal gave me those for Mother’s Day back when he was about twelve. 
Gave me those humping dogs, too—didn’t think I’d put them out. 
He was sixteen then, I think, and trying to get my goat. I got his.” 
She glanced back, grinned at him and the memory. “Embarrassed the hell out of him when I put them on the shelf.”

Happy Ever After




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By Scott Darbey from Canada - Mother's Day Flowers, by Melody, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42235841

We’ve also got 10 great ideas to treat your mom right—from a yummy breakfast in bed to a beautiful bouquet made of symbolic flowers.


ALMANAC




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"Right after I find something tasteful for my mother," she promised, and she proved as good as her word. Some fifteen minutes later, she chose an ebony pin crusted with pearls. It was a very mature, very elegant piece in faultless taste.

Loving Jack

Cal had let out his first shocked cry in the delivery room of Washington County Hospital
while his mother panted and his father wept.  Fox had shoved his way into the world and into his laughing father’s 
waiting hands in the bedroom of the odd little farmhouse 
while Bob Dylan sang “Lay, Lady, Lay” 
on the record player, and lavender-scented candles burned.  And Gage had struggled out of his terrified mother in an ambulance
racing up Maryland Route 65.




Blood Brothers




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From silent births to delivering in a lobby, these are the most dramatic celebrity birth stories

Keep reading to find about the most unusual celebrity childbirth stories.

INSIDER







By Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA - To all the Mothers, CC BY 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24321824





The most amazing birth photos we've ever seen

Leilani Rogers is a birth photographer who loves what she does - and she has been kind enough to share some of her favourite images with us. Be prepared to have your…

“I know maybe you don’t actually want window boxes, but you have to admit they’d look good, and they’d perk up the front of the house.”

The Search




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Photo by Cameron Landscapes and Gardens - More landscaping photos





Improve your chance of success with these tips for choosing, combining and caring for plants in window boxes

HOUZZ




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Needed hot colors in the flowers, he decided. 
And if she tried to do some wussy pastels, she’d have to try again. Strong, hot colors—nonnegotiable. What was the point in planting flowers 
if they didn’t make a statement?

The Search

“This will sting a bit.” “What will?” Automatically Ben shot out a hand to grab the doctor’s wrist. “Just a little tetanus shot,” John said soothingly. “After all, we don’t know where that knife has been. Come on now, bite the bullet.” He started to protest again, but Tess took his hand. The sting in his arm came, then dulled. 

Sacred Sins






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By Daniel Sone (Photographer) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons





A new study, though, says that squeezing someone’s hand might be more than just a morale booster.  It might actually be a painkiller.



MSN

Iona checked the ring, then what Boyle called his office, backtracked, circled, and found him
outside in the paddock having a stare-down with Alastar.
“He doesn’t think you like him.”
Boyle glanced back. “Then he’s an intuitive bastard.” 


Dark Witch




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By muffinn from Worcester, UK - Horse looking over a wall, CC BY 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34090823





Horses Can Read and Remember People's Emotions

Scientists discovered that the animals can not only recognize humans, but remember their expressions.
Popular Mechanics





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He said nothing as Alastar wandered over, oh so casually, and ignoring him, went all but nose to
nose with Iona. 
The horse, Boyle thought, looked at the woman as if she knew every answer.
“We had a good day, didn’t we?” She stroked the smooth cheek, down the strong line of throat.
“It’s a good place here. Just takes some getting used to.”
Then, the horse, who only that morning had left a welt the size of a man’s fist on…

Each hooked an arm through one of his and strolled to their box to the strains of  “My Old Kentucky Home.”






True Betrayals




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Quite a picture they made, he thought. Naomi in her flashy red suit, the daughter in her flashy blue, both blond heads gleaming.  Like a couple of sexy bookends for the tall dark man between them

True Betrayals


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By Bill Brine (Kentucky Derby 2014-0043) [CC BY 2.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons




The Kentucky Derby is the preppy fashion event of the spring. No matter if you're watching the race in Louisville or hosting a Derby-themed party, the key to any fabulous Derby event is dressing the part. Here, we've rounded up the best tips on how to perfect your ensemble for this year's Kentucky Derby.


TOWN & COUNTRY