And we have another birthday of a “Folc hero” (Friends of Laura Carlo). Everyone please send best wishes to longtime listener and Folc, BethChloe, an all-around wonderful person!😘 🎉🎂🥳🎉🎂🥳🎉🎂🥳🎉🎂🥳

Good morning, my friend! It’s another cold winter’s morning. I got quackin’, and began to pond-er “Waddle cheer you up so you don’t quack under pressure?” Got it! Today is #NationalRubberDuckyDay! (One is cheering you on, and one is sending you a hug.) Now, go enjoy your Tuesday quacktivities!🦆

Good morning, my friend! Today can be the “Mondayest Monday ever,” OR…it can be made better. You decide. #Monday #MondayMugs #MondayMotivation #Empowerment #DoSomething #GetItDone

Good morning, my friend! Happy #FriYay! Easy to complain about snow & cold: it’s hard to drive in, and shivering isn’t fun. But the quiet beauty of #mygarden this week cemented why I’d never move away from a place where each of the 4 #seasons is represented. #LifeSavors #winter #respite #home

Good morning, my friend! This came in the mail attached to an insurance card. First thing I thought: “Yeah, sometimes life makes you feel/react like that.” 🤪 If you ever relate, just do something that hits your personal “re-set” button because the world needs “all of you.”

Take a screenshot of this GIF, and whichever new word you land on is YOUR word for 2026. Let's. Go.

Good morning, my friend! As the #Christmas season comes to an end on this January 6th “Feast of the Epiphany,” (the arrival of the Magi with their gifts), I wish for you, and the world, one thing:

Good morning, my friend! It’s #NationalBirdDay! 2 pics of my nest-door neighbors from a weekend walk locally: “7 #swans a swimmin’” and too many ducks to count (but at least they’re all in a row!😉) Unbirdlievable how they all quacked me up! Happy Monday!

Good morning, my friend! Sharing this nicely-made list of the 2026 full moons and Supermoons. Plus 3 photos of the Wolf Moon rising outside my grocery store as I headed home. (clic on pics to enlarge).

Good morning, my friend! Happy #FriYay! Not our usual end-of-week #respite in #mygarden, but “garden-ish!”-a top of the year #bouquet complete with #NewYear’s countdown ball!🎉You made it through the holiday hustle-bustle.👏 Now go enjoy* the 1st #weekend of 2026! (*enjoy= break those #resolutions?😉)

Good morning, my friend! No party balloons or fireworks, but simply, my wish that 2026 gives you everything you need to move forward in peace.

Good morning, my friend! Sharing my last column of ‘25! Meet John Ferrillo, first chair/oboe of the #BSO!🎶 And let’s close-out ‘25 with eyes looking ahead only. Don’t carry the past year’s ‘stuff’ into the #NewYear. Find #joy in every note, celebrate life’s rhythms. I wish you #peace. #GoodVibes 🎉

And we have another Birthday of a “Folc hero” (new name for “Friends of Laura Carlo”) to celebrate today!!! Everyone please send best wishes to longtime listener and FOLC, “Nurse Nancy” from NH! (A true nurse-angel who walks among us!!!) 😘 🎉🎂🥳🎉🎂🥳🎉🎂🥳🎉🎂🥳

Good morning, my friend! Was washing a mug when I noticed friend & web designer Itsy-Bitsy hanging on the outside screen. He said “I like making jokes on the fly: What do you get when you cross a #snowman with a #spider? Give up? Frostbite!” Then he left ‘coz he had to check his webmail! Happy Tues!

Good morning, my friend! Saw this meme 3 different places over the weekend and laughed each time because it’s so true for so many of us. It’s #Monday, December 29th (I checked). We can do this! Hang in there!

Good morning, my friend! Happy #FriYay! I hope you had a lovely day yesterday with warm and happy memory-making (and yummy foods)! Guess what I just realized:

Good morning, my friend! A simple wish for everyone. ❤️

Good morning, my friend! 2nd annual #cookie party for neighbor littles. They ate huge choc-chip cookies while decorating a #gingerbread house. Then each took home a dozen sugar cookies and a decorating kit I put together. Littlest one sold me a box of GS cookies! Wish they’d stay little!Merry Eve!❤️🎄

Good morning, my friend! Today is #Festivus! Fans of 90s sitcom #Seinfeld know about the anti-commercialism #holiday created by character Frank Costanza. It was actually created by author Dan O’Keefe and used on the show! It’s now a “thing!” Happy “Festivus for the rest of us” to all who celebrate!🎉

Good morning, my friend! We celebrated the #WinterSolstice with the lights festival at #SouthwickZoo in Mendon, MA. Twinkling lights, light tunnels, carousel, goat petting zoo, & “meet Santa”- couldn’t ask for anything better! Days are now getting longer: may your hearts be…light! #FamilyTime

Good morning, my friend! And good evening, too! Every #Friyay I invite you to share a #respite in #mygarden. Today, 2 pics of the #sunset as seen through #backyard #pines and #viburnums. At this hectic time of year, gift yourself a moment of #peace. Bundle up…and just #breathe. Happy #weekend! ❤️

Good morning my friend! Walked through a #CapeCod town and- don’t tell anyone(!)- discovered a magical portal to Santa’s North Pole Village! The closeup clearly shows elf shoes in front of a 5” door! But shhh! It’s our secret, ok? #elves #elfdoorway #secret #pinkyswear #SantasVillage #holidaymagic

Good morning, my friend! We cleared dishes after dinner and I noticed the gnome on the stove. Asked Hubs why? He began singing “Gnome, gnome on the range!” 😂 My turn! I moved gnome next to Santa and made a sign! (Good thing we found each other. We saved the rest of you!👍) #puns #gnomes #dadjokes🙄

Good morning, my friend! Here’s my new column for the Boston Post-Gazette. Meet Catherine D’Amato, CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank. Concerned about hunger in your community? She gives us a 4-part action plan. Clic on pic to enlarge, or visit bostonpostgazette.com, “Past Issues.” #GBFB #EndHunger

Good morning, my friend! How was your weekend? Turns out some neighbors came to visit us but after sole searching they must have gotten cold feet and left. It was so cold that I toe-tally understand. It’s a new week, friend, so time to make tracks! Happy Monday! #footprints #freshsnow #snowysteps

Happy Hanukkah to all our friends of Jewish faith! 🕎

Good morning, my friend! Every #FriYay I invite you to a #respite in #mygarden. Eyes up! What’s better than just 1 “partridge in a pear tree?” Dozens of #birds! Spend some time watching them come & go, perching, hearing which ones sing. (Clic on pics to see some in flight.) #calming #soulfood #peace

Good morning, my friend! A view of my #Christmas Countdown” #puzzle, and a closeup of birds decorating their home in the Dec.11th panel. Christmas is 3 weeks from today! Like these birds, just do what you can. Keep it simple and real! Remember to breathe. And to be kind to yourself…😘

Goad morning, my friend! An ‘uplifting’ poem: #Christmas Eve is 2 weeks from today, New Year’s Eve is 3 weeks away. I’d be lion if I said my To Do list was done. Mane thing to remember, holidays aren’t ‘won.’ Paws and reflect, enjoy every minute. What makes them special are the people who are in it!

Good morning, my friend! Very happy to share with you an interview a comm (journalism) student at Boston College (my alma mater) did with me. The article was for the school newspaper, The Heights. Kudos & thanks to freshman Celine Bell for choosing me to be her intvu subject!📰 shorturl.at/71JPj

Good morning, my friend! It’s again time for #MondayMugs!☕️ This has lyrics to “Every Breath You Take.” Just a reminder that “He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!” (Who knew that #Sting was singing about 🎅🏻?)

Good morning, my friend! Bundle up! A walk around #mygarden for our wkly #Friyay #respite. How crazy is this: Outside, the #roses lasted until this week’s storm! It’s #December!! Inside the garage, #geraniums are still blooming despite not being watered for weeks. You’re beautiful. Stay strong.💪❤️

Good morning, my friend! Hope this bakes your day brighter: It’s #NationalCookieDay! Dough-lighted to share with you my 1st-ever batch of #homemade #gingersnaps (or what was left moments after I set them out🤣) Be a smart cookie and remember, even if it’s crumby sometimes: life is what you bake it!❤️

Good morning, my friend! 3, yes 3, of my friends texted me this exact same meme in the last 4 days. (“I wonder why?” she asks the Universe, as she makes gingersnaps cookie dough before she even has breakfast this morning….🧐) #WednesdayWisdom #FoodForThought

Good morning, my friend! As I looked out my kitchen window yesterday I saw a #Gnome carrying buckets at the puddle on a deck box. Husband pretended “I don’t gnome!🤷🏻But it’s nice he’s helping us bail out the puddle!” While hubs had b’fast I snuck a note (‘coz 2 can play, gnome sayin’?)😉 #laughs #puns

Good morning, my friend! Lots happening today: Happy Monday and happy new month (so “Rabbit, rabbit” for good luck!) It’s also #NationalPieDay so I’m sharing my last wedge of #pumpkin. (Had made 2 for T’giving, plus one apple-cherry). Just wanted to start off your week with a touch of sweetness!🥧🥧🥧

Good morning, my friend! Happy #FriYay! I hope you had a wonderful #Thanksgiving (& your family is still talking to each other😉) Wanted to end this #holiday week by sharing #photos I took that describe some of why I love #NewEngland so much this time of year. ❤️🍁🎃 #autumn #fallcolors #pumpkins #home

Good morning, my friend! Simply, thank you.❤️

Good morning, my friend! Our friend pictured below is just passing along a great tip for #WednesdayWisdom! Here’s another: stretchy pants. And one more: If you’re the guest, bring your own Tupperware & zip top bags. You know, just to be helpful…

Good morning, my friend! Triple-A says today is the busiest travel day of the T’giving holiday. Don’t mean to sound like a Mom, but please be careful on your travels. (Who else will bring me yummy leftovers?) Er, I mean, you are important to me!! Srsly…just be safe.❤️

Good morning, my friend! It’s #Monday of #Thanksgiving week. Remember, almost everyone you meet is on the same journey this week. May your grocery lines be short. May your To Do list be…doable. May your travels be safe. May your patience not be tested. And may your #coffee fulfill its promise. Amen.

Good morning, my friend! T’giving is next week! No surprise that Gary-the-Squirrel was grocery shopping in the last pots still on the deck. Sorry for the blur but I didn’t move so as not to startle him. He dug up ALL the sweet potato vines tubers, (his faves) & left a mess.🤬 (You’re welcome, Gary❤️)

Good morning, my friend! The neighbors were hanging around. Ran out to warn them-“T’giving is 1 week away! Make like fast food & get moving! No time to baste! Stay ahead of the carve or suffer fowl play!” They didn’t listen, said it’s “Much ado about stuffin’ so give peas a chance.” Sigh. I fried.🤷‍♀️

Good morning, my friend! My 3rd every-other-week column for Boston’s Post-Gazette appeared in Fri’s edition w/college prof/author @alfredocprof.bsky.social! He has new children’s books about the Italian immigrant experience from 100+ years ago! Tap the foto to enlarge full view! Thanks for reading!🗞️

Good morning, my friend! Sharing photos from a weekend #hike. New place for me to discover and to marvel at the beauty of #nature while clearing the head. Remember - #forest is also “for rest.” I love you #NewEngland! #autumn #forestbathing #metime #breathe #outdoors #landscape #November

Good morning, my friend! Sharing one of my favorites with you for a chuckle ‘cuz… #Mondays (amIright?) My #ToDoList already has 31 things. Gonna need a bigger cup to turn it into a #Ta-Dah list! #MondayMotivation #HangInThere

Good morning, my friend! Every #FriYay I invite you to #mygarden for a #respite. Yesterday we brought in deck pots for the winter, tho’ my crazy #flowers don’t care it’s a cold #November! And “delicate” #roses are holding strong, laughing at adversity. Bloom where you’re planted, no matter what.💪

Good morning, my friend! It is the 27th anniversary today of World Kindness Day.Just want to Thank YOU for your many kindnesses to me (liking my posts, reposting, engaging, and your many messages of support, esp this year). May kindnesses come back to you a hundredfold.🫶😘 #BeKind #WorldKindnessDay

Good morning, my friends! Hubs “needed to run an errand” #Sunday & asked me to join him on the long drive. What he really wanted was to show me his new fave spot on his #motorcycle rides. There’s only 1 bench overlooking the water here at #WachusettResevoir. Marry someone who shares ‘their’ places.