Green Avenue

My Cousin Mannie and His Family Visit Aucoot on Aug. 5th

2011-08-10T17:18:00.000-04:00

The weather was perfect for Mannie's annual visit to Aucoot. His wife Tracy, children Jeffrey and Marissa, and Tracy's mom Shirley visited for the day.

Marissa, Tracy and Jeffrey taking a dip

Marissa, Tracy, Jeffrey and Mannie

Zacky the 3rd with Grandma Ardith

Jeffrey and Marissa meet baby Zack for the first time. Shirley in background.

Great Grandma Joan giving baby Zack his bottle

Great Aunt Lucinda (me) trying to burp Z3

Giving baby Z yet another bottle. This kid can eat! That's his job right now.

Zack Jr. holding Zack III


Jeffrey, Dad ("Uncle Grandpa") and Marissa. Marissa was asking Dad to identify rocks she had collected at the beach.

It was a great visit!

Last Two Weeks of July

2011-08-07T11:57:00.002-04:00

It has been a super busy summer! I barely have time to take pictures and post to the blog!

So here I am on a rainy Sunday in August trying to catch up on things.

On Saturday July 16th Frank and I went to the Glascow Lands Scottish Festival in Northampton. It was really fun. It is much smaller than the New Hampshire Games but the lack of crowds made it really nice. I got my Scottish meat pie to eat as well as sharing fish and chips with Frank. Frank tried a bite of the haggis puff but it tasted too much like liver to him so I finished it. I like haggis! Also at the games: Sharon Domier with her husband Shane and their two bearded collies, my next door neighbor Dave with his family, and Barb Stewart with her family. It was fun! Here are some pics from the massed bands at closing ceremonies.

Marching off with the moose hat on (far left of photo)

Then on Sunday July 17th Frank drove the GTO and I drove the 1981 Camaro up the Belchertown Common for the Belchertown Car Show. It was hot but we sat in the shade and enjoyed the day.

Frank and his Camaro

Rumble seat

A real pretty paint job

Frank's GTO

The following weekend, which was the hottest of the year (temps reached over 100 in some parts of the valley), we went camping with our group PV8 at the Shady Pines Campground in Savoy, Mass. The theme of the weekend: Herv's Redneck Weekend. Luckily for us it was cooler up there because there wasn't enough electricity to run our AC in the camper.

Garden at the campground

Trail in the campground where I took a short hike on Saturday morning while Frank took a nap. He was recovering from Lyme Disease and was on antibiotics.

PV8 Flags and the safari area with the pavillion

Our campsite had shade up until about 1 p.m.

Frank sitting outside the snack bar. Temps were probably in the 90's. We had a pepperoni pizza which was actually quite good.

Campground bar and snack bar.

Sitting around the campfire on Saturday night.

Frank gets bitten by a mosquito sitting around the campfire on Saturday night

Hilarious adult "Redneck" games around the campfire.

First Two Weeks of July Happenings

2011-07-25T13:59:00.000-04:00

On July 2nd, Frank's 1966 GTO made an appearance at the Belchertown 250th anniversary celebration picnic on the town common.

On July 6th I took the long way up to see a house Lucy wants to buy in Northfield, Mass. First I visited the Montague Bookmill.

The Bookmill has some new landscaping and gardens since the last time I visited.

Black hollyhock in the garden of The Montague Bookmill

The Sawmill River taken from the bridge looking back towards the mill.

Lucy's new house (I hope!) in Northfield:

Dining room.

Front stairs

A thunderstorm was brewing

Threatening clouds.


View of house from the main street of Northfield. This is a historic home built in the late 1700's and it is in wonderful condition.

Two of my former co-workers, Laura Williams and Gina Martel, retired from the UMass Libraries on July 8th. I attended the reception.


Gina and Laura at their retirement reception in Information Resources Management

I visited Mom and Dad at Aucoot on July 9-10, 2011. Mom and Dad took me out for a late lunch at Mermaid's Restaurant in Fairhaven. I had broiled fresh swordfish for the first time this year. Then afterwards Dad drove us out to Fort Phoenix, one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid.

New Bedford hurricane dike

Good Guys East Coast Nationals 2011

2011-06-27T09:35:00.002-04:00

Frank and I went to the Hudson Valley in NY State this past weekend, June 24-26, to attend the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association's East Coast Nationals at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. Frank was going to bring his hot rod but at the last minute decided to bring another car instead because of weather forecast which predicted heavy rain. His hot rod has an open engine with a blower and it would be bad to get it soaked with water. Turned out to be the right choice because we got downpours on Friday night. Instead, we trailered Frank's 1981 white Camaro and rode around in that all weekend which was a lot of fun. He couldn't enter it in the show because the cut off date for muscle cars was 1972 but that was ok because we got to walk around more and enjoy the show.

Unloading Frank's 1981 Camaro at the Kingston, NY Holiday Inn

Replica of the Batmobile in the vendors area

Frank and a gorgeously restored chevy truck.

Back view. This is a hot rod too. This was my favorite vehicle in the show.

Frank talks shop with fellow enthusiast. Frank's hot rod is a Model T Ford also.

Hood ornament

Frank looks at the "Spooky Coupe"

"Spooky Coupe" showing customized grill work.

inventive windshield washer fluid container?

Frank with a passing hot rod. These vehicles are LOUD! This one also had the most elaborate paint job of any cars there.

Rat rods rule!!!

Rat rod tricked out as a wrecker (boom, chain and hook on the back).

On Sunday instead of going back to the fairgrounds we decided to visit The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to see the vintage planes, cars, and motorcycles.

Bi-plane rides if you dare! We didn't.

Reproduction of a plane like the one flown by "The Red Baron"

Sopwith Camel

Another German plane with an interesting illustration on its side.

Vintage planes displayed inside one of the hangars.

A New Beginning

2011-06-09T14:05:00.001-04:00

This post marks the beginning of a new relationship. This past weekend I got to meet and hold my great nephew for the first time. He is indeed a small miracle. He is thriving and gaining weight. These pictures are from that happy visit.

Mom (great grandmother), Cathy (mother), Zack the 3rd, Dad (great-grandfather)

Mom, Cathy and Zack the 3rd (Superbaby!), Dad

Mom holding her great grandson.

He has grown since he was born, almost a pound heavier!

Dad's 85th Birthday

2011-05-23T19:51:00.000-04:00

On May 18, 2011, we celebrated Dad's birthday by going out to Oxford Creamery in Mattapoisett for lunch. He had his usual salmon burger, Mom had her usual scallop platter, and I had my usual lobster roll.

Dad and Mom outside Oxford Creamery

Later on Ardith and Mike joined us for cake and ice cream.

Cake from Atkins in Amherst: chocolate with vanilla frosting.

Dad blows out the candles on his cake (8 plus 5)

Mom, Dad, Ardith and Mike enjoy cake and ice cream

Dad eating a second piece of cake

Spring Comes At Last!

2011-05-05T17:13:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos taken around my neighborhood today. The trees are in bloom and/or are beginning to leaf out. The weather has been very unsettled with sun, clouds and showers.

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T19:38:00.000-04:00

Mom and Dad made it back safely from Florida with their beloved cat Squeaky.
We celebrated by going out for brunch at South Coast Local Diner on Easter Sunday.

Mom and Dad at brunch on Easter Sunday

Mom, Dad and my sister Ardith.

Our waitress takes Mike's and Frank's orders. (Fun fact: Frank and Mike were born exactly two days apart!)

I had "Linda Jane's Big Mess" (an eggs benedict variation featuring toasted corn bread, pulled pork and fiery hollandaise). Unbelievably good. If you are ever in the vicinity of Mattapoisett Mass. you must try this place!

Hands All Around XIII Quilt Show

2011-04-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

It has been so long since I posted anything here. I've been to a couple of flower shows but the pictures are posted over at my other blog, Lucinda's Garden. The winter was brutal but I think it is finally spring here. I've been out doing gardening chores lately.

On Sunday March 27th I attended the biennial quilt show put on by the Hands Across the Valley Quilters Guild. I'm a quilter. I have several quilt projects in various stages of completion but haven't had time to quilt lately. But I do enjoy going to the shows and seeing what others have been creating.

Here are my favorites from the show:

"Off to Santa Fe" by Lyn Heady. I love the color combination and fabrics in this one.

"Spring Fling" by Jane Carnes, design copied from a painting by Rebecca Barker.

"Portraits of Flora" by Timna Tarr, "A sylized garden using my favorite fabrics." I love the color play in this one.

"Leaving" a mourning quilt by Ann Feitelson

"O Happy Day" by Timna Tarr. "A study in color using my favorite shape, the circle." I love the way the black background sets off the circles.

"Fruits of Happy Labor" a stunning appliqued quilt by Heidi Knowlton

I restrained myself and only bought two "fat quarters" of fabric at the vendors. So many ideas I have and so little time!

Winter Respite

2011-02-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

What an awful winter. One storm after another. I took a few days' vacation in January and went to visit my Mom and Dad in Sarasota Florida. Frank and I drove because we didn't want to make reservations that might get cancelled. Turned out that was a really good idea because we had to come back early to avoid the next nor'easter. Returned to a foot of new snow in the driveway from two different storms and the house at 50 degrees because the furnace had crapped out. Well it was nice while it lasted.

Full moon over Sun'N'Fun RV Resort in Sarastoa

Buddha and bromeliads near entrance to Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota

Mom in the orchid display house

Frank in the orchid display house

Mom, Dad and Frank near the koi pond

Dad and Mom in the cafe having lunch

Mom

Dad looking out at Sarasota Bay

Sarasota Bay

Sarasota Bay as seen through the mangroves

Sarasota Bay and palms

Dad pats the sacred cow garden ornament

Cormorants in the lake at Myakka River State Park as seen from the airboat

Gators, one in the lake and two others on the shore behind

Sable palms and live oak at Myakka State Park

Frank with a large gator in the background

Black vultures, roseate spoonbills, and gators on the bank of the Myakka River

Canopy walk at Myakka River State Park

Frank atop the observation tower of the canopy walk

Bridge somewhere in Maryland (?) on the return trip

Courtyard of the DoubleTree Inn in Tarrytown NY on the last day of our trip home

Back to reality. Oh well.

Big Nor'easter Hits

2011-01-12T19:19:00.000-05:00

A really big Nor'easter hit the whole east coast today but especially New England. I got over 20 inches here, probably closer to two feet. This is the most snow in one storm I've gotten since I moved to Belchertown. Spent all day shoveling and snow blowing. I hurt. Just took two Aleve.

Lots of birds on the feeders. This feeder has black oil sunflower seeds in it and I tied a dried sunflower head (from ones I grew in my garden this summer) to the pole as well.

Nuthatches on feeder and chickadee in flight.

Back deck with about a foot and a half of snow.

View out the front door looking at the road.

Lower back deck. Birds were flying to the woodpile to my left to seek shelter under the tarp.

Lotsa snow!

My Neighbor's House Burns Down on Dec. 29, 2010

2011-01-03T19:42:00.001-05:00

My neighbor's house burned down quite spectacularly this past week, the last week of 2010. His dogs were rescued by my other neighbor next door. I'm going to buy me some fire extinguishers because BFD would not be able to save my house if it ever catches fire. Important learning experience for me: the nearest fire hydrant is more than three miles away. Wish I'd thought of that before I bought this house. Shit.

Fire started about 8 am. These are the first fire trucks that responded. Time is about 8:50 a.m.

Just a lot of smoke at this point. Only older front part of the house is on fire at this point.

Around 9 a.m. Still lots of smoke, some flames starting to be seen over first fire truck which is also a water tanker.

Fire trucks, lots of smoke

View from my house. Lots of smoke. Group of people in center of picture are neighbors with the three dogs that were rescued from the fire: Kenny, Hershey and Chandler. This is the only happy part of the story.

I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about this despite the fact that the Granby tanker truck showed up with water at this point (about 10 a.m.) You can see Jonathan's dogs still in the driveway of my neighbor Dave's house.

Flames spreading to the second, newer section of the house.

Side view of the house with smoke coming out of the newer part.

Around 10 a.m. the front part of the house bursts into flames. This is not going to end well.

Active flames from the front part of the house.

All hell breaks loose. Front and back of house engulfed in flames. I can't stand to watch any more. I went out to go for coffee because my electricity had been off for hours.

Approx. 2:45 p.m. after I came back. Fire dept. has a back hoe in there now looking for hot spots.

Ambulances etc in my driveway.

Nothing left but smoking embers, a couple little sections of wall, one chimney and the cellar hole! Later on they took the back hoe and tore down the rest of the structure. Last fire truck left approx. 4:30 pm

Winter Begins

2010-12-22T17:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the Solstice. I celebrated by getting an acupuncture treatment first thing in the morning then going for a walk in the afternoon. Later, after the sun set, I lighted candles. After supper I went out for a soak in the hot tub under the full moon. It was quite lovely out there in the moonlight.

Candles and wreath on the mantel.

Close-up of candle burning (Yankee Candle scent "McIntosh", smells like ripe apples)

I baked shortbread on Dec. 14. I gave it all away so I have to make more for Frank and me.

Shortbread cooling on a rack.

I tried to bring a bit of spring inside by starting paperwhite narcissus in Nov. They are blooming now and are quite fragrant.

Started Nov. 20th

Salina with paperwhites on Dec. 11th


Salina and paperwhites on Dec. 14th

Recently Frank and I went to Bright Nights in Springfield, MA. We tuned the radio to Christmas songs while we drove through. It was fun and festive.

November Grays

2010-11-20T19:33:00.002-05:00

I don't like the shorter, colder, gray days of November. I dread the holidays. I can't stand the relentless Christmas ads on TV, the appearance of Christmas decorations in the stores just after Halloween. In my opinion the secular "Christmas" we celebrate in this society has little or nothing to do with the religious reason that is allegedly behind it. It is just a giant orgy of money-making for big business. To me the holidays are to be endured not celebrated.

The Byrds did a song in the 60's: "To everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season ... and a time for every purpose under heaven ... " (The words are from Ecclesiastes in the Bible, Old Testament, I believe, but I've never been good at quoting chapter and verse... ) The endless cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth as embodied in these New England seasons is often beautiful but also sometimes terribly sad. We are heading into the "death" time of year when the natural world dies back in preparation for the stillness of winter.

This year the "holidays" are especially sad for me because I am estranged from my sister. She made a choice I found upsetting and I made my emotional reaction clear to her. She will not forgive me for having had negative emotions about it. I will not apologize for having had those emotions. This allows her to blame me for all the problems in our relationship. So we are at an impasse. I just found a really good article about this sort of situation entitled "Estranged for the Holidays." This article also does a good job of explaining why I've usually felt "gray" around the holidays. There was familial abuse in my childhood (from an older relative, now dead) so in some ways this situation with my sister feels like history repeating itself. In the past I've felt strong internal pressure to deny my true feelings, keep up appearances and try to be "happy" during these holiday celebrations. I still feel this internal pressure. I also sometimes feel like I'm a bad person because I'm unable to work out this problem I have with my sister despite the fact that I've done everything I can. I've even offered to meet with her and a therapist to try to work things out but she has refused. This resonates with my long-time feeling of being a bad person because I had negative emotions about my abuser, even though the abuse was obviously not my fault. I somehow internalized that it was my negative emotions that were bad, not the abuse itself.

I think the lesson in this article for me is that I need to feel those negative emotions and honor them so I can let them go and make room for some positive emotions based around healthy relationships I have with friends. If I'm just isolating myself and trying my damnedest not to feel my negative emotions then I'm not going to be able to feel any positive emotions either. I'm just going to be numb (gray). So this year I will seek out a limited number of holiday activities with people who are good for me. I will try to remember to honor my perfectly normal mixed emotions instead of beating myself up for having these feelings. Who knows? I might even have a good time.

Aucoot Cove, November 19, 2010. This was the "back yard" of my childhood home.

Aucoot Cove, a place that is so much a part of me, yet I've lived most of my life away from here.

Aucoot Cove.

Moonrise, Amherst Mass. near Annie's Garden Store, November 20, 2010, 4:23 p.m.

Parents' Annual Foliage Visit Oct. 21-24, 2010

2010-11-01T14:17:00.000-04:00

Mom and Dad visited me with Squeaky and we did our yearly foliage tour albeit a little late this year. Fewer leaves but the upside was that there was also a lot less traffic than on Columbus Day Weekend.

Dad at Vermont Country Store in Weston VT

Dad at Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield MA

Mom and Dad at Golden Eagle Restaurant at the hairpin turn on Mohawk Trail (Route 2) in North Adams MA

Dad and Mom at the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls MA

Dad at the Bridge of Flowers

Mom at the Bridge of Flowers

Mom and Dad at the Bridge of Flowers

Dad poses with a dahlia at the Bridge of Flowers

Bridge of Flowers with village of Shelburne Falls in the background

Mom at the Vermont Country Store in Weston VT (photo by Dad)

Me and Mom at Vermont Country Store in the Rockingham VT location (photo by Dad)

Photo of me at Mount Sugarloaf by Dad

Camping in the White Mountains Oct. 7-12, 2010

2010-10-18T16:21:00.000-04:00

We had a beautiful long weekend for camping in the White Mountains. We stayed at Saco River Campground in North Conway NH and went up Mt. Washington Auto Road twice! Finally made it to the top on our second try.

Mt. Washington in the clouds with a rainbow

Frank at the observation area on Route 16

Silver Falls in Crawford Notch

Frank at Silver Falls

Frank and me at Silver Falls

Tree at Rocky Gorge Scenic area along the Kankamagus Highway.

Rocky Gorge Scenic Area

Mt. Washington in the clouds on Saturday Oct. 9th, our first try at reaching the summit.

The auto road was closed above the six mile mark but we got a little higher than that by riding in one of the vans and taking the guided tour.

View of trees along the auto road

Trees and clouds along the auto road

View looking north up the valley

Nearing the tree line. You can see part of the auto road on the hilly formation in the center of the photo.

Rime ice on trees

Folded rock formation near the six mile mark. Wind at the six mile mark was 65 mph with gusts to 80 mph and the temp was approx. 18 degrees. We did get out of the van but could barely stand in the windy conditions. There was a cloud right above us.

Conway Scenic Railroad steam engine which was pulling the Valley Train on Columbus Day weekend.

On the morning of Sunday Oct. 10th the summit was out of the clouds but the auto road was still closed at the top due to icy conditions. The stages were running to the summit but there was a long waiting list. We got a reservation for about 4:30 p.m. and settled in to wait.

We visited the gift shop and the Red Barn museum while we waited. Here is a picture of birches near the parking area.

By the time we got to the summit clouds had come back in and lowered visibility a bit but we still had an 80 mile view. On this day the temperature at the summit was in the low 20's and wind speed was only about 45 mph. Oh yes, there was a brief hail storm just before we arrived at the summit.

Frank at the summit of Mt Washington. In the background rime ice has formed on the towers. There was a coating of about 3 inches of rime ice on everything.

View out the window of the observatory showing the picnic table covered in rime ice and the cog railway making its ascent.

View out another window of the observatory showing more rime ice and foliage in the valley below

Cog railway at the summit

Looking towards the Gulf of Maine

Cathedral Ledge in North Conway on Monday Oct. 11th

View of Echo Lake from Cathedral Ledge

Cathedral Ledge looking south

Frank and me at Cathedral Ledge

View of foliage, looking westerly from Cathedral Ledge

Part of Diana's Bath waterfalls

Diana's Bath waterfalls

Frank at Diana's Bath

Our campsite alongside the Saco River in North Conway. On the last night we had a campfire and ate American chop suey at the picnic table.

Saco River

Lower Falls area on the Kankamagus on our way home on Tuesday Oct. 12th

Frank at Lower Falls

Lake along NH route 112

New Hampshire Highland Games 2010

2010-10-16T10:03:00.001-04:00

Breakfast at The Homestead Inn Bed and Breakfast in Sugar Hill NH

Gathering of the clans on Saturday morning

Massed bands Saturday morning

Cross of St. Andrews formation by visiting international drum majors and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipes and Drums

St. Andrews cross close-up with Patti Nisco (drum major competition judge) in the center.

Marching off after St. Andrews Cross

Davey and Jacquie performing with Albannach in the Pub. This is Davey's last year with the band. I'll miss him!

Massed bands, closing ceremonies on Saturday

Massed bands with character performer in foreground.

Pemigewasset River as we were leaving the Games on Saturday.

(Lucy's) Aunt Lucy's garden in Franconia on Sunday morning.

Aunt Lucy's woodstove

Stone Iron Furnace on the river in Franconia NH

Information about the stone iron furnace

Lucy at Quechee Gorge on Sunday

Dam in the river above Quechee Gorge on our hike

Pond above Quechee Gorge

Pond on our hike near Quechee Gorge

Adirondack Nationals at Lake George NY, Sept. 9-12, 2010

2010-09-28T12:15:00.000-04:00

We took the camper and stayed at King Phillip's Campground. We had a nice full hook-up site.


On the campsite at King Phillip's Campground in Lake George, NY

We saw a lot of nice cars and hot rods. I liked seeing the cars cruising up and down the main drag (Canada Street) especially on Thurs. before it got too crowded.

A hot rod parked on the street.

A really nice restored vintage (late 50's) Chevy

Camper on a Chevy chassis

Inside view--very cool!

Front.

Chevy truck

Frank checks out some beauties in a motel parking lot along Canada Street

Chevy trucks

Blue Mercury parked on the street

Customized vintage milk truck in the show

Detail of milk truck

Another detail from the milk truck

My reflection in a beautiful paint job which appeared green or purple depending on where you were standing

My fantasy car, a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville convertible

Front view of the Bonneville

Cruisin' on the street

Frank checks out a GTO on Saturday

Pink!

An aqua Chevy and a purple Merc--two of my favorite cars in two of my favorite colors!

Frank at Fort William Henry. We got free admission included in the car show tickets.

Frank looking out at Lake George

A beautiful day on the lake.

Cruisin on the street. From right to left a customized Volkswagon (parked and for sale), a hot rod, a jacked-up truck and another vintage car parked across the street and also for sale.

The prettiest Corvette ever! It is white with purple, gold and chrome accents, even in the engine!

Cruisin' as night falls

Mob scene on Saturday night, right before fireworks over the lake. By this time many in the crowd were drunk. Not fun.

Camping in Connecticut, Aug. 13-15, 2010

2010-08-22T18:02:00.000-04:00

The theme of the PV8 August campout was "Peace Love and Camping: Drifting back to the 60's and 70's" Unfortunately I overslept and missed the tie dye t-shirt activity. Oh well. But Frank and I went on a nice side-trip to Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam and Lyme Connecticut. Here are some pictures:

This is a rug in one of the guest bedrooms. Gillette was a cat person and owned up to 18 cats at one time in this house.

Gillette's bedroom:

Painted wallpaper in Gillette's bedroom:

The third level has recently been renovated and air-conditioned so that some of Gillette's art collection can be displayed.

Some views from the terrace:

An interesting bridge on part of the grounds:

Pond area:

Back at Nelson Family Campground in East Hampton CT we gathered around the campfire on Saturday night:

"Redneck Rendezvous" July 30-Aug. 1, 2010

2010-08-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

The camping club we joined sponsors a lot of campouts during the camping season. This was our first one since we joined the club at the Camping and RV Show last winter. The campout was at Horseshoe Acres in Andover Vermont. It was a gorgeous weekend with cooler drier weather. We even used the furnace at night!

Here is the camper in the Safari field. There was a stream running right past the back of the camper. I loved that!

Here is a campsite that exemplified the theme of the weekend:

It was a very nice campground. Our group had the entire Safari area which included a pavilion with cooking facilities, bathrooms and showers. Here is the view looking towards the pavilion from our campsite:

Teddy Bear Campfire. This was near the safari field at a seasonal campsite. The bears were made of carved wood:

On Saturday morning there was a rousing game of "Redneck horseshoes":

Some campers really got into the spirit of things:

"Redneck Jacuzzi":

"Redneck Wind Chimes":

Members of the organizing committee judge the chili cook-off. After the winner was announced everyone got to taste all the entries along with hot dogs and all the fixins'.

Later on Frank and I went to Weston where we visited the Vermont Country Store and the last mill in Weston which has been restored by the historical society and now houses a museum. Here is Frank admiring a restored John Deere which is used by one of the docents as transportation from his house to the mill:

Views of the river and pond from the old mill:

A docent talks about tinware inside the old mill:

Another view of the mill pond:

A flower garden near the old mill:

Next, we visited the Weston Priory. Frank took a picture of me near the pond there:

The Brothers have a vegetable and herb garden. Here is a picture of that:

We left Sunday morning after a club-sponsored bagel and coffee breakfast in the pavilion. On the way back to I-91 we stopped at the Rockingham location of the Vermont Country Store. It was a wonderful fun and relaxing weekend. Best camping experience yet!

Maine Vacation 2010

2010-07-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

We arrived on Little Deer around sunset on Friday July 23rd.

Here are Lucy and Eva having cheese and crackers before our host served us a delicious home-made pot roast dinner.

Here is Lucy with her Dad in the kitchen on Saturday morning.

We did our traditional outing of Surry Gardens, lunch, and BIG Chicken Barn on Saturday. It was cloudy and cool but no rain. Here is the entrance to Surry Gardens. They were having a big sale so we got some good deals.

Hostas for sale at Surry Gardens.

Shade perennials with other perennials in the distance.

Some sedum with raindrops or dew on the leaves.

Dahlias.

Lucy chooses some daylilies. That's her way down at the end.

Next we paid a visit to the BIG Chicken Barn (books and antiques).

Inside the BIG Chicken Barn:

A family of sinister (demonic? possessed?) porcelain rabbits for sale inside the BIG Chicken Barn:

We went back to Blue Hill to have lunch. We ate at The Pantry because our favorite, The Blue Moose, had gone out of business. I had a lobster roll and Eva and Lucy had wrap sandwiches. When we got up to leave we noticed a sign that said The Pantry was closing in August. We'll have to find another place to have lunch next year!

Eva and Lucy take a walk in a nearby park in Blue Hill after lunch:

I admired this seaside cottage garden from the park:

Back at Little Deer I took this photo of the house looking up from the beach.

This next picture is of the shed and garden. Lucy maintains the garden. The cat head sculpture was made using a chain saw by a friend of Lucy's brother Sam.

A photo taken late on Saturday afternoon showing the cove at low tide:

Photo taken the next morning at high tide:

The fog was in and out, and the water was flat calm.

Another view with more fog.

I went for a walk up the driveway and took some pictures of the wild Maine woods:

John D took Eva out for a ride in the Boston Whaler. Here they are returning after the ride:

About an hour later the fog had burned off:

We headed up to Dennet's Wharf in Castine for lunch:

Eva, John D and Dev (Lucy's Dad) at lunch. That sickly yellow glow is from the awning. :-)

View from Dennet's Wharf. The large ship is a training vessel for Maine Maritime Academy.

After lunch Dev went back to Little Deer, and John D, Lucy, Eva and I went on a walk up to Fort Madison and Dice Head. Here someone had stenciled an image of Dali on the sidewalk:

Walking up the street we passed many historic sites and old houses. Many of the gardens are quite lovely. Here is a pretty one:

This is my favorite garden this year. It was on historic Perkins Street.

Eva and Lucy on a bench at Fort Madison:

We noticed these approaching storm clouds. Lucy and Eva thought they would blow over, but John D and I were pretty sure we were going to get it. Unfortunately John and I were right and we got drenched in a downpour. There was no thunder or lightning though, which was good.

Undeterred we continued our hike up to Dice Head but by a different route than usual because of a construction detour. Eva and I decided the trail might be slippery and stayed up by the lighthouse. John and Lucy went down to the rocks below. Here is Dice Head Light.

On the drive back to Little Deer we stopped at Caterpillar Hill and I took some photos of the great view from up there. Here is a shot showing the Deer Isle Bridge in the distance:

Another view taken when I turned to the right:

The end of another perfect day in Maine:

Reflections in the water:

Sunset on Sunday:

Monday morning we took a hike out to the point. This is a shot of the house taken from the trail.

Views from the point:

Camping in Connecticut, July 9-11, 2010

2010-07-20T08:44:00.000-04:00

This is our second time out with the new rig. We stayed at the Mystic KOA in North Stonington CT *and* we managed to put up the awning this time!
Here we are at our campsite, Safari 9. Despite the name it was right next to busy I95 and the noise of the heavy traffic kept us awake all night! The air conditioner got a workout. It was stinkin' hot and humid the whole time.

On Saturday we went to Watch Hill, RI.

We walked out to Watch Hill Lighthouse. On the way we saw the most beautiful rustic French "potager" garden outside an old Victorian cottage that was right on the water. I was utterly charmed by it.

Frank and I walked out to the lighthouse.

We had lunch at Paddy's on the beach at Misquamicut. I had the special which was a divine baked stuffed haddock, and Frank had fish and chips.

On Saturday night we went out on Tom and Libby's boat with their friends Micki and Bob to watch the fireworks over the Thames River in New London, CT. Severe thunderstorms were predicted but never materialized (lucky for us!) These were by far the most spectacular fireworks I've ever seen!

Sunday we went for a drive to Mystic, CT where we had fried clams, scallops and shrimp at the Seaswirl seafood restaurant. These were probably the best fried clams I've ever eaten. After lunch Tom and Libby drove us through quaint Old Stonington and we stopped at Latimer Point where there were views of Watch Hill and Fishers Island.

We finished our Sunday drive along the shore near Misquamicut.

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-22T14:11:00.000-04:00

We celebrated Father's Day by going out to the Kinsale Inn on Water St. in Mattapoisett for an absolutely delicious brunch. Dad wanted to treat Frank and me because we did some work around the house.

R to L: Me, Dad, Mom and Frank.

Frank did the most work. Here is the finished bulkhead. He demolished the old rotted one, then rebuilt and painted the new one.

Here is the "before" picture.

Later in the day on Father's Day there was an unplanned family reunion. Here Zack Jr. shows off his new tattoo that he got on his honeymoon. Mom (Zack's Grandma), Cathy (his new bride), and Ardith (his Mom) look on.

From L to R: Mike (Zack's stepfather) with Zack, Mom and Cathy.

Dad with Mike and Frank.

This is a picture I took on June 12, 2010 of a wild turkey hen with her just-hatched chicks at Aucoot.

Car Shows

2010-06-10T18:01:00.001-04:00

Frank and I have been to a few car shows lately. Sunday June 6 we took Frank's 1966 GTO that he restored to the annual Pioneer Valley GTO Association car show. It was gray and there were a few showers but we had a good time anyway. A special theme was full size Pontiacs of the 60's.

These 1960 Safari station wagons were both restored by Joe Mandarano III. One is a Chevy Catalina, and the other is a Pontiac Bonneville.

Frank's 1966 GTO. "Rockin Ron" the DJ played oldies. There was also a blues band playing live. The kitchen was serving hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, etc.

Here's the GTO at the Ludlow Elks Tuesday night Cruise Night on June 8. "Rockin Ron" was spinning oldies again, and we ate hot dogs and split a homemade meatball grinder that was great!

Here is a hood ornament on one of the hot rods.

Cathy and Zack's Wedding, May 15, 2010

2010-06-07T12:45:00.001-04:00

My only nephew got married May 15, 2010.

The newly married couple responds to congrats from a passing motorist! Cathy's Mom is on the left. Wedding held at Immaculate Conception in Easthampton, Mass. It was a beautiful day for the wedding.

A formal portrait with the best man and maid of honor.

My Mom, Zack's Grandmother, looking pretty good for 84 years young!

Mom and Dad pose with Zack and Cathy.

Mom and Dad dance at the reception, which was at Union Station in Northampton, Mass.

I'm in Heaven...

2010-06-04T13:09:00.000-04:00

Gardener's heaven, that is. Every morning I this week I've gotten up and gone out to garden. This is what I was yearning to do last summer when I was still tied to that desk and computer in the library.

I planted some morning glories that I started from seed.

Frank built me two raised beds so that we could grow veggies this year. Some of the things we're growing: tomatoes, cukes, hot peppers, zucchini, summer squash, beets, beans, arugula, cilantro, mesclun mix. In the two Earth Boxes behind the second raised bed are dinosaur kale and swiss chard "Bright Lights."

One of the containers at the front of the house. Both have a clump of canna lily (I think the variety is "Sky Hawk" and it has red flowers) which I got from Eileen, and some nasturtiums started from seed.

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-10T17:18:00.000-04:00

Mom, 84 years young, and Dad, a youngster at 83, in their bedroom on Mother's Day. Mom is finishing a fried scallop plate from Oxford Creamery in Mattapoisett. Mom got cortisone shots in both knees on Friday and had to stay off her feet for 48 hours, so she was unable to go downstairs to have meals at the dining room table.

Dad had already finished his salmon burger. I had a lobster roll and a couple of french fries. I had to give Squeaky (their cat) a bite of lobster meat.

It was a really cold day in the fifties, with a nasty wind out of the north. Ned's Point lighthouse is in the center of the picture. This is Mattapoisett Harbor.

Another view of Mattapoisett Harbor taken from the area of the town wharf and looking towards the town beach.

The bandstand at Shipyard Park in Mattapoisett. Note the flag flying straight out in the wind.

Aucoot Cove is a little more sheltered from the cold north wind but it was still pretty darn cold for May.

Benefit Fair at UMass Amherst

2010-04-28T17:01:00.003-04:00

I'm baaaack! Did you miss me?

Picture of Lucy, Linda M, me and Eva at the Benefit Fair today. Photo taken by Barb Stewart with her iPhone.

Yesterday was the first time I'd been back on campus since I retired a little over 8 months ago. I met Kathy C, Eileen, and Linda W for lunch at the Bluewall. Today was the first time I've actually set foot inside the library since I walked out the door on Aug. 21, 2009. It felt a little odd to be there. It doesn't even feel like the same place anymore because of all the renovations. I had a chance to see a few of my former co-workers, then Eva, Lucy and I walked over to the Student Union Ballroom to go to the Benefit Fair.

The best part was after I got back in the Element and drove down to the mall in Hadley. I was sitting in Whole Foods eating lunch when I experienced the most profound sense of relief that I don't work at UMass any more.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

2009-12-27T16:09:00.006-05:00

The winter solstice and the great feast of Christmas have passed. Now the light returns.

I have nothing planned for the next three months except to recover from my recent illness and the events of this past fall.

Scenes from the Appian Way, May 2004

2009-12-23T20:30:00.011-05:00

It is a cold winter's night, just after the solstice. I'm home. I'm home thank God. I got a new computer and I happened to find a cd of pictures taken in Italy in 2004. I'd never seen some of these images before. I took them during a hike out the Appia Antica while John Lucey prayed at San Sebastiano. He prayed for a good death. He made his peace with God. But I didn't know that then. These are the things I saw that day.

Tomb of Cecilia Metella (from Via Appia Antica, above, and from the inside of the tomb, below)

A private drive. Note the surveillance camera in the upper center of the photo.

Early December Snowstorm

2009-12-12T20:10:00.010-05:00

December 7, morning after a heavy wet snowfall.

Puts me in mind of a Robert Frost poem: "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.... "

Ah, if only it were that easy....

An Item on my Bucket List

2009-12-08T20:06:00.008-05:00

One of the things on my "bucket list" was to ride on a Harley. Uncle Dave took me for a ride on his on Nov. 27th. Photos courtesy of Dad.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-05T16:39:00.006-05:00

Dad's photos of Thanksgiving all taken at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens:

Mom at the koi pond.
********************************************************************************

My photos of Thanksgiving:

The parents' park model at Sun'N'Fun. First thing I did Thanksgiving morning was to clean up the little garden in front. The bougainvillea (on left near the door) survived the summer planted in its container and was just starting to bloom! It did so well I had to buy it a trellis to climb on.

High tide and abundant sunshine on Thanksgiving Day at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Mom and Dad (in background taking picture) at the koi pond at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in the afternoon just before we all went to Muriel and Jeffrey's house for Thanksgiving Dinner with Dave and Rita.

The Trip South

2009-12-04T19:50:00.015-05:00

Dad's photos:

Mom's friend Gloria came to cut Mom's hair and have dinner with us on Nov. 12. On table are Gloria's gift to Mom and Dad, a trio of carol-singing kitties complete with Santa hats. They made the trip south with us in the Buick.

Frank and I on the same evening. Mom and Dad made "stovies", a Scottish stew made with chicken, potatoes and onions.

Mom with map on Nov. 21st.

Mom

Approach to Tappan Zee Bridge.

Going over Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. Me driving. Note white knuckles.... :-)

Tappan Zee Bridge.

My pictures from the trip south:

Aucoot Cove the morning of Sat. Nov. 21st.

The beach at Aucoot on the morning of departure, Sat. Nov. 21st.

The Kenilworth Inn, where we spent our first night.

Kenilworth, N.J. at dusk.

Courtyard garden at the Best Western in Aquia, Virginia, where we spent our second night.

Aquia Episcopal Church across the road from the Best Western.

Thanksgiving display set up by Bea, the breakfast lady, in the breakfast room of the Best Western in Aquia Virginia. It was the best breakfast of the entire trip!

North Carolina welcome center on Nov. 23rd. It was raining.

"The Squeaker" in her cat carrier. She rode in the middle of the back seat propped up on a suitcase so she could see out the front window. She is a good little traveler. We brought her chicken from our dinners every night and milk from breakfast every morning.

Palms outside the Best Western in Brunswick, Georgia, where we stayed the night of Nov. 24th. I went in the hot tub here!

Welcome to Florida, Nov. 25th. At the first rest stop in Florida on I95 you get a free cup of Florida orange juice. Mom and Dad, Squeaky, the Buick and I arrived in Sarasota later that day. Mission accomplished.

Crafts of Colrain, Sunday Nov. 15, 2009

2009-11-17T16:57:00.012-05:00

Farm pond on Greenfield Road in Colrain.

Farm pond.

My companions, Eva and Lucy, in front of a farm pond on Greenfield Road in Colrain. We started our day with a hearty breakfast at Denny's Kitchen in Greenfield.

This and the following few photos taken at the home of Lynn Watson Fisher, a fiber artist who lives on a hill on Ed Clark Rd. in Colrain.

Long shadows in the dim November light.

An old house across the street from Mud Man Pottery, 1 Calvin Coombs Rd. in Colrain.

Sunset comes a lot sooner these days. This was taken about 4:30 p.m.

Roof Repair

2009-10-28T15:05:00.004-04:00

The guy who built my house (Dan Boutin) and installed the roof badly also installed the roof of the barn badly. (Surprise, surprise.) It had 4 translucent panels that leak. So yesterday Frank and Brian removed the panels and installed new matching tin roof so that the barn is now water tight. Oh yes, they also had to put some more joists in because the ones already there were 4 feet apart which isn't even close to being up to the building code.

First of the 4 panels removed before being replaced.

And the finished roof. In time the color will fade to match the rest of the roof.

Aucoot Sunrise

2009-10-22T19:56:00.007-04:00

A reminder that time passes and everything changes but the sun will still rise tomorrow.

My sister has announced her intention to sell her half of the family property on Aucoot Cove and move away. My parents and I are devastated. My sister is angry with me for not supporting her in this decision. I don't know if my sister and I will be able to have any kind of relationship when this is over. This is the second worst thing that has ever happened to me, after the death of my husband.

Things I've Been Meaning to Do

2009-10-19T11:47:00.006-04:00

I made a nice fire in the fireplace last night. It was the first of the season. Snow was falling outside but not collecting on the ground.

And, I sewed a catnip mouse for teh kittehs using "Cosmic Catnip"

They appreciated it. Here Stella plays while Romeo looks on.

Romeo plays.

Romeo.

White Mountains Columbus Day Weekend 2009

2009-10-13T19:37:00.036-04:00

We managed to get to the Green Meadow Camping Area in Glen, NH before sunset! (You can click once on each photo to get larger size).

Site 33

View of the campground looking towards the office.

A Tab camper in front of a brilliantly colored maple at Green Meadow Camping Area

Mt. Washington from the scenic overlook in North Conway NH on Friday Oct. 9, 2009.

A ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad "The Notch Train" on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. Leaving North Conway Station.

Crawford Notch

Crawford Notch

Crawford Notch

Crawford Notch

Crawford's Station

Stained glass window at Crawford's Station.

View out the window of Crawford's Station.

Lake across the road from Crawford's Station

Locomotive at Fabyan Station, switching ends of the train for the return run.

Views of Crawford Notch on the return.

Crawford Notch on the return run.

Frank's 3/4 ton pickup parked next to a SMART car on the main st. in North Conway, NH on Saturday morning Oct. 10, 2009. I saw my first SMART car on the streets of Rome in 2002.

Frank at Pinkham Notch.

Pinkham Notch on Saturday Oct. 10, 2009, misty and cool.

We had lunch here at Saladino's in Gorham NH on Route 2. I had a Sicilian-style veggie panini with San Pellegrino water and Frank had chicken parm. This was authentic Italian cuisine and not at all what I had expected to find in this area! The sun streamed in the window as we ate and reminded me so much of the Mediterranean warmth of Italy...

Foliage across the street from where we had lunch.

A SMART car that has climbed Mt. Washington.

Mt. Washington on Sat. Oct. 10, 2009. The top two miles of the auto road were closed due to ice. We watched a cloud move over the summit from the safety of the visitor center.

On Sunday we decided to move to a different campground and drive the length of the Kankamagus. The first place we found along "The Kank" that would accommodate the camper we stopped to look at the river. The morning sun illuminated the foliage.

Rock, river, and foliage at Lower Falls area along Kankamagus Highway.

Frank

Lower Falls area alongside the Kankamagus Highway. This area was infested with a busload of Japanese photographers as you can see. Made it tough to get a good shot without people being in it so I didn't even try.

Parked on the main drag in Lincoln, NH. We stopped for lunch here.

An entry in an impromptu car show in the center of Lincoln NH on Sunday Oct. 11, 2009. Yes this Chevy truck was really that shade of purple.

Site 30 in the Moose Hillock Campground in Warren NH where we spent our last night. The leaves fell all night long...

Frank's gloves with two leaves he picked for me. (Smile)

Adventures in Camping

2009-10-05T19:00:00.020-04:00

Our "new" used 2002 Flagstaff Fifth Wheel arrives at sunset in Manchester CT on Tues. Sept. 22, 2009.

Tom closes door while Frank looks on.

The bedroom, next day.

Dinette, entertainment center, steps up to bedroom, refrigerator, stove and part of kitchen counter.

Bathroom sink is in a corner of the bedroom area.

Giving the camper a good washing on Sept. 23.

Tom and Frank try to fix a tail light that doesn't want to work.

Shakedown cruise, Friday Sept. 25. Ready to roll with Frank's new Duramax diesel 3/4 ton truck.

Arriving at the campground at sunset. We stayed at Timber Creek RV Resort in Westerly RI.

Sunset at Timber Creek.

The dinette on Saturday morning.

Kitchen. I gotta get more organized!!!

Easy chairs (in rear of camper) and couch (in slide-out).

Frank still fixing that pesky tail light. It is not just a light bulb. At this point he knows the wiring is broken.

We have to call in reinforcements. Tom rewiring the right tail light. Yes, the new wire has to run from the hitch all the way through to the rear of the camper.

There seems to be some water damage under the broken wiring. How did the water get in?

Part of the rear interior ripped out to find source of wiring problem.

Unfortunately there is water damage inside. More than could be explained by water coming in the tail light assembly.

And then on Saturday night it rained hard. And also on Sunday it rained hard. Then we found out the right rear window had a leak with water running down the wall on the inside of the camper. That explained the water damage.

Other problems discovered during shakedown cruise: the slide-out is binding at the top and needs to have someone (Frank) stand outside and push it up until the mechanism can pull it in; the water pump has some kind of problem because sometimes it works well and other times it acts like the tank is empty; the "landing gear" motor on the front legs is glacially slow and needs to be replaced (it will work slowly with an assist of someone cranking it by hand).

The good things: I like camping. Frank likes camping. We like camping together and we spent the whole weekend without having even one disagreement. Life is good!

New Hampshire Highland Games, Sept. 19-20, 2009

2009-09-22T10:24:00.023-04:00

Homestead Inn on Sugar Hill where we stayed.

View of Lafayette and Cannon mountains in the mist.

"Winter" the talking dog takes a nap beside a planter in front of the Homestead Inn.

Crossing the Pemigewasset River on a cold Saturday morning.

Gathering of the clans at the Saturday opening ceremonies.

Mt. Washington in the far distance in the clouds, as seen from the top of "The Quad" on Loon Mt.

Heavy athletics field as seen from the chairlift.

Now here's something you don't see every day: a Lincoln NH police officer wearing the official NH Games tartan and riding a Segway.

A band entertains in one of the many music venues.

Loon Lake

View from the observation tower.

View from observation deck atop Loon Mountain.

Massed bands at Saturday closing ceremonies.

Lone piper on a rock in the middle of the Pemigewasset River entertains us as we wait to board a shuttle bus after the games on Saturday.

Red Hot Chilli Pipers with the drummers of Albannach performing in the concert tent on Sunday.

Winner of the heavy athletics championships. Lucy and I called him "The Genie" but his name is Mr. Ford and he is an ironworker from Tewksbury, Mass.

Lucy was able to go barefoot on Sunday when the weather got warmer.

Stuart Highlanders, winners of the overall best band competition.

Lincoln NH police officer directs traffic after the Games.

Right As Rain

2009-09-16T18:36:00.006-04:00

It is an old saying but it seems to fit my feelings now. I've been home with my kitties doing some gardening and it just seems so right. This is what I've wanted for so long. It feels wonderful.

Some gentle rain on Sept. 11

The beautiful Wedgewood plate in the "Blue Onion" pattern that is my retirement gift from my lovely co-workers at UMass.

The cast iron pig garden ornament that I got from Andrew's Greenhouse with the gift certificate that Lucy and Eva got me for my birthday.

I made it!

2009-08-25T16:29:00.010-04:00

My retirement lunch was a "Food Day" in the Cat. and Proc. Dept. on Friday Aug. 21, 2009.

My dept. gathered around: Lucy, Judy, Julie, Lorraine, Meghan, Linda M. and Gary.

My retirement party: 2-4 p.m. the same day. I'm posing with the cake. It was a vanilla and chocolate marble cake with raspberry filling and chocolate frosting from Atkins. Yum!

Pam talking with Mel C. and Mel M.

Sarah with me behind her talking with Cheryl, then Barbara behind Lucy d. and Linda K. all the way on the right.

Beth and me.

My birthday cake at Aucoot on Aug. 23rd. It says "Happy Birthday Retiree L.L."

I'm exhausted!

Many thanks to all who made this day so special for me.

I'm In Transition

2009-08-19T21:35:00.014-04:00

I haven't posted in more than a month. What happened was: on Friday June 12th I decided to retire from UMass. I just knew I was done and that the best thing I could do for myself, my colleagues, and my old alma mater was to get the *&%$ out. The last straw was the drilling going on in the next room (though I told my boss it was the latest reorg). I've lived through a lot of @#$% in my years at the ol' U. Extreme temps, noise, psychological and emotional abuse. I've been a good state employee. I have had the intestinal fortitude to put up with this crap in order to collect the paycheck and enjoy the benefits. But every other Friday when I got my pay stub I would take out my dog-eared photocopy of the grid that shows age and years of service. I'd look at a particular intersection of those points on that graph: Aug. 21, 2009. That would be the first possible opportunity for me to retire. That's my 53% solution. Any Mass State employee knows what I'm talking about. The equation is different for each of us. But I think we each have a secret date in our hearts. Escape. Freedom. Oh how I hope I have enough time and money left to enjoy a few days, months or years free of the daily grind ...
The old Cataloging Dept. on moving day. The drilling was happening on the other side of the door at the end of this room (while several of my colleagues and I were still working in it). No biggie really. Drilling happens all the time in W.E.B. Du Bois Library. Still happens. Happened today in fact. But on this particular day (June 12th) it signaled to me that I was at the end of my time here.

My old desk in the old Cataloging Dept.

My new cubicle in the renovated space.

The view from my new cube.

I will miss this garden, the Courtyard Garden.

I will miss this sculpture: Searching for Buddha in the Mountains.

I will miss the Icelandic poppies that reseed so prolifically.

But most of all I will miss the people I've worked with all these many years.

So I've just been trying to struggle through these last few weeks. It has been very difficult. I'm very tired. Two more days and I'm done. Pray for me to have the strength to finish this.

1st Annual Belchertown Car Show

2009-07-13T19:31:00.003-04:00

Frank's GTO in the show.

Frank and the fuzzy dice!
I had a great time. It was a blast!

New Roof June 26-27, 2009.

2009-07-04T10:44:00.011-04:00

Even though the house is only about ten years old the roof was failing (leaking in several areas, loose shingles etc.) Turns out the guy who built the house used inferior shingles and installed them badly. Here is a picture taken through the hatch in the office closet showing the ridge vent on the left side of the house after the old shingles were stripped off.

Also, there is nowhere near enough insulation up in the attic. This will be taken care of later this fall.

Here shingles and ice shield are delivered. Frank is on left supervising. A worker is on the right.

These guys did a great job. Fast, accurate, and very neat. Shown here stripping off old shingles from the front of the roof.

Stripping shingles from the front. The back was o.k. so was gone over with one layer instead of stripped.

A particularly bad area over the two bathrooms was stripped. Area around this light tube was leaking badly.

Back, finished. Also Frank mowed the lawn so everything looks pretty good!

Front, finished. Looks really good! I'm very pleased with it.

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-24T20:33:00.007-04:00

A cloudy, gray, damp start to summer with a nor'easter and "spring tide" for Aucoot on Sunday June 21st.

Dad with Squeaky, early morning.

Mom, Ardith and Dad awaiting a breakfast of eggs, toast, homefries and bacon (to be cooked by me).

Me, Dad, Mom and Ardith.

If I look relaxed it is because I've decided to "retire" from State service on my birthday, two short months from now. 31 and a half years of my life is enough already! Time to move on!

Pioneer Valley GTO Association Annual Car Show, June 7, 2009

2009-06-14T17:31:00.028-04:00

A beautiful Chevy hot rod truck from Belchertown.

It was a gorgeous day for a car show.

Frank takes an important call.

This one was pretty amazing. I took three pictures of it. Front view above. Side view below.

Detail.

This is not a GTO (though it looks like one) and belongs to one of the members. Other members' cars below:

A fully restored GM Futurliner, one of 11 built by GM. This one is owned by Peter Pan Bus Lines and is over 12 feet tall (not including the lighting thingy on top of it).

Ron the DJ was spinning tunes in the Futurliner

Here come The Judge...

A really pretty paint job.

Frank admiring a 1956 Chevy

Orange hot rod.

Red hot rod.

A hot rod with a gorgeous paint job.

Grrrrr.....

Reflections in the paint of Frank's GTO

Frank's GTO

Frank's GTO in line with other members' GTOs.

Grrrrrr.....

A Chevy with a gorgeous paint job and engine.

Last Sunday in May

2009-05-31T15:53:00.005-04:00

Back decks with blue flag iris in bloom. I'm feeling a bit better and did a little gardening this weekend.

Salina in a sun spot.

Stella in a sun spot.

A Spring Cold

2009-05-24T09:54:00.008-04:00

The wisteria I planted last year is doing very well and is giving the pergola the italianate look Iwanted.

I have a spring cold. I've been sick for six days now. Miserable. However, it occurs to me today that five years after my husband's death I have what I've always wanted: my home, my garden, my cats. And life is good. I'm living the life I want.

Salina enjoys a new cat toy. It is supposed to be a "tunnel" but teh kittehs have all decided they like it better as a bed/bolster.

"The Peck", Salina and Stella in the morning sun.

St. Francis Garden

Morning sun on the decks and perennial border.

The new hummingbird feeder, $9 at the Belchertown Garden Center. It only took 20 minutes for the first hummer to find it. Of course when I want to take a picture of them on it....

Dad's 83rd Birthday, May 18, 2009

2009-05-19T08:48:00.010-04:00

Dad watching one of two DVDs of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, gifts from Mom.

Chi and Mom relaxing before lunch.

Birthday lunch on Sunday with Mom, Dad, Mike and Ardith. Menu: hot dogs, hamburgs, potato salad, corn on the cob.

Birthday cake from Atkins, chocolate with white frosting.

Happy Birthday to the birthday boy!

Birthday morning breakfast on Monday May 18. Ardith cooked bacon and scrambled eggs, with tapioca pudding (Dad's favorite) for dessert.

Dad reads his birthday cards and opens a present.

Dad and Trey (who turned one year old two days before).

John Lucey Left This Earth Five Years Ago Today

2009-05-16T18:24:00.004-04:00

John Lucey's grave in the St. Anthony's Cemetery in Mattapoisett.

John Lucey enjoying a glass of wine alfresco at our favorite pizza place near Piazza Navona near the end of our last trip to Italy. It was a gorgeous day in May.

I know he is in heaven with our Heavenly Father.

John Lucey on the Island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon near the beginning of our trip.

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-11T09:38:00.006-04:00

Mike, back of Mom's head, Ardith and Zackaria gathered for Mother's Day breakfast.

Dad (two days after surgery to implant defibrillator/pacemaker upgrade combo) and Mom.

Mom and Dad with their two girls.

Window box herb garden from me to Mom.

Bat house from Ardith and Mike to Mom.

Spring Has Sprung!

2009-05-02T10:56:00.004-04:00

With temps in the high 80's both Monday and Tuesday everything has pushed into bloom and leaf! The lawn needs mowing already!