It's A "Paine-FULL" Life!

Love Those Grandkids!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:07:00 +0000

I haven't posted in a while -- sometimes I just get busy and don't think about documenting what's going on.

Recently Bree was babysitting Will and Dee and took a few videos that she shared with us. We just love watching Delilah walking and talking!

And Jessica sent us this one of the kids laughing and playing. Will thought it was so funny that Delilah would throw the cookies he gave her on the floor.

Here's one more video of William at the Zoo class he attended. The kids had parrots come and feed from their hands!

And here's a sweet picture of Delilah that we received lately. I think it's her 9 month picture.

Lilah is ALMOST Walking!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:56:00 +0000

Josh sent a short video our way to show us how Delilah is coming with her walking. At 9 months old she now can walk along behind her doll stroller! It won't be long now before she's walking all by herself!

Cukes Are Yummy ...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:05:00 +0000

Jessica sent a new video of Delilah last night and it's just the sweetest. It's funny that it arrived when it did because Dave and I had just been talking about how William just loves veggies and fruit and we wondered if Dee would like them as much. I guess this video answers that question!

And I'm also posting a couple pictures that Jessica sent this morning. Love seeing William in his new Toy Story PJs and little Miss Dee is pulling herself up and scooting along tables and furniture now (in addition to crawling!) How quickly they change.

Princess Dee is pulling herself up on EVERYTHING!

Will has new Toy Story PJs!

Ta da!!! Someone's Crawling!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:11:00 +0000

Here's the latest video from Jessica ... Princess Dee is starting to crawl!

Delilah is ALMOST Crawling!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:37:00 +0000

Jessica sent this video clip yesterday of our sweet Dee getting up on her knees and rocking away. Before you know it, she'll figure out how to move one knee forward and then the other. She is soooo close to crawling. Can't wait to see it!

Old Sturbridge Village in January!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:57:00 +0000

We ventured out to Old Sturbridge Village this afternoon and walked around to get some exercise. We stopped in a few areas that we never seem to get to when we're there -- and were pleasantly surprised! I loved the firearms and textiles exhibit. I snapped a few pictures to share:

A view of the village as you enter ...

The village farmyards

A side view of the Fitch House

The church ...

One of the exhibits in the Firearms and Textiles building

Loved the hats that were on display and couldn't believe how small the uniforms were.
Men were definitely much smaller back then!

You're actually seeing two displays here ... the drummer's uniform and instruments are in front
and behind that is a military muskets display ...

An example of one of the looms used to make cloth and blankets.

This was a really nice display of the various weaving patterns used and

what the actual written instructions looked like.

It was really a fun afternoon -- although much colder than we expected so we didn't stay too long. We love having a membership at OSV though and are planning to drop in frequently to get some exercise in such beautiful surroundings.

Now we're home, have laundry going and are watching football. I'm heading up to the loft to work on the penguin hat I started yesterday (the hat part is finished - now I just have to put it together) and to maybe

work on Dave's afghan that I started last October. It got put aside as I made two afghans as Christmas presents and I think he'd like me to get back to working on it. It's been pretty cold here!

And So This Is Christmas ...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:41:00 +0000

This year we're experiencing Christmas through pictures and the phone. Thank goodness (once again) for technology that helps to bridge the miles and keep those we love closer than we'd otherwise be.

Yesterday (Christmas Eve) was a fun day for Dave and I. We made it fun. We knew it was going to be hard to be away from everyone so we set about creating a day we would look back on and smile. And I must say -- we succeeded!

We got up early and headed to Wegmans. Yes -- Wegmans of all places. The one place you avoid at all costs on December 24th! We had a list (but thankfully, it wasn't a long one!) but we started out having breakfast. We dropped by the breakfast counter and bought breakfast sandwiches and coffee (tea for me.) We snagged a table and settled in for a nice, RELAXED hour of conversation. It was so nice. I'm still smiling as I think back on it.

We then went about getting all the things on our list -- and a few extras! We found some very nice stockings (we don't have any and vowed that NEXT YEAR we would be sure to get some) for $1. Yes, only $1 each. We bought 4!

The lines were actually not bad and we were out of Wegs in a jiffy.

We then made one last trip to Toys R Us (Babies R Us) and found a few additional things for Delilah. No lines, and we found exactly what we were looking for. Can't ask for any better.

On to the car wash. Elphie was looking rather dirty and we decided to treat her to a good scrub. She now is dark and shiny, ready to make the trip to Rochester on Monday.

Once home we got busy. Dave did some wrapping and I did some baking -- Walnut Squares and Congo Bars. I also mixed up a Cheeseball and some Genoa Rolls for our evening of fun.

During the afternoon we heard from Bree and she sent us pictures of what was happening in Rochester. There was a visit to see the Grandmas and spread a little holiday cheer!

Will with the Pirate Gingerbread Man he made for Great Grandma Mo

Delilah is wide awake and ready to visit!

Hanging with Great Grandma Glennys

Aunt Renee holding Dee while visiting Great Grandma Mo

Doesn't Delilah make a beautiful present?

Exhausted after all the fun. Still have church and Christmas with
Grandma and Grandpa Horton before it's time for Santa to come!

Will is still raring to go! Such a sweetheart.

Dave and I enjoyed a fun evening watching "Cowboys And Aliens" -- a gift from Dave. We had snacks for dinner and, while we missed everyone, we were thankful to be together. It helps knowing that we'll be making the trip in to see everyone in a couple days!

Christmas Day!

We slept in and since I was up before Dave, I finished up some wrapping and a scarf I have been making. We started to receive some pictures over the phone letting us know that Will and Dee were excited that Santa had made a visit.

Santa came!

First a picture -- then it's time to find the stockings!

Dee found her stocking!

Will opening presents.

Dee and her Cabbage Patch Doll!

As the day went on we got to talk with Mom (Glennys), Bree, Daniel and Meghan, and Jessica. We're hoping that we might still have a chance to Skype but I'm thinking the kids are about worn out. Will maybe just have to wait and see them in person!

We're leaving for Rochester tomorrow after I get home from work. We have lots of stops to make while we're in town but more than anything, we are just hoping to enjoy happy moments with our moms, children and especially our grandchildren.

Merry Christmas 2011! It's been wonderful!

It's Coming On Christmas ...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:23:00 +0000

"they're cutting down trees. They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace. Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on ..."

One of my favorite Christmas songs. Kind of sad though, and I must admit, I'm feeling kind of blue this Christmas. We've yet to decorate the house, our shopping is only partially done, we're not even sure yet if we'll be able to make it to Rochester over the holidays ... so it's all a little depressing.

So I'm hoping that the weekend brings with it some holiday cheer -- with a tree up in the loft and holly on the mantel. Maybe we'll be able to finish up the shopping and find a holiday craft show or Christmas concert to attend. At least Green Bay is going to be televised on Sunday afternoon -- I could pick up some Christmas cards and work on getting them addressed and in the mail during the game. And perhaps putting together a Christmas playlist for the iPod will brighten my spirits.

Thanksgiving was tough. Christmas seems like it's going to be even more so ... I miss the family and being there to celebrate this season with Will and Delilah. Crossing my fingers we'll be able to make a trip in to see them.

Dee Does Peek-A-Boo!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:48:00 +0000

Jess sent us a video tonight that is melting our hearts. Where has the time gone? Our sweet little Dee is actually playing Peek-A-Boo! She is just too sweet, too precious, too adorable. We can't wait to see her in a couple weeks.

Here she is!

Lilah Cuteness

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:25:00 +0000

I'm just missing the kids so much these days ... it's been a couple months since we've seen them and it will be at least another month until we get to Rochester. The videos that Josh and Jess send mean more to us than I'm sure they realize. We play them over and over again.

Here are a couple of the most recent videos. One is of Lilah playing with her feet (with Will vocals in the background) and the other is of Lilah in her jumper playing with the Rolling Chickens. Just too sweet for words.

Lunch With Norm and Bruce

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Disclaimer: This is a LONG post ... you've been warned!

This is one of those posts where I almost don't know where to start. There are so many different facets to the whole "Lunch With Norm" story that it almost seems like there are several different stories in one. I guess I'll just start at the beginning.

It's probably no secret that I've been crazy about Norm Abram for years. I've always loved watching his PBS program The New Yankee Workshop as well as This Old House. I'm drawn to his humor, his genuineness, his passion for his craft, and his incredible talent and knowledge. He's adorable in his own quirky, unpretentious way. And those plaid shirts ... how can you not adore those plaid shirts?

Dave has been equally enamored by Norm's incredible talent and knowledge of tools, carpentry, and woodworking. There have been many mornings and afternoons spent watching one show after another when we would happen upon a This Old House marathon.

Norm, of course, is a lifelong New Englander (the PBS shows are based out of Boston) and many of his projects were influenced by furniture on display at Old Sturbridge Village. In fact, it might be the shows that highlighted OSV that sparked our desire to make a few weekend trips to Sturbridge years ago while we were still living in New York.

Well, to fast forward a bit, we are now living here in Massachusetts and are within about 30 minutes drive of Old Sturbridge Village. As a special treat, Dave bought me (us) a membership for my birthday and we've loved being able to pop in for a visit whenever we've wanted.

Since Dave purchased the membership, all the emails about upcoming events are sent to him. One morning in September, he received an email from OSV saying that they were going to host a "Lunch with Norm Abram and Bruce Irving". Bruce Irving, former Executive Producer for This Old House and renovation consultant, had just published a book called New England Icons and Norm had written the foreword. The event included lunch in the Oliver Wight Tavern, a discussion with Norm and Bruce about what makes New England so special, with an intimate book signing opportunity to follow.

Dave didn't hesitate -- he figured this was going to be a sell-out event and purchased tickets for us to attend that very day. Of course, he couldn't keep it a secret and spilled the beans as soon as he got home. Needless to say I was thrilled and we both happily anticipated the event.

The week leading up to the lunch was a bit stressful. OSV was without power for the entire week after a freak snowstorm hit our region on October 30th. The day before the lunch their power was restored and we found out the lunch was still on. Phew! However, we hadn't printed out the confirmation or anything in advance and as we were getting ready to leave, realized we needed to do that. A series of mishaps followed -- the printer was out of paper and once it was reloaded, it had several stalled print jobs that it insisted on completing before printing our confirmation. And then there was the Daisy incident that occurred when Dave ran into town to get cash from the ATM ... we won't go into that but she's not allowed in the car again -- EVER.

All this to say we got a late start. The lunch was planned to begin between 11:30 and 12:00. Norm and Bruce's talk was scheduled for about 1:00 - 2:30 and the book signing was to follow. While our hope was to be there when the doors opened, we actually didn't arrive until about 11:45.

We parked the car, hurried into the building and were surprised that there weren't signs indicating which way to go for the lunch, and no one at the entrance to seat us. We knew where the luncheon was going to be held, but there didn't seem to be an easy way into the room. We were approached by a woman who was also looking around for the luncheon (her name was Pat and she had come all the way from California to be there!) and finally Dave just decided to open the side door leading into the banquet room and led the way.

Lunch was already underway (it was a buffet) and so Dave quickly looked around for empty seats ... there were 3 seats open at a table in the front of the room -- the rest of the seats at all the other tables were taken. Dave (my hero!!) went up to someone at the front table and asked if the seats were taken. We were assured they were not and quickly sat down. A waiter came right over and suggested we help ourselves to the buffet so we barely said hello to anyone before we stood back up.

The buffet was lovely and the room was beautifully decorated in a primitive and quaint New England harvest-time theme. We soon realized that we had come in the wrong entrance when we saw a reception table near the buffet (and realized when we left there was indeed a sign pointing the way to the correct entrance -- we had just parked closer to another walkway and totally missed it!) We filled our plates and headed back to sit down to a lovely lunch. As I was walking back to our table I looked up and was startled to see Norm Abram coming towards me. I don't know what I was expecting -- I mean, this was a lunch with Norm after all, but somehow I just wasn't prepared to see him standing right in front of me. I think I stopped dead in my tracks, gave him one of those deer-in-the headlight looks and muttered something that resembled a weak hello.

Dave and I sat back down and started to eat, made polite conversation with the people already seated and then, at what seemed to be at the same time, we both looked over at Norm. We were sitting at Norm's table. How on earth did that happen?

It eventually dawned on us that our table was "Reserved" -- for the OSV President, the Director of Operations, the Marketing and Communications Director, Norm and his wife Elise, and Bruce. There was one other guy sitting there that must have arrived just before us and grabbed one of the unoccupied seats. It just happened that these were the only remaining seats available. So -- Dave, Pat, and I just got incredibly lucky!

There was a slide show playing on a screen in the front of the room (actually, right in front of our table ... being in the front, we had perfect seats!) and we watched that as we ate and then the conversation started. We were all introduced, Pat told about coming from California, we told about our recent move to Massachusetts ... Dave mentioned seeing Norm when he appeared at Chase Pitkin several years before which led to a discussion about Wegmans, their new store in Massachusetts, and so forth. I had the chance to talk with Bruce about his book, how he was inspired to write it, and to share with him that it was everything I felt about New England.

We were able to listen in as Norm and Bruce talked about how they were going to present their talk ... I just couldn't believe we were actually sitting there and privy to their conversation!

Norm and Bruce were soon introduced and went on to give a wonderful talk about the special aspects of living in New England. Bruce started -- sharing about his inspiration for the book, his work with This Old House and with Norm. He did a few readings from the book ... it was wonderful. Next Norm came up and gave similar accounts -- what he loved about the book, what sparked his interest in the topic and why it was such a meaningful project that he was happy to be a part of. He spent a long time talking about his connection with Old Sturbridge Village which I particularly enjoyed.

They then went on to share some thoughts about some of the different chapters in the book -- talks about fireplaces, skating ponds, steeples, and stone fences. What struck me throughout the entire discussion was how personal it was to each of them. In talking about fireplaces, Norm shared about the fireplace in his boyhood home and how he included four fireplaces in his current home ... with only one of them ever being used and one that wasn't even finished. When talking about the stone fences found everywhere in New England, Norm shared that he's still getting rocks popping up through his lawn.

Their talk was eloquent and prepared, but didn't come across as rehearsed or scripted. There were jokes and laughs, but heartfelt thoughts shared as well. I know both Dave and I were mesmerized.

Finally, they opened up and took questions from the audience. This was not a huge crowd but we couldn't help but laugh as one person after another seemed to be seeking advice on how to manage something on their property -- from leaking roofs to woodpeckers. It was delightful.

All too soon we finished up the discussion and everyone headed for the museum's bookstore where Norm and Bruce set up to sign books. Interestingly, we were told that if we had questions for either Norm or Bruce, this would be the best time to ask. You can imagine how long the line was to have books signed -- and how long the wait was when each person took advantage of having a chance to have a personal conversation with them.

Even so, the line moved quickly and we had a chance to say hello again and have the books we'd purchased signed.

There was a photographer there taking pictures who said she'd email one to us (hopefully she will!) so we didn't ask to have a personal picture taken with either Norm or Bruce. I managed to take a few snapshots while in line for the book signings and after they finished their talk. That was enough. The memories of the day are something that can't be captured with a photograph.

There are just a few thoughts and observations I do want to be sure to include. First -- Norm is just as charming, personable, and genuine as he appears to be on his TV programs. There is nothing artificial about him. I sense he is, after all these years, still a bit uncomfortable with his fame. And he impresses me as a person who appreciates -- people, history, craftsmanship.

Norm is taller than I expected. Maybe the camera shortens people as well as adds pounds, I'm not sure, but he is probably about 6 feet tall and he is much thinner than he appeared to be on TV.

He wore his signature plaid shirt -- and I had the feeling that it wouldn't have mattered if he was giving a talk in front of an audience that expected him to wear plaid or not -- that's what he would have been wearing.

Bruce has a wicked sense of humor. Not knowing him before the lunch, listening to him and then talking with him personally, it was obvious he enjoyed a good laugh. What also impressed me was how much knowledge he had of building, construction, architecture, and how much research he had actually done to complete this book project. Impressive. Quick wit. Genuine.

And so now -- the pictures. I debated about interspersing them throughout this post but decided to just put them all at the end.

I do want to just say for the record that I am one lucky girl. My husband surely knows how to put together a special day ... and I love him for it. Thank you Dave for such a wonderful day!

The Oliver Wight Tavern where the Lunch with Norm and Bruce was held.

A view of the buffet with the beautiful fireplace as a backdrop -- loved the fall decor.

Norm Abram

Norm talking with the guy who sat next to Dave at our table. Bruce behind him, Ed Hood of OSV to the right.

Bruce Irving, author of "New England Icons" on right, talking with luncheon guests

Oops! Who knew?

Norm talking with guests after the talk.

Norm listening to guests.

Norm and Bruce at the book signing ... contemplating the qualities of a Sharpie pen?

Norm checking the Sharpie out ...

The back entrance to the OSV bookstore ...

Norm and Bruce busy signing books

Norm taking a breather ... I caught him in a bit of an Earl shot.

Bruce taking a break from signing.

The book -- what started it all!

Really nice thoughts from Bruce ... we were quite taken by his personal touch.

We bought this book for Dave ... it looks wonderful and we're both eager to read it.

NORM!!!

And this ends my post -- FINALLY! you may be saying. Yes, this was a long one but I really just wanted to record my thoughts and impressions from the day. Thank you for indulging me!

Swimming With The Whale Sharks!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:09:00 +0000

Some time ago, Meghan mentioned that the Georgia Aquarium had a program where you could get in the big tank and "swim with the whale sharks" and that she'd love to do it someday.

So imagine my surprise when I logged onto Facebook and saw that Meghan had posted a video clip -- of her actually in the tank with them! At first I thought she had just come across a video of the whale sharks but when I started watching and realized she was standing on the tank's diving platform in a wet suit and her name flashed across the screen I almost fainted!

Seems her work group had a team building day at the aquarium and a conversation with a volunteer led her to see if there was an opening that day to take a swim. As it turned out, there was, and so she and a co-worker took the "plunge" and had a bucket list experience!

One thing Meghan mentioned is that you're not allowed to actually touch the animals, but if one happens to bump you, well, hey, nothing you can do about that! You'll notice in the clip that Meghan does get bumped and gives the videographer a thumbs up afterward.

I should also note that Meghan also confessed after her dive into the tank that she actually can't swim!

Just thought I should get this video clip on the family blog so everyone can see it! Sorry about the strange characters surrounding the video. Not sure why they're there and don't know how to get rid of them so ... oh well.

â€¨â€¨â€¨â€¨â€¨

Halloween 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:13:00 +0000

Aren't these cheeks just irresistible?

This was an interesting Halloween. We had over a foot of snow on the ground but our power was restored and we were ready for trick-or-treaters. We even (still) had candy to hand out (we really shouldn't buy bags of candy that we actually LIKE!). We thought since we had kids living on either side of us now (who have friends up the road) we'd at least have a couple doorbell rings this year.

Alas. We did not.

It might have had something to do with the fact that our porch light wasn't on -- perhaps this was my passive-aggressive way of hoarding all those Milky Way and Twix bars to myself? Or it just might be that on a subconscious level I didn't want to deal with having Rascal and Daisy go nuts when the kids knocked on the door. (sigh) Either way -- we are stuck with lots of leftover candy.

Which I can't. stop. eating. (another sigh)

We are, however, very thankful that Bree went to Trunk or Treat in Rochester and snapped these pictures of our favorite sweets!

What I'd give to smooch those sweet little cheeks!

Someone just won some beads! Love our little Dash from The Incredibles!

Is there really any need for candy with this sweetness around?

I think Dash has been hitting the chocolate! And working out a bit!
And clearly was a bit sick of having his picture taken :)

Jessica sent us these pictures of William as he got ready to hit the neighborhood for some fun and treats on Halloween night. I wonder how long it will be before William decides not to wear his costume everywhere they go.

Ready to hit the streets. Who is that masked boy anyway?

And away they go! Delilah and Mommy must have stayed home to pass out the candy :)

*** Update: I meant to add this sweet picture that Jessica sent me of Will and Dee "hanging out on Saturday morning." They are just too cute!

Snowtober ...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Yes, that is indeed what the local newspaper has dubbed our freaky October snowstorm that has left millions in the northeastern states without power and with lots of property damage. While it was predicted that we would get 6 - 10 inches of snow Saturday afternoon and evening, it's clear that the weathermen missed the mark. Here at our place in Holden we measured about 16" on the deck and 13" on the railings, with all that snow falling within about 10 hours time.

It sure looks pretty on the trees -- at least early on!

What we woke up to in the morning (Sunday, October 30th)

About 13" on the railings and about 16" on the deck.

Our pile of snow just from shoveling the front walk!

Our lights started to flicker early in the evening and then totally went out about 10 p.m. Fortunately the house never really got so cold that we couldn't manage by bundling up a bit. I think it dropped down to about 56 degrees at one point but once Sunday morning arrived and the sun started pouring in, we warmed right up!

Power (luckily!) was restored here about 5:30 p.m. (on Sunday, October 30th) so we didn't have to endure another night of darkness and cold. Others in our area didn't fare as well. Many areas are still without power. Since Dow Chemical was closed today (Snow Day!) we took a drive around the area and soon discovered why. The heavy snow broke branches off trees, split many trees in half and uprooted others. We saw clean up crews moving trees off roofs today and trees and power lines down and blocking roads. While it was difficult to pull over to take pictures, we did get these while in North Brookfield ....

Everywhere we drove there were trees still lying in the roads.

Wires were pulled down when trees fell over ... many were still blocking the road like this.

Have I mentioned that no matter where you go in Massachusetts there are rocks? Big ones!

We really enjoyed our ride, even though it was heartbreaking to see so much storm damage. It was obvious people had been out with chainsaws as branches lined the roads waiting for pickup. Schools were closed all over the area (some places have even postponed Halloween) and many businesses are still closed as they wait for power.

We took a drive up to St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer (this is a cloistered Roman Catholic monastery of monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, popularly known as Trappists) to see what they were all about. What a beautiful place. It's here that the monks make the famous Trappist preserves.

Next time hopefully the gift shop will be open and we can pick up a few jars of these yummy preserves!

The grounds are incredible and the chapel and retreat house are beautiful as well. I had to stop and take a few pictures. I can imagine how peaceful it must be to stay here ...

The St. Joseph's Abbey Visitor's Chapel

A view of the roadway leading up to the chapel and retreat house.

Is this a view or is this a view?

I just loved this steeple. I wished we could have heard the bells chiming.

Another view of the chapel.

Beautiful stonework on the arches at the entrance.

Just loved this doorway!

Another view of the Chapel and Retreat House

And now we're home again ... waiting for the kids to start ringing the doorbell, driving Rascal and Daisy crazy. It's surely been an interesting Halloween (and end to October!)

Pumpkin Carving and Sweet Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:49:00 +0000

We were talking tonight about how fortunate we are to live in an age with such incredible technology. It's not always easy living 6 hours away from our grandchildren and not being there in person to see Delilah's first spoonful of real food being tasted or to hear about Will's first preschool field trip to the apple farm.

Thank goodness for iPhones that can take pictures and send them almost instantly. And how great are the videos they record (also able to be sent within seconds.) Then there is Skype -- the ability to see the kids via webcams in real-time.

Tonight was pumpkin carving time at Josh and Jessica's. Jess sent us a couple of cute videos of Will as they started to get the pumpkin ready. What a thrill to be a part of this experience. I'm posting those videos here and a picture of the final product ... and then I'm also going to post a few pics we've received over the past week or so ... we are so thankful for the opportunity to stay connected!

Will with his pumpkin. Good job Will!!

The owl hat finally fits!

Lilah's first taste of real food!

Lilah at Sticky Lips -- no ribs (yet) for you sweetie pie!

Good morning Grandma!

Will on his first pre-K field trip to the apple farm.

Will at Sticky Lips!

Visiting Vermont and New Hampshire ...

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:48:00 +0000

Still working on our list, we headed up north this weekend to Vermont and New Hampshire. We wanted to see some fall colors and also wanted to see if we could find the house where Dave's Aunt Eleanor lived.

We found both.

We got kind of a late start and were glad we brought the pups with us. We've felt bad leaving them home so much lately.

Dave had to do a little detective work in order to find his aunt's house ... all he had to go on was a post office box number and the memory of it being off Rt. 9 in Chesterfield. He remembered it was very close to Lake Spofford (or is it Spofford Lake?) He zoomed in on some online maps and found what he thought was the road where the house was located. Sure enough -- he was right!

We followed the directions provided by Google Maps to get to New Hampshire ... and while it was a pretty ride, it wasn't a very direct route. We went through a lot of little towns and made a few wrong turns due to some not-so-great directions. We finally decided to use the GPS and had much better luck finding our way.

After we found the Johndro's house, we went over to Spofford Lake. It was much colder than we expected and I think even the pups were happy to get back in the car!

No one swimming today!

Perhaps this was a sailboating class ...

Another view of the lake ... the wind was kicking up!

This picture doesn't do the fall colors justice ... the leaves were so pretty.

Back in the car -- I think they were happy to be warm again!

Always have to see what's going on ... cute little pups!

We drove around Keene (New Hampshire) a bit and then headed over to Brattleboro (Vermont). I really liked the small town atmosphere of Brattleboro and wish we could have gotten out and walked around a bit. Lots of cute little shops. I think there was some sort of fall festival going on so there was definitely a lot of traffic.

We did stop and grab a couple pictures off the bridge that separates Vermont and New Hampshire.

The colors were so pretty ... it was like this everywhere we looked.

Not a great shot but this was the other side of the bridge ...

We had a great day and loved just driving around looking at the colors. We wish we could have taken more pictures because the scenery was just beautiful but we really would need a better camera with a wide-angle lens that could really capture the view. Even then I think it would be hard to due justice to the beauty of it all.

I'm guessing we'll make this an annual trek. We'd love to go further north and see more of the mountains. Maybe even do an overnight somewhere. New England sure had plenty to do and see!

Roger Williams Park Video

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:54:00 +0000

I made up a video from our day in Providence last weekend ... we just had so much fun and loved our time in the park. There's still so much that we didn't even have a chance to see or take pictures of. Can't wait to go back again!

We Have A Wegmans!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:26:00 +0000

The day we've long waited for arrived ... on October 16, 2011 at 7 a.m., the Northborough Wegmans store opened!

Here she is! Although the parking lot was a little bit fuller when we arrived!

We spent about 2 hours just walking around and taking it all in. It's just as wonderful as we had hoped. There's a fantastic Market Cafe (with a Vegetarian Bar, Burrito Bar, AND a Food Bar!) There's a Wine, Beer, and Liquor store as well. The store is laid out a little bit different than the ones we went to in New York, but perhaps that's because it's bigger and better than the ones we left behind. Can you believe the Northborough store is actually 4,000 square feet BIGGER than the Pittsford store?

I took a few pictures as we entered the store but once inside it was just too crowded to take any more. After our first initial look around, we stopped to talk with the store manager - Kevin Russell - a wonderful guy that we immediately liked. Wegmans knew what they were doing when they picked him!

Wegmans knows how to make you feel special!

Beautiful entrance -- as usual!

It's just like being in Rochester !

It was so wonderful to see familiar packaging, displays, even just the reusable grocery bags were a sight for sore eyes. We felt like we were home again.

We left with a cart full of groceries -- including a sub, chicken wings, and a raspberry danish! We're hoping to stop by on Wednesday after I pick Dave up and try out their Food Bar.

Welcome Wegmans! How we've missed you :)

Roger Williams Park in Providence RI

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:16:00 +0000

Dave and I have been working our way down the list of places we want to go and see before the snow flies and Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI was high up on the list. We poked around the park a little bit this past winter but it was so cold and lifeless, we just knew we had to make a return visit. We weren't disappointed!

Roger Williams came to America in pursuit of religious freedom. He ultimately ended up in what is now Providence RI where he established a colony and founded what what later became Rhode Island. You can read more about his life here.

According to Wikipedia:

The land for the park was a gift to the people of Providence in 1871, in accordance with the will of Betsy Williams, the great-great-great-granddaughter, and last surviving descendant of the founder to own the land. It had been the family farm and represented the last of the original land grant to Roger Williams in 1638 from Canonicus, chief of the Narragansett tribe. The family farmhouse (built in 1773), known as the Betsy* Williams Cottage, and the Williams family burial ground (including Betsy's grave) are still maintained within the park.^[2]

(While her headstone name spells as "Betsey Williams," through the centuries since she has been called "Betsy" as it appears on numerous articles, postcards, and books.)

The park also contains seven lakes which comprise approximately 98 acres (40 ha). It is located in the southernmost part of the city of Providence bordering the city of Cranston. The park was designed by Horace Cleveland in 1878, and was constructed in the 1880s. Many of the roads, bridges and sidewalks were built by the Works Progress Administration from 1935 to 1940. Currently it contains the Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, the Japanese Gardens, the Victorian Rose Gardens, the Providence Police Department's Mounted Command center, the Dalrymple Boathouse and boat rentals, historical tours, a Carousel Village for children that includes the "HasbroBoundless Playground" which is accessible for handicapped children, the Temple to Music, the Roger Williams Park Casino, large greenspaces, and many miles of walking paths.The National Trust for Historic Preservation has declared Roger Williams Park to be one of the finest urban parks in the U.S.

We spent most of our day just driving around the park, stopping along the way to take pictures of the landscaping and beauty. Another time we hope to actually visit the Zoo, Park Natural History Museum, and Botanical Center. They all look worthy of an entire afternoon!

Some of the pictures from the day ...

The Casino -- just inside the park entrance. They host gatherings here.

Is this Lady Liberty? She adorns the bottom part of the statue of Roger Williams.

And this would be Roger Williams!

Betsy Williams Cottage ... I peeked in the windows and it appears
they are working to restore the inside for viewing.

The beautiful bandstand. It sits just behind (and below) The Casino.

Roger Williams tombstone in the Williams Family Cemetery.

Betsy Williams is buried here too. Notice the different spelling of her name.

Another view of the cemetery.

I loved the fence around the family cemetery.
And notice the "ark" on top of Roger Williams tombstone.

This is a view of the duck house in the pond near the bandstand.

This is a statue of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski. He is known as the
Father of the American Cavalry and was a hero of the American Revolution.

There unfortunately was no marker indicating who this statue honors.

The Carousel -- very nice inside!

One of the horses of the Carousel.

A picture of the bridge across the water next to the Dalrymple Boathouse.

Swan paddle boats! They looked like so much fun!

Pretty ironwork on the bridge across the pond.

An example of the beautiful stonework on the roadway bridges around the park.

Doorway into the Dalrymple Boathouse.

There are benches and walkways all over the park.

A view of the bridge from the boathouse. I just love the many swans in the park.

After we left the park we decided to check our Wrights Farm for dinner. We'd heard about this place that is just over the border in Rhode Island from one of Dave's co-workers. It's an absolutely huge restaurant and banquet facility that basically just serves chicken. It's family style dining and you just pay one price ($11.75 per adult) for an all-you-can-eat dinner. The chicken is oven roasted and the meal includes salad with their house dressing, rolls, pasta with their house sauce, french fries, and chicken. It was delicious and kind of a fun experience. We waited about 40 minutes to be seated -- which wasn't bad if you could have seen the number of people waiting.

It was starting to get dark so I really couldn't get a picture of the place but this huge chicken is above the entrance to one of the buildings in the back.

Now for some interesting Wrights Farm facts (as per our server Lori):

* They are only open Thursday through Sunday
* In those four days they typically serve between 10,000 and 12, 000 people.
* They start cooking the chickens at 7:30 a.m. to be ready for the first guests at 11:00.
* They have 88 ovens and each holds about 30 chickens.
* Unique Eats from The Cooking Channel filmed a spot about Wrights Farm that aired June 26, 2011.

So that about wraps up our Saturday ... another great weekend of exploring!

Sweet Indulgence!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:34:00 +0000

I've been following Sweet Indulgence on Facebook for a while now. I think I first caught a glimpse of their heavenly cupcakes when I happened to land on Heidi Hope Photography's website and (wisely) decided to "like" their page.

Since then I've been treated to almost daily doses of confectionery sweetness -- at least as far as my eyes were concerned. Kerri Cupcake, the owner of Sweet Indulgence, either takes incredible pictures or has her good friend Heidi helping her out. Either way, it's been in the back of my mind that one of these days I would finagle a way to taste one (ok -- several) of those cupcakes for real.

And -- Saturday was cupcake day!

Dave and I decided to keep working on our list of places we want to visit before the cold weather sets in and this weekend we decided to head to Providence, Rhode Island. We had been there during the winter months to visit Roger Williams Park. We loved the park but it was so cold that we knew we should head back in better weather to really take in the park's beauty. Since Warwick (where Sweet Indulgence is located) is basically a suburb of Providence, I didn't have too much trouble convincing Dave that it was a worthy stop to include in our travels.

What we found was so wonderful. It was more than I expected; actually better than I expected, and I'm just so very happy we stopped.

The entrance to Sweet Indulgence. Notice the little spots to sit and enjoy a cupcake
or ice cream right out front? The painted tabletops are just adorable!

The shop is so sweet -- all decked out in pink, white and chocolate-brown decor. It had a sweets shop appearance and appeal to it that's hard to describe. Since most of the pictures I'd seen online were actually of cupcakes, I had no idea the storefront would be so nice and so inviting. Check it out!

Aren't those polka dots, checkered floor, and soda parlor stools adorable?
I just loved the color scheme!

How did they know Tootsie Rolls are my favorite candy?

Such pretty displays. Everything there looked so yummy!

The candy apples were so pretty and a perfect fall treat.

This is Kerri's sweet mom. She took extra special care to make our visit perfect!

I didn't realize that Sweet Indulgence is not just cupcakes! Kerri typically sells ice cream, homemade candies, homemade candy apples and all sorts of other sugary delights. Did I mention she makes cakes too?

Our visit seemed perfectly timed because we were the only people there for a few minutes and we had a chance to talk with Kerri's mom (whose name I never did get, but "Sweetheart" would fit her perfectly!) We told her about how I followed the shop on Facebook and we had driven down from Massachusetts just so I could try a cupcake (well, and visit Providence. Secondary, I assure you.) She gave us cake ball samples (delicious!!) and let us taste the chocolate coconut candies that Dave was eyeing (they were even better than either of us expected!)

We left with enough sugar to fuel us for a couple of days -- I picked up six cupcakes (raspberry, mint chocolate, and toffee nutella -- all of them scrumptious!) and Dave bought some candy and a chocolate-dipped Twinkie. Seriously.

You thought I was kidding about the chocolate dipped Twinkies didn't you?

Don't they look scrumptious? Believe me -- they were!

See those pretty pink boxes behind Kerri's mom in the picture above? My cupcakes looked beautiful all wrapped up in one. I kind of hated to open up the box (LOL -- for all of about a minute! Isn't that what cameras are for? Preserving memories?)

Total pampering. I love it!

Suffice it to say, I loved my trip to Sweet Indulgence. And so did Dave. In fact, he thinks we should make it a regular Saturday treat! If only ... !

Cape Ann Video

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:18:00 +0000

Dave and I did a day trip to Gloucester and Rockport yesterday. It was a perfect fall day -- sunny but warm enough to be out without a jacket!

I've already blogged about our day but thought I'd also post the video I made up of our day.

Exploring New England -- Rockport

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:14:00 +0000

To continue on with our fabulous day on the North Shore, after stalking Norm Abram and visiting Gloucester, we headed to Rockport. To be honest, we didn't really know what to expect here. Dave's co-worker had mentioned that if we were going up that way we should really check out Rockport and at least see Motif #1 (a famous little fishing shack turned artist studio on the pier in Bearskin Neck Wharf .) So -- off we went.

What we found was more than we expected. This little town is filled with historic homes and a picturesque wharf filled with touristy, artsy little shops and fooderies (I'm not sure if that's a word, but what else do you call places that sell cupcakes, ice cream, pizza, and lobster rolls?)

Of course, the place was hopping with people -- it seems everyone in the northeast part of Massachusetts decided this was the perfect day to get one last breath of summer in by the water. Despite the crowds and lack of parking, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Here are a few pictures taken during the few hours we were there ... as you can see -- it was a beautiful day!

The Smith House -- we parked behind this beautiful home. Built in 1870, it was the home of
John and Ester Gott. John fought at the battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775.

Side entrance to a home along the main drag. I just loved it.

This little dingy looks so peaceful -- hard to imagine 100 other boats surrounding it!

On the pier -- Motif #1 in the background.

Is that a pirate ship heading out to sea? Actually it is! Pirate Ship Charters

Just a sailboat anchored in the harbor.

Another pretty house along the main drag. I love the porch lights.

A steeple that loomed out above the trees and buildings .

A side view of Motif #1.

Doorway of a little fishing shack on the wharf.

Motif #1.

Motif #1

Just loved the flower boxes outside Rockport Fudgery on the wharf.

The beautiful lights that lined the wharf.

Sun was starting to go down ... notice the lighthouse in the distance.

These little houses lined the side streets along the wharf.

Loved the sign on the gate of The Inn On Cove Hill ...

The Inn on Cove Hill -- might just have to stay here next trip!

Those fooderies I mentioned? Here's a cupcake shop I wandered into ...

After leaving Rockport, we headed home ... we met up with a traffic delay (actually, it was slow-going on the way to the North Shore too!) that made for a long drive. Rascal and Daisy were sure happy to see us and it was good to be out of the car. But what a wonderful day. We can't wait to go back again!

Exploring New England -- Gloucester

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:56:00 +0000

We finally made it to the North Shore! We've had it on our list of places to go for a while now and picked an absolutely beautiful fall day to explore.

Before we really got too far into our drive, we remembered that This Old House was working on a project in Bedford that was kind of on the way to Gloucester. We decided to drive by and see if it was complete -- it wasn't. There were Ask This Old House trailers in the yard and dumpsters etc. It appears they are in the process of painting the house gray. We wanted to stop and take pictures but it looked like the owner was in the yard and there really wasn't any place to park. We decided it might be a bit rude and intrusive to sit and take photos from the car so ... we kept going.

Then I remembered that Norm Abram lived in the area and pulled up his address. We went in search of his house in Carlisle (a beautiful little town with lots of historical landmark houses), hoping to get a glimpse of where he lives. We found it, but the house was down a private lane off the main road (according to the mailboxes, it appears there are 4 houses on the lane.) We again decided that it would be a tad bit over the top to drive down the lane just to see his house. So ... we made our way back to the highway and on to Gloucester. I will say I regret not at least getting a picture of his mailbox with the newspaper in it.

While our first intention was to have lunch at The Crow's Nest, the bar/restaurant depicted in the movie The Perfect Storm we decided it probably wasn't our cup of tea and opted for another place on the waterfront called Topside Grill and Pub. While the chowder was pretty good, the rest of the meal was just so-so. We had a rather crabby waitress and slow service (and not much of it) so chances are we won't go there again but we had a nice walk to the restaurant from where we parked and enjoyed checking out the shops, restaurants, and little points of interest along the way.

Here's a view of the street ... and I loved this doorway, steeple, and graffiti that we saw along the way ...

We parked along this street -- it was lined with trees and little shops.

I loved this doorway with the side windows and chipped paint.

This is the library? It was about 12' wide ... but has quite a unique history.

This steeple had seen better days but I loved the weather vane at the very top.

Walking back to Main Street I spotted this bit of graffiti adorning the
painted image on the back of this shop.

After lunch we headed down the road to the Fishermen's Memorial along the waterfront. It's a beautiful statue and memorial to the fishermen who have been lost at sea. We met up with an older gentleman who grew up in Gloucester and still enjoys coming to the waterfront for walks (he lives in Rockport now.) He offered to take our picture and then shared a little bit about his life and what it was like to live in Gloucester. His grandfather (we think he probably meant his great-great-grandfather) was Angus McKay -- one of the men listed on the memorial wall as having been lost at sea in 1876.

The marker in front of the Fishermen's Memorial.

View of the harbor to the right when looking out to sea.

View of the lighthouse to the left of the memorial when looking out to sea.

The picture Mr. McKay took of us in front of the Fishermen's Memorial.

Mr. McKay's great-great-(great?) grandfather -- Angus McKay

The beginning of the memorial ... the rest of these plaques were all names of fishermen lost at sea.

The crew of the Andrea Gail -- as depicted in "The Perfect Storm"

To the right of the memorial, as you'd see from the water.

The Fishermen's Memorial at Gloucester MA

Looking out to the sea from the Fishermen's Memorial in Gloucester MA

Gloucester is definitely a working harbor and the town thrives on it's fishing industry. We were already feeling the day was getting away from us and wanted to get to Rockport so we didn't take too much time driving around. Off to Rockport!

Remembering: The Strong Museum of Play

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:08:00 +0000

I guess I should just forget about going back and trying to post about all the different things we've done since moving to Massachusetts. I've got a list (somewhere) of posts I'd like to write up but ... well, it probably won't happen.

But I'm hoping I can make up little videos as I come across pictures from fun days. And who knows -- maybe I'll get to those blog posts this winter.

In the meantime, here's a little video of William at The Strong National Museum of Play. That was such a fun day. I didn't end up taking a lot of pictures that day. I sort of remember that my battery died and I didn't think the pictures would come out because of the indoor lighting. Oh well. William was still cuter than cute that day and watching the video reminds me how excited he was with all the cars and the train table ... especially the train table!!

Chatham Memories Video

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:04:00 +0000

Here's just one more video I made using some pictures from our first visit to Chatham on Cape Cod.

I'd always wanted to experience Cape Cod -- and our day there was simply "magic" ... I felt as though I could stay there forever and never wish to be anywhere else.

Here's the video I made for Dave as a reminder of the wonderful day we spent there.