Martha's Marvelous Memoirs

Newport Mansions in Aug 2011 Part 1

2012-02-12T17:53:00.004-05:00

First stop on the mansion tour was the Hunter House. It was built in 1748 during Newport's 18th century Golden Age, it was the home of a merchant, ship owner and colonial deputy, and also served as French naval headquarters during the American Revolution. The decorative stand next to the fire is what they would use to make sure the heat of the fire wouldn't melt the makeup on the face of the

A Day in Gloucester, MA and York, Maine

2012-01-04T21:00:00.001-05:00

Mom, Connie and I took a trip to Gloucester MA and took a ride on a schooner. It was very relaxing and a nice way to spend the morning. Mom and Connie as we begin take off. A lighthouse on the way.The CaptainWe really liked this house. The views were fantastic along the waterways. So relaxing they both napped. This is a hotel I think in York, Maine where we checked out another light house and

First Photo Shoot

2011-12-02T23:57:00.000-05:00

I had my Aunt Norma and Uncle Rex give me a little photo shoot while I was with them and my family over the Thanksgiving holiday. Let me know which pictures you like best.#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10#11#12#13#14#15#16#17#18#19#20#21#22#23#24#25#26#27#28#29#30#31#32#33#34

Boston Temple with Mom and Aunt Connie

2011-12-01T10:21:00.002-05:00

I met Dick Danjou at the Temple. We both happen to work on the Wednesday night shift. Mom and Aunt Connie wanted to go to the Temple but I had to take my car to work. I asked Brother Danjou if he would be willing to stop by and pick them up on his way to work at the Temple and I would pick them up when I got done with work. He was so kind as usual and was more than happy to take them to the

Dick Danjou helping Mom and Aunt Connie explore Concord and Lexington

2011-11-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

The hard part about the trip for when my mom and Aunt Connie were here was that I had to work most of the days while they were here. I got some of my friends to show them around while I had to work. One of the days I had Dick Danjou take them around to the Concord and Lexington area. Buckman TavernThe oldest tavern in Lexington, Here, about 77 Minutemen gathered in the early hours of April 19,

Fun places I took Mom and Aunt Connie for trying new food!

2011-11-27T23:07:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take Mom and Aunt Connie to some fun eating places while they were here. One day while I had to work my friend Karina escorted mom and Connie around the freedom trail. I met up with them after work for dinner and we went to UBurger. They have amazing hamburgers and the best Chocolate Chip Mint Oreo milkshake. Mom, Karina, and ConnieMartha and MomWaiting for the "T"Mom enjoying her

Graditude

2011-11-25T06:06:00.001-05:00

I woke up way to early this morning. As I am laying in bed praying to fall back asleep my mind begins to think of all the people and things I am grateful for in my life. Many things start flashing through my mind so I decided to get up and write it down because my mind was swirling so much sleep had evaded me.I am grateful for my family. My parents taught me strong values and helped to shape and

Introducing Mom and Aunt Connie to my friends!

2011-11-24T22:35:00.004-05:00

My parents worry a lot about me. I wanted them to know that I am surrounded by many great people who care and look out for me. I decided to have a couple of dinners to introduce my Mom and Aunt Connie to some of these people. The first dinner I had I invited the people who have taken me under their wings and welcomed me in as part of their families. Dick Danjou, Jo and Bill Maitland, Bob and

A day at Quincy Market

2011-11-24T00:10:00.002-05:00

I think by the time we got done with all the adventures Mom and Connie started to love their ride on the "T". They got yet another ride when we went to spend the day at Quincy Market. Where's Waldo AKA Mom and ConnieConnie was amazed at how large the foot of the statue was. We walked through the Holocaust Memorial and then headed to the street performers. This little boy was incredibly talented.

Boston Duck Tour

2011-11-22T23:58:00.000-05:00

One of the adventures we went on was the Boston Duck Tour. During the early days of World War ll, the allies were faced with a tough tactical problem: how could they unload cargo and men from their ships in places where the dock facilities had been destroyed or simply did not exist? The answer was to unload cargo directly over the beach. But how?The demands of war, along with technical know-how

Spirit of Boston Cruise

2011-11-21T23:04:00.001-05:00

My Mom and Aunt Connie came to visit me the end of July and first of Aug. Their first day in town I had them go to the Isabella Garner museum and had them meet up with my friend Julie to be their tour guide. They got their first taste of the subway also known in Boston as the "T". They got to experience the busy life of the city. I am sure it was a bit overwhelming for a couple of small town folk

Somerville Homeless Coalition 5K Race, Thanks to Everyone!!!

2011-10-03T07:28:00.002-04:00

My company Ipswitch has started a program called iCare. They encourage us as employees to participate in community service. I work in our Network Management (NM) division and our management team came up with the theme of Twenty4Twenty which is a program that celebrated the 20th anniversary and sets a goal for our division to commit to 20 hours of community service per NM employee over 12 months.

Collecting "Change" for the Homeless 5K Run Fundraiser-Last Reminder-

2011-09-28T21:31:00.000-04:00

I wanted to send out a last reminder email about the 5K race I will be running in this Saturday on October 1st. Thank you to everyone who has provided support thus far through your donations. This is a great way to help give our neighbors who have had a rough go a chance to transition back into our society and work towards a better life. The following video will give you a look into how the SHC

Enthusiasm

2011-09-22T12:39:00.001-04:00

The subject for my blog today came from something I posted on Facebook a while back. It went something like this. Enthusiasm is contagious. Not having enthusiasm is also contagious. So which are you going to have? Enthusiasm could be defined as an absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit. Anything that inspires zeal or fervor could be considered

Collecting "Change" for the Homeless

2011-09-01T15:48:00.000-04:00

I am running a 5K to support the Somerville Homeless Coalition (SHC) on October 1, 2011. In 1985, the SHC was created by the local community’s grassroots response to the social crisis of homelessness. Neighbors, community activists, university students, faith-based leaders, business supporters and city officials united to address the escalating problem of homelessness within Somerville. Today,

Revere Sand Sculptures

2011-07-29T21:51:00.001-04:00

Sunday, July 17 my friends and I went for the evening to Revere Beach to see the Sand Sculptures. The Sculpting contest was the night before. We headed down about the time the sun was starting to set. It made for a lovely evening. Stephane Robert entered with "Fly Me to the Moon...Let Me Play Among the Stars." Robert is from Montreal.Montreal's Jonathan Bouchard took not only first place, but the

Shelburne Falls Camping weekend continues

2011-07-27T19:20:00.001-04:00

After Williamstown, Daniel and I headed over to Shelburne Falls. They are known for the bridge of flowers. There is a bridge that crosses the river and on both sides of the walk way there are all sorts and varieties of flowers. It is a beautiful and most colorful stroll.Best of all you can take in the view of the River while you are enjoying the flowers. This tree looked like it was all

Williamstown Massachusetts continuation of camping trip

2011-07-26T22:12:00.001-04:00

Sunday morning we packed up our campsite and decided to go explore the area while we were still in Western Mass. We drove over to Williamstown MA. It was a fun little historic town. There is a college there and as we were walking we started out on the college campus. We pasted the Science quad and we saw this really cool granite table. I really liked the saying on the column."Climb High, Climb

Camping in the Berkshire State Park (Clarksburg)

2011-07-24T21:02:00.001-04:00

My friend Daniel and I had planned a trip to go to Niagara Falls for a weekend trip. It didn't end up working out for us to go there but we still wanted to get out of the city. We had a group of people planned to go and that also didn't end up working out so we decided to still keep the plans and go camping for the weekend. We went to the Berkshire for the weekend and it was so beautiful. This

Lyman Estate-Historical New England

2011-07-23T08:31:00.001-04:00

Theodore Lyman (1753-1839) was born the son of a minister in York, Maine. He established himself in shipping before moving to Boston after the American Revolution. He expanded his business interests from the Northwest fur trade into the China Trade, acquiring sufficient wealth by the time he was forty years old to support a country estate and gentleman’s farm. Theodore Lyman began to acquire land

Codman Estate-Historical New England

2011-07-22T19:27:00.001-04:00

Chambers Russell (1713-1767), a lawyer, legislator, judge, and a founder of the town of Lincoln, built a two-story Georgian mansion house on the property between 1735 and 1741. On his estate, Russell grew corn, hay, oats, and flax and raised livestock and poultry, in part using slave labor. Russell died in 1767, leaving the state to be administered by executors during the American Revolutionary

Gropius House-Historical New England

2011-07-21T19:57:00.002-04:00

I decided to get a membership to Historical New England so I can go and visit some of the properties around New England. I find it interesting to learn about the people and their way of life but I always don't remember things very well. I wish they would let us take pictures inside of the houses but they don't allow it. The Gropius House in Lincoln, Massachusetts, was built in 1938 by German

Alaska

2011-07-05T08:50:00.004-04:00

Those who know me really well will know I have an obsession with clouds. I love clouds I could stare at the clouds all day. I really love looking down on the clouds when I am flying. I have a hard time sleeping on planes so I do a lot of watching the clouds when I can. I love being able to see a scene unravel beneath the clouds as I pass over them. Doesn't it just look peaceful?I love the

20th Year Anniversary-Closing Breakfast and Randomness

2011-07-04T07:02:00.002-04:00

Sunday morning we all gathered in the dinning hall for breakfast and Roger said a few last words. He had a few of the upper management team talk. Ennio Carboni is always a great motivational speaker. Ennio and his wifeRoger, Ennio, and his wife. Some of the management team got these plates with chocolate molds of the Breakers and yummy looking covered strawberries. Main entrance of the

20th Year Anniversary-Closing dinner and Dance

2011-07-03T12:56:00.002-04:00

Saturday night was the closing dinner and dance. There was a cocktail hour before dinner in the courtyard. Gary Vincent and his wifeScott Cappella and his wife. The Network Monitoring Division, this is the division I work for. This is the dinner hall.We were served so much food. Our first course was a salad on top of watermelon and a crab cake and one other item I can't remember. Dinner was a