Scituated in Scituate

No Place Like Home

2012-04-10T21:47:00.000-04:00

I enjoy travelling. I recently returned from a wonderful trip out to California where my husband and I enjoyed about ten days between San Francisco and Sonoma. The trip was one of the best we have ever taken together. It was filled with good weather, great food, adventure, beauty, charm, and relaxation.

However, as delightful as the trip was there is no place like home. Unfortunately when I was ready to go home clicking my heels together didn’t get me far. Instead I was headed on a six-hour flight back to Boston.

During our stay in San Francisco we explored hours of walking through the hills of various neighborhoods. Imagine you are on the stair master, turn it up to the highest incline that it will go and that is what walking around San Francisco feels like. I quickly realized why my good college friend who moved to San Francisco shortly after graduation weighed thirty pounds lighter when she returned back to the east coast.

After hearing so many people talk about the character and adventure that San Francisco’s Chinatown had to offer I decided to check it out. I explored Chinatown off the beaten path and found food stores that were not something I had never been familiar with.

It felt great to learn about a culture I was so unfamiliar with. I also had a great meal that cost less than $5.00 after finding some reviews on Yelp that recommended this restaurant if you were not a tourist and looking for a Chinese meal a grandmother would cook for her family. It was the real deal and very good! I am not sure exactly what was in the seafood dish I ordered. All I know is that it was fresh and delicious. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance.

I am not a big fan of heights but somehow on a whim decided it would be a good “experience” to walk over the Golden Gate Bridge. It is 1.7 miles each way and a VERY long way if heights are not your thing. The first mile I was stiff, would not look down, and held on to the rail or my husband at all times. I was petrified! After that I loosened up and was able to enjoy the adventure and take in the beauty of the bridge and San Francisco Bay.

After a handful of days of mild weather in San Francisco we headed to the wine country of Sonoma.

I enjoy a nice glass of wine and try to avoid headaches in a bottle. However, by no means am I a wine connoisseur which is one of the reasons we chose Sonoma over Napa. We found some great wineries both large and small that we fell in love with thanks to the friendly and welcoming staff and tasty adult grape juice. Luckily thanks to strict alcohol laws in Massachusetts we didn’t buy any cases of wine to ship home. This was a good thing and gave us an easy way out of not spending a boatload of money. Let’s be honest the wines at Harborside Liquors are just as good. We met some very hospitable winery workers, learned the basics of wine, figured out what types of wine we prefer, enjoyed the scenery which by the way is beautiful, ate amazing food, and learned that five days in wine country is way too long to explore wine. At this point I couldn’t even think about wine.

As great as the wine was we hit a point where we were wined out. We decided to check out the country side and the coast to change things up and give us a little break. This turned out to be quite the adventure. Within a twenty minute drive we were driving up and down very steep and narrow roads that were as rural as rural…. I think, can get. I felt like I was in the back country of Vermont but at a much higher altitude. There was a point where there was a road block due to a herd of elks who thought the road was a great place to sunbathe.

There were no stores, restaurants, or businesses in site. This became an issue when we were down to a ¼ tank of gas. We began to worry. Luckily after driving past miles and miles of dairy farms we found a general store where some random lambs were hanging out in front and learned from the store clerk that the closest gas station was 18 miles away. To make a long story short we found the gas station in time, experienced some anxiety, and saw nature in such a natural state that made me smile. The coast of Northern California was a beautiful place to visit. The farms, the beaches, the scenery, and the experience. It was all so special.

Our trip to Northern California was a special trip for both of us. We even met several characters who were familiar with Scituate of had some sort of ties to the Irish Riviera. It certainly carries its charming reputation across the country.

It was great to explore areas of the country that are so different that what I was used to. It feels good to get out of one’s comfort zone, as there is so much to see and experience what our beautiful country has to offer. However, no matter how good the food, wine, hotels, culture, people, and weather were, I missed home. By day eight of vacation I began to get homesick. I missed our dog, our bed, our own TV, taking walks around town, a good iced coffee, and most importantly our home. There is no place like home….Scituate, MA.

Scituate Easter Ideas

2012-04-05T07:58:00.004-04:00

1. Beach Easter Egg Hunt

Organize an Easter egg hunt on one of the beautiful beaches in Scituate for your family. Fill the eggs with candy, coupons (1 week free of chores), (1 day of not having to make your bed) (A Mommy's Helper Day voucher), (Go to work with Mommy or Daddy voucher), (Your day to pick an April vacation activity for the family to do). Have one big prize. You can use one of those “eggs” nylons come in...L’eggs. Spray paint it gold. The golden egg is the grand prize- Fill with a gift card or something fun. Ideas: Gift card to Nona's. Mill Wharf Theater, Scituate Harbor toy store, etc

2. Everyone does an Easter Brunch these days. With the weather being as beautiful as it is how about taking a family nature walk and having an Easter BBQ. Pork Chops, a roasted chicken, BBQ pulled pork, are some ideas to get you started. If you have little ones maybe think about visiting the animals up at Holly Hill Farm.

3. Make "Easter" Baskets for the Animal Shelter or an organization of your choice. Fill with goodies that organization to use. Have each family member do one and drop them off as part of your Easter celebrations.

4. Visit a local farm such as Holly Hill Farm or Dalby Farm sometime this spring to learn that there are more to eggs that just going to the supermarket buying a carton of eggs and dipping them in a bunch of food color. See what fresh eggs are all about.

http://www.hollyhillfarm.org

http://www.dalbyfarm.com/

5. Participate in the Scituate Scavenger Hunt to support your local community. Early registration ($15pp) will end next Friday, April 13th. Afterward, registration is $20pp. Get it in early! I have a friend who did this last year and it sounded like an absolute blast.

"Scituate locals will host the second annual Great Scituate Scavenger Hunt on April 28 from noon to 4 p.m. Teams of three or four are encouraged to play for whichever charity or community organization they please, and the winner will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the event. According to the online rules, teams are given a list of challenges at the start of the event, each with a corresponding point value based on the challenge’s difficulty. Teams must go out and finish as many challenges as they can, documenting their success with a digital camera. The team with the highest points wins! "- Boston Globe

http://12womencare.com/12WC/The_Great_Scituate_Scavenger_Hunt.html

6. Start making your yard pretty this week and get your thumb green as a family.

(photo from messmom.com)

Spend some time outdoors:

7. Take a ride on the bike path or around the lighthouse

Spend a day at the beach having a picnic, donning sweatshirts, building sand castles, catching up on some reading, or just enjoying the breeze as you hang out with your family.

8. No Kids but have a dog- Dog Park Romp with Mimosas and bagels.....and some treats for the fury kids.

9. Put that kayak that has been collecting dust in the water after getting some brunch. I hear Oro has an AMAZING brunch! Paddle around Scituate Harbor and admire all the beautiful boats that you wish could be yours.

kayak photo by John Ring

10. Go Golfing! Start off your season if you have not been doing so at Widows Walk. You can even enjoy a reasonable breakfast afterwards as you and you partners chat about your game.

A Walk Down Memory Lane on Hawley Rd

2012-03-28T22:40:00.000-04:00

I recently learned that the first house that my husband and I shared was put up for sale. It seems like yesterday that we were having our wedding photos taken on the front lawn. It was a well-built house where many memories were built.

We decided to attend the open house to revisit this special piece of our past. I felt like a nervous wreck as we drove along the once familiar roads to the open house. As I entered the old neighborhood I felt like I had gone back in time. As our car turned onto our old street I felt as if my heart was about to explode. I was nervous. It was like meeting up with someone who I had once been in a close relationship with, but had not seen in years. Back in the day we shared so many great moments. However, I wondered if we had anything in common at this point in our lives. Would we catch up where we left off or would it be awkward? I felt anxious, nervous, happy, and excited. I didn’t know what to expect.

As I walked up the driveway towards the house I felt like I had stepped out of a time capsule. The end of the driveway had the same scent of fresh chopped wood that once housed the food for the cozy wood stove that lived inside. The driveway still made the same crunching sounds as I pressed my feet into the gravel one foot at a time. The flower boxes sat pressed into the front of the house welcoming us with cheer as we walked towards the side entry.

The backyard had been changed. What was once a small garden was now a patio. The kitchen had been updated, the bathroom had been painted, and some storage space had been created. It was a good feeling. The owners had maximized the usage of the space, which for such a small property took some creativity and talent. Nothing made me happier than to see how well the current owners took good care of what was once "our baby". The house had been improved, updates had been made, details had been paid attention to, the decor was perfected, and the outside had been well maintained. We spent about ten minutes enjoying the moment and taking in the past.

I had a sense of sadness within me as I walked towards my car from the open house and eventually drove away. It most likely was the last time we would spend time together. We used to be in a close relationship, it was great to catch up, but it was time to move forward. At this point I could only look back and smile as I thought of the memories that were created and still stood strong within the walls of the house. I felt like Demi Moore in the movie Ghost as our final goodbyes were exchanged after enjoying our last moments together. It was time to go and the house waived goodbye in it’s own way telling me it would do it’s job and welcome a new family who needed its love.

When we sold this home years back our realtor gave us a beautiful photo she had taken of the house, which now hangs framed in our bedroom. Looking at this framed photo always makes me smile. Having had the opportunity to step back into the house, see the color, feel the walls, and smell its forever perfume was a feeling of love, warmth, growth, and closure. The great thing about memories that unlike photos they can never be misplaced, damaged, or taken away. They will always be yours to enjoy.

http://www.newenglandmoves.com/real-estate/property/33-hawley-road-scituate-ma-02066/single-family-home/mls-71343184/3571054

Nona's Is In Town

2012-03-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

Nona's has finally arrived to Scituate! I have been waiting for months after hearing a "rumor" that Nona's was moving in. Scituate was full of great eats. However, homemade ice cream was something it was lacking until last weekend. Yuuuuummmmm...... Now I don't have to do a blog on taste testing the best ice cream in the area...because it has been found!

Who would have thought that in mid-March the temperature would have consisted of seventy degree days of sunscreen, shorts, and ice cream! After hearing about the grand opening at Nona's last weekend I couldn't help but treat myself to an ice cream dinner. Yes, dinner.... A coffee Oreo sundae as I watched the sunset overlooking Scituate Harbor in March. It was a good evening!

I am all about homemade food so when I heard that Nona's as coming to town I was psyched. Plus the first job of my life was at an ice cream store that made their own ice cream: The Icecream Smith-Dorchester. I saw an add on my high school bulletin board for help wanted. I applied, got the job, made less than five dollars an hour, ate ice cream all day long, and somehow didn't gain a pound thanks to the wonderful metabolism I had back then. It was a good start to the working world, have a sense of independence and I could''t have asked for a better first job. If you ever get to to the Icecream Smith their chocolate chip and chocolate are my favorites. Say hi to Dave for me! When I walked into Nona's it brought back all these memories of myself at my first job. Some high school girl scooping ice cream, hoping it wouldn't topple over, and most importantly serving home made quality ice cream from the heart.

Enjoy Scituate! Homemade ice cream is the best!

Plunging For St. Patrick's Day

2012-03-13T16:41:00.000-04:00

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. What are your plans? St Paddy’s Day is always a fun event here in town. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make the festivities happen. One of the most important elements is fundraising and sponsors.

Last weekend while reading the Scituate Mariner I saw an advertisement for the Scituate St. Patrick’s Day Plunge. For a twenty dollar donation to go towards the parade you met all the other brave souls who decided to do this crazy event on Saturday 3//12 at noon on Peggoty Beach. You also got a pretty cool beach towel as a souvenir/participation award. Fun!

In the past I have always admired those who did such off-season plunges. I rarely go into the ocean in the summer unless it’s like bath water, which as you know is rare here in New England. When I read about this event last Friday evening I told myself, “ I am going to do this”. I woke up to snow on the ground on Saturday. Buuurrrrrrr. Not that I expected it to be 70 degrees and sunny…but snow was not what I had in mind. However, I did it. The whistle blew, I ran as fast as I could into the roaring waves, and plunged into the ocean.

As soon as I came up from underwater I ran back to shore! At this point my legs were close to numb and the sand was ice cold.

If you ever decide to do an off season plunge my best tips are:

1. Don’t over think it in advance, just dive in.

2. Bring a bath robe for before and after and warm up my repeating “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” (It will make you feel tough)

3. Bring flip flops

4. Be prepared to have a ton of sand in your bathing suit, hair, and ears even though you were only in the water for about 5 seconds.

5. Bring a loved one to cheer you on and take photos.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Special Walk

2012-03-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

My favorite weekends are the weekends I don’t have to leave town. Those special weekends in the off season consist of taking long walks with my family and either cooking a nice meal at home of going out for comfort food.

My favorite walk is out onto the spit off of Third Cliff. I start from my home, head onto the bike path, turn onto the Driftway, and go off the beaten path onto a boardwalk that eventually leads from Rivermoore Beach to the Spit. Along the Driftway I enjoy watching the golfers tee off. Believe it or not golfers have been going strong here at Scituate Country Club all season long. My Third Cliff adventure can only be done on foot or bike…or unicycle or scooter I suppose but you get the point. You can’t drive this route.

You also have to watch the tides. If the tide is high there is no boardwalk. If you get on the spit and don’t have a boat with you make sure you keep a CLOSE eye on the tide or you will have wet knickers, socks, and shoes which will not be enjoyable in the month of March.

I love the serenity this special place brings to me. I walk and walk taking in my surroundings while listening to the waves crash. I try to always remember to bring my camera.

Sometimes there are a few other folks out here as well but off-season it is close to feeling like you have this place to yourself. On my last trip there was an older couple taking their dogs for a romp out in the distance. It is a great place to bring a snack and just enjoy what’s surrounding you.

Beach comb, meditate, read, take a walk, take photos, run with your dog, or whatever rocks your socks as long as you are not interrupting the environment. Take in the North River, Humarock, beach houses lining the coast, waves, rocks, birds, marshes, and the occasional surfers riding the waves.

The whole adventure is about five miles for me. Eventually the weather will get warmer, the boaters will start coming in, and it will become the boaters’ summer playground. That too is fun but very different from this off-season experience. It is great exercise, picturesque, and what to me living in Scituate is all about.

A few tips:

Be aware of the tides

Take out anything you take in

Bring your camera

My Top Local Reads

2012-02-29T09:34:00.002-05:00

I'd like to share my favorite local reads that take place close to home. Enjoy!

Shucked by Erin Murray

http://www.erinbyersmurray.com/

Erin Murray shares her experience of spending a year on an oyster farm in Duxbury, Mass. I attended a lecture through the Boston Center for Adult Education on oysters. The class was taught by Erin Murray herself and the founder of Island Creek Oysters, Skip. I learned how to shuck an oyster, the amount of work/pain/care that goes into farming oysters, some great oyster recipes, the history behind Island Creek Oysters, and walked away with a signed copy of her book. Shucked is a light read that is filled with local adventures and some excellent recipes. After reading this book one of two things will happen: you will either want to quit your corperate job and go work on a farm of some sort or be thankful for your warm cozy office. Either way you will appreciate oysters. On a side note Skip the founder is a character. Likeable, soft spoken, has interesting stories, and just one of those people that would fun to have a few beers with. Support your local oyster farms!

http://www.islandcreekoysters.com/

Finding Freddy by Paula Munier

http://fixingfreddie.com

Finding Freddie is a loving story for all of you dog lovers out there. A single mom living in Plymouth shares her experience of bringing Freddie the beagle into her and her son Mikey’s lives. This memoir will make you laugh out loud and warm your heart. It is Freddie versus Paula and usually Freddie is in the lead thanks to chewed shoes, destroyed furniture, and horrified guests.

The Big House -by George Colt

The Big House takes you on a trip down memory lane to a large Cape Cod family house that is withering away. The house is set along the Cape Cod coast and has been a local landmark for years. I think it takes place somewhere in the Pocasset area of Cape Cod. Don’t quote me on that I may have just made that up in my imagination but it’s a possibility based on the descriptions. What was once a picture perfect summer home is now looking run down, is expensive to maintain, weathered, and overall has seen better days. It was the home to many summer days, childhood memories, weddings, parties, and family gatherings for many years. The author’s family grows older, family members drift apart, personal priorities change, and the author is left to say her goodbyes to her childhood summer home and friend.

You can drive anyplace in New England and see this type of home. You can be driving along the tucked away coast over the Bourne Bridge or on one of the Cliffs in Scituate and you will see “The Big House”. It’s a house that was once beautiful that now looks neglected. When I see one of these houses I always imagine in my mind what it’s story is. Every house has a story. I refer to these homes as “time capsules”.

The Secret Lives of Lobsters- by Trevor Corson

http://www.trevorcorson.com/lobster-book.html

After reading this book I promise that you will have a different perspective on lobsters and the seafood industry. I went to see the author talk about this book at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Center several years back. After listening to the author’s lecture and reading the book I was amazed at how complicated these tasty crustaceans are. Lobsters have dating drama too! There is more to these crustaceans than just melted butter and a good appetite. The book is scientific, humorous, and overall fascinating.

P-town: Art, Sex, and Money on the Outer Cape-by Peter Manso

As a kid I spent many summers with my family in the Provincetown area. As you can imagine I grew up open minded. My cousin and her partner now own a store in Provincetown so I try to still get down there a few times a year to visit. Provincetown has always been a special place to me. I love the art galleries, shops, beautiful beaches, and like feeling like I am on the tip of Massachusetts………because I am. Provincetown is also dog friendly which means I can bring my dog into shops and to his favorite place; the beach! There is so much beauty and eccentricity in this town, which is the home and getaway to many walks of life.

This book captures how Provincetown has evolved from small Portuguese fishing village to a gay centered getaway and community. This book brings out a cast of characters that make up Provincetown’s personality. The big, the beautiful, the political, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. You don’t have to like or be into Provincetown to enjoy this book. It is an interesting book whether or not you love the place or not.

Barefoot- by Elin Hilderbrand

There is nothing I like more on the beach than a scandalous fictional beach read that takes place in Nantucket. This book is a light read that you will have a hard time putting down. I have never been to Nantucket but felt the author did a great job with her detailed language making me feel as if I was there. Nantucket has become a far away fantasy for me. It is so close yet so far away…... oh yeah and bloody expensive. (I keep my eye out on groupons, online deals, etc sending them to my husband for ideas on Nantucket getaways but they have been ignored. Perhaps they went into his spam folder by mistake. Or maybe he already purchased them and is waiting to surprise me….lol) Anyway….back to the book.

This book reminds me all of what is most important to me in life, family. As we all know life is unpredictable so we have to do our best to make sure that we are in the "now" moment. Each character embodied a trait in all of us women. There are moments of motherhood, friendship, greed, cheating, cancer, love, life, and death represented by the characters in this book. I don’t agree with the decisions that were made by some of the characters. However, overall, the book definitely contained life lessons that I hope readers out there will take and apply to their own lives. The book is light, captivating, and fun.

Happy Local Reading!

Scituate Graffiti- Bad Writing

2012-02-22T19:48:00.001-05:00

It struck me when I heard that the Scituate wind turbines were vandalized last month after a planned event of allowing citizens to participate in signing their names to the turbines. After the planned signing the blades were enlosed by a protected fence which did not stop the "taggers". Click here to read an article on the vandalized turbines thanks to Kelly Anne Clinton from Wicked Local.

I felt upset and hurt when I learned of this unfortunate event. Especially after seeing many families take such joy and excitement in signing their names to the turbine blades on a snowy day while I was out snow shoeing in Widows Walk. (Below photo from the Boston Globe)

Graffiti has become a challenging issue in Scituate. The worst places I have seen are on Dad's Store and the Purple Dinosaur Park.

The Purple Dinosaur Park is supposed to be an innocent, inviting, and fun place for children to play. With its vandalized sign it is almost as if it has a deep wound that won’t heal. It manifests a sense of chronic pain in my chest every time I drive past it. I don’t even have kids but I can imagine this must be upsetting to the parents who do take their kids here.

I am guessing the culprits are teenagers and not the middle aged Dad or fragile old lady of the neighborhood. I could be wrong but that is my guess. Perhaps the culprits don’t see the big deal the negative impact graffiti has on their own community. Perhaps they think of it as artwork and it makes them look cool to their peers. However, it appears more like chicken scratch and seems to hold little artistic talent. Who knows…

Every spot of graffiti is hurtful. However one of the locations that upsets me most is if you are heading from North Scituate into Cohasset at the mile marker. This beautiful town marker of granite has been violated.

I know there is town clean up day. I think there should be a separate day for graffiti clean up. I know the town doesn’t own Dad’s Store or some of the other places graffiti is found. However, I would still like to help.

The only graffiti I find enjoyable is moss graffiti. I came across this on Pinterest and have to say I was impressed. A little ecology, horticulture, earth friendly, and creativity. Perhaps for individuals that get caught can a) clean up their mess and b) learn how to do some artwork that others find appealing….such as moss graffiti in a designated area.

respect for your community...

A Love Note for the Animals

2012-02-14T10:05:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday I attended a fundraiser for the Scituate Animal Shelter at the Hatherly Country Club here in Scituate . In addition to tasting some delicious wines, enjoying tasty appetizers, and getting out bid on the wood carving class I was hoping to take away from the silent auction, I was able to meet some of the people that make this organization the special place that it is. I learned about the Scituate Animal Shelter and how much time and effort goes into serving the many fury friends that are or have become a part of our community. Without the support of the public this place would not be able to serve the animals that are in need of help and love.

You don’t have to volunteer to give. There are many ways you can give to the animal shelter without having to commit time from your busy schedule. I would have loved to volunteer at the shelter. However, having a fluctuating and sometimes unpredictable schedule I am unable to do so. However, I am able to fulfill some of their wish list items when I do my weekly grocery shopping or attend fundraising events.

The animals need your help. I am not going to start singing you a Sarah McLachlan song or share pictures of abused animals. However, I am going to ask that you consider supporting the Scituate Animal Shelter the next time you open your wallet or open your heart.

Also, if you happen to be one of those people that have more money than you know what to do with and want to feel good about yourself please write a hefty check out to the Scituate Animal Shelter as a way of celebrating a belated Valentine’s Day this week. If you are single I can’t think of a better way to show your love than to do this for yourself. If you aren’t no worries. Just send your loved one a little box with a note saying “In addition to that Valentines Day gift I gave you earlier this week I have donated $1, 000, 000 in your name to the Scituate Animal Shelter as a celebration of our love”. If you are anti-Valentine’s Day that is ok because Saint Paddy’s Day and Easter are right around the corner. Stocks and mutual funds are unpredictable. This investment has a guaranteed return rate of love, kindness, and care.

When there is a will there is a way. What will your way be?

Adopt-Foster- Buy a Brick-Fundraise-Volunteer-Donate-Support-Spread the Word There is something for everyone who wants to help out.

Animal Shelter Wish List:

Pet Supplies
Cat litter – any variety
Canned Kitten Food
"Small Bites" canned Dog Food
Friskies canned Cat Food
Fancy Feast canned Cat Food
Cardboard Scratching Posts
Kong or similar heavy-duty chew toys for dogs
Gift cards for Pet Supplies from local retailers

Household Supplies
Paper towels
Trash bags- kitchen size
HE (High Efficiency) Laundry Detergent
Liquid Dish soap
Dishwasher detergent
Clean linens such as sheets, blankets & towels
Anti-bacterial liquid hand soap
Gift cards for household supplies from local retailers

Office Supplies
Laser toner cartridge – black
Samsung ML-2525W
Samsung SCX-4725FN
Canon PC1060
Postage Stamps
White copy paper 8.5x11"
Letter-size file folders – 3 tab, manilla
Gift cards for Office Supplies from local retailers

Brick, Kitten, and logo Photos from http://www.scituateanimalshelter.org

Valentine's Day Ideas For You!

2012-02-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

Here are some ideas of how you can celebrate Valentine’s Day in some unique ways while staying close to home. I’ll be honest I am not big on the typical commercialized Valentine’s Day gifts. (Buying a card, chocolates, flowers, dealing with restaurant crowds for an overpriced mid week dinner). Over the years I have tried to be creative and here are some of my ideas on how you can avoid the commercialism of the Hallmark holiday and still have fun and experience the love!

Baking

Chocolate Covered Pretzels- These are easy to make and beautiful to look at! The salt and sweet combination make a great taste.

White Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips

Pretzels

Jimmies (sprinkles for you non-New Englanders)

parchment paper

Melt chocolate on stove top on low, stir

lay out parchment paper

Pour sprinkles onto plate and spread out

Dip pretzels into chocolate then in sprinkles

Lay out to dry on parchment paper

Enjoy!

Here are some variations

Use pretzel sticks

Milk Ghiradelli Chocolate

Dip pretzels in anything that suits the holiday of your pallet:

MnM’s, sprinkles, crushed candies, etc

Wine Tasting for two

Buy a variety or wines that you wouldn’t typically purchase. Perhaps you typically buy the $7.00 bottles. This time kick it up a notch and buy some 12-20 dollar bottles. Ask a store clerk with some wine knowledge to help you choose a variety based on your likes/dislikes or go by the wine points. Good wine does not have to be expensive. Buy some cheese and crackers and enjoy your wine tasting in the comfort of your own home. Maybe you want to have some appetizers or put on some romantic tunes to set the mood. …… Finish off with some dessert wine and some special chocolates that are unique. I highly suggest buying your cheese from Hingham Fruit Center because they sell very small blocks which won’t leave you with too many leftovers if it is just the two of you.

Family Friendly Tasting

Who says Valentine’s Day is only for couples. I have celebrated Valentine’s Day with my parents on many occasions. Instead of wine tasting if you have underage children try an ice cream tasting or a Valentine’s Day cookie /dessert tasting. Make a variety of treats for everyone to enjoy. The Village Market carries an excellent selection of local homemade style ice creams.

Four Seas

Cape Cod Creamery

Village Market Photo from wickedlocal.com

Active

Take a scenic bike ride around town with your loved one of ones. Ride around the lighthouse and finish off with getting brunch or breakfast in Scituate Harbor at Riva or Phin’s. Most people work during the week so save your celebration for the weekend! If you are up for it look up some interesting brunch recipes and make your own brunch at home once you are finished with your bike ride or morning walk.

Self Made

Put together a scrap book of “Loving You”. If you are not crafty put together a photo album and with each page type or write out a reason that you love the person or something special you admire about them.

Make your own Valentine’s Day cards

If you can’t resist not going out to dinner for Valentine’s Day here are my top romantic restaurants in the area:

Oro

Brideman’s (Hull)

Bia Bistro

Riva

sea glass heart photo from http://atreeisknownbyitsfruit.blogspot.com

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A Scituate State Park

2012-01-31T10:18:00.000-05:00

There is a state park right here in Scituate. Granted it is probably the smallest state park but it is here and filled with history. Literally…

Cushing Memorial State Park is located off of Neal Gate Street, which is off of 3A. It is on what at first appears to be a private road with newly developed homes. The road is a dead end and just when you think you went the wrong way you will see the sign for Cushing State Park. It was a frigid cold day when I came across this historical site but I wanted to check out this mystery location that I came across by accident.

I parked my car and started walking up the freshly mulched path, which led to a burial ground. I refer to it as a burial ground because technically a cemetery has to be adjacent to a church or at least that is what my high school history teacher told me. There are a number of head stones surrounded by a beautiful stone wall.

Who is this Cushing guy?

William Cushing was a Chief Justice who served on the Massachusetts Supreme Court. William Cushing was born in 1732. He was born here in Scituate, graduated from Harvard College, and was nominated by George Washington to serve on the U.S Supreme Court. Chief Justice William Cushing spoke out against slavery, rendered a decision to abolish slavery in 1783, and sided with the Rebels when the American Revolution broke out. When his health started to fail he told his wife that he wanted to be buried in his hometown of Scituate, Massachusetts. His wife felt he should be buried at the Norwell Congregational Church but respected his wishes. It is here at Cushing Memorial State Park that Chief Justice William Cushing rests.

There was no TKO’Malleys, Heritage Days, St Paddy’s Day Parades, Morning Glories, First Fridays, beach umbrellas and chairs lining the coast during summer months, leisure boats lining the spit, bike paths, paved roads, or other aspects that make this town the amazing place it is today. Coming upon this park made me realize even back in the 1700’s people shared the love for out hometown of Scituate, Massachusetts.

William Cushing bobble head souvenirs can be purchased here through greenbag.org to make your trip to Cushing Memorial State Park memorable. See below:

Dining Out Drama and Dilemmas

2012-01-25T08:41:00.000-05:00

Dining out with others can sometimes be a challenge. Recently I was engaged in a conversation with a group of people who had experienced some of the issues that can arise when dining out with others. Perhaps you are dining out with close friends, family, acquaintances, or some sort of social group where people don’t know each other well if at all. Then the bill comes.

What do you do when the bill comes? You can decide to ask for separate checks, try to figure out who owes what and keep a mental tally in your head, or split the bill. Option one of asking for separate checks would make things fair and square. However, it can also be viewed as an annoying thing to do to the server who is slammed on a Friday or Saturday night. In my personal opinion I am not a fan. Option two I think is a pain in the donkey and knit picky. Excuse me but you owe an extra $2.19 for the coffee you had after your dinner. Don’t forget we owe Hank an extra $1.06 back in change. Does anyone have change for a twenty-dollar bill in all ones? No thanks, not worth the hassle. Option three is to just split the bill among the group of people you are with. Will it be exactly fair? No, it probably won’t. However, I truly believe over the course of life it will all even out. If you give to others at some point someone will give to you.

Maybe you and your hubby drank soda while Biff across the table and his wife Buffy drank top shelf dirty martinis all night. Then there is Hank who split a bottle of wine with you but ordered the $35.00 stuffed lobster special when you only got a chicken Caesar salad. Hopefully under these circumstances Hank, Biff, Buffy, or whomever you are with will be good friends and throw in some extra legal tender or offer to pay the tip. Hopefully this is how it goes. However, there is always that situation that you hear about when one couple orders a modest entrée and sips on iced tea. Then the other couple across the table also orders moderate priced entrees but orders an expensive bottle of wine. Then the bill comes, they think its OK to split down the middle, and don’t offer to throw in some extra bills. Sure, this is annoying and doesn’t sit well with you. You complain about it on the way home and vent to your significant other that you never want to go out to eat with this couple again. Maybe you shouldn’t…..or maybe you should let it go. It depends. Maybe the next time you get together with this couple they will invite you over to their house and treat you to a lobster dinner. Charlie is a lobster man after all. Or maybe Charlie hooks you up all summer long with lobsters he catches and never asks for a dime. Perhaps Charlie is a stingy stooge and never “gives” and asks you to bring your own soft drinks and paper goods to his summer cookout after you served him sizzling filet mignons at your place last weekend. Maybe then you should reevaluate whom you socialize with.

Regardless of the situation I am in favor of splitting the bill in almost all circumstances. It is possible you may be out ten dollars or so but in the grand scheme of things who cares? It will all even out at some point. If the person is a real stooge maybe another friend will invite you out on their boat for the day or will babysit your kids for free when you are in a bind. See what I mean? In my opinion I say split the bill and if you are worried about being down a few bucks maybe you aren’t in a position to be going out in the first place. If you are with a group of people that don’t know each other such as a dining club kickoff, I can understand why some may want separate checks. In this case have someone in the group call the restaurant in advance and let them know the group wishes to do separate checks. Most likely the establishment will be happy to accommodate your needs and it’s a nice gesture to let them know ahead of time. I say in the majority of circumstances split the bill. It may not even out at the time but it will even out over the course of life. Happy dining.

Here is my personal best of list when it comes to Scituate dinning:

Pizza: Riva’s http://rivarestaurant.net/pizzahome.html

Beers on tap/apps: Dogwatch http://www.innatscituate.com/dogwatch/

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich: Mill Wharf Pub http://millwharf.com/

Burgers: Backyard Burger Bar

Date Night: Oro and Riva- They are both fantastic! http://www.restaurantoro.com/

http://rivarestaurant.net/

Cocktails: Riva Bar http://rivarestaurant.net/

Bakery: Morning Glories http://www.morninggloriesbakery.com/

Take Out: Front Street Gourmet http://www.frontstreetgourmet.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx

Ice cream: Nona’s is coming to town! Finally some homemade ice cream coming to Scituate! http://nonashomemade.com/

Kid Friendly (kid info has been provided by local Scituate mom blogger; Danielle since I am clueless about this sort of stuff) : TK O'Malley's. - The wait staff are always great with kids. They have loads of choices, coloring sheets, and crayons. A bit further afield: Whalburgers, Salsa's, andCafe tosca in Higham as well as Ayama (hibatchi) in Marshfield depending on what type of food you are looking for.

Time capsule/old school: Perhaps Grandma is coming to town and you want to go someplace nice. I would suggest PJ’s. Good food and atmosphere that she will like and will remind her of when her and Grandma used to go out for “date night” back in the day. A historical establishment that dates back to when the only road to the cape was 3A. http://pjscountryhouserestaurant.com/

Coffee- Scituate is lacking a good coffee shop. If someone is itching to open one up please do so. One of my favorite coffee shops is Daily Brew in Cataumet , Ma https://www.facebook.com/thedailybrew as well as the Thinking Cup

in Boston. Something similar in Scituate would be great!

Sunday Funday at the Indoor Market

2012-01-17T14:49:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago I was driving home from a Sunday romp with our dog on Humrock Beach. I was surprised to come across a sign at Kennedy's Country Gardens advertising a winter farmers market on Sundays from 11-3pm. I quickly pulled a U –turn to check it out. Inside the greenhouse local vendors of cheese, produce, fresh eggs, sauces, cookie, cupcakes, and crafts were to be found on site. I was thrilled! I didn’t have to wait until the Spring to buy the products that I look forward to at Scituate’s “nice weather” farmer’s market. On another note it gave me the opportunity to check out the Kennedy's Country Gardens, which otherwise I would not have thought twice about. The greenhouse was full of gorgeous plants and best of all they had two on site pet birds/parrots.

One talks and I believe his name is Marty. Marty was very inviting and had quite the personality. At first I thought it was a crotchety old lady yelling “Hello” at the top of her lungs…but as I soon found out, it was Marty.

So if you are beginning to feel the winter blues and bummed you can’t get and fresh local produce until the nice weather you now can! Get your tooshie off the couch on Sunday and check out the winter INDOOR farmer's market. I would highly suggest trying the cookies from the local Scituate cookie vendor. They are gluten free and at first I thought ewe gluten free they must taste like a combination of dirt and saw dust. I was wrong and learned I shouldn’t judge cookies by their lack of ingredients. They had samples out and I thought I had died and gone to cookie heaven. Besides my Nana’s homemade chocolate chip cookies these things were the best cookies I have ever tasted. There is also a woman from the cape who sells yummy chowder, sauces, homemade dog treats, and rawhides. My dog usually will have a rawhide and it will last him a week. I bought one of these homemade rawhides and he gobbled it up in less than 5 minutes. At first I thought he hid it in his bed but after seeing a few leftover crumbles and him licking his chops I knew it was all in his tum tum. I'll have to stock up next time. There is also a woman who sells some fantastic dips. I sampled a few but fought the urge to purchase any because dips are not my friend. They cause little elves who specialize in sewing to sneak into my closet at night and “take in” all of my clothes. Not cool.

I found a new way to Sunday Funday!

http://www.kennedyscountrygardens.com/

Feeling Aversion Towards Wire Hangers

2012-01-10T17:08:00.000-05:00

“No Wire Hangers, Ever!” I don’t condone Joan Crawford’s nasty parenting skills in any way. However, I have to say I loathe wire hangers after I get home from the dry cleaners. They have the tendency to cause me to have a mini inner meltdown. I detest wire hangers in my closet or trash just like I dislike the feeling of being in the situation when someone leaves one sheet of toilet paper on the roll without replacing it. Awkward and messy….

Wire hangers serve a purpose by keeping our clothes hung nice and straight while we transition particles of our wardrobe from the dry cleaners to home. After you transfer your freshly dry cleaned clothes from the wire hangers to your closet do you find yourself trying to jam the wire hangers into your bathroom waste basket as you watch them pop out in an awkward way? I do. Sometimes I feel like I am struggling to fight my way out of a paper bag with the wire hangers. They always win..... Then finally it is trash day and I try to transfer them to the large trash bag. What ends up happening is that the wire hangers end up puncturing holes in my trash bag and things get crazy. They try to get out. It is almost like they are purposely trying to mess with me.

I recently learned there was a way I could mend my relationship with those wire hangers. Last week when I picked up my clothes from the Driftway Cleaners I was offered a hanger valet. Yes, a hanger valet! They exist. It is this cardboard triangular structure that are for you use to store your wire hangers. They even have little handles. It is like a cardboard triangular clutch .

You can be a non-recycling earth hater and just trash them from the box but that would not be kosher. Do what they were made for and bring the wire hangers in their caddy back to Driftway Cleaners and they will recycle the wire hangers for you. . Everyone wins in this situation.

Reasons why hanger valets from the dry cleaners rock:

1.     You don’t have punctured trash bags that make it look like the raccoons took a liking to you trash
2.     You don’t have unattractive  wire hangers  to bring down your closet’s self esteem
3.     You are being green.  Kermit may have said “It’s not easy being green”, but I assure you it can be

There is no need to get violent with the wire hangers for any reason. Just put them in the box and take them back to their home; the Driftway Cleaners. Visit Driftway Cleaners and get your caddy. The staff are friendly, your clothes are well taken care of, and they have free hard candy and sometimes lollipops at their front counter.

Photo1: by Matthew Spurlock (no wire hangers)

Celebrating the New Year

2012-01-05T07:26:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! There was a time not too long ago that I lived up New Year’s Eve. I would get dressed up in clothes that sparkled, dance the night away with friends, eat Chinese food, watch the ball drop on television, throw some confetti, and maximize the use of my noisemaker. I still get dressed up and make an evening out of it. However, there have been some minor adjustments over the years. Now the night consists of a nice dinner and ends much before the hand strikes twelve. Nowadays the only dancing I do on New Year’s Eve is in my dreams once I hit the sack and struggle to make it past 11pm. New Year’s Eve has changed but is still fun in other ways that I would not trade for the world. Change is constant throughout life and in my opinion not a bad thing.

I used to love winter outdoor activities just like I loved rocking a late night New Year’s Eve celebration. Some winter activities I still enjoy others I have grown apart from. I learned to downhill ski just after I learned to walk and it was something I have been able to enjoy for the majority of my life. I don’t enjoy it like I used to. There was a time that I longed to ski in any type of weather. Rain, wind, or freezing cold weather it was all fun. Not anymore. Getting me to go downhill skiing in the peak of the winter months is like trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. I can tolerate it but it’s just not comfortable. I am more interested in sitting by the fire, reading a book, cooking, chasing my pooch in the snow, or working up a sweat snowshoeing. Maybe Ill consider going downhill skiing in March or April once or twice as long as I can be guaranteed warmer weather. I also used to enjoy camping in the cool weather. Now the closest you’ll find me to camping in warm OR cool weather is enjoying a cocktail on my back deck in the dark as I gaze up into the stars. If eighteen-year-old Laura could see thirty-two year old Laura what would she think? Laugh, cry, or just give that look of disappointment.

As for this New Year I hope to get out downhill skiing in the spring, do some snow shoeing around the area, enjoy time on my deck, get many nights of good sleep (in a bed not a tent), stay healthy, continue to work hard towards one day achieving snowbird status, and overall live life. I may enjoy things in a different way than I did years back but that’s what makes life interesting and change fun. Every year is a new year, but even better every day is a new day.

Happy New Year Scituate!

2011-12-27T08:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever realized that stressed spelled backwards spells desserts? I am sure many of you consume many desserts over the holiday season and also feel stressed due to the running around, cooking, baking, shopping, hosting, decorating, wrapping, hanging up lights, or whatever the reason may be. I see so many magazine and online articles on how not too put on pounds during the holidays or how to stay committed to that New Year’s resolution of loosing weight. I say enjoy the good food and treats this holiday season, just don’t do it on a regular basis. It’s all about moderation. I smelt the cookies baking and naturally I am inclined to taste a few.

As for the New Year I have been thinking about the good times of 2011 in Scituate. It has been a great year and I continue to feel more and more lucky that I live in this special community. Here is a list of my top ten 2011 Scituate memories:

1. First Friday’s on the Harbor- Shopping, wine, entertainment, and supporting small businesses have been a great way to end a work week and kick off the weekend.

2. Scituate Farmers’ Market- fresh local food at my fingertips. If only it lasted all year long. Unfortunately lettuce and blueberries don’t exactly grow well in New England winters.

3Heritage Days- Great music, vendors, rides, and fried foods! This is one of my favorite summer weekends.

4. St Patrick’s Day- I grew up going to the South Boston parade where my Grandmother lived. The South Boston parade was great in many ways. However, Scituate has made a much more family friendly version right in town.

5. Backyard Burger Bar finally opened! The burgers are delicious, natural, and HUGE. They also have great apps, a fantastic beer list, and in a great location next to the Greenbush station. A great excuse to take a detour before heading home from work.

6. Getting involved with the Scituate Cohasset Newcomers Club. It has been a great way to meet new people in the community and at the same time participate in some fun activities. Don’t be fooled by the name. You don’t have to be new to the town to join. New, old, or in the middle; everyone is welcome.

7. Learning more about the Scituate Animal Shelter -- thanks to their open house a few weeks back. This establishment does great work and have wonderful staff on board. I hope to be able to volunteer my own time to help the animals in need. (My husband made it very clear that if I wanted to commit that would be great, BUT I cannot bring home any animals. I guess he won’t be getting a cat or dog for his birthday that is coming up in January).

8. Scituate Santa Stroll- We had friends visiting from out of town who had small children and we were amazed at the wonderful job the town did to make this a special day for the little ones. We the adults froze are hinnies off and nursed our coffee, as the kids were bewildered seeing Santa come into Scituate Harbor on a boat. Afterwards we all walked over to the community center to join in on all the reindeer games. Face painting, crafts, snacks, and photos with Santa. It was a perfect day spent with good friends.

9. Seeing some great movies at the Mill Wharf Movie Theater. It is wonderful to have a movie theater in town that has small town charm. Who needs stadium seating? Character ranks higher in my book. If you have not yet seen the Muppets I highly recommend it for all ages.

10. Scituate Beach Days and the fact that the Front Street Gourmet is kind enough to deliver to the beach. Looking forward to many of those days again!

Scituate, thank you for a great year in 2011. I am looking forward to many more Scituate memories in 2012. Thank you to everyone who contributes to make this town the special place that it is. In the meantime, have some desserts to manage the stress of the holiday season and enjoy the memories and moments. Happy New Year!

Backyard Burger Bar is Open!

2011-12-21T07:40:00.001-05:00

The doors of the BackYard Burger Bar are now open! I have watched this place be under construction for the last several months as I salivated for this time to come. The joint is all that I hoped for and more. At first I was at a low point because I liked that paint store that used to be at this location. But hey, a restaurant with great burgers, now that is more than a fair trade!

I had the pleasure of trying the BackYard Burger Barn on their first day open to the public. Typically restaurants have some kinks to work out when they first open. You would have thought this establishment was in business for years. It was a little after 5pm and I sat at a booth, which was cozy. I think the next time I will choose the lounge area. The bar was packed and it seemed like the patrons were a decade worth of “regulahs”. I had the fried mac and cheese to start as an appetizer. It was a tough decision I was torn between the mac and cheese and fried pickles. Next time I will go for the pickles. The burger I got was excellent. Not only was in large in size but it was also all-natural. Yeah of course you are going to pay a lil more than your typical crap fast food burger. You get what you pay for. The burger as I said was excellent. If you don't like red meat no worries. They have fish sandwiches, turkey burgers, vegetarian options, AND......Cupcakes for dessert (made by the local Jennacakes). I used to buy her products at the Scituate Farmers Market and thought I would have to wait until next year to cash in on some more of these goodies. Merry Christmas to Scituate and about six months early. Jennacakes are in town at the Backyard Burger Bar for you to enjoy! I am telling you these cupcakes are delish! They were often sold out at the farmers Market if you got there too late. So while you stuff your tum tum don't stuff it too much so you have room for some cupcakes that are fresh and local.

As for the ambiance I felt like I was in a cabin up in Maine. If L.L.Bean were to ever come out with their own burger restaurant I think it would look and feel similar to this place. Like L.L.Bean I felt the establishment was inviting, rustic, cozy, friendly, with exceptional service and great food. I don’t want to over hype this place but if you want darn good comfort food in a casual atmosphere with fabulous service, and want to support small local businesses give the BackYard Burger Bar a shot!

Enjoy!

PS. They also have individual pizzas that looked delicious from a distance and a great beer list.

Spending Time With Loved Ones Over the Holidays....and More

2011-12-13T07:27:00.000-05:00

We all have people in our lives that hold a key to our heart. My Nana is one of those special people to me. Throughout my childhood I was lucky to live within a mile of my grandparents and see them on a regular basis. Now that I am a grown adult and live further away I try my best to make plans to go to Quincy to see my Nana every other week.

My Nana and Papa came to the United States in 1956 from Hungary to escape the revolution and communism. At the time neither of them knew a soul nor spoke a word of English. My Nana was twenty-two years of age at the time when her and my Papa arrived to the United States with their two small children who were ages six and five. Over time they learned the English language and became familiar with American culture through their children. Picking out items in the grocery store, learning how to drive a car, and getting work was a struggle for some time. It was hard but they did it. Life was no means perfect and they encountered many rough patches but overall my grandparents lived the American Dream.

My nana stands about 5’2 125 lbs. She colors her hair, has a thick Hungarian accent, is an excellent cook, keeps her house spotless, and dresses fashionable. My Nana is fortunate enough to be in excellent health and great shape thanks to eating healthy and Jane Fonda over the years. As a young girl I would always watch her do her Jane Fonda VHS workout tape when she babysat me. She has been doing this same workout routine since 1983. I think she can count on one hand the days she has missed this workout routine since she started doing it 28 years ago. The only difference now, is that she has the whole routine memorized and no longer uses the VHS tape. Leotard, tights, and leg warmers…they are still in action.

When we send time together I often ask her many questions about what life was like living in Hungary and what it was like to start over in America. I can’t imagine what it would be like to move to a foreign country with a young family, not know the language, not being able to tell my family I was leaving until I got to my destination across the globe, and crossing over the border to escape my own country in the middle of the night while risking my life. My Nana tells me how she grew up in a small two-room house with a dirt floor and an outhouse with her parents, brother, and sisters. They raised their own livestock and grew their own plants to put food on the table. They walked to a well up a hill like Jack and Jill to fetch their drinking and bath water. She tells me her memories of what it was like to be a young child during WWII. My Nana saw the horrors of her Jewish neighbors and classmates “disappear” and their shoes and belongings piled up in a community shed. She explains to me with a stoic face how Russian soldiers invaded her childhood home during the war and made themselves at home for about two weeks while what seemed an endless supply of ammunition occupied their front lawn. The soldiers took over the household beds while my Nana and her family slept on the floor. My Nana’s parents decided to hide the oldest sister who was in her late teens in the family barn during this time because in nearby villages it was heard that soldiers were raping young women. The soldiers knew my Nana’s sister was hiding in the barn and relayed this information to my Nana’s family by drawing a picture of a barn in the dirt with a girl stick figure in the barn. Luckily they were respectful and they never hurt anyone. Bombs went off nearby, tanks strolled the streets, and gunshots were a common sound. She has seen the good and the bad throughout the course of her life.

In addition to experiencing war my Nana is a book of knowledge. She knows how to spin wool off a sheep to make yarn, knit, crochet, sew just about anything without a pattern, cook from scratch, wrap a present that will look more beautiful than anything Martha Stewart can crank out, pluck a chicken, make a comforter out of goose feathers, do a mean Jane Fonda workout, love, and most importantly survive. She tried to teach me to knit but all I was able to make was a lousy amorphous patch. However, I was able to learn how to make her chocolate chip cookies.

So whoever the special people are in your life take some time to learn from them, hear their stories, and cherish these moments in your heart forever. The holidays are always a nice time of year to spend with loved ones. But make sure you see those special people throughout the year and not only during holidays because they may not be around forever. Older people are full of life experiences. They didn’t become seniors by sitting in a rocking chair. Think about that the next time you see an elderly person in the grocery store of walking down the street. Everyone has a story.

Merry Christmas to All!

Bu Humbug to Buying Presents

2011-12-06T17:34:00.000-05:00

I have to admit I don’t like buying Christmas gifts for my friends, parents, or husband. Bu humbug you may think. Not exactly. During this time of year I try to plan activities with the close people in my life and enjoy time spent together. I also do the same for birthdays and other special events. Past adventures have included going to see a show in Boston, dinner at a special restaurant, shopping in Boston, or a weekend getaway. In my opinion I would rather spend the time with my loved ones instead of exchanging some lame present we can either buy on our own or that will end up being re-gifted. Sure gifts are fun. In fact I would love it if my husband would jump out of a 15 foot Boston Whaler as our Christmas present. He won’t….but I can be a dreamer. However, memories and the time together are more important regardless of the holiday or special occasion. Memories have a life time guarantee as long as one doesn’t experience some sort of memory loss. Alzheimer's disease does run in my family…so I will leave it at: almost a lifetime guarantee.

Here is a list of some fun activities I put together that you can do to celebrate the holiday season and make lifetime memories while also supporting local businesses. We all know Scituate is a beautiful place so I am sure it won’t be hard convincing your friends and family to c’mon on down.

1. Stroll Scituate Harbor and do your Christmas shopping local. The perfect place to buy a gift for just about anyone or that Yankee swap your family does every year. Some stores will ship and hand deliver locally! Merchant Gift Cards can also be purchased at the Scituate Harbor Inn, Native, The Mill Wharf, and South Coastal Bank. Top it off having lunch on the Harbor at the Mill, TK’s or Satuit Tavern….or some stiff cocktails at Riva. (They make one of the best cosmos I have ever laid my lips on)

2. Dinner and a movie. Whether you are six or sixty I highly recommend seeing the Muppet Movie. The Muppets never go out of style and can make one smile at any age. The Mill Wharf Cinema is small, quaint, and full of charm. Oro is always a fun place to eat for a special night out! http://www.sscinemas.com/

3. Take a cooking class at the Roman Table. http://www.theromantable.com/Events.html

4. Host a wine tasting in your home put on by the Front Street Gourmet. Stay in your own home, invite some friends over, and have a night in.....while feeling you are having a night out. OR Host a cocktail party for your friends and don’t worry about having to do the work. Twist of Class is at your service and will provide exceptional service.

http://www.frontstreetgourmet.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx

http://www.twistofclass.com/

5. Enjoy a night of entertainment at the River Club- Who says you have to go into Boston or to Foxwoods for good entertainment? The River Club offers venues put on by great artists right in town. Cheryl Wheeler is coming on 12/10 who I hear is a fantastic folk singer to see perform live. http://www.ticketfly.com/venue/453

6. Relax with a Spa day

My favorite: http://vinettedayspa.com/

I have never been but have heard good things:http://www.spascapedayspa.com/

7. Don’t wait for the first of the year to get active and loose a few pounds. Sign up sooner than later for an action packed class through the Scituate Recreation Department. Learn some martial arts, tennis, fencing, or whatever it may be that interests you. Sign up with a friend and learn something new or get back into something not so new with good company. You can now register online for courses.

http://www.town.scituate.ma.us/rec/index.html

8. Volunteer with a buddy . The Scituate Animal Shelter is having an open house this weekend. Learn more about where the lucky ones go. http://www.scituateanimalshelter.org/

Open House: December 8 from 3:00-7:00, Dec. 9 from 12-5:00 and Dec. 10 from 10am - 5:00pm

PAWPRINTS 2012 calendars available for sale - give the gift that is 2 gifts in 1! Makes a great gift or stocking stuffer AND all proceeds go to a great cause: The animals of the shelter

DONATE TO THE ANIMALS FOR FREE! Click here before you shop AMAZON.COM or ENDLESS.COM!

9. Arrange for an overnight and stay at the Scituate Harbor Inn. Feel as if you are far away from home for a night. Enjoy a cozy room with plush pillows, a heated indoor pool, coastal charm, friendly staff, and enjoy a night away.

http://www.innatscituate.com/

10. Spend a Sunday afternoon at the maritime and Irish Mossing Museum learning about Scituate’s history and many shipwrecks. Museum hours are Sunday 1-4pm

http://www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/sites_maritime.html

The Twelve Days After Thanksgiving:

2011-11-28T08:34:00.000-05:00

Throughout: Listen to oldies 103.3 and rock out to Christmas tunes.

1. Buy, put up, and decorate the Christmas tree in addition to putting up all other holiday décor. RandC Farms is my favorite spot in town to buy fresh wreaths and trees: http://randcfarms-simons.com/ This small family run business is top notch when it comes to service. There is also a chicken coop on site, staff are making wreaths on premise, and there is a cozy fire up and running to keep warm. They have a beautiful selection of all sorts of holiday green decor at reasonable prices. Fun experience! Come on down. And…eat left over turkey

2. Make prints of holiday card for Christmas cards. Usually this would be done by Shutterfly but due to procrastination I am left to the CVS self-service photo booth and I am a fish out of water. Assistance please! And…eat left over turkey

3. Write out Christmas cards. And…eat left over turkey

4. Take a bike ride around town to see all the decorations around town that people put up. I love seeing the wreath up on the lighthouse. And…eat left over turkey

5. Mail out Christmas Cards. And…eat left over turkey

6. Decide how to give back- Gift wrapping with the Scituate/Cohasset Newcomers Club http://scnewcomers.com/ at the Knights of Columbus to support Scituate Community Christmas http://www.scituatecommunitychristmas.org/news.html And…eat left over turkey

7. Buy some gifts downtown on Scituate Harbor to support local businesses and vote on the wreaths. And…eat left over turkey

8. Watch “Elf” and laugh hysterically throughout the whole movie as if it were my first time seeing it. And…eat left over turkey

9. Make Christmas cookies from recipes I cut out of magazines with my mom and hope they come out as beautiful as they look in the pictures….. (Not very optimistic.) They may be Charlie Brown Christmas cookies. And…eat left over turkey

10. Scituate Christmas Stroll http://www.scituatecommunitychristmas.org/about.htm And…eat left over turkey

11. Look forward to receiving holiday cards and putting them on display. I love cards! And…eat left over turkey

12. Pick out a festive outfit to wear for the upcoming Jingle Run. Always a fun time! http://www.baevents.com/jinglebell/

And…eat left over turkey

Laura’s Leftover Sliders:

Use left over dinner rolls

Add: white turkey meat, winter squash, gravy, peas, and stuffing.

Dress with cran-mayo. (Mix a lil mayo with your cranberry sauce to make cran-mayo)

Yum!

The Start of a Scituate Thanksgiving Tradition

2011-11-22T07:52:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it is only a few days away. Thanksgiving is the most important holiday to me for five reasons:

1. It is a day to share a sit down, home cooked meal with the people you love

2. It does not involve any gifts

3. Turkey dinner is one of my favorite meals

4. It is family oriented

5. A kick off to the holiday season. To me the holiday season includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. A time to spend with family and friends

This Thanksgiving will be my first Thanksgiving hosting and establishing some new traditions outside of the ones I have practiced for years. In the past we have gone to a relative’s house. However, with families growing and branching out we thought we would make Thanksgiving a home holiday where we would host for both sets of our parents and make it a small intimate meal for six (plus two small dogs).

(sold at Out of the Blue)

Some new traditions that we are incorporating into our first Scituate Thanksgiving include:

1. Oysters on the half shell for an appetizer. Chris and I adore oysters and luckily my dad loves to get them straight from the flats. Inspired by Erin Murray and Island Creek we will be serving them two ways a) Naked- shucked and some lemon on the side b) Island Creek Style. This was introduced to me during an oyster class I took through the Boston Center for Adult Education taught by Erin Murray (author of Shucked) and Skip who is the founder of Island Creek Oysters: Shucked, a lil lemon, a drop of vodka, and some green Tabasco sauce. Delicious! If you like bivalves you have to give this a try.

http://www.bcae.org

Island Creek Style

Naked

http://www.islandcreekoysters.com/

http://shucked.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/shucked-life-on-a-new-england-oyster-farm-now-available/

Pairs well with Westport Blanc de Blanc. This wine is perfect with oysters. Light oak taste (doesn’t taste like a #2 pencil) with some fruity notes. http://www.westportrivers.com/wines.html

2. Local Wines. We took a drive to Westport Rivers last week to stock up on some wine for the holidays. We wanted to serve tasty wine and also felt it was important to support local wineries. We venture out to Westport Rivers at least once a year. The vineyard in tranquil, picturesque, and relaxing. We did not take a tour this time but enjoyed a tasting which was excellent. The fireplace by the tasting bar is very cozy during these cooler months.

http://www.westportrivers.com/store.html

3. Cork place cards. In the past I have used wine corks cut horizontally with a slit for the tag. This year I have been saving up my champagne corks and will be using them to signify who will sit where. Don’t worry with such a small group nobody has to sit at the “Kids' Table”. Just for the record I hate “kids' tables”. After a certain age it only makes one feel like a second class citizen. Not cool. Especially if ou are an adult at the kids’ table.

4. Instead of saying grace we will be doing a sparkling wine toast. A thank you to our parents for always being there for us, joining us on this special day, and remembering our loved ones who are no longer with us.

5. A Bongi Turkey will be the center of our feast! Bongi Turkey Roost in Duxbury has tasty fresh turkeys that will not disappoint. However, beware and plan on standing in line for some time in order to guarantee that fresh turkey. It is well worth the time and effort.

http://www.bongis.com/

6. We will be using China dinner ware that was passed on from Chris’s “Nana Kelley”. She would be proud to see her cherished dinner ware get such special use.

7. Farkle- A game we learned from our parents that involves dice, pennies, and fun. I think this game was brought back from one of the old folk communities in Florida. When you “farkle” we obnoxiously say it with a thick Boston accent, “ ya FAHKLED”. Ok well maybe I am the only one that does the "FAHKLE" thing……

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farkle

8. Later in the evening when we start stomachs begin to growl we will put out rolls and all the goodies and it’s “make your own turkey sandwich” night.

9. To top off this Thanksgiving I will be making a Thanksgiving basket for the animal shelter filled with donation goodies for our fury friends. This will be delivered after Thanksgiving. It is something I hope to do every year.

http://www.scituateanimalshelter.org/
Photo of animal shelter by: http://www.scituatedailyphoto.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

10. Last but very important…..I will avoid Black Friday like the plague. I WILL NOT go anywhere near a shopping center. I have no interest in waiting in line in the cold, getting up before sunrise , or being trampled by strangers. I am also scared I will run into that crazy lady who is featured on the Target commercials. She makes me want to only shop online. Instead of shopping l'll be spending the day listening to Christmas music and putting up decorations. By the end of the night I will be rockin around my Christmas tree. Black Friday is just not my thing. Football also falls into the “not my thing” category.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WbMfHdHgjs

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Everyone has their own traditions that they embrace on this special day. I would love to hear your traditions.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Scituate Light; taken during the 2010 holiday season

Clammin Around on a Saturday

2011-11-15T11:47:00.000-05:00

Part I of a two part series

A few years back I was looking for a hobby that involved physical activity, would keep me busy, would involve a reward factor, and would not hemorrhage my wallet. At the time I was living in Maine and worked three twelve-hour shifts as a nurse. This schedule left me with plenty of free time throughout the week. As I was thinking about what type of hobby I could take on I happened to be looking at an old clam rake and basket which sat on a trunk in our hallway as a decoration. These items once belonged to my husband’s grandfather and were passed down after he passed away. Hmmmm what about clamming I thought to myself. I already had the equipment, enjoyed shellfish, lived for the beach and ocean…so it seemed like a good fit.

Not knowing the first thing about this new venture I knew I had a lot to learn. I gave my Dad a call who used to go clamming for fun…… back in the 1970’s. He filled me in with the basics and offered his words of wisdom. Before no time I had marched up to town hall and got myself the shellfish permit that was required to get started on this new adventure. The woman at town hall gave me a map of where I could go clammin and wished me luck. What? No instruction manual…. I had never done this before, so I resorted to YouTube.. I learned the basics from YouTube such has how to angle your rake, how to clean the clams, how to shuck them, and so on. It was still a challenge. It was like if you watched a video on how to ride a bike but until you actually get out there with the actual bike you don’t get very far.

My first time out clammin was on a sunny summer morning about two hours away from low tide. I went down to the flats with my rake, basket, size ring, dog to keep me company, sailing booties, sailing frostbite gloves, and a hat to dig some soft shell clams. I sailed in college competitively and knew these items would come back in handy one of these days. I always envisioned to have them come back to use on a sailboat versus a bunch of mud. I got down and dirty and started digging. I didn’t have very much luck my first time. Every clam I encountered, my rake would stab right through the clam while I was digging into the ground. I was the only female out on the clam-flats. I felt a little funny at first. Everyone else out clammin on the flats were mostly commercial shell fishers or had clearly been doing this for years. Luckily this was Maine so people were relatively friendly and some timer came over and gave me a little lesson for about 15 minutes. I never got his name but he was like the Santa Claus of clams to me.

My parents retired to the Cape a few years back where there are some great flats for clammin. Clammin is defined by our family as raking, digging, or quahogging. When I lived on the cape during my transition from Maine to Massachusetts I was adamant about getting a shellfish permit. What’s better than living on the coast and being able to get your own clams and being able to make some delicious chowder? There is nothing like it. My father can’t get enough of clammin at this point. It has become his hobby and an activity we share together. During the summer you can just go in your bathing suit with you essentials. However, now that the weather is cool you have to dress up in gear. My dad wears waders and I wear some old waterproof sailing gear that has been building up dust over the years. Whether it is July or November it is always a lot of fun. After we are done clammin for the day we are usually wiped out. Later on in the evening when we regain our energy and get a second wind we make dinner with our clams. This can be clams casino, clam chowder, stuffed clams, clam fritters, or raw clams. All of which are yummy and taste even better since they are fresh from our backyard and we gathered them ourselves.

Always make sure you have a license and follow the rules, the Warden is always on the prowl. Conservation and sustainability are key.

It has been about two years since I started clamming. This hobby has become a lifestyle and holds a special place in my heart for a variety of reasons.

There is something very rewarding about “gathering “ your own food. I guess it’s the hunter/gatherer in my genetic makeup. I feel like the cat who brings you a dead bird or mouse home that he or she hunted, looking at you like; “look what I got, isn’t this awesome!” Most importantly it is a bonding experience that I share with my dad and with the coast.

Clammin Essentials:

A shellfish permit

Rake-
there are different types. You can spend $8 of $80 on a rake. The more expensive rakers are lighter and easier to use. Either way they both get the job done.

Basket-

Clam Ring- measures the size. If it is too small you throw is back. No negotiating.

A hose – to clean your gear and wash off your clams. It’s a messy job and not something you want to bring into your living room

Gloves- this helps to prevent blisters while you rake or dig

Good company- in my case my Dad!

Clam knife aka Shucker- can’t open your clams without this.

Float- allows the basket float so it keeps your clams clean and cool

Rope- tie to rope to the floater and then to you so you don’t loose your clams

Hat- I tie my car key to my hat so it doesn’t get wet!

Booties or some type of protection for your footsies.

Non-Essentials but fun to have:

A fryalator- Daddy Bean got one for his big 65 birthday and ohh is it fun! Cuisine Art makes a great one. Fried clams and clam fritters….yummy and a lot more economical that going to the local clam shack.

Helpful Websites:

http://www.town.scituate.ma.us/clerk/shellfish.html

http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/fsquahog.html

Happy Clammin in Scituate, Cape Cod, Maine, or wherever clammin takes you!

Chillin with some Chili

2011-11-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

The cooler months have finally arrived and I can no longer be in denial. It is officially dark early and isn’t going to get any lighter for a long time. So, get used to it. After a busy workweek that consists of a lot of running around and a long commute there are times I just want to spend my weekends in Scituate…and not leave. These “chill” weekends consist of activities such as cooking comfort food, sometimes dining out at one of the Scituate Harbor restaurants, going on runs or walks along the marsh, renting a bunch on movies from the library, pulling out the board games, playing some ping pong and darts in our basement, lighting the fire, and spending quality time throughout the weekend with my husband and dog. This past weekend I rented the movie, Coco Chanel staring Shirley Maclaine . This was an influential film on one of the most well known designers of the 20^th century and depicted her rise from rags to riches. (Think Orphan Annie never gets out of the orphanage until she turns eighteen and then makes a name for herself in the world of fashion, never gives up, and gets her heart broken along the way). I also rented Welcome to the Rileys staring James Gandolfini (Sopranos) and Kristen Stewart (girl from that silly Twilight movie) which was about two damaged souls from two very different backgrounds (corporate drone world and erotic dancer aka hooker world) who become connected and help one another’s well being in a story of parental love and friendship. I would highly recommend both films.

http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/welcometotherileys/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094661/

To top off the night we played some Trivial Pursuit. I would love Trivial Pursuit if I could make several revisions to the rules. As long as I am required to earn a green pie for answering “sports” questions I can’t win. If it were up to me I would change the rules so that there would be one “wild pie” that you can earn and therefore eliminate a pie color of your choice if you prefer. I think the next time we have a “chill” weekend I will suggest Scrabble or Boggle. Besides the fact that I lost Trivial Pursuit it was a great “chill” weekend. I would like to share my Chili recipe with others and hope you can take a step back and chill in Scituate for the weekend or wherever you may live. Enjoy, take in, and appreciate your surroundings.

Scituate Tip of the Month: If you ever decide to venture out of Scituate and let’s say take the train into Boston on a Friday evening and plan on returning on the last train; I would highly recommend that you a) Arrive to South Station early b) Make sure your watch isn’t slow c) Are familiar with the schedule d) Don’t miss the last train to Scituate and have to call a loved one to pick you up in Braintree. Cheers to many great fall and winter weekends.

http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/?route=GREENBSH

Chillin Vegetarian Chili

You will need:

1 large white Spanish onion

1 cups of diced carrots

2 green bell peppers chopped

4 gloves of garlic (mashed or pressed)

2 Tbs. of olive oil (quality olive oil not the bargain store brand “stuff”)

2 cans of red kidney beans drained (Goya). You can use raw beans but this will take forever so save yourself 4 hours and just buy them canned

1 jar of Newman’s Own Tomato Sauce (8oz)

3 Tbs. of Tomato Paste

2 ½ cups of chopped fresh vine ripe tomatoes

1 lemon

4 Tbs. of dry table red wine

1 tsp. of fresh minced basil

2 Tbs. of chili powder (more for taste depending on how much kick you prefer)

1 Tbs. of hot sauce (more for taste depending on how much kick you prefer)

1 Tbs. of cumin

1 tsp. of sea salt

¼ cup of fresh minced parsley

¼ cup f sour cream for garnish

1 cup of shredded Mexican style cheese

Tortilla chips

1. Combine fresh basil, cumin, chili powder, and salt in a separate bowl and set aside.

2. In a cast iron skillet sauté onions and mashed garlic in olive oil until browning takes place. About 8 minutes. Add carrots and spices. Sauté on low heat.

3. After about 7 minutes add peppers. Mix in hot sauce. Continue to cook on low until veggies are tender.

4. In a cast iron soup pot combine beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, the lemon juice from 1 lemon, and and stir. Add sautéed veggies from your skillet once tender. (Tender is the key word here). Simmer on low for 2.5-3.5 hours.

5. Serve in a bowl. Top with sprinkled cheese, then sour cream. Serve tortilla chips on the side.

If you like more or a kick add more chili powder and hot sauce while simmering. If you follow the above recipe it will make a mild chili.

Saving Buck

2011-10-31T21:39:00.000-04:00

Since 1984 Happy Hour has been banned in the Commonwealth. Lately there has been a lot of dialogue regarding reinstituting “Happy Hour” into our state. The future of “Happy Hour” will soon be determined by our House and Senate as part of the casino bill. At first I thought this was great. Sure, I would love to get a discount on my drinks when I go out with friends. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to get two martinis for one? Those suckers are not cheap. I am a responsible person and so are the people I surround myself with. Ok, well most of them are….

After putting a lot of thought into this debate I am against reinstituting “Happy Hour”. Sure you can argue that people are adults and can make their own decisions. Well, yes some of us can. Unfortunetly there are a lot of people out there that don’t make good decisions and in fact make really poor decisions on a regular basis. I would rather spend a few extra dollars on my cocktails in the hope that it will help keep people safe. The economy is terrible and I am sure there are many establishments that are struggling. Instead of reinstituting “Happy Hour” which is defined as offering free or discounted alcoholic beverages, I would like to encourage businesses to be creative and do a “Happy Hour” that doesn’t involve alcohol. I am going to call it, Saving Buck. This way everyone wins. Businesses get business, patrons save money, and people won’t be tempted to have that extra Margarita that they know they don’t need and end up wrapped around a local telephone pole and god forbid putting some innocent person who happens to be driving home from work late at night six feet under.

Here are some places that are on the right track and have been creative in getting you in the door and saving Buck.

TK O Malleys- Monday nights starting at game time cheese pizzas are $.99 and wings are $.25. What a deal. Go Patriots! Come on down and get your game on. You can’t even buy a pack of gum for $.99 and here you can get a bar pizza. If you can’t make it on Monday you are not out of luck. Tuesdays are pizza night. Individual pizzas are $4.95 with up to five toppings. http://www.eattkomalleys.com/

Satuit Tavern- There are always good prices here no matter what day of the week you come. If you are really looking for a bargain you can get a cheese pizza for six dollars and change or a cup of chowder that is very good by the way ….in the four dollar range. You could always be the creepy person that orders off of the kids menu but really? Don’t be that person. http://www.satuittavern.com/index.html

Sam’s On the Harbor- Instead of going to the fancy brunch grab some breakfast at Sams. For $3.99 you can get 3 eggs with home fries and toast. That latte you get elsewhere will cost about the same and your stomach will still be growling.

Phins: Pasta dinner specials, discounted specials such as 2 entrees/$25.00 vary throughout the week.

http://phinsrestaurant.com

Mill Wharf- Join their rewards club at no cost and earn $20.00 for every $200.00 you spend. Not bad….

Jamie’s Scituate- Sign up for their rewards card and start earning points to redeem. For every $300.00 you spend you will receive $10.00 in rewards. On Mondays and Tuesdays double reward dollars will be earned. Also automatically receive ten reward dollars during the week of your birthday along with many other promotions throughout the year. This sounds as good as my LLBean visa card.

http://www.jamiespub.com/jamies_club.php

South Shore Cinemas :Mill Wharf: Step right up. Bargain Tuesdays: all seats are $5.00! Yes five dollars and you don’t have to be over sixty of under twelve to participate. A discount for everyone to enjoy. Now you can afford to by some popcorn and soda.

Not in Scituate but worth mentioning:

The Tinker’s Son (Norwell, MA)- Appetizers are half off in the bar area at game time. I would highly recommend the wings which are delicious. The grilled veggies and hummus dip are also tasty if you want to walk on the healthier side. Great pub atmosphere. http://www.thetinkersson.com/menu.htm

DiNeros (Cohasset, MA)- Monday and Tuesday nights are Italian night! For $13.95 you get a four course Italian dinner which includes a tasty cup of minestrone soup, antipasto, entree choice, and dessert. I went here for the first time after purchasing an online coupon and couldn’t have been more satisfied I will go back!

http://www.dinerosdining.com/

Meet Buck and help save him.

Next Stop Greenbush- A day as a tourist

2011-10-16T18:04:00.000-04:00

I recently came to the conclusion that I was ashamed of myself for never taking the time to learn much about Boston’s history other than an extra credit field trip to the Freedom Trail I took while in high school. Tourists are everywhere in Boston during the summer and fall and always seem to be having fun and I wanted to join in on the reindeer games. Whenever friends came into town I would recommend sites and attractions that “I heard” were worthwhile to check out, but had never experienced on my own. Thanks to Peter Brady I was inspired to realize it was time to change and rearrange. I was looking to do a historical walking tour that was educational, interesting, and did not involve any quacking. There was a time in my life that I thought a Boston Duck Tour would be fun. However, that came to an end when I was sailing on the Charles River through Community Boating and capsized. It was just me, my life vest, and a capsized sailboat on a chilly fall October day and this Duck Boat circled me as I was treading Charles River water and I was greeted with “Quack Quack” and flashing cameras. I am glad I was the entertainment for their tour but I on the other hand had a different perspective. So no Duck Tours for me.

Instead I chose the Lessons on Liberty Tour which had great reviews and was a small business that I wanted to support. This ninety minute walking tour left from the entrance of the Boston Commons on Tremont Street. Michael Szkolka, who was our group’s guide was dressed in a Redcoat uniform and made the tour all that I had hoped for and more. Michael, a historian and educator wasn’t just some actor who memorized a few lines like many of the tours that exist. Instead, Michael made this tour top-notch through his master of knowledge and enthusiasm for American history. Throughout the tour he was personal, absolutely hysterical, encouraged questions, detailed, and witty from start to finish. Michael guided the group by various sites along the Freedom Trail while he discussed the significance of each site. This Lessons on Liberty Tour was the real deal, rather than some of the myths and untrue stories that float around. If you want a genuine guided tour of historical Boston delivered with panache go look for the Redcoat hanging around Boston Common with the blond ponytail. You will not be disappointed. The tour costs $12.00 and is worth much more.

http://lessonsonliberty.com/tour-info/

After the tour I would recommend having some lunch and a pint of Samuel Adams at the Beantown Pub. They have great pub faire at reasonable prices and an abundant selection of drafts. However, get yourself a Sam Adams because this is the only place where you can drink a cold Sam Adams while viewing one (The grave of Mr. Adams is directly across the street).

After consuming some lunch I spent some time roaming the Public Gardens where I enjoyed the swan boats, experienced the entertainment of a “One Man Band,” and took some photographs. Before I knew it, it was time to head to South Station to catch the Greenbush train back to Scituate. What a difference from the Redline. Comfortable, Wi-Fi, and I don’t feel like I am a playing craps trying to guess if it will be a Braintree train or an Ashmont train.

I am grateful that Scituate brought the commuter rail in town. It gave me the opportunity to enjoy a lovely day in the city and gain a sense of pride and patriotism for Boston, Scituate and America. Take advantage of your surroundings and be a tourist every so often. There is something out there for everyone whether it is a Sons of Liberty Tour, a Boston Duck Tour, exploring Salem, going on a whale watch, or exploring Scituate’s own history. Scituate- thanks for bringing the train in and giving me this opportunity and Happy Birthday!