Wordless Wednesday, November 9, 2011

I know, it is early November

I have certain rules about decorating for Christmas.  One is that no decorations are to be put up before noon on Thanksgiving Day.  When Santa rides in at the end of the Macy's parade, around noon, that signals the official start of the Christmas season, or so I think.  Another rule I follow is that the Nativity set goes out first and another is that the stockings are hung on the mantle last.  I guess you can think of these as Christmas traditions, or so I think.

Now, the Christmas village is a little different.  I know that it has been put up earlier than my preferred start date.  I bought the first pieces in 1997, and I'm sure it was around the first weekend in November.  I remember bringing my precious purchase home and setting it up that same day.  Over the years I've put up the village at different times, sometimes before Thanksgiving and sometimes later.  One year I didn't put it out at all, and I really missed it. But it is okay to put up the village early, it is like the pre-season primer.  I love its soft, homey glow in the room and the charming Dickens scene is so peaceful.  I usually leave the village out until mid-January, it stays out as long as possible.

I let Jaydon put up the village this past weekend.  I had promised him that we would put it out after I got home from the quilt festival and he held me to the promise!  I was ready to get it out and set up, because that means that Christmas will soon be here.  Jaydon was ready, too.  He loves Christmas and frequently tells me so.  I love it, too!  It was fun to watch him with the set up.  I put out the fleece base and the buildings, after all they are heavy and breakable!  I put the lights in each one and plugged them in, but then Jaydon took over.  He put out all the small pieces, the trees and the snow.  He even got out batteries and put them in the little piece that has a battery light.  He worked for quite a while, getting it just right.  I know he enjoyed his work, and I enjoyed sharing the time with him.

I know that a memory was made for both of us while we worked on the village.  We've done this before, but each time reinforces the memory of the year before and the time we spent together.  Setting up the Christmas village is a small, simple thing.

Wordless Wednesday, November 2, 2011

I Gave A Party and No One Came!

The pumpkin was lit well before dark.  The big bowl of candy ready, sampled by Gammy, Jaydon and Stephanie.  A spare bag, large size, was nearby ready to make its entrance into the big bowl.  Candles were burning in the fireplace, coziness abounded in my house.  Ah!  Halloween, ready for trick-or-treaters. 

Or so I thought.  Jaydon and Stephanie headed out just before dark to John's house and his neighborhood.  I was ready for the doorbell to start ringing, dogs in the kitchen to prevent any escapes.   But only three treaters came to my door, all polite, all cutely dressed up.  But only three.  I went out about 7:40 to just check the neighborhood.  Other than someone playing one of those creepy sound CD's the neighborhood was fairly dark and quiet. 

It was a school night, there are not tons of small children in my subdivision, and parents are getting away from the trick-or-treat routine. And, I do live on a cul-de-sac and it was fairly dark so parents may have just skipped this street.  So, no one came to my party.  And I do love Halloween, too.  I'm already thinking that next year I'll have a real little party early in the evening and I'll actually invite people to come.   I'll have a little candy in case I get a treater or two (or three), just in case. 

Sign of the Seasons

Wherewolf on the front porch!

Scooping out pumpkin "guts"

Look Alikes!

October Musings

The days are getting shorter, actually it is the daylight that is shorter but the days seems shorter and nights longer.  On Sunday we roll back the clock and my beloved Daylight Savings Time goes away and then it really gets dark earlier.  If the weather forecast is correct (ha ha) today was probably our last day to have temperatures in the upper 80's.  I really don't want to think about putting my sandals and shorts away but will have to do so. 

Pumpkins are on the porch and Jaydon will carve his big one on Sunday.  Trick or Treat is on Monday.  Then on Wednesday I head to the International Quilt Festival (this is my 10th year to go and I'm still so excited!) and maybe to a see Joey march at a football game next weekend.  When I get home it will be time to start preparing for Thanksgiving because it will be here quickly.  Then the holidays start and before I'm ready it will be New Years and time to take down the tree and Christmas decorations.

Why does this season go by so quickly?  August seemed like it would never end, September passed fairly quick, and it seems like yesterday was October 1st and I was getting on a plane to start my wonderful trip.  Where oh where did October go?  And why will November and December be a memory so soon?  Oh, if only fall would linger a little longer.

These were real pumpkins!  How 'bout them pumpkins!

Boston Common

One of the things on my "do in Boston" list was to walk through the Boston Common.  It was a beautiful day and Bostonians and tourists were out in full force.  Blankets were spread out, picnic baskets were open, and various games were in process.  I walked a way into the Common and sat down on the grass.  This photo was the part of the view that I enjoyed.  I didn't have a lot of time to linger since I had many things on the list, but I needed to rest and this was the perfect place to sit peacefully for a few minutes.

I couldn't help but think of the years of the park's existence and the history of the ground that I sat upon.  The tour guide on my trip had told us that the Common was established in 1634, but I can't remember who bought the land or any details she told us.  I do know that the land was hilly at that time, and used for cattle grazing, garbage dumping, and for public hangings (ugh!).  During the American Revolution the British troops camped in the Common.  In the 1800's the park was leveled, drained and cleaned up and then landscaped.  The Boston Public Garden, just across the street, was created in 1837.  Both are beautiful, and provide a welcome contrast to the surrounding city.  I couldn't help but notice one amazing thing about both parks...there wasn't a speck of trash anywhere!  I would assume that it is because Bostonians are very proud of their public parks and treasure them way to much to leave behind any trash.

Wordless Wednesday, October 18, 2011

Gammy Night

I feel like I'm repeating myself but it seems that this theme keeps repeating itself in my life.  I picked Jaydon up at school this afternoon; the first thing he did was give me a big hug.  (He won't do that in front of his friends in a few more years, I'm sure).  That was the first thrill!  As we walked out the door he commented, "I've been thinking about you all day."  And I replied that I had been thinking about him and our time together, too.  We've missed the last two Fridays due to my traveling, and he was bummed out big time.

But I was also thinking about Cameron today, too.  James had called me last night to confirm our Friday night plans.  And he told me that Cameron had really been wanting to come to my house last night, but they had managed to convince him that he had to wait one more night!  Jaydon isn't the only one looking forward to a night at Gammy's house!  Cameron has joined the "I Love Gammy's House Club"!  I've posted about this before, but I still marvel at the love that all of us have for our grandparents house.  I haven't done anything and I'm sure that it isn't really me they want to be with...it is my house they want to be in!

There was some serious tricycle riding tonight!

Wordless Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Eating on the Road

Last week I ate some very good meals on my trip.  Some were on my own and some were part of the group tour.  I only had one not so great meal but that was at the food court at Quincy Market in Boston (I hate food courts, ugh!) and that was the last stop on the tour.  The food is different "up North" in some ways, and the same in others.  They do not serve picante sauce, ever and chicken fried steak or country fried steak do not appear on the menu!

On Monday night our group was on its own in Burlington, Vermont.  So several of us walked to a local restaurant, The Farmhouse. They only serve food grown or raised in their local area, there were about 12 farms listed on a chalkboard as their suppliers.  There was a card on the table that explained their philosophy.  I took the card with me because I really liked what they were trying to portray to the community.  Their idea is to support the rural nature and agriculture in Vermont and to offer good tasting, healthy food to their guests.  They want this concept to be a new model for all restaurants.

In addition to their regular menu, each week they offer specials that feature whatever is in season for that week.  Here were the specials for the week of October 3rd:

Pete's Greens Fennel Salad-featured a preserved lemon vinaigrette

Side of local cauliflower

Charcuterie Board-testa, rabbit terine, pork liver, mortadella, venison salami & bresaola

Island Creek Oysters-these were from Maine

House Cured Sardine Toast

Winding Brook Farm Lamb Burger

Pei Mussels

Champlain Valley Gingerbread Spiced Cheesecake (with cinnamon whipped cream)

So what did this Southern girl order?  I went to the regular menu and ordered....meatloaf.  Honestly, it was the only thing other than the chicken that I could really identify.  The menu stated that it was pork and beef; the sides were mashed potatoes, carrots, and butter nut squash.  And, there was gravy and mushrooms!  I can honestly say it was fabulous and I ate everything.  Then I ordered dessert!  It was a pumpkin cheesecake pie which had a ginger snap crust, a layer of pumpkin cheesecake topped with a layer of pumpkin pie, and of course, fresh whipped cream and carmel drizzle.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

I also had an excellent pulled pork sandwich at the Shelburne Museum.  It was not in the Memphis tradition, but could quickly become a favorite!  It had chipotle coleslaw and "fried root vegetables".  No, I could not identify those little crunchy things but they were excellent!  Viva La Pulled Pork Sandwich!

To make this quick I also ate salmon, crab cakes, what I hope is the last lobster of my life, chicken fricasse, basil pesto pasta, fish and chips, and I don't remember what else. I did eat clam chowder at every opportunity.  Fortunately I did enough walking that I walked off all the good meals and the desserts. 

All good things do come to an end

A week ago Saturday I left for New England.  I flew back in this afternoon and as I walked through the airport it seemed like I truly had just left.  Why does time seem to fly when we are relaxing and having fun?  I was ready in some ways to come home and in others did not want the good time to end...but it did!

So what did I see in New England?



Pumpkins!



A few fall leaves

Lots of beautiful quilts