Sweet September

September is half over. Jobs are scarce, but I continue to network and explore possibilities. The right thing will turn up. In the meantime, I’m learning how to use my new camera, spending time with Katie, writing and doing volunteer work. Dick and I have enjoyed some great day trips.

We took the subway into Boston for the Feast of Saint Anthony. I saw the Rose Kennedy Greenway for the first time and found interesting photo opportunities in the North End. Walking along the narrow streets, we watched vendors set up their pushcarts in preparation for the biggest feast of the summer. We wandered through, taking in the aromas of various pasta dishes, pizza, sausage, peppers and onion. So much great food! It started to rain just as I was eating my ziti. I saved the gourmet biscotti for later and we headed back to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. We stopped for a drink at an outside café, walked back to the subway and got home before the deluge.

That same weekend, we took a ride to Ipswich for fried clams and continued on to the beautiful seaside town of Newburyport. I loved having bigger boats and different scenery to take pictures of and rambling through the Oldies Market. I got some terrific shots. We went to a farm stand on the way home. I found an unexpected photo opportunity. They had chickens, turkeys, a llama and, of all things, a buffalo. You know I had to get his picture. Photography can be a challenging and sometimes dangerous hobby.

Last Friday, Dick took me on a mystery ride. Not knowing where I could end up, I grabbed a hooded jacket and my camera. It was cold and windy at Salisbury Beach. Even though it has changed so much and doesn’t have the flavor I remember as a kid, I liked being there. I looked at what it is now and saw visions of the exciting place it once was. I stood where the Frolics used to be and remembered the night when I was fourteen and my dad took me there to see Paul Anka. I took some pictures of the crashing waves, something that had always been part of that beach. I thought about the rental cottages and some of the family vacations spent there. Recalling it all so vividly, I pointed out where the flying horses, boats, tilt-a-whirl, rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, dodgem cars and fun house with the barrels once stood. It was like stepping into a time machine. We had a slice of pizza at Tripoli’s. It’s not the same as it was all those years ago, but my taste buds were working from memory. A light rain began to fall. We ate in the car and I was further surprised when we continued on to Hampton Beach where the Seafood Festival was beginning.

It was colder and windy at Hampton too, but not raining. We walked through the tents and stores and food booths for an hour and a half. I had fun taking more pictures. It rained hard all the way home. Once again, we got out before a deluge.

On the writing scene: I’ve been toying with the idea of resurrecting Carousel Kisses and getting it out there in the global market. I’ve even been thinking of starting my own publishing company. I have added a story or two to Sweet Violets and hope to get that one further along while I have the time. As you can see, I’m blogging again.

I hope your summer was a good one, despite the torrential downpours of June and July and the steaminess that followed the rainy days of this ridiculous excuse of a summer. I hope your vacations went well and that you are enjoying the cooler days and a sweet September as we segue in fall. Dick and I are looking forward to Disney in October and I’m trying not to think about Black Friday or Christmas shopping being so close.

Happy fall!

Hello Again! I'm back!

I think it’s about time I try this blogging thing again. I spent hours creating it then dropped it like a rock. I made an attempt to get back to it several months ago. After spending an hour writing a post and checking it over, I hit the wrong button and blew it away forever. I hope I do better this time around and will start with trying to fill you in on my most recent adventures.

A little over a year ago, I started the North Shore Scribes, a group for women writers. This small, wonderful group of talented ladies meets once a month on Saturday mornings to share the craft they love. By using their writing knowledge and life’s experiences, each one brings something special to the two-hour sessions. Whether it’s fiction, memoirs, poetry, screenplays, or just a short piece about something that recently inspired us, we read, critique, encourage and support each other and enjoy a few good laughs in the process. We discuss our work and where we want to go with it. I look forward to more inspiring times with these creative women.

I’m currently enjoying some time at home. There hasn’t been much of a summer, but free time is free time. I’ll take what I can get and use it wisely. I made a list of things I want to do and have been trying to get to at least one or two every week. I visited the Peabody Essex and the Lynn Museums, browsed the shops in Salem and went to Revere Beach to see the sand sculptures for the first time. I go to the Mall in the middle of the week. I go for walks and take pictures with my new camera. Looks like I’ve started blogging again. Hopefully, I will get back to my writing and work on finishing Sweet Violets. I also plan to dabble in oil painting again before the summer is over. I’ve been to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun and am looking forward to our next Disney trip in October.

I try to spend as much time with Katie, my granddaughter, as possible. Hard to believe she is two and a half already. She knows that on Wednesday nights, “Mimi” (that’s who I am now), comes to visit and on the weekends she usually goes shopping with Mimi and her mother. Dick and I have four grandchildren now. Libby, Mason, Katie and Ben. Octoberfest should be a rousing event this year.

I hope this brings you up to speed. If there is anything in particular you want to chat about on here, please feel free to let me know. As always, I appreciate your comments and feedback.

Hope to keep this going a little longer this time. I will try to post a few new photos to show you what I’m doing with the new camera.

Lina

Christmas Here I Come

The new village is up. I bought yet another piece when I went out to buy boxes for wrapping presents. I couldn't resist it. A sweet little house on top of a mountain of snow surrounded by tiny colored lights and a little train that goes around the house. Well, it's supposed to go around the house. It gets stuck. I guess I'll have to return it. The village is up to 10 buildings and a small news stand. I'll hate myself when it's time to take it down and store it.

Other than that, I've been sick, so I haven't finished my Christmas shopping. Ha Ha, like I would have it done by now anyway.

Thanksgiving was great. My nine month old granddaughter, Katie, had a grand time for herself. It was fun watching her discover new things. She's crawling all over the place now and sure gets around the room fast. The kids all seem to like it here because we have so many "things" for them to touch and go after. I try to kid proof the best I can, but I can't put everything away. We don't have anywhere to put it all.

My friend Nancy and I have started an email story cirlce. We have written some holiday stories and emailed them to each other and now are sending them to our friends via email. We are inviting others to send their holiday memories and including them in our circle and sending them around too. It's fun. I may end up posting them on here so we can have an easier way of forwarding the stories. Adding them to emails is taking too long.

The Christmas rush is on. I hope I can slow down a bit and enjoy the fun part of it.

Happy holidays to you!

Found it!

The missing town has been found. This is going to be the best and biggest village I've done in a while. I'm adding a few pieces I haven't used in the past few years. Not sure where or how I'll fit them yet, but I'm going to try. I'll let you know how it turns out. Of course, the grandchildren will wreak havoc with it, I'm sure, but what is it all for anyway? (Photo is part of last year's village.)

A Safe Place

I know I'm not the only one who puts things away in "a safe place." Whenever I can't find something, my daughter tells me, "It's in a safe place." My husband says the same thing. They know me. Well, I've outdone myself this time. I started taking out the Christmas decorations yesterday and it seems I've lost the 5 main buildings of my village. Dick said, "You lost a whole village?" Well, not the whole village exactly. I can't find the church, theater, emporium, bake shop and hotel. I only use the 5 main pieces to this lovely village I bought at Costco a long time ago. It's all that fits on the bookcase. Last year, I bought a big piece and added it on a small extension I made. I found that one. (But, I thought I bought more than one?) I know I squished the 5 buildings into a big plastic storage bag and tucked it away so it would be "safe." But, where? I did find some people and trees and various small pieces. We live in a small condo. I don't have the room I used to and I like having the village, but just a small one now. I haven't got the time or energy to build a big city every year anymore. I'm happy with a small town. If it doesn't turn up in today's search, I will use the one building and cut it down to a vignette. We live in less than 1,000 square feet and don't have much storage space. How could I lose a small town?