Category: Uncategorized

Run for the Cove

  ” The Cove Center for Grieving Children was founded in 1995
by Jim and Mary Ann Emswiler and therapist Renée McIntyre. 
 Their vision was to create a program in Connecticut 
to support children and families in their grief process
 and to help prevent children and teens from experiencing
the devastating side effects of unresolved childhood grief.” 

   I had the privilege of being asked to take photos at their annual Run For The Cove event this morning at Hammonasset State Park – it was a  windy, chilly, beautiful day at the beach – so many smiles, so many groups showing their support…

I went down to the water afterwards and to my surprise…
there was a man out  there… windsurfing?  Kite surfing?
I would not be surprised if he were frostbitten tonight.
He’d probably tell you the conditions were perfect.
Brrrrrrr.

  

This and that

  It’s an odd Fall season this year… apple picking in 85 degree temps,  the colors in the foliage are muted, some of the trees have already lost their leaves, never having turned their traditional golden hue.  We’ve had some glorious weather, but it’s not the usual for this time of year.   So many natural disasters around the world…this past winter was horrendous here in New England.. summer was brutally hot, Irene blew through and burned and toppled trees… and now this Indian Summer.  Global warming?.. I don’t know… Global SOMETHING, for sure.

All of these pictures were taken in the last three days…
It almost appears as if these were spread among two seasons.
It’s as if the Earth isn’t sure where she’s at. 
  

 I’m just throwing a chicken pic in here because I can.
The girls are giving me four eggs a day now, and have become friendly.
They finally  figured out where their food comes from, I’m guessing.
No chicken will ever be a brain surgeon, this I know to be true.
The new tree hydrangea we put in is turning a beautiful dusty rose…

Opie hasn’t grown much of a winter coat yet, temps too warm.
 The mini’s HAVE grown their winter coat.. and are hot on these very warm days…

 Ben isn’t shivering yet when he’s kicked out in the early morning to do his business…

 This time last year the hill was ablaze with color…
The fire bush still puts on it’s show.. love this shrub.

 A dirt road along a reservior nearby… normally red and gold.  We used to be able to ride horses along the road, it was beautiful.  The water company owns the land, ( they actually own a third of our town land) and decided horse poop might pollute the streams that meander into the reservior, and so we are no longer allowed to be in there.

 In my thirty years of trail riding,
 I don’t think my horse has ever pooped in a stream. 
 Just sayin.  

 They’ve put up gates and wire to deter trespassing. It’s discouraging, the continued loss of trail systems for horse people.  To think it was once, and not that long ago, the main form of transportation. Now deemed a nuisance.

A little Chip update… yesterday we had a meeting at the next
Dog Days Adoption Event site – Oct. 29th & 30th at the Branford Elks Club.
Lorin brought Chip along so he could get some fresh air and
be part of an interview with a reporter.
He was perky, wagging his little butt and tail around
as he greeted us, and his skin is much less angry.
There is even a fine coat growning and, and it appears he has a white spot on his chest.
Crappy photo from my iphone, but you see the love there.
So far he’s tolerating the Ivermectin treatments, Amen for the small but important things.
Some might say I’m making a big deal out of an abandoned mangy puppy.
No.. the really big deal is how people have come together to
help out an abandoned mangy puppy. Score one for humanity.  
I’ll be  taking pictures here tomorrow…. if you’re local and you walk or run,
this is a great event in a beautiful setting. Come join the fun and get some exercise.
The blogging community is dominated by women…
why that is, I’m not sure.   Perhaps we’re more willing to
“put ourselves out there”.
I’m always pleased to see a few members of the other gender
join in… won’t you please welcome Andy of The Little White House..
http://thelittlewhitehouse-andy.blogspot.com/
As you southerners would say… Y’all have a great weekend.
I just like saying that. 🙂
 

Candy Corn Cookies

Have I ever mentioned my love for Candy Corn?
 
 

 
This recipes comes from a wonderful blog I just discovered
through Raven of the Herb Shed….
 
Kathie Cooks
 
Candy Corn Cookies
2 Sticks Butter, softened
1 c. Sugar
1 Egg
2 T. Lemon Juice
2 t. Lemon Zest
1/8 t. Salt
3 c. Flour
1/2 t. Baking Soda
Red Food Dye
Yellow Food Dye
1/2 c. Granulated Sugar (for dusting)

Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Continue beating until well mixed. Add flour and baking soda, beat until well mixed. Divide dough into thirds. Press one-third of the white dough evenly into the bottom of a loaf pan that you have lined with foil, wax, or parchment paper. Place another one-third of the dough into a bowl and add yellow and red food dye to make orange (refer to the chart on the back of your box). Once it is mixed evenly, press orange dough evenly over white dough. In another bowl, add the final amount of dough and dye yellow. Press that evenly over the orange dough. Cover and refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight is best). Once chilled, invert your loaf pan and unwrap your dough. Flip it back over and place it on a cutting board. Cut loaf crosswise into 1/4-inch slices using a sharp knife, trimming edges to make even, if necessary. Cut each slice into 6 wedges.


Place 1-inch apart onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 7-10 minutes in a pre-heated 375 degree oven. Place cookies straight into a bowl with sugar and coat. Place coated cookies on a baking rack to cool

_____________________
 
And how cute are these?…I think you can make them with
a basic sugar cookie recipe, using melted chocolate as the glue
to hold the corn in place.

Chip Today….

  This just in from Lorin regarding Chip’s progress this morning….. and the good word is PROGRESS!!!!
 Here he is in bed this morning.

 “A few more, ‘chip chip hoorays’ – Sarah F. dropped off a “beepless” laser light machine because Chip is afraid of the beeping from the machine, thank you!  Another bff for Chip is Marianne F. she stops by daily with research on mange and new natural products to help his immune system and maintain his skin.  Bobbie B.  dropped of an anti-bacterial shampoo, and Martha D,  takes him for vet visits and play dates when I can’t clear the time –  this boy has some really dear friends and he wouldn’t be where he is today without all of you, indeed you’re very special people.”

BIG thank you to Nadia D.  for the huge container of food for Chip – this boy eats two packages of ground turkey per day with rice added in.  He’s doing as well as can be expected. Yesterday he went to Martha’s house during the day so I could concentrate on work – he came back playful and full of the devil for sure so I think he’s on the mend.   This is day three of the dreaded Ivermectin treatment for his mange but so far he’s holding up well.  Chip’s bff, Karen M. , will be back soon for updated pics, your kind comments and support keep us both going, thank you!

So.. my blog buddies… this is what you’re helping us accomplish.  It looks as if Chip is pulling through, dare I hope.  And your contribution is what’s making it possible along with our efforts. Thank you ALL!….

I’ll be taking pics this weekend so you can see for yourself 🙂  

Trust

  There was a bonfire here again the other night
for about 15  fifteen year olds.
Because we live “out in the sticks”
our teens can’t easily congregate on someones stoop, or meet at the movie theatre
or down at the local park
or out in the street for a game of stickball or baseball,etc.
So I don’t mind when my son asks..
“can I have a bonfire tonight and  invite a bunch of kids over?”
Now that the kids are in High School
I don’t know every single one… they are divided between the private HS
and the public, but co-mingle often, which I think is terrific.
When one dad who I have never met showed up to drop his daughter off,
I was waiting at the side door gate to greet them as they came.
I wanted the parents to know my husband and I were home and
would be keeping an eye on the group at the bonfire.
This particular Dad came up to me after driving up the driveway to the bonfire..
(it’s up on the hill)
… “why so far away from the house??”
I said.. ” that’s where we put our fire pit.  It’s a clear view from here though,
we can see that the fire is under control and can keep an eye on the kids
from a distance. We will also go up to check on them here and there. ”    
  I joked that the firepit used to be right out the back door
but the kids wanted it more than 15 feet from the living room couch.
He said 
 “I don’t give a sh*t what the kids want, who’s the boss.. you or them?”…..
I assured him we’ve done this before and it went very well.
He shook his head and left after complaining
to one more mom as she arrived.
He could have taken his daughter home,
I would have been OK with that.
But it made me think.
How much trust is OK to give your teenager?
By the age of “almost sixteen”
I got myself to school and home on a city bus,
met my friends at a city park often to “hang out”,
had a waitressing job at a catering hall
that sometimes wasn’t over until 1 or 2am.
I also worked at the city zoo running the pony track.
I alone was responsible for tacking up a couple of ponies
and keeping other people’s kids safe and entertained.
And we didn’t have cell phones then either.
Mom had to trust in where I was.
And I survived. We all did.
Did we make mistakes?
Hell yeah.
In some ways I think we are “making” our teens younger
and less responsible as things are now.
In other ways I realize they have access to so many more
harmful things.  So many more options with modern technology.
But they alsodon’t have as much to do.
You might not agree with me, and that’s OK.
Did the Dad have a right to be concerned for his daughter’s safety?
Absolutely.
Do I still think it’s acceptable to let a bunch of kids who
are almost driving age sit up on the hill around a bonfire
behind my house
and figure a few things out for themselves?
Without a doubt.
And I know mistakes will be made…
Mistakes… Life Lessons…
hopefully not the worst kind…
but also…there’s gotta be a little trust.
And some expectations.

Reality in small doses

This weekend both chicks were in the nest
and I reveled in it.
Oh, they were here and there, riding lessons,
bon fires, football games,
but at the end of the day… they were in their beds,
we were all under the same roof.
It occurs to me… too frequently as of late…
that this will soon not be the case.
College girl will graduate this year and we looked at a possible
condo living situation in another town she is kind of excited about.
HUH??!!!
The manchild came home with his school portrait package on Friday..
and I wanted to say..
Who’s THIS??
He’s growing in leaps and bounds…and when we viewed
said condo… he said..
“This would be pretty awesome, I could share it with one of my friends!
And.. I’m thinking of taking a year off from school before I
go to college.  I could live here!…”
HUH??!!!!!!!!!
and.. I don’t think so.
(insert alarm bells, fog horns, sirens, whistles and cuckoo bird calls)
and throw in a Xanax. or two.  
I’m so not ready for this.
I know it’s healthy and natural and
the correct order of things …
to have ambitions and dreams
and to set them in motion.

Oh, I hear the banter from some of my friends…
“Can’t wait for the kids to move out of the house”
“Won’t it be nice to have the freedom again“
Not me… I miss the playdough on the counter
and matted in the rug.
Stepping on legos…
braiding ponytails..
playground playdates…
trick-or-treating!..
Oh, do I miss the trick-or-treat evening strolls
through neighborhoods full of excited ghosts and goblins
(more like power rangers and Belle of Beauty & the Beast)
all armed with bags full of loot and rosey cheeks..

I’m a bit envious of those  who look forward to the empty nest.
It would be so much easier to let go, you know?