Coventry Regional Farmers Market and the Nathan Hale Homestead… ..and a war thrown in for good measure.

 We spent a glorious fall  Sunday afternoon taking in the swirling leaves and munching on freshly made still warm cider donuts as we inhaled the intoxicating woodsmoke scented air at the Nathan Hale Homestead here in Connecticut.  If you live within a two hour drive, it’s so worth the trip. Yankee Magazine voted the Coventry Regional Farmers Market  the best farmers market in New England and now I know why.  So many regional farmers, bee keepers, soap makers, bread bakers, musicians, artisans, and today…. a revolutionary war reenactment that was spectacular to watch.  Next weekend is  the last until next season,  here’s a link for more information.

The battle field for the reenactment of the Revolutionary war

 Preparing to fight…

the camp…

war horses….

Where there’s smoke there’s fire…

In this photo below you can see how close combat actually was…
basically they just shot each other until there was either a retreat or
no one left standing from the losing side.
For more information on the Revolutionary War, click  this LINK..

A little info about our State Hero Nathan Hale and the homestead,  found on it’s website……

The Nathan Hale Homestead was the home of the family of State Hero, Nathan Hale. Constructed in 1776, the current house is the second dwelling built on the property. Nathan’s father, Richard Hale, was a prosperous livestock farmer and built the house for his large family. Ardent patriots, six of Richard’s eight sons served in the patriot army. One son, Capt.

 Nathan Hale was caught and hanged as a spy at age 21 by the British in September of 1776. He is famous for his alleged last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

 Following the American Revolution, three Hale sons died from wounds received in the war. Their widows and children moved to the family homestead, so that an average of 12-20 people lived in the house at any one time.

The Homestead is a pristine example of a Georgian-style home. Although sold out of the Hale family in the 1820s, the house has remained virtually intact. The house was first restored by George Dudley Seymour, who saved the house in the early 20th century. Recent paint analysis has resulted in the repainting of the house interior in historic colors. The house is furnished with Hale-family pieces and period antiques and is based on the family inventories. The house was deeded to Connecticut Landmarks in the 1940s. Much of the acreage associated with the Hale farm, is now the Nathan Hale State Forest.

After touring the house and spying on the war in progress…
we wandered through the farmers market… oh, the heavenly food…
French Crepes!!!…
Fresh produce!

Cider sugar donuts hot off the fryer!!
I’m willing to bet you’ve never had better…

Hey, even Redcoats get hungry, don’t ya know.
These guys had an awesome folksy sound…
envision Wagon Wheel… do you know what I’m referring to?
One of my favorite songs around a campfire.
They call themselves Poor Old Shine.
I’d hire them for a wedding, I kid you not.
..and if you’re still with me here…
Look at the face we came across on our way out…
I think his mom said his name was Doodle, but with my hearing impairment
I’m pretty sure I heard that wrong.
You tell me… does he look like a Doodle to you?
 Hey..Doodle?.. I’d take you home in a heartbeat if only I could.

Charla & Chelsea have left the building!

 Last night I met  Lorin and Lilian at the Durham Veterinary Hospital as they claimed Charla and Chelsea, who were well enough to go home and begin treatment and recovery with their foster moms.  These two women are amazing.. the road to recovery  is intensive round the clock treatment of their skin condition, but the Parvo has been tackled, and they are already eating and starting to put on weight.  Chelsea almost lost her battle, but she got through the worst and survived. Both pups still have sores and raw, agitated skin… but they’ll be fine with the right care.  Sadly, their littermate died at the hands of the initial vet that was in charge of their care.  An article is in the news this morning… see link.
(thanks, Joey, for bringing this article to my attention)
  A big thank you to those of you who are contributing to their care, (see widget on left).  Every little bit counts, as it will cost about $5,000. to bring them back to full health.  Once they are healthy, they will be available for adoption.
Charla
Chelsea

  

Let’s do it again…

This is the intake picture of Charla and Chelsea when they were dumped at the pound in Bridgeport CT a few weeks ago in a box.  They are approximately six months old.   Despite numerous pleas for a rescue to take them in,  it didn’t happen.. and so  they were sent to the contracted vet facility for “treatment”. As you can see, both had mild Demodex mange, a very treatable disorder, and neither were emaciated.

Unfortunately, under the care of the contracted vet by the city of Bridgeport, their condition deteriorated and
they contracted Parvo as well as worsening case of mange.  Both are still in serious condition, and Chelsea is just starting to show signs that she will survive.

Charla isn’t as sick as her sister and is already perking up quite a bit…

 Enter several rescuers including Lorin, who is our Dog Days Adoption Events Founder and Dog Savior Extraordinare.  The pups have been transfered to a quality veterinary facility and will go home with Lorin for care once they are stable.  Those of you who follow my Dog Days Posts know what we do. See labels on the sidebar for more information.  CHIP.. was last year’s project.  He has his own label on the left too… you would not believe the turnaround once Lorin took him in and we all chipped in to care and feed and medicate and love him.  He is a happy healthy boy a year later, living with his new loving family.  We’re hoping we can do the same for these two.
Last year we raised money for Chip’s medical expenses in several ways, but a big contributor was the widget you see on my side bar.  If you would like to contribute to Chelsea and Charla’s medical expenses, please use the widget, it’s a paypal format and I  had no trouble using it even though I don’t have a paypal account. Even $5. will help tremendously. 
 A brief recap of the story of CHIP 

He was pulled from a kill shelter looking like this….
took a while to turn around the bend to better health
with MUCH care and medication and love…
helped by YOUR contributions!!

Lorin with Chip at the vet for a checkup…

And this is Chip now, with adopted family and older “brother”.

It indeed takes a village, see what we accomplish when we pull together?
One dog at a time..
This time, two.
I’ll keep you posted on Chelsea and Charla’s progress
as I did with Chip.  You know I”ll be taking pictures as soon
as they come home to Lorin.


Lord, help me to accept the things I cannot change….

This is what happens when you send a bunch of 16 year olds
in to the Halloween Shop and say “I’ll be right back”
because you’ve got a hanker’n for those Macoun apples at the farm market
down the road… and heck, what kinda trouble can they get into
at the halloween store, right?
*sigh*
This weekend is the BIG TEST, don’t ya know.
The Drivers Test, in case you don’t.
see post title above.
*heavy…… heavy… sigh*
HIM:  Mom, you know, after Friday noon time, I’m gonna be FREE AS A BIRD!
(flapping wings in a ridiculous frenzy)
ME:  *heavy……..HEAVY…. deep and agonizing sigh*    with maybe a whimper
at the back of my throat , catching in the bile that is upchucking from my acid-riddled
anxiety prone stomach  and its contents.

Just sayin.

Pink Ponies

  My daughter competed in the final Color Breed show of the season here in Connecticut, and it was her last show aboard Beemer because she’ll be moving on with Max… a bittersweet day.  They had a wonderful time, five firsts, a second and a fifth. Not bad for a couple of rookies.  The shows theme was PINK, for Breast Cancer awareness month.  Participants were asked to don their best PINK…. and so.. they certainly did.

Could they BE any more adorable? ….

Nanny  was the keeper of the ribbons today…

The End.

Should I or shouldn’t I

  You know.. I’ve never liked politics very much…it brings out the ugly in people… sort of like religion. I hesitate to ever put it on my blog, yet I find I’m drawn  to wanting to know what others are thinking…and yet the answers still shock from time to time.  

  Discuss a religious or political idea on any forum and you’ll get a heated debate whether you asked for it or not.  Both are supposed to bring solutions and harmony… and yet these are the two subjects that bring the worst out in people.  I’ve spend alot of my life avoiding the controversies of  both.

  A friend put her concerns on facebook yesterday…. her 16 year old son told her he’s not sure he believes in God, that what he has learned in school about evolution makes more sense. It saddened her, because she raised him to love and believe in God, and she wondered what the school was teaching him.  My immediate thought was… ummmm… Evolution?    Same thing we’ve all been taught, no?

 You would not believe the fire and brimstone that befell that post.  One woman actually said  “only the saved go to heaven!”…  another.. “PRAY PRAY PRAY for him!”… “FIND HIM A GOOD YOUTH MINISTER QUICK!!”… as if the poor boy had done something horribly wrong and was headed for certain doom.  He has quite simply learned some things about life, believes in the proof of evolution, and he is questioning the religious beliefs he’s been taught.  Is this such a horrible thing?  He’s paying attention and asking the questions.   Shouldn’t we all, regardless of our conclusions?

  As I’ve gotten older  I realize the importance of paying attention and asking the questions.  I wonder how many people are paying  real attention to what exactly they are voting for, when they choose a political candidate.

   Believe people when they tell you who they are.

 – Enough said.
 

 

Project 24

 It’s raining this morning….and I’ve got stuff to do outside.
Barn needs mucking and coop needs cleaning.
But all that can wait till the rain stops falling.
That’s my grandmother Elsie with the horse…
gone 12 years or so now, and I still miss her.
 Have you ever known someone who was a treasure in many ways…
and you knew that already.. but didn’t have the full understanding of it
until they were gone?
I had a great relationship with my grandmother and for that I’m grateful..
but as time goes on the hole she left  in my universe grows wider.
I realize just what a rarity she was, what a true gem in the crown of our family crest.
I wish I had asked more questions, spent a little more time.
SO… what’s this “24 Project”? 
Has nothing to do with my grandmother. 
It’s raining and I’m feeling nostalgic today, can you tell?
One of my favorite books when I was young had a title that eludes me now…
something like…”A Day in the Life”.
I absolutely loved it… partly for my love of photography
but more because of the glimpse it gave into the lives of people around the world 
in a 24 hour period.  Photographers were given the assignment of a specific time of that 24 hours..
and chose something in their assigned hour to take a picture of.
Some were events out in the world, some were sleeping children at 2am. 
Some photos were a majestic view, some were no more than a cup of coffee
or kids waiting for a school bus in the snow.
Here’s what I want to do.
  I want to put a post together titled 24 – 
and I want you readers to help. 
  All you have to do is choose an hour of the day that someone else has not…
 (see comments for that info so you don’t duplicate someone else’s already chosen hour)…
 and leave a comment below this post telling me which hour you will document
with a photo of whatever you choose. 
 I need just 24 of you to do this.  Actually, 23.  I’ll do the hour that no one else wants.  
The date?  Hmmm.. How about Halloween – Wednesday, October 31st.
Quite simply, if you sign up for an hour on that day… 
Just take a picture in that hour of something in your surroundings,
no matter where you are…if you can make it real interesting that’s awesome
but there’s no pressure to do so…
and e-mail the photo to me at karenthisoldhouse@hotmail.com
the next day.
So.. do I have any takers? 
PS… time zone doesn’t matter here.  
Just pick a time that someone else hasn’t.