Nobody puts baby in the corner

…one of my favorite all time movies..
 I bet most of you knew the line…
Johnny Castle and Baby Houseman charmed many…
I was smitten with the whole deal…
What I loved most about Dirty Dancing
was the era… a time when families
still vacationed together for entire summers in resorts like the one depicted
in the movie… I believe it was Kellermans Mountain Resort.
The pool and lake activities,  yard games, dinners at the hall, the Friday night dances,
bonfires, golf, ice cream and pie eating contests, the list goes on.
The key here was, it was done together.. as a family community.
Some families returned year after year… can you imagine?
Maybe some of you have experienced it for yourself..
I can only fawn over Dirty Dancing.. because those days are mostly gone. 
Sunrise Resort, just up the road from the vacant Johnsonville in my previous post,
 was one of the largest and oldest of what used to be
dozens of summer resorts in the Moodus section of East Haddam, CT.
It was the Catskills of Connecticut….but most are now gone. 
 According to Google 🙂 …. Sunrise opened in 1916 and owner Henry Engle partnered with a Mr. Ted Hilton to expand in the 1920s. Dot Lindvall, who had worked at the resort since 1937, bought it in 1965 with her husband, Frank Davis. It was then called the Frank Davis Resort and ran  until 1986, when the Johnson family took ownership. I’m not clear if it’s the same family that owns the vacant town just down the road. Years ago the Johnson family closed down the family resort, as it has not been as profitable in recent years due to cheaper air fare and therefore  less visiting families.  The State now owns it, and plans are up in the air. Meanwhile, the property and all it’s buildings sit empty and neglected. 
 This is a postcard from Sunrise in the 50’s… it’s halcyon days…
And this is a shot from almost the  same spot today…

The resort has been vacant for years… has this beach ball survived all that time?


Vandals have destroyed much….

This must have been a young children’s pool.. only about two feet deep,
 now coveted by frogs.

As I walked through the property, I could almost hear the children’s laughter…

It’s as if a bomb was dropped and all humans evaporated from the scene,
leaving their things behind.

Makes you wonder… what’s happening over there in that neck o’the woods.

There is a folk tale… called The Moodus Noises
Ray Bendici of Damned Connecticut had this to say:
For centuries in the town of Moodus, odd noises have been heard — spooky rumblings that have been described as sounding like everything from thunder to trees falling to the Earth itself belching. No one is quite sure from where they originate or what causes them, but people do know them when they hear them.

Actually, the name “Moodus” comes from the local Native Americans who called the area “Machimoodus” long before settlers came to Connecticut, which roughly translated means “place of bad noises.”

Coincidence?  The Mystery of the Moodus Noises..
the vacated town and resorts
all in the same vicinity?
Or is something wicked working it’s way through Moodus…



Hey Hilary!!

This one’s for you, oh brave one.
Hilary, over at Crazy as a Loom
(seen here with two of her rescued cats – Next and Enough)
Savior of cats and dogs,
weaver of beautiful things,
teacher of weaving and weft
(hey that just sounded good)
mother, daughter, grandmother extraordinare…
THAT Hilary… just had brain surgery.
Yesterday.
She has already had her daughters post
to let us know she’s OK.
That’s Hilary for you, not wanting anyone to worry.
Won’t you all go on over to Hilary’s place and
leave her a few words of encouragement…
She is an amazing woman who gives so much of herself
to others… let send her some healing thoughts.

Seasonal Decoration – bringing Autumn in

I’ve talked about it before on the blog…
it’s something I think I inherited from my grandmother Elsie.
Her specialty was Christmas… even family photo frames had red bows on them,
no kidding.
The mornings have been cool as I walk up the hill to feed horses.
Leaves are just starting their color change on tops of trees.
I do love summer, but fall is a beautiful thing here in New England.
So is the Pottery Barn catalog… oh, how I love their stuff. 
Their use of neutrals had me wanting to lighten up
here at this old house, and so I’ve slowly been
changing inexpensive things here and there
to do just that.
seagrass lampshade on sale at HomeDecorators right now!

I’ve got a thing for white crackled pitchers….

Look at these unusal artificial plants…



The main fireplace mantle is getting it’s fall makeover…
I love owls too…

Brought my garden owl in out of the weather.
Found these at Pier 1, $6.

Added these faded stripe (tick?) cushions to the kitchen barstools…

and some sunflowers and crackled vase…

M & M’s are a staple ’round here.

As far as store bought cookies… if you’ve never had DARE brand Maple cookies?
They are absolutely delicious. Betcha can’t have just one.
 
Visit your garden center for great deals on end of summer shrubs and perennials…
I picked up a few new cone flower species I have not seen before…
aren’t they beautiful?….
such vivid red..and dusty deep pink

 

Have a good day, all –
Smile at a stranger, for no good reason…
see how good that can make you feel
when the smile is returned.
It’s the little things, you know.

A forgotten village

 My camera made me do it!
I trespassed today, but I also happened to stumble on
one of the heirs of this quite literally deserted village while trespassing (dang)
 and he did graciously give me permission to take some pictures.
 
The incredible story of Johnsonville
can be read here…
no need to reinvent the wheel.
I did take better pictures though..
so…
here you go.

 Disregard the “c”… it was BUILT in 1899.
This picture was taken today –

The heirs are still mulling over how they’ll proceed
with this,  their inherited charge..but for now, she sits empty.
Strange feeling, walking among these buildings.
Ghosts? Depends on what you want to believe..
but one definitely feels something… a longing perhaps.
A palpable heavy sigh whispered from every shutter, every eave…
the lonely village awaits rebirth.

more horse, ofcourse….after a word from no one’s sponsor

Funny, this blog thing.
I understand that some folks stop by this little space of mine
for the pictures… the farm, the animals,
the recipes, the pleasantries.
But life and some of its elements ain’t always grand..
and my blog is a chronicle of life as I experience it.
On occasion I use this space to discuss a troublesome topic.
I like to know what you’re thinking too..
and in the recent case of  a certain politician, I expressed outrage.
I believe I have the right to do so, and not many will
argue that he doesn’t deserve some wrath.
Anonymous was so offended by that post that her first word was
WOW and her last was GOOD BYE.
She  visited for the pictures of the property and roses. 
I can tell you that I never intend to offend,
but I’m not here to make everything “rosey” either.
I like to know I’m being real with you,
and I hope that’s evident here at This Old House 2.
Today K and Beemer were at an open show
not too far from here.. the weather was beautiful..
everyone had a good time and horse & rider were insync.
Lots of pretty horses, colorful ribbons, bows in little girls hair,
even pink braids on ponies…
This boy could have ridden his dog in a class!
What a big teddy bear, too.

Little brother and friend actually came to cheer on big sister.
But don’t tell anyone.  Unless you’re on FB.. because I plastered it there too 🙂

I just love this Clyde… what a well mannered horse.

Grammy came today too!

Heidi is training Beemer to do trail… they came in second, not bad for a greeny!

The bluest eye.



A whisp of Blue on Saturday morning…

  It’s a grey mist kinda day so far… and on my way up the driveway with a gator full of horse and chicken manure I came across an injured bluebird.   Sad to see it… knew there was nothing I could do for the fella… so I picked him up and put him in a nearby bluebird house.

Have I told you lately how much I love this dog?
So does the very macho teenager of the house.

I’ll spend some time today riding Opie…
and clipping those whiskers, apparently…
…While K gets ready for tomorrows horse show, the last of the season with Beemer.
This is not Beemer..
We are now at the point in the road where Beemer will not
be able to take Kristen to the next level in her riding skills..
He will continue his training with his owner.  
The dilemna is finding the right horse and situation, AFFORDABLY…
to get her where she wants to go.
Coop News! 
I finally gave up on trying to find someone in Connecticut who would sell me
four pullet hens.. not chicks, which I can get in 100 places.
I don’t have the coop space to separately raise chicks, keeping them safe from
getting picked on or killed by my adult hens.
Sooo.. I found a woman in NY state that will ship four six month olds to me
as soon as the heat dies down and they can tolerate transit.. Parcel Post!
I’ve got two cochins, an Ameraucana (sp??)  and an Andalusian coming…
This is sort of what the flock will look like,
although chickens vary.. especially the Ameraucanas….
The cochins have feathery feet!

I’ll let you know when they arrive…
Have a great weekend, all  –

She wants to sell sea shells by the seashore

 We’ve packed up the few things we brought to
the little cottage by the sea..
Water shoes, books, kayaks and paddles, towels, food…
It was a wonderful reprieve, this little place..
Mom called it home for a week but we visited often enough.
I sat on the dock one more time tonight, feet in the cool water..
a blue crab just two steps below
and the salty breeze on my face.
I gave thanks for this wonderful night..
for this time together in such a beautiful place.

Farewell for now, my seaside dream…..
Perhaps we’ll meet again.



Dear Rep. Todd Akin –

  I put your name in that post title because I hope that your people are googling all the stuff written about you and somehow this little piece comes to your attention… you arrogant, IGNORANT man.   A writer who I admire had this, click link below,  to say about the subject of rape and the conversations taking place after you “misspoke” in an interview.  The sad thing is,  f*ck  that apology you issued ……let’s face the fact that it’s how you really feel… this time it just came out in an inconvenient place at an inconvenient time for your party, now, didn’t it. 
 http://www.feelmorebetter.com/thanks-for-the-rape-epiphany-rep-akin/#comment-29516