…..
When there isn’t an answer worth hearing
This is the view out my back window tonight, I just took it with my phone, no flash.. amazing. See the neighbors lights off in the distance? I love this kind of scene, so peaceful.
Tonight, though, it just makes me sad. A young man in our small community decided to take his own life yesterday in the nearby state park. God only knows what kind of emotional pain must have tortured him enough to end his life at such a young age, with so much to look forward to. The world at that age should be your oyster.
I’m only guessing he just couldn’t see the light off in the distance, the possibilities…. Couldn’t find a safe haven from whatever demons followed him and dragged him down. With a drastic decision he’s left all that behind and now his family will mourn their loss. Is there ever an acceptable answer for such a tragedy?
RIP dear Tommy, I didn’t know you but I mourn your loss, I feel sorry for your pain and my heart hurts for your family tonight.
*****
49
Yesterday was my 49th birthday. I could go on and on about the aging process, trying to age with grace… and the realization that I am now probably more than – at the halfway mark – of my life span. But today all I feel is lucky .. to be here, to be healthy, to have this family I cherish and to be able to care for the animals I also call my family.
What are my goals from here? Well, some of them have been squashed with this hearing impairment… but there are always opportunities if we venture to look, muster a little courage, step outside our particularly comfortable box and look around. I might open that shop again. I hope to continue advocacy for animals in need, especially the dogs… such beautiful souls. I might expand that out to humans as well, not sure the direction I should take yet, but I’m working on it. I’m going to be honest here for a minute and tell you I used to think I wanted to volunteer at a homeless shelter, see if I could make a difference in those lives. I visited with a local church group, bringing a meal to share with them. I’m embarrassed to tell you it scared me. The level of mental illness and instability actually scared me enough not to want to return. What a coward, I tell myself, and yet there it is.
So I’ll figure it out, and with a little luck and elbow grease I hope to have years to work on it, help others, support my family in the ways that I do. Another 49 to go? That’s asking a lot, but I’ll ask anyway.
Mom made my favorite Irish meal last night…. Thanks Mom! any leftovers? First reader to guess all the components of this meal gets the Luck O’ the Irish!
It’s a new day, all – Make it a good one.
Would you come with me if I asked?
I was minding my own business, (no, really!) just driving down Middlesex turnpike heading into Old Saybrook… when I noticed something there.. up on the hill, opposite the plethora of car dealerships. HOW had I missed that before??… It was an old abandoned house, with yet another behind it. And a remarkable house, indeed.
They’ve been there for a very long time, these two old structures… and there’s no way to count how often I’ve passed them by. This time was different because there has been some obvious clearing out by the road in front of the two structures and they are now exposed, easy for passers by to see.Perhaps someone is looking to buy the property? I just don’t know.
I asked the husband if he’d take a ride with me to photograph the place. Uh-uh. Nope. not doing it. The kids had the same reaction. *sigh* I often go it alone when a structure intrigues me so, but it’s not my first choice… especially to a place as creepy as this one. These TWO.
I don’t yet know the history.. other than to tell you it was used in the 1971 movie “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death”…. go ahead, google it and you’ll see images of the house. There are the local stories that it is haunted by the spirits of two boys and their nanny. People claim they have seen faces in the windows, felt spirits when entering the house (now impossible because it’s all boarded up). I did look for faces… it’s a horrible thing I do to myself, scares the bejezus out of me and yet I do it anyway. What’s THAT about? As a teenager I loved the horror movies… I’ve never yet seen the entire Exorc*st, having attempted to watch it several times only to hold a blanket over my eyes and fingers in my ears through half of it. Ridiculous.
Anyway.. are you ready?… you’re coming with me, whether you like it or not.
and the house behind this one….
So.. did you see any faces???…
SHHHHH!!! Don’t tell me.
On Friends and Fairies….
We spent a lovely evening in the company of friends last night – the Viking, who also happens to be the one and only “J” who helped us rebuild This Old House, and his wife Raven, who is a fairy in her other life.
Their home – Moonshadows
It’s rare to get such a personal glimpse of a fairy’s home life…
they are elusive creatures, don’t ya know.
Raven was gracious with my curiosity and gave me a tour of her wardrobe.
It ***Sparkles***
… Fairy dust abounds…
I got to try on a pair of wings!
..choosing a small set, as I am not accustomed to flying…
How to make fairy dust – HERE
One of my favorite prints…
Midsummer’s Eve by Edward Robert Hughes
“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies,
the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to
say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”
First Graduating Class – Red Dog Project!
Well it’s official! The boys and girls of the First Graduating Class of the Red Dog Project are going to their forever homes! The program is a huge success and another litter of pups have been pulled from the streets and are on their way to the York Correctional Institute for training. The pictures below were taken at the Veterinary office today after the pups had their final visit before going home with their adopters.
It’s a beautiful thing.
Shaking it out…shaking it off.
A friend I sometimes confide in and gripe to and argue with over our differing political and religious views gave me some good advice today. I needed to hear this, I need to let go of things without having to stand up to or for or against or with, etc. etc…. unless it’s truly going to make any difference. Sometimes, it’s just arguing, and that is so tiring and pointless. I’m getting too old for it, and I should know better by now.
“Karen, don’t invite stress into your life; it’ll find
you easy enough. If you know someone doesn’t share your world view,
discuss but don’t argue. Stupid people, of whatever flavor, will drag
you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Life
is TOO short to deal with stress and especially stress you’ve invited into your life. Don’t. You’ll be happier.”
Amen.
It’s a glorious day here, 58 degrees currently.. the chickens are out sunning themselves in the dirt next to the garage and the horses are naked, devoid of blankets, grazing where the snow has melted. I loaded Ben into the car and we headed down to the Beach, where we took a nice long walk along the water, shaking out the soul and shaking off this long winter season. I hope you find opportunities to do the same – give yourself the freedom to just go, be, walk, see…. and let go of the stresses in your life. Actually, don’t invite them at all.
Todays Random Riles
My orange crayfish was eaten by my Jack Dempseys overnight. When I peered in the tank this morning I saw half of him in the sea grass and the other half missing. The aquarium folks said he’d be fine but they were wrong. I kinda hate having put him in that position. Yes I know it’s a -crayfish-. Still.
We are one world. We are all of the human race. It could be such a Utopia for every single being.. we have the resources. WHY.. can’t we get along. WHY is there senseless war after war, torture, poverty, homelessness, suffering… all avoidable. And yet we’ll never rise above it, and I think… eventually destroy ourselves completely.
Never get into a political -discussion- with family on FB and think it’s going to end well. It won’t. Also, never assume you know someone just because they are family. Their true nature can astound you and it probably will.
Giving up sugar is a really really really hard thing to do. Really.
It snowed again this morning… not much, but the residual grey day hovers like a wet wool blanket.
The repair people are here fixing the refrigerator for the third time. It’s just a few years old, a sub zero. Things oughta be made better, the way they used to be. My grandmothers “ice box” probably saw thirty or so years of service. We pay much more for things now and get much less. It ain’t right.
I finally watched the Hunger Games and it’s sequel over the weekend. I found it incredibly disturbing, twisted, highlighting the worst in human nature. Or should that read -government-? Am I the only one who felt that way? I don’t know… judging by it’s popularity, maybe so.
-just sayin.
Kate’s Place
I’ve mentioned before my long time admiration for actress Katharine Hepburn. Previous post HERE. Yesterday, Mike was asked by one of his subcontractors to come look at some cedar shingle siding work at a home in the seaside hamlet of Fenwick, Old Saybrook. He knew I love the area and asked me if I’d like to tag along. Incredibly, we came up close and personal with the now refurbished estate of the late great Kate. It was bought years ago after her passing by a contractor who did a beautiful job raising it three feet, brick intact!…He then rejuvenated the interior, which had been left kind of ramshackle with very little updating since the 1940’s. It was on the market for a period of time once the renovation was complete, but currently remains as the contractors summer home if the articles I’ve read on it are accurate.
Since I was just yards away from Kates place while the men talked about cedar siding and it’s virtues, I wandered around and marveled at the home that has such a history. There are large security cameras around the house, so big brother might just have been watching. I can only hope they won’t be offended by a Kate Hepburn fan in her glories, admiring this grand old dame of a house,once occupied by the grand old dame herself.
Some pics of Kate at her beloved estate…
This is how she liked to dry her clothes… in the sun on the lawn. Note the circular rock jetty formation, which you will see in a photo further down.
Kate was in her 70’s when this photo below was taken..she took a daily swim, year round.That’s snow in the picture.
The house as it stands now, from the road. This is as close as you should get if you are not a resident. In front of the house is the brackish water pond Kate loved. Behind it is the ocean.
This canoe, Gertrude, was kept at Fenwick.
once used in her film – On Golden Pond –
The old brick and chimney remained intack despite being raised three feet, I find that amazing. It was not a striking home originally, although large..and the new owner/contractor has made some lovely additions to soften the face.
The House as it was for Kate…
..and now. The Interior has changed dramatically. This is something I find a little sad, as it has lost some Kate character, although the renovation of course is beautifully done. If I had had my druthers with the place, I would have kept more of the original guts.
I do love the brick, which they have sandblasted to expose more of the natural brick color…unique in a seaside home. I’m guessing it was chosen to fortify the home after it had been destroyed in the Hurricane of 1938.
Ms. Hepburn rebuilt it for her family, still a young starlet in Hollywood at the time.She remained here until she died in her mid 90’s.
She had a view of two lighthouses in the immediate distance…
Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse…first activated in 1886
And Linde Point Lighthouse ..
Fenwick is a haven that a lucky few get to call home.
It’s easy to see how a public figure of such fame could enjoy a peaceful
existence here for all the decades of her life.
Ask me how much I love Spaghetti Squash
As a pasta lover, one of the most difficult things to give up in my quest to go gluten free and less carb addicted was giving up Pasta. There are so many things I used to make for my family that involve pasta and bread. The kids still indulge now and then, but they can well afford it. The husband and I really want to avoid it in an effort to shed the extra pounds and in my case, get rid of the gluten issues in my body.
SO.. am so very thrilled to have discovered through FB the wonders of spaghetti squash. Can’t believe I’ve never heard of or tried this before, but folks… I’m telling you… it’s delicious! and it’s a great substitute for pasta! AND… it’s so easy to make and good for you too! * Spaghetti squash is beloved among those who are watching their carbs, as
it is higher in nutrients and lower in carbs and calories than pasta.*
Here’s what I’ve done with it so far, and it was gone so fast you could use the term inhaled... even by my finicky eating son.
You buy a few squash at the grocery store, I think they’re common… and I needed three to feed my family and have enough. You wash them, cut them in half length wise, scoop out the seeds – not unlike pumpkin guts – place them cut face down on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes or so at 350 degrees. The skin begins to turn soft when they are done. Take them out of the oven, allow to cool some, then take a fork and literally scratch the insides, which immediately make spaghetti! Then add the sauce of your choice. I made my favorite Pesto… recipe below…
before removing the “guts”
My favorite Pesto recipe
2 firmly packed ups of basil leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbs pine nuts or slivered almonds
2 cloves (or more!) of garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbs butter cut into pieces
Place all in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.
If you are cooking regular pasta, add a small amount of the cooked pasta
water to the sauce, mix well and serve.
If using with spaghetti squash, I added a few tbs of hot water to give it
a better texture.
YUM!