Tag: Family

The Antler Hunter

   I’m proud to say we are not deer hunters
here at This Old House.
I don’t think I could have ever married a man who
liked killing something just for the sport of it.
 I’m sure that will raise some hairs on the back of a few of your necks…
because there are many who do it, and feel justified
because of the overwhelming population of deer in some areas.
I’m not saying that isn’t a problem.
But I’ll add that  we have taken over habitats…
and we’re part of the problem.
I don’t want you to justify yourself here –
and my intention is not to crucify or judge anyone.
I’m just sayin – I can’t get past the killing, personally.
The man child has always wished to find antlers in the woods. 
Just an antler or two – how cool would that be!?
And so when he came running down the hill with a big grin and said
“MA!.. bring your camera.. come with me!”….
I did.
I didn’t expect to find the whole deer, although mostly decomposed.
But we did.
YUCK.
I think he was struck by a car and then wandered up into the woods to die.
The coyotes took care of the rest,
and probably in pretty short order, recently.  That’s why the antlers are still around.

Pine, Poinsettias & Pizza

   Acer Gardens in Deep River, CT has a wonderful selection of poinsettias and wreaths and holiday greenery. Their prices are decent too and the staff are always helpful, knowledgeable and happy in their work – doesn’t that always make you want to bring your business to them again?    I have never understood the mentality of a business or shop owner with an attitude.  

 Yesterday we didn’t attempt to swim the strong currants of the Outlets downtown.  Instead  we picked out wreaths for the doors of this Old House at our favorite greenhouse location ~

 They switched bows around for me 🙂
Last summer when I was trying to put arrangements together for big pots,
she gently told me what I was putting together was not going to be happy where I was putting it..
and helped me get it right.   She didn’t have to do that.
What I was going to buy was more expensive.  She picked out an assortment
that was much less expensive and thrived.

 One of their resident cats – I believe her name is Bernadette.
The men of the house had a pizza making contest last night…
Mike’s was pepperoni and oregano infused ..
The son produced a stuffed crust version –
both were delicious.
And now that I know they are capable…
I think this should happen more often, don’t you?

I might just go see Breaking Dawn – Part 1 today.
Yes, I just admitted it here. I read all the books, and have seen all the movies.
Hello, my name is Karen..and am a 46 year old Twilight Fan.
Nancy of a Rural Journal made this signature for me…
very cool … Thank you, Nancy

Have a wonderful weekend, All ~

A cheesecake retraction

 When I post a recipe, it’s usually one I’ve been making for a while and I know it’s good.  The pumpkin chocolate cheesecake recipe I posted about this past week?  Not so.  It looks beautiful, the ingredients suggest it’s probably a good one, and in all honesty it wasn’t horrible.  BUT.. I like my cheesecakes to be OMG mouthwatering rich and creamy and deliciously rich and creamy.  And rich and creamy.  And rich.

This.. was not. It was OK. Just that.  Beautiful in it’s presentation, but in my opinion the beauty truly only went skin deep.  Just thought I’d let you know, so I don’t let you down if you try it and feel the same way. No offense intended to the creator of the recipe.

The Death by Chocolate trifle?  It was like crack, people… It’s an awesome, easy to make, deliciously chocolate whipped creamy YUM that I recommend highly for the holiday season.  It’s in the recipe tab above if you missed the recipe.

We had a nice day with family yesterday, good food, relaxation and football by the fire.  I hope you had a good day too 🙂 

 cousins
How fast they grow up.  *sigh*

For the love of a Jeep

  We’ve been talking about trading in my car because the miles were getting up there and it was in need of “stuff”.  It was either invest in the new “stuff it needed, or get into a new car before the trade-in value went to the floor.  I started looking at the different models available, and since the Volvo had served me well for quite a while as a dependable car and a solid ride, I thought I might do the same thing again. Until I talked to the dealership.  When I bought it years ago, Ford was an owner in Volvo.  That’s no longer true – China now has a hand in it.  I have nothing against the Chinese, but I really want to buy American where I can.  After doing more research I initially decided I didn’t like anything in the mid- size SUV range that wasn’t a gas guzzler… and so I decided to keep the partially Ford manufactured Volvo for now.  

But then… then… I saw it.  The Jeep of my dreams. (Actually that’s the Wrangler, but my arthritic neck begs to differ.)  My son and I  took the Overland for a ride and I loved it instantly.  I drove home all excited about finding something I really liked, and it wasn’t crazy expensive, and it’s AMERICAN… and the gas mileage was better than my Volvo! I was doing a Happy Dance, people!

I was met with ..

HIM:  “What, …NOW?  No.. now’s not a good time.

ME:  But… three weeks ago was a good time?!….what happened in three weeks?

HIM:   I just bought a much needed snow-removing tractor for the jobsite and there’s no way we can swing a new car now. You decided  you didn’t want anything new, remember?… so I bought the tractor for work. 

Ok then. 
(insert sound of  air deflating rapidly from balloon…  and maybe a muttered @#$%)
Because OMG I loved that Jeep.

I had a Jeep when we were first married. I kept it for six years.  Absolutely loved it madly.  When our family grew and we needed more room, I had to trade it in for something better suited.  On our way to the dealership,  I had to pull over.  I sobbed like a baby, not wanting to let go of my beloved Jeep.

  Back to the present  – So I went about my business for the past few weeks, admittedly pining for the Jeep I wasn’t going to get. Last Thursday I went up to college girls campus to bring her home for the weekend. Because she had another date   Because she wanted to spend more quality time with her folks.

On the way back I got a call from Mike.

HIM:   in an aggravated voice – You gotta come pick me up, my truck died after picking up the tractor as I was getting on the Highway.   I’m in Saybrook.  I’m gonna have the tow truck driver drop me off where the dealerships are, right next to the highway entrance.

ME:  The truck died??… OK, will be there in 20 minutes.  Which dealership?  You might as well  meander over to the Jeep dealer and look at the one I was drooling over!

HIM:  again in an aggravated voice –  I’m not looking at the freak’n Jeep, but actually that’s the closest so that’s where I’ll be.  Hurry up, we have to go to the garage and see what’s wrong with my truck.

So, we get to dealership row to pick up the Man.  I see him talking to the salesman I had talked to, and they are looking at the inside of a Dodge Ram truck in the showroom.  I walk in, dismayed that they apparently haven’t even glanced at the Jeeps.  I walk RIGHT PAST the black beloved Jeep … (which had been brought inside and had a big red bow on the hood).

 He talks more about the truck with Kyle Salesman, and then we start walking out. I make him stop and atleast please LOOK at the Jeep, there’s one in the SHOWROOM, for cripes sake.  He glances over and says… ” it’s OK.   Maybe next year.”   And keeps walking.

 I say.. WAIT.. you’re RIGHT HERE.  Can’t you just give it a better LOOK???…  and he says…
You like it?  
Yes. Love it.
It’s yours.  Go get your papers and “stuff” out of the Volvo and hand it over.
SHUT UP.
Really. It’s yours. 
WHAT???    Stop it.
See the bow? 
And I cried AGAIN…. for the love of a Jeep. 
… and the guy who made it happen  ðŸ™‚

What I learned from my son

  Most of the time it’s our job to teach our children. Every now and then I find I’m learning something from one of my kids.   (side note:  my grandfather Al used to hate when children were referred to as “kids”.  He would say… Kids are GOATS! )

  As I watch my son grow through the teenage years, I notice the relationships he has with his friends and the things they consume their time with are different from my friends and I at the same age.  I remember all too well the anguish I felt as my high school boyfriend spent continuous “guy time” with his pals, and I would sit at home missing him or go about my business missing him , rearrange my schedule when he was available..most of the time waiting for the next time we would be together.  Such a waste of precious time.

  I wasn’t the only one… this was the general state of being for my girlfriends too.  And we did things together as well… but when we were together, we were still TALKING about them.  Not enjoying the activity at hand as much as we could have, and that’s a shame.  And OH.. the time spent on  the appearance.

  My son has some great friends – they ride bikes together, motor scooters, they play football in the front yard, they make trails out in the woods, they go to football and soccer games, have many a sleepover,  light bonfires and sit around talking about trucks… and yes, they certainly like the girls.  Some even have steady girlfriends.  But they don’t obsess over them, not at all.  They truly enjoy each others’ company and the activity they are in the midst of at the moment. ..they know how to  LIVE in the moment.  I wish I could go back and tell my 16 year old self the very same thing.   I wish I could tell ALL sixteen year olds this bit of information, and have it really mean something to them. 

  This weekend they gave each other haircuts with a pair of clippers. I instantly cringed at the thought, but shut my mouth.  They were going to the movies with girls later and that was what I was thinking…   They really didn’t care if it came out alright, they had a good time doing it.  As it should be.

  

22

 College girl is coming home this weekend because she has a date  because she just loves being with her family on her birthday!   I remember when she was a newborn and we were about to bring her home from the hospital (my firstborn, mind you).  I was so worried about my precious cargo being in the car while there were egg and toilet paper roll weilding kids stationed at  -surely- every corner.

  This will be a pretty purple when sliced open

Good morning…

It finally feels like fall around here..
this morning we woke to an almost frost..
The light is golden…

   The  delicious scent of  woodsmoke
rising from the neighbors chimney fills the air.

 My grandfather was a commercial photographer
with a studio in NYC.
He died when I was in my early twenties…
before I discovered the joy I would find in photography.

I have not forgotten to look for the color, Grandpa Al.
In all things.

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?

What is it about hair

You get it in places you don’t want it…
You don’t have enough of it in places you DO want it.
You spend alot of money to get rid of the unwanted hair
and you spend alot of money to enhance the desired hair.
What a circle jerk.
I have never really fussed with my hair much… a few haircuts a year..
Sometimes I just cut it myself, because I’m not really a salon girl.
Same basic style for many years with a little change now and then.
I like it longer, but lately I need to be realistic.
I’m no spring chicken,
and the hair is beginning to show it.
So last week I made a last minute call to the local hair salon,
where I could get a cheap cut, same day.
It was…. a cheap cut, same day.
Wasn’t happy.  
Bobble head doll  with a bob comes to mind.  
I tried to live with it.
Yesterday… I drove past  a fancier “SALON”
and then turned around and pulled into their parking lot.
Made an appointment for later in the day
and said… FIX THIS.
It’s short, …and glamorous I am not,
but I think I like it.
Do I look older? Maybe.
Do I care so much? You know… the answer surprises me.
I don’t.

PS.. I love my sister.
When I got out of the salon I sent her this pic…
and she said…
That’ looks like you’re driving!?
Because she cares, you know 🙂
Umm.. I wasn’t. yet.