Out and About – Page 11 – This Old House 2

My Whole foods love/hate relationship

Today I dragged the husband to the Whole Foods store closest to us, about 40 minutes away in West Hartford. I love the store and I don’t.. so much. What I love?… great produce, healthy meats, all the gluten-free stuff I could possibly be looking for, and a great lunch bar if I’m so inclined. Lots of flowers and chocolate and natural soaps too. What I don’t like? The drive. The prices. And the general population in that store seems a little…. ooooh, how can I remain politicaly correct here…. snobby.

Why is that? well… quite a few customers appear to be in the upper tax brackets, and yes, I’m judging by the cover of those books…and the type of cars out in the parking lot too. Does that have something to do with it? I suppose not fair to say. But I don’t see ANYONE who looks like they might be struggling financially in that store…again, judging a book by it’s cover, the shame of it.

Something’s not right with this system tho. Good quality produce, clean, antibiotic and pesticide, gluton, dairy or soy free foods should be affordable and available to everyone, no? I’m sure the superfood gurus have a list of reasons why it’s more expensive to provide CLEAN food to consumers. It just seems like it shouldn’t be. There is LESS stuff in that food, not more. The reason so many low income families eat crappy food is because quite frankly it’s AFFORDABLE. They should have better choices.

Anyway.. the husband wasn’t impressed. After we left the store he said…… “you can get all this same stuff at our grocery store, just not as many OPTIONS. AND.. you are a sucker for eye candy… and there’s lot of it here. “ Well, I beg to differ just a little, but truth be told, he’s atleast partially correct. Ask me how glad I was that I didn’t cave to the eye candy on this particular day, huh?

Now Trader Joe’s is a whole nother barrel of apples… would you call it the discount version of Whole Foods? I’m curious… if you’ve had experience with either, what’s your opinion?

Red & White

Cottage Charm

Not far from here is a summer colony of tiny cottages, nestled on the edges of Hammonasset State Park and Beach. For many years it’s been a summer retreat for families – affordable, walking distance to the water and close to everything else as well. I googled, and a 4 bedroom 1 bath cottage can be yours for $69,000! I don’t know what this one is going for.

That’s a bargain!…Considering just down the road a hop, skip and jump you can buy a Mansion, see below, on the very same strip of sand and water for $7,000,000. or so… if you’re so inclined.

Most of the little cottages are seasonal ~ however as I drove through yesterday I noticed several were decorated for Christmas with cars in the driveway.

Here’s what sticks out as I drive between the two ends of the spectrum… those mansions are beautiful, but they lack a certain charm that you will only find in small beloved cottages, those little touches that make even a passer-by smile. I think it’s in the pride of ownership. I think….If you don’t have tons of money at your disposal, you’re more appreciative of the things you do have… the good fortune to be able to share a little cottage with your family and friends for the purpose of respite.. good times.. togetherness with like-minded people.

It’s been a dreary windy grey week so far…

I’m ready for snow.

(did I say that?)

This place is for sale. It’s on that stretch where the mansions begin.

It’s seasonal also…and $69,000. won’t buy the spit of land its 1 car garage sits on.

I do love it, though. Reminds me of an Andrew Wyeth painting….

Goodspeed’s Station Country Store & a History Lesson

One of my favorite places to visit this time of year is the Goodspeed’s Station Country Store, found this side of the Connecticut River and East Haddam Bridge across from the Goodspeed Opera House and Gelston House Restaurant. Both can be seen in the photos below…

There is old fashioned candy and kitchen goods and cookingware….

..and beautiful reproduction prints – like this one.

So New England… It’s titled “A Smart Turn-out” – original artist unknown!

Oreo says hello –

Speaking of prints… do you see George Washington kneeling in prayer?

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 ~

Scotts CT Valley Orchards –

Hammonasset’s original occupants

“Hammonasset” means, “where we dig holes in the ground” and refers to the place where a settlement of eastern woodland Indians farmed along the Hammonasset River. They subsisted on corn, beans, and squash, and by fishing and hunting. The first colonists arrived in 1639. Property changed hands frequently between Native Americans and the first colonists. “

We took the old truck for a drive down to Hammonasset Beach today to take in the celebration of Native American culture. As we walked along the fields bordered by marshes and the sea, the sound of a mournful flute playing a native american song gave me goosebumps. We stood for a moment, blocked out all the activity behind us and looked out over the marshes to the sea… I can only imagine what it was like to live off the land there, as they had. What a feeling of PEACE.. .listening to that simple, soothing melody.

Another Old Soul

For more information on this wonderful old place and it’s evolution thanks to the generosity of many volunteers… click the link below. If you’ve ever heard of Arlo Guthrie and you live within driving distance, perhaps you’ll want to catch his show this November too…

http://www.parmeleefarm.org/

If these walls could talk…

One can only imagine the many generations of footfalls up and down

these stairs as the decades rolled along……

Beth of Be Yourself… this ones for you, kid…

Joey… there is a morning glory patch that would bring you much JOY.

Lynn… what an excellent place to have a yoga class, out among the fields

Vicky of The Westra World.. this ones for you.

The old stone barn…

Hilary of Crazy as a Loom, I know how you feel about the rocks around here…

I watched this fellow wiggle along the surface of the water

until he grabbed hold of a blade of grass.

I didn’t know they could do that!

Next time we’ll take Ben on a hike along the trails….

OM-ing with Lynn along the Outer Banks….

My friend Lynn is vacationing with her family on the Outer Banks of North Carolina this week. I asked her to do a guest post today on her experience out there, in tune with the ocean and it’s soothing vibes. She’s a big fan of yoga and it’s benefits. What a perfect place to practice the art ~

To me the beach and yoga have many similarities. Both bring me peace, a sense of calm and a safe haven. Just as the tides are always changing, so does life. Yoga helps to keep me centered and to appreciated all of life’s blessings for which I am truly grateful.

There are so many things to love about the Outer Banks, but I’d have to say my favorite thing is walking this same path every morning to sit quietly, practice a little yoga and take in a glorious sunrise. Namaste to that!

There is beauty in nature everywhere…

We love collecting all the different kinds of seashells after high tide…

..and taking late afternoon walks along the beach..

where we’ve come across some pretty cool sand creations by local artists!

To listen to the soothing rythym and sound of the waves crashing along

the shore until sunset is to witness an ageless ritual that has not changed

since the beginning of time…

There is peace here.

Six Flags New England

Holy crap! That’s all I can say that sufficiently states my total shock and awe at the rollar coaster rides at Six flags in Agawam, Mass. They’re not even rollar coasters anymore..no.. those harness things where your feet hang down and your body twists and turns and goes upside down and then backwards just… defies definition.

These are the BRAVE members of our pack…