WINTER CHORES

According to the calendar the first day of winter is December 21st.  In my house, it begins when I need to wear gloves and I need to take my indoor plants back inside from the New England summer tropics.  

I don't mind the cold weather and snow, but I can't tolerate my hands being cold.  This chilling affect, for me, occurs in October.  At the first sign of the my fingers feeling the cold sensation I rummage through the drawers for my cashmere lined soft leather gloves that I had carefully selected the previous year at TJMAX. They have a great selection.  It usually takes me, roughly, 45 minutes to try on and choose the exact pair that will last me the season. 

This year proved a bit of a chore because of my summer purge when I either tossed everything in sight, boxed or put cleverly away in an appropriate place that now I can't remember due to my pending move; or senility.  Thank Christ, I found a pair. They were underneath the seat in the Murano that I was cleaning prior to it's trek to the south for my daughter's use at school to get her to/from work [the job that she never looked for]. 

Aside from scouring the house for the gloves in October I had brought my plants in from the outdoors as mentioned above.  They were brought into my 'garden' room.  So called, because one wall solely of sliding glass doors faces the deck overlooking the yard. The plants have taken over the room.  It resembles a jungle.  I even had to move a few plants so the animals can easily maneuver in/out of the doggie door.  There is just so much space in that room. Not. Plant clutter.

Just like I am running out of wall space for my paintings I am running out space for my seasonal spots for my plants. Which, by the way, are like my babies.  I have one plant that is the mother of all plants.  Actually, it is the mother of many since it is nearly 90 years old.  Its 'roots' 'stem' from my great grandmother passed to my grandfather passed to my mother.  I inherited it because I found it near death at my mother's house and swiped it to revive. Again, thank Christ, for my light green thumb because now it thrives and produces many offspring.  Most everyone in my immediate family has a plant that I have rooted for them.  I have needed to replace two plants that have fallen from grace since the plant legacy has been passed.  No reference. You know which ones you are!!!  >:(  

I am coming to terms with the fact that I may have to relinquish a few of the plants in order to continue preparing for my move forward to sell the house.  Perhaps, I will expand my plant offspring and give to a few outside of the family box.  Although, I think I may have tried that already once before and it has fallen from grace in their hands, as well, as the two aforementioned family members.  Boooooo..... 

CLOTHES CRACK

For anyone who is reading [if anyone at all] you may have already picked up on the fact I have two daughters.  One is a fashion savvy 'life of the party' spend thrift and the other is a bohemian hippie music lover.  Daily, I am fascinated at how they affect me - both good and bad.  Don't misunderstand, I love them both more than humanly possible [that phrase is another post worth writing about]. Everything I do in life is for them.

However, as every parent feels, at one point or another, we are constantly being tested by them.  My spendthrift college student habitually 'tests' me more than the other; hence the worn out beaten look and constant need to eat chocolate to relieve my stress.  Both are college students. Ouch!  Right!!!!??  Tuition alone drains my purse.  

Below is the brief, yet almost amusing email, I received first thing this morning upon checking my emails.

             Daughter:  Figures. I would try

On Nov 20, 2013, at 8:28 AM,

Me: and, i'm not

xo

Daughter: I'm not!!

On Nov 20, 2013, at 8:26 AM 

me: let me know if you are on crack

Sent: Tue, Nov 19, 2013 9:11 pm

Daugher : Hey
Let me know if you're in the mood to buy me any clothes :)

What's even more humorous/pathetic is that, at the end of the relentless nagging to buy her clothes, she will have conquered just because I don't feel like listening to her tactics anymore while I am swamped at work.  Anything for the relief!

I CHOOSE - BEACH RAT, FOREVER!

Saturday, I was in the northwestern part of the state enjoying foliage and pies. As I enjoyed driving through the remote areas with the green pastural farms, ponds and endless roads leading nowhere, I considered my big move inland.  Definitely out of character for me.  Even with the thought of a few acres and a barn in the back with horses mulling around in the pasture, I don't know that I wouldn't feel a bit claustrophobic.  

Call me crazy, but even with all the serenity and beauty of nature I don't think I could definitively say that I could be happy too far from the ocean.  I think I would miss the opportunity to breath in the ocean mist, walk along the beaches and listen to the soothing sounds of the waves meeting me on the shoreline. 

This morning, back to my favorite part of the ocean state, I sat enjoying a soy mocha no whip via harborside with acoustical sound magician, Tom Burgess at Java Madness. Thanks, Tom. It was a pleasure.  

The deck was enclosed with thick plastic canvas to keep the warmth while still being able to enjoy the scenic harbor views.  [FYI, Tom performs each Saturday and Sunday at Java Madness in SK.]

With all of that said, I will consider keeping the current Narragansett house, buying a larger one here, or returning back over the bridges to Newport.  Once in Newport, I will never leave let alone venture back over heading north.

BEACH RAT TO FARM GIRL - GOOD QUESTION

It's mid-november and I have finally been able to hop in the car and hit the road for my fall foliage driving tour.  Perhaps, a bit late, but with a few leaves clinging for life on the tree limbs I am still able to enjoy a few colorful views, apple cider, pies and sweater weather.

Before the jaunt into the wilderness I filled up with the most delicious sliders that ever passed over my taste buds.  I can't express how delicious these burgers were going down. I was speechless. To speak to anyone while enjoying these sliders would have ruined the dining experience.  Not fine dining by all means.  My 'cream' soda bottle balanced atop an orange traffic cone while my cardboard container [holding the second slider] sat on the ground with me squatting over a napkin protecting my white cords and blouse from the oozing juices of the burger.  

This gourmet food truck needs to be put on everyone's 'to do' list. We found it in Pawtucket at the indoor farmer's market located in the old warehouses on Hope Street.

www.rocketstreetfood.com

OOO!  Nearly neglected to mention - I devoured two 'Parisienne' sliders. Caramelized onions, gruyere, and black angus beef burgers.  YUMMY!

Ready to roll.  The journey began in Pawtucket and continued to Attleboro, Cumberland, Lincoln, Glocester, Scituate returning through Providence eventually bringing me home to my petit villa.  Of course, there were towns en route that I had never been to nor heard of in the state that is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, but claiming 460 miles of coastline. 

One of the highlights of the tour was a small farm selling local fresh pies, pastries and breads.  Mapleville Farm.  Where else would that be located, but in Mapleville, RI.  The cafe is owned and operated by [4] young adult siblings. Two sisters and two brothers that I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with today.  I spent $51 on their treats.  It was my pleasure. As I sit here writing humbly at my desk sipping tea, I am enjoying one of the jam cookies.  What a treat. I can't wait for more. 

Siblings front: Casey, Emma; back: Ben, Mike

To the left of the entrance is a fenced area with sheep and goats.  To the right is the construction of a greenhouse the brothers are building.  There aren't enough niceties to say about these four siblings.  Upon my departure I couldn't help but notice Emma bringing one of her brothers a sandwich out in the greenhouse area.  

Trust me, take me up on this one and go for the ride or pick up the phone.  Even better - check them out on their website. They do take phone orders and ship everywhere.   Mapleville Farm, 544 Victory Highway, Mapleville, RI -  www.maplevillefarm.com  

More along the route:

Purge Party

Tractor Lawn Art

Say, "Cheese!"

Scituate Resevoir: View West

Scituate Resevoir: View East

A beautiful ending to the drive.

SUPERNOVA

The explosion of a star that has reached the end of its life, is otherwise known as a Supernova. Fast approaching the downside of the century with one foot in the grave I think I may soon be a burst of sparkling bubbles [like the song, 'Champagne Supernova]; thus, becoming a Supernova dissipating forever in the sky. OR, following the explosion are the 'baby' novas, with all of it's splendor bursts of energy created become new stars to sparkle with new life prolonging the entrance into the grave [mine].  I prefer my theory, the latter. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PPsD_07W_I

How morbid for mid-week thoughts.  Maybe I am thinking along these lines because of the upcoming birthday blahs. Or; perhaps, a momental distraction from work. 

The brief consideration of jumping a number because of the negative sounding appeal of the pending number is appealing all in itself.  I did the same thing a decade earlier.  Skipped right over to the next number finding myself celebrating the higher number twice.  Hmmm.  The idea still sounds appealing. Done.  What's an extra candle this year.  

WHERE'S MY MENU GUIDE

Yesterday, I received a gift from an associate from the West Coast. Truly, extremely thoughtful.  I was overwhelmed with appreciation as I work in a very unappreciated business. It was personally delivered by one of the visiting personnel from their office. She flew in on the red eye and, without a pause, came directly to our offices to deliver goodies. Greatly appreciated. I can't express that enough. It was a box of chocolate truffles from the local chocolatier.  Someone knows my vice!  Another goodie recipient received a box of lollipops from the same chocolatier.  There were four different types in the filled box - butterscotch, vanilla, chocolate [I forgot the 4th].  We traded a few. :)

While I maybe a choco-holic, there are chocolate combinations that are not pleasing to my taste buds.  Par example, I am not fond of white chocolate in any shape or form; particularly, when combined with other flavors (ie lemon or coconut).   Peanut butter and chocolate is also on the 'never will eat' list. Nope. No Reeses for this girl - EVER!  

What this box lacks is a menu guide!  Ludicrous! Furthermore, I am not alone who is dismayed by the lack of the menu.  I have shared my box of brown gold with fellow co-workers. They have tipped and turned the box upside down and inside out searching for the ever most important menu of flavors and combinations. 

Visual: Imagine a few indulgents [can that word be used as a noun] circling the box with graceful attempts to decipher the interior flavors.  All of which, are now, a surprise. Anyone have allergic reactions to nuts, for example... The discussion becomes endless, then ridiculous, then we suck it up and eat them, for pete's sake. 

Thankfully, when it comes time to ease the work stress [hence, the need for chocolate] and the chosen piece that ends up on the unappealing list, we have our officer 'eater' to come to the rescue and eats the remainder of the piece.  I hate wasting food.

Not to be repetitious, I just simply want to say, Thank you, again, K!