Daily Photo post #44

Today I went to the library (more on that later) and pulled up to this view:


I took the picture but decided that you couldn't see the COLORS well enough so I climbed over the barrier and down the ledge and got a closer photo with the better coloring (but I still liked the other view better) and decided that Jim and I should come here for a picnic someday soon.


THEN I was thinking that you may want to know WHY I was at the library - not that going to the library is rare for me but on this day it was definitely not my normal reason... The library is having a bake off - and Jim and I (the two people who cook and bake least in all the world) have entered. We did an apple pie contest once before in Westford and Jim came in first with his chocolate apple pie and I came in last with my fat free apple oatmeal pie :-( SO this time he is dusting off his pie and I have come up with a new one (I am mixing a few pies I found together) so wish me luck

Daily Photo post #43

The weight (for lack of a better word) of cement sculptures in gardens always intrigues me. It is almost as if they bring it down and hold with. As if they are the peddlar and the flowers are the balloons.

This one was in a particularly peaceful garden.

Daily Photo post #42

Today's photo isn't a great picture but the room was dark and the flash on my phone isn't the best but I just thought Chin was so cute and I wanted to share this. She isn't feeling well these days, she is 14 and the vet has said she is just old and may be her time. :-(

But I sure do love her laying on the rocker runners

Daily Photo post #41

I love today's photo. On Sundays Dobby has puppy play time and then "school" and he runs around like a maniac for an hour and then is a star pupil :-) but he was watching his friends TJ and Max play and was looking like "what is wrong with them? When will they grow up?"

Daily Photo post #40

Today I went to a Faberge egg class at the library - it really was a great time... Here is the the class photo. Can you guess which one I made? Little prize to the winner.

Daily Photo post #39

There is no place like home

Or is it home

Or is this home

No maybe this is home

Today we went townhouse shopping since we have the option of moving...
We LOVED this complex and really liked a few of them - fingers crossed

Link to a contest to win free Ugg boots

Check it out -

Daily Photo post #38

So tonight I went to a learning meeting about Mary Kay as I am thinking about selling it. And there is a "drawing" every week and I won - so check out my new lipstick - WOOT!

Daily Photo post #37

So today's post is actually pictures from last night BUT really getting to listen to and then meet Elliot Yamin was a great experience and I wanted to share it. His voice is just amazing! The radio does him no justice. His story is inspirational and he is proud of what he's done. And he should be!

Daily Photo post #36

Time suckers?
Do you have one?
Today mine was Farm Town on FaceBook I could NOT stop playing - I wanted my farm to be perfect... I *probably* should have been working on my IRL house instead

Daily Photo post #35

Well Jazzy came home today (yes she has a name now) and I spent most of my day driving to pick her up (WHY WAS THERE TRAFFIC ON 95 SOUTH TODAY???) Marissa is so excited to have a new puppy

Daily Photo post #34

Sundays are for friends... Something about seeing a friend on a Sunday is just the perfect beginning to a week.
Thanks to Louisa for a lovely visit and tea at the amazing Teele Square Cafe
Lemon Ginger Chamomile - YUM!

Daily Photo post #33

This photo is for Marianne I was at Target and saw Stash teas which have great reviews and saw this flavor... If they had any in stock I would have been shipping it to you

Daily Photo post #32

Well I have OFFICIALLY surpassed my goal of a month of daily photos - but I want to keep doing it. Taking a phone pic every day forces me to find the interesting or the pretty in every day and on "bad" days it forces me out of the house... I am quite enjoying it, are you?

Today Jim and I went on a "hike" or more really walk through Great Brook Farm State Forest - it was great. We had Dobby with us and we just enjoyed our day. Here is the beginning of our journey:

Daily Photo post #31

The pear trees at the barn have been showering down their goods for weeks. I have kept saying I was going to make a pear jam for everyone to enjoy - well today when I went to the barn there was a bucket of pears waiting for me so apparently tonight (or probably tomorrow) is the night...

Pear Jam here I come...

Here is the recipe in case you want to try

Easy pear jam recipe ingredients:

1 kg pears
1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
300 grams sugar
1 box pectin powder
Pear preserves recipe instruction:

Wash and clean pears. Cut pears in pieces, add 3 tablespoons of sugar in it and cook it in low heat.

Wash lemon, shred lemon peel and cut lemon in slices.

When boiling pears soften, add lemon slices and lemon zest in it and cook it 5 minutes more.

Press fruits with a potato masher or process it in blender.

Pour rest of the sugar, cinnamon, ginger and powdered pectin in it. Cook it to boil again (stir it all the time) for 5 minutes more.

Pour hot pear jam in the clean warm jam jars, seal them and process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

Daily Photo post #30

I think one of my favorite parts of fall is tea - sitting down with a yummy cup of tea and relaxing is just the best way to end the day - - - Well apparently Tazo agrees with me:
Enter calm


Let me know if you really want to try it I will send you a bag

Daily Photo post #29

So today I got to see the lovely Elsa
and spend some time with her - she always makes me feel better about life and the future - the world is truly a better place because she is in it (pretty sure I have written that before on here)
While I was there she finished up her blog post of the day and even in angst she smiles - I love it (and her)

The reason I went to see Elsa is I have really reached a true cross roads and I knew I needed help - someone I trusted and who would be honest and yet kind... And I want to tell you all that Elsa is hosting a contest for someone to get a free project management session with her (One I was coveting but apparently just decided to go down and take without winning...) You can enter to win it here

Daily Photo post #28

Okay so I *try* not to post too many pictures of Dob Dob here... I don't want this to become the all Dobby network, this is after all my blog and there is more to me than my puppy... HOWEVER, yesterday was a rough day for me - my father moved out abruptly and I was saddened by this and by my sisters' behavior but I will survive and a lot of that has to do with this one - - - My puppy who makes me smile more times in a single day than my father has in my entire life (Ohhh did I just send a job? Sorry, ummmm actually I am not)

This is Dobby's first sweater (though not his first outfit)

Daily Photo post #27

I am having a bit of a day as they say so I have nothing other than the pic and honestly even that kind of sucks...

Daily Photo post #26

Dear Mother Nature -
I did NOT complain too much when we had a cold and rainy summer, or when it ended after 5 days of warmth BUT really if you were going to take all the time and effort to create such a masterpiece as this plant could you at least have let up on the rain enough so that it wasn't pelted to the ground? Just a thought for future reference.

Daily Photo post #25

As I said the other day I tend to think of what I am going to photograph a day or two in advance. It's just because I look forward to it :-)
SO I *knew* I was going to take a picture of a flag today (much like this one)

But then a trip into the town hall made me feel like maybe THIS is the picture I am supposed to post today - these are hand drawn faces of Massachusetts natives who died 8 years ago today as a part of the terrorist attacks - they were lawyers, architects, doctors and FDNY they died over other peoples beliefs - I hope and pray with all of my being that we are never this ignorant again. That we don't hate a belief system (or freedom) so much that we kill thousands of innocents again.

Daily Photo post #24

Abundance - This is CERTAINLY not my garden! I got one measly little tomato from my 6 plants this year but my neighbor (let's call her Jane since that is her name and I know her) has quite an abundance of tomatoes this year. What makes some peoples plants grow and others not - I mean it certainly isn't soil (we have the same soil) or watering (we both didn't water at all) or sun (we both had full sun) what could the difference be?

Daily Photo post #23

I am not one of THOSE people - you know the neighbor who drops off an apple pie when there is a new person in the neighborhood. Well in fact I don't know the names of most of the people on this very short road... A funny little story (well not haha funny) THIS house has just looked empty to me for the past few days and I feared that the owner had died... He was an old man I have known all my life and I *ALWAYS* thought his name was Mr. Aruda and I thought this because I was allowed to bike down to Mr. Aruda's house and his house was where I had to turn around. My Mom and his wife were friends... She died YEARS ago (like 15 or 20 years ago), she was old then, he was old then! Well fast forward to today when I found out two things 1. his name was Mr. Jordan - Mr. Aruda lived in the red house across the street. and 2. He passed away - he was a lovely old man who always had bowls of water for the dogs when we were out walking the dogs so that they weren't thirsty. He always had a kind word for everyone and was just an overall nice guy. I hope Mr. Jordan is happily reunited with his wonderful wife.

Dobby and I missed him on our walk today - though I did in his honor take time to say hi to Mr. Marden, Mrs. Crane, and Mrs. Lyon (who has lived here longer than I have and asked if I was "new" to the neighborhood)

Daily Photo post #22

Garth Brooks has a song that says "if tomorrow never comes..." and that song is what made this post happen today - this plant has been GORGEOUS for weeks and I kept saying "it will be tomorrow's post" well if tomorrow doesn't come for these plants I wanted you to get a peek...
Happy Autumn!

Daily Photo post #21

A boy and his ball...
I have no idea where the boy who went with this ball was or even who he was - Jim and I were driving home from the Bedford Farmer's Market (where Jim and Doria told as a part of Three Apples Storytelling) when we saw this on the road. I thought it was such a classic end of summer photo that I couldn't WAIT to share it with you. Enjoy - and I really hope that the little boy (or girl) had a great last "official" day of summer!

Daily Photo post #20

On my way to the gym this morning I was thinking about what picture I was going to post (I keep a few ideas in my head for the next day's photo in case something photo and blog worthy doesn't happen I have a stand by) and in front of me walks probably 30 - 35 wild turkeys... Okay they win, they might be ugly but it isn't all that common that they saunter down main street... This is the best of the pictures I took - I hope they are finding a hiding place before Thanksgiving! Way to think ahead Mr. Turkey man!

Can I also add I have NEVER been SO HAPPY to be in a car - those suckers are HUGE and scary looking!

Daily Photo post #19

Well since EVERYBODY is canning these days I just had to throw my hat in the ring - I asked my friend erin and she sent me to a website (pickyourown.com) and originally I was going to pick the peaches but I decided to start with something a little easier for a first item - so I made some triple berry syrup... I used Splenda as my sweetener and according to Jim YUM YUM YUM!

Daily Photo post #18

Today was one of those "Kodak Moment" days - I got to go peach picking with my two favorite guys! Jim, Dobby and I went to Boston Hill Farms in North Andover and picked some peaches (15 pounds to be exact - which is a peck) it was GREAT - Dobby got to see animals in the petting zoo and Jim learned to love peaches and I got to enjoy a warm day in the sun with my favorite guys!

Daily Photo post #17

Pom-A-Nauze
(Schnauzeranian)

Schnauzer / Pomeranian Hybrid

The Pom-A-Nauze is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Schnauzer and the Pomeranian. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. Not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses.

Recognized Names:
American Canine Hybrid Club = Pom-A-Nauze
Designer Dogs Kennel Club = Pom-A-Nauze

Whatever you want to call it I got to be with Marissa when she picked out her new puppy - nameless wonder that she is right now... She is 4 weeks old an awfully cute!

Daily Photo post #16

As I sit down at my computer tea in hand, sweater on, there is no greater reminder to me that fall is on its way. Gone are the warm days of summer - oh hell who am I kidding we didn't have many of those this year at all. But for me one of the easiest ways to tell well autumn is here and winter is only a stone's throw away is my father. Out goes the straw cowboy hat of his summer wardrobe and in runs the heavy grey Stetson of cooler days - and THIS is what greeted me this morning... Welcome autumn! I look forward to your beautiful displays.

Daily Photo post #15

A weed by any other name?

What really is the definition of a weed? Well anyway the neighborhood kid who mows my lawn thinks I am a freak because I always say "don't mow here you might mow down my weeds" but I love these yellow flowers so who cares if I am supposed to douse them in round-up... I will cherish them instead... And yes a weed by any other name WOULD smell as sweet!