The Day Before....

Thanksgiving is about here!  Traffic to the Cape is building and very shortly this morning, Teddy and I will join that fray for the drive to LM's house. We are spending the day baking and doing all the prep work for tomorrow's dinner.  Our day tomorrow will consist of LM, his son, John, and myself tomorrow, and then dessert visitors will arrive later in the day. Teddy and his parents will be with other family. 

Meanwhile, today Teddy and I will, make an apple pie, the stuffing, prepare the turkey so it can just be popped in the oven tomorrow morning, make cranberry/orange relish......I love that old Ocean Spray raw relish recipe. So easy to do in the food processor, and we will set the table and pick a dinner table bouquet from the many pretty dried things in the garden right now.

We do hope you will have a lovely Thanksgiving, no matter where or with whom you are.

We will surely be talking about gratitude and how we can help in or small corners to make the world a more peaceful, respectful and kind place. There will also be sharing with Ms G!!

Peace and LOVE.......

Up, Up and Away

November is certainly flying away quickly....between Teddy's activities and Thanksgiving coming up everyday is so full.  We kicked off the month with lots of school activities - bingo night and an election day bake sale at the polls and Teddy helped out with both, despite the fact that he has had bronchitis for almost a month (he is finally done with the cough).  It was amazing to see the number of people who turned out for voting, and to buy our baked goods!  Teddy showed off his marketing skills and talked to lots of people as they entered the Community Center.
That afternoon we went for a beautiful walk through a local conservation area and immersed ourselves in some Fall beauty. It seemed to ease the tense feelings that have surrounded the election. There were swans, amazing moss, and the deep reds and yellows of the Cape Cod fall. 
I will leave the election fallout to its own, but a lot of time has been spent soothing spirits and working on ways to counteract the lack of kindness.

Meanwhile, at the end of last week, son-in-law, David, arrived from Florida with his mother.  They are here on a 10 day bucket list trip for his Mom.  She was born and raised here in MA, and David has been patiently taking her around to all her old favorite places, and helping her touch her roots one more time.  We have all shared some great seafood meals, and a tour to Provincetown at the tip of the Cape. Yesterday, David took his Mom and myself on a flight out of Plymouth. We flew over the area where I live, then over the Cape Cod canal, followed by a tour out toward Cape Cod Bay and over the Cape.  It was a perfectly clear day to fly, with a soft SW wind and a very capable young pilot. 

When I looked at the few pictures I got, I was thrilled to see this heart shaped pond  and then son, Jason, pointed out the cat shaped pond nearby.  Nothing like the perspective from above!
That area is what is called Pine Hills in So. Plymouth.  You can just make-out that the foliage is still pretty. Our oaks stay very red in to winter.
The flight was an hour of peace and beauty like no other.  I am so very grateful to David for the trip!
I was interested to find out that his Mom, wanted to do this flight as a way of remembering the fact that when she was 45, she got her pilot's license at the same airport and did many flights through the years.

Otherwise, we have the day to day with Teddy.  Trying to find ways to inspire him to read. Over the last few months he has announced that he no longer enjoys or wants to read.  Any feedback would be welcome. It is inconceivable to me that someone would not want to read. Books and other media have taken me so many amazing places in my life. I feel it is just finding the right way to spark his interest.  We are going to talk with out librarian and see what she suggests. 

Time to head out and pick up a friend to take her to doctor's visits. Sadly, this friend, has COPD and is very frail.  We have known each other since 4th grade and it tugs at my heart to see her so diminished, yet, her strong spirit gives me such a lift.

Sending everyone love and peace in this particularly difficult time of change and finding acceptance. 

Happy Halloween!!

Teddy and his Mom and Dad carved 3 great pumpkins for the front hall last night. Looks pretty spooky to me, and when I came down the stairs for breakfast this morning, the hall was draped in cobwebs.  Guess who was so excited about his handiwork??  
Tonight will be full of fun in the neighborhood, and Farmer Squirrel will make his last appearance of this season. 
Hope there is lots of fun in your day, too........Peace!

Beautiful Hanover Cemetery, where most of my immediate ancestors now rest.  Always aglow this time of year. 

 

 

 

Freaky Friday

There is a squirrel making frequent appearances around here.  Everytime I turn around, he is on my space.

In the kitchen last night

With a date, Emma, the Lady Bug, last night out on the town in Buzzards Bay.

   I am suspecting that there will be many other appearances before we reach the end of Halloween.

Baking has kept me very busy the past few days, as we prepare for a festival at the Hoxie Center for the Arts on Saturday.  So far we have many, many dozens of Molasses cookies, Pumpkin/cranberry/ginger muffins, and tomorrow there will be brownies and cranberry orange muffins making delicious aromas.  Teddy will be helping out at the festival by teaching his signature arm knitting method.

Reports will be forthcoming.......

Freaky fun and peace to you all!!

Family; Squirrel Farmers

On the morning of Wednesday, October 26, my sister, Eleanor and husband, Steve Haskell, along with their son, John, will appear on the TODAY Show to share their story of heroin addiction which affected John. It is a very profound story and one that needs to be shared to help stop this horrible epidemic. I believe Jenna Bush is doing the interview. Feel free to share this with anyone you know who may be interested.

Fall is really in the air here today....very cool but the sun is warming and beautiful.  After an early morning of wondering whether Teddy would go to school, or not, he was off and running as soon as his Mom went to work. I think I detected a bit of drama!  He has had a little cold for a week.
No calls from the school so I guess he is getting through the day just fine.  With Halloween rapidly approaching, it was time for me to get all the ingredients for his "Farmer Squirrel" costume together.  It is very cute with a full squirrel head mask, and he will wear denim overalls, a red plaid shirt and a goodly supply of acorns in the pockets.  This morning I attached his grey fluffy tail.  He will need wear it to an event tomorrow and Thursday evening, and then on Halloween. Pictures forthcoming.   

Once that work was complete, I was on to attaching borders to a small quilt in process
 In between, I have been enjoying emails with daughter, Anne from FL.  She has been making some major changes in her life and I am beyond excited and proud of her latest endeavors. She's making her first ever creative project, and doing a great job preparing and pursuing all the details. When it is complete, I will be writing about it here, but for now, it needs to remain a surprise!  To say I have been urging her to create for years, years and more years, would be an understatement.  She's also reading again and we enjoy sharing our books and critiques.  Currently she is reading a series of 3 books by Susan Branch and loving the delightful illustrations and different style.  I loved those books so much and had to share the bounty.

Time to get back to my creative work, and also some baking research. I have to produce quite a few things for 2 upcoming bake sales, and am cruising about for some new ideas.  One will be this Saturday at our local Art Center and the other will be a sale held on election day to benefit the PTA at Teddy's school.  Any ideas are welcome!

PEACE

I thought you might like to see this beautiful quilt made by my sister, Margaret. Oh yes, it is adorned by my beautiful niece, Chico, owned by Margaret's daughter, Ellie and her wonderful partner, Andrea.  All the leaves and vines on this work of art were hand appliqued by Margaret. 

Trucks!

Nana and Teddy arriving at the MJT Cape Cod Truck Show at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in E. Falmouth yesterday.  It was a beautiful day and not only was the number of trucks amazing, but the crowd was huge.

Acres of trucks and people to ogle them over and over again.

Part of the Canal Fuel fleet in full spiff for the big day. My son, Jason is one of their drivers, and is frequently seen driving the big tractor on the far right. Last year Jason entered another of the trucks he drives but this year he was working, so missed the show.

A Tasha truck that is used to haul propane gas.  All their trucks are always spotless and gleaming when you see them on the road. The show is a memorial for the founder of the company, Michael J Tasha, who passed away at a young age, about 3 years ago.  He was a great friend of the Cape Cod community, thus this show to honor his memory and pride in his trucks. All proceeds from the show go to ALS research.

Big trucks of every size and purpose filled the fairgrounds, and their loud horns filled the air, I might add!

Huge wreckers were showing off their talents.

Teddy was in all his glory, and had the most fun hanging out in the drivers seat of this beautiful truck, which is driven by Jason's good friend, Jake.  He blew the horn and dreamed some dreams in that seat. Lou hung out there with him for a long time while I circled around with a few friends and daughter Sara, compete with granddaughter, Samantha.

Big truck fun!

The trailer on "Teddy's" truck, all agleam just as the cab.  Jake does all the work to keep this truck shining, and it is in full use everyday, hauling sand, gravel and rocks.

Here's Samantha, going on 10 years old now, her face freshly painted with a spider and a bat! She is the image of me at that age.

One last shot of the happy boy.  

We had such a fun day and look forward to next year's show.  Today I pick Teddy up at school and we go to swimming lessons.  In between I am working on a quilt, grocery shopping and planning a week of baking for bake sale items to bring to a neighborhood October Fest on Saturday. We will all be there!

PEACE!

Weekend Preview

Sitting with my morning iced tea and getting reading to launch the weekend, a very full one at that, but it includes some very fun things.  Later this morning, with several friends, I will be attending the annual show of the Plymouth County Quilt Guild. It is always so interesting to see what other quilters are creating, and I never fail to come away uninspired from a show.  I am also on the hunt for a certain, very elusive fabric. Believe it or not, I cannot seem to find a very pure white fabric that I need to use as a border. Hoping  a vendor at this show will have just what I need. Seems like it should be easy enough to find! 

After the quilt show, I will be on my way to see LM and Ms G.  I understand there will be a special dinner created in my honor.

Sunday morning will find us preparing to attend the 2nd annual MJT Cape Cod Truck Show.  Sounds like it might be an unusual event for me, but it is really a fun and interesting time with trucks of all sizes, shapes, and utilities, to be seen at their shiny best.  We love the antiques, as well as food trucks and exhibits.  Teddy will be coming along with us, and we will meet other family and friends at the fairgrounds.

A scene from last year's Truck show!

Teddy and I are off to investigate why every crow in the neighborhood is cawing, clacking, and in a general sense of uproar.  My bet is it is a hawk.

PEACE

VICTORY

Wherever I am, I feel the need to be in nature in all its glory. This inner city garden is a part of the Senior living community where my sister, Margaret, lives in Waterloo Ontario. The last two weeks in August found me visiting there once again, and I enjoyed many early morning walks in these lovely spaces.  These plots of beauty are filled with fruit, veggies, many forms of garden art, and of course, beautiful flowers!  It was fun to form a mental picture of what the tenders of these plots might look like, based on what was growing in their space.

Aside, from my lovely trip to Canada, one might wonder where I have been, and I apologize to my regular readers for the long absence.  The world of technology got way ahead of me (not a tough task), and the update to a new computer, coupled with the move to Windows 10 and life in general, put a halt to Ms Graysea for awhile.  The technology has been slightly tamed, and now I am hoping to be back without too many interruptions.

I'm looking forward to filling you in on the wonderful world of being a full-time, live-in Nana with my dear, Teddy. Although, it was a very uncomfortably hot and steamy summer here, it was filled with lots of camps, and family fun, as well as my precious time with LM and Ms G on the weekends.
I must tell you, though, that Ms G is reaching the end of her years, and catches us with wistful faces as we make the most of each day we have with our precious girl.  She is still quite active and doing her usual crazy cat things, but she has that senior cat look, and seems to forget she has eaten as soon as she has consumed a healthy helping. All her life she ate dry food only and had no interest in people food, EXCEPT for BACON!  Now she has added wet food to the dry and is mad about people food in any form, as long as we are eating it, too. Pretty crazy!

It is nice to be back here but time to go. The school bus run is nigh, and I have the gym calling to me.

I'll be back.

PEACE

The Beauty of Organizing

As my eyes opened this morning, the moon was still brightening my room, and, as always, I did a quick check on mood, and body mechanics while I contemplated the beautiful light and what the day might bring.  I knew immediately, that today would be bright and full of accomplishments. I haven't felt that motivated in a while.  My feet hit the floor, and so many things waiting for my attention, were addressed in a methodical and easy, joyful way.  The shower and tub had been calling my name for weeks, today they got my full attention and are now bright and shiny.  That set the tone, and I hiked up to the attic to retrieve my heavy box of important papers. It had been moved to exile, because it wouldn't stop nagging. Knowing income tax prep is on the docket for next week, pushed me up those stairs. As well as my income tax records, that box contains family history, photos, and love letters. What an incredible day ensued.  Taking out the box, helped me to write some overdue letters, sort a few photos and send them off, prepare all my tax papers, solve a car insurance issue and clean out the glove box in my car, discard a lot of "baggage" (ahhhhhhhhhh), and organize my papers so that I can find anything I want, whenever needed. My Will, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Proxy are now easily accessible should they be called for by my family.  My father had sat with me and talked about his paternal ancestors 2 years before he passed, and today I took those faded and carelessly written notes from a file, and typed them to add to folders of genealogy that are in the box. 

In between all the activity of the day, I made myself some nice egg salad for lunch. Just like my mother would have made, with chopped olives and some chives. Even though it was cool and very windy all day, I still got a little sunshine on my face, and also spent some time chatting with a dear former co-worker. 

My soul is fed, and peaceful, and I look forward to the energy born of this day.

Tomorrow is Food Pantry day. I so enjoy my 1-2 days a week working there, and it is a great workout with some lovely people.

The big green box is staying in my sitting room for a while, as I have thought of a project to do with a packet of photos I came across on this bright and beautiful day. Stay tuned.

Peace and love going out to Brussels and all those affected by the bombings of this morning. So painful.

Snow Day

HAPPY SPRING!

Teddy's home from school today on a snow day.  The media hyped up a huge storm for us, even saying that our area by the Cape Cod Canal, would get the jackpot amounts. Here we are with barely a coating on the ground!

 Anyway, I thought I would show you some photos from the weekend with LM. Saturday morning brought us glorious sunshine, although outside, it was much colder than it looked. We decided to brave it and head to Provincetown, and take an early Spring walk through the Beech Forest, our favorite part of the National Seashore of Cape Cod.  In another month Beech Forest will be filled with migrating birds, drawing birdwatchers from all over.  The first week in May, especially, there are all sorts of warblers to be sighted.  We had a great walk!!  Being such a cold day, no one else was around, and we indulged ourselves in the pure sound of nature. We stopped often to feel the sun renew our souls while the wind whispered through the reeds and trees. During one stop, we discovered a busy downy woodpecker and 2 chickadees,  and next thing we knew, they were following us on our walk. I didn't get bird pictures, but as we often do, we found a tree we are certain must be home to the friendly Beech Forest troll, and some other animal friends.  See if you can find the rabbit, the fish, and alligator.

 We had fun finding the critters in this tree, and a woodpecker near the top (not in photo)

 Our troll tree

A glimpse through some reeds to one of the many ponds in the backed-by-sand-dunes Beech Forest.

On the way to Provincetown, I asked LM to take me to an area I'd never explored before.  It is known as High Head and is at the northernmost area of N. Truro. From there one can see all over the Cape.  

High Head Road

Looks like we will drive right off the edge at the top. 

Looking toward Provincetown over Pilgrim Lake from the top of High Head. It is truly a breathtaking view.

We turned the sharp corner at the top (there are a number of homes up there) onto a dirt road which meanders through typical dune low growth. This view was west looking over cottages along the road in N. Truro.

What a spectacular place. LM had a friend who once lived atop High Head.  I imagine it to be a very wild place in a storm.

Thanks for coming along on our Saturday tour. We are forever seeking out places we haven't explored before, and always  manage to find a surprise of some sort - most often beautiful.

Our snow is already about gone, Teddy and I have been out to do some exploring of our own today, and tomorrow he is very excited about returning to school. A very happy 1st grader.

Love and peace to all!!

Waterloo Trip - Part 2

I would like to be able to say that I deliberately saved this post until the dead of winter so we could all enjoy the beauty that is Ontario in June, but I must confess, that it is only due to procrastination that brings you all this color right now when our world is so black, white and gray.  Nonetheless. I began telling you about our trip to visit my sister, Margaret, last June, and now I bring you the rest of the story.  Margaret's front porch window boxes gave us the most spectacular greeting.

 

 

These beauties were on the porch right below the window box. Take note of the forget-me-nots. They are everywhere in Waterloo.

A two minute walk from Margaret's house, are the community gardens. They are such an oasis of loveliness that we had to walk through them several times during our visit. Many of the residents spend countless hours raising vegetables and the healthiest specimens I have seen anywhere. It was so nice to see residents sitting on benches in the gardens to enjoy serenity, the birds and butterflies.

Add On her living room coffee table, Margaret has this big basket filled with "friends"....all hand knit by friends.  Although they look very real, the sweet kittens are not about to jump out.

As well as her inviting back porch, there is a private terrace with garden at the back, and even a cute resident bunny.

We really enjoyed the terrace with its new pergola shaded by Virginia Creeper.

APretty flowers everywhere.

...and, more

My loving chauffeur enjoying a chocolate chip cookie!

This lovely quilt hangs in Margaret's living room over the sofa. It was  made as a gift by the Sew and Sews - Margaret's quilting group.

A William Morris quilt made by Margaret hangs on the far wall of the dining room.

During our visit there was a pick-up day for unwanted item, and I was lucky enough to find this nicely framed print. It is now in my sitting room, and a lovely reminder of our trip.

As always, Margaret was working on quilt blocks while we were there. Her work,a ll by hand, it so detailed and interesting. These pieces have a lot of hand applique.

These circles are all appliqued by hand, and perfect!

These little flowers were my favorites.

Love the owls!

All too soon, it was time to head home. We planned our route to take us south through Niagara Falls,  then north to Fort Niagara, and east across the lower shore of Lake Ontario. We always like to choose a way we have not driven before. All the way east to Syracuse/Rochester area we were driving close to the shore of the Lake and it was the most beautiful, serene and lush countryside. We passed hundreds of miles of fruit orchards - apples, peaches, pears, cherries and others.  Very rural, yet thriving with business.

We came across this little honor system farm stand and, of course, we stopped to buy strawberries and asparagus. Two of our favorite foods!

Along the way...

By noon we were getting hungry and this lovely farm popped up just as a very heavy thunder storm began. We pulled in and made a mad dash through the rain drops. It is a strawberry farm, and I only wish I could convey the essence of strawberry that filled the air. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of BLT's on homemade bread served with just made potato chips.

This doisplay was adjacent to the table where we ate lunch.

Looking out to the strawberry fields and apple trees beyond. 

Obviously a popular destination for delicious food and home made ice cream.

Very close to Lake Ontario at this point

I cannot remember the name of this quirky little town but loved these windows above an old store.

Two happy sisters!!

 

Thanks for coming along with us....PEace and love.