Thursday, December 31, 2009

Joppa Flats Education Center,

Massachusetts Audubon Society

Newburyport, MA

Today I played all day (at my volunteer job,) watching birds fly around with the snowflakes, and helping little kids and their parents make musical instruments out of recycled stuff to welcome in a "Green New Year."

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Minneapolis, MN

Today I will share a picture from last summer. I saw this at the Minnesota State Fair. I guess deep fried cheese curds are something to look forward to if you're a midwesterner. It made me smile to see this booth, but I was not tempted to try the cheese curds.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Newburyport and Salisbury, MA

Two of my favorite examples of "dancing trees."

Monday, December 28, 2009

Newburyport, MA

Coming home from work on a raw wet day and finding a letter in my mailbox- a REAL two-page, handwritten, interesting, full of humor and details kind of letter- from my brother Jack was really fun today. (And he sent me a picture from long ag0 taken in my favorite back yard!)

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Merrimack River,

Amesbury, MA

Another day of being amazed at living in a place where I don't even have to go out of my way to see a scene like this one. The river, the ice, the mist...oh my!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

COFFEE!!!!!!

Thanks to my generous and thoughtful friends and family, I will not have to buy coffee until Valentine's Day, and I will be enjoying only the finest beans every morning until then.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Day

Maudslay State Park,

Newburyport, MA

Talk about a GIFT! This place- just a few miles from my house, was once the private estate of a wealthy family, (the Moseleys ) and now the entire 500 acres (which they lovingly called "Maudslay") are owned by the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When I walk here, I sometimes think about how private ownership of big beautiful chunks of land can be advantageous to the common people, at least when the landowners possess a conscience. I am always grateful that the Moseley family chose not to sell out to developers.

Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve
Newburyport, MA

Opening my gift from Nora was so fun because I didn't even have to pretend it was JUST WHAT I WANTED !!!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

at home

Newburyport, MA

Tonight I am having fun making gingerbread using a recipe from a dear old friend, (Thank you Kras,) which calls for some unusual ingredients (coffee and bacon fat!) I am baking it in "Grammy's brownie pan," a beat-up-looking pan which has an almost magical power to make brownies and cakes turn out perfectly.

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009

home

Newburyport, MA

Well, even after losing most of the ornaments I've been collecting over the past 28 years.....I was able to decorate my little Christmas tree! It's amazing what you can find around the house when you're looking for things to hang on a tree. Total investment for tree and lights= $12.95.

It almost takes the focus away from the gaping hole which is STILL in my ceiling.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Registry of Motor Vehicles

Haverhill, MA

It was fun to be with Nora today when she got her long-expired driver's license reinstated. Now she can borrow my car, just like old times!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

my back yard

Newburyport, MA

Our first REAL snow of the season. My neighbors and I are shoveling out our cars. (No that's not a white clown nose on my face! ) It was really fun to shovel this particular 6 inches of snow because it was the light and fluffy kind.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Merrimack River,

Newburyport, MA

Walking has so many advantages. One of my favorite walks is over the Merrimack River Bridge, from Newburyport to Salisbury and back. Without a car, I can stop in the middle of the river and take in the view, and from a great height!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Downtown Newburyport, MA

Firehouse Arts Center

At the end of the day, I found an art gallery open, so I went in and enjoyed the show. FREE

!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Newburyport, MA

A bitter cold gusty day made warm by a visit from Nora, who took the train here from Boston.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Ring's Island, Salisbury, MA

Somerville, MA

Enjoying a wide range of styles in holiday home decor.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Merrimac, MA

I had some fun walking around today, but I'm still thinking about last night's fun, visiting my friend Nance to admire her Christmas tree, which is so impressive because, not only is it cute, it's real, and it was cut down by Nance herself, AND it grew in her own yard!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Artichoke Reservoir

Newburyport, MA

I like having friends with dogs, because they always know the good places to walk. Thank you Trudy (and Rosie.)

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Downtown Newburyport, MA

It's 4:30 in the afternoon. It's raining and it's cold. Perfect time to go to a movie at my favorite small theater a few blocks from my house. But wait, there's more!

After the movie, I saw this:

It's a spotlight under a flagpole, being rained on.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Newburyport, MA

I did a lot of things today, but the most fun thing was when my friend Elaine visited me- all the way from St Lucia, where she is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Thank you Skype!

Friday, December 11, 2009

at home

Newburyport, MA

The Christmas ornaments are lost, but I did find these pressed-glass sun-catchers, so I put them in my windows. Ornaments for every season!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Plum Island Sound,

Newburyport, MA

Thinking about putting my boat in the water and paddling out into Plum Island Sound ...but probably not today.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Newburyport, MA

Where's Nora? Picture-shy. Roger and Nora made my day today, because they raved about the soup I made, and I was able to send them home with lots of cookies!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Tendercrop Farm

Newbury, MA

It was fun today to get out of work just in time to see this sunset over the lot of Christmas trees.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Pearl Harbor Day

Newburyport, MA

This is all I needed for fun today: A radio tuned to NPR, a hot cup of coffee, and all the fixings to make my Christmas cards. A shout-out to Nora's dad, who let me take a picture of his strange and wonderful statue: Santa With Baby Jesus.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Newburyport, MA

It was fun to be the first one awake in my neighborhood this morning to see the season's first snowfall !!!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Newburyport, MA

How could this mess of metal and rubber be FUN?

Well, it will be, in the spring, when I can install them on top of my car and use them to get my kayak (and a second boat, if I want) to the water. It made my day when I found that my car racks were not lost after all. I got them back, and now I can't wait to get my boat wet!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Newburyport, MA

Today, it was fun for me to discover this very cool plastic bag in my possession, even though I'm pretty sure I have never bought anything at THE PORK STORE in Brooklyn. Ya gotta love recycling!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Plum Island National Wildlife Refuge
Newbury, MA

Today I woke to a windy rainy day, and when the power in my neighborhood went out, I went to the beach, where I found a spring-like day! Temperatures in the HIGH 60s (Farenheit!)

It was high tide, too. ( The marshes were full up. ) If you look very closely at the crashing waves, you will see a little rainbow.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Maudslay State Park

Newburyport, MA

It was just too difficult to choose one photo today.....

I took a long walk in the woods with Paul Giamatti.