Happy Halloween!!! Garett and I created this J-O-L last night....

Getting back to life off-Cape...

Well...I haven't posted for a while now, but it's not because I haven't been up to anything...quite the contrary! Settling back into an off-season routine has been a challenge. (My season, as you well know, is summer...so the rest of the year, all eight long months of it, is my off-season!) Getting back to work, re-immersing myself into my church activities and adjusting to life in my "winter home" have been rather time consuming, but always interesting. Additionally, I had the pleasure of traveling to Atlanta last week for a wonderful visit with friends there.
Nevertheless, I have still maintained my dedication to ATC swaps, and present here the most recent card, created for a swap at Scrapbook Cupboard in Bridgewater. The theme was "Trees" and I knew immediately that I just had to showcase Joyce Kilmer's poem...an all time favorite of mine.

Uh oh...

Uh oh....I just found a spot of mustard on my sweater...I wonder how that got there?!?!

I can't believe I ate...

...Hot Dogs!!!

Not being much of a meat eater, hot dogs are one of the last foods I would ever eat; but this afternoon, while visiting family in Worcester, my brothers and I took a trip down memory lane and went to Coney Island, a Worcester landmark well known for their hot dogs. Not only were the dogs to die for (grilled & smothered in meat-sauce, onions & mustard on a steamed roll), but just being inside the place was a trip back in time. All the furnishings, along with the carved names and initials on the booth surrounds, are original - and everything is remarkably clean. Coney Island and its attached bar, George's, were established in 1918 and are still going strong. To see the old neon sign aglow at night is a real treat. I can just imagine being there in, say, 1946, when Worcester's finest were returning home from the war and reuniting with friends, listening to Sinatra's latest hits on the jukebox and chowing down a few dogs...

So if you ever find yourself in downtown Worcester, it will be well worth your time to satisfy your hunger by getting a "Coney dog" or two ($1.50 each) or, as I did, three! Ah, I can still (burb) taste them now!

Owls in my yard...

An exciting thing happened here at the Nest a few weeks ago...on September 13th actually (coincidentally the day of my 60th birthday). Being an early riser, I was enjoying my morning coffee and reading from Beston's Outermost House in the quiet and solitude of the upstairs sitting room. I could clearly hear what I suspected were the calls of owls just outside. So I stepped out onto the deck, and much to my delight and amazement I saw two large owls in trees very close to the house. A third could be heard responding to their voices, but not seen. Since that morning, I have heard them again (most recently at 5:30 this morning), and upon listening very carefully, believe that they are Great Horned Owls...distinguished by their resonant hooting - hoo, hoo-oo, hoo, hoo. Though the presence of these owls may be relatively common in this area, I consider my siting and hearing to be a distinct pleasure and gift, a truly memorable experience!

(P.S. I did not take this photo; it was downloaded from the net.)

Happy Birthday, Paul!!!

I certainly cannot let this day go by without posting a special birthday wish for my brother Paul. This ATC was created using a childhood photo of him taken, obviously, after he had injured his arm. Paul has dealt with a lot during his lifetime...accidents, surgeries, therapies...but survived it all and is probably a stronger person because of it. One thing I can say for sure is that he never complained about pain and discomfort...he was a real trooper through it all! Paul has been a very special friend and uncle to my son Garett, and for that, among many other things, I am deeply grateful.

Happy birthday, dear brother...we love you lots!!! Garett sends birthday wishes, too!

ATCs to share...

In addition to the beautiful card shown in my last post, my dear friend also sent these wonderful ATCs. Judy and I have been exchanging Artist Trading Cards each month for the past two years, many of which I have shared through blog posts. The detail in Judy's cards is exquisite...each little flower cut from fabric and arranged into a bouquet...bits of fabric cut and placed to form a delicate silhouette...bold colored felt & hand stitching creating "almost a circle"...all so lovely and uniquely "Judy"...enjoy!!!