Wingaersheek Beach MA 7-5-2011

Posted on July 10, 2011 by joyce

We piled into the car with all the equipment needed for a fun day at the beach. We drove toward Gloucester stopping at Subway for some sandwiches to Wingaersheek beach.

For twenty dollars you can enjoy the day. If you live close you can just walk in for free. At the car we douse with spray sun screen so as not to layer it with sand at the beach sight. We all carry our share including little Anya with pail, shovel and barbie dolls in hand. John carries the loaded cart with big wheels through the deep sand. He leads the way about half way to the edge of the water where the sand is a little wet from the previous tide. It is a lot easier to walk on wet sand that dry sand where your feet sink in as you walk.

There are lots of families and sunbathers already camped out for an enjoyable day. There is quite a bit of space between the blankets and chairs laid out to mark territory.

John starts by digging a pretty deep hole using Anya’s shovel so he can set up the umbrella. Shade makes all the difference to me on a hot sunny day.

Once we are all set up, Anya and Rachel head to the edge of the water to pick up shells and get their feet wet. From time to time Anya brings me over some sea glass they ave found. When Rachel and John first met they keep the sea glass they found on beach outings in a jar on a bookshelf.

I relaxed for a while, then got up to take some photos. There is a lighthouse visible along the coast, but some distance away. I try capture the photo, but it is far away. I could have walked through the shallow gentle surf closer, but I didn’t want to get my sandal wet or step on rocks with bare feet. I’m a real baby about the water. Mostly I just kept my short on instead of taking them off to get into the water. Sand and wet always make for an interesting uncomfortable feeling for the rest of the day. Can you tell that I didn’t grow up near a beach?

Anya just loves the day at the beach, digging holes in the sand and collecting sea shell fragments in her dump truck with naked barbie dolls driving of course. Kids have such an imagination.

While the rest of the family were walking and playing in the water I enjoyed a blue slushy. HIt the spot and probably made my lips blue. It was vanilla flavored and loaded with so much sugar even I had trouble finishing it. I bought Stan some ice coffee. Anya and I ate Doritos which left our fingers orange. Junk food at the beach. What fun.

John picked the perfect spot to set up at the beach. By afternoon the tide had rolled in and we had a front row seat to the ocean’s edge.

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Walk on the Freedom Trail Boston MA 7-6-2011

Posted on July 7, 2011 by joyce

While John and Stan went fishing on a party boat, Rachel went to work and Anya to school I decided to go to downtown Boston.

The 136 / 137 bus is at the top of the hill from John’s home. I used his Charlie pass, which gives you a ride on the bus along with the “T” (subway) for the same price. The bus stop right at the orange line (subway). I easily use the pass that was previously loaded with cash to quickly pass through the turnstiles. I scurry with locals like I know what I’m doing. I’m sure the camera slung over my shoulder doesn’t give me away as a tourist at all.

I watch feet briskly moving. Women and men mostly wearing flip-flops on this warm summer day in Boston. I wonder when flip-flops became the shoes of choice for business and pleasure? I had on sandals which was plenty comfortable for me.

I get off at the state exit downtown which bring me right on the downtown. I check my bearings and notice Old State House and walk a couple of blocks toward Quincy market. I stop off at Faneuil Hall at the National Parks visitors center to stamp off my national parks booklet to mark my visit. A friendly lady offered me a free 90 minute walking tour of the freedom trail starting at 11 am. The tour ends at the bridge.

Sounded good. I went across to Quincy to buy a bagel and enjoy watching the people touring the area. It was so relaxing that I almost forgot about the tour. A ranger walked by with her 10:30 group of folks. The more I thought about it the more it didn’t seem so appealing to me. I could follow the red bricks in the sidewalk myself. I had been on this trail with Stan and John about six or so years ago in October.

I followed the red brick trail and enjoyed watching kids play in the fountains along the way. I little girl was teasing her older brother by placing her foot on the water jets and surprised him with a burst of water.

The trail follows the North end where a lot of Italian restaurants are located. One year Jamie, John and I stopped at one of these places and had the best pizza I’ve had in my life. I try to remember which one of these places we went to. Maybe we will have more time to stop next time. I saw one of the charming bakeries that have those delicious canolis along with black and white cookies. These are not really cookies, but a flat tasty thin four inch diameter yellow cake frosted with black one side and white on the other. I would have bought a few things today, but didn’t want to carry them on my walk on this hot day.

The restaurants looked so inviting and cozy with small tables set with white tablecloths with napkins carefully wrapped around the silverware. I bet a lot of interesting romantic conversations are carried on at those tables.

I made past Paul Revere’s home where we toured a few years ago. Then one to his statue and a glimpse of the Old North Church tower. In the court yard is a tribute to the soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan who have paid the ultimate price with their life. Dog tags hang on many panels to represent all the soldier. Quite touching to see so many.

I get the urge to take the whole walk across the bridge to the USS Constitution. My knees are holding up, sandals are comfortably – why not. I stop at the Cobb’s Hill Burying ground and take a leisurely walk around noticing the deterioration of some of these grave markers that date back to the 1800’s.

When I cross the bridge I am a little nervous walking on the metal grates with an open view of the ocean far below It is a hot day and I counted over 1,000 steps to the other side.

The USS Constitution is one of Stan and my favorite stops when we come to Boston. There is an interesting museum with a movie telling you about Old Iron Sides. This year the visitor’s center is also open. It is new to me and quite a pleasant change. I tour the top deck of the ship which is spotless and impressive.

The near-by bus takes me back to the “T” and another bus ride home to John’s place. What a nice relaxing tour of the freedom trail.

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Salem MA 4th of July 2011

Posted on July 4, 2011 by joyce

We took a short drive to Deb and Mike’s place on the edge of the water in Salem MA to see the local parade.

Anya looked like a little 4th of July doll with her dress of navy and white stars on the top and red and white strips on the bottom. We all wore decorative necklaces along with cheerful headbands. Some of us (Stan) left them in the car.

This is like no other parade you have seen. Yes there was a marching band, a jazz band and four or five guys with red, white and blue striped instruments playing patriotic songs on a float. The other floats and folks walking with hand painted posters added the color. Every recent historical event was satirized. Some not so tongue in cheek.

People were lined up on both sides of the narrow street to view the parade. Very low tech. Very much fun.

After the parade we walked a few more blocks to Willows park. Anya road the old fashioned carousel horses on a ride that seemed to go round lickety split. Almost more like terror for a two and half year old then joy. She was a good sport about it, but I think she really enjoyed the boats better. The horses and other animals on the carousel were old and probably hand carved. It was a delight.

We picked up some lunch and walked a short distance across the grass filled with ancient giant willow trees as tall as you could see to the edge of the walkway to watch the boats and swimmers in the bay.

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4th of July in Boston MA – 7-4-2011

Posted on July 4, 2011 by joyce

The pool it still as glass as reflections of red, white and blue pinwheels wait for a flutter of wind on this warm, muggy day of the 4th of July. In a few minutes we will gather for a trip up toward marble-head to see a traditional parade and watch Anya take a ride on the carousel.

When I was a kid we would gather on the fourth to take a ride to town to see one of the biggest parades in Colorado i downtown Greeley. Local groups would decorate floats for the parade, pulled slowly through the streets for the delight of eager children. Old cars holding dignitaries from the community and rodeo queen perched a top stately horses pranced along the parade route. Clowns riding bicycles, some of which had big wheels in the front and a small wheel in the back responded to giggles and smiles from the children.

Bands from the local high schools and junior high marched by. I always hoped they would play when they passed our way.

When I was in junior high I took up an instrument – bassoon. It is not a marching instrument, so Mr. Faulkner, our band leader, gave me a glockenspiel to play along the parade route. It was a big old thing for a little kid to carry. It was in the shape of a lire and had metal keys on both sides that you struck with a mallet. You would wear a thick strap around catty corner around your shoulder and place the instrument into the leather pouch on the other side, then support it with your left arm and play it with your right. That is probably when I became somewhat ambidextrous, as I really was left handed trying to play with my right hand. Pianos must give yout that same ability.

The glockenspiel lets off a really high pitch sound and can be heard above most other instruments. I’m not sure I hit all the correct notes, but no one seemed to complain. It sure wasn’t a worry at the time.

Our band marched in so many parades in the summer that I wore a hole in a pair of Keds (canvas ties shoes – first type of tennis shoes) clear to my socks. They were really expensive shoes for the my parents budget at the time. I remember when my mom and I when back to the store for a refund of some type or discount on the next pair of shoes. The shop keeper just looked at us in dismay that I have wore these shoes out so quickly as no one ever wore out the bottoms of Keds.

When I was in high school we had a much better marching band. We have two kids leading the band all decked out with uniforms with tails and a big tall hat. The pompom girls lead the band carrying a banner for Greeley High School – Wildcats. Colors were white with accents of black and orange. I played the cymbals by that time. We had marching routines that involved drummers playing cadences and the six or so cymbals players crashing at the appropriate time.

What fun. I hope to hear some good bands today.

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Relaxing at the Pool in Melrose – 7-3-2011

Posted on July 3, 2011 by joyce

We took it easy by relaxing at the pool in John’s back yard. There was very little clean-up from the party the day before. I never saw so many couple’s with little kids under the age of six in one place. There must have been an explosion of births in the last five years.

This is a lot different than the group of people who we see every week at the polka club. They are mostly over the age of 55. There is but a stay grand child here or there dancing around the edges with their grandparent.

At John’s house kids galore; some swimming with parent in tow and some in the extra yard behind the pool playing with Anya’s playhouse, fully equipped play stove, lawn mower, peddle car and balls. Giggles and smiles were abound as the kids ate hot dogs and dawned 4th of July headbands. Anya could be seen in the pool with her big bubble on her back treading water while squirting other kids who were floating on swim toys with a squirt gun.

Grandparents camped out on the porch by the pool under a big old shade tree to watch in delight. It was a balmy 70 to 80 degrees under sunny skies. This is quite the welcome contrast to the last few weekends of rainy days in Boston.

Today Anya had already jumped into the pool before I even thought of getting on my swim suit. As I stood at the edge with Stan at the other edge waiting for time to pass to make the plunge into the the chilly water, Anya called out grinning ear to ear, “One – Two – Three”. In I jumped with Stan still waiting at that other end. John is right. Water is great once you get in. Anya looked over at Grandpa and counted off the same way. On three he took the plunge with a dive off the end.

It was such a delight to see this little 2 1/2 year old kicking her legs in the pool. No concern for deep end or not as it was all deep for her.

Her recent swim lessons really paid off as she took to water like a fish.

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Big Cook out and Pool party in Boston MA 7-2-2011

Posted on July 2, 2011 by joyce

We’re visiting Anya our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter and her family in Melrose for the 4th of July. It is Saturday and we are getting ready for a back-yard cook out and pool party in their back yard for about 30 of their friends and family. It is expected that there will be little kids, babies and young adult having a good time.

The weather in the Boston area is a balmy 70 to 80 degrees which makes that slash in the chilly pool really refreshing.

We took a walk to the near-by park this morning to work off some energy. Anya really enjoyed swinging on the tire with an older girl about 10. They straddled the tire hung vertical by three chains. It rotated really fast with just a little push.

Later we took three barbie dolls along with us to Home Depot to find some parts to repair the downstairs toilet. Anya is pretty patient to a point, then wants out of the cart to walk around on her own. She was waiting with daddy while Stan was busy looking for a flag pole. Anya struck p a conversation with another little girl about the same age. She complimented the little girl on the nice butterfly on her sun dress. They hit it off right away. The other little girl said, “I just want to kiss you.” Anya obliged by giving her a smack right on the lips followed by the other girl returning the moment with a bear hug.

Why can’t we all be so congenial?

On the way home we sang “You are my sunshine” and “I’m a nut.”

Oh to be 2 1/2 again.

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Searching for Lighthouses – July 1, 2011

Posted on July 1, 2011 by joyce

We took a ride north along the coast of Maine. We opted for the slower road for the fifty mile drive as apposed to the interstate. There is a big difference in time it takes. The toll highway would get us there in about an hour. The coastal road about three.

We drove through towns and villages with odd names like Ogunquit, Biddeford and Saco. There are motels along with bed and breakfasts galore as we maneuvered from stop light to stop light. Convenience stores and fast food shops lined the roadways at first. Then off into the quiet obscurity of the denseness of Maine. Rolling terrain carved through the forest on paved desolate roads edging around curves to the left and then to the right. The trees so tall and foliage so dense you could but understand with a finger on the map that the ocean was nearby.
The more familiar name of Kennebunkport bought us through a small village with more stately homes with the inviting porches and adorned doorways. A reflection back to the familiarity of the name of this area when President Bush – I – spent time with his family on vacation. Whereever his place is located is hidden from the public in the denseness of the forest.

I wanted to look at some lighthouses. Places were called Cape Porpoise which in my mind logically could have a lighthouse. Then I noticed closer to Portland in small red letters on the map the word light. This is after we spent a couple of hours driving the curved roads through obscurity. I remember now the Maine coast from when we traveled through here with John about six years ago. Remote and tedious best describes it.

This time Stan and I drove to the ocean through a small coastal town of Biddeford Pool. The streets had beach homes, more like mansions on both sides. There was no access to the ocean. Just a glimmer across a thick four foot high hedges of pink wild roses.

I recalled the delicate fragrance of those pink roses lining the parking area of the Nubble lighthouse in York Maine the day before. These rose bushes are vibrant in their growth almost to like becoming weeds.

There were three lighthouses, well four really, that we found on the coast of Portland: 1) Portland Head Light by Fort Williams in the most manicured ground , 2) one ancient one out in the ocean that you could see in the distance as being abandoned and deteriorating, 3 and 4) Two lights you viewed looking back to land from the most interesting outcroppings of boulders and cliffs that looked just like petrified wood.

Two lights was interesting. We barely found them close to Cape Elizabeth. Remember the difficulty in maneuvering along winding roads with lots of connecting “ys” to the left or off to the right. We came to the state park where we thought the lighthouses were, paid our $1.50/ per senior and mentioned to the ranger that we couldn’t wait to see the lighthouses. She indicated that this was just a park with trails for hiking. Oops.!. She gave us back our $3 and sent us on our way, but not before she ooh and aah’d over Colorado. Really, she lives and works in one of the most interesting coasts in America. All relative I guess. I mentioned in our conversation with the ranger that I was looking for a great piece of pie. She told us of the Good Table restaurant where the beach road meets highway 77.

We found the road to two lights, parked and looked around for the lighthouses which are usually at the edge of the cliff. Not so in this case. One was apparent as you looked back at the land – private land. You could only see it from afar up on the hill.

Stan had scoped out the other one and I was miffed for awhile trying to find it. All I saw was what looked like an observatory with slits at the top of a dome hidden deep among homes and trees. None of these were accessible for a close up look. We took a ride through the closed off dead end streets of the neighborhoods and snapped a couple of photos. Yes that second one was a lighthouse (not an observatory) nestled between hilly terrain along streets lined with other homes.

On the way back we passed by Maxwell’s farm growing fields of plump ripe strawberries. At the end of the road where the beach road met highway 77 was the Good Table rstaurant that served the most delicious and expensive strawberry pie and strawberry cheesecake I’ve ever had. It’s vacation after all and I’m worth it.

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New England Charm – June 30, 2011

Posted on June 30, 2011 by joyce

We took a leisurely ride north of Boston while John was out of town presenting to admirals in Virginia, Rachel was working and Anya was in preschool. New Hampshire and Maine are only about an hour or so away. Traffic was light and most were heading toward Boston.

We took a mandatory exit when we saw a Dunkin Donuts sign just to get into the spirit of the New England culture. There is a Dunkin on about every corner. Don’t order a chocolate cake as they are really tasteless. After loading up on chips, soda and donuts, we were ready for a road trip.

We took another exit at Newburyport, MA. We parked for fifty cents/hr at a lot across from the harbor. Women were excerpting in the open area over looking the boats. What a nice setting. It reminded me of the people in China who exercise in the parks every morning.

We walked along the crispy clean wide walkways and watched a couple of Coast Guard boats doing some survival training. One of the boats had two 150 horsepower outboards. That boat must really fly when put at full board.

I sat down in the stainless steel sculpture to have a cup of tea until I was scooted out of there by a couple of little kids also wanting to play.

Instead of hopping back on the highway 95 we meandered on the back road toward Portsmouth New Hampshire. We stopped at a local Walmart to buy some shampoo, toothpaste and sunscreen. This traveling with minimum liquids is really a pain sometimes. Thank goodness for convenient stores on every corner.

We have been to Portsmouth several times. It has this really interesting block of stores that invite you in for a look. The sandals I found are interesting corral color. I could hardly tell as I had my sunglasses on and couldn’t see much without my other glasses which I left in the car.

We slide into a cute pizza place called the Upper Crust for lunch. Stan mentioned that they would never run out of pizza pans as the ceiling was decorated with them. This was really good, extra thin crust pizza. The flavor was amazing. We always look for tasty pizza in Colorado and have yet to find it. Some how Leprino has taken all the flavor out of the cheese it sells to the local pizza joints and sauce is red, but lacking in real flavor.

Next up to York Maine. We went by the cemetery where Jamie and I had stopped a few years earlier to look at the boats in a harbor. We stopped to talk with a lady who had just buried her husband. It was just a touching memory of that day a few years back and the connection we made with her.

We drove right by the Dockside where we were staying as I was engulfed in Stan’s description of the mud flats with the ebb and flow of the tides. We drove through York Harbor not really knowing where we were going, but enjoying the interesting look of New England’s typical homes with porches and clapboard in a variety of subtle colors. The doors have wreaths, cones filled with flowers and summer hats hanging in welcome.

We stopped at the visitor center to get some better directions. They are always such friendly places throughout the country. Sure enough Dockside Guest Quarters was back by the mud flats. We were too early for check in at 4 so we went down to the bay to look at a light house. Across the street is the most delicious ice cream shop. There were many flavors. I talked with a lady with mint chocolate chip melting down her cone and elbow about good flavors. She alerted us to the generous scoops and suggested kiddie size.

We took her up on her suggestion and ordered two for $3.50 each: one red raspberry with chocolate chunks and one coffee. They were generous mounds that begged quick licking on this summer day. Raspberry won with it’s rich flavor. Folks walked by to sit at the picnic tables in the sun with 4 or 5 scoops of ice cream melting down their bowls. The really should have talked with the mint chocolate chip lady first.

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Anya and dolls – June 29, 2011

Posted on June 29, 2011 by joyce

Visiting our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter Anya is such a delight. She is such a cheerful and thoughtful little girl. She giggles as we get into the car at the Boston airport. I sit in the back seat with her on the ride back to their home in Melrose.

Anya is a real chatter – box now now that she has learned to talk and articulate her heart’s desires.

She shows me her three barbie dolls, one of which has a big fat braid of blond hair down her back and of course is called Rapunzel.

I planned for a few months to come and visit over the 4th of July. John, my son, mentioned that Anya really liked to play with her dolls: put them down for a nap, then gather them up and group them on a chair and sing the good morning to you.

Every morning I sew something for about 1/2 hour to an hour. The past few months it has been dolly blankets, pillows and dresses.

I make lots of quilts and have a few left over squares and strips of scraps from various projects. I decided to use up some of those with a folk art print of a-b-c…. I cut out a strip of 8 inch muslin and sewed strips of scraps onto the muslin. Then cut that into an 8 inch square and then in half to make some triangles.

I sewed these triangle around the edge of the folk art print and added some borders. It was so cute I made two for dolly napping blankets. When those were finished I still had more pieces of that folks art printed fabrics left. One thing lead to another and pretty soon I had made a whole quilt with rusty orange sheet for backing. My friend said it was autumnal with the rich yellows and oranges.

All because if my sweet granddaughter, Anya.

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Easter Dresses

Posted on April 24, 2011 by joyce

As a little girl my parents took pride in dressing us up for Easter Sunday. We had to have a new dress and shinny new shoes.

One Easter when I was about five, my mom had taken valuable time out of her busy schedule to buy me an Easter dress to wear on Easter Sunday. Most of our clothes were hand made, so this was to be a real treat to have a store bought dress.

I remember what an ungrateful kid I was. We lived in an old farmhouse in Greeley, The dress was hanging in the dining room from the edge of the corner china closet. I saw it up there and immediately hated it. The distaste grew over the next few days as Easter Sunday approached.

This dress was everything I hated about being a little girl with all the frills and softness not becoming of a tomboy like myself who would rather be outside than doing girlie girl stuff inside. I loved to chase after the feral cats in the yard who slide through crevices of old wooden boxes and grain bins. I would sneak up on them and gently open the hinged lid and fall inside the bin with my long red pigtails trailing behind. I tried many times unsuccessfully to coax, chase or capture the teenage kittens. They would run like the dickens in the other direction. Well, a little plaid cotton shirt and baggy 1950s jeans fit my life style better.

This Easter dress was just of opposite. It was full of ruffles and silky, puffy fabric in colors I have yet today to understand why they were together in the same dress. The dress was silky, heavily gathered gray with an overlay of transparent yellow organza with more gathered ruffles at the hem. This was my Easter dress.

My father loved it and couldn’t wait to have me be seen by others on Easter Sunday in our finest. Yuk. At five I really didn’t care, nor did I have the insight to know this dress was it and I had better wear it or else.

I have a raging temper tantrum that made be scamper into the back closet by the downstairs bathroom underneath the clothes as far away from everyone as I could get.

The day came. The dress still perched on the edge of the china closet waiting for me to put it on. I’m sure I continued to be a royal pain for my mom as she somehow got me into the dress, fixed the french braids in my hair heavy with wave set to keep them in place then shoved me into the car to go to church on Easter Sunday.

Sure enough. People looked at this little fluffy gray and yellow dress and made appropriate comments. Everyone at church was all dolled-up in their finest large brimmed hats and dresses. I sat as quietly as possible in the church pew with this puffy, ruffled, monstrosity almost filling the church pew by itself. My mom diligently quieted me by making origami cranes out of juice fruit gum wrappers. This was the only type or origami I ever saw her make. It was so peaceful to watch her. The crane dutifully flapped it’s wings when you pulled on the tail and head. I wish I could make them today. It would be a very peaceful thing to do.

I don’t remember every wearing that puffy gray and yellow dress again. For years it stayed in the closet crowding out the other more practical clothes with all its ruffles.

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