Memories of Summer

My husband (a teacher) went back to work this week which always signifies the end of summer for me. My mind is on fall and Halloween now even though the temps here are in the 90's. At least the nights are going down to the low 60's. We've had a great summer full of beach trips, whale watching, Longwood, museums, dips in the pool, hummingbirds, Assateague ponies, dinner parties, firefly catching, veggie growing, flower picking and more! All good things must come to an end and now we look forward to leaves turning, pumpkin carving, trick or treating, hayrides, scarecrows, Halloween decorating, bonfires and one of my favorites... the sound of geese flying overhead on a crisp autumn morning.

Sea shells and wild ponies.

Monarch with a torn wing at Longwood Gardens.

Zoe and her cousin Faith. One of my favorite photos.

Hundreds of roses at Hershey Gardens.

Vibrant colors in my own garden.

A visit this morning from my fairy like friend.

Of of my first Halloween horses of the year, currently on Ebay!

The Joust!

This year I have a season pass to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (expect lots of pics). It's only about 20 minutes and two turns from my driveway. I took Zoe for a few hours on Saturday to catch a couple performances and watch the Ulimate Joust at the end of the evening. Too bad it was a bit dark out to get really good photos. These are still fun. Can't wait to go back for more!

Mass Vaca Part 2

Friendship of Salem, a reproduction of the 1797 merchant ship, sits in Derby Wharf, Salem, MA.

"Old Derby Wharf, Salem"

by Philip Little - Peabody Essex Museum

"Reds" in Salem. One of the best restaurants around and so cheap!

The building used to be the London Coffee House in the 1700's.

Deborah Butterfield sculpture in the Peabody Essex Museum.

"After the Storm" by Frank Benson at the PEM.

This painting really caught my eye.

"After Renoir" by Devorah Sperber.

This piece of art was made up of hundreds of spools of thread.

When viewed through the glass sphere you could see the Renoir painting!

Click here for more.

A Salem kitty. Perhaps a witch's familiar?

Loved all the witchy shops.

Next day we went whale watching with Capt. John Boats out of Plymouth, MA.

We sailed past the Duxbury "Bug Light".

Around The Gurnet.

When we reached the Stellwagen Bank we started seeing whales.

And an amazing tall ship I would have loved to be on!

The humpbacks came so close to the boats.

I was so excited, I was afraid I was going to drop my camera.

The researcher on board said we had 20 - 25 whales in the vicinity!

Check out her blog to see more amazing pictures.

A baby whale waves good bye.

Back in Plymouth we checked out the Mayflower II.

And the old cemetery.

Old Burial Hill - more pictures on my other blog - click here.

Massachusetts Part1

This week we visited my sister and her husband in Duxbury, MA. What a great to live! So close to Boston and Cape Cod. The population in this small town is very wealthy so you can image how nice the houses are. Here are three we passed on the short way to the 1/2 mile long Powder Point Bridge.

Walking the bridge to the beach. It's longer than what it looks!

The water around the bridge receeds at low tide.

A Duxbury sea gull. 

Duxbury sunset.

A grave at the Myles Standish burying grounds.

More pics on my other blog. Click Here!

On the second day I wanted to check out Nantasket Beach in the town of Hull, MA.

We arrived in the AM at low tide. It was amazing, the distance to the water was quite large and the soft, fine grey sand was very comfy and loaded with tide pools.

 A great place for finding pretty rocks, shells and sea glass.

There used to be an amusement park there called Paragon Park. Like Atlantic City, the old pictures of the Park make it look like it was the place to be around the turn of the last century. I love places like that. A little salty, a bit forgotten, but still full of character. They are restoring the old carousel.

 It was beautiful even in it's partially restored state.

The carousel maker's shop is right next door.

At the end of the end of the peninsula you get a great view of Boston and the harbor!

Lots of neat looking islands too.

  More to come!

Nuts for Squirrels

Little girl...  Little girl!
 Don't touch that squirrel's nuts, it'll make him crazy!
~Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (movie)

Around here we love squirrels. I know, most people think they are rats with cuter tails but I think there's something special about the little rodents. I've been trying to make our yard squirrels as tame as the park ones. I love how they'll come right up to you and take nuts out of your hand.  

Park Squirrels

Yard Squirrels