Remember

What are you doing this Memorial Day weekend?  Beach? Barbecue? Shopping?  If you are in Boston, I highly recommend visiting Boston Common where 33,000 flags have been planted in honor of every Massachusetts fallen service member since the Civil War until now.  It's a lovely tribute and a timely reminder to remember those who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms.
For more information visit www.massmilitaryheroes.org

My Wicked Fun Day Off

The Rink at Fenway

I had the day off today.  Know what I did?  I went ice skating at Fenway Park and it was awesome.  I attend many Sox games during the season when Fenway is bursting at the seams. Today I experienced Fenway in a much different atmosphere. There were no vendors hawking their goods, no crazy fans heckling from the stands, no hot dog and sausage scents floating in the air. No beer. Hot chocolate trumps beer when it's 40 degrees outside. Music was playing over the PA system but really the best sound was the "swoosh, swoosh" of the blades gliding across the ice.  It's such a unique perspective skating in a rink constructed on the grounds where so much happiness and heartbreak have intersected over the years.  As I was skating around and taking it all in, I wasn't thinking about how the Sox tanked last season or the dismal state of the economy and other problems. Nope, I was thinking about all the times I've spent in this old ballpark with my family and friends.  Might sound corny I know, but looking around the park, those stands weren't empty; they were full of memories.  Not a bad way to spend the day.

The Green Monster

I didn't fall once!

Step right up...

A cool view

Thanks to my friend Betty for inviting me to this terrific event!

                                                                                                                  

P.S:  I was walking down Comm. Ave on my way to Fenway and these five souls caught my eye.  I hope the rest of their day got better.

Donuts and Beer

Taking the lift down Wachusett Mountain

Nothing beats October in New England. It seems like every sleepy town in New England shines a little brighter come fall. Maybe it's the cool crisp air or the vibrant foliage acting as our own big coloring book, there's just something special about fall in New England.  One of my favorite things about the fall are all the festivals that take place every weekend.  We've got Octoberfests, pumpkin festivals, applefests, fall film festivals, fall foliage tours, maple syrup-paloozafest. Ok, maybe not the last one but you get the idea. 

Don't think these will fit on the porch.

    Today I visited Applefest at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA.  It's located off Route 2 about an hour from Boston.  The foliage in that area hasn't quite reached it's color potential but the festival was a good take nonetheless.  There were lots of craft vendors, activities for the kids and giant pumpkins. Visitors could take a ride on the chair lift to the top of Wachusett and enjoy the lovely view.

View from the top.

My favorite part of Applefest was the food and drink particularly the cider donuts and beer. In my opinion no fall festival is complete without cider donuts and a beer tent.  I love cider donuts. I remember going apple picking as a kid and just waiting for it to be over so I could indulge in my donut treat.  Obviously as a kid I couldn't partake in the beer festivities but now I happily engage in a brew or two as an adult. I wholeheartedly believe that beer tastes better when you have a cider donut in one hand, a beer in the other and the Jolly Kopperschmidts Band entertaining you in the beer tent.  It's a joyful feeling swinging your glass side to side while singing a song that ends in "beer here".  Yup, I love October. 

The Jolly Kopperschmidts Band

                                              

Me and Mom enjoying the atmosphere.

For a list of more festivals in New England, click on the link below:
http://gonewengland.about.com/od/fallfoliage/a/blfallweekends.htm