No Need

No need to apologize if you show up "late" to read a blog post. Late is a relative term. I'm just thrilled and grateful that you decided to spend your time with me.

Maneki Neko

Happy Maneki Neko Day! Maneki Neko is the Japanese/Chinese Lucky Cat or Beckoning Cat.You usually see them at businesses. The Maneki Neko is said to bring wealth or customers to a business depending on which paw is raised. They come in various colors, too, which represent different things.

My little, black Maneki Neko supposedly attracts good health and  wards off evil spirits. Though they were primarily used in businesses, they are become more popular in homes. You can read more about this adorable, good luck charm here.

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:

The Last Samurai (2003) Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe

If you haven't seen this movie, it's available on Amazon Prime.

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Ran errands and had lunch at a new (to us) restaurant in town.

2, Spent an awesome day in Gloucester, Massachusetts with my friend, Teague

3. Himself woke me up on his way to school to tell me it was Cation Day, and he was wearing the Cation shirt. He wears it once a semester. It's his favorite shirt. not. and this way I couldn't tease him that he doesn't wear it. 😺

4. Gloriously warm weather for the first day of Fall

5. Made plans to see Downton Abbey next week with Nan

How was your week?

Coming to a Blog Post Near You

Wordy Wednesday

T Stands For Crab Cakes

I had dropped off my piece to have framed for the WAM Faculty art show.  After running my errand, Himself asked where we should go to lunch. One of my students had told me of a restaurant in the area that served to die for Crab Cakes. So we decided to give Burtons a try.

A Coke for Himself and an unsweetened ice tea with lemon for me.

Industrial chic decor. The ceilings were so high we both said we wouldn't like to see the heating bill in the Winter.

We started with a Stuffed Zucchini appetizer. Stuff with gorgonzola cheese.  I'm not a big fan of cheese, but the rest of the dish was excellent.

A beautiful presentation of Salmon Romesco for Him and Crab Cakes with a Dill and Mustard Aioli for me. I swapped Sweet Potato fries for the regular French Fries

We decided to split dessert. Chocolate Cake with a Raspberry Coulis. I also ordered a cup of tea. I had a hard time choosing a blend. There was a Lavender Earl Grey which sounded tempting, but I decided on a good old standby.

English Breakfast Tea with Half n Half, and Truvia (Stevia) 

Though the food was excellent, we decided the prices were a bit on the steep side for a run of the mill out and about lunch stop. However, we decided we would go back for a special occasion.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Electric Eraser

I've had a few people ask me what is an electric eraser? Pictured above is an old model, no longer made.

Besides erasing pencil lines, the electric eraser can also be used to add highlights. At the workshop on Enders Island, Valerie had used an electric eraser to remove mistakes when writing with ink. That's what I wanted to use the electric eraser for. She deftly was able to remove unwanted ink marks without marring the paper.

The old method of removing ink from paper involved carefully scraping the ink with an X-acto knife or safety razor. You had to scrape very slowly or you'd end up with a crater in your paper. Ask me how I know this.

The above eraser is what I scored from the White Elephant table at our Fall guild meeting. The white eraser didn't remove ink, and I'm wondering if the pink erasers will leave a pink mark on the paper. So I'll have to do a little hunting to see if I can find a source for electric erasers that will remove ink and will fit the electric eraser I have.

I found this video of a demonstration of several newer electric eraser models to give you an idea of what works and what to look for if you are interested in this tool.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Where did he go?

There he his! Mr. Scaley. The girlies named the garter snake who lived under the back stairs Mr. Scaley.

A busy spider

Colorful maple

Heath asters

And just like that. The leaves turned.

Pink sedum. The lawn guy wasn't so careful.

Last of the morning glories. Not as spectacular as other years

And one lonely holdout for Summer. Just like me.

How does your garden grow?

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:

The Last Castle (2001) Robert 😻 Redford, James Gandolfini

If you haven't seen this movie, I think it is still available on Netflix. You can also rent it at YouTube.

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Met Nan at the Masscribes Fall meeting and had a nice visit

2. Picked up an electric eraser, portable light box, and calligraphy t-shirts at the free jumble at the meeting.

3. Had lunch with a friend I knew from Girl Scouts

4. After my eye exam, we had lunch at Harry's. Fried clams for me and fried scallops for Himself. I also had a slice of Fruit of the Forest Pie. Himself had Pecan.

5. Himself took me to lunch at the 99 to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day with $5.99 cheeseburgers.

My week was delicious. How was your week?

Enders Art Journal

The last day, the last morning to spend time at the little beach. Like a hotel, we had to be out of the dorm by 11 am. Valerie had the studio unlocked so people could bring their stuff to the studio, but I had driven down so after breakfast and before class, I dragged my pillow and suitcase and loaded them in the trunk. 

We spent the morning finishing projects. Bruce, the island photographer took pictures of each of us with our projects. Valerie presented us with a certificate, and Bruce took a picture of the class. 

One of the students who lived nearby brought in souvenir t-shirts for everyone from the Mohegan Sun casino. We had our final lunch together, said good bye, and headed off the island.

I knew I should have taken the turn before the I-95 entrance, but I followed the GPS and ended up going home through Rhode Island. Not a big deal as either going through Connecticut or Rhode Island the travel time was the same, but this route would take me through the capital, Providence and rush hour begins so early on a Summer Friday afternoon.

Fortunately,  in my former life as a computer programmer, I worked in Rhode Island so knew a route where I didn't have to drive through Providence to get home.

The end of the art journal until I return to Enders in October.

Wordy Wednesday

T Stands for Genealogy Bug

 and I think it's bitten Himself. Himself had taken a DNA test from 23 and Me and began poking around in his family tree. He asked if I would mind taking a trip to the cemetery so he could visit his grandparents' grave. Mind? He had me at cemetery.

His maternal grandparents are buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. As a kid he remembered going to the cemetery to have a picnic. Picnicking on a loved one's grave was, at one time, a common practice. Himself said they didn't actually go picnic on the grave, but stayed in the car. I suspect the picnic was a way for Himself's mother to keep her brood of 5 quiet so she could have some time, peace and quiet to visit.

Himself knew how to get to the cemetery, but just in case as it had been decades since he had gone, he turned on the GPS. We drove through the cemetery and he stopped at a double tree that he remembered. I got out and walked among the stones, but didn't find the grave. He drove a little further down and I walked. And we found the grave.

His maternal grandparents 

 are buried with his maternal great-grandparents

I had joked in this section of the cemetery, there were no Italians buried. The stones were small, similar in shape and design. No large marble monuments with large angels and saints carved on them as I have seen in other cemeteries I have visited. These were all poor Irish.  Many of the stones had a traditional Celtic cross. While he visited, I visited some of the neighbors to see if there were any unusual stones.

All I found was this one with an eternal flame carved on it. I don't think I've ever seen that motif used before.

 I told you the grave was near a large tree. Yes, you did.

but just in case you didn't notice there were other large trees in the cemetery, the grave is just before the curve of the main road.

Himself also looked for his great-aunt's grave, Nana's sister. He thought it was in the same area, but we couldn't find it.

 So a stop at the cemetery office to ask for help.

His great-aunt was buried on the other side of the cemetery with his great-uncle and aunt, the brother of his maternal grand-father.

  He's not sure of the connection of the Hogans to the Murphys or why the great-aunt was buried with them. I asked if she had been married and had any kids. Yes, her husband wasn't a good man, and they had been divorced. They didn't have any children.

His grandmother had gone blind when his mother was around 7 years old. His mother went to live with Uncle Jack, his grandfather's brother, and his Aunt May.

Or the fact that Murphys were buried with Hogans (his grandparents and great-grandparents graves) so a reciprocal Hogan (great-aunt) buried with the Murphys.  The Theory of Relativity is so complicated.

There were Murphys buried next door. Cousins. And someone still lovingly tends the graves as there were flowers planted on both.

 While he visited, I went to visit the neighbors. Sad that the stone succumbed to the weather.

Across the way was a large, polished marble stone with a coat of arms on it. Very cool.

 And a beautiful epithet: He made things better. We all should aspire to be remembered like that.

 On the way out of the cemetery I spotted these monuments and asked Himself to stop so I could take photographs. I loved the grace and classical beauty on this stone. It took us a few minutes to realize the name on the stone was Roy. What we thought was a T was actually a cross.

 The Whovians will know Don't Blink!

After the cemetery visit, we headed to the 99 Restaurant on our way home.

My silverware was magnetized! Himself said the high heat of the dishwasher was a possible cause.

Instead of bread, the 99 starts you off with a bowl of popcorn

For my beverage, I had Bubble Green Tea and Himself had a Pepsi. So much better than Coke. The restaurant also offers a special of making any entree a meal by adding soup or salad and you get a petite dessert.

 Since my entree came with Cole slaw, I had the Seafood Chowdah (chowder)

  We also ordered the Shrimp Flatbread, a special Summer menu item

The Little Princess had her usual Hot Buttered Colossal Lobster Roll 

Himself had Steak Tips with Grilled Onions and Peppers

Himself had the yucky Peanut Butter Petite Treat. He got to have it all by himself because the Little Princess doesn't really like peanut butter especially with chocolate.

The Little Princess had the delicious Lemon Square.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

InkTober

It's that time of year again, InkTober. When artists around the world take part by doing one ink drawing a day for the entire month of October. Participants then upload their work to Instagram using #Inktober #Inktober2019

When the Young One took an art class at college, her professor required the class to turn in MAHODs each week. Make A Habit of Drawing each day.

This is a great opportunity to practice. What's that? You think you're not good enough to participate? You don't like the challenge prompts? Bend the rules to suit you. Make your own prompts.  Draw what you know how to draw.

Maybe you'd rather work on one drawing for the entire month.  Do it.

You don't draw? Then trace. Just go over your pencil tracing with ink.  You don't have to use a dip pen and ink set up, either. Use a ballpoint pen, a Sharpie, a Pigma pen. Any writing instrument that uses ink.

Calligraphy students, this is a good opportunity to for you to practice. Write out each prompt. Or go further and use the prompt in a sentence. Remember calligraphy is drawing letters!

Will you be participating?

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I was going to go out this morning and take a couple of pictures, but it's still too early and too wet. There have been a half dozen or so cases of EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) in Massachusetts. One person has died from the disease carried by mosquitoes. There has been aerial spraying of my area during the last couple of weeks at night. A lot of towns have cancelled outdoor activities from 6 pm until 8 am.  We had some heavy downpours last night, too.

Fading hydrangea blossom

Leaves turning red on the swamp maple

A late bloomer on the squash plant

The bird feeder doing a good business. The birds were coming in like the feeder was an airport. Timex, the chipmunk showed up, too.

Two of Cinnamon's babies, Cadbury and Marzipan, came right up to the stairs outside of the sun room for a snack. One of them ran away as I slowly opened the slider and screen to take a picture. Not this little guy or gal.

How does your garden grow?