T Stands for Cemetery Visit

 

We had been sick off and on during April and May so I had missed visiting the folks at Easter and Mother's Day.

Their 83rd wedding anniversary would be on July 4th. I told Himself I never heard the end of it from Ma if I missed this date. So on July 2nd, we headed out to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts.

We were in the middle of a heatwave with high temperatures and high humidity. Like a jaguar which lives in the rainforest, I don't mind this kind of weather. However, it was too hot for Himself to be sitting in the car even with the AC running. 

There was also a Committal Ceremony going on when we arrived. The color guard and riflemen were going into the chapel to present the bereaved with the flag and the cartridges from the gun salute. So I didn't want to stay too long as it looked like Dad's area of the cemetery was going to have a new neighbor. 

Usually on the ride home, we stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast or brunch, but I didn't feel like going there. Instead, I found a diner in Sturbridge called The Little Rest Stop. It was in a cozy, little house and they put on a substantial breakfast. I had scrambled eggs, home fries, and raisin bread toast along with a cup of tea. The waitress was a little too perky, but the service was good.

As a special for the Fourth of July, the restaurant was also offering fried dough. So we each ordered that, too.

I didn't expect the fried dough to be the size of dinner plates! I was expecting the fried dough to be about the size of your hand. A normal size like Ma made. I had a small taste of the fried dough (delicious) and took the rest home.

A cool thing happened when we got home. The new door lock recognized my phone so automatically unlocked the door! The only problem was the time from phone recognition to opening the door was only 30 seconds. I'm not that quick to make it from the car to the front door in the amount of time. So the door locked automatically again and I had to use my thumb or personal code to get in.  Still, it's pretty cool. I've since changed the time to 2 minutes.

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.

T Stands for How Unimaginative Another Lobster Roll

 

After running the "What do you feel like doin', Marty?" lines (from the 1955 movie, Marty, starring Ernest Borgnine, we ended up at the Shore Road Restaurant in York Beach, Maine. I had another Connecticut Lobster Roll, home-made potato chips, and a ginger ale.

After lunch, we drove over to Nubble Light. In all of the times that I've been to see the lighthouse, I've never seen it with fog rolling in. This might have been the day that I chatted with an older couple (probably the same age or even a few years younger than me!). They had ridden up on a motorcycle. The fella told me they had been up there the day before. He said the fog was so thick, you couldn't even see the lighthouse.

The fog bank rolling in reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Incredible Shrinking Man.

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.

T Stands for Billy's Chowder House

 

We decided to go for a drive up the coast. We stopped for a late lunch at Billy's Chowder House in Wells, Maine. I wasn't very hungry so I had a cup of clam chowder and a house salad. The salad was a kale mix. Kale! I don't understand its popularity as it tastes like grass clippings.

We talked how the area had changed.  In my mid-twenties when Teague had moved to California, I spent weekends with a work buddy. Wells was known for shoe outlets so we would visit the Bass and Dexter shoe outlets. Sadly long gone.

The coast road was dotted with small cottages. Small cottages around Nubble Light, too. All those little cottages were razed and in their place large and glorious homes with magnificent views of the ocean. We admired the beautiful homes as we toodled along.

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.

T Stands for Sun and Surf

 

For lunch this day we headed South to York Beach and the Sun and Surf Restaurant on Long Sands Beach. It was a perfect day for fried clams, but MP (market price) on the menu means expen$ive. The waitress told me the fried clams were $42. Yup, thank you, no.  Portions at restaurants are hefty, and I didn't want to bring back anything to the motel. Reheating fish in a microwave isn't a pleasant thing. (To think when I came up here with a work friend 47 years ago, while Teague was living in California, this restaurant was just a little clam shack)

I opted for a cheap less expensive  cod basket and an Arnold Palmer. We ate outside on the terrace. If I stood up and looked over the seawall around the restaurant I could see

Nubble Light at the tip of the point

After lunch we drove over. Yup, the lighthouse was still there. The only difference was the cloud formations were different and a fog bank was rolling in.

I struck up a conversation with an elderly couple. I have to stop thinking like that because I don't think I was far behind them in age. They had ridden up on a motorcycle. They told me the day before you couldn't see the lighthouse because of the fog. We watched a young woman putting on scuba gear. She had booties, gloves, a hood. The water was really cold. I had never seen anyone diving here. Teague told me they did testing and diving certifications.

After conversation and admiring the scenery, we decided to stop at Ogunquit Beach. If there was parking and the parking app I downloaded worked. We found a parking space, the parking app worked, and I dipped my toes in the water. The water was a brisk 61 °F (16 °C) I thought my heart was going to stop from cold water shock. No wading that day.

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.

T Stands for Shore Road Restaurant

 

On the trip up to Ogunquit, we decided to stop for lunch at the Shore Road Restaurant. It's a little hole in the wall place that serves

Lobster roll which is what I was salivating for. I like a Hot Buttered Lobster Roll which is cooked lobster meat stuffed into a grilled New England hot dog roll (split on the top and not the side) and drizzled with drawn butter (melted butter). I recently learned that the Hot Buttered Lobster Roll has an official name. It's known as a Connecticut Lobster Roll.

However it's called, it's the way I like lobster roll. I'm not a fan of mayonnaise so lobster meat chopped up with celery and then mixed with mayo isn't a favorite. Also it seems that there is less lobster meat and more mayo and celery.

Shore Road's sandwich had a generous portion of lobster meat (usually from the claw). They also make their own potato chips which were just out of the fry-o-lator, perfectly sliced, and crunchy.

After lunch, we still had some time to kill before we could check in at the motel. No trip up to Maine is complete without a stop at

Nubble Light. The sight of the lighthouse never gets old.

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.

T Stands for Checking the Weather

 

Last Friday, I was checking the long range forecast for Two Old Ladies heading to Ogunquit, Maine. Not the best weather forecast for a beach vacation. When the picture was taken the trip was still a week away. Weather can change quickly within a week.

Still, rain in the forecast is no big deal. There's no cleaning, cooking, laundry, or other domestic chores. We'll be eating out. Ice cream will be on the menu. Hopefully, the predicted rain is just scattered showers so Congdon's After Dark (food trucks set up on the famous donut property) isn't cancelled.

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.

T Stands for Coffee

 

The Eldest loves her coffee. Well, coffee that's flavored: raspberry chocolate, blueberry, vanilla. I found a cute tee shirt for her for her birthday next month. Of course, the cat could be holding a cup of tea, too.

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.

T Stands for Scorcha

 

With temperatures expected to soar this week, don't forget to stay hydrated

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.

T Stands for First Lobster Roll of the Season

 

Himself read that someone on the town Facebook page was asking where to get to the best lobster roll. There were quite a few suggestions, but JP's Pub in Westboro (of if you're fancy, Westborough) came up.

We were going to be in Westboro at an appointment so decided to go a little early and stop for lunch. It wasn't the best day to have lobster. It was cloudy and chilly, but we had our minds set for lobster roll.

JP's is a little hole in the wall located in the Ocean Stat Job Lots plaza. The place was cozy, decorated with sports memorabilia and a popular spot for weebles (old people). We fit right in.

The restaurant  had an extensive menu and the lobster roll was a daily special. It came with a choice of Cole slaw or French fries (crisps). I had the fries.

This lobster roll was lobster salad. Lobster meat mixed with celery and mayonnaise. I usually prefer my lobster roll with lobster and a side of drawn butter. Lobster salad is usually more celery and mayonnaise mixed with a little, shredded lobster.

JP's lobster roll was the opposite. There were generous chunks of lobster and not too much mayonnaise. (I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise) It was all packed into a New England hot dog roll. (The opening is on the top instead of the side)

The restaurant didn't have an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half iced tea), but the waitress said she could make it for me. 

The only down-side was the restaurant only took cash. There was nothing about cash only on the website or the door of the restaurant so you didn't find out you needed cash until the bill came and the waitress said we don't take debit or credit cards. There was an ATM at the back of the restaurant so we were able to get cash. The ATM fee was $1.00 so not too bad. 

Other than not knowing about cash only, it was a very nice lunch.

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.

T Stands for the Prettiest Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

 

The traffic in Worcester at 4 pm, when my class lets out, is brutal. We decided we would go out to dinner at a restaurant not too far away from the museum.

We stopped at the Oak Barrel Tavern. Good food, lively, but not at the early hour that we couldn't hear each other across the table. 

Dessert was something else. On special, they had Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Since the temperature had hit 90°, it definitely was an ice cream day for me.

I was surprised with the presentation as I didn't expect anything so fancy. Yellow cake with crushed pineapple, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a pond of raspberry coulis. Attached to the ice cream as if it was a fascinator was a very thin slice of fresh pineapple, candied as if it was a piece of glass. A mint feather completed the chapeau look.

The cake tasted as good as it looked. In the background, you can see my Arnold Palmer with a slice of lemon.

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.

T Stands for Mother's Day Dinner

 

Himself asked me what I wanted or where I wanted to go for Mother's Day dinner. I wasn't sure of what I wanted, but I knew where. I don't like going out to eat on holidays, even the Hallmark holidays. Places are crowded, busy, and you're rushed through your meal. Nope, not me. I wanted a leisurely dinner at home.

Then I read BioArt Gal's blog where she said her and her hubby had gone to Pop's Clam Shell and they got a Fisherman's Platter. I blame her because all I could think of was fried clams.

Pop's is too far from me so I had to be satisfied with Harry's where fried food is considered a food group. 

We did a buy and fly on Saturday. The parking lot was almost full when we pulled in to pick up our order. I guess others had the same idea of beating the crowd.  I ordered the Big Belly Plate, clam chowder, and a Raspberry Lime Rickey.

The Eldest was off for Mother's Day weekend so we had a nice, leisurely dinner. She had fish and chips, along with lobster bisque. Himself had the lobster bisque, a scallop plate, and a coffee frappe (what the rest of the world calls a shake)

I only eat half of what I order in a restaurant so I had leftovers and no cooking on Sunday. A perfect day.

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.

T Stands for Grandpa Wasn't Wrong

 

After visiting the Apple Store, we went to Longhorn Steakhouse to grab a bit to eat. We were shown to our table and after a short amount of time our waitress arrived. Just as she was leaving with our appetizer and drinks order, an older couple came up behind me. The gentleman leaned over and said the waitress was a lovely girl. It turned out the older couple were her grandparents. As he was leaving, Grandpa said to make sure we ordered the strawberry shortcake for dessert. We wouldn't be disappointed.

When the waitress returned with our drinks. She laughed and said her grandparents had just returned from wintering in Florida. They were excited to come to the restaurant where she worked and wanted the strawberry shortcake.

She was a fun waitress, a little perky, but attentive. We had a nice dinner and then decided to take Grandpa's advice and ordered the strawberry shortcake.

I was too busy enjoying dinner and talking to Himself that I didn't take any pictures. The only picture of a beverage is the remains of the Half-Lemonade, Half Iced Tea (It wasn't called an Arnold Palmer on the menu)

The shortcake arrived and was a beautiful presentation and a lot bigger and different than we expected. It wasn't technically shortcake. There was no shortcake or biscuit. It was a 3-layer yellow cake with whipped cream, strawberry coulis, and strawberries. 

When the waitress came to ask how everything was. I told her I was surprised as I was expecting a shortcake biscuit, and her Grandpa was right. The strawberry shortcake was delicious. I also told her she needed to split her tips with Grandpa. She laughed.

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.

T Stands for Need Help

 

Grab your favorite beverage and let me know what you would do.

As some of you know I'm working on a baby gift for our niece. On the last panel, I've written out and illustrated a nursery rhyme my Mother-in-Law used to chant to the babies in the family.

I remember her saying the rhyme to Himself's three youngest siblings (If you didn't know, Himself and I grew up next door to each other). She also said this rhyme to the Eldest. My MIL is was too ill to say this rhyme to the Young One and she passed away when the Young One was two years old.

Anyway, I want to add her legacy to the panel, but need some help on the wording.

1. This rhyme was chanted by Mother-in-Law's name or

2. This rhyme was chanted by Great-Nana Last Name

I don't have a lot of space on the panel to put Great-Nana Full Name

Which would you choose?

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.

T Stands for Dietetic Pink

The Pink Panther in "Dietetic Pink"

Did you spy the beverage? 

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

T Stands for The Thrill of the Hunt

 

I was cruising through the craft aisle at the Dollar Store. I found these adorable 3D coffee cup stickers. Too cute to walk past them so they jumped in my cart.

I also found other cool stuff. Six, small spools of different colored Baker's twine. Teeny clothes pins. Double stick tape. Coin envelopes. A couple of really nice coloring books. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of office supply stuff they had. No need to go to the craft store for tape, glue, stickers. You might not find something you are specifically looking for and may have to go back a time or two as the stock is constantly changing. You'll never know what you will find and that's the thrill of the hunt.

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.

T Stands for Hot Cross Buns

 

Heathen dolt that I am, I forgot that Hot Cross Buns are made for Good Friday. I wouldn't have remembered except that a friend posted a picture of the hot cross buns she made. 

So, I might have been a day late, but they tasted real good.

Are you a fan of Hot Cross Buns?

T Stands for A Thoughtful Addition

 

to Easter dinner from the Eldest. Since she had to work at the hospital this past weekend, we'll be celebrating Easter next weekend.

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

The Friday Five Good Things

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. I made a big dent in cleaning the studio

2. We are enjoying our tradition of watching Holy movies during Holy Week.

3. Temps got in the 70s! I had my afternoon tea in the sunroom

4. Made the Easter deliveries to the grandnieces and grandnephew and ordered gyros takeout

5. Another week, I couldn't make it to Teague's, but we video chatted.

How was your week?

T Stands For Lunch in the Big City

 

We were up in the big city running errands. Suddenly, it's lunchtime. I didn't have a very substantial breakfast so I was hungry. Himself suggested we stop at Jimmy's Tavern and Grill as it was on the way home.

Himself ordered Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms for an appetizer. I had an Arnold Palmer (1/2 lemonade and 1/2 ice tea) as my beverage.

I ordered The Fried Egg Burger, a hamburger, cheddar cheese, bacon, and a fried egg, sunny side up. Delicious.

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

T Stands for Tummy Tamer

 

Last week, I got floored with a stomach virus. These three teas got me through the week. 

The lemon and ginger tea was comforting. 

I'm not a big fan of peppermint, but it sure does the trick to settle and upset stomach and to get rid of the bloating feeling.

The Winter Spice contains chamomile which I drank just before bed. Chamomile is relaxing and also calms a flippy stomach.

Are there other teas you drink when you're feeling under the weather?

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.