On Cape Cod

I've never seen so many beautiful hydrangeas--don't usually come to the cape in the summer--used to when I was growing up. The economy has hit here, too--lots of vacancy signs--pretty unusual for the week before the 4th! Am up here to help my Aunt with some things, but I convinced one of my friends to come along for some company. She goes out on her own while I'm at my Aunts & then we meet up for dinner. Went to Cuffy's--if you want a tshirt or sweatshirt that says Cape Cod this is the place to go.

Then on to look for dinner. Found this place--Marathon Restaurant--both wanted seafood--I had swordfish ( Alan is allergic, so I don't have very often) & Ginny had fried shrimp.

On the way back to the motel we stopped at the Creamery for dessert....I had Allen harbor Almond Joy( I see I chopped off the word coconut in the photo)--Yummy!

Mohegan Sun Casino

Last night we went with some friends to Mohegan Sun--the guys went to the boxing matches and Deb & I played the penny slots & window shopped. You can't take photos inside the casinos themselves, but here are a few shots in the shopping & restaurant areas. This is a bar area--hard to tell from the photo, but there is water cascading over this whole area--everything is dark so photos aren't great. Lighting along the walkways where the shops are......very upscale stores-Tiffanys, Coach, Cachet....and several Krispy Kremes shops!

Lots of restaurants to chose from--the Michael Jordan Group has a couple--one sounded interesting --SolToro Tequila Grille--lots of great sounding Mexican dishes, but we ended up at Margaritaville ( more on that another day)

Just before we left for the 2+ hr. drive home we topped off the night with Ben & Jerrys ice cream--Yum!

This is an interesting glass sculpture

First Cutting

When I went out this morning they were starting the 1st cutting of hay this season. Alan seemed to think it was late, but wondered if the buffalo like it different than the cows would....who knows.... Interesting contraptions they use....first it's cut & in piles , then this machine goes through & spreads it out to dry.

Guess they will be bailing over the weekend.

Ten year Lilies

These lilies are finally blooming--only took about 10 years! I was about ready to move them out by the road--guess they didn't want to go! They were planted along the edge of the lawn, at the entrance to our pet cemetary.

Another view

We have several dogs and a bunch of cats in the cemetary--at one time I planted tulips in there also. They didn't last too long--too shady!

A Little Addition....

When I walked down to get the mail this afternoon I saw that some of the berries were ripe! I wasn't dressed right ( should be in long pants & shoes) to get in the "pucker brush", but i was able to pick these.........

A Wild Berry Patch

We have wild black raspberries ( "blackcaps")growing along the driveway. I never know from year to year if the berry canes will be growing there or not! There's even a bunch growing along the edge of the front lawn--1st time I've seen them there! I guess we had the right conditions this spring because the canes are in some new & some old places and seem to be loaded with fruit! Just starting to turn dark--then they'll be ready to pick! Can't wait! I try & pick enough to make a batch of jam....YUM!

Pretty Posies

More with the macro lens...I have some lilies blooming for the very 1st time! They were planted at least 5-10 years ago! The stalks(leaves, fronds?) have always grown, but never any flowers--maybe the deer have been eating them?

look at the pollen!

A cluster of daisies....

Creepy crawlies

I've decided I need to start using my camera on Manual mode & push myself a little more . So I put the macro lens on & went out to look for something to photograph! Found several spiders making themselves at home on the tops of my tomato cages--perfect subjects!

Tour around the Yale Campus

After lunch we decided to walk around the campus a little. My friend attended Grad school at Yale & I spent alot of time there when a close friend was attending Yale back in the 70's, so we had a general idea of what's where..

From the Yale website: " Yale University has one of the most architecturally distinctive campuses in the world. Founded in 1701, Yale has grown from a tiny New England college into a global university with over 11,000 students and 12,000 faculty and support staff. The main campus in downtown New Haven extends about two miles, north to south, and includes more than 250 buildings, the oldest completed in 1753 and the newest still under construction. These buildings represent an extraordinarily wide range of architectural styles from colonial to contemporary and include the works of many world-renowned architects. "

"Yale College was transformed, beginning in the early 1930s, by the establishment of residential colleges. Taking medieval English universities such as Oxford and Cambridge as its model, this distinctive system divides the undergraduate population into twelve separate communities of approximately 450 members each. Each college surrounds a courtyard and occupies up to a full city block, providing a congenial community where residents live, eat, socialize, and pursue a variety of academic and extracurricular activities. Each college has its own dining hall, library, seminar rooms, recreation lounges, and other facilities."

Wish I could show you the inside of some of the older buildings ( dorm rooms) --they are great!It's fun to walk arund and look for the little details they sneak onto the buildings--here are a few examples--the bust of a man near the corner of a building.....

A figure reading....

And an artist..........

Claire's Corner Copia

Yesterday I went to New Haven, CT with a friend to drop off the artwork for our Fair posters. We then went to the newest Goodwill store ( I got a bargain--will post later) and then on to lunch. We ended up in downtown New Haven at Claire's Corner Copia--open since 1975. It's a vegetarian restaurant --located on the edge of the Yale University campus. There were so many interesting choices--we decided on Cobb salads--it was delicious ( except for the soy bacon--yuck!). I pushed it off to the side!

Then it was on to the desserts! Had several cases full of treats--the carrot cake looked yummy..

But we decided to split a red velvet cupcake--it was a great way to top off a nice meal!

More on New Haven tomorrow.......

Seen in the Sunday Paper!

What a surprise to open up a coupon insert in the Sunday paper & see this! ( there was a coupon attached--I cut it off & saved it!) Did you know that Bimbo Bread USA owns many of the bread companies in the US like the following:
arnold , bimbo, boboli, Entenmann's,Freihofer's, Mrs. baird's, Stroehmann and Thomas' to name a few!
I had no idea!

Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary

A few weeks ago I went to Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary to walk around. I've driven by it many times, but never stopped in--what a hidden gem! From the road it looks like a large field but it is over 100 acres of fields & meadows, forest and ponds with several marked hiking trails. Evidence that there are beavers here, but didn't see any!

Followed the blue "Pond " trail.....

Down to a babbling brook.....

Stopped to rest once back up to the pond & were pleased to see this hawk flying overhead.

Was nice to find this beautiful place so close to home!