Happy Halloween!

A photo of me & my sister, Judie--Halloween 1953.  Loved this cat costume my Mom made for me! 

Snow!

 Just a few shots of the snow after about an hour.

They expect that we'll lose power because of the heavy snow combined with the leaves still on the trees...We were supposed to go to a wedding today--about 1hr away & decided not to go--probably a good thing--wouldn't like trying to drive home in this storm!

hard to see too far outside now because it's coming down so hard!

From the 2nd floor....

 I was upstairs looking out trying to compose a few shots of the snow & spotted a couple of deer walking near the stone wall above our house.  Quickly snapped off a few shots!  Decided I'd better crop the picture so you could actually see the deer!

This is the original photo.

it's raining!

It's rainy & cold here today.  And they're predicting snow for tonight!    Will have the wood stove going shortly.....

Was outside doing more raking on Monday & spotted some raspberries on the canes!  Boy, were they delicious!  And I shared with Rafe!  Actually picked about 1/2 cup.....

Winter Mode

Just saw the cat walk over to the dog & settle in. This is their beginning of winter mode. They'll both be by the wood stove soon!

PS--just watched the weather forecast & they are predicting snow here Thurs. night into Fri!

Macro Monday

Haven't been out to take any photos this week so I'm looking back  through my old pictures.  Have lots of butterfly photos from trips to Magic Wings & the Butterfly place, both in Massachusetts.
Enjoy!

First Stop!

Finally booked our plane tickets for January!  This will be our first stop off of the ferry.  Hope there will be a bunch of friends waiting at this bar for us!  let the countdown begin!

Friday Flashback--way back!

Have been sorting through boxes of my Aunt's & found negatives of family photos I have never seen before!  Started scanning some yesterday ( such a tedious process) --did you know that negatives in the 1940's were a different size than they are today?  They are all slightly (1/4" or so) longer so they don't fix the  space  correctly.
This is one of my favorites of the ones I found so far.  It was taken on Main St. in Melrose, MA.   My sister & I in the stroller ( I'm the one with the jaunty hat! ) and my Mom & Dad--looks like the fall--it's 1949--I'm approx. 1 yr old.  My Mom & Dad were 28 & 30.
See all the old cars in the background?

Along the Merrimack

 More from my weekend in Haverhill.  These are from Saturday, late afternoon at my brother's house.  they live on the banks of the Merrimack River--a beautiful spot!

 I walked along the bank & took a few photos.

 The sunlight playing on the water was beautiful!

 Don't know if any of you remember, but they had a fire last year at the house & have been living in a trailer on the front lawn since last November The Fire.  They now see a light at the end of the tunnel--would love to be back in by Thanksgiving but realistically it may be the beginning of Dec.  the house is looking great!

Pam's Garden

 Last weekend I went up to one of my "hometowns"  & did some visiting!    Saturday I went to a HS friends house & we chatted most of the day--had so much to catch up on!  her home is the 3rd oldest in Andover.

 Pam maintains some beautiful gardens around the house--amazing since she spends alot of her time in Maine also!  There were so many things in the garden still growing!  ( this is NE of where I live & I've already ripped most of my gardens out!)

 Lots of herbs.

 She tries to teach people to use what they  have around the house --this is an improvised trellis

 Broccoli growing again!

 Morning Glories

 And the strawberries are blossoming again!

 Beautiful cabbages

 And zinnias

 Pam in the garden

 Growing hops on a trellis

 This speaks for itself!  I had a wonderful afternoon with Pam--we share alot of the same interests--gardening, canning --we made plans to both enter our canning at the Big E next year!

Macro Monday--Dragonfly

Was at a friends house on Saturday  & we spent a bit of time outside because it was a beautiful day!  Saw a few dragonflies & was able to capture ( photograph not actually capture!) this one.  Landed on the sleeve of Pam's denim jacket!

Fall Decor

 Last week we were at the Cooon Club for a pig roast--the weather was nice enough to sit out on the porch!

A few of the decorations that Theresa puts out!  This is a wrap around porch --love to sit out there & relax.  i'm off to MA today for the weekend--lots of things planned--going to see my Aunt, visit with my brother & see some HS friends!

Surprise Cupcakes-recipe at the end

This recipe has been around for years ( I think I've been making these for at least 40 years!) but I tried something different with it this time.  Usually it's made with a chocolate cake mix, but decided to try it with red velvet. ( yes, I know red velvet is really just chocolate with red coloring!).  So you make the cake mix according to the package instructions,  The in a separate bowl mix together sugar,  egg & cream cheese.

It makes however many the cake mix says--usually about 2 dozen.

Experimented taking photos of the batter--this was the one I liked the best ( enhanced with HDR at Picnik)  Add chocolate chips to the cream cheese mixture & drop the filling  onto each cupcake.

Bake according to cake mix directions.  They are delicious warm, right out of the oven, but I put cream cheese frosting on the ones I was taking to a party.

Here's what one looks like on the inside!

Surprise Cupcakes

1 (2 layer ) cake mix--chocolate or whatever kind you want to use--without pudding preferable
8 oz cream cheese
1/3 c. sugar
1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 egg

Mix cake according to package directions.  In a separate bowl cream together the cream cheese and sugar.  Beat in the egg and then fold in the chocolate chips.  Fill the cupcake tins 1/2 full with cake batter, then top with 1 rounded teaspoon of cream cheese mixture.  Bake according to cake mix directions.  Frost as desired.  Makes 24-30 cupcakes. 

A Day out with the Girls!

 

Last Saturday I went with a few of my friends to Stormville NY  to a large flea market that they have at an old airport there.  The weather was perfect!  Lots of "stuff" to choose from....I usually don't buy much of anything....but lots to look at!  All of us are now wearing glasses so 2 of the girls got fit over sunglasses ( I already have them)

 

Flags of many colors, shapes & sizes!

The crowds was just beginning to pick up when we arrived.

Lots of Yankee & Mets stuff--we're less than 2 hours out of NYC!

We poked around in this tent but found even better prices.....

passed by the tie dyed clothes..

This is our cart...most of what's in there is our clothes as we shed layers!

Thought these umbrellas were pretty

One big farm stand with beautiful veggies

Gorgeous red peppers!  But my bargain of the day was these dresses--$2.00 each!  I bought 5...even if a few don't fit  it was a deal!  Thought they would be great for Mexico...