Canterbury Old Home Days

The town held it's Old Home Days which had a little bit of old time reenactments as well as craft and food vendors and antique vehicle rides. Take a look.

Largest Pumpkin I've ever seen

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Cattle Barns Lebanon Fairgrounds

I went to the Lebanon Country Fair for the farm tractor pull but could not resist visiting the animals

Five Guys and Starbucks

Several Dayville Connecticut homes have been sold to developers and are being demolished to make way for a Starbucks, Five Guys and Jersey Mikes restaurants and other retail stores. Some folks say it will bring unwanted congestion to the area of historic homes, others are happy to see the new food choices. The property borders Owen Bell Park a heavily used recreation park as well as Killingly Commons a busy shopping center. We can only hope it all turns out well.

Invasion of Jeeps

Music, food trucks, and dozens of super shiny and personalized jeeps lined up around Davis Park in Danielson, CT provided a fun night for hundreds of residents and out of towners on a warm summers night.

Peace at Roseland

when you need to unwind and let your mind delete all the nonsense that's accumulated there and to exhale the anxiety built up in your chest I know of a perfect spot to make it happen. Roseland Park in Woodstock, Ct.

Antique Trucks Restored to Perfection

Got to see some beautifully restored trucks at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds this weekend. What a pleasure to know that there are people whe care enough about our history to do this painstaking work. Hope you enjoy this video.

Farm Tractor Pull

Got to spend friday night at a farm tractor pull at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds, first time for me and I really enjoyed it. The tractors are modified to maximize power and they then compete in dragging a sled along a course and the winner is determined by the tractor that pulls the sled the furthest. It takes a skilled driver and a powerful tractor to get the win.

Fabulous Ice Cream on the We Lik It Farm

After a scenic ride through Abington CT. I came upon the We Lik It farm stand which was quite busy with people lined up for their rich and creamy ice cream. Lots of folks viewing the assortment of farm animals while others played games on the large mowed lawn. Great family outing destination.

Amazon Plainfield sitting empty

Groundbreaking ceremony took place in July of 2021 with promises of new jobs and increased activity for local businesses but almost three years later it sits empty but large and impressive. Some say it was just meant to be a tax write off while others claim Amazon over estimated the demand for product in the area and some say just hold on it will happen. I hope it does happen in 2024.

Antique Farm Machines

While cruising down Route 14 in Rhode Island I passed through a couple of small colonial villages with period homes in impeccable condition and was surprised by this display of antique farm vehicles and equiptment lined up on a lawn. I videoed what I could without going to far onto the property but there was much more there. Take a look.

A Fallen Marine

Ron didn't show up to the 2 o'clock coffee and conversation break that happens every day at the local Bakers Dozen. This was unusual for the former Marine who took great pleasure in the daily meetup. Later one of the guys thought he'd better check on him and drove to his apartment complex and made inquiries. A maintenance man went to Ron's unit and saw his truck parked in its spot but no one answered the door to the apartment. The State Police were called for a wellness check and Ron was found unresponsive. All his rugged Marine Corps training was no match for the Cancer that took him much too soon. The family explained in the following partial obituary. "Ron found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He was a regular at local coffee shops and restaurants, where he shared meals and conversations with close friends. Ron suffered from various forms of cancer for over 10 years due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Despite this, he lived life to the fullest on his terms. As a proud Marine, he will be laid to rest at Pike's Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs at a later date." Semper Fi brother. Ronald Emil Baker April 25, 2024 RIP

Gibson Brothers return to Lexington

Letting you know that the superb Bluegrass band the Gibson Brothers will be playing a show at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library located at 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, Mass. this Saturday April 27. Show time 7:30 pm. Be there if you want to see and hear the best of songwriters playing music and lyrics they created with such wonderful harmony and outstanding musicianship.

Wicked House Fire

A family member got a call from a neighbor while out on Easter Sunday. The caller told her that her house was on fire and Firemen were on scene attempting to put it out. Imagine what she felt at that moment. To hear her new home may be ashes when she got back. fortunately it was still standing when I left and no one had been injured thanks to the actions of our brave firemen and women.

I Scream for Ice Cream

Stopped at the Buttonwoods Farm Stand for some fantastic ice cream today. It was delicious as we had heard and even better the views of pasture and stone walls are magnificent. It's a must stop on our travel schedule for sure. Try it folks, you won't be disappointed.

Mashamoquet, a Gem of a Park

This Gem of a state park is located in Pomfret, CT. just off Rt. 44. Check it out it gorgeous, peaceful and wooded with huge trees and has hiking trails and a roaring brook.

Flat Footing in Sparta, N.C.

The Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention is held in Sparta, North Carolina in July.The Competition is by age group and includes Flat Footing or Clogging as well as acoustic instruments, singing considered to be traditional or bluegrass style or old tyme music. It's held at the Fairgrounds in Sparta and offers camping and food vendors. It's always a great time and you should check it out.

Girls get the Chair

You are never to old to act like a kid, just let loose and have some fun and these ladies did just that.

The Rabbit Hunters

Can you picture yourself providing for your family the way these gents did back in early 1900 when this photo was taken. Along with hard scrabble farming and harvesting wood for the home fires some of the men here worked on building a railbed for the electric rail car that brought people and freight to and from Providence, Rhode Island. This feat was accomplished by about 100 men and very little machinery.

From left; George Jacques, Myron Northrum, James E. Smith, Mr. Hale, and Harry Smith.

Brooklyn Conn. Restaurants Forced to Close

The owners of two restaurants that share a right of way with the East Brooklyn Ct. Fire Department say they are closing the locations known as "The Ice Box" and the restaurant next door called "Suto's." The issues began two years ago when the Fire Dept. had concerns over restaurant customers parking illegally on the street that is used by emergency vehicles. One thing led to another and lawsuits were initiated against the owners of the popular eateries who have used up over 100,000 defending themselves and cannot continue losing money. They plan to look for a location to start over in another town.

A friend, face contorted with pain from being shunned by loved ones and not knowing the reason for their behavior. She'd given so much of herself without appreciation or acknowledgement. She searched for answers. She struggled, but in the end couldn’t find one. I suggested that time has a way of healing all ills and as Ram Dass said, " Ultimately we are all just walking each other home.”

Super Chef

Marsha thinks there's nothing special about her culinary skills but I think she's wrong.

 

Jenny Brook and Tunbridge Vermont

When you need to take a break from jamming or visiting take a walk up the hill to Main St. Rt. 110 and take in the sights of a classic Vermont town. You might appreciate the quiet peaceful way of life suggested in the white gable roofed homes.You'll see a tiny post office that serves a small population and the town hall and library are inviting a look see too. On your walk you can see all of the campers and stages of the festival and the beautiful hills and wild river that complete the scene. When hungry check out the 1830's country store for a great snack or go back to the food vendors at the fairgrounds.

 

Jenny Brook Bluegrass at Tunbridge, Vermont

This June we'll all be heading to Tunbridge, Vermont for the Jenny Brook Bluegrass festival for some great music, jamming, renewing friendships, and of course some wonderful food. What too many of us miss out on is seeing the iconic Vermont village that surrounds the fairgrounds. If you venture up the hill to Rt. 110 you'll find an old country store opened in 1830 it's a great place to sit with a coffee and snack and watch small town life.

Putnam Friday Night

Even on a frigid evening the restaurants in Putnam, CT are packed,take a ride with me.

Blue Ridge Escape

Sitting here on a freezing night surrounded by snow I began remembering a wonderful trip along the Blueridge Parkway in the fall of 2021. We were following the Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. We visited numerous music venues and had a blast hearing bluegrass and traditional music for hours. By chance we came across Mabry's Mill on the parkway in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Built in 1905 by Ed and Lizzie Mabry with the help of neighbor Newton Hylton. The gristmill, waterwheel and flume were built with hand tools. All of these buildings have been restored to show a slice of rural life in the 1900's. Below are the mill, sluiceway and the Mathews cabin which sits on the approximate site of the Mabry's farmhouse which was dismantled after his death in 1938.

Danielson's New Vibe

For many years downtown looked as if on the verge of becoming a ghost town, the vibrant shopping sites of the 70's and 80's seemed to disappear one by one and the borough began to be void of activty. Good news is a new group of entrepenuers have jumped in to bring a sense of renewal to the empty streets with a couple of restaurants slated to open soon, a coffee shop and other retail sites newly opened that are bringing folks back to the borough. I wish them well and hope more people come out to support them. Danielson and the town of Killingly have a good vibe going, check it out.

Tiffany and Company, the humble beginnings.

In 1837 Charles Lewis Tiffany borrowed 1.000 dollars from his father who owned a cotton mill on Tiffany Street in Brooklyn, CT. He and a friend, John B. Young used the money to buy a small stationary store in New York City. As they expanded they added glassware, porcelain, clocks and jewelry. They built a reputation for selling top quality items and in 1848 began manufactoring their own jewelry. They now have over 300 stores worldwide and revenue of over 4 billion dollars and it all began with a thousand dollars on Tiffany Street in Brookly, CT.