Throwback Thursday - Gillette Castle

This week, when we were at the Connecticut Science Center, Paul was looking at one of his favorite exhibits about the Connecticut River. It is really cool; you can "navigate" up and down the whole length of the river, from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire where it starts, to where it empties out into Long Island Sound. It gives you pictures, history, and facts along the way.







When he came to Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Ct, it reminded me of the time in 1965 that I went there with my grandmother, my Aunt Dot, and my friend Doris. I was almost 15.




In this picture, my aunt told me to smile so that she could get a picture of my new braces.



We didn't do things like this too often. I'm so glad I have Dot's pictures, even though I remember getting tired of her taking so many.

Mason's first visit to the Agawam Library

Marley has been staying with me for most of her Spring break, and today we were going to the library. Since I was babysitting for Mason also today, I thought it was a good time for his first visit. He was very excited about this. Marley and I explained to him that you have to "be quiet" in the library; you needed to whisper. He was very good and whispered just about every time he said anything. When we went to check out their books, Marley was holding him so he could see what was going on. She told the clerk that it was Mason's first time at the library. The clerk asked him how he liked it and he whispered something that neither of us could hear. I laughed, explaining what we had told him, and said that I didn't think he would take me quite so literally!

Here are some pictures from his first visit (and yes, Marley likes to read in some strange places).













These are the books he took out today.



Marley loves to read and goes through books so fast. She goes to the library near her house, but she also likes to go to the library near my house. I'm sure that this will be one of many trips for Mason!

Connecticut Science Center

This week is Marley's Spring vacation and Paul and I took her to the Connecticut Science Center. Kris and Toby bought a year's membership last August and since that time we have been meaning to go back.

We have been there twice and it has always been SO crowded. Today it wasn't, and it seemed nice not to have to wait in lines to see the exhibits.

Paul and Marley went into a wind machine that simulated hurricane winds.



The traveling exhibit was Dinosaurs Unearthed.







This cube was really hard to put together; we watched several people try. Guess who did it?



The view from the top floor is unbelievable.



We saw a 3D movie about tornadoes. Quite apropos for this year's weather!



But....I still think her favorite thing to do is this water room. She could stay here for hours.







Later, I learned that Hartford broke a weather record at 92 degrees today. I'm sure glad the science center was air conditioned!

Throwback Thursday - Hunting Pheasants

Last Sunday, Easter, while we were taking a walk around my circle, trying to walk off dinner, ha! we stopped to talk to one of my neighbors. Her dog was in the front yard with her. My aunt Dot loves dogs. She was telling my neighbor that her father used to have hunting dogs; the kids' favorite was named Colonel. My grandfather used to hunt pheasants with them.

This is a picture that my aunt took of my Dad with pheasants that he brought home. My grandmother used to pluck them, clean them and then cook them. Can you imagine? She is a better woman than me! Not only would I not do that, I wouldn't even let Paul do it in my kitchen, ha ha!!

Throwback Thursday - Crestview Country Club

Recently I found out that Crestview Country Club has been sold. We took a ride by it yesterday so that I could take some pictures.

Both Kristen and Mark worked at Crestview. Kristen started there in 1989 when she was a junior in high school. A friend of hers worked in the office and told Kristen that they needed part time help. She worked there after school, Saturdays and summers. She also worked during college breaks and summers. Her last two years there she worked for the golf pro, Fran Kringle, with whom I went to high school. Small world!

Mark had several friends who worked there. Kristen knew the maitre D and talked to him about hiring her brother. Mark worked there in 1991 and 1992 during his junior and senior year as a bus boy and then as a waiter.

I hadn't driven up that long driveway in years. I can't tell you how many times Paul and I made that drive to either drop off or pick up one or the other. It was a good part time job for both of them.





I hadn't realized though, until today, just how beautiful the view is there. Golf courses are usually pretty, but this one is really beautiful.



I hope Crestview continues to do well in their new ownership.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday started off with me meeting Kris, Toby and Marley at church. Paul was home with his third cold of the Winter/Spring!



Marley came home with me and found her Easter basket.



Luckily Janelle's mother, Stacia, arrived in time for me to leave her with the kitchen while I went to the Atrium to get Dot.



Toby did a great job carving the ham!



We had quite a houseful. Janelle's parents and sister joined the regulars along with Dot, and my Dad and Marge. Poor Paul ate in the other room because he was so "stuffy."



We had a great meal (even if I do say so), great desserts thanks to Stacia and Amy, and lots of fun afterwards outside. Dot enjoyed taking a walk with us, Mason loved playing ball with Toby and Mark, and Marley shared her bike with Janelle and Amy, ha ha!

I felt like I was so busy that I didn't get many pictures taken, but here are a few.



Mason loved his pop ring....



Especially the fact that it turned his tongue blue.



What can I say about this?



We ended the day with a very competitive (at least with Mark and Toby) game of Apples to Apples!

GG's grave

Good Friday. It was a beautiful Spring day today and since both Marley and Mason were here, I decided it would be a good day to clean off the winter debris from GG's grave. Marley wanted to put some of our colored Easter eggs there; we have been doing that for a few years. Mason kept asking what a grave was; not easy to explain to a 2 1/2 year old.

I was surprised to see how many leaves were around her gravestone. I guess the cemetery has not done their Spring cleanup yet. I just brushed them away so that the lillies, which were already coming up, could be free from the leaves.

I'm glad that Marley still remembers GG, or at least remembers about her. It's too bad Priscilla never got to meet Mason; she sure would have loved him!

Throwback Thursday - Easter Memory 1950's

In keeping with the Easter theme this week, this is a picture taken Easter 1956.  I was 5 and my cousin Lynda was 2.

My aunt Dot was always trying to find pretty places to take our pictures. I remember her setting us up in front of this flower garden. This garden used to fascinate me because I was told it used to be a fish pond. I always wished we could make it a fish pond again, instead of having just flowers in it. It never happened.

Throwback Thursday - Easter 1976

Getting ready for Easter this week, I went searching for an old Easter picture for this week's Tuesday Memory.

Kristen was 3 1/2 and Mark was 1 1/2. Aren't they cute?

Wow, the years have really flown past. My grandchildren are older than that now!!

Buying Marley's Easter dress and Mason not sitting on the Easter Bunny's lap...

Tonight Kristen, Marley, Janelle and Mason and I went Easter shopping at the mall. Marley is not too into dresses lately, but luckily we found one that she was, if not thrilled with, at least willing to wear.

Before we went shopping, Janelle wanted to see if Mason would sit on the Easter Bunny's lap for a picture. Nope. No way. Not even with Marley saying she would sit with him.

He liked watching other kids sit on his lap.



Janelle tried talking him into it. Nope.



The Easter Bunny tried talking him into it. No way.



When we bought Marley's dress, they gave us free bunny ears. Kristen gave them to Mason. He loved them.



We tried again. Maybe he would sit on EB's lap with his new bunny ears. No way.

Oh well, he sure made a cute Easter Bunny himself!



As Marley said, when she was five and asked why she wouldn't sit on the Easter Bunny's lap, "I don't like to sit on men's lap that I don't know." You can't argue with that!

On another note - Places that are no more - Friendly's at the Holyoke Mall. This Friendly's has been at the Food Court since the mall opened in 1979, or at least very close to it. I just can't believe that this Friendly's is gone.

Dyeing eggs

This afternoon Marley, Mason, Janelle and I dyed eggs. Kristen was sick and missed all the fun, LOL!

This was Mason's first time dyeing eggs, I think, at least with me. He really got into it.



He only wanted to paint blue eggs though. Look at those hands!



This year I bought a kit with a golden wash/paint for the eggs. Marley really seemed to like that one. I did too!





It was a pretty messy affair. The kids had a great time though, and the memories of these yearly traditions are well worth the mess!



I think they're beautiful, don't you?



On another note, today is my mother-in-law's birthday. She has been gone for almost 8 years now (June). It doesn't seem possible. She always loved that her birthday was on April Fool's Day. She loved to kid around!

This is her high school graduation picture in 1946.