216/365 - Southwick tobacco barns

I drive by this tobacco barn every day on my way to work. It is interesting to watch the yearly cycle. I saw the day after they planted the tiny tobacco plants, watched them grow this summer, and then all of a sudden, within the week that we were on vacation, they were dug up and hung to dry in the barns. I missed seeing that. I am not in favor of tobacco, but I do enjoy watching the process.

Bickford's

Paul is finally feeling better and tonight he had a hankering for an apple pancake at Bickford's. Bickford's is in a different location now. It used to be on Riverdale St. in West Springfield, but now it is in the old Abdow's Big Boy restaurant in Westfield. We actually go way back with both restaurants. Quite a few years ago now, before Kris and Toby moved to Ohio, we used to meet every Tuesday night at Bickford's on Riverdale St. They had buy one pancake meal, get one free. Sometimes Paul's parents would meet us there too. Mark used to come when he was around (I think he was still in college). We also used to take the kids there when they were young. Paul ALWAYS, ONLY got the big apple. He has never had anything different at Bickford's. (He's weird like that, he has only ever had tacos at Taco Bell)

As far as Abdow's goes, we used to go to the one on Riverdale St. (that is now torn down) when the kids were young, probably elementary age. Sometimes we got the soup and salad bar (it was kind of a new phenomenon then, a salad bar) and sometimes we got a Big Boy hamburger. They also had the best strawberry pie. It was always a treat to go to either place. How weird that Bickford's is now in the Abdow's building in Westfield. Actually, the new Bickford's looks a lot like the old Abdow's. There is a long cushioned seat along one side of the building. I can remember when it was so crowded and people used to sit there until their number was called (tonight there were hardly any people there). A couple of things have changed. They switched the Men's Room and the Women's Room. It seemed funny going into the old Men's Room. Also, the glass cases at the front of the restaurant that used to hold all of the Abdow's pies - cream pies and strawberry pies, just holds some decorations. We hadn't been there in a long time and tonight it brought back a lot of good memories. Just thought I'd share.

Just a little addition, I took these pictures on my way to work this morning. The sun was shining through the clouds and it just looked pretty. I guess taking a picture every day last year is still with me!

293/365 - Tobacco barns in the Fall

Tobacco barns in the fall. Another sight on my way to work.

220/365 - The tobacco process

Now, I am by no means an advocate of tobacco, but I do enjoy watching the process - from the planting to the drying of the tobacco leaves. I drive by this scene on my way to work (and I have worked at the same place for 12 years), so I see the process a lot. It seems like there is a lot of time from when they plow the fields until the tobacco plants are big, but then one day the fields are full of people and within a week or so the leaves are cut down and hanging in the barns. They gradually turn from green to yellow, and then all of a sudden, the tobacco is gone and the barns are empty, ready to start cycle again.

And, yes, I did have to work today (Saturday) so this picture was taken today!