39 Years

My husband and I are celebrating our 39th anniversary yesterday and today.
We were actually married on the 30th, but our marriage certificate says the 31st so we get to celebrate for two days. Since we both have everything we need, and probably most everything we want, there really is no need for elaborate gift giving. He gave me pink carnations, my favorite, and also the flower he sent me for Valentine's day when he was in Vietnam in 1970.
He is always the romantic. I'm giving him the framing of a poster (2nd from the last on this page http://www.voodoocatbox.com/voodoocatbox_posters_p.html) that I got for his birthday in July. We spent yesterday being lazy around the house, drinking coffee and talking, he read magazines and fishing catalogs, I covered a shoe box with handmade purple paper (this box will hold my supplies when I go to a 4 day art retreat (http://www.art-is-you.com/ ) in October and then will become a fairy box for my granddaughter). After going to see our ex step granddaughter before she went to the prom, and taking my husband's handicapped brother home from work, we went to the Firehouse Steakhouse ( http://www.flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/ ) for dinner. Not because my husband was a firefighter for 25 years, but because they have great food, and the best Ruben I have ever eaten, and I have eaten plenty. We are very fortunate, both in our marriage and our lives and looking forward to the 40th.

Give Away From Flatwoods Folkart

This is a great give away. Check it out.

http://www.flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/

Wordless Wednesday

Waiting For The Artists To Return

Backyard Gone Wild

Although I would like to say that it was an environmently sound thing to do,

it was more a matter of time than anything else, that the backyard has gone wild.

Steampunk Bizarre

What is Steampunk?

I had heard the term steampunk, but wasn't quite sure what is was.

According to an article in the Middletown Press, May 22, Joey Marsocci says,

"it is science meets Victorian, late 1800s meets technology."

Noel Coonce-Ewing says, "it's about taking technology and applying it to another time.

What is Steampunk Bizarre?

It was the same article that lead me to Steampunk Bizarre, An Art Show of Ingenious Gadgets and Curiosities. It featured work by two independent artists, Noel Coonce-Ewing and Silas Finch, as well as the work of Joey Marsocci's team at Steam Gear Labs, a prop and film production studio which has recently moved from California to Connecticut.

California's loss is certainly Middletown's gain.

I had the pleasure of meeting Joey, his wife Allison, and Noel this morning at the exhibit's last day. They were all very personable, sharing their stories and their art. Photography was permitted and Joey gave me permission to post my photos on my blog. So I am doing so hoping that it will entice you to visit his blog where the photography is much better than mine and the stories behind the artwork are revealed. It's worth a visit.

BEHIND THE STEAM

For information about the gallery visit

MAC650 ArtSpace

Sculpture by Silas Finch

Parachute Dress

Night Light by Noel Coonce-Ewing

Eye Pod Victrola by Joey Marsocci

Assemblage by Noel Coonce-Ewing

Assemblage by Nicole Coonce-Ewing

Clock which instead of telling time, tells what everyone in the famly is doing.

Joey Marsocci

Amelia Earhart's Navigation System

Joey Marsocci

Just Another Rainy Sunday

We started our day with with rolling thunder and heavy rain,

and we ended our day with rolling thunder and heavy rain, with a burst

sunshine inbetween.

Wordless Wednesday Compare to Last Week

Food For Thought

Food For Thought
An evening at Connecticut Forum

My daughter treated me to an evening at Connecticut Forum.
The topic was "Food For Thought", and there was plenty of food for both the body and mind.
Read on.

The table set for dinner.

Connecticut Forum Mission: To encourage the free and active exchange of ideas in Forums which inform, challenge, entertain, inspire and build bridges among all people and organizations in our community.

This Forum was all about food. The panelists for the evening were Alice Waters, Anthony Bourdain and Duff Goldman.

The sponsor dinner was held at The Social Room, a former bank that was converted in an exquisite banquet facility. The evening started off with hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants. Rizzuto's provided us with Wild ramp and Morel Mushroom Risotto, The Counter offered us Turkey Chili with Dried Cranberries and Scallions, while Besito showcased it's Ceviche and Guacomole and Fleming's won my vote with Sliced Tenderloin accented with a Chipolte Cheddar Sauce atop mini Fleming's Potatoes. During the cocktail hour the panelists and moderator were available to speak with if you were so inclined.

The dinner that followed started with a salad of Roasted Asparagus with sliced Blood Orange and Carrot Curls tossed with Shallot and Orange Vinaigrette atop garlic Toast points. There were two main courses offered - Herb Crusted Roasted Chicken served with Basil Whipped Potato, Roasted Cauliflower with a Natural herb jus and Fried Garlic Garnish or Grilled Layered Vegetables atop a bed of Israeli Couscous over a Roma Tomato Puree. I chose the chicken dinner which was excellent. Oh yes, and wine, soothing wine.

And then of course there was dessert, delectible dessert. We were offered quite a sampling of mini treats from Whole Foods Market. The flower bowl center piece doubled as the dessert stand for a wonderful plate consisting of Petite Fruit Tart, Petite Truffle Cake, Petite Pear Frangipane Tart, Petite Chocolate Raspberry Tart, Petite Mouse filled Puff, Carmelita Bar and Lemon Bar. I tasted as many as could without looking glutonous.

After the dinner everyone made their way to the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. The Bushnell was sold out and the demand for this event was so great they offered a simalcast at the Wallace Stevens Theater.

The panelists offered their insights on TV cooking shows, organic foods & cooking, their inspirations, and their shows or restaurants. Their take on these subjects was humurous at times and heated and serious at others.

The upcoming season (2009-2020) will offer Forums such as Revolutionary Thinkers: An amazing assortment of entrepreneurs and innovators you should know.; Not Really Real... It's Satire: Laughing at ourselves, the news, pop culture, the media and more.; Dealing with Change: A conversation: Finding our footing as the ground shifts beneath out feet. An evening of answers and insights.; and Forum Music Fest: A celebration of music in our lives.

This was my third forum and I certainly hope I get to attend another.

Pink Car

Pink Car
Story Flirt

Below are the images used to create Pink Car.

Pink Car

They were riding along and she said, "Gammy, when I'm bigger and have a
pink car, I won't drive fast. I'll drive slow." But Gammy wasn't so sure.

Haiku Friday - First Poppy

First Poppy
First poppy bursts out
From warm sun after a rain
Brightening our day.

Wordless Wednesday

Fairy Door

Please be careful where you tread,
the fairies are about;
last night when I had gone to bed,
I heard them creeping out.
And wouldn't it be a dreadful thing,
to do a fairy harm? to crush a delicate little wing
or bruise a tiny arm?
They're all about the place I know,
so be careful where you go.

Rose Fyleman

A very well concealed entrance to a fairy dwelling.

Happy Mother's Day

I spent the weekend with my wonderful daughter's participating in

a Woman's Wellness Weekend at YMCA's Camp Hazen in Chester, CT.

We arrived Friday evening to a spread of appetizers and a welcoming activity.

There were fewer particpants this year than previous years. This was our 6th year.

There are a variety of activities throughout the week end ranging from yoga to cooking demonstrations to kyaking, to a climbing wall, and more. Or you may choose to simply sit by

fire and knit or sit by the lake and read. The week end culminates with a Mother's Day Brunch where participants are joined by thier families. Our own tradition includes a Friday evening trip to the Pattaconk Inn on Main Street in Chester, a local landmark.

Friday Night Full Moon

Fiona, my visiting travel doll sitting on my bunk.

My oldest daughter with Fiona on her shoulder.

My youngest daughter knitting and relaxing.

Fiona with our hostesses for the weekend.

Team Weekenders

Our Saturday evening activity was Pub Quiz.

We didn't win, but we came close.
Azaleas in full boom on Mother's Day

Wordless Wednesday

Heart and Home

They're not all happy.

A poem from Herb.

One day my father came home,

Unusual, because he loved so to roam.

He liked all the girls

And gave them a whirl,

Till Mom threw him out on his own.