A few bits and pieces . . .

Of course this is not the mink we saw!  I found this photo on line but it's a darned good likeness!

Easter Sunday dinner was fine and dandy. We had chocolate cake from Gregg's for lunch today. That's pretty neat! The weather was so good today that I was able to do some raking up on the hill near the wall and uncovered the vinca older sister-in-law gave me a couple of years ago. It's spreading out pretty well. I hope it blooms this year. I even have a few daffodils that will bloom up there in all the rocky mess! Might get a few decent photo ops! Saturday when Puppies and Dante's Pop and I were coming back from Groton, via North Kingston, RI ( had to pick up the cake!) and Big Y ( had to pick up the roast beast!) we were amazed as we came down the crooked hill on Starkweather Road to see a beautiful, dark, sleek mink ambling across the street to get to Savo's Pond where we used to go ice skating when Matante Rose and Mononcle Joe lived in the Caron homestead! We've never seen a mink before. I bet it has a nice home and some little ones nearby. Hope to see it again. Trying to figure out who I can call to ask how long the minks have been living off of Starkweather.

Hoping to get good news today that younger sister will be starting some rehab to improve her walking at McLean in Simsbury. Sounds like a pretty impressive place and it's near one of our favorite breakfast places! Actually, pretty soon we'll be able to go to the Farm in Granville, MA for ice cream! Yay!

Quote:  What is often called indolence is, in fact, the unconscious consciousness of incapacity.   __H.C. Robinson

Joyeuses Paques . . .

Yay . . . Pussy willows . . .

Tried to show the texture so that you would want to pet them!

I don't walk on our street too often any more so I don't get to find the rare pussy willows. They are rare to me because each year someone always beats me to them! But I was in luck yesterday. Younger sister-in-law took me to the Mashentucket Reservation for a nice indoor walk and leisurely lunch. On our return to her home I saw some big, fat pussy willows actually made for petting! Kid brother gave me a nice big branch and using my trusty new Pampered Chef Shears I now have a beautiful display of the perfectly petable, velvety grey, springtimey, poofey puffs. I like it like that!

We've already been to the flying field where the walking was good and Puppies and Dante's Pop fought the wind to get in four flights. He is good. What a tenacious spirit. Must be why our progeny are keen, hard working and diligent. Amazing attributes in this " Let the government take care of me," age. Did I mention Rainbow? Yep, a neat little village in Winsor, CT. Last week younger sister directed me to a Winsor shopping plaza by all kinds of winding back roads. It was a beautiful drive. We followed the Farmington River for a while and drove through some beautiful Connecticut landscapes. Hope we'll get some nice weather soon so we can go on some more excursions. Even though Connecticut politics and government are horrendous left wing nuts the state is quaint, lovely, old fashioned and interesting.

Quote:  Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees, rocked in the cradle of the western breeze.  __Cowper

This has been fun . . .

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We just got back from LLBean and Cabela's. Picked up a few good things and stopped for lunch at the Roadside Diner. We were introduced to Hailey, the pastry chef. She said, " You subbed at the High School!" Yep. She's right! She is an intern from Johnson & Wales. You should have seen the sweet looking tarts she was bringing out of the kitchen. Impressive work. Such a good teacher am I!

Had a chance to visit with older brother and his wife yesterday. Always have a great time. C. fed us cretons for lunch and they were excellent, same taste as Pa's but no fat. That's a hard thing to do. We also went out with Oneco friends and caught up on their Celebrity Cruise in the Caribbean. Everything went perfectly on their 14 day trip.

Puppies' and Dante's Pop pointed out a bluebird on the house near the spring so I hurried to get the camera. As per his instructions, I sneaked up to the garage door and took some photos. Since M. Oiseau Bleu decided to hang around I went into video mode. After a while Puppies and  Dante's Pop called out, " He's gone!" I cracked up. I had videoed nothing! I really couldn't see what I was doing and I ended up laughing so hard that the video turned into shots of the power lines, garage, asphalt, house, sky etc. You get the picture. He'll never let me forget that faux pas! Among other faux pas I forgot to invite Middle Child and family for Easter Dinner! It's a good thing they stopped in Sunday and asked what we were doing for Easter! I guess I just took it for granted that they would be here! I have the roast beast ordered along with Gregg's Chocolate Cake and Munson's candies. So now I'm all set but the cooking! Oops! Just got the call! So I'm on my way to Groton! Cool beanies.

Quote:  He who has no inclination to learn more will be very apt to think that he knows enough.   ___Powell

It didn't help . . .

At least the blue bird is on schedule. Praise the Lord!

I enjoy going to Mass. It makes me take time to slow down and be thankful for my life, family and friends. The long Palm Sunday Gospel was very well read by some of the older students in the CCD Classes. ( I have no clue what the classes are called now but they were at one time the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.) When the congregation  read the part of the Chorus and came to the single  word "Prophesy" with the long ī because it is a verb and was used as a command to Jesus, it was read by all, but not sundry (me) as Prophecy with a long ē, the noun! Heaven help me I am going as quickly as the sleek, brown fox as he jumps over the lazy dog and continues down the hill of despair. I may have to take up drinking as a worth while hobby. I must stop being a nit picker! I shall have to pray that my hearing continues its decline. On top of that Father Ray who now works for the Bishop was invited to urge us to go to a three day retreat. He is going to be the featured speaker. Oyveh! I never could stand the platitudinous simpleton years ago when he came to All Hallows much too often. Now he's some sort of speaking big wig for the diocese. I may have to convert to a fire and brimstone church! He's super light catholicism. Can't stand it! Okay, that's it. My Sunday is in ruins so I think I'll have Puppies and Dante's Pop take me out for a Black Russian lunch.

Quote: It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.   ___Augustine  ( I must repent of my proud and mean ways.  I really need to be humble.  Hard job.  Not easy.  Pas du tout facile.)

Bah Springtime . . .

Back to WW II England

Ridiculous.  We can still go sliding. The sun peeps out occasionally; it's 39 degrees in the sun; it's windy and disgustingly cold just trying to gas the car! Where is the nice hot climate change? I want it now! Damn, Obama can't even get the weather right. He's just so easy to despise along with the entire US Congress and all the idiots we have in Hartford who are planning to tax home heating oil so we backwards folks can change to the new and better green fuel natural gas. I'm just so pissy today I could spit nails.

So on to safer topics! Had a great visit Sunday with kid brother and his wife. I picked up some eclairs and creme puffs from the Roadside Diner and we had a little desert fest. The cook at the Roadside out did himself with the creme puffs. So impressed was I. Monday our maple syrup producing Cousine stopped by with 2013 syrup for me to parcel out. She will not take any money for her labour intensive gift. Wish I could repay her in some way. All she said was, " Take care of the trees, Irène." What a truly kind and generous soul. Had some fun with Kiddo Tuesday evening and visited younger sister yesterday.  She's sounding and looking stronger and younger each visit! Soon she'll have a trustworthy vehicle and I hope she'll be able to come to Moosup. Then we can go out to the Diner and drive to Oakland Beach besides just hanging out in this good old town!

Spent this morning with T at Old Tymes eating Caribbean Pancakes. I really have to stop these meetings or meet where the food is horrible! The pancakes are dressed with bananas, pecans, coconut. I add butter and real maple syrup. That counted for lunch and breakfast. Later I helped Ps&D's Pop bleed the brakes on the El Camino. I don't think they are too trustworthy yet because he couldn't get to the back driver's side line where he had to be too careful or he could have broken something. We did the others but he may have to wait until it warms up to try to loosen things up or it may need professional help. It is pretty old and testy at times.

Quote:  That state of life is most happy where superfluities are not required, and necessaries are not wanting.    ___Plutarch

Hey, I did download it right this time!