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And if you can?
I’m sorry.
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From the looks of that cat, I’d say he did it on purpose.
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To be honest, I don’t either.
Moving on…
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Free bats?
Must be a popular rental at Halloween.
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Ah, Vermont.
That state is so wonderfully quirky I wouldn’t be surprised if the moose was environmentally friendly student transportation.
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I drove home under some ominous skies the other afternoon.
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And woke up to our first dusting of snow.
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It was gone by mid day just in time for our contractor to drop by between jobs and seal up the new windows with some not so attractive foam.
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He’s finishing off a barn next door that’s taking longer than planned but as soon as he’s done he’ll be back over here to finish our nightmare project.
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As usual, Lord Dudley Mountcatten couldn’t care less.
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💕
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As you know, my husband miraculously parted with one of his motorcycles earlier this year. We really don’t ride much anymore and while it was the right thing to do… I know it was hard for him. Admitting you’re getting older is never easy and I daresay a piece of his youth drove off with that Kawasaki.
Of course he still has the Harley. Which is why I was extremely surprised when I saw him outside last week giving her a bath in anticipation of someone coming over to look at it.
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He bought the low rider back in 2009 from a friend whose brother had died. Not riding himself and knowing how much love and money his brother put into it, the friend was glad to see it go to a good home.
And believe me, serious money was invested in a complete remodel shortly before the owner passed.
$27,000 worth of serious.
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My husband paid a fraction of that and though we’ve owned it for quite a while, I have to admit we don’t ride it very often.
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See that tiny rear seat?
It doesn’t match my (not so tiny) rear seat and made long trips something to be avoided.
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We took it for short hops, and won a few bike show trophies… but for the most part she’s lived under cover in the garage.
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Which if you know anything about motorcycles and old Harleys in particular… is not a good thing.
Yes, someone is interested in buying her but unfortunately she’s not running right now. Won’t even start as a matter of fact… and there’s no telling how much money we’ll have to sink in her to make that happen.
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Second thoughts on saying goodbye?
Oh yeah.
He’s probably having third and fourth as well.
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Though we have the occasional opossum in our backyard nibbling at fallen bird seed, I’ve never given them much consideration as a pet….
Until now.
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Damn you Facebook for having an opossum lovers page and making me want to adopt one.
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Now I want to give an opossum a bath…
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And dress him for the holidays.
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I even want to put one in a box.
And give him a manicure.
❤️
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Am I the only one who was unaware what happens to unclaimed luggage?
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Good question… and one I honestly never gave much thought. But if the airlines can’t reunite you with your lost bags?
Read on…
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Whaaaat!
A veritable lost luggage Goodwill?
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Omg.
This is almost enough to make me want to move back down south.
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And while it ticks me off to think how many millions the airlines are making from what’s basically their incompetence…
I admit I really do want to shop there!
🥴
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Because sometimes recipes make me cry.
Every Thanksgiving I’m asked to bring this dessert, a cappuccino mousse trifle. It’s easy to make and sits well overnight so I can make it ahead of time and not rush the morning of.
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The reason it chokes me up?
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It’s written in my mother’s hand, one of the few examples of her script I have. Yes, it’s old and stained … but to me, it’s precious.
As are the memories of her helping me make it.
If you want to follow along it goes something like this…
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Cube a pound cake.
I like to slice off the top so the coffee absorbs more fully.
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If you have a trifle bowl do three layers, if not… do two like this one. I use Starbucks medium roast instant coffee as it’s much smoother than Folgers.
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Soaked cubes, then coffee mousse layer sprinkled with chocolate. Be sure to use whole milk, not lower fat versions.
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Top with Cool Whip and cinnamon.
I don’t pipe rosettes but feel free to dress it up if you’re an over achiever.
As I said, I make this the afternoon before and find the flavor is deeper the next day.
Enjoy.
😊
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I’m running out of reasons, just do it.
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I used to adore Christmas and everything about it. I decorated everything that stood still, cooked huge meals, bought carloads of gifts and wrote so many cards my fingers cramped.
Over the years our celebrations have gotten smaller and quieter. No more big get togethers, less decorating, no rampant overspending. And that’s fine.
I’ve gotten to the age where very little of it matters anymore and though at times I miss the fun… more often than not the holiday itself makes me sad, missing those no longer with us. Five of our yearly family guests are gone now, we lost two just this summer. Death is a part of life, yes. But it makes for a very empty table.
Okay, that was depressing .… back to the question.
Favorite traditions:
When I was a child …
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A wee bit older than that, it was spending the day in NYC with my father. Every year he took me to his office where all the partners gave me little gifts. We ate lunch at the Bankers Club at 120 Broadway where he snuck me into the gentlemen only grill room. Even my mother hadn’t been there. The Rockefeller Center ice rink, Fifth Avenue shop windows, FAO Schwartz, the glorious tree. New York is a magical place for a child that time of year and I have lovely memories.
Years later when I married my husband? Hunting for and cutting down a tree. It has to be full, fat and perfect, as well as too big for the living room.
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Snuggling on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate watching It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s not Christmas without Jimmy Stewart.
Driving around town on Xmas Eve looking at lights and eating Chinese food … because I need a break from the kitchen and it’s always the only thing open.
How about you?
What’s your favorite Christmas tradition…
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Every Thanksgiving I’m asked to bring my Crab Toasties appetizer. And since I rarely make them at home because my husband doesn’t like crabmeat… I’m happy to oblige.
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It’s a treat that takes a good chunk of 💰 seeing that fresh crabmeat is currently $30 a pound and I doubled the batch and needed two pounds, but holidays are made for splurging.
Use fresh crabmeat… do not, I repeat DO NOT! use canned… here’s the recipe.
It’s quick, easy to make and oh so yummy.
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** Crab Toasties **
1 pound cooked crabmeat
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 package Thomas English muffins
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Mix first 5 ingredients together
Quarter English muffins and arrange on cookie sheet.
Spread crab mixture on muffins heavily, sprinkle with paprika and parsley flakes if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
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Easy peasy, nice and cheesy.
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper for quick clean up.
👍
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I bought a bottle of Pantene shampoo a while back. And after only a week in the shower… I reached down, pumped and got nothing but air.
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Seeing that my husband has very little hair left, I thought it odd the bottle had emptied so quickly.
Which is when I unscrewed the top.
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Really?
Mystery solved why no shampoo was forthcoming, but come on.
A little quality control goes a long way.
🥴
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One of the few restaurants that rarely disappoints.
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Dead fish greeters.
What’s not to love?
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Their seasonal sangria is to die for.
PUMPKIN PATCH SANGRIA
white wine, vanilla vodka, chai latte,
cinnamon sticks, white cranberry juice,
topped with Downeast pumpkin cider
Mmm, mmm good.
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A tasty calamari appetizer with zucchini, onions and peppers with pepperoncini aioli for nibbles.
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For dinner we both had the same thing because it’s fabulous.
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PAN SEARED PANKO HADDOCK
almond compound buttered green beans,
confit garlic & parmigiano mashed potatoes,
crispy leeks, charred scallion aioli
If you’re in the neighborhood be sure to drop by.
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River's world..... 