Tag Archives: review

I hate westerns.

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For the last 39 years I’ve lived with old westerns playing in the background of my life. The husband loves them and they’ve been his go to when he has nothing specific in mind to watch on tv for the almost 4 decades we’ve been together.

He loves old western movies with John Wayne and Gary Cooper and Henry Fonda.

He loves old western television series like The Rifleman and Tales of Wells Fargo and the Virginian.

Me? I hate them all. Always have and thought I always would.

Until I started watching Yellowstone, which I really don’t consider a western, and liked it so much I had to subscribe to Paramount Plus so I could watch 1883… which most definitely is a western.

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Yup. An honest to God western complete with cowboys, a wagon train, bandits, buffalo, Indians and some breathtaking views of what the Great Plains once was.

I loved it all.

The acting was surprisingly good and Sam Elliot made me cry. Who woulda thunk it! This show is a love story… to the west and a way of life long gone. It has a gravitas that grabbed me and didn’t let go.

I binged, and when it ended? I wished for another 30 episodes.

Me. Wanting more of a western. Somewhere… pigs are flying.

Starring Tim McGraw and an almost unrecognizable Faith Hill…

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With cameos by Tom Hanks, Billy Bob Thornton and Graham Greene… it’s newcomer Isabel May who narrates it’s heart.

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Her voice can be haunting, and with the right swell of music laid on top of glorious cinematography?

Trust me, it’s a winner.

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Ya gotta try these!

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As I was picking up some frozen pitted cherries for my morning smoothie at the grocery store, I saw something interesting I knew I had to try.

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Tru Fru.

Individual pieces of ripe fruit… flash frozen and covered in chocolate.

Nothing more.

And nothing less than delightful.

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I don’t have a huge sweet tooth but every now and then I like s little touch of dessert after dinner and these are perfect.

I take a few out of the freezer and let them sit 15-20 minutes before eating… and am now totally addicted.

The raspberry and strawberry have the deepest flavor… but the blueberry and cherry are good as well. They make a banana which I would love, but I haven’t found that one yet.

https://trufru.com/

👍

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The resort, pros and cons.

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This is one of the timeshare resorts where I’ve been wanting to stay for some time and we were lucky to grab a few days in the fall because they’re usually booked solid.

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Located in the White Mountains, right off the Kancamagus … you couldn’t ask for a more perfect spot.

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Pro..

Nestled in the trees, on the side of a hill with mountain views from every side….

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It was blissfully quiet yet within walking distance to town.

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Our condo was nice. Comfortable furniture in muted autumn colors, a fireplace…

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Full kitchen…

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And two comfortable bedrooms.

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No, the husband and I don’t sleep separately…

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But booking a two bedroom unit means we have two bathrooms as well…. and that my friends, is the secret to a happy marriage.

Con…

Over looking the master bed?

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A moose whose eyes followed you around the room. Very disturbing, that.

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Pro…

The whirlpool bathtub was in the bathroom.

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Con…

The fixtures were outdated and the only soap offered was in this environmentally friendly dispenser.

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Ever try to shave your legs with liquid soap ladies? I don’t recommend it.

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Pro…

Glorious foliage and mountains right outside our balcony.

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And terraced rocks all around the property.

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There was even the namesake Pollard Brook running right down the middle.

Results of review – adding it to my “would stay there again” list, I’ll just have to remember to bring my own bar of soap.

👍

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Meanwhile at Casa River…

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Night time visitors continue to surprise us when we walk back from the barn.

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And while surprising us is no big deal? Surprising them can be.

🤢

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A friend of my husband’s gifted him this Red Sox clock. He loved it and immediately hung it on the man cave wall. I on the other hand, realized it’s outdated. It says “7 time World Champions” when the number is currently 9. The reason for the gift is now apparent, at least to me.

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Lord Dudley Mountcatten? He couldn’t care less.

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Behold the wonder I found at the package store. Margarita wine! Taste test and review to follow..

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Our neighbors have all the luck. They get an exotic bird with iridescent plumage….we get a red squirrel bitch with sharp teeth.

😡

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A recommendation pour vous.

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I don’t often recommend beer to friends because everyone tends to like something different. But once in a while I come across a special one that makes me so happy…. I have to share.

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This strange Belgian concoction has a delicious whiff on chocolate upon introduction…. and then sweeps you skyward in a heady sour cherry cloud.

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Pairs well with rich and dense desserts?

Then bring on the 12 pound chocolate fudge layer cake and River is one happy blogger.

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Seriously, if you like sours? You’ve got to try this one.

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Frank A. agrees.

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Magazine chuckles.

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I have stacks and stacks of free magazines I have yet to read. ( If you’re interested let me know, I’ll hook you up.)

Here are a few articles that got my attention.

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Online reviews of our National Parks. Proof positive people are idiots.

Although it’s hard to argue with ‘a very very large hole’ for the Grand Canyon.

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Thank you, no.

A month ago they were pushing mermaid shampoo and that was bad enough.

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Avocado pudding?

I’d rather eat kale stuffed meatless meatballs.

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I think I’ve mentioned my hatred of dolls and all things doll like. But a museum filled with uber creepy antique ones?

Now that’s a blog worth writing.

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Llamapalooza?

I am so down with that!

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Kind of underwhelming?

We visited Plymouth last fall and saw this oh so famous rock.

Kind of is the understatement of the year.

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Pepper’s Landing

 

A restaurant review in which we make cocks out of mocks.

 

 

I’ll explain later…

Pepper’s Landing is a new seafood place we’d been wanting to try.

 

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It follows the latest trend of slightly industrial looking spaces, with exposed duct work and open rafters.

 

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Being Maine, naturally there’s a live lobster tank.

And being allergic, naturally they sat me right next to it. Cruel and unusual punishment to be sure.

There was also this handy technical breakdown for the lobsterly challenged among us.

 

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I got a huge kick out of this as no Mainer worth their salt would ever eat the body (carapace).  Of course no Mainer would ever call it a carapace either.

Though  “Do not eat head” is always sound advice in a restaurant.

 

 

But call me crazy, I don’t think advertising your lobster as “stringy” and “gamey” is going to win many converts.

Moving on…

 

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I opted for a blueberry martini, which was delightfully potent… but my girlfriend chose the Blue Atlantic mocktail….

 

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And then added two shots of Grey Goose.

Putting the cock in her mock.

Fresh blueberries, fresh basil…. it was fabulous! And what we drank from then on.

 

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We saw some massive bar pretzels going by, but opted for blueberry bbq wings…

 

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And crab quesadillas instead.

 

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Wings? Quite good.

Quesadillas? Not nearly enough crab.

Perhaps they fought back in the kitchen…

 

 

I chose the seafood pasta, which was basically scampi…

 

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And though it looked bland…. it was fresh, perfectly cooked and with just the right amount of garlic.

Husband went with baked haddock in sherried butter and lobster cream sauce with asparagus.

 

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Pardon the blurred photo, I think the Grey Goose was kicking in.

 

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Dessert was cheesecake for the husband.

 

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And a traditional Maine Whoopie Pie for me.

Slightly disappointing as it had been frozen and hadn’t thawed out properly. One should not risk breaking a tooth when one eats a Whoopie.

Rating?

B – ,  but worth trying again.