Blog Archives

Leaves that Please

9/30/2013

After traveling to Montana last week, it was sure great to be home again. Helene and I took a Road Trip for one day to see the Fall Foliage in the North Country of New England. This was the first time in years that we did not go to Vermont for the weekend during the last week of September. With that
said, we were still anxious to see some peak colors in the North Country. During the last weekend of September you will see some fantastic foliage up North. If the weather is good, it is, one of the best places to see foliage anywhere.

We packed up for a very long one day Road Trip for our annual fall foliage pilgrimage. At 8am with a full tank of gas and a picnic lunch we were on our way. The weather was perfect considering the last two years in a row there was rain on the same weekend. We traveled up Rt 91 north to Wells River Vt. and then took Route 302 west into NH and the White Mountains. As we were driving from the Connecticut River Valley, the colors were breathtaking. We stopped for our picnic lunch at the Zealand entrance of the White Mountain National Forest. At the entrance of the National Forest there were picnic tables situated along a small mountain river. As we continued along Rt 302, the fall colors where just fantastic. Our next stop was the train station at Echo Lake in Crawford for more pictures and a stretch. The views here were the best on our Road Trip today. We later continued down the mountain to the town of Bartlett and then took a right on to Bear Notch Road. This is a seasonal road that is closed in the winter. It is the bypass around the town of North Conway and will put you at the beginning of the Kancamagus Hwy.

We drove back over the White Mountains on the “Kanc” to views and vistas that were still stunning. The foliage was not as breathtaking as the Rt 302 side. It should be peaking later this week. We made numerous stops along the way as we drove the route to the end in the town of Littleton NH at Rt 93.
We filled up the gas tank at 4:30pm and then continued on RT 112 west over the mountain range. At Rt 116 we turned south and followed it to Rt 10 south. In Hanover NH we got on to Rt 91 south and drove a short distance to White River Jct. Vermont for a quick bite to eat. It was now 6pm and the China Moon Buffet restaurant was right there at the end of the off ramp. For a Chinese buffet it was just ok, not really bad and not really good.

We were there for about an hour, and with nightfall fast approaching we got back on Rt 91 south and pulled in the driveway at 9pm. It was a long day, but the trip to see the “leaves that please” was still worth the effort. Next year, we will be back to an overnight trip…..

Time for Lunch with some good sandwiches, No German Bologna this trip.

Majestic Montana

9/29/2013

I just returned from my first trip ever to the state of Montana and what an experience it was. I
stayed at the Paws Up Resort in Greenough Montana. It is located in Montana's western region
which is big mountains and valleys. They are located about 30 miles outside the town of Missoula in the Blackfoot Valley.

The resort is situated along ten winding miles of the Blackfoot River on 37000 acres of wilderness.
Endless views of rugged mountain ranges that are breathtaking. The resort offers guests the choice of staying in two different types of accommodations. The first option is in one of the 28 luxury ranch homes situated on different areas throughout the property. The other option, is to stay at the luxury tents that are open during the summer and fall. When I say tents, it was like nothing I had ever seen. We stayed at a tent in the Moonlight Camp. There were six tents setup at this camp location. The camp is located at the foot of Lookout Rock on the spectacular Blackfoot River.

Now this type of camping was totally new to me and like nothing I have ever experienced in the past. I have done my share of camping in the Berkshires, Adirondacks’ and in Maine but this was like no other type of camping I have ever done. Rustic yet totally posh! The tents feature electricity, a spacious outside deck, super comfy beds and a private bathroom suite with heated floors, a vanity with two sinks and a large slate shower. That took this trip to a whole new level. You eat at a gorgeous dining pavilion at the camp site that serves grilled cuisine and a camping butler who caters to your every whim. Every night your butler comes and turns on your heated blanket so your bed is toasty warm when you go to sleep. The temperature gets fairly chilly at night, but we never even noticed in our beds. Yes, this is high end camping, but you are still in a tent.

From the Eagles, Deer, Elk and world class trout fishing, the Resort at Paws Up is ideal for the outdoors man/woman who enjoys a bit of luxury after a day of adventuring. On our third day at the resort, the elk came down from the mountains and showed up near our campsite in the meadow. It was quite an experience to listen to their bugle calls in the early hours of the morning as the Bulls were calling for a mate. By the fourth day it was snowing up in the higher elevations of the Rockies Mountains and all the mountain tops were white and just looked stunning.

I was thoroughly impressed with the wonderful staff that went out of their way to accommodate us. There were also excursions offered by the resort which included everything from drift boat fishing or kayaking in the famous Blackfoot River which was about one hundred yards from our camp. The resort also offered horseback riding in the mountains, clay sport shooting, ATV riding all over the ranch and a cattle drive on the prairie which was one of the coolest things I've ever done! I would love to go back and do a week-long cattle drive.

The food was also very impressive. Each meal was so perfectly put together. Each morning the camp chef was there when we woke up and cooked up a fantastic breakfast of your choice in the dining pavilion located at each campsite. There was also a few times when we were able to relax in the evening and enjoy the camp chef's fantastic cuisine while the camp butler prepared a roaring fire to enjoy at the end of the night. The other nights we were at the resorts first class dining facilities to enjoy first class dining. This is truly cowboy country and it was an experience that I was very fortunate to be part of and will go back to Western Montana again to see more of "Big Sky Country” Check out a couple of pictures on our facebook page

Cook’s Farm Orchard AppleFest

9/21/2013

We took a ride out to the country today, to enjoy some apple picking and the flavors of fall. Our destination was AppleFest that was being held at Cook’s Farm Orchard in Brimfield Ma. When we got there we took a tractor-drawn wagon ride that brought us out to the orchard. When we were let off, it was at the section of the orchard that has the Cortland apple trees. Well let me tell you....we filled up our bags right there. There was no need to travel around the orchard for other varieties to pick. The Cortland is our preference and here we stood. There are other varieties of apple trees that were also ready to pick but we had found our spot. When we finished picking in the orchard, it was time to head back to the bakery. We were looking forward to enjoying some of their fantastic, fresh baked, warm apple dumplings. As we arrived back to the bakery and stood listening to the Band playing some good Bluegrass music, my sense of smell began to overload. On one side there was B.T.s Smokehouse mobile unit that had the smoker working and serving some of the best Brisket and Pork sandwiches in New England. There was also the aroma coming from Cooks Farm Bakery and those apple dumplings that were baking fresh for the waiting crowd. Well it was a good day. I did try a little of everything. We each got a sandwich from B.T.s ( 1 Pork and 1 Brisket ) which we split and then had an apple dumpling. If you can’t make the last day of AppleFest for this year which is tomorrow then make a point of trying one of their fantastic apple dumplings the next time you are in Brimfield. The Bakery is open on weekends till Thanksgiving and is worth the trip. This will be the last blog for a week ….no signal starting tonight ?????????????

Everyone came for AppleFest

Eating well at the Big E

9/20/2013

With The Big E open for a week now, the fair foods have a lot of people talking and going back for more. There were a few new foods introduced this year that have been getting good reviews. For starters there is the Three Little Pigs sandwich, this is a grilled pork sausage topped with bacon and pulled pork. This is being sold at Ultimate BBQ, in the food court. With the popularity of those three items separately, combined together this one is a home run. There is also the deep-fried strawberry shortcake, The Moo Nuts, which is a doughnut stuffed with soft serve ice cream and a choice of toppings. There also is a breakfast sandwich with egg and bacon on a grilled glazed doughnut. The cousin of the Craz-E-Burger.

Each year the Big E introduces a new food that has created a lot of buzz. In the last few years we have seen a few good ones that stuck around. The Craz-E-Burger in 2009, Fried peanut butter and jelly beans in 2010, Fried Kool-Aid in 2011 and the Fried lasagna that took the spotlight last year. They have all joined the ranks of the Chocolate-covered bacon strip, Cream puffs, Loaded baked potatoes and Turkey legs that are now Big E favorites. Although some of the fair's menu is not what your doctor ordered, it's the once-a-year indulgences that we enjoy.

There was a great picture gallery by Sarah Grant published in the Hartford Courant last week about eating your way around the Big E. If you’re heading out to the Big E and want to have an idea of what’s available to eat, check here

The annual Fair in West Springfield Ma. will run this year until Sept. 29.

Harvest Moon and the Season

9/19/2013

Did you happen to see the moon the last couple of nights? The Harvest Moon was bright and glowing strong last night and that is a sign that the summer is just about over. The annual celestial sight was dubbed the "Harvest Moon" according to the Farmers Almanac. The bright light allowed farmers in the Northern Hemisphere to harvest their crops for several hours more into the night. The almost full Harvest Moon will be visible again tonight. We will be out watching it rise and hopefully get some more pictures.

This moon also signals that it’s time to get out, and Harvest another crop of New England. The apple season is also here. I thought I would pass along a good link for apple picking throughout New England. The New England Apple Association has a nice web site that list many apple orchards. You can visit each orchards web site and find out their location and hours of operations. You can also find some good information on the different apple varieties and recipes. I always look forward to this time of year, Apple Festivals, a slice of fresh apple pie, cider and cider doughnuts.

If only their web site would have a link on "How to make hard cider". .................................
...........................................................................................Just for Historical Education purposes only!!!!

This Weekend

9/17/2013

The autumn equinox will occur this Saturday and with that, summer will official close. Saturday we will have 12 hrs of sun and 12 hours of night and after that, the day’s length will continues to shorten and the nights will become longer until the winter solstice occurs. There is also a new page that has been
added to the web site that features the 10 best Fall Foliage Drives in New England. According to me! Been there done that and will go again. Summer may be over, but the weekend is just getting started and a couple of good events this weekend are featured here.

The Big E continues its run this week as the largest fair in the Northeast, and the sixth largest fair in the nation. The Big E is inclusive of all six of the New England states and each of the state prominently represented with a building on the avenue of states.

Festival on the Green in Mansfield Ct. will take place this Sunday from noon to four pm. The festival is a true old fashioned town festival with a parade, Food tents, and events for the kids and one more big difference. Black Prairie will also be the featured performers at the Festival. From Portland Oregon, The band plays a brand of Americana that defies easy categorization, cross-pollinating a number of different styles while exposing the venerable, forgotten roots of folk and bluegrass. They’ve got
a unique blend of sound going on. The high profile of each musician in the band‚ which includes three-fifths of the Decemberists‚ ensures a certain amount of attention,

Waterfire Saturday Providence Ri There will be a another special performance tonight at Waterfire from over a dozen of the TEN31 characters. Some have never been seen before at WaterFire. In addition to surrounding the Monument with Living Statues, a collection of Human Birch Trees will meander and integrate into the performance, and will also include special dance performances by TEN31’s Fairies. The Dance of the Fairies will occur multiple times throughout the night at: 7:15pm, 8:15pm, 9:15PM and 9:55pm
Waterfire features over eighty bonfires that will be lit along the river in downtown Providence. You walk along the paths in Waterfront Park, past the arched bridges and beautiful sculptures; your senses will be captivated by the flames, aromas of burning wood, performances by The Gargoyles in their torch-lit vessels that travels down the river. WaterFire has been enjoyed by of over ten million visitors since its flames were first lit in 1994.

Ready-Set-Go…..For the fourth annual Soap Box Derby this Sunday in Montague Ma. How many of you can remember or have ever seen one of these races. There will be different types of cars featured as well as age groups racing. Kids, Teens and Adults. The cars range from old school to modern but the challenge remains the same. Start at the top of the hill at a “Dead Start” and glide down in the fastest time and hope you built your car well. Adult Vehicles must be sturdy enough to survive potential speeds above 35 MPH and a long left turn, and then zigzag chicanes, without collapsing or steering into the hay bales. Teen and Kid Racers will start further down the hill, making the track less severe.

The Endless Summer Waterfront Festival at Nantasket Beach in Hull, Ma Listen to live music, Hot Dog and Pizza eating Contests to name a few and just good Fun. This festival isn't about just fried dough and pizza. Hull boasts some of the best seafood restaurants in Massachusetts. You can also eat at over 25 restaurants that will be participating with foods such as lobster rolls, clam chowder, BBQ Ribs, Mediterranean and Vietnamese.

Fall is Here

9/15/2013

My friend Bill Dulude and I decided to take a ride on our motorcycles around the big loop of The Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont yesterday. We left Western Ma. and traveled up I 91 to Brattleboro Vt. then drove up Rt 30 north. We cut across the Green Mountains and down the other side to Manchester Vt. Our goal was to drive the Skyline Drive toll road. When we got to the base of the toll road and went in to get a ticket, we were informed that the road was closed as of now because of zero visibility up on Mount Equinox. The mountain was engulfed in the clouds. Well I will say it now, that my teeth were chattering so much from the cold grey ride across the mountains, I was not too bummed out that we could not go riding up another Vermont Mountain right now. I didn't have any chaps to ride with. After we had some coffee at the base lodge,  we decided to head down the valley on Rt 7a south to Bennington for lunch.

We stopped for lunch at The Blue Benn diner. After we finished our lunch, we rode back over the top of the mountains on Rt 9 east. It was strange to be on the western side of the Green Mountains where it was very cloudy and cold.  On the eastern side ( Ct River Valley) there was a little bit of sun that helped make for a nice ride. Once we got into Wilmington Vt as we drove down the mountains and took Vt Rt 100 south for a bit then Rt 112 south back into Western Ma.

The ride that day is without a doubt one that is worth the effort.  I had also traveled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire the day before for work so I have seen some scenery this week. I will say, the fall foliage season has started in the Northern Parts of New England. Those changes in colors that were just starting to show during the last three weeks are now in full transition.

We are real lucky to live in an area of the country where the Fall Foliage happens in such a big way. It is a special time of the year. People come from all over the world to view the spectacle of colors. The timing of the foliage will vary every year. I have traveled " Upta Camp " to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont for the last five years during the last weekend in September.  We have seen the foliage at its peak, past peak and not yet peaked, every year when we take our ride north to visit the Fall Foliage Festival in Burke.

The peak foliage will run through till mid to late October down in the southern parts of the Northeast. During the course of the season there will be many peaks on different mountains and in the valleys along the way. The changes will pass by all of us as the blanket of colors moves along on its annual migration south. You can make plans for a road trip based on the timing, as it travels along towards you. With a bit of luck as you travel, you are sure to come across those brilliant dazzling reds, oranges and gold's that are part of Mother Natures greatest kaleidoscope of color.

I have this feeling that this year’s colors will be fantastic based on the moisture we’ve experienced in the spring and early summer of this year. The tree are able to store lots of sugars in their leaves and that will give them a lot of energy for this time of the year.  Add those cool nights and no killer frost for a while and we will be in for quite a show. Make sure you have your camera packed with you when you are on your Road Trip, capture those pictures and your special moments will be forever frozen in time. The days of road trips for this year are now winding down, get out there and enjoy yours before it’s too late. Helene and I will have the picnic basket ready as always and look forward to the foliage, apple festivals and memories that are about to be made.  There are many sites on the internet that track the fall foliage, with a little planning, timing and a tank of gas you can map out a good route. I have a link to track the fall foliage here.

The colors of fall are just another scene in an ongoing show of life. The foliage, like the blossoms of spring, are actors on Mother Nature’s stage.  Were dazzled by the performance; then left in awe as we await the next scene. Life’s spectacles comes quickly. Blink once and it's here. Blink twice and it's gone.

Breaking Bad

9/13/2013

Anyone who has watched one episode knows that Breaking Bad is one of the greatest show’s ever on cable TV. The show is nearing the end of its incredible six season run. Of the sixteen episodes that
were shown each year, the network decided to stretch the final season by cutting it in half. Eight episodes from the final season were shown last year and the other eight episodes are being shown this year.

With only three episodes left, Breaking Bad is hurtling towards a crazy ending that I can't yet imagine what is going to happen. After watching last Sunday’s episode, I was left stunned by one of the most intense and devastating episode that was ever shown. I have that feeling; there is no stopping the wreck that is about to happen on the next show.

I also believe that the ending of this show will not leave me wondering, what just happened? Think back to the abrupt and head scratching finale episode of The Sopranos? That show as great as it was, had to be one of the biggest let downs for a finale in television history. There has been a lot of speculation about how this whole series will end. Who will survive? I can hardly wait to see what’s going to happen Sunday to Walter and the rest of the crew.

But I may not know till Monday night after work what happened on the show. Sunday I have a Birthday Party and then the Tommy James and the Shondells show at the Big E to go to. I don't believe I will be doing my usual yaking Monday with friends. Got to be careful of the spoilers.

One minute

9/11/2013

There have been a lot of people that have been affected by the events of 911. Those effects continue today through out the world. Take a minute, to say a prayer for all those souls lost and for the ones who continue to put their life on the line as a result of the Attack on America.

Some good News

9/10/2013

A week and a half ago we heard that workers at McDonald's and other fast-food chains conducted walkouts in nearly 60 cities across the country hoping for super-size wage hikes that for many would boost their hourly pay to $15 from the current federal minimum $7.25. The pre-Labor Day protests had Fast-food employee’s walkout for a day of nationwide strikes, to demand higher pay in a series of industry protests that have rippled across the country since last fall. President Obama has called for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9, but the measure has stalled in Congress. I hate to repeat myself but……you guys down there in DC as always are doing such a fine job.

The wave of fast-food demonstrations comes as low-wage jobs dominate employment growth in the
4-year-old recovery, and as more adults find themselves in positions that used to be career stepping-stones for teenagers.

In an industry that historically has treated labor as a commodity, it’s encouraging today to read of one companies plan to increase the starting wage of its employees and the reasons why. Moo cluck moo, a Detroit area burger and chicken fast-food joint has just announced that beginning October 1st; the company will start employees at $15 an hour. That is a 25 percent increase from the unheard of $ 12 an hour that they currently start their employees at.

Brian Parker, one the Company’s owner’s stated, higher wages lead to better results. Paying people more means you spend less time firing, hiring, and training. Working at a quick-service restaurant is a
difficult, demanding job. People have to multi-task. They’re coping with long lines and expectations of rapid service. These are the people who take care of the customers, in a business in which customer service matters a great deal. It set’s a higher standard for the employee to become committed to the workplace and to perform a better service. What a unique idea!