He made his move

So I haven't written anything here in a while..a long while.
But I do take care of two blogs, one for the New Haven Register and one for the Valley Arts Council.

That's my excuse!

Yesterday we moved our son into his first apartment. It's in Brooklyn.

He landed a job in Manhattan and has been commuting for two weeks from home while waiting for the apartment to be ready. Now his commute is much shorter!

Cameron explaining to Ralph how he is going to arrange things in his new place.

I was happy to meet several of his neighbors, who welcomed us, held doors for us, and explained how to operate the old fashioned elevator (the building dates back to 1927).
Two women introduced themselves and wanted to know Cameron's name. Friendly folks.

This is a lot different than dropping him off at a dorm at college. A lot different.

Safe to say I'm sad and proud and happy for him all rolled into one.

And we wish him all the best as he makes his way in the Big Apple. Love you always, Cam!

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ scary

 

I snapped this photo earlier this month but never posted it.

I think today is the day to use it since Halloween is fast approaching! 

Here's a video clip featuring my favorite scarecrow.  Enjoy.

Join in the fun and see lots more shadows from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ after the reception

Shadows sometimes appear at night, as I found out Thursday when we were leaving a Valley Arts Council opening reception.
The guy on the right is our friend and arts council president Rich DiCarlo. And behind him is a shadow of yours truly taking the shot.

Ralph and I both have photos of food in the food-themed 'Delicious!' exhibit.
A good-sized crowd turned out - and it was free pizza for all!

It was a fun night.

To see more shadowy photos from across the globe, visit Shadow Shot Sunday2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ guard duty

This pharmacy is next to a fast food place, so Mr. Gull isn't guarding anything but rather just waiting for French fries on a Friday afternoon.


Join in the fun and see shadowy shots from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ peekin' through

Saw this next to our front walk the other day and had to take a photo for this week's Shadow Shot Sunday!

Join the fun and see lots more shadows captured across the globe at ShadowShotSunday2.

  

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ midair

I enjoyed watching this tyke learning how to bounce a basketball at a back to school event Ralph and I attended Sunday.
We are members of the local Salvation Army's advisory board and helped out a bit at the event.
There were a lot of volunteers there so we really didn't have to do too much!
But we gave our moral support to the effort. I'd say a good time was had by all.

And here he is looking at the dunk tank, which I'm sure he would have liked to try out!


     

Shadows surround us! See shadowy pix from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday

I dug into the "archives" this morning to find a photo so I could join in Shadow Shot Sunday!
I've been away too long from this fun meme. 

I took this in September 2010. It's a mulberry tree in our front yard.

See lots more shadowy pix from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2, hosted this week by our blog friend Gemma Wiseman in Australia.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ... fro yo?

I had fun writing this yesterday..almost as much fun as I had taste-testing the frozen yogurt. 
I thought I'd re-post since I've neglected my blog for too long.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Catchin' a wave - Peachwave - in Shelton 

SHELTON - I don't know why it took us so long to try Peachwave, but I'm sure glad we did. The self-serve, soft-serve frozen yogurt was simply scrumptious. I thought it tasted just like soft-serve ice cream.

Daughter Allegra and I visited Peachwave at 702 Bridgeport Ave. Wednesday and we weren't disappointed. She chose cupcake and peach-flavored fro yo (on left in photo) and covered it with Fruity Pebbles (she is still a kid, I guess!).

I had pistachio with chocolate accompaniment. Great combo! I chose M&Ms and birthday cake cubes for a topping. And a bit of whipped cream. Is that enough sugar for one day? I should say.

There are lots of toppings from which to choose, including more healthy choices like fruit and nuts. Next time!

One of the company slogans is "Promoting healthy dessert in a fun way."

After you make your fro yo sundae it gets weighed. That's when you find out how much you gave yourself and how much you have to fork over!
But it's truly worth every spoonful.
  
If you live in the Valley or surrounding towns, another close-by Peachwave is in Oxford, at 71 Oxford Road. And there is one in Monroe, at 535 Monroe Turnpike.

If you haven't tried it yet, and you love ice cream like I do, I recommend stopping by and catchin' a wave.

Labels: frozen yogurt, ice cream, Oxford, Peachwave, Shelton

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1 Comments:

 marianne policastro-wik said...

Makes me want some just reading about it!

August 8, 2013 at 10:10 PM 

Hellooooo!

I thought I'd stop by my blog to see how things were going. Looks pretty quiet here.   ;-)

Ruby Tuesday ~ vehicles, history and poetry

Red barn, red pickup

Our Father's Day tradition continued this year with a slight twist.

We attended the annual vintage vehicle show at the Shelton History Center.
The twist was that our daughter, Allegra, was there in 1913 costume, volunteering as a docent for the first time.
She gave three tours of the Marks-Brownson House on the history center grounds. And she enjoyed it!

There's a tiny spot of red in this photo!

This photo is from the 10th annual Poetry Cafe I attended recently at Ansonia (Ct.) Middle School. Here Bob DeSautels, a retired reading teacher who is now working as a substitute, recites "To Morrow," a folk song made popular by the Kingston Trio in 1960.

Reading teacher Yvette Bailey did a great job transforming her classroom into a "beatnik-era" cafe.

It was a fun event, for the seventh and eighth graders who participated (it was optional) and the audience members (like me).

As you can see I get to cover fun programs for my job!

I haven't played Ruby Tuesday in a long time. I'm happy to return.  
Check out lots of photos from around the world that feature a little or a lot of red here. 

 

Re-posting from my blog for the paper

Blogs > View from the Valley

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Serene springtime scene in Seymour

Legion Pool ~  May 29, 2013

It's such a beautiful park, and it's just off busy Route 67 in Seymour.

Labels: Legion Pool, Seymour, spring

Civil War monument offers chance to reflect on nation's past

DERBY - Since it's Memorial Day weekend I thought I'd post a photo of a war memorial monument that has graced the Green facing Elizabeth Street for more than 125 years.

The monument is flanked by four 11-foot long cannons. 

You can read more here about the history of the monument. It features a bronze statue of a Civil War soldier atop a granite pedestal.


Full disclosure: I drove down Elizabeth Street Saturday after covering a ceremony at the Storm Engine Company firehouse to dedicate a park on O'Sullivan's Island in memory of the one and only Edward J. Cotter, Jr.

Since it was raining pretty steadily I rolled down the window and snapped photos from the driver's seat.

The front of the monument faces Elizabeth Street.

I plan to take better photos of the monument someday when it's not raining! 

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ from my tourist days

I found this photo in the archives - it's from April, 2005 when I was on a school trip with our daughter.
I took it a short time after we had arrived in London from Paris.

Such good memories!

See lots more photos from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Good thing I took this photo when I did, on May 1. Since then the geranium blooms have disappeared; sadly the weather got cold again. I do hope they'll return.

I used this pic in a post yesterday, but I think I spy some shadows here.

Join in the fun and see shadowy pix from all over the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

 

It's true there's gno place like gnome!

Our daughter knows me well.

These gnomes were my Mother's Day gift from her.

Who says I don't welcome visitors?   ;-)

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ spring!

In honor of our wedding anniversary and Mother's Day this weekend, I'm posting two of my favorite folks today.
Shadowy figures, aren't they?

We were at Ralph's sister's house last Saturday to celebrate her granddaughter's First Holy Communion.
It was a nice day with family and the weather was perfect.  

Lilacs bloomin' in our yard.

The weather was perfect for most of yesterday as well.
I spy some shadows in this photo I took yesterday morning.
Today is dreary and rainy. Hoping for sunshine tomorrow. ;-)

Cheerful tulips in the sun. Happy May!

And as I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, I don't even remember planting these Easter tulips last year. But I'm glad I did.

Ah, sunny mornings that create shadows in our yard.

I'm happy to be back posting shadow shots after two months.

Join in the fun and see more photos of shadows from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.
 

* I wish all a Happy Shadow Shot Sunday and a Happy Mother's Day! * 

Sharing a story today about exercise and all things good

I've been neglecting my blog for way too long.
Instead I've been keeping up a blog - View from the Valley - for my job with the paper.

But I thought I'd share a story today ~ It was a fun class and I hope to go back.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Derby hospital teaches fitness through fun

Instructor Maureen Helgren blows bubbles at the beginning of Friday’s Healthy Steps class at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Patricia Villers/Register

By Patricia Villers
pvillers@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrvalley


DERBY— The only requirement to be part of a females-only exercise class at Griffin Hospital is a willingness to have fun.

At least that’s what it felt like Friday morning when I stepped into the conference room at the hospital’s Center for Cancer Care.

Instructor Maureen Helgren was busy blowing up beach balls and chatting as women walked in for the once a week Healthy Steps class.

I was one of 10 women who took part in the program that featured slow and almost meditative exercises. It was not what I had imagined.
We followed Helgren as she moved in a way that reminded me of my aerobics classes from decades past, only slower.

The atmosphere was relaxing and pressure free.

I was urged to go by two women in a strength-training class I attend Tuesday nights as part of a survivorship program launched late last year at Griffin Hospital.

The class is led by Dan Root, a personal trainer who specializes in working with cancer survivors. I daresay I enjoy going to it for exercise and a bit of socializing.

Helgren is an associate professor of physical therapy at Quinnipiac University and chairman of the physical therapy department. She said she has been leading the class for four years.

After she inflated the beach balls Helgren started by blowing bubbles, and having us do the same. The activity was not only fun but relaxing. In the background James Taylor was singing “Up on the Roof.”
That was one of several songs Helgren played for us as we went through a variety of slow stretches and routines.

“Grace is not needed in this class,” she said. “Everything we do is really slow on purpose.”

Helgren said the slowness is “because it’s morning and also because going slow is better for our muscles.”

Helgren follows the Lebed method of exercise, which is defined on Griffn Hospital’s website as “a movement and dance program that integrates physical therapy and psychosocial support.”

“Beneficial for women who have been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness. Particularly helpful for women during the post-op recovery phase after having breast cancer surgery,” the website states.

Surprisingly, some of the women I spoke with said they don’t have cancer but were there to enjoy the exercise with a friend who has had breast cancer.

Seymour resident Mary Jezierny, who has not had breast cancer, said, “When Mo (Helgren) was away we did it ourselves. We took turns being the leader.”

Now that’s dedication.

Shelton resident Terri Biasi called the class “our Friday let-it-all-out” time.

She added, “It’s a nice group. We share and support each other.” 

Labels: Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, Derby, exercise, fitness, Quinnipiac University, survivors

The whatchamacallit bloomed!

I snapped this photo yesterday by our driveway.
It's sunny here in "southern" Connecticut but it's still chilly. 

The sunshine is most welcome. Happy Spring!

Hi, tulips

Sunny but cold 

I forgot to bring the tulips inside last night. Happy they survived!

Somebody doesn't like it when I leave the house to take his "big brother" to catch the bus. 
I get that look when I return.

Hi, hyacinths

It's cold out, but at least it's April. I hold out hope for nice weather on the way. 

What are you looking forward to doing outdoors when it gets warmer?

I'm ready to start a flower garden. That's my goal.

I used to have a pretty good one, but the past few years not so much.

I took these photos this morning. It's so nice to see spring blooms again.

I think these are hyacinths, but photos of hyacinths show spiky leaves. These aren't spiky, so now I'm not sure.

I must check this out.

Happy Easter

We had Chinese food last night and daughter Allegra got an unusual "fortune" in her fortune cookie.

It was just one word: Hallelujah!

How appropriate on Easter weekend, don't you think?

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ starring Shadow

Hmm...now what should I do?

This is our friends' cat, Shadow, enjoying some sunshine Tuesday afternoon. 

He escaped out the front door and I happened to have my camera with me.

Join the fun each weekend and see lots more shadowy photos at Shadow Shot Sunday 2. 

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ cat in sun

Linus was posing for me early this morning, and he didn't even know it.  =^..^=


Shadows surround us! Join the fun and see lots of shadows from across the globe by visiting Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ mystery man

Ralph (Airhead 55) at the computer.

And now ... just what you've all been waiting for - a portrait of Ralph from earlier this week.
He's wearing his wheelchair-friendly Snuggy to keep warm in our drafty house.

The laptop screen died, so he had to buy a monitor.


Join the fun and see shadows from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.