Eating more ice cream, tra la, tra la

I did it again. I consumed more frozen deliciousness on a hot summer day. And it was at yet another historic site.


Allegra joined me in the fun. 

This is "swamp" ice cream ~ cookies and cream with caramel swirls and M&Ms.

So in an effort to pump up my page views, I'm promoting it here ~ because I can.


Stay tuned for future installments of Ice Cream 101.

Ice cream, summer, and me

I've been stuffing myself with ice cream this past week. I've gotten three scintillating blog posts out of the activity so far. Anything for a story, or a blog post.


In an attempt to bring page views to my blog for the New Haven Register, I bring you part 3.


I think I'm going to putting on weight if I don't watch out.
Fingers crossed my walks around the neighborhood will help in that regard.

Happy Friday to all!

No one's going to squash my gardening dreams

First pick of what I hope will be a good crop. We've never grown squash before. 

Shadow Shot Sunday

Ooooh, aaaah ...

Urban fireworks in Derby, Ct.

Ralph watching urban fireworks.

I spied Ralph's shadow in front of the Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37 before the fireworks started.

As you can see I had trouble with lighting. 

Fuzzy photos ~ but I saw some shadows and snapped same.


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

Happy Fourth of July!

Urban fireworks ~ street scene, Derby, Ct.

We went to see the fireworks last night ~ it's fun, but they always look the same.

So, why do we fight the crowds and traffic and go watch them each year?


To celebrate our nation's independence!  Happy birthday to the good ol' USA! 

Shadow Shot Sunday

{Straight out of camera shadow shot}

I had lunch yesterday at a new restaurant with daughter Allegra and a friend.

When we were paying at the counter our friend pointed out this shadow..he knows Ralph and I are into shadow shots!

{Straight out of camera shadow shot}

Join the fun! See lots more shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Change of pace: Going out for the evening

This was the view when we left last night's annual dinner meeting of the Center for Disability Rights in West Haven, Ct. It was lovely out, no heat or humidity.
The lights are from New Haven Harbor. I think it looks rather romantic.

There are always lots of folks walking on this paved pathway along the beach. 
It's a popular destination for exercise and relaxation.

Here is almost the same view, four hours earlier.

I love the dramatic clouds!

* Bonus photo: Blurry, yes, but I think we look pretty happy together. We are happy, aren't we Ralph?

I'd be even happier with a new camera.

I thank the woman at our table who offered to snap a photo of us. I wouldn't have thought to ask her. 

This story has a happy ending

Well I guess it's about time I posted something on my personal blog..been busy trying to keep two other blogs current!

This afternoon I wrote a story about a couple in the next town who won a $25,000 makeover from the Desperate Landscapes show on the  Do-It-Yourself Network for their front yard and house, situated on a quiet, dead-end street.

I'm acquainted with the wife, so I felt a real attachment to the story. She grew up with my neighbor and they have been best friends since childhood.

She also shares my first name, which is always fun. ;-)

Please give the story a look ~ it's a heartwarming one.

The couple has two children: a teen-aged son, and an eight-year old daughter with special needs.

They had more than their share of problems with a contractor several years ago. He left their front yard in a state of disrepair, they said.
Their property was a mess and they couldn't afford to fix it.

Now thanks to winning a contest for having the ugliest yard in New England their home and the yard look absolutely beautiful.

I'm happy for them! They deserve this good fortune.

Happy Father's Day to my hubby

... or as our children call him, Daddums.

We love you!

Ralph with newborn Cameron, November 1990

Bzzz ...

I was lucky to capture this bumble bee making his rounds the other day on one of the perennials ~ purple spikes I think they're called.

Most of the shots were blurry. But this one works.

I need/want a new camera, and I think I'm going to get one! Even though I really can't afford it. 

Looking at ads for Nikon point-and-shoots. Soon I shall get one. I feel a shopping trip coming on. ;-)

Shadow Shot Sunday

Last weekend I wasn't organized enough to post any shadow shots. But I doth return.

On Saturday we attended a survivors' reception (lunch) at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Shelton, Ct. , and on Sunday we attended a birthday celebration (lunch) for cancer survivors at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Ct. (Lots o' lunches!) And sadly, lots of families affected by cancer.   

On Sunday morning before the birthday lunch we went to our small city's second annual Pierre Lallement Festival of Bikes.
And we went back to the street festival after lunch. So I didn't get around to posting for my own blog, just for the newspaper's blog and later in the week for a new blog featuring our local arts council, Brush Strokes.

One of the Main Street shop owners painted this board ~ I thought she did a great job!

Can you tell which one is me and which one is daughter Allegra?

Join in the fun and see lots more shadowy photos from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday.

P.S. Almost forgot ~ please visit Ralph's post featuring the bike festival too!

Where would we be without art?

I apparently can't keep up with posting on my blog so what did I do this week?

I launched a new one!

But it's for a good cause: bringing art to the masses, as we like to say.

It's for the Valley Arts Council, a group to which Ralph and I belong.


It's all about non-fancy art created by un-stuffy artists!

And poetry readings at the Gallery@37 in Derby, Ct.

And displaying said art in the gallery.

Please give it a look-see..leave a comment and I'll love you forever.

Thoughts on Relay for Life

Hard to believe I haven't posted here in a week. I've been blogging though, keeping View from the Valley full of good stuff on the New Haven Register's site.

On Saturday Ralph and I went to a wonderful lunch catered by Outback Steakhouse for cancer survivors. It was held before the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Shelton, Ct. I wrote about our perspective on the relay here.

Here is the survivor's lap at the opening ceremony. I don't know any of these ladies, but just behind them are members of "Circle of Friends," the support group to which I belong. I tried to get a photo of them as they passed by but it was blurry. They were way too fast for me.

We were surprised to hear my my name read from the list of survivors at the opening ceremony. I signed in at the lunch and that was the list they used.

I wasn't on a team, we just went to have a good time. I give those who stay there for 18 hours or more a lot of credit! I don't have that kind of energy.

 

It was pouring rain when we got there but it cleared up after lunch in time for the opening ceremony. Look at these beautiful clouds!

I thought there was a good turnout of relay teams and tents filled with people selling food and crafts and games of chance to benefit the American Cancer Society.
It's overwhelming to think of the numbers of people whose lives have been affected by cancer just in our little part of Connecticut.

I hope the event was a success and a lot of money was raised toward the goal of kicking cancer to the curb.


Bonus photo below. ;-)

A friend of ours was a team captain and took this pic.

This is another in an occasional series about my journey with breast cancer. 

Update to yesterday's pre-Memorial Day parade post

If you look in the center of the photo you'll see Allegra wearing a costume from 1790 in Monday's parade as she walked with a group from the Derby Historical Society. Wish I had a better camera and a telephoto lens.

This is near the end of the parade route ~ everyone must have been tired!

Then a few steps closer  to where we were situated, she paused for a quick pose.

Here she is with Ralph watching the rest of the parade, all smiles because her job was done! It had gotten quite warm and summery and I'm sure that costume was hot.

Ready for a parade

Darling daughter just left to march with other docents from the Derby Historical Society at the Derby-Shelton Memorial Day Parade. She is wearing a circa 1790 dress.
It's much different than the Colonial garb she wears when she is one of the teachers in the "Day in 1762" program for fifth graders at the General David Humphreys House.

I'm happy she enjoys American history as much as she does! 


Ralph and I will be stationed near the end of the parade route to see her marching and then bring her back to the car. I just hope she doesn't get blisters..

Shadow Shot Sunday

Spotted this golden mushroom glinting in the sun outside of my mother's condo. I've never seen such a shiny mushroom.

I wouldn't eat this, would you?

Join the fun and see lots more shadowy pix from around the world at ShadowShotSunday2.

These two women are on a mission

Yesterday I had a story in the paper about two 20-year olds who want to help other women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The young ladies, who are both serving in the military, are training to walk 60 miles in three days to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

I am truly impressed with their determination. Walking 20 miles a day sounds overwhelming.

I know I could never complete such a walk. I was just happy to complete the 3.1-mile walk last October for the Griffin Hospital Center for Cancer Care in Derby, Ct.

I wear a pedometer now, so I suppose I really should start training now for the 4th annual walk, which will be here before we know it!

{This is another in a continuing series of posts about my breast cancer journey. Thanks for reading.} 

A good luck sign

This lovely ladybug struck a pose on a plant in the front yard this morning. It was just starting to rain a bit when I snapped the photo.

This is the third insect photo I've posted lately. I'm on a roll: a butterfly, a bee, and now a ladybug. Woo hoo!

To eventually buy a better camera is on my bucket list..or is a bucket list only for travel? I'm not sure.

Spring evening captures

Took the camera outside after dinner last night to see if I could get a few shots of the azaleas before the blossoms all fall away.


I've always loved pink!

 

  The sun was starting to set...

 
And I even caught a bee doing his thing. I like how he is just diving right in there.

 

Happy spring Friday to all ~

Story sparks imagination

I've been having fun writing posts for my blog for the newspaper.

That's one reason I've neglected my Late Bloomer Boomer postings. The other reasons are laziness and Facebook, specifically FarmVille.

Yesterday I interviewed an interesting fellow. He plans to escape from being burned at the stake for a publicity stunt next month. It is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. June 23...just as it's getting dark out.

He's a magician, a fire eater, and general manager of a Renaissance fair to be held for three consecutive weekends at a park that's about a mile from our home.

To each their own, as they say! 

Please give the link a click. Thanks in advance ~

Cat makes her way back home

Kiki is back home.

Yesterday I wrote a post about a cat named Kiki that had been missing for more than two years. Her family searched for her to no avail.
Around the time Kiki got lost, a neighbor told them that a dog in the area had attacked a cat.
The family was sure Kiki was the victim, and that she had died.


Happily, that wasn't the case!
Kiki reappeared seemingly out of nowhere at the family's house Saturday. And she seems to be doing OK, despite a physical problem. 


You can read it here. It will only take a minute, and it will make you smile.

Ruby Tuesday ~ celebration

I usually order a glass of wine with dinner, but since it was our 26th anniversary celebration Saturday night I ordered a Cosmo. It's the second one I've ever had.
It was quite good.

See lots more photos featuring a little or a lot of red at RubyTuesday2. I do believe I could use this photo for ShadowShotSunday2 as well!

Ah, motherhood

I hope all the moms I know had a wonderful day yesterday!


I enjoyed my day. Ralph and children made a delicious dinner for me and my mother.  ;-)


I think every day should be Mothers Day.  (or is that Mother's Day?) We deserve it.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Yesterday I was looking out the window and saw this butterfly sitting on the ramp in front of our house.

I ran to get my point and shoot. He/she waited until I returned, and "posed" for me. Lucky me!

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart, as they say.

Join in the fun and see lots more shadow shots from around the world at ShadowShotSunday2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ memories

I've dropped the blogging ball the past few Saturdays and have not posted shadow photos, but last week I had an excuse: I was busy covering two live events for the newspaper.

Ralph accompanied me to both, so it wasn't a total loss. We were hanging out together and that's what counts. :-)

He wrote about our trip to the new Ansonia (Ct.) Fire Museum and posted photos of it today. 

Our second stop that morning was to the Woodbridge Avenue Honor Roll and War Memorial, also in Ansonia.Two bronze plaques were stolen from the site in December.

Below is yours truly taking a photo at the memorial in December after the two bronze plaques had been stolen.

See lots more shadowy photos from around the world at ShadowShotSunday2.

Life is busy, but that's good

It's good because there is less time to dwell on that danged diagnosis of breast cancer I got last year.

My latest news is I'm going to be part of a new cancer survivorship program at the hospital. And it sounds like it's all free of charge.
I'm looking forward to participating, and of course writing about my experiences. 

 
I have been doing a lot of bloggin', but not here. I've been working on the View from the Valley blog for my job at the New Haven Register.
This morning I wrote a post about love and romance and all the stuff that makes life worth living.

My latest thing is checking the blog stats several times a day. The page views have been increasing! Yay!

Page views equal job security, I think.

If you get a chance, could you please give me a click?  

Thanks in advance.

Breast cancer, blogging, being healthy: the 3 Bs

I seem to be busy with work and life in general and my blog has been ignored.
That doesn't make me feel good. But I have returned.

What does make me feel good is I'm blogging away as part of my job.

Yesterday I wrote a story for the newspaper about Saturday's second annual Women's Day of Health at Griffin Hospital (in Derby, Ct.) and also wrote a blog post about it. I even mentioned my own breast cancer surgery. I'm not one to reveal too much about myself, but it was in me to write.

I knew quite a few of the ladies there, and enjoyed chatting with them. There were slightly more than 100 registered.
Darling daughter, one of the youngest participants by far, accompanied me and we had a great time, as we did last year. And we ate! Yogurt and fruit for breakfast and a delicious chicken wrap, apple, and goodies (cookies and pretzels - Ralph got the pretzels) for lunch were included.
All in all a wonderful event. We're looking forward to next year.

Please click on the link above and tell me what you think.

~ And so my breast cancer journey journal continues...thanks for reading.

Breast cancer journal continues

Today I wrote a blog post for the newspaper about a wonderful Girl Scout troop in our city. I hope it adequately demonstrates my gratitude.


The girls have been working on a special project all year, and clearly have learned about the importance of caring for others and giving of themselves.


They recently showered me and other members of our "Circle of Friends" breast cancer support group with goodies and  handmade items. Their thoughtfulness impressed me and my friends in the group.


Here's the link to the post:

http://naugatuckvalley.blogspot.com/2012/04/girl-scouts-touch-my-heart.html

And so my cancer journey journal doth continue.

Cheaters never win; sadly some kids aren't taught that

Last Saturday Ralph and I went to an Easter egg hunt to support the group organizing it. We were totally turned off by some of the parents there, teaching their children to cheat.

On Tuesday I wrote this blog post about it for the newspaper:


"Cheaters never win,
Winners never cheat."

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff

My husband and I attended an Easter egg hunt Saturday on the Derby Green.
We were there to support several friends who are members of the Derby Cultural Commission, sponsor of the annual event.

It was a sunny afternoon and lots of children and their parents and grandparents were on hand for some old-fashioned fun. 

The Easter Bunny even made an appearance.

Local magician Bryan Lizotte mesmerized the crowd of young and old with plenty of magic tricks before the egg hunt was scheduled to begin.
On Monday I posted this photo of the event.
The problem was when some of the parents and children started to inch away from the audience and inch toward the upper part of the Green where the candy had been placed for the hunt.
These parents really started to anger us as we were chatting with Cultural Commission members attempting to stand guard over the sweet treats.
Simply put, these folks were cheating and teaching their young children to cheat, by grabbing candy while most of the other children were still enjoying the magician's performance.

There was no excuse for that behavior. One of the teen-aged volunteers spreading the candy was actually threatened when he told a parent the hunt hadn't yet started.

Next year will be different, commission members said afterward. The area where the candy is placed will be cordoned off, to nip potential cheating in the bud.

It's a shame when the actions of an uneducated few can ruin an otherwise fun, family-oriented event.

Fat cat?

Does this fur make me look fat?



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