Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Ah, autumn ...

 

"I'm dreaming of less humid weather ... just like the kind depicted here... (to be sung to the tune of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas").

Took this photo on a fun road trip in October 2010 with my travelin' friend Linda, of "Are We There Yet?" fame, who since then has started a wonderful travel blog, The Distracted Wanderer and now a second one, Travels with Nathaniel.

I urge you to check them out ~ especially if you like American history, traveling, and living vicariously. (grin)

The scene is just across from the old-fashioned Green in the center of Norfolk, Ct.  

~  Join the fun! See lots of interesting shadowy photos from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 ~ New Haven Harbor

I snapped this last March when I was with my friend Linda (Duchess of Norwich-Upon-Thames) on a girls' day out, two days before I had breast cancer surgery.
Linda was so kind to take me out for some fun before my upcoming operation and recuperation. And we did indeed have a good (albeit chilly) time driving around taking photos, eating lunch and shopping (and giggling) at IKEA. 


We went to Fort Nathan Hale Park in New Haven (Ct.) to take photos, and found that the Elm City skyline was good for photographing as well.
Ralph told me this photo has some shadows in it, and encouraged me to use it today. ;-)


Join the fun and see lots more shadowy scenes from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

So much for resolutions

It's only 11 days into the new year and I seem to have broken most of the ones I made. Must remember not to make any next year!


But today is a new day and I'm trying to keep one, which is to write a daily blog post.

I can't really write much of a post about the Cupcake Trip that Duchess Linda and I took Saturday to Sugar Bakery & Sweet Shop in East Haven, Ct. , winner of the Food Network's Cupcake Wars in 2010.
As you can see from the link (please read her post) she already wrote a comprehensive one!

We enjoyed these sweet samples of frosting ~ and then came the hard part: which cupcakes to buy? 

It took quite a while to choose from more than 20 varieties. 

This trip broke another resolution, come to think of it! Consuming cupcakes (even though I only had half of one) is no way to lose weight. I bought four different chocolatey ones; the children each had one, I brought one to my chocoholic mom and Ralph and I split the remaining one. Yummy!
 
They even sell T-shirts. One says "Keep Calm and Eat A Cupcake." Don't know how to stay calm after consuming all that sugar, but I'm willing to give it a try.  The map of the U.S. shows just how far some folks have traveled to get their cupcakes.

 

 And I didn't realize it at the time but I managed to get Linda's red Dodge Caliber in the photo. 


 When we left with our purchases you could say we were "happy."

So after the bakery visiting we got back on the highway and The Distracted Wanderer asked me how far away I thought the 9/11 memorial in Westport was from where we were.


I guesstimated 30 miles. But when you say "30 miles" to Duchess Linda, it's like saying "3 miles" to anyone else!
She doesn't mind driving, and I don't mind passenging. We headed down I-95 South from East Haven to Westport and Sherwood Island State Park.

The island is actually a peninsula that goes into Long Island Sound. There we photographed the living memorial that lists names of Connecticut residents or those with close family in the state who were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Since it was a mild, sunny day for January there were quite a lot of people there taking a stroll, flying kites, viewing the somber memorial and just relaxing.

But I think I'll save those photos for another day. Cupcakes and terror attacks don't really go together very well.

Linda and I ended up back in West Haven at the Texas Roadhouse for a late lunch. Here's Linda sitting near the Willie Nelson Corner.


 I hope you enjoyed reading about our January wandering. I know I enjoyed being a part of it.

Can you say cupcakes?

My friend Duchess Linda of Norwich-Upon-Thames Facebook messaged me last night (do any of us use a real telephone any more?) and asked me to accompany her in search of cupcakes and tea today.


Sounds like a plan!

The sun is shining and it's unseasonably mild. We're lucking out weather-wise.

Details to follow...

Tea-rific surprise

Thought I'd make a holiday wreath out of the multicolored envelopes of herbal tea Duchess Linda of Norwich Upon Thames sent me.

We were chatting one day on Facebook about caffeine-free herbal tea and she kindly sent me some samples. I haven't had any in a while, preferring to stick to my regular caffeinated coffee or tea. ;-)  

Looking forward to trying the Vanilla Caramel, Cherry Vanilla and Perfect Peach, three flavors I've never had before.

Friends, foliage and no whining

So I wrote a post yesterday afternoon about my crazy week, but didn't hit publish.

It was another in my continuing series of online journal entries about this breast cancer journey.

But it sounded way too whiny (overworked and exhausted was the theme) so I canned it.

In other news, for the two or three of you who read this who know our friend Linda, I am awaiting her arrival to pick me up for our second annual fall foliage trip!

Woo hoo! I don't know how she does it. She just returned last night from a trip to the White Mountains.

I hope we find some color north of here ~ there is still way too much green on the trees here in southern Connecticut.

Hoping to be posting some beautiful photos next time. 

Happy Saturday to all! 

Impromptu x 2

I had two unplanned get-togethers with friends Wednesday, thus the title of the post.

First off I took a morning walk with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. I wrote about it and posted a photo here. I'm cool like that. ;-)

I also snapped the photo below while we walked and talked.

Then Wednesday afternoon Duchess Linda of Norwich Upon Thames Facebook messaged me to see if we could meet her for dinner after she picked up daughter Amanda from the New Haven train station.
We could and we did! It was great to see them again.

All in all Wednesday was a lot of fun. Note to self: Need to do more of that!

Down the drain (almost)

This is what happened when I washed my hair yesterday morning.

The good news is I'll be saving money on shampoo and conditioner. And on water for that matter.

I bought a second hat; it's a red cloche-style chapeau. I need to take pix of myself in the hats and post them.

Today Ralph, Allegra and I are meeting Duchess Linda of Norwich-Upon-Thames for lunch and laughs. At least I hope we laugh!

Friend inspires icy photo

I saw the sunshine glinting off of an icicle this morning and took a pic. I admit I copied the idea from a blog friend, but I don't think she will mind...

Happy January!