Parker's Maple Barn

Looking for a great place for lunch?

Try Parker's Maple Barn in Mason, New Hampshire.  In about 2 weeks they will begin making maple syrup, and you can do an interesting tour of the series of sheds in which they make it!  The gift shop is full of surprises (and of course maple syrup!)

Go early, they don't take reservations.  You put your name down, and at the peak of the maple syrup making season, you can expect to wait 60-90  minutes for lunch.  BUT they have the best pancakes in the world and food is extremely reasonably priced.  

A favorite with many of our guests from England.  

Also .. one last tip ... 8 miles away is Pickety Place ... the inspiration for the illustrator of Little Red Riding Hood.  In the summer they have an amazing traditional English herb garden and sell all kinds of home grown herbs in their very interesting shop (where you can buy all kinds of things!).  They also have an amazing restaurant .. but it's more adult friendly, than kid friendly and uses local produce and seasonal veggies, etc.

Twittering

I have recently discovered Twitter, which seems to be a much faster way to network with others.  A kind of an informal Linkedin - and actually quite entertaining.

I admit to a little flash of pride when someone 'follows' me ... I AM special after all!

Follow me ... http://twitter.com/suebruce

... and still it goes on

I thought I was done with the Friday 13th effect ... but apparently NO!

This morning I woke up to an email from a friend (call me, it's an emergency) ... and it wasn't.  AND THEN I discovered my car was dead (flat battery).  Had to call my wonderful husband home from the office to jump start it.

What have I done to deserve this?  

February 24 - the new Friday 13th!

OK ... so I missed one post yesterday.  But I was recovering from February 24th ... the new Friday 13th!

All started out well, but soon descended into the worse day in my memory.   I backed into my cleaners car - caused a minor scratch & small dent on her car, and completely totaled my bumper !! ??  Initial estimate - $1000 minimum.  I was not even accellerating, just rolling backwards out of the garage, and UP A HILL.  Apparently it was the angle of the impact, not the velocity!?

THEN ... the school nurse calls to say my daughter was sick (she was just testing out the new school nurse!)

THEN ... the exterminator / trapper revealed that the rattling in the attic was a flying squirrel - so now I feel guilty for trying to kill it ... but at the same time, I am going crazy from sleep deprivation between 1 and 5 am ...

THEN ... a mystery person spilt water on my Mac wireless keyboard, resulting in the keys 'zero', 'p' and ';' not working.

THEN ... the computer crashed and rebooted itself and required me to enter my password ... which includes one of the letters the keyboard could not enter ... so I was rendered without a computer until I could make it to the local Apple store (24 hours later).

I could cry even recalling this stuff ...!

OK to ask?

My oldest child recently met a new friend at an art camp.  He asked if I could arrange a play date at the other kids house.  I felt a little nervous ...

I have no idea who these people are, where they live, if they are even reliable and somewhat 'normal'.

So I called them ... and told them this AND asked them if they had a gun.  They were really happy to tell me a few things about themselves, and invited me to stay for the first 20 minutes of the play date to become better acquainted.  

... and no, they didn't have a gun ... and thought it was perfectly acceptable for me to ask!

Sting Ray Bow-Rider

This weekend we went to the New England Boat Show.  I've never been to a Boat Show before and wasn't sure what to expect ... but it was actually very interesting and the kids had a blast climbing on board small and large boats/yachts.  Amazing what kind of technology and built-in comforts they have these days.

OK ... so now I REALLY want a boat!!   A nice little 18ft Sting Ray bow-rider will do!!

Tips for next time ...

1) Don't wear high heels to boat show

2) Bring water

3) Arrive at correct door of exhibition center to avoid 3 mile walk

Painting Mom

I am a painting Mom right now.  I have been painting up a storm these last few weeks, and have successfully painted over a mural I started (and did not want to finish) ... and the room looks great.  This, of course, begs the question - why did I wait a year, looking at the half finished mural every day?  Who knows!  But I'm so pleased I did it!

With this new found energy and enthusiasm for painting, I have also almost completed repainting my daughter's room.  (Reaching over shoulder to pat own back ...)

My (lack of) new office

I really want to find somewhere in my town to base my business.  

Product photography is really becoming my speciality and I could use a proper 'business base'.  You'd think that with the economy the way it is, there'd be some building owner who would want to lease a small unfurnished (even windowless) space to a quiet, unimposing person like myself.  But NO ... apparently everyone is holding out for those big-time rents and it's SO FRUSTRATING!

(OK .. perhaps I am not quiet OR unimposing ...)

Odd glasses

To follow up from yesterday's Champagne post, I realize that I have a collection of individual wine/champagne glasses - ie.  they don't match - and I LOVE that.

There is something very appealing about reaching into the wine glass cupboard and deciding if I'm going to have the spotty glass, pink glass, engraved glass, dark red glass or stem-less glass tonight.

Is Cristal worth it?

I really want to try that Cristal champagne.  I am not sure if I'm attracted by the name, price of aura ... but as an enthusiastic champagne drinker I am wondering if it's really that good!

Right now my favorites are:

Verve Clicquot (orange label)

French Mumm

Schramsberg (the White House Champagne)

What's your favorite?

Someone PLEASE teach me Photoshop !!

I have spent several days pouring over a Photoshop CS3 book TRYING to manipulate photos and backgrounds.   

WHY ... do I understand it in the book, and then cannot replicate it on the computer!!

HELP  !!!  I am going to scream with utter frustration.

Why can't I get layers to work ... ?   

Confessions of a photographer

OK ... so I am really trying to network and build my photography business.  

A few days ago I received an email asking for a quotation for 'naked' black & white shots.  I didn't want to baulk at it because there is such a thing as 'artistic' nudity (with all those bits covered tactfully)! 

So rather than discard it, I replied asking for more information - what does he do for a living, does he have examples of shots he is using in his portfolio right now ... etc, etc ...

... and he replies, with subtly discriptive information ... AND a picture ....

Oh why didn't I see this coming ...

Arguing 10 year old

Do all 10 year old boys argue?   Please someone tell me they have had the same experience.

My son would argue that black is white, that the world is flat and that there is no such thing as a one dollar bill !!

If we ask him to do something, he argues ... if we set out to go somewhere, he argues ... if we choose our own channel on the TV ... HE ARGUES.

It's driving us crazy !!

Gummy vitamins for adults!

I know I should take a multi-vitamin.  I do really well taking them for a few days ... but then forget completely.  I've tried keeping them next to the coffee machine ... but hate taking them with hot coffee because it makes them dissolve and they taste foul.  I've tried putting them next to my toothbrush ... but never have water handy and cannot swallow them without a drink.  I've even tried putting them in my pocket to consume in the car (which I inevitably spend time in every day) ... but then I can't get them out of my pocket while driving.  (They then go through the laundry machine leaving a powdery mess at the bottom of the pocket!)

Finally I noticed that Costco now have DECENT Gummy Vitamins for grown-ups ... they are delicious!! They actually taste good and don't have that sour chalky taste like others I have tried.  So now I am happily remembering to take them - even looking forward to it ... without the need for a drink, or fear of the bad taste!!

My very talented self

I am very pleased with myself.   In the past two weeks, I have PROPERLY painted over a partly finished mural (that I did).  It needed to go ... and so I researched primer, sanded walls (by hand) and dutifully applied 3 coats to walls, stairway and ceiling (yes it was a fair size room with mural on every surface and down the stairs).  Even removed outlet surrounds (WOW I hear you say).  Have chosen new paint color and applied two very even coats ... even re-glossed the kick boards, door frames and windows.  

I am good ... 

now ... what else can I paint now that I am in the mood  (should I mention that Judge Alex is really very good background entertainment for painting ...?)

Friday 13th?

I have just read that whenever a 'Friday 13th' occurs, fewer people drive to work ... yet car accidents exceed the average for any other day of the year!?

I'm starting to wonder what impact it will have on my crazy routine today.  

Polishing up a storm

Until the age of 30 ish (I intended to say exact age, but chickened out ...) I had bitten my nails horribly.  I don't just mean a 'nibble' ... I mean right down and beyond!  A nervous habit, I'm told.

Eventually, starting several years ago I began to kick the habit with the help of an excellent manicurist in Saratoga, CA.  She looked at my stubby fingers and was not phased.  I explained that I needed help and wanted to have beautiful hands/nail .. and she was still not phased.

It turns out that she was right (although I relapsed several times).  A simple manicure makes your hands feel good and look good - but only if the manicurist has the ability to not care about this difficult habit.  If she can treat you like every other client, it will work.

So now, having long yearned for nails long enough to polish, I am addicted entirely to nail varnish!!  Although I experience the occasional relapse (about once in 18 months), I keep this habit at bay by applying nail polish ... which I adore as long as it's not chipped, which stopped me from chewing.  

I think I have about 30 bottles of nail polish (I love OPI !!)  

Where is my Fairy God Mother?

Where is the camera Fairy God Mother now?  

I REALLY want the new Canon 5d mk II (the Mk II being the IMPORTANT BIT) !!  If you are out there, this is REALLY high on my list for acquisitions and might even transcend into the category of 'necessities'.  

.... if the 'Lens' Fairy God Mother is out there  - she/he should call me RIGHT AWAY ...  I have a wish list ....

A tip for the boys

Valentine's Day is coming up.  How can we not be aware of that?

Before every special occasion, my children are mysteriously abducted to the mall by my husband.  LIKE I DON'T GET WHAT'S GOING ON !!!  

What ever happened to a bouquet arriving unexpected ... a Pajama-Gram thingy ... a chef in your home (so I don't have to cook dinner) ... or a surprise reservation and babysitter ??

Time and effort invested well before a special date is worth FAR more than anything bought in haste!!

Follow me

OK ... now I am really getting obsessed.

I look everyday to see if I have a follower ...   NONE  !!   I know you're reading it, some of you even come back ... but no followers?

Am I that bad?!

Actually, I'm enjoying writing so much it's become a kind of therapy!!  Hope you enjoy reading my blog!!

Phone-y

I recently discovered that a house-guest did not pick up my telephone call because they couldn't find the 'on' switch on our home phone.

... this was immediately explained by identifying the 'phone' as the 'TV Clicker'.

Daily Grommet

I take photographs for a local company (to Lexington, MA) called The Daily Grommet.  

Every weekday at around noon a new 'Grommet' posts ... and I am starting to look forward to watching the video and reading the commentary.  Clearly others are doing the same as the comments are growing and growing for each product.

... I've even bought a few things

Check it out at www.dailygrommet.com.  

Disembarking dinner

This past week my oldest threw up in the night.  Well, not initially 'in' the night ... but predictably at my bedtime (ie. after I've fallen asleep on the chair for 30 minutes and managed to drag my butt upstairs!).

I hate it when they throw up.  Actually, I hate it when I throw up.  Fortunately neither happens very often.  There seems to be little you can do to take away their anxiety and uncomfortableness.  Inevitably bed clothes need to be laundered .. and in the worst cases, PJs too.  Which brings me to my big dilemma ...

When your child throws up on themselves, how do you get the PJ top off without smearing the now 'out' vomit all over their face and head.  Yuck !!   

(I can't believe I've just written this post ... it's vile!!)

Still resolving?

How are your New Year's Resolutions doing?

I am so proud of myself ... the fairy cake resolution is still alive and I have graduated to flapjacks recently.  I'm enjoying it actually!!  (my waistline isn't ...)

PJ Mail

Last night I found a letter in my PJs.  

It was from my daughter.

We have recently had a 'heart-to-heart' ... an attempt to reset the scales (which were very out of sync).  

The letter is beautifully written, and is so honest and genuine that I am unable to go to sleep - hence this blog post.  

At last I feel like I am reconnecting with my daughter, and I truly pray this will last.  

Should I mention that she is 8?

The dinner blues

I am not really a convenience food Mum, although I admit that the kids have pre-made chicken nuggets and the occasional pizza when we're in a hurry.  These they greedily yum-up without complaint.  Once in a while a MacDonald's meal-on-the-run will sneak it ... same result.

Most evenings, however, I cook something from scratch.  Something tasty (I think), colorful (I think) and simple enough that they can identify the ingredients - which I think is important for kids.

Our usual routine goes something like:

Monday:

"What's for dinner, Mum?"

(I tell them ...)

"I don't like that and I'm not going to eat it"

Tuesday:

"What's for dinner, Mum?"

(I tell them ...)

"I don't like that and ...

You get the idea ...

Of course, they always have to eat it ... but how come we do this EVERY day?  Is it a habit?  Do they think it's funny?  

Murphy's law

I have a gas oven and cooktop.  I use mostly the front 3 rings to cook on.  They have an auto-light feature ... ie.  I turn the button and it clicks to light the gas.

Lately, it is having trouble lighting and clicks, and clicks ... and clicks.  Eventually I decide to walk to the other side of the kitchen for a manual lighter.  Sometimes I do it immediately, other times I wait.  

EVERY time I get to the drawer with the manual lighter, it lights automatically.  Yes ... even when I wait longer to see if it is eventually going to light (before the house blows up ...)

Sock box

A few months ago I introduced the sock box to my household.  At last a home for that single sock that appears in the laundry almost daily.  The sock box lives in the laundry room on top of the dryer.

I even cleared out all the kids drawers (and mine ... my husband apparently has no odd socks because he is perfect) looking for the odd socks, and promised never to put socks in their rooms unless they are paired.

So here we are, several months later ... and despite clearing out the box regularly ... it is still overflowing!  Huh?  

Murphy's Law states that as soon as I dump the orphan socks, I'll find the other, right?