Loved February's Love, Oysters and Book.

The month of love is coming to an end. I've enjoyed this theme in my life on Newark-Granville Road.  Looking back and celebrating in the now, sharing pictures and responding to very kind and lovely remarks on social media. Opening mail and sending mail...

Today I want to give a shout out to the Oyster love...Joe's birthday gift from me- oysters! We had so much fun shucking and eating these at New Year's.  I've been known to keep a good thing going and make it a gift. A dear friend made it so- switching suppliers to make it happen.  Then Mother Nature said- not so fast and the oysters delivery was delayed.  So we carried on with our celebration with crab instead...last post.  The rest of the story...the oysters did arrive and were cold and so we ate them!

https://www.rhodyoysters.com/

If you are looking for oysters- I highly recommend Matunuck Oyster Bar.  Have them shipped or who is ready for a road trip? me!  I hear the location is fabulous- right on the ocean. Some day I must go and eat oysters fresh from the sea...until then I will savor the days of shucking and slurping!  I also made oyster stew and that was a pretty good dinner here on Newark-Granville Road.

I'm looking forward to March and sharing it with you. Book club recommendation for you:

The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild by Lawrence Anthony- the Discussing Books at CVH group will discuss it tomorrow- March 1- join us, let me know if you are interested. We're still zooming for now. This book has important messages about communication and the value of relationships. This is the theme from my Principles and Practices of Fundraising class too..hmmmm.

Speaking of communication- time to talk to the college kids, it is Sunday. We're kept the tradition from my college days going- although now we do it on FaceTime with the full family. Certainly a highlight of the week for me. Take good care everyone- enjoy the warmer temps and get outside...I say that for myself!

Making time to celebrate- Birthday, Anniversary, Lent and then Study Time!

What procrastination looks like in my life on Newark-Granville Road. 

-Setting a pretty table! Then blogging about it.

Behind the picture: table cloth was our cake table cloth at the wedding! The tartan taffeta also was the bridesmaid's skirts and a number of other fun accent pieces.  The Birthday plate is still going strong- Sally said- tomorrow is Daddy's birthday- why is it out now. My reply- I'm getting ready and it is festive.  The roses- you know sweet Joe gives me my wedding bouquet every year.  Granville's Village Flower Basket does such a great job. The china is Spode- I picked out for our registry - I still adore it.  Works HATSOFF to the Races glasses...and finally the FPC Lenten bag candles will be lit as part of our dinner and blessing.

So what am I procrastinating? What do I need to get to....school work! Sally admitted her helping me deliver FPC Lenten bags as part of her procrastination from school work too!  (Curious about the FPC Lenten bag- let me know- I have an extra!) Principals and Practices of Fundraising- Lilly Family School of Philanthropy- one class at a time until I earn my Master's degree.  The group presentation will be here before I know it.  Meeting tonight with the crew...I'd better get my work done!

But a big thank you to all the kind Anniversary wishes on Facebook. It was fun to go to the attic and snap some pictures from the album and post on Insta which then posts to Facebook.  We had a lovely day- lovely.  I had some time with Sally to get ready, then Joe and I enjoyed the Franklin Park Conservatory to find green, blooms, warm air, creativity, artistry, science, the smell of the earth comforting and congratulating us.  We wrapped it up driving around our old stomping grounds and enjoying Figlio's salad, pasta, and creme brulee- oh well it was a very good day in the life on Newark-Granville Road.

Valentine's 2021

Happy Valentine's Day to me.....why have I not blogged lately?  My poor, sweet Mac lost all ability to hold a charge.  Clare took it to Dr. Apple and no luck.  Dear Joe said....let's get you a new laptop and voila a few days after Valentines Day here it is.  Behind the scene scoop.

Why a mac? This goes back to when I stopped working when Sally was born. Three things I asked for when I left my professional world: a lap computer, we only had work PCs at that point, to keep my cleaning person- it is not my jam and I'm not that good; and to join Moundbuilders Country Club. I wanted to swim with my kids.  Fast forward almost 16 years and I think I'm on my 3rd computer.  The last one was Joe's hand me down.  The fun videos we found of it of the kids doing "news" shows!  Joe invested in the apple product to reduce the number of calls to him as my IT person.  I'm giddy, this is shiny and new.  And Joe said set up was pretty slick.  Life on Newark-Granville Road- tech scoop!

So how was your Valentine's Day?  Mine was nice.  We don't go overboard here- we have an anniversary and birthday to toast next weekend so we keep it simple.  I only sent a few Valentine's this year- just wasn't feeling it. COVID/midwinter/cabin fever/too much zoom blah.  Joe and I did get out for a lovely sunny hike/walk at Dawes! I made a yummy dinner and set a pretty table. It was festive and love-filled.  I enjoyed packages and cards from dear friends and family to keep my spirits bright.  We called Sarah to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY- love that birthday- what a great day to be born.  Reflected on that day oh so long ago...haha...my dear Dad took Matthew- to the neighbors with our cereal.  Then he took Mom to the hospital.  It must be one of my first memories. I remember it so well- the revolving door of people taking care of us until Dad and Gaga could get to us. I remember Daddy sharing the bay-bee's name- Sarah Catherine. I repeated it and liked it.  Oh what would life be like on Newark-Granville Road without calls and texts from Sarah, visits to Granville, Baltimore, Hagerstown....love to boo-boo!the snow is pretty. Sally is ready to go back to school- snow days are not as fun when in abundance and not really a day off.  Oh life is changing, growing, evolving, transfiguration...church sermon was great Karen...to be continued!

Blooming in February -2021

Keeping the love theme going for February posts...love blooms, blooming love...

The first pic I posted on Facebook/Instagram. These are Christmas flowers making an extended appearance.  The amaryllis is from Trader Joe's- the bulb simply in wax- how cool is that!  The first one I bought was low and felt like a dud. I bought another, I presented a few as gifts.  The 2nd one-shot up but didn't open for some time. The first one, the dud- opened low but beautiful. The 2nd eventually did bloom too!  Then I noticed other shoots coming, so I cut the dead/finished ones- I guess I deadheaded...and sue enough- more blooms have found their way to me in February! Poinsettia...I love to keep those going...often in the greenhouse.  So here is the greenhouse pic! I'll post this later on social media too. I like to share blooms in the winter! We all need the reminder and lessons of love and plants! A little green goes a long way about now in my life on Newark-Granville Road.

Love in COVID times, LOVE Local - it is February!*

 Sign of the times...the highlight of my day, a text from my mother: I got my vaccine!  Yes, after weeks of hearing how she could not get through or access the sign-up, weeks of reading other people's posts with green in my eyes, the stars aligned and it worked.  She grabbed the first appointment- that afternoon- her driveway had been plowed- so off she went.    And what did she do to celebrate?  She booked a flight to Florida- woo hoo!  Now we're anxious to hear Joe's parents share a similar update.  Life and Love in the Times of COVID-19 in our life on Newark-Granville Road!  (Joe's parents have their first shot!!)

Other updates...looking for great bread, I must share two links:

https://710bread.com/index.php/thursday-menu/  Order on-line- the baguettes are delicious and the croissants you can buy frozen and bake yourself!  We will try the bagels in our life on Newark-Granville Road this week. Order soon- they do sell out.  

https://seaworthybread.com/  This is the bread we've fallen in love with at the Granville Farmer's market..and now the winter market. Winter market ends this week- sniff...but you can pick up this bread by ordering online and at other great shops- including Black Radish Creamery's self- store-see the link!

https://www.facebook.com/BlackRadishCreamery  Bread, cheese, soup, hot sauce, honey, eggs, I can go on and on...check out this great new self-serve shop! Take a drive...I did! Location was a treat to discover.  1st. I love to drive Morse road.  2nd- I have noticed the attractive, "new" barn on 161 before the golf course for quite some time.  I assumed (always a mistake) it was part of a farm.  What a treat to pull into the creamery location and put two and two together! I recommend taking the back way from Granville (and regular readers know I love the back-road path) go Broadway, we call it the new road or Broadway extended- along the highway- this turns into Moots Run Road to Outville Road- you go left/south over the highway.  Then you turn left on to General Giffin Road - it dead-ends into the golf course- or you turn on to the start of Morse road and that is where Black Radish Creamy is! Check the hours and enjoy! ** Highly recommend the Charlie's Legend- Clothbound Raw Chedder- mild sharpness with sweet butter flavor. Yep- quite good. Compared it tonight to our beloved 2 year Shelbourne Farms!

Bye Bye January....hello February!  Take care dear readers- these are not easy times.  We know things will get better.  Happy update- the Christmas Cards arrived and we're sending some out...instead of sending Valentines, I'm sending Christmas cards.  I love to receive mail and send mail.  This means the USPS must be seeing movement and improvement- hooray. And please know if you want to chat, talk, gripe, celebrate, take a walk, share a drink- I'm here or I can be there.