A much needed weekend

Scott and I were supposed to go to Cape Cod this weekend for a big party his work was throwing. There was going to be a costume contest, talent contest, pumpkin carving contest, oyster bar, and the list goes on. But it was all cancelled because of a death in the family.

Our weekend turned into a quiet one at home, putting our garden to rest and planting bulbs for next spring, sharing some rest and relaxation and working on my thesis...
We made applesauce and watched the Cole Porter Story, De-Lovely...harvested the last of the vegetables and admired the pretty colors happening... this is my favorite ornamental fern in front of the delicate dark green ivy we planted on the garage wall which is now turning red...
not sure what to think about this carrot...I can't even wrap my thumb and index finger around it, it was that fat...with the shortest green top. Ha!
one last, stunning pansy...
Welcome November!

A Visit from Elkhart

One of my oldest and dearest friends, Darleen came for a visit! She flew in Friday morning and left this evening. On Friday, I took her to a couple of my classes and then we took the train downtown to Copley's Farmer's Market for some cauliflower and fresh mozzerella and then onto the North End for some of Mike's Pastries!
We watched Shining Through with Melanie Griffith and Michael Douglas. Saturday we drove to Salem to check out the pre-halloween witch hysteria hoopla...it was pretty lame like most festivals. We went through a haunted house, had a "pyschic reading," had lunch at Rockafellas and went on a ghostly walking tour, which ended up being a boring, chilly history lesson...

That night, Dar wanted to treat Scott and me to dinner and being that she wanted something fishy and east-coasty, I suggested my restaurant, Legal Seafoods in Cambridge. Darleen had our famous crab cake, shrimp and scallops. I had the woodgrilled swordfish--WHOA. Scott had the Salmon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Sunday morning, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then we went to one of my favorite places in Lexington--Wilson Farms--where I was finally able to get a pumpkin, apple cider and donuts, some bulb plants for the spring and of course, caramel apples! It was a gorgeous afternoon...The weekend went way too quickly!

Razed to the Ground

I came home from school to be greeted by a raped Back Forty (what we call the abandoned lot behind our little yard) Someone had come and weed-whacked EVERYTHING in sight, including my Cosmos, Four O'Clocks, Zinnias, Phlox, Tansy, Yarrow, Chicory, you name it. They also razed the baby wild cherry and mulberry trees growing volunteer here and there.

I wish I had pictures to show how overgrown this place was--you definitely couldn't see the four foot wall delineation...

I cried when I found one lone survivor....a beautiful yellow four o'clock.
I know I shouldn't grieve what wasn't mine, especially what grows wild on an abandoned property next to mine, but it was becoming mine by mere appreciation alone...

Can't wait for the spring to breathe some life back into the place...

A Wedding in Baltimore

One of my best friends from college, Jess Hanel, got married to a wonderful musician named Joe Satava! They are so adorable...

As an added bonus, I got to spend the weekend with another great girlfriend from Bethel, Teri Wines...

Congrats, Jess...you were so stunningly beautiful and the wedding utterly elegant. (Her mom made her dress from a Versace design!!) Have fun in Hawaii!

Noah is 7

What a difference a year makes...I guess the first picture is from last June, not October...but still! My little man is growing up too fast! Happy Birthday, Little Guy. That's probably the last time you'll let me say that...I love you!

Meet Coby Kelly

Coby is the little boy I take care of on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays while his athletic mommy gets to go work out for a couple of hours. He is four months today and is the most smiley baby I think I've ever met. He has two sisters: Jaida Mae is 4 and Piper is 2. Their Daddy Shawn is head of the ER at Harvard Medical and also runs a clinic out at Cape Cod. They live just across Commonwealth from us, so it is a two minute bike ride for me! Thank you God, for wonderful people to work for!

apple pickin'

We finally got around to going apple picking again, only my second time. We chose a farm in New Hampshire, but it seemed everyone else did too. By the time we got within three miles, the traffic was bumper to bumper as far as the eye could see, all in line for this farm. It added an hour to our commute! But they had everything: a pumpkin patch, cider, donuts, hotdogs, hayrides, live music. We only had time for the apples, since it took so long to get there and I had to work at Legal Seafoods in the evening. Oh well. Can't wait to go home and make apple pie and apple sauce!