Hit The Brakes...That's A What Pulling A Cart In Jamestown

My father and I have breakfast out together every Sunday for almost 20 years now. After a good meal we take a ride and have seen many places, people and things tooling around southern Rhode Island. We especially like Beavertail on Jamestown as you never know how the Atlantic will be from week to week. From as calm as a mill pond to a raging, churning ocean each week we are visitors to a view well worth returning to...

We leave the mainland via the Jamestown Bridge and take the quiet roads to the lighthouse past the windmill, past Dutra and Windmist Farms on the left and Watson and Hodgkiss Farms on the right, whiz by the bait shop on the flats where the owner sits sipping a mug of coffee and proceed to the village. After stopping at the four way stop we pass The Secret Garden and several more shops to the corner and bear right to the causeway at Mackerel Cove....then past Fort Getty and onto Beavertail.

This week as we passed the garden shop...we saw a beautiful wooden two wheeled garden style cart with a young lady sitting atop this pony drawn cart....hit the brakes that was not a pony we passed by but a COW....a cow pulling a wagon...did we devour too many eggs...had that single slice of bacon clogged our cerebral arteries...were our optic nerves pinched....NO that cart was being pulled by a cow!!!!!

As we drove along Beavertail Road all we could talk about was what we just viewed....unbelievable...couldn't be...never saw this before...who would think a cow would do such a thing...why was this cow "trotting" down a public road pulling a wagon masquerading as a pony?

We did our usual sightseeing at the point and proceeded back over the same route. As we approached Fort Getty...there was that cow again pulling that young lady up Fort Getty Road to the farm.

I had my camera and Dad and I had a very strong desire to get up close and personal to this sight. Left blinker on and we proceeded just by the cart as it rolled along...put the van in park and out I jumped...sure enough this was a cow.

I was greeted by the most charming girl I have met in a very long time. I asked if I could take a picture and she not only agreed but stopped her cow and posed. She was so personable and chatty. Any question I asked she answered and was very patient in explaining. I asked her her cow's name and she told me Daisy..which made me smile but then said "So, I'm driving Miss Daisy"...now I laughed...I like this kid! I asked where she was returning from and she had been to breakfast in town at of course a little restaurant called "A Slice of Heaven". I explained to her that my niece Emily belongs to 4-H and has a cow she shows at fairs. She told me she does not show cows but raises dairy cows for milking. She wanted me to tell Emily, that cows are very easy to train but most important - "Anything a horse can do...a cow can do better"

So there you have it....when you think you have seen it all...a charming young lady and her cow show up to prove you wrong!!!!!

Driving Miss Daisy on a beautiful August Sunday morning....

Learning about this amazing pair...





Daisy in all her glory....

Off they go....

I'm so glad I can still be amazed...

Elizabeth

Independence Day 2010 - Annual Family Celebration

What a grand day we had this year at the annual July 4th celebration on the pond...We counted over 55 family and friends in attendance...WOW!!!!! Everyone pitched with the work and cooking making this party a snap...there were tasty appetizers, salads and desserts to compliment the grilled hamburgers and hot dogs...

It was a hot day so lots of folks hit the water...many just kept a low profile and exchanged stories as some family members we only see at this time of year. My brother-in-law lead us in saying grace before the meal begins, Ray and Randy led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and Loretta sang the song she wrote titled "America". Patriotic music filled the air during the day and was really cranked up when the fireworks started...during the fireworks Donna signed all the words to each song...she did a wonderful job...her signing was lyrical and beautiful as the music played. Simply said - A Perfect Day!!!!!


The annual group photo at the flag pole...

Patriotic decorations hang from the canopy...in the background Ed and Lisa off to hit the water...

Kayla brought a couple of friends...what a super photos...love Kayla's tee...

Emi and Nattie ready to jump in...both girls took off their life jackets this year and started swimming under water...another generation of family waterbugs hits the pond!!!!!

Husband pointing something out in a photo to Bill...a deep conversation which lead to me losing a bet....

Three generations of women...Loretta (mother and grandmother), Melanie (daughter and mother) and Kayla (daughter and granddaughter)...

Brittney and Nattie...love this photo

This year's grill masters...the husband and wife team of Layne and Whitney...thanks for manning the grill guys!!!!!

This picture of cousins...Randy, Brittney and Seth needs no explanation...

New family members...love their curly hair...absolutely adorable

Talk, talk, talk...

Aunt Whitney and Nattie...

Brittney leaving the day cabin to pass out the annual shortcake treats...Brit and Seth made many trips with boxes loaded and returned with empties...the ladies worked an assembly line inside putting the shortcakes together with homemade cakes, blueberries and strawberries topped with whipped cream...these patriotic desserts are always a hit!

Caleb and Jesseca (niece) were here this year...so good to have them here...Jess spent many a summer day here when she was just a kid...she would fish all day and I couldn't get her to take a 5 minute break to eat...she not only caught fish...she would name them and keep them in buckets...at some point she could "tell" by their eyes they needed to go back in the water at which time she would throw them back in...she learned to take them off the hook because I refused to and told her to wait for her father when he picked her up in the evening...no way would she wait that long so she learned all by herself...good for her good for me....

More talk, talk, talk...

Randy crowned "Pond King" with a pond weed tiara!!!!!

This outfit on Olivia leaves me at a loss for words....a fashion statement for sure just don't know what it says...for her Mom (my niece Sandie) I am sure it said safety...but everyone else who saw it stopped in their tracks...they took a long long look, then looked around to see what someone was thinking...an exchange of OMG via eyes was made, followed by a good hearted laugh and a "she is going to flip when she sees this picture when she is older and say what was my mother thinking?!"

Nephew Herbie and brother-in-law Mark chit chatting...Herbie trying to cool off by pressing a cold soda can to his cheek...

Fire in the hole....

No couch potatoes here...but there are plenty of float potatoes especially on this hot, hot day...

The bonfire kept low early in the evening for the kids to toast marshmallows to eat plain or to make a s'more...I love this time of night...watching the kids toasting and taking orders from the grownups...someone always remembers to burn one for me...love that marshmallow char!!!!!

Enjoying shortcakes....

Olivia checking out the boom booms...

My hubby Robert and his sister Loretta found a good spot to view the fireworks....the Pond Association had a great show this year...

A beautiful aerial display....

"Bombs bursting in air"

The campfire cranks up....

Getting ready for the final, earth shaking blast...a great way to sign off from another wonderful, fabulous, fun filled, heart warming celebration of our country's Independence Day...

Elizabeth

Hot Enough For You!!!!!

Is it hot enough for you yet????? I passed my hot enough last Sunday yet the thermometer just kept going up...today it has gone down just a smidge...I can't wait to jump in the pond...a few more chores and then I submerge till the sun goes down...I like to swim laps at the gym but now that the summer heat is here I swim in the pond...even this water is getting a bit warm so I may have to hit the salt water in Narragansett Bay for the next couple of months especially if this heat continues...

I have included a couple of garden photos that I hope will "cool" you off...

Try to find a cool spot....don't forget your pets and the older folks you know....I have yet to receive a call from any family member or friend regarding my well being...so it is safe to assume I am still considered not old enough for a "lifeline check" call...

Elizabeth

Getting Ready for our 4th of July Party

Looks like we are in for a hot one this year...bathing suits are ready for a jump into the pond, paddle boat is fired up, row boat cleaned out and oars secured, and plenty of towels for drying off folded and in a big pile. Burgers and hot dogs are in the fridge, piles of rolls and condiments await a tasty treat off the grill. Family and friends are in charge of appetizers, salads and desserts...so old favorites and new recipes are sure to find their way to the serving tables. What a great day we have in store to celebrate our country's independence.
The flag pole has a new coat of paint and new flags hang. Old flags are ceremoniously burned each year. Bought some grass that looks like sparklers...love them at the base of the pole. This is an old wooden porch column that we painted, drilled holes in for the flags and topped with a gold painted eagle. This is where the group photo is taken every year...love looking at the old ones and look forward to the new one to add to the album.

Our niece Sandie and the kids gave us these towels at Christmas...so they hang off an old vintage wooden canoe towel holder in the day cabin...absolutely love these things...leave it to Sandie to find them...she has an eye for the unusual!!!!!

Chairs and benches are placed about for sitting, resting and of course napping....

The wood pile is ready for the bonfire...everyone on the pond has them along their beach fronts...gorgeous as the sun goes down and dark overtakes the daylight...fires glowing against the water with the smell of wood floating in the air. Around 9:30PM the pond association sponsors a fireworks display. Boats filled with families slowly make their way to a favorite spot for viewing. We fortunately just line our lawn chairs up and look to the clear skies. We play patriotic music full blast over a super sized sound system and everyone sings "This Land is Your Land", "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America". We include lots of marches as well...a neighbor down the pond always says her favorite is hearing Kate Smith!

Another spot at the other end of our island...these two trees are called "The Wedding Trees". This is where my dreamboat and I got married many moons ago...followed by a clambake...great day!!!!!

Another spot to sit...love this bench

Another bench made by the same fellow....

I filled the faux bois planter this year with shade plants...ferns and coral bells...nice look!

and even the chipmunks are taken care of...

So the preparations have started...looking forward to a day of good food, fun, fireworks and celebration. Will follow with more photos after the party.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!

Elizabeth

Be sure to check out Show and Tell Fridays with Cindy...this is a fabulous blog!!!!!

A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet - Shakespear

How lovely a rose is...the appearance, the texture of the petals, gloss of the leaves and oh yes the fragrance...They are a delight to see in a garden and in a bouquet they add another level of elegance like no other flower.

I find it a fussy flower to tend to but my father has taken to raising them and his bushes are magnificent. He takes the time to water, feed, spray and prune and his hard work pays off. His climbers are admired far and wide. I asked him if he would plant of couple of roses for me if I bought them. Not knowing anything about roses I chose tea roses and ordered two from White Flower Farm. Tea roses are a breed to themselves, yet my father has tended to these two finicky plants and the results are a gorgeous plant.

Today we had the privilege of attending a rose lecture at Deer Brook Estates in Exeter, RI given by Michael Chute, a master rosarian. Mike & his wife Angie are expert gardeners & rose-growersas well as authors of “Roses for New England: A Guide to Sustainable Rose Growing” and founders of Rose Solutions landscape consulting service.

I learned so much in this lecture. While I will still not grow roses, I learned so much about them. It is always fun to learn new things and today I got a head full of new knowledge. Mike was informative and entertaining. He held our attention and gave a wonderful talk. He and his wife brought wonderful examples of roses which were delightful to see and smell.

The photos above are the pink tea rose my father is raising for me...simply a classic beautiful rose.

For now I stick to my peonies, lilies, iris, camassia, hosta and what have you...but I will admire and maybe even envy a little the rose experts the Chutes and especially my Dad...hard work does pay off.

Elizabeth

EXTRA EXTRA - Ed is on the front page of the Providence Journal

My brother in law, Ed Palmer made the front page of the statewide newspaper, the Providence Journal on Memorial Day. Ed marched in his hometown parade Hope Valley, on the Sunday before the holiday. It was quite a surprise to wake up and see Ed on the front page and to top it off - above the fold!!!!!

A fabulous photo of one of our favorite vets!

Elizabeth

I Love A Parade - Especially This Hometown Event on Memorial Day

Who doesn't love a parade. The one held in my hometown of North Kingstown in the village of Wickford ranks up there as my favorite. Three school bands, hay wagons pulling the local theater group, the karate school with guys chopping wood blocks with their feet and hands, old cars and trucks, dogs, two horses, the hobby shop, a walking lighthouse hawking the new Plum Beach license plate, politicians, boy scouts, girl scouts, rainbow girls, police and fire departments and most important military veterans and vehicles...because this is really why the parade is held. Once the parade rounds the Main Street corner...the color guard assembles and the flag is presented, we sing The Star Spangled Banner, pray, Taps are played and a wreath is tossed over the bridge into the cove in honor of all our military lost at sea...soon that wreath floats out of the cove into Narragansett Bay and then it finds its way to the Atlantic Ocean. This sad tradition is poignant for so many reasons. Once this solemn ceremony is completed...time to strike up the high school band and the parade continues to the cemetery for another service there.


Wickford is a village full of small shops, restaurants, old homes a drug store and art galleries. Quaint is probably the best way to describe it. For us it was where we went to the library after school. The dentist, hardware store and dry cleaners were the main reason to go to "town".


The grand stand....modest but the center of attention...during the ceremony

Shops on the main street

More shops...

My brother in law, Mark was part of the parade...great photo....

My husband driving Mark in the backseat and my dad in the front passenger seat....convertible belongs to Dad...

This is where the wreath is thrown into the water in memory of all military lost at sea.

Military vehicles in the parade...

more...

We were told by a parade "official" that this year the parade had the most military vehicles ever.

My niece Natalie standing with a local police officer...she really wanted to meet him and this fellow was very pleasant and understanding...love this photo

My niece Sandie's dad and his wife were in the parade...they had the summer schedule for the NK Chorus painted on a board in the back of the truck for all to see

This lady is a local 'legend". She always drives around town in this car which has a "moo" horn. you can't miss her or the car. She runs a rescue for pot belly pigs...that fact leaves me with a lot more questions than answers...one of which is - How many pot belly pigs are being abandoned that a woman must devote herself to this cause?

Candy being tossed out for kids to gather...

Band music adds to the festivities

Some of the local police department

Rhode Island is issuing a new Plum Beach Lighthouse license plate...so the mascot was in the parade...

Town fire and rescue

The Wickford Yacht Club used a sailboat as a float...the club is where local kids learn to sail on Narragansett Bay...many a regatta is held by the yacht club as well...

Cub Scouts

Boy Scouts

The cast of Alice in Wonderland....a production to be held later this month...

Decorated Farmall tractor

One of two horses in the parade...

A look down the main street at the crowd....

All in all a wonderful parade on a somber day to say Thank you to all who have given of their lives to serve and protect our country and especially to remember and honor those who gave their lives so we remain free.

Elizabeth