The Best Clam Shack

Once a year we head to Mystic Connecticut to have the best fried clams in New England. The Sea Swirl has won many many awards for being the best clam shack around. We have been making this trek for years...it would not be summer without fried clams from this treasure chest! Don't you just love the sign...a fish holding an ice cream cone...lucky fish...lucky us for discovering this place!


Cars from all over pack in on both sides of the shack...there are picnic tables to dine at and in the background you can see a covered pavilion with rows of tables underneath for more dining.

The sign says it all...
These are the golden nuggets we travel for...we get one dinner that includes the fried whole belly clams, french fries (sprinkled with vinegar), cole slaw and tartar sauce...we add a side of just whole belly clams (and extra tartar sauce please)and then we dig in! YUM!!!!! The side of clams come in a paper bag...I feel like I have entered clam heaven when I open that bag...a booty of clams in a bag...it doesn't get better than that!
The dinner menu...they had oysters that day as well...tough decision because oysters are so good too...but had to stick to tradition and get the clams. We may have to return for another go at the menu...let's face it the summer is still young!
People lining up to order and pick up their orders...once you order, they give you a number. When your dinner is ready they call out the number and you just pick up your bounty from the ocean and dig in...they also have ice cream for dessert if you have room...everyone here has a smile on their face...
If you are ever in the area make a point of stopping here...you will not be disappointed...we promise!

Fun Website

Good Morning!!!!!

Found this new addictive website...www.polyvore.com

You can create all sorts of collages and it is fun and very very addictive. Give it a try...you won't be able to stop making new collages...

Enjoy,

Elizabeth

Good Morning

Independence Day 2008

Every year we have our 4th of July celebration on the pond...we put new flags out in all the flag holders and on the pole...we place pots and hangers of flowers about and spruce up the island for our family party. This year about 50 people came from all over to celebrate...we have the traditional grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with sides of potato salad, pasta salad, homemade baked beans, munchies, dips, and of course lots of homemade desserts...brownies, cookies, cupcakes, blueberry slab pie and fresh strawberry shortcake. Everyone pitches in to cook and clean up...it is a group effort! Below are the strawberries ready to be cleaned and sliced to sit in a little sugar the day before the 4th to make a nice syrup.

Fresh from scratch shortcakes just out of the oven and ready to go in...YUM!

Different size life jackets hung on the line ready for anyone boating or the little ones swimming in the pond...I call this picture "SUMMER COLORS"

Floats lined up and ready to enter the water!

Bob washing up at the new pump...we have no running water so all the water is pumped from the well for use on the island.

Taylor and Alexis swimming in the pond...they jumped in the water when they got here and rarely got out of the water...these kids are little water bugs!
Cousins fishing for sunfish...

Randy the experienced fisherman supervising his sister and cousin....

The newest family member...Olivia with Aunt Whitney

Family enjoying a summer meal

Lots of talk and good times being shared

Emily found a comfortable spot to take a little nap...she climbed up onto the dressing room bench and covered up with a towel when she got tired...Smart Kid!Once the bonfire got going everyone got in position for the fireworks show! We had our own show with over seventy different shots and then a grand finale that was the best ever...the show was put on by the men in the family organized and lead by Ray.
The show goes on with patriotic music and songs playing...
Getting ready for another round of sky high explosives....
After our show the Pond Association put on a fireworks show that was fabulous...we all turned our chairs around and watched another 20 minutes of some of the most beautiful fireworks we have ever seen...enhanced by our flagpole and torches blazing....
What a wonderful day and evening we had...good food, good times and good company...this is exactly the way a family should celebrated our country's independence...we are blessed to all be together to do it just this way...

Elizabeth

Always Something New Even If It Is Old

A couple of Saturdays ago we went to the Mt Hope Farm Garden Antiques Show in Bristol Rhode Island. There were about 40 dealers with all sorts of great things...statuary, planters, china, silver, linens, all kinds of smalls, garden patio sets, prints, and so much more. This is my husband, first in line to get into the tent...we attended the early buyers event so we would be sure to see everything the dealers were offering.

More folks awaiting the opening of the show.
A few examples outside the tent. One dealer has some wonderful chairs...nothing we could use but I certainly admired them. It was a set of four heavy slated chairs with metal arms and legs...wide seats and backs. What made them remarkable was the back of each chair had a bronze polo player on a horse....these chairs were breath taking...never saw anything like them. There were pricey but if I was into polo I would have to give them a second thought...I can see them belonging to Ralph Lauren! She also had a wonderful zinc table with four chairs in a woven pattern...I really could have owned that set for sure. She said she would be at the antiques show in the Hamptons in July...so who knows?! We plan to take the ferry over from Connecticut and attend that show...hope to see her there.

Lots of patio sets outside. In this corner were two dealers with some wonderful things. We fell in love with a pair of granite planters...and ended up buying them. They are a very plain set with a few thin line carvings for eye appeal...age about 1880's. They are very very nice.

Here is Bob and the dealer wheeling our new planter out of the tent.

My husband and the dealer loading one of these incredibly heavy granite planters into the back of the van.

All loaded and ready for the next one.Below is a bouquet I picked this weekend and wanted to share it...day lilies and catmint for color and coral bell, hosta, lily leaves and ferns for filler and eye appeal...I think it is simply beautiful...going through the garden and finding this assortment was a pleasure.
Wanted to share this rhododendron border with you...we discovered it a few weeks ago. This is on a road we travel all the time and you would never know this treasure is here...as it is always just a huge green privacy hedge for the house behind it. But once a year it gives everyone a glorious gift of color.

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!

Hope you have a great day....

Elizabeth

Antiques and Decoratives in the Garden

I have always felt if you plant but one seed you are a serious gardener...it takes a special person to trust and hope in that one seed so how can you not be a gardener. Over the years we all develop our skills and want to make our gardens more than just flowers or shrubs or vegetables...it seems to just happen a little something it tucked into a space for added eye appeal. If you are like me your taste develops and the old items have a charm that no new item can ever have...of course there are some wonderful reproductions today and they to have their place...we love to go to antique shows and shops and pick up items for the house and garden...below are some photos of our finds for outside. It is impossible to show everything today..so here is a sample of the things we love...Below is an old cement pedestal with a nice armillary atop...it adds such nice height next to a very old Casablanca Oriental Lily...also in this bed is a wonderful terra cotta Wolff pottery forcer, the top is removable.This is a little composition robin that sits on a slender stake amongst the hosta and boxwood.
The antique fencing that surrounds the raised beds is actually from a cast off from the Providence Union Train Station. This turn of the century fencing was found at an antique shop. I had initially just expected to have picket fencing but this fence was a something my husband fell in love with...We had it delivered and the installed...it is extremely heavy but adds so much beauty to the garden...it truly makes the bones of our garden very elegant. My husband bought the antique millstones that are at the two entrances of the garden for me as an anniversary gift one year. I knew we needed something different and these two stones fit the bill! I love them so much...they are perfect!
This is a new cast iron urn but it definitely looks old as it is a good quality. Planted with dark colors it had a nice look in front of the half lap lattice panels.

Below is a wonderful faux bois planter we found at an antique show at Blithewold in Bristol two years ago. The coral bells look nice inside.
We found a pair of these great green and white strapped aluminum chairs at an antique shop...I love the green and the style of the chair. The little two tier wire table has a carry handle and the original turquoise paint. Amongst the peony is a stone face that watches over the garden...to the right is a small marble angel from France.
This old cement bench is tucked under a pine.
A nice view of the storage shed. The stone step comes from Rudy's in Connecticut. If you ever get a chance to visit Rudy's do it! There are so many architectural treasures there...old chicken coops of doors, windows, hardware, sinks, just about anything you could hope to find. All organized...if you get a chance to visit the stone yard down the road by a cow farm don't pass up that opportunity. Rudy sent us down there and we entered through a cow gate that must be closed behind you (a sign points this out). Once you start walking through the old stone steps, the grand stone pillars and columns and old pieces of granite you can't help but be in awe. We never wanted to leave...there is so much beauty in these fields...

This is an old terra cotta Roseville two handled pot...looks nice tucked here.
This is an old cast iron grape vine pattern bench. We have another one opposite to mirror it on the other side of the garden. This bench came from my father who received it from his aunt. This is a common pattern but is a very cherished piece to use. Next to the bench are a pair of old cement urns. if you look closely next to one urn is an old antique cement apple.
In front of the vintage trellis covered in Betty Corning clematis is an old birdbath. Around the top edge of the birdbath is a sundial. Nice piece! On the ground below is an old duck...he is deteriorating but still has alot of life left in him!
This is a photo of the sundial top of the birdbath.This is a glimpse of the garden just as summer is to starts soon...looking back at the spring photos...my garden does grow!
I am so fortunate to have this lovely garden by the pond...

Elizabeth