Sunday, March 30, 2014

The wall of fame/shame - brings smiles, tears, memories....

In the homes I've owned, I love to have family and friend pictures.... everywhere!

Whenever family and friends visit, they love to check them out and reminisce of days of old.

This photo gallery has been dubbed the "Hall/Wall of Fame/Shame" forever.

In our new home, the Hall/Wall Fame/Shame continues, and it is still growing.


Although we bought the house in September of last year, my hubby is still unpacking... believe it or not....

He is a self admitted bad mover, and he does not get the pleasure out of making goals and completing them quite like I do. So, he recently came upon a box of pictures, including lots of fishing trips with his dad, Bob-Bob. Sadly, Bob-Bob passed away almost a year ago now, so it was very emotional to see the pictures. My hubs misses his dad every day. Up went to the new filled frames to the Hall/Wall. 

Lots of people that are not physically with us now are present on this Hall/Wall. We still get to see them every single day, and it reminds us that they are always with us, especially in making us each a part of what and who we are today. Treasure it!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves our Hall/Wall of Fame/Shame and all the folks in our lives that make it possible!



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Accidentally checking out your own brother! (Well, he is a cutie pie)

As I walked home from work tonight, or since it was so windy, I should say, as I was pushed home from work tonight, lots of cars passed by.

One fellow traveler reminded me a bit of my brother, Si.

That reminded me of the time I was driving somewhere some years back, and passed 4 handsome young men getting out of a car.

Since they were handsome, I was looking!

As I looked a bit closer, I realized one was my very own younger brother, Si!

Here is a picture of Si and his honey at a family party last spring

His friends noticed a passing girl was checking them out - imagine how funny they thought it was when Si told them. "hey, that is my sister"!

I don't care one bit. My little brother is not only a cutie pie, he is a good guy, a hard worker, and has a big & generous heart.

You would have checked him out, too!

I am a Putnamaniac that is not afraid to admit I checked out my own cute brother!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Get a new chop at The Shop! Carla is my favorite!

I'm still so pleased with the great spot in town I found to cut my hair. I'd never really found anyone since I moved out of RI and into CT years ago and left my long time trimmer, Cindy, behind.

I have even gotten compliments lately on my hair - that hasn't happened often in almost all of my 50+ years!

This may be due to the fact that when I was a kid, my mom would cut my hair, and it took quite a few swipes to get the bangs straight. In fact, sometimes she almost ran out of bangs and forehead before they were straight.

In later years, I've also been known to cut my own bangs... a lot... and although I did not go quite as high as my momma did, they sure came out "interesting" at times. Once I even cut about 6 inches off the back of my hair by making a ponytail and cutting. After the first squeeze of the scissors, I wondered if I might be making a mistake. It came out ok, but it sure is a lot easier to plunk your seat into a seat and have a pro do the job.

I highly recommend The Shop, located at 297 School St (Rt 44) in Putnam. They have great hours, including even Sunday hours! Convenient.



Personally I was lucky enough to have Carla clip me, and she is great. She listens to what you want done, and then does just that.

If you are not happy with the results of your hair appointments recently, call The Shop at 860-928-3321. Give them a try! The service and pricing are great! (My cut is $17, and as far as I can see, you can't beat that).

I am a Putnamaniac that loves getting my hair done at The Shop!




Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Walking home from work through downtown Putnam when you are hungry... WOW! Sensory overload!

After worked I took a few extra steps and visited the best library ever, Putnam Library.

Since I finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry last night, after putting it off for quite a few nights, because quite frankly, I did not want it to end, and I knew it would make me cry (it did), I needed a new read.

On the walk home it felt so mild compared to most days lately. No wind, lots of sun, and temps in the mid 30's. Wow ~ imagine that mid 30's feels so good!

Along with the sunshine and beautiful architecture in downtown Putnam, mouth watering smells emanated...  my mouth was watering!

 Here is a shot of the back side, or patio side of Jessica Tuesdays and The Crossing, taken from South Main Street

So many great restaurants, right in a 2 block area! I passed The Courthouse Bar & Grille, Nikki's Dog House, Victoria Station, 85 Main, Bella's Bistro, The Crossings, Someplace Special, and Jessica Tuesdays.

Note that none of these are your run of the mill fast food joints. Each features their own styles and specialties. There is something for everyone within yards of each other. The cost is comparable to your fast food joints, and the quality is a gazillion times better.

Come to Putnam ~ Eat up!

You will be satisfied and compelled to return... again and again and again.

I am a Putnamaniac that loves the smells and tastes of Putnamania's finest! 





Monday, March 17, 2014

Timely toots!

When you read or hear "timely toots", different things may come to your mind...

Come on now, we all now what one meaning of "toot" is! 

However, what I mean by "timely toots" is when you are out walking, jogging, or propelling yourself around town using another means of transportation that is not a four wheeled gas and/or electric powered vehicle, and you get a friendly "honk, honk, toot, toot" from those aforementioned vehicles.



Sometimes on foot (or bike) you are dogging it and yet so close to home, or facing an uphill battle with a tough hill, just wondering if you can do it... and there goes an old pal in their car, with a timely "toot"!

Those little toots help us out a lot!

Don't be shy when you see your pals, or even strangers out walking, jogging, biking. Lay a friendly and timely "toot" on your horn. A big smile and wave out the window is a big boost, too! You will see an increase in the step and pace of those you grace with your toots! We will hope to be able to gladly repay the favor, and send out a timely toot to you someday, too!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves a timely toot!



Friday, March 14, 2014

Free beans freebees from the Putnam Pitch league!!! SOLD!!!

I love beans!

I love free food!

The addition equals up to the clear answer that I would certainly love free beans!

 These are not the actual Putnam Pitch League beanie leftovers, but what the heck, beans are beans. You get the picture!

My day dreams have been filled with memories of the leftover beans brought in by one of my sweet and generous coworkers recently ~ and now since long gone down our hungry throats.

It seems that the weekly Putnam Pitch League has dinners every few weeks, and I was lucky enough to be one of the beneficiaries of their bean leftovers! Oh, the way to a girl's heart!

So, when you are naming beneficiaries to your leftovers, especially the veggie or beanie variety, think of naming this Putnamaniac as a primary!

I am a Putnamaniac that loved the free bean freebees from my pal in the Putnam Pitch League!


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The LIKELY Pilgrimage of this Putnamaniac!

Currently I am enjoying the book "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry".

It is captivating, makes you think, makes you happy, sad, hopeful, reflective...

The end is sure to be a tear jerker, no matter the outcome.

That is to my liking.

It also makes me think of my pilgrimage in life.

My pilgrimage led me searching for not only a house and job, but a home and a community.

I searched gangbusters over the years, and although I loved all the homes I owned, all the neighborhoods and states I lived in, all the jobs I tried (some very long term and some short term), I feel like my pilgrimage has finally led me to where I should be.

Putnam ~ aka Putnamania to some of  us!

 My friend Seth and I give Putnam the thumbs up!

It does not take much to give me joy in life, and I don't like to ask of others. However the things that make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world every day are the little things; like having your friend blow you a kiss when she drives by you on your walk home from work, like having a hard working volunteer shout a hearty hello to you as you pass each other on the street, like hugging another girlfriend in the vegetable aisle of the grocery store, like walking into your house and smelling fresh flowers....

A pilgrimage is well worth it. Look and you shall find what you seek.

I love where I live!

I am a Putnamaniac that is happy to have made my pilgrimage to Putnamania!





Sunday, March 9, 2014

'Tis the wearing o' the GREEN!

March always marches in with some inconsistent weather, daylight savings time, and St. Patrick's Day!

There are corned beef and cabbage dinners, bulbs fighting up towards the sun from under the frozen, snowy earth, and some fun road races where everyone sports their Irish colors!


Along with all of these things, my holiday trees do a little wearing o' the green themselves!


Don't ya just love to decorate life?

I do!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves the wearing o' the green! 


 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Can you smell this?????

Today I walked into the warm and cozy home sweet home from the still frigid and seemingly endless winter.

Smell hit me in the face!

The fresh and sweet smell of spring! Can you smell it?

Ok, so the bulbs I planted in our yard last year in the fall (when we bought our home sweet home) are still buried under lots of snow, but this little explosion of beauty is on stage! Thank goodness for the chance at some springtime before it is actually here!

Hold on folks. We are slowly but surely getting closer to spring every moment.

I am a Putnamaniac that loved to come home and smell spring in the house!


 


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Rationalization ~ it works for me!

If you looked very closely, my middle name is perhaps "Rationalizer" instead of Beth on my birth certificate.

If you look up the definition of the word "rationalize", you get this:

ra·tio·nal·ize

verb \ˈrash-nə-ˌlīz, ˈra-shə-nə-ˌlīz\ : to think about or describe something (such as bad behavior) in a way that explains it and makes it seem proper, more attractive, etc.

Well, heck yeah! Why wouldn't you do that?

It is the phrase "turn that frown upside down" in a nutshell.

That is how I choose to look at most things...

I realize that I am not the brightest bulb in the pack, but I sure do try my hardest at every stinking thing I do.... Effort is something I am good at! I choose to put effort into making everything look more attractive. Attractive is so much better than not attractive.


Give it a try. It is something you must work at, but like all habits, it can grow on you ~ for the best!

I am a Putnamaniac that can rationalize all things to the good and positive!



Sunday, March 2, 2014

Not as quite an Odd Couple as you'd think! You still have time to visit the Bradley Playhouse and decide for yourself!

A great visit took place this afternoon to the remodeled Bradley Playhouse in downtown Putnam by a not quite so odd triumvirate.

On stage; The Bradley's latest production ~ The Odd Couple, Female Version.


In the audience, a full bellied threesome (my neighbor, my hubby, and myself), after having enjoyed a delicious pre-show lunch at 85 Main, laughed off the worries and troubles of the world.

The good news is that there are 3 more shows left, so you, too, can enjoy this not quite so odd couple at the Bradley!

Tickets are still available for next Friday (3/7/14) and Saturday (3/8/14) nights at 7:30pm, and Sunday (3/9/14) afternoon at 2pm. Call the Bradley for tickets at (860) 928-7887, or order online here.

Odds are that you will have a GREAT TIME!

You can also "like" the Bradley Playhouse on facebook and keep up to date with all the show information.

I am a Putnamaniac that loves my odds of having a great time at the Bradley Playhouse!




Saturday, March 1, 2014

Sidewalks tell a lot ~ especially about my friends!

Sidewalks tell a lot about the folks that live in and own the property that borders them.

This is especially true in the snowy wintertime.

I had a walking date with my friend Kat this morning.

As I jogged down the hill to her house, this is what I was welcomed with:


.... a nice clear and safe sidewalk. You can see the comparison and contrast of the opposite sort of sidewalk just next door.

This tells me my friend, as I already knew, always does the right and responsible thing. My friends are like that. They get up and do what you gotta do.

I am pretty happy to be so picky about my friends. They expect a lot out of themselves, they take care of their families, they give back to the community.

The simple things in life sure do make it a good one if you choose that path.

I am a Putnamaniac that knows that sidewalks can tell a lot about people!