Fly like an Eagle ~ at least watching them soar is a benefit of frigid temps!

Winter in northeast Connecticut can be many things.

Recently it has been frigid!

Temps barely into the teens, and lots of times not even that high.

An amazing benefit to day after day of these sub-freezing temps is that as the smaller bodies of non-moving water start to freeze, the faster moving rivers stay open.

The Quinebaug River, running through the middle of Putnam, is one of these rivers. Paired with scenic Cargill Falls, waters remain open when other areas freeze.

Eagles, now members of our  community, must move to the limited open waters in order to eat and survive.

Recently these eagles can be seen often perched in a tree or soaring over the Quinebaug River.

They. Are. Huge! Looks like a person sitting up there in a tree!

What a pleasure! What a treasure!

After a few years of the eagles becoming more common sights in our neighborhood, the best part is that people are still excited to spot them! I hope we never take such sights for granted.

As a team member for The Last Green Valley that participates in the annual mid-winter eagle survey for the state, I'm thinking our chances are good to spot one of these miraculous beauties along our designated area - the Quinebaug River in Putnam.

Learn more about the bald eagle.

Enjoy Steve Miller Band's Fly Like an Eagle - because there is a song for every thought!

Come and Discover Putnam, take a walk, and see the eagles!

Rockin on in Teenage Wasteland - when you are almost 60!

1971.

The Kids are Alright. By the Who.

Where were you?

I was rocking out! Just starting at 11 years old for a full-fledged rock and roll loving diverse music life, from Barry Manilow to Metallica!

The 70's - Tom Petty, Steely Dan, Meatloaf, Styx, Aerosmith, Foreigner, Def Leppard, Billy Joel, Aztec Two-Step, CSN (Crosby/STILLS/Nash), Pink Floyd  - and so many more!

Tonight I sat working away at one of my three jobs, on Main Street in downtown Putnam, next door neighbor to River Bottom Records.

Typing. Concentrating.... then music...  the piano chords sang ... and ..... JAM! Teenage Wasteland!
In 2 notes I named that tune!


I don't need to fight - to prove I'm right!

I am partial to Pete Townshend, but can you name your fav who?


Music takes you away!

Like, seriously - put a few minutes a day into your schedule for good old rockin' roll!

Icy sidewalks make great friendships!

Yesterday we had a bit of the usual winter weather that can happen in New England.

Overnight some icy sleet.

Early morning brought lots of big heavy snow that fell on top.

Being Christmas Day, it sure did make a wonderful white Christmas!

A frigid night followed, and next comes a very slippery day after.

Today as I was treading lightly down Main Street, carefully crossing over icy patches, I noticed a car pulling up.

A passenger door opened, and a little lady with a cane and a pocket book the size of a suit case began to emerge, looking a bit unsure of her footing.

Without thinking I sprang to her side, asked if I could help and took her arm.

Her driver parked, and came out to assist me get her down the slippery section.

He asked me to join them for lunch to repay my kindness. I bowed out, told them to enjoy, and went on my slippery way.

This is a perfect description of every day life in Putnam! Strangers give aid to strangers. People accept help from strangers. Strangers become new friends if only for a moment!

Putnam is a community where acts like this happen often. It is not unusual, and you never know which side of the situation you will be on - the giving or the receiving. How sweet is that?

Everyone feels like George Bailey once in a while - tinsel yourself & carry on!

Quite frankly, even the most chipper and positive people in the world once in a while feel like George Bailey.

The young dreamer.

The responsible soul.

The angry and frustrated moments.

The realizations. 

All I can say is that you are never alone.

Put some tinsel on your head and carry on!

It always gets better, and the world is a wonderful place because of you!

Home Sweet Home - thanks to one artistic Kat!

I love houses!

I love buying houses, and making them mine all mine, then moving on leaving them for someone else to make their own nest.

My home loving comes in all shapes and forms.

Wooden cut outs, birdhouses, pixie homes, elf doors...

Paintings....

 

See that nice red house on the upper right, with the fall tree?

YES - that is the newest to my "house" collection - added tonight. 

Painted by my sweet friend, Kat. 

On the back: "Marcy, dear friend, love Kat."

Kat loves red!

Kat's house is red!

When I see red, I think of Kat and all the fun we've had, all the walks & talks we've had, all the cries we've had - and I can't wait for many more of them. 

If you have a friend even close to as special as my friend Kat, then you had better count yourself in the lucky side of life. 

KPRD + WLT + JG = sunshine in my life, every time!

If you don't live in northeast CT, you may not know what KPRD + WLT + JG are.

Let me fill you in on how no matter when I see them, or what I am doing with them, they bring sunshine into my life. Today, I was shined on by all three!

KPRD = Killingly Parks & Recreation Department.

Recently I had the pleasure to dress up as the red-nosed reindeer for the Town of Killingly's "Frosty's Night Out!" Kids hugged me, I hugged kids, we high-fived, we had photos taken. Inside the costume I smiled from ear to ear, although no one could even see my face. It was sincere pleasure to take part in that community night. With all things that I have done with Tracy & Anthony and the entire KRPD team, it is always a wonderful experience!  

WLT = Wyndham Land Trust.

This group does some of the coolest things each year, like the Summer Solstice Gathering and the Winter Solstice Gathering. Today, the shortest day of the year, we celebrated the Winter Solstice as we generally do, at the Lyon Preserve in Pomfret. It was rather mild today, and with some snow on the ground we found HUGE turkey tracks, and lots of deer tracks. Chit-chat, a warm fire, snacks, hot chocolate, and welcoming smiles were shared. It was hard to get this group to stand still, but what a great shot of some awesome folks!

JG = Jimi G.

Jimi Gothreau is a great guy, well-known and loved throughout northeast CT and beyond. Every single time that I see Jimi G, we have a valuable, sweet, touching, thoughtful conversation. He sees things in life that we can overlook or let slide by without treasuring them.
We've talked about witnessing the port-o-john guy doing his job with sincere pride.
We've seen a new mom bend down to fuss over her new baby in a stroller.
Tonight we talked about a really nice old fellow recently passed that I only knew of, but one that Jimi had the pleasure to have spent some time with.
All in all, we can laugh and be silly, but when it comes down to it, I wish I had more conversations like the ones I have with Jimi G. They are ALWAYS the best.

So now you know the A, B, C's of sunshine in my life! I hope you enjoy much of the same in the things that make you tick!

Main Connections to life ~ Enjoyed at 85 Main

Can you believe that this Putnamaniac has never been in the "Cellar at 85 Main?"

 

Well, live and learn - and explore! What a treasure! Treasures are around every corner, and down stairs, and up stairs, too! Be sure to seek all of them out. Near and far.

My friends from Chase Graphics had their holiday celebration at 85 Main tonight, in "The Cellar at 85 Main"", and I am so happy to have been a part of it. 

Of course, since I got invited to join the Chase Graphics team some years ago, I have found a lot of pleasure in many ways.... 

...the things that I have learned! The people I have met!  The stories that they tell! The laughs we have had... and  their memories over many years - some of these folks have worked together for more than 30 years.... I love to listen to them reminisce!

They are family! We are family!

Imagine sitting around the workplace holiday dinner with your coworkers and the boss telling you that every night as he prays to his parents, he includes his staff, his friends, his family. 

Awesome.

I can compare the Chase family easily to my "tree farm family," since we've been together for 30 years and more ourselves. 

Step away from the every day drama and drag of work to remember how important you all are to each other!

More about Chase Graphics

More about 85 Main

PS - the Ratatouille is DELICIOUS!

This Putnamaniac's Focus is Back and on Kids' Christmas Excitement!

After a few years hiatus - far too many years away from my previous intentional focus on a bit of good every day - this Putnamaniac is back!

It never took long to find an amazing, positive, funny, thoughtful or otherwise good thing to focus on every day. By sitting down to record the experience simply etched it in my mind and reinforced all the good that the world has to offer, particularly here in my community in northeast Connecticut, specifically Putnam.

Three sweet little girls reminded me today that it is vitally important for me to take time again to refocus on the good.

They sat huddled together, playing some kind of silly game on an ipad. Big eyes, curls, ribbons, and even a pink arm cast adorned this trio.

I joined them and squeezed them tightly into the corner of the booth they were enjoying while we "grown-ups" had a meeting at another table in the Courthouse Bar & Grille in downtown Putnam.

Giggles ensued! Success!

The talk of the jolly old elf, Santa himself came up, because of course Christmas is only 6 days away!

While clicking my fingers on the table, I told them to listen carefully for this sound on their roofs in a few nights, because surely it meant the reindeer had arrived with Santa himself!

Suggesting they stay in bed, close their eyes and pretend they were asleep if they heard this racket from the reindeer, one looked me clearly in the eyes and sweetly and innocently said "You can't fool Santa. He knows when you are sleeping, and knows when you're awake."

Of course we then all sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town!"

Nothing is better than a conversation like that.

Nothing!

Season's Greetings to you and may blue skies with flags flying and sweet giggling little girls grace your days!