Mooning is allowed in Putnam!

When was the last time you heard of someone getting mooned?
Did you ever moon anyone?
Have you ever been mooned?


As our country goes though so many crazes, waves and phases, (such as streaking, an L for Loser on the forehead, the "talk to the hand", etc), it is good to know that mooning has never stopped in Putnam.

Check out this fellow, mooning all passersby from the Cargill Mill Antique parking lot!

Antiques, of all media and sizes, are a big part of what Putnam is made of and known for.

Long live the mooners, artists, and shopkeepers in Putnam!

I am a Putnamaniac because mooning (and being immature) has never gone out of style here!

Library + Books = Great Escapes

Putnam is a small town. You can get from end to end and everywhere in between quickly, including the library, which is a quick 1 mile jog away.

After waking up to a dusting of snowy slush, wind howling, and little sun poking through, it is great to have the library so close. Days like this were made for escaping! So on went the sneakers and hat, and I hit the road. Not only did I get a new book, but it warmed  me up, too!

Last night I finished adventuring with Jimmy Buffett. After starting in the Keys, going through the Caribbean, and winding up in Alaska, it is time for a new adventure to begin.

What will today's  new escape be?? I chose "The Almost Moon"  by Alice Sebold, who is better known for the "Lovely Bones". I'll give it a whirl and see where it takes me!

With Thanksgiving coming up, the next pick will be something to do with the Pilgrims adventures. All recommendations are welcome.

I am a Putnamaniac because I can jog down to the library for a new and great escape!

Habitat ReStore is hopping - pass it on!

This summer a gal I know asked me if I'd like to volunteer for Habitat here in Northeast CT. I'd never had the time to do something like this, so I jumped right on it.

Everyone knows that Habitat for Humanity helps provide housing.

Our motto: "Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Connecticut promotes home ownership with volunteers building houses in partnership with residents in need of adequate housing".

There is also a Habitat ReStore located right here in Putnam, on Providence St. It is just about a mile from my home, so I have a nice walk to and from it on the days I volunteer.

As with most places, you get to know your coworkers, frequent customers, and you learn a few more things along the way, as well as having some laughs.

Things are donated to the ReStore by folks just like you and me, or by nearby businesses, such as Lowe's in our case.
Donations include: appliances (stoves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.), furniture, sinks, flooring, tools, light fixtures, doors, windows, cabinets.

The ReStore sells to ANYONE! We are open to the public. Many things are brand new, and many are in various stages of "used". The prices are incredible. You always get a great deal.
Putnam's ReStore is open: Thurs 4-7pm, Fri & Sat 9am-2pm, Sun 10am-2pm

The funds made help to build more affordable local housing.

Encourage people you know that are looking to remodel/redo something to come and see if they can buy that  item for a great deal at the ReStore. On the flip side, get them to donate their old item.

Check out our website: Habitat of Northeast CT

I am a Putnamaniac because I love to walk down and volunteer at the ReStore whenever I can!

Neighbors, clocks, smoke detectors, etc

Do you have great neighbors?

What is the description of a great neighbor to you?

I knew I was lucky the day I moved into my condo.

There are 2 units in my building. We are side-by-each, as they say in Woonsocket, RI and such French Canadian places.

My neighbor came over with a loaf of pumpkin bread the day I moved in. The neighbors are an elderly mom and her not quite as elderly daughter. They do favors for me, watch out for me, let me know if something is going on so I don't miss out on anything, and yet they give me my space. They are a perfect neighbor for me.

As neighbors, we have a few spoken and unspoken deals.

Things such as our unspoken, informal flower swap is a great surprise when you are the recipient of a nice bouquet of posies. It is equally nice when you are the giver and see the smiles you created.

Spoken deals include that each fall, on the "fall back" weekend, I change both of our smoke detector batteries. Since we are united under the same roof, we need to take care of each other this way.

If you have an elderly, disabled, or even really short neighbor, please go lend them a helping hand in changing their batteries. Don't forget to do yours either. They do the trick in saving lots of lives.

I am a Putnamaniac on "fall back" weekend while changing the smoke detector batteries!

Christmas lights are lit in the Rotary Park trees!

Yippy!! The Christmas lights are lit in the Rotary Park trees!

Driving through Putnam tonight you couldn't miss the sparkling white lights perched high up in the trees in Rotary Park. This means that soon Thanksgiving will be here, Santa will be flying across the waterfall by WINY, holiday music will be playing on the speakers in the streets downtown... and the Holiday Dazzle Parade will be here! I've never gotten to see it before, due to work, but I'm hoping to see it this year!

Putnam is so beautiful all year long. As the fall descends on us, and even with the bitter cold of winter peaking around the corner, Putnam shines and brings warmth to me.

I am a Putnamaniac because even the Christmas lights in the trees in Rotary Park get me excited!

The Little River is just that, but spectacular none the less.

The Little River is in my backyard. It is so nice to hear it laying in bed at night, and so pretty to see it every morning when I wake up. The wildlife sightings are amazing!

This section pictured of the Little River runs under the small bridge on Recreation Park Drive (aptly named as all the town ball fields and soccer fields are located there). I drive over this bridge often, and jog over it even more often. A heron is in the river fishing often as well. One morning Mr. Heron was standing in the middle of the road as I jogged down the hill. He was as tall as I was, and I was hoping I didn't look like a gigantic fish for him to eat! (Like the time on Gilligan's Island when Leo the Lion was looking at the castaways like they were pork chops, lamb chops, etc). 

The Little River is gorgeous in every season!  I will remember to take a snowy picture when that next season arrives (but lets not push the fall out of here yet. The leaves are already gone).

I am a Putnamaniac because I love the Little River as much as the heron and other wildlife do, too!

Manny (as in Mannequin) the Cop!

Putnam is one of the only small towns in Northeast CT with its own police department. (Most other small towns have only a "Resident" State Trooper).

The Putnam police are a fine bunch. They are a part of the community, do a great job without being overbearing, are polite, and are a great presence here in town. Having grown up the daughter of a police officer, I am not always open minded to cops and their intentions. But, as I see it in Putnam, they are good guys.

The most popular guy on the force is Manny. He is a mannequin, who sits parked in a different location every day, just to keep us motorists on our toes. I know he is there, as does everyone who lives around here, however he never fails to slow us down. Occasionally a live officer may be in the car, and no one likes getting a ticket.

Manny is so popular, that a mini-Manny and mini-police car were part of the local scarecrow contest in town. Check out the mini-Manny and the real Manny.

I am a Putnamaniac because we have great cops, including Manny!