Love is in the air...

Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound 

Are you old enough to remember this blast from the past??  

Click here to see Love is in the Air on youtube.

And click here to see an unusual Tom Jones "disco" version of the song - good fun!

If you are wondering how I know that love is in the air, it is because two great Putnamaniacs are getting married tomorrow in the beautiful Putnam Congregational Church. 

I will be there smiling and crying with joy all at the same time. When love is in the air like that, it really extracts my emotions and gets them all jumbled up into a big wad of love. 

I know relationships, marriage, and living with others is not always as easy as it looks, and it takes a lot of hard work, patience, communication, etc, etc, etc.... Ups and downs, smooth times and bumpy times...

This is why I have opted for the bachelorette life for most of my adult life. I could never figure out the proper operating procedures to enter into and maintain any sort of "relationshiphood".  I have filled my life wonderfully with other things along the way.

However, that does not mean that I don't have a ton of respect (and sometimes even envy) for the folks that stick through all the crap that can go along with lifetime partnerships. I love to see couples that have been together forever enjoying themselves and having a good time. Priceless. I can only imagine all the memories, good times, comfort, intimacy, and fun that could amass over time for a couple that figures it all out. 

So, tomorrow, I will witness one of those couples tie the knot. They are great people, and they are both smart enough to know that the other is a keeper! 

Did you pick a keeper? I sure hope so, and if you still haven't found your "keeper", do not settle for someone unless they measure up.

I am a Putnamaniac because Love is in the Air!

O'Putnam 5k is almost here!

I am so excited about this coming Sunday's O'Putnam 5k right here in Putnamania!

I know it will take me at least 30 minutes to do it, which is nothing to brag about and not exciting at all.

However I think Putnam itself surely is something to brag about, and that is why I am excited!

How great is it that a local business, The Courthouse, which also offers delicious food, went to bat and got this race delivered to Putnamania!

Costumes are encouraged! I already have a green sweatshirt decorated, since I am a Putnamaniac, and I also have a fabulous headband ready to sit atop my head!

I even made some stickers to pass out if any of my fellow Putnamaniacs want to adorn themselves.

Sign up for the race, come and watch, or just come and spend the afternoon in Putnamania!

I am a Putnamaniac because the 1st ever O'Putnam 5k is almost here!

My generous neighbor, Larry "Legs"

So you might think with a name like Larry "Legs" my neighbor is part of some big crime family in Putnamania!

Hahahaaaa! Nope - this is not true at all. "Legs" is my nickname for Larry. When I first moved into our condo development, Larry was always out walking, so when he introduced himself, I mentally named him "Legs" so I would have the association of the Ls. I hoped it would help me remember his true name, Larry. That little word association trick worked just fine, and it has many times over my years.

The one thing I did not know about Larry "Legs" is how generous he is.

Since we have done a few food drives here at our condos, Larry "Legs" has been one of the biggest contributors. Many times I come home from work to a box or 2 or 3 or more full of product to deliver to our local food bank, The Daily Bread. Last night was one of those nights, so I just made another delivery to the food bank tonight!

Larry "Legs" works for Pastene, and he contributes not only items that the Daily Bread can use to fill their visitors bags, but he also donates in quantity so a meal can be made in their kitchen, which they serve weekly.

How can you not love this?

If your restaurant or store wants to buy Pastene, let me know, and I will introduce you to Larry!

I am a Putnamaniac because I have a generous neighbor, Larry "Legs"!

Maple Sugaring is a sure sign of spring in New England!

I love spring for a million reasons, and one of the reasons is that I get to see all the buckets in the woods attached to the maple trees, gathering sap for maple syrup!

I spotted this get up last year while out jogging, and I could even hear the sap gurgling through the system! I was so amazed that I took my camera and went back to get this shot!

This year, The Last Green Valley is offering a great maple sugaring tour to members (membership is DIRT CHEAP! Since I am pretty cheap myself, and I think it is well worth it, so you know that means it really is well worth it)!

Slated for March 10th, the maple sugaring program begins in the sugar bush that host Steve has spent years carefully nurturing and developing. Here he will explain the biology of maple sugar trees and how to tap them for optimal production. We will walk to the sugar house to learn how the sap is boiled down to make syrup. The program is followed by a sampling of fresh, warm syrup on ice cream. Please contact Bill Reid for additional information and to sign up for the program: 860-774-3300 or Bill@tlgv.org. 

I hope I see you at the Maple Sugar tour!

I am a Putnamaniac because The Last Green Valley also welcomes in spring with a Maple Sugaring Program!

I "heart" Putnamania, starting every morning!

As I was getting ready for work this morning, making the bed, combing hair, brushing teeth... I spotted this on my wall:

That is how much I love Putnamania.... Hearts appear on my bedroom wall in the morning!

Actually, it was a shadow cast by a stained glass heart (that my talented cousin helped me make years ago) that hangs in my bedroom window and reminds me of all that I love.

Any way you slice it, it was a beautiful sight to start the day!

I am a Putnamaniac because hearts and love start every day!

Roll up the sidewalks and shut off the stop lights!

Last night I was headed back home from a fun night in Hartford.

Since I am not a night owl, it was late for me, rolling into town at 10:30pm.

As I drove through Brooklyn, and then into Putanamania, I realized that it now seems normal for me to see the traffic lights not in regular operation, but all just flashing after a certain time of night. One way flashes yellow, and the other side flashes red. Since there is such a small amount of traffic at night, people are allowed to use their own judgement on the "red" side and may proceed with caution after stopping - just like at a stop sign.

When I first moved to Northeast CT, I was amazed by this phenomenon, but now I find it endearing. Another small town comfort. I had never lived where this sort of thing happened!

And although we don't literally roll up the sidewalks at night in Putnamania, figuratively we do!

I am a Putnamaniac because we roll up the sidewalks at night and shut off the stop lights!

I love a good white coat!

Driving home into Putnamania this evening, with some light still in the sky, it struck me at how comforting a nice white layer of snow on the ground can be.

Although I am not a fan of winter or the cold, and in particular the sloppy weather that can accompany this season, it is beautiful to see it when you really just take a look.

That feeling struck me so strongly this evening, at dusk, in my home sweet home of Putnamania.

This is the sight I woke to last week on another recent overnight snowfall.

Take a look at at your beautiful surroundings often, and really see them. You will appreciate the scenes all over again!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves a good white coat on my town!