Fat squirrel almost got stuck in the chain link fence - no lie!

Honest to goodness I thought this fat little squirrel was going to get stuck in the chain link fence the other morning! He was the fattest I have ever seen - or maybe it was just that he looked fat with his chain link belt girdling his belly - and I was oh so close to him!

(This is of course not the real squirrel I saw, since I didn't have my camera while jogging)

Setting: Early morning in Putnamania.

Act 1: He was running across the ball field....heading towards the fence.

Act 2: I was running around the corner and towards the same spot he was headed.

Act 3: Look of panic as fat squirrel realizes he is stuck in the fence and might get stuck forever (or at least till he loses a pound) with me right there to witness.

Act 4: Fat squirrel gives a final desperate heave and blasts through the fence - like something you might see in a Road Runner and Coyote cartoon.

Act 5: I laugh my fanny off while jogging down the street at 6am.

Lesson learned: It is always worth doing what you don't always want to do (like get up and jog at 5:45am) - you always get something out of life if you look around and appreciate it.

I am a Putnamaniac because I always see something to enjoy around town - even ridiculously fat squirrels!

Cat appeared in a window of a house that is once again a home ~ Inspiring!

There is a house down the road.

I don't know its story, but it sat empty and unattended for quite some time... although there was never a "for sale" sign on it, clearly it yearned for someone to live in it once again.

Good news! This house recently was sold and the new owners are moving in!

How nice to see life in that place again!

A recent glimpse made me particularly happy, as a white cat sat in the front window.

(Note that this is not the cat nor the house I mention...but it reflects the scene I happily viewed).

Houses are built to be homes, for people and their pets.

Thank goodness this once empty house is now a happy home.

If you are looking for a new home, Putnam has many great places, and I know a few great realtors that you can trust to help you in your search.

I am a Putnamaniac because a once empty house is now a home once again!

Invention needed - for inground sprinklers!

Did you ever notice that inground sprinklers seem to be set on timers and work just fine.

Great!

However, if it has rained 3 inches the day before, don't you think that the inground sprinkler system shouldn't really be needed for maybe the next couple of days?...

Wouldn't it be great if someone could invent an inground sprinkler system that sensed when it needed to turn on? So much more efficient! So much less waste!

Quick, someone smarter than me get on this! And if you already invented it, let my neighbors know!

I am a Putnamaniac that knows smart enough people to come up with this much needed invention!

Unplug - unplug it all

Recently I was at a seminar - there was this pretty obnoxious speaker, but he made one quick small point that I agreed with.

He mentioned that with email, cell phones, Ipods, etc, we were always plugged in to something.

More and more we don't spend  time with our own thoughts, to just to think things out.

That is why I do enjoy a little "me time".

For me, this "me time" is jogging. Just me and the street. Time to think about what to accomplish this day, this week, this month. Time to work through any problems. Time to smell the lilies of the valleys. Time to say hi to that kid walking to school...

I hope you take a bit of time every now and then to unplug and spend some "you time". It is well worth it, and so are you!

I am a Putnamaniac that likes to unplug to recharge my own personal batteries ~ and Putnam is just the place to do it!

Smith & Associates make me wish I owned my own little business!

I have always had a dream business...

It would be a destination - a place that you just had to go visit...

A place on a river or pond or lake...

With lots of gardens and landscapes that look picturesque even in winter...

A cozy, big, open welcoming bed and breakfasty sort of place inside, with lots of  nooks and big open areas for visiting & relaxing, entertainment of all varieties.

Unique memorable weddings & gatherings would be held there. 

There would be a room with an old fashioned Mom & Pop type store set up with irresistible items to buy.

Perfect!!!

Today I attended the grand opening of Smith & Associate Showroom, located at  The River Mill Business Center, Tower/Building 3, Floor 2, 929 Riverside Drive, North Grosvenordale, CT.

Tim Smith, owner, brains and braun behind Smith & Associates/The Farmer's Plate has a great selection of items that would go perfectly in my dream business. 

If you have or know of someone with a specialty shop that would like to offer fine & unique product, I urge you to touch base with Tim. He is a no nonsense, but fun loving businessman that knows how to get the job done. His product selection will help you rise above your competition.  Call Tim in his fine showroom at 860-924-1452.

Take one more positive step in succeeding!

I am a Putnamaniac because I have some great connections here in NECT, like Tim Smith of Smith & Associates!

 

She does work out - all the live long day at Fort Hill Farms!

A coworker recently saw this article about Fort Hill Farms in the Norwich Bulletin Newspaper (read the article here). 

He knows I am friendly with the gals that own Fort Hill Farms. (I actually love them)!

After seeing Farmer extraordinaire Kristin's picture, he asked me if she "worked out" since she was in such good shape and had such good muscles.

I told him, she works OUT alright... she works out all the live long day - from early in the morning until late into the evening on their beautiful piece of peaceful property. She lives life the good old fashioned way that it was meant to be done ~ along with the earth.

If  you have never visited, head over to Fort Hill Farms, 260 Quaddick Rd, Thompson, CT. 

I am a Putnamaniac because I am lucky enough to live just about 7 miles away from Fort Hill Farms, and like to treat myself to their Farmer's Cow Ice Cream every Saturday that I can!

What a difference a day makes with Mother Nature!

What a difference a day makes.... 24 little hours...

Check out this classic song by Dinah Washington. 

And Cher's version.

Look at Rod Stewart's take on the song. 

This song was looping in my brain the other day when I was thinking of how Mother Nature can make quite a difference in 24 hours, 24 minutes, and sometimes 24 seconds!

 

We are at Mother Nature's mercy - and she knows it! 

Haven't we all experienced crazy weather changes seemingly out of the blue?

One of our favorite sayings in New England is "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute."

Ain't that the truth!

I am a Putnamaniac because I love that a day can make such a difference with Mother Nature!