Welcomes are everywhere!

Hello and welcome to Northeast CT!

On one of my routes to work, I pass this little gate.

I love it.

It expresses my love for Putnam and Northeast CT in general.

Everyone is welcome ~ everywhere!

Enjoy the sights along your routine routes.

I am a Putnamaniac because I love the welcomes that are everywhere in Northeast CT!

Mother Nature trumps all...

All we can ever do is prepare for what Mother Nature will throw our way, then hunker down and let her rip.

In New England, in general, we are rather "safe" from Mother Nature's wrath, and don't experience the drastic earthquakes, landslides, tornadoes that other areas do.

The best of Mother Nature, or should I say, the worst of Mother Nature that we get is a hurricane or a Northeaster. Occasionally we get a real dandy that people talk about forever.

It seems like Ms. Sandy was threatening as such a big event, with most danger and disaster to come along the coastline, this due to the storm water surges paired with very high full moon tides.

A big event that tore through Putnam is the flood of 1955. There are pictures throughout Putnam on the subject, and folks still tell the tales. Click Here for a great old video on the flood. 

Good luck, hearty New Englanders. Get your cameras out and store up your memories. We are the folks that will be telling the story of Sandy years from now.

I am a Putnamaniac because I respect the fact that Mother Nature trumps all!

After the storm, relax with some Blackstone Valley Bluegrass at the Bradley Theater!

After Hurricane Sandy, you will need some R&R.

This coming Saturday, November 3rd, the Bradley Theater is hosting a great night of entertainment.

Ultra talented and fun quartet, the Blackstone Valley Bluegrass, will be playing.

The pleasure has been mine to hear them live a few times, as well as at home, where they entertain me quite often. Simply put, THEY ARE FANTASTIC! (You will notice they are all also quite cute and charming)!

The tickets are unbelievably priced at $14. There is no way to beat that price, and you will get a big bang for those bucks. You will probably become a huge fan of this local talent just as so many have.

Ticket info:
Tickets are available at Victoria Station Café or Wonderland Books on Main Street; On-line at www.the bradleyplayhouse.org; by calling 860-928-7887 or at the door. Tickets are $14.00 with a special discount for Bradley Season Ticket holders who may purchase tickets for $10.00 at the door.

I got my two tickets long ago, for me and my best bud, who are big fans of the Blackstone Valley Bluegrass! 

Will I see you there, tapping your toes and smiling? I hope so!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves and can't wait to see the Blackstone Valley Bluegrass on Saturday night, Nov 3, 2012, at the Bradley Theater!

Hello Mudda....I love you. Not only my momma, but all the mommas out there!

I am not a Mother, and although that is how things have worked out and I accept that it is what it is, I know that I have missed out on so many experiences that most others have gone through ~ good times and not so good times.

Recently my friends mother/grandmother passed away. She was an all around fun and wonderful person, and I stress the word fun, since all my memories are of silly and fun stories. Isn't that great, to have nothing but great memories to hold onto?

Just a short time before that, my best bud lost his mother. She was also known as M.O.M. (my other mother). She was also a bundle of fun, and had that impish smile every day and always a kind word or thought for others. It is hard to believe that I will not send her a physical card at Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. I know she will get my mental cards, though, since I send a lot of them up to her.

Two other friends had not expected to have children. By some miracle, both families did have children, and they cherish them and every minute they have with them.

New parents turn to mush as their new babes smile at them and find their toes for the first time.


Yet another friend never knew his birth mother, until this year, in his 51st year on Mother Earth. He was adopted and raised by a fabulous family, but the origin of his life was always unclear... until now. He is aglow with being able to connect the dots in his life and now getting to know his birth mother.

A best friend from my high school days lost her daughter just two years ago at this time of year. A long time family friend just lost her son this summer. Since one of my brothers also passed away at a young age, I know this is close to unbearable for a parent, but I can't know how they feel and get through it. But they do get through it because they are so strong, and they are our mothers.

So after a very restless night of much tossing and turning, thinking about all my mothers out there, I would say thank you and I love you all. You are amazing, and I think every day should be a celebration of our mothers!

I am a Putnamaniac because I love my momma and all the other great mommas out there!

Geranium Nation is ready for Hibernation!

Since I bought my condo, four years ago now, I bring my geraniums in to the basement every fall.

When the leaves and flowers pale and wilt, I cut these babies right back to the stem.

Every spring I put them out, and I have little faith they will rise again into summer glory.

But they do!

My geranium nation, along with my neighbor's this year, have just traveled to the basement and are preparing for hibernation.

Rest well, my friends.

I will look forward to 2013 and another year of beauty with you then!

I am a Putnamaniac that just put my geranium nation into hibernation!

I just time warped back to my "happy world", thanks to another great show at The Complex Performing Arts Centre!

I love to go to my own little "Happy World".

It had only existed in my mind for years, but I loved to go there.  Kind of like the old commercials that said "Calgon, take me away". 

Luckily I found a real "Happy World" for myself, right here in Putnam.

I leave it early each weekday, before many of the great local businesses are even open.

I get back home each weeknight, after many of the same places have closed, and friends & neighbors are already snuggled into their comfy evenings.

I miss being in Putnam during the week (this place that I love) but when I am home, I make the best of it!

Since there are so many great things to do here in Putnam, and so many great folks, it is easy to slip back into "Happy World".

Tonight, I time warped right back into my "Happy World", in the blink of an eye...with some friends, with some music, and all at a great show, the Rocky Horror Show, live at The Complex Performing Arts Centre!

My sweet neighbor (who is a big fan of the show), and I (who have never seen the show) sat side by each. She knew every word. She sang. She danced in her seat. I could not have picked a better person to see the show with.

The cast, as usual for our local theaters, was FABULOUS! Costumes, band, singing, acting, audience ~ outstanding. I hope I will never take this sort of entertainment for granted. I think I shan't...

Thank you Nicola and your Complex Performing Arts Centre for time warping me back into my "Happy World" tonight!

I am a Putnamaniac because the talented, hard working, talented, and fun people I live with here are my "Happy World"!

Corn...no more!

There are so many corn fields in the growing season in Northeast CT.

Fields of people corn (shorter) and many more fields of animal corn (much taller).

Most of the animal corn is for cows, since there are also lots of dairy farms around our parts, including Fort Hill Farms in Thompson, which is part of the Farmer's Cow.

You get used to driving by, walking by, jogging by all those corn fields, where the stalks grow as high as an elephant's eye.

Then comes fall... harvest... corn no more.

It takes some getting used to... all those corn fields emptied out like this. However, it sure does open up the views in a lot of places!

(By the way, Fort Hill Farms still has their corn fields full of gigantically tall stalks in their amazing corn maze ~ you must visit it and get lost in the peace in their slice of heaven on earth)!

I am a Putnamania that loves the corn fields when they are full of corn, and when there is corn no more!