First Friday's August Theme is Architecture - see what The Last Green Valley will celebrate ~ and provide your input!

Another First Friday is just 2 days away, this Friday night, August 1st, 2014.

Downtown Putnam once again opens their doors, sidewalks, and even streets to vendors, artists, performers, and fun times all the way around for another First Friday (held on the first Friday of every month from May through October).

This year's First Fridays have embraced the themes of arts and culture. This month's theme is architecture.

As usual, I will be volunteering in The Last Green Valley's booth, spreading the word of The Last Green Valley; where it is, what it is, what we do!

The Last Green Valley will celebrate the theme of architecture by reminding local folks of Henry Chandler Bowen's Roseland Cottage, and by introducing not so local folks to this beautiful and historic piece of architecture.

Stop by The Last Green Valley's booth and tell us about what your first impressions were when you went to Roseland Cottage for the first time.
WHAT? You have never been? You must add it to your "to-do" list. It is just a quick ride away from downtown Putnam.

I'll also have some fun little nature temporary tattoos for the kiddos... ladybugs, butterflies, frogs...

You can "like" First Fridays and The Last Green Valley on facebook. 

I am a Putnamaniac that can't wait for another First Friday and to celebrate architecture this month!

 

Putnamania (and a-Luring Jewels) on facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar  

 

Are you afraid of flying monkeys??? Find out at the Wizard of Oz at The Bradley Playhouse!

How do you feel about flying monkeys?

Specifically the ones that were in the Wizard of Oz.

As a kid, I got to go next door to my grandparents to watch the Wizard of Oz...

My grandmother kicked out my older uncles and set me up on the couch with some snacks. Oh the joy of living next to your grandparents as a little kid.

I snuggled up on the couch, like a queen, all by myself and watched... I loved when it turned from black and white to color - that yellow brick road and the greens of Oz!

Then...... dun, dun, dun... the flying monkeys appeared!!! My head was quickly under the pillow! They still get to me this day!

As a life long fan of most of the Wizard literary, theatrical, musical and cinematographic productions I have tried to enjoy them all. I've read the Baum book, I've seen the movie, I've read Wicked, Son of a Witch (one of the best books ever), and a Lion Among Men by Maguire, I've seen the musical Wicked a few times.

And now..... drum roll please.... I have the chance to see the Wizard of Oz at our local theater, The Bradley Playhouse! There will be flying monkeys!!! There will be great music and song!!! There will be great acting!!!

The show dates are:
 Aug. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m. • Aug. 3, 10, 17 at 2 p.m.

Get tickets here at The Bradley Theater website.  It is a show that you will NOT want to miss!

Tonight, as a welcome in for this upcoming show, this beautiful rainbow appeared in Putnam: 

Of course, I began signing "Somewhere over the rainbow", not quite in tune like Judy Garland did, nor as good as The Bradley Playhouse's Dorothy will, but still I know my dreams do come true in Putnamania!

I am a Putnamaniac that is still a tad fearful of flying monkeys, but can't wait to see them at The Bradley Playhouse's Wizard of Oz!

Putnamaniac (and a-Luring Jewels) on Facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar

 
 

How do you choose a photo to enter in a contest when every shot is great because you live in a beautiful place?!

Do you have an awesome photo that you took in The Last Green Valley?

Then you should absolutely enter the contest to get your photo in their 2015 calendar!

Here are the details from The Last Green Valley's website:
The Last Green Valley is looking for inspiring photographs that celebrate life and capture the unique spirit of the National Heritage Corridor.  TLGV's annual calendar will feature photographs submitted during the 2015 Calendar Photo Contest.  Each photograph must be in color digital format, sized to 8 x 10 inches and with at least 300 d.p.i  The subject must have something to do with the exceptional natural and cultural resources of The Last Green Valley.  The photo can be close up, long shot, aerial shot - but convey the special quality of our beautiful region.   For more details about the calendar and photo contest requirements, click on the links below.
Local Photographers Wanted - Press Release
2015 Photo Contest Entry Form

 I was so lucky to have entered and won a spot in the 2014 calendar with this photo - and it was nothing but pure luck to be driving to work on the most gorgeous winter day ever:

A couple of my friends were also featured in the 2014 calendar with some fabulous shots, too.

The 35 towns in The Last Green Valley are so picturesque, it is hard to take a bad picture. I can barely decide what to enter this year!

So, come on, enter!!!

I am a Putnamaniac that just thinks everywhere in The Last Green Valley is so photogenic!

Putnamania (and a-Luring Jewels) on Facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar

I love these types of showers - Delta Aquarid meteor shower - fully dressed of course!

As a  kid I remember hanging out with the other neighborhood kids.

As we got a bit older, we stayed out a bit later.

There was nothing like hanging out in the dark with your pals.

Yes, we even used to play kick the can, or some equivalent that morphed into our own neighborhood game.

Then, we'd settle down and listen to some tunes, laying in the grass and looking up into the sky, watching the stars, and occasionally a shooting star. My first one was so exciting, and I still get that excited when I see a shooting star to this day (or should I say "night").

It is the best feeling ever.....

Whenever I see or hear about an upcoming meteor shower, I start planning in advance and hoping the weather is with us, because it is a chance to see a whole lot of shooting stars!

Looking at my 2014 calendar from The Last Green Valley, which is loaded with all sorts of interesting nature facts, I see here is our chance! This coming Monday, July 28, the Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower is on  display! I am warning you now, so you can plan to get some rest ahead of time to view this (or have a lot of coffee ready to go)!

Click here for information galore on the Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower.

I am so lucky to live in The Last Green Valley, without a ton of night time lighting, which makes sky viewing superb!

I am a Putnamaniac that loves these types of showers ~ Meteor Showers!

Putnamania (and a-Luring Jewels) on Facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar

Are you a never giver upper?

Maybe a "never giver upper" is not technically a real description or adverb, but it should be!

Would you describe yourself as a "never giver upper"?

You should if you keep trying no matter what.

Perhaps as a child, stuff was not always easy-breezy for you... some school work proved tough, and got a little tougher as you got older. It was better to be moving and doing something than sitting and reading text books. You might have loved to play basketball, and in all sports your best skill was not giving up, practicing endlessly and still having a blast riding the bench in your early years. You kind of needed to put a lot of effort into everything.

Over the years you discover this stick-to-itiveness can amount to more than a hill of beans. You find a way to do whatever it is you need or want to do in the easiest manner possible. Routine, discipline and endurance get you to your goals.

As you age, you discover life sometimes throws unexpected curves at each of us, and you still never give up.

I used to be a lot better at grinning and bearing it than I have been lately.... there is no excuse for that, nor will there ever be. I was still not giving up, but I was taking a road less high than I should have, with my chin hanging low at times. Last night I vowed to be ultra attentive to this and not sink, no matter what circumstances.

Tonight my hubby and I ventured out for some chinese din-din, and we all know what fun the fortune cookies can be. These are what we got. The fortune cookie gods were looking are way.

Patience is the key to joy

and

Life is full of wonders...explore what's around you

These cookies said a mouthful before they became a mouthful.

I am a Putnamaniac that is also a never giver upper!

 Putnamania (and a-Luring Jewels) on Facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar

 

Don't miss Les Mis' or you will be miserable!

Les Mis'erables. 

Unless you have been under a rock for all of your born days, you have heard of this great literature and all other artistic pieces that have branched out from it.

I've read the book, seen the musical show in Boston on a huge stage, seen the movie, seen the musical in Providence on a slightly smaller stage, read the book again, listened to the cd a bazillion times, watched endless youtube clips... So yes, I am a fan.

The story itself is compelling. Victor Hugo personalizes a look a living through a historical brutally time during the French Revolution. As we look back in history, we tend to look at facts only, and we forget that people did live their lives through those terrible times. Anne Frank and Eli Wiesel are just a few who have needed to remind us of those lives...

Although Les Mis' is fiction, it rings true to a portrayal of the everyday man and woman thrust into a life and time's events that they had no control over.

As with many great pieces of literature, the book was made into a musical with some of the most heart touching music and lyrics ever.

We all remember Susan Boyle's performance of "I dreamed a dream", as that song can ring true to us all for a variety of reasons. Susan herself was the epitome of those lyrics.

This big show, featuring superstars from NECT and other local New England talents, will be playing at the Hyde School in Woodstock, CT on August 1, 2, 3. Check out the schedule and purchase tickets here. 

Do not miss this show! As I am on a tight budget at this time, perhaps the tightest of my life (vowing not to touch savings from all my earlier years), I have my tickets and am going to this show! I can skip a few meals as this will be totally well worth it. Budget your money and get to the show. Tickets are only $20 (and just $15 for the Saturday afternoon show)!!!!

I am a Putnamaniac that will not be miserable. I am going to Les Mis'!

Putnamania (and a-Luring Jewels) on Facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar 

 

Reminder News' Denise Coffey is phenomenal to say the least!

The thesaurus can come in handy at times, but today it was not so much.

I wanted a word to sum up Denise Coffey of the Reminder News.

One word to wrap up a kind, fun, friendly, impossibly hard working and helpful woman who never stops. She makes the energizer bunny seem a lazy fur ball.

As you can see by the blog title, I settled on phenomenal... and it is settling because it does not come close to describing Denise.

If you know Denise, you know what I mean.

If you do not know Denise, you know her work through her stories and pictures in the Reminder News. She is everywhere, covering all of our events ~ and we have a lot happening around here in Northeast CT, and all the while she is smiling and unassuming about the whole thing.

After seeing her at the al Fresco concert and River Fire in Putnam's Rotary Park, I realized that someone should do a story about Denise Coffey.

Look for this phenomenal person and give her a big "thank you for being you" the next time you see her!

I am a Putnamaniac that can't find words to describe Denise Coffey's awesomeness!

Putnamania (and a-Luring Jewels) on Facebook

Putnamaniac Activity Calendar