Coming Soon

We haven't shared this news, but we will soon welcome a unique pre-holiday gift 🎁 with the arrival of a new granddaughter in December. 

Grandma and grandpa (that's us) were busy the past few months buying a selection of outfits at local thrift stores. Mickey Mouse is a longtime favorite of mom-to-be. 

Snowy Monday

It certainly wasn't much snow compared to other U.S. cities, which are buried in snow. But, Nashua, NH, had its first measurable snowfall Sunday night into early Monday morning. 

According to forecasters, the city received a little over 4 inches of snow. For the first time this year, the Nashua River was showing some icy patches. 

The shot below was taken from our 5th floor apartment window while the snow was still falling.

By mid-morning, the snow had ended and most of the river ice had melted as temperatures rose to near 40 degrees.

Of course, Grenville and I are still hopeful for a white Christmas. After all, there's still time 🕰

Friday Funnies

Maybe these weary shoppers lost their heads over holiday shopping ?

(Not to worry, these "shoppers" were in the Salvation Army thrift store here in Nashua, NH).

Enjoy your Weekend, Everyone.

Festival of Trees 2016

In what's become a holiday tradition here in Nashua, NH, the annual Festival of Trees display is on display at the Hunt Memorial Building this month.

Non-profit organizations, businesses, and school groups decorated more than 30 trees in whatever way they choose to showcase their group.

The trees were displayed in the main reading room, small reading room and foyer of what was formerly the city's library. They included a wide range of ornaments from the traditional to the unusual.

Visitors voted on their favorite tree and could place bids to purchase them. Monies from the auctioned trees will be used for preservation of the Hunt Memorial Building.

Friday Funnies

Say it isn't "snow" ❄️ (not yet anyway). Snow poles were placed around the mill apartments where we live a couple of weeks ago. 

The mums were still in colorful bloom with 40-50 degree daytime temperatures. But, we know that winter will come soon enough to Nashua, NH. 

Enjoy your weekend, Everyone.

Holidays Are Here

• Is the Christmas season bogging you down? Ready to go Cyber Shopping? Beware of Scams. If it seems to good to be true...... it probably isn't true.
  Remember to shop on-line at SECURED sites marked httpS:
  
  
  
  Grenville's Holiday Hints 

Zucchini Shrimp Scampi

If you've had your fill of Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings by now, here's an easy meal (and healthy) meal that includes shrimp, zucchini and some basic ingredients. It was really good and is now in our recipe collection for repeat meals.

Shrimp and Zucchini "Scampi"

• 2 TBSPs unsalted butter
• 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or more (or less) to taste
• 1/4 C chicken stock
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1-1/2 lbs (4 med.) zucchini, spiralized
• 2 TBSPs freshly ground Parmesan (substitute Romano or a mix)
• 2 TBSPs chopped fresh parsley (or use less dried)

1. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook stirring occasionally until shrimp is pink, about 2-3 minutes.
2. Stir in chicken stock and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
3. Bring to a simmer, stir in zucchini noodles until well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Serve immediately, garnished with cheese and parsley, if desired.

Grenville declared this recipe a "keeper" and gave it a "forks up."

They're Melting

Nothing last forever, not the Wicked Witch of the West (think Wizard of Oz) or ice sculptures.

These ice figures were created on Saturday as part of the Nashua Holiday Stroll, the city's major holiday event which drew thousands of people from the area and neighboring states. A few sculptures were still standing early Sunday; however, with temperatures in the mid-40s, their demise was imminent. 

The sculptures were created at the event in front of Nashua City Hall and would remain there until all were melted.

Unfortunately, we didn't see most of the Holiday Stroll which included a 1/2-mile candlelit procession down Main Street from City Hall to Railroad Square. 

That's because we were helping with traffic control as part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The downtown area was closed to traffic and CERT volunteers, like ourselves, were posted on side streets to direct motorists to detours.

We hope to catch the 24th annual Holiday Stroll in 2017. Grenville captured this shot of the city's Christmas tree after this year's lighting ceremony.

Turkey in the House

We hope that all who celebrated had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our holiday was shared with family in RI. That meant . . . NO LEFTOVERS at our home.

We remembered the scene in the classic film, A Christmas Story after the family's Christmas turkey is ravaged by a neighbor's dogs: 

The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE!"

There were no animals involved, yet we too had no turkey leftovers. 

Thankfully before the holiday, we bought a small turkey that Grenville cooked yesterday. Our "traditional" sides were mashed sweet potatoes (with maple syrup), the classic green bean casserole, and homemade cranberry sauce, but no stuffing (this time).  

Now, we have leftovers for all things turkey this week.
This is why we gave up stuffing — to enjoy pumpkin pie for dessert!

A Christmas Story
© 1983 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / UA Entertainment

If you've never seen A Christmas Story, you should treat yourself. Director Bob Clark’s classic 1983 holiday comedy set in the 1940s is about a boy who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The film has a distinction that few family movies can match. People watch it over and over again thanks to a 24-hour marathon airing on TNT and/or TBS on Christmas Day. 

The film is based on short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author Jean Shepherd and based on his book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. The film is based on some of his funniest and most well known stories.

The film is in our holiday video collection. We watched it last night and enjoyed pumpkin pie with egg nog, another holiday classic — for us.

Snowed In

(This post is in place of the usual Friday Funnies for some pre-holiday humor.)

NOPE there's hasn't been a major snowfall in Nashua, NH — yet. Just an overnight dusting that Grenville posted about this week. 

That said, we have "snow" in our apartment and it will be scattered throughout our New England winter village (photos to come soon). Now, for the humor which comes in the form of brief conversation this week after buying artificial snow.

Beatrice: I wonder why it's called Buffalo Snow?
Grenville: Probably because that's where it's made (he said with a (very) straight face.)
Beatrice: Hmmm, it was probably made in China and just given that name because
               it snows in Buffalo.

YIKES, Grenville was right, which even surprised him as he had no idea that Buffalo Snow is actually made in Buffalo, NY, where it really does snow a LOT!

And, so this got me wondering . . .

How often does it snow in Buffalo, NY?
Buffalo's first winter snowfall usually occurs in November;  the last snowfall is in April. Some early snow has fallen in October and late snow in May. Buffalo typically is snow-free from June through September.

How many snowstorms annually in Buffalo?
The average annual snowfall in Buffalo is 93.4 inches; some areas receive nearly a year's worth of snow in about five days. Most snowfalls result in less than an inch. Snowfalls of over 5 inches usually occur four times a year. Major blizzards of 10 inches or more happen on average once a year. For about two-third of winter days, Buffalo has an average of an inch of snow on the ground. it snows the most during January.

Does it snow more in Buffalo than other places in the U.S.?
Buffalo is in the top 101 U.S. cities (population 50,000 +) with the highest average annual snowfall. It ranks #8 behind cities in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

By comparison, several New England cities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire were in the bottom 50s and 70s on the list.

But, we know that snow will be a-coming.