Holiday Rush ?

It seems that U.S. retailers are rushing the holidays earlier and earlier each year, especially one-day celebrations.

Halloween and Thanksgiving cards were on display side-by-side here in Nashua, NH in mid-August. These holidays are celebrated at the end of October (31) and November (23).

At this rate, maybe Christmas-themed merchandise will be in stores by mid-September. Guess I'm showing my age, but when I was growing up, hometown stores didn't have Christmas decorations up until right before or just after Thanksgiving — just like in classic films, Christmas Story and Miracle on 34th Street and similar ones.

What about you — seen any early holiday merchandise in your area yet ?

Helping Out

First, thanks to everyone for the well wishes on our recent wedding anniversary. All were read and very much appreciated by Grenville (Pat) and Beatrice (Dorothy). We celebrated with a couple of in-state getaways, which will be described in a future post or two.

Today, our thoughts are with those U.S. folks who have suffered devastating losses from Hurricane Harvey, the first major hurricane to make landfall in over a decade.

Like so many others, we want to help. The best way to help out is by monetary donations which relief organizations prefer as it causes less of a strain on resources. Material donations incur expenses like transportation costs, shipping delays, or time managing goods unlike financial donations.

Ensure that your financial donation is secure by going through the organization's official website or by mailing a check. Avoid donating over the phone or through email from unknown social media pages. All these are easier targets for unscrupulous scammers who, unfortunately, come out in times of disaster. 

The Red Cross relies on financial donations to give immediate relief. Its set up a way to donate with an easy text: Text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also visit redcross.org or call 1- 800-RED CROSS.

United Way also lets you text a donation: Text UWFLOOD to 41444 to donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund.

The Salvation Army is accepting donations by online, mail or phone. Hurricane Harvey relief efforts can be made at helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

If you're ever unsure of where your financial contribution is going. You can check the charity by checking with a charity monitoring organization, like there: GiveWell, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch before making a donation.

Friday Funnies

On the water dining — pizza, everyone . . .

These dining kayakers were seen from our 5th floor apt window last week, but we didn't see a pizza delivery kayak.

A couple of weeks ago, there was another group of kayakers, who didn't stop for dinner.

Enjoy your weekend, Everyone.

Blooms & Flutterbys

On a recent outing along the river walk here in Nashua, NH, so called as it's a paved path along part of the Nashua River near the mill apartments we live in now, these were some, of the colorful blooms.

There was also a fritillary butterfly which only on this flower alone. This butterfly is sometimes mistaken for its more famous distant cousin, the monarch butterfly, although they seem very different to me. 

Most fritillaries are orange and black like monarchs, but with a different pattern. However, some are about the same size. There are 14 species of the so-called greater fritillaries (genus Speyeria) and 16 lesser fritillaries (genus Bolloria). Their names refer to their sizes. 



The common name comes from the Latin, fritillus, meaning chessboard or dice box.  Another name for these butterflies is silverspots because of metallic markings on their wing's undersides. It's possible that this pattern serves as a camouflage too.

Like many butterflies, the fritillary caterpillar is selective about what it eats. It doesn't favor milkweed like monarchs. It prefers violets and without violets, there would be no fritillary butterflies. Adults go for nectar of native flowers, such as butterfly weed, common milkweed, Joe-pye-weed and others. They also visit non-native flowers such as lilacs, butterfly bush and some thistles.

Soon two fritillaries were on the same bloom and didn't seem to mind sharing.

I don't know the name of this flower, but it was certainly attractive as a third fritillary landed on the same flower despite other blooms nearby.

Whatever reason these blooms were the attractive to this trio, it provided a great photo opportunity during my late afternoon walk.

Anniversary Eclipsed

This year two special events are happening today, August 21.

The first has received worldwide coverage; countless numbers will be out to view "The Great American Total Solar Eclipse" which will be visible in totality within a band across the entire contiguous U.S. The last time a solar eclipse of this magnitude occurred was during the June 8, 1918 eclipse.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon's apparent diameter is larger than the sun's, blocking all direct sunlight and turning day into darkness. The path of totality—the region from which the total eclipse is visible to skywatchers—will  stretch from Oregon to S. Carolina. About 12 million people live in its path; 220 million reside within a day's drive.

Did you see the interactive Total Solar Eclipse of the Sun Forever stamp issued by the U.S. postal system? (Hope you got some as when the 60 million printed stamps sell out, they won't be reprinted.)

The stamp uses a photograph taken by astrophysicist Fred Espenak of a total solar eclipse viewed over Jalu, Libya on March 29, 2006. 

It was the first U.S. postage stamp to use thermochromic ink that reacts to the heat of touch. Placing a finger over the black disc on the stamp caused the ink to change from black to clear and reveal an underlying image of the moon. When it cools, the image reverts to a black disc. The back of the stamp pane showed a map of the eclipse path.

Here's the second, but no less minor, event that's being celebrated today, a private one with far less coverage except here. August 21 is our (18th) wedding anniversary.  

Also, co-celebrating across the pond in England today are friends Kath and Andrew. We met several years ago when they were on a U.S. visit and hope we will meet again, perhaps in England this time.

Later this week, family members in CT will also celebrate wedding anniversaries. We send our best wishes to them and all others celebrating this month.

In 2 years, we'll have to come up with a really quite spectacular celebration for our 20th. 
Admittedly, it will be hard to top a solar eclipse — but, we're open to all suggestions.

This year, we're taking a couple of short getaways that don't involve family, VA house projects or anything other than enjoying ourselves. The latter part of the trip will involve one of Grenville's favorite activities — a train ride (details to follow in a future post).

Happy Anniversary to Everyone🍾

Friday Funnies

Can you hear me . . .

That's what Grenville seemed to be saying to this sculpture at the Currier Museum in Manchester, NH a couple of months ago. There was no reply, but it would have been very funny if there was one !

Enjoy your weekend, Everyone. 

TS Bargain Hunting

Admittedly, I am a thrift store (TS) addict. (We all have some of those.). I not only donate to, but also frequent and shop in ones here in Nashua, NH. Several times, Grenville has said he didn't feel like going. That's when he's found something he could actually use. Not because, as we well know, there's anything we ever really need. It's just fun to look and shop without spending a lot of $.



My goal whenever I go to a local TS is to buy at least one item, because why leave empty-handed. It's not always something for us. And, that's the fun part. 

Often, I look for something to give/send. (The mailing is always more than the purchase cost, but no matter.) It's my belief (maybe yours) that everyone likes a surprise, especially when it's not their birthday or a holiday — it's a just because occasion. 

This little sign was just such a find. It's already been sent to a longtime friend who has battled various health issues in the past couple of years. 

She completed chemotherapy a couple of weeks ago and she is definitely braver, stronger and loved.

Wait. It wasn't my only TS find last week. Here's something else I bought for less than a dollar—99 cents (no sales tax here) and with a lifetime guarantee—but whose lifetime?

Maybe it was one of those "as seen on TV" deals, but the box didn't indicate that. Grenville checked online and found it offered on Amazon at $5.99. Score a deal !

The packaging indicated that this it's an easy-to-use kitchen tool, noting (several times) that no cords or electricity were required, thus making it "safe and convenient." When I tried this whisking wonder on eggs, Grenville laughed as I showed how pushing on the top could help me "cook like a pro."

Later, it was time to try it to whisk a mayo and yogurt dressing for a broccoli salad.

NOT only did it work very well, but was far easier than using a short hand-held whisk. (We own many lots of whisks in varying lengths, doesn't every chef? Even the at-first skeptical Grenville conceded it's a kitchen tool "keeper."

How about you —  do you shop at thrift stores, flea markets, yard or estate sales? 
If so, have you found any interesting, useful or just plain fun-to-have (or share) deals? 

Home Town Win

It was a big event Saturday night at the local ball field, Holman Stadium in Nashua, NH. 

We cheered on the Nashua Silver Knights as they defeated the Worchester Bravehearts in a 2-0 win. This was a fun way to spend a warm late summer evening. (Our seats were directly behind home plate which explains the "netting" seen in these photos. These were taken with a cell phone.)

The Nashua team won the championship series, two games to none. This win marked the second consecutive year the Silver Knights won the Futures Collegiate Baseball League playoffs. The Silver Knights have never had a losing season and qualified for the post-season every year.  It's the fourth time in 7 years that the team has taken the trophy.

The FCBL is a 9-team collegiate summer baseball league in New England with six franchises in Massachusetts, two in New Hampshire, and one in Connecticut. The FCBL plays a 56-game schedule (28 home/28 away). It's a wood bat league and ballplayers are unpaid collegiate athletes who join the league to gain experience and exposure to Major League baseball scouts. Each year, top players will be scouted and selected in the MLB draft.

This is a fun way to spend a warm summer night at the ball field. Between innings, there's assorted side-line events like kid-friendly competitions and t-shirt tosses, always a big crowd favorite. (We've never scored a shirt, but there's always next year.)

We started going to the games last year and were at the final 2016 championship game when the Silver Knights won the trophy. What's not to like, a good time with often free or 2 for 1 tickets and dining out on hot dogs and soft pretzels. (Please, don't say these aren't summer time food groups.) 

What fun did you have this weekend? 

Friday Funnies

Notice anything unusual about back of this truck?

It's a lock and door firm and the small padlock on the right is unlocked.

Enjoy your weekend, Everyone.

Bloggers Are Friends

For many of us, fellow bloggers have become friends. 

It would be wonderful to be able to meet face-to-face with these friends, but most will remain on-line friends for many reasons: distance, time, commitments. We have been fortunate enough to meet a few fellow blogger(s).

When something happens to a fellow blogger or his/her family, we are saddened.

That's how I felt last night.

We've been away 2 weeks with limited Internet access and out of touch with blog-dom.

Once home, I started blog-binging and read very sad news. A July 30 post by Danny, the son of blogger, Mona (Wsprsweetly of Cottages) said that his mother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few month ago and was in hospice care.

I never met Mona, but we exchanged blog comments, emails, snail-mail messages and cards so this was devastating news. Going to Comments and reading previous ones from fellow bloggers, gave me even sadder news — Danny posted again to say his mother had passed away peacefully on Aug 3. 

Mona was a very special lady. On her blog, she shared both sad and happy news as well as her passions for her home and yard and the joy and love of her very large family. She enjoyed fairy gardens, decorating and garage sales  I and and many others enjoyed her posts. She will be missed.

This is not the first time I've experienced the loss of a blog buddy and I know others have as well. We come to care about the lives on our online friends.

As another blogger recently noted, some folks stop posting with no explanation leaving others to wonder why?  It's always feels like a loss. I've contacted blogger(s) who were no longer online and hadn't said goodbye to learn they were OK despite not posting and that was reassuring to me. 

Longtime non-bloggers will suddenly do a catch-up post. Perhaps you have some of those listed in your bookmarks as I do and check back often. It was that way with Mona's blog as she had taken some blog breaks (which we all need) and thanked readers for their patience. So I'd check back periodically. Sadly, her son's update wasn't expected.

Perhaps you "know" fellow bloggers who haven't seen online in awhile. If so, you might send a thinking of you message if there's a way to contact them provided, which may not always be possible.

If you can, take the initiative and reach out. You and others may be glad you did.