Destination Maine: A Birthday and Holiday Visit

Update - November 25 to December 1

Skeptical about "grits"

-- Vacation and Birthday Celebration in Maine

After Thanksgiving, we spent the weekend doing some shopping and some decorating and final planning for our vacation to Maine. We had decided to spend Patti's Birthday celebration in Kennebunkport and the surrounding area. We had been to Kennebunk and Kennebunkport many times over the years, but it was generally in the spring and summer months when we could focus on golf and warm weather activities. The idea of winter in Maine has always been just that: an idea. We never really spent any time exploring our favorite towns in the winter.
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-- Overcame Fear of Cracker Barrel Restaurant

Over the years, from time to time, I have stopped at Cracker Barrel restaurants to grab a quick bite to eat. But, I had been unsuccessful in getting Patti interested in stopping when we were traveling together. She showed no enthusiasm for such things as biscuits and gravy or grits. So I was surprised as we drove north on the first day of our adventure to Maine that she said it would be okay to get some breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. I agreed and it turned out great. At first, she was skeptical about "grits," so I wasn't sure if she was going to like her breakfast. As it turned out she ordered eggs with all the fixings, which included grits. She tried them and agreed they were not as bad as she imagined. I don't expect her to stock grits at the house for future use, but at least we can stop at Cracker Barrel in the future with a bit less anxiety.

-- Last Minute Shopping for Toys for Tots

It turned out that the resort we were going to stay at had offered a steep discount if you brought an unwrapped present to add to their Toys for Tots collection. And I mean it was a steep discount. I had already bought a nice toy for a boy, but I needed a nice one for a girl as well. As we were heading into Maine, we stopped at one of the many Reny's department stores. This place reminds us a little bit of Building 19 and Spag's department stores that we had back home years ago. It has top brand items, but generally in the least popular colors. That's a drawback when buying a shirt or pajamas, but not when you buy marmalade or toys. We found several bargains and continued our journey.

-- Checked In to the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport

Nonantum Resort

The Nonantum Resort offers waterfront views from its Portside building including a direct view of the lighthouse at the water's edge. Years ago, we had spent a couple nights here as part of the company recognition night held each year by The Hope Group. The charm of the place was as we had remembered it and there were some improvements as well. For one thing, they had expanded the off-lobby pub so that there was a larger seating area for smaller meals. Previously, it was no larger than a broom closet. When I checked in, we surrendered our Toys for Tots gifts and got ready to go out to dinner. My plan had been that we would indulge in fine dining three nights in a row, something you can justify only when it's a special birthday vacation.

-- The Boathouse at Kennebunkport

The Boathouse

Two years ago we tried to get a meal at David's restaurant near Dock Square in Kennebunkport but discovered that it was closed, under renovation, and would be under new ownership. Also, it would have a new name: The Boathouse. So, we had it in our minds that we would try it the next time we came to Kennebunkport. I had made a reservation for our arrival night, so we drove over knowing it would not be crowded and there would be plenty of parking, which was true.

The place did not disappoint. It was a very eclectic style and with the added comforts of holiday decorations, it was warm and inviting. The place was very quiet, but we could tell that in the summer, with the bar layout, the general seating and the enormous waterfront decks, it will probably be a very hopping place in the summer. The food was great and the wine pour was generous, so I appreciated that.

-- Christmas Shopping in Kennebunkport instead of Chatham

Minka is Unusual

For many years now, Patii and I have made a trek to Chatham on Cape Cod to spend a day or two Christmas shopping. We have found that any gifts we select there are less likely to be anything you find in the regular mall shops near home. This year, it's Kennebunkport that offered the chance to find the unusual and special, not likely to be in the mall.

Among the shops where we found the unusual and delightful were the Whimsy shop and the Minka shop at Dock Square. The owner-operators were there and the specialty items they offered were great.

-- Step Back to 1956 with Country Squire Station Wagon

Patti and 1956 Ford 

We both found the 1956 Ford Country Squire with roof-top tree and grille-mounted wreath to be a perfect reflection back to Christmas when we were kids. The car was parked just off Dock Square as it might have been 62 years ago. I consider it the best holiday decoration in Kennebunkport this year.

There were many years when we were kids that the family carried a tree home on the roof of the car. It was so iconic to see this piece of Americana that Patti posed for a picture with it, as you can see.




-- Seashore Trolley Museum Opened for Christmas Prelude

Seashore Trolley Museum

You know how big an event the Christmas Prelude is when you realize that the summer-only Seashore Trolley Museum opened for tours and rides this past week. We visited the museum and, of course, took a ride. The history of trolleys is a history of many of our cities. As the cities evolved and transportation needs also evolved, so did the trolleys. During their prime, there were thousands of trolley companies in the United States. The largest cities and the smallest towns had trolleys, mostly to move the workers, but also as a convenience and recreation vehicle. The trolley at Kennebunkport rolls out to one of the iconic recreation parks that were built by the trolley companies to give riders a special way to enjoy the outdoors, away from the city or town. In fact, these were the progenitors of what today we call amusement parts. The trolley companies made a living taking residents and tourists for a "ride in the country." We had a blast riding along imagining what it must have been like nearly 100 years ago. It's a not to be missed stop if you visit Kennebunkport.

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-- Scenes from Our Visit to Kennebunkport

Richard Shopping

Tour of White Columns

We did a bit of shopping in town and managed to collect some items suitable for holiday gifts giving. We also took the time to tour one of the historic homes in town at the White Columns. 

We enjoyed the holiday ambiance of the hotel, which included the fresh baked cookies in the lobby and the hot chocolate. We had dinner one night at the White Barn, which was a truly elegant experience and we had fun at the Prelude Dinner too.

Lobby of Nonantum

Patti at Prelude Dinner

Sunset from our Room

Dinner at White Barn Inn

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-- We Met a Special Artist and Bought One of His Creations

Artist Bill Schafer and Me

Now on Display at Home

On Saturday, the morning we were heading home, we visited several of the Holiday Fairs being held at the schools, churches, town halls, Legion halls, and libraries. In all, we went to half a dozen and there were more than that we didn't have time to visit. At the American Legion Hall on Main Street, we met William Schafer, a Navy Veteran, who has a hobby crafting exact replicas of homes, churches, camp cabins, diners, apartment buildings, and every imaginable structure you can imagine. But, he only makes one example of each, keeps a record of who he sold it to, and ends up making a donation to charity from the proceeds he collects. I was totally amazed at the craftsmanship and detail that he brought to the structures. When I showed them to Patti she immediately agreed with me that we had to have the Little White Church. It was an exact replica of the church in Eaton New Hampshire, which is a famously iconic building often the subject of painters, photographers, and craftsmen like Bill. When we got home, I set up a vignette as part of our Christmas decorations. 

 -- Former President George H. W. Bush Passed Away During Our Visit to Kennebunkport

The Bush home is in the distance

On Saturday, we woke to the sad news that former President George H. W. Bush had passed away the night before, probably at the time we were downtown taking late night pictures of the Lighted Christmas Tree in Dock Square, which is the central attraction for the Christmas Prelude event held each year in Kennebunkport. The former President was well known and well liked by those who lived in town as he and Barbara were frequent downtown visitors, visiting the restaurants and shops like any resident or tourist. We drove past the Walker's Point home that the Bush family made famous over the years.

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Reading Update: As usual, I'm attracted to biographies and autobiographies, and when it's about a journalist, it's even more tempting to me to read about the life and times of those who bring us the news. "A Good Life," is an autobiography by Ben Bradlee, the famous editor of the Washington Post newspaper. He's the guy with the Watergate story, the Pentagon Papers, and the wildly infamous Janet Cooke, the writer who won a Pulitzer Prize for writing a fake story about a fake child who was addicted to heroin. The book reads like a thriller, which is what I find fascinating that real life is more entertaining than fiction. It's a good review of journalistic challenges and a refresher on interesting national history.

Olive and Lucy, Simon Pearce, Evergreen Harvard, Thanksgiving

Update - November 18 to November 24

Patti and Lucy

-- Twice as Much Olive and Lucy This Week

Patti told me that Corinne would bring Olive and Lucy over on Sunday to visit so that she and Patti could go shopping. Something about Kohl's cash, whatever that is. Anyway, I told her that I didn't mind watching both grandaughters while they went shopping.

As it turned out, Patti had invited my twin nieces, Lily and Paige to visit as well. When they arrived they had brought a college friend with them; Sarah.

Olive and the Pigeon

So off shopping went Mom and Grandmom and I was home with the five girls. It was a fun day as the girls doted over the baby and kept Lucy busy as well. I made lunch for everyone and when Olive became extremely agitated after taking her bottle, I was the one who spent an hour holding her until she calmed down.

It was probably nothing more than above average discomfort getting up a burp after feeding. Anyway, everything was fine by the time our shoppers returned. That then put me in the house with seven women. Yikes.

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-- Our Plan is to visit Vermont in December

Simon Pearce Restaurant

Patti has taken some extra time off this fall and winter so that we could enjoy more travel, particularly places nearby that we seldom get to visit. We have wanted to visit Woodstock Vermont in the winter as we have been there many times during other seasons. So, I have reserved a hotel for us so that we can get some of the Vermont holiday spirit going.

We already have reservations for a visit to Maine at the end of the month, so this continues our effort to travel more. One of the restaurants we want to visit is Simon Pearce in Quechee. We have never had a chance to stop in yet.

-- Trustees Meet to Decide on Hiring a Management Company

Following Saturday's informal meeting of the Trustees, tonight's meeting included an in-person and a teleconference with the two finalist applicants. The Board reviewed the credentials of the companies and the credentials of the person who would be the primary contact each month. This was a very important component in the view of the Board, as it was felt the previous meltdown with the current management company was due to a lack of open communications.

The Board selected Evergreen Harvard Group and I was detailed to contact the winner and notify the losers so that we could get the transition underway and in full effect no later than January 1, 2019.


-- Olive and Lucy Make Usual Tuesday Visit

Lucy and Olive

Olive was a bit less cranky in taking her feedings today, which was a relief. Patti has the magic touch with the wee one. Lucy was energetic as usual and spent time trying a puzzle, drawing, pretending to be a monster cat, and having me read eight books (one of them three times) to set a new record for reading.

She had a mix of new and familiar books, in particular, she likes familiar books as she likes to re-read the loud parts in a loud voice. New books have surprise elements, so she's not ready for the loud parts.

-- Finalized Management Company Tasks

On Wednesday I picked up signed contracts from Rachel, made a scan of the document and forwarded it to Evergreen Harvard. I communicated with the transition team and collected a list of coordinating tasks that will require our old company to turn over to the new company. I got all the phone calls and emails done so that as of tomorrow, Thanksgiving, all the paperwork is now in process. My role is essentially done.

-- Maintenance/Repair Skills Continue to Shine

Undercabinet Lighting

For some reason that totally escapes me, the under-cabinet work light in the kitchen came loose and was dangling on its cord. The unit was screwed in and how it dislodged is beyond me. I grabbed the electric screwdriver that I had bought last week to install the new window blinds and found it very handy in reattaching the light panel. I inspected the other panels under the other cabinets and they all seemed in good condition. I may never know why this thing fell off as it did, but at least I confirmed that I know how to put it back if it falls off again.

-- Today is Thanksgiving Day and Patti is Working

Hand Made Candy Wreath

Patti almost always works on Thanksgiving. She has to work two or three major holidays each year and so this has become part of the tradition. I usually visit my brother's house and spend the day with my nieces, Lily and Paige. It was a very pleasant visit and the dinner was very good. Marna packed up some leftovers so that I could bring them home to Patti.

Another tradition that had faded out a few years ago was revived this year. Marna had resumed making candy wreaths. She ties small, individually wrapped candies to a wire hanger to form a wreath of candy. How she has the patience to do this is beyond me. It generally takes weeks or months for us to plow through the candy; ripping each piece off, one at a time. Anyway, tradition is what you make of it; in this case, it's all about the Tootsie Rolls.

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Reading Update: Here's a book you didn't read about, didn't see advertised in the Sunday weekly supplement, didn't know existed, but may be as important to understanding the threat presented by Muslims to humankind as anything else you have read in the past 20 years. If you understand how the Turks ruled the planet for 700 years, right up until the First World War, you may start to understand what the hell is going on. Jason Goodwin has written "Lords of the Horizons," providing a glimpse into a terrible dilemma facing our modern world. It's the same dilemma that faced the middle ages, which is who is going to be in charge of your world? Is it the religious fanatics, of any type, or is it the tyrannical fanatics, of any type, or other fanatics, or some other type? Tyrannical, religious, and ruthless are what you can expect from those who want to take over your world. Prepare yourself.

New Window Blinds - Football Blues - Clean Rugs - First Snow

Update – November 11 – November 17

-- It’s Time to Replace the Window Blinds

Garage Windows Safer Too

I got an early start on Sunday on my project to replace the window blinds in the garage and in the family room. The blinds in the garage were in poor condition and in need of replacement. The blinds in the family room have been fine since we moved in 11 years ago, but now I realize that we have grandchildren hiding behind the sofa where they can come in contact with the drawstrings for the blinds. We need to replace these with cordless window blinds. I did some shopping online and decided that the Levolor brand blinds were at Lowe’s. When I got there, it turns out that the cordless blinds are still in storage and they haven’t swapped them out for the corded variety; so, I had to move on.

After some trial and error, and visits to various stores, I bought what we needed for the garage. I will install them next Thursday (done) when I have the carpet guy here cleaning the bedroom rugs. I had to go to Home Depot and buy some Hampton Bay custom-cut so that I had what we needed for the playroom. (All done on Thursday).

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-- Professional Football at its Worst

Failure is not an option?

The New England Patriots really smelled up the room with their poor play on Sunday against Tennessee. Yikes. They were beyond bad. I will be curious to listen to some of the talking head sports broadcasters this week as they dissect what is wrong with Brady and his coterie of losers.

The television sports talking heads went on and on about why the Patriots lost to Tennessee. They lost because the team thinks it can mail it in and Tom will rescue them. Those days are over. We probably won't even reach our usual 12 and 4 this year. Too bad.

-- Management Proposal Review Meeting

On Monday morning I met with Rachel and Paul to review where my search for a new condo management firm has led so far. I presented the four written proposals and we spent a serious amount of time reading and understanding what each offered and their overall merits. It’s clear, in my mind, that any of the four will be okay. But we need to have all the Trustees review and come to an agreement on how to proceed. A meeting has been set for next Saturday morning for the Trustees to review the proposals. I agreed to write up a summary that outlined who we contacted, how they responded, who declined, and highlights of the various submitted proposals. I will send that out on Wednesday.

(Update) Met with the full Board of Trustees Saturday morning; the group selected two finalist firms, which I will invite to attend Monday's Board Meeting. The Trustees will make a vote after that on who to hire as the new management team. 

-- Retirement Party for Patti’s Friends

On Monday, Patti had a gaggle of co-workers and recent retirees from the hospital over for an informal retirement party. Patti had prepared a vegetable and a meat quiche, which fortunately I got a chance to enjoy, as there was so much food at the party the ladies left some quiche behind for me. My favorite was the “cheese-burger” quiche, which I found very tasty. I will ask her to make that one again soon.

-- Full House with Olive and Lucy

Lucy Being Artistic

On Tuesday, we had visits from Olive, Lucy, Corinne, Paige, Marna, and Steve. Lucy was very interested in reading today, so we got through a lot of books. We played Candyland, Spooky Bingo, and other games. She’s very interested in board games at this point.

She also spent some time on YouTube for Kids, where there are some programs her Mom has selected for her to watch. She will watch these games and stories and eventually the tablet turns into a night light as she ends up taking a nap.

-- Birthday, Holiday, and Vacation Planning

Patti’s birthday comes up at the end of November as do the holidays. So, Patti has set aside several vacation days that we can use to celebrate. We will take the week after Thanksgiving to go to Maine and then, in December we will use one week early in the month and the week after Christmas to take some more time off and travel.

After Thanksgiving, we will go to the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport for several nights. One highlight will be the Prelude Christmas Lighting and Dinner. We will participate in the official town tree lighting ceremony followed by a special Prelude dinner at the Inn. We’ve been to Kennebunkport many times, and we’ve stayed at the Nonantum previously. We are looking forward to returning this month.

I have also made reservations at the White Barn Inn for one of our vacation nights. This is a place we have always meant to visit, but never found the time to be right. The restaurant requires gentlemen to wear a jacket and as we are generally in Maine during the summer and not the Winter, we tend not to want to be that formal in the evening. This time, it should be just fine.

-- Stanley Steemer Cleans Upstairs

Clean as a Whistle

On Thursday, the guys at Stanley Steemer came to attack our wall to wall carpeting upstairs. The two bedrooms and the equally large landing area between the two bedrooms needed cleaning. And as Patti has a chemical sensitivity to worry about, we chose to use steam only to clean the rugs. We hope it will actually get clean and still not create any aerosol that affects her windpipe. We’ll see.

To prepare for the rug cleaning I removed everything from the three rooms that I could carry. Floor lamps, side tables, hassocks, end tables, table lamps, and loose books not yet placed on shelves. I moved most of it to the downstairs master bedroom to get it out of the way. The rug cleaner will move the big stuff as part of the cleaning process.

When Abdul and Maher arrived, they got right to work and I tried to stay out of the way. When Patti got home she was pleased with the cleaning and we spent a lot of time changing the drapes in the dining and living rooms.

-- First Snowfall of the Winter

First Snow in Jefferson

Late Thursday the snow arrived. By early Friday morning, we had eight or nine inches piled up around the porch and deck. The plowing was adequate so it was no problem to drive Patti to UMass Medical School where she attended the day-long 19th annual Griffin Symposium.

Dr. Griffin was one of the original physicians that Patti worked with at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UMass. The symposium covered breakthroughs in care for neonatal patients and she earned some CEU's for attending. Even after over 40 years of nursing, there is still a lot that can be learned. Upon leaving the symposium, Patti and I stopped at Sonoma for a few drinks. We always like to visit this restaurant. For the past dozen years, it was in Princeton but recently relocated to the Beechwood Hotel. So, now it's open seven days a week from morning to night in support of its role as the hotel's primary restaurant. And, it's only a few blocks from the hospital where Patti works.
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Reading Update: As a somewhat political junkie, that is to say, I enjoy reading about the significant political leaders, (and not the toads we see currently on the talk shows) I find it fascinating to read about national leaders such as Strom Thurmond. There is nothing about this guy that makes me want to know more about him - on the surface. But, if I have learned anything, it's important to get more information than the slim pickings on the national TV news broadcast. Even the occasional in-depth newspaper or magazine article seldom gets to the root of who are the real players and why things have turned out the way they have.

"Strom" is a look at the political and personal life of Strom Thurmond. This is the guy who ran for President for the single, simple reason that he was a racist. Yet, he was more than just a Southern slob; he was one of the most powerful voices in Washington DC for decades. It's important to know how he got there; how he hung on; how he could switch parties and prosper in the decades of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. It's a fascinating read and worth the time.

Shopping, Olive and Lucy, Toadstool, Road Trip

Update - November 4 - November 10

Pre-Holiday Shopping Adventure

Here's to California

California They Say

We like to shop for the holidays as an excuse to take a drive, see some sights, grab a fun lunch, jump into a local pub for some refreshments, and if at the end of the day we have bought nothing; that’s okay, we’ll just give cash. On Sunday we went up Route 9 to the Natick Mall. Sometime last month we had stopped in at Shopper’s World, especially to visit World Market, so this time we went further East to the next mall. It’s got Crate and Barrel and others like that where we can see holiday decorations and get some ideas for home decorating.

The mall also has some fun eating places, such as Cheesecake Factory. This visit found us at the California Pizza Kitchen. The name’s a bit of a misnomer, as pizza does not dominate the menu as much as it sounds. I went straight for the fish tacos and Patti found a wrap sandwich that was destined to have leftovers. The menu ranges from Chicken Piccata to Cedar Plank Salmon; not exactly what you expect in a “pizzeria kitchen.”

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Closing In on New Management Company

On Monday I met with another prospect to take over as our condominium association management company. My plan is to have written proposals in hand by Friday, so the Trustees can consider them next week, and be ready to accept an offer by the end of the month. This company was among the larger agencies that we are considering. There are advantages to going with a smaller firm as there are disadvantages. The Trustees will have to consider what makes the most sense. Any of the four finalists, in my view, is very capable and would work out for us. We’ll see.

It Was a Five-Story Afternoon

Olive Helen Perras

Tuesday was a hectic day with Olive and Lucy dropped off early. Olive was her usual happy self until she became hungry. She tends to not get all the way through the feeding before becoming cranky. She has difficulty getting that burp up to make room for the rest of her meal, so she complains loudly. Patti patiently rocked her and burped her so that she could finish her bottle. Later, Olive became cranky and wouldn’t take her nap; so, I took her and walked with her until she calmed down and went to sleep. She slept on my chest while I sat in my favorite chair for over an hour. She seemed to be content with the warmth of lying in my arms. When she woke, she was ready for a change and another meal. It’s a process.

Lucy and her sister, Olive

Lucy got in the mood for reading today, which resulted in five books (one was read twice). She has her favorites but is always open to the new books that I have each week. I had to read certain “loud” passages a bit quietly, as Olive was in the same room sleeping. Lucy likes to have the “shouted” parts of the text delivered at high decibels. If you don’t read it loud enough, she steps in and shouts it herself. That always leads to laughter on her part.

Thursday Was Perfect for a Road Trip

Patti Resisting Urge to Buy

As Patti had to work on Wednesday, she was in the mood for a road trip on Thursday. We elected to head north and see what developed. In the back of my mind was reaching Peterborough where we could find a favorite bookstore and a restaurant that I know Patti always enjoys. I decided to take Route 31 straight north out of Holden and kept going until we got to New Hampshire. It was a pleasant ride, we even tried to glide into the auto road to the top of Mount Wachusett, but the gate was closed. Probably for the season. Anyway, we kept going. We crossed into Rindge NH and then into Peterborough.

We made a familiar stop at the Peterborough Basket Company. The outlet store has a variety of baskets on display and the operator of the store was very friendly. We established that we both knew downtown Worcester and he asked about Cedar Street, as it was where is Grandmother had lived years ago when he would visit from Newton. I mentioned that Cedar was very familiar to me as it was a place I visited frequently growing up in Worcester. That’s where the Science Center and Natural History Museum used to be. They were replaced by what is now known as the Ecotarium on Harrington Way. He mentioned that the outlet was offering a 20 percent discount this weekend, but he would extend it to us today if we made a purchase. As it turned out, we didn’t, but it was certainly an appreciated gesture.

Peterborough is Home to the Toadstool Bookstore

Took Advantage of 20 Percent Off Sale

There are three Toadstool bookstores. I visit each of them at least once a year, and Peterborough often more than that. The other two are in Keene and Milford NH. These stores were among those that I included in my travel book, A Vacationer's Guide to Rural New England Bookstores. The theme of the book is that various “destinations,” for vacationer’s throughout New England are blessed with great independent and used bookstores. Toadstool is a classic example. A large, strong collection of books, operated as a local venture, with a large, strong section displaying used books. And, in the case of the Peterborough locations, it includes an in-store café too. Perfect for the book hound.

I picked up two books in the Used Book annex; The Last Open Road, by Burt ‘BS’ Levy (a signed copy) and Wheels for the World by Douglas Brinkley, an epic telling of Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress. Levy’s book is a work of fiction, but I’m sure it’s really a semi-sanitized autobiography with elements of fantasy rolled in. He self-published back in the 1990’s when major publishers turned him down. It’s now a well-known classic that continues into its fourth printing. I like to see that. The book about Ford should be enlightening, given that it’s Douglas Brinkley doing the research and writing. There is probably no more outstanding writer about historical figures than Brinkley.

What Do You Mean, “We Don’t Have Any Johnnie Walker Red?”

Patti and I stepped into Harlow’s Pub for a quick drink before we finished up our tour of downtown Peterborough. The pub had been labeled “a hippy place,” by a local when we asked where was a good place to get a drink? I understand where the hippy reference came from, but in reality, this was no hippy bar. It’s a well-liked local restaurant with an eclectic menu, eclectic look, and an eclectic clientele. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t have Johnnie Walker Red scotch, and its only gin is Hendricks. So, you can see why it’s viewed as non-traditional. We both got a drink and after viewing the menu, I’m sure we will stop in to eat something the next time we visit Peterborough.

Four Management Company Proposals in Hand

As of Friday, we have four written proposal in hand. I made copies of the proposals so that the Trustees may review them. I’m preparing a brief outline/grid that will help with comparison points on the proposals so that the Trustees can evaluate them and determine which candidates they may want to interview directly, before making a decision.
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Reading Update: I just finished reading, "Of Arms and Men," by Robert L. O'Connell, (an autographed copy), which is a history of war, weapons, and aggression from early man through the nuclear age. At one point he uses the phrase, "Man was born with a weapon in his hand," which goes to the heart of his thesis (he's a professional army intelligence analyst and arms negotiator) that if we understand man's relationship to weapons perhaps we can learn how to limit its use. The book is profoundly alarming and I recommend that you read it if you can. I will loan you my copy.

World Series, Halloween, Management Search

Update - October 27 - November 3

-- World Series Was Exciting

David Price on the mound

It seemed to me that David Price should have been selected as the MVP for the World Series this year. His three wins and his preparedness to come out of the bullpen earned him that recognition.

In fairness, others may have been as good a choice, but my vote would have been for Price. Four championships in 15 years were not something I could have predicted. Now, I’m greedy to win again next year

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-- Holiday Fun all Week

Lucy and her Halloween Friends

Halloween dominated a lot of activities this week, especially for Lucy, who had a lot of fun with specialty cupcakes, candy, and a dinosaur costume. She posed in the costume and admired her “growling” practice in the full-length mirror.

Her baby sister had to settle for a “pea pod” outfit, which tended to overheat her. So, the costume didn’t last long. Patti decorated the house for Halloween, including a lot of autumn colors and various vignettes to accent the season.

-- Being Neighborly

Tyrannosaurus Lucy

Our new neighbor stopped by to ask our opinion on how many Trick or Treaters would show up on Halloween. Our experience over the past 10 years has been that between 20 and 30 kids will show up, although some years we have had double that. I offered that if they ran out of candy, they should pop in for some more from us as we were wildly over-supplied this year. 

This year Lucy was a Tyrannosaurus Rex. In the past years, she has mostly been Supergirl. Last year she was a robot. Her Dad had customized the outfit so it had glowing lights attached to make it look like she was "computing" how much candy she collected. This year's costume looks like a simpler online order. It was very effective.

-- Happy Hour at Harvest Grille

Patti's Shipyard Pumpkin Ale

We have discovered that the Happy Hour bar menu and prices at the Harvest Grille make a lot of sense. Each item on the bar menu is $5 and the drink specials are equally well-priced. The Quesadilla, the Calamari, and the Fish Taco combined to $15 and still resulted in leftovers. That’s hard to do nowadays. And Patti’s 12 oz Shipyard Pumpkin Ale, rimmed with cinnamon, was only $4.50. That’s also hard to beat these days.

The Harvest Grille is in the location of the Jefferson House, once a very famous and popular restaurant and pub. Over the past few years, it has changed hands a few times and seems to have not gotten a strong foothold in the neighborhood. The current owner has the place jumping on Friday and Saturday nights, as we have more than once, driven over to the place and found that both parking lots were overflowing with cars. That's a sign we won't find a comfortable table in the pub, so we moved on. But, I'm not complaining. We mostly visit on weekdays, and the crowds are not so intimidating.

-- Sign of the Season and the Harvest Grille

-- Progress on Finding New Management Company

As of today, I have screened a dozen property management companies with the intention of inviting some of them to submit a proposal. Five of the prospects declined to apply. Four have agreed to submit a proposal and a few others are pending. The process is different at each company as some as large and others are small. The smaller ones tend to put the owners on the phone. The larger companies have middle managers and specialists handle the process. As we are a small neighborhood, I tend to favor the smaller companies; but, we’ll have to see how it goes. The goal is to be ready with a new management firm in place by the end of the year. I sent an update email to the Trustees to let them know our progress so far.

-- Flip Flops is Still One of our Favorites

Here's your wine.

On her way home from shopping, Patti called and said, "Let's go to Flip Flops." She got no argument from me on that. It's only a few minutes from the house and always worth the trip.

By the time I pulled in, she had already grabbed a table along the window wall. There is plenty of parking behind the building and now that they have added a bakery to the front of the place, we have another reason to stop in often.

On Friday evening, we both ordered some wine and I had a chance to get some muscles. I love them, but it's one of those things I don't make at home, so I have to wait for a dine-out opportunity to get them. The appetizer order is large enough to satisfy me, so it's also a good bargain.

Flip Flops is a comfortable, fun restaurant, with a bakery in the back.

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Reading Update: This week I had some extra time so I was able to get some extra reading in. As I spent my time in the Air Force just at that moment in time when the SR-71 Blackbird was making it's most significant impact on world affairs, I have continued to be fascinated with anything that helps describe how the aircraft operated and what it accomplished. In 2008, Col. Richard H. Graham, USAF (ret.) wrote "Flying the SR-71 Blackbird."

This is an account of his operation of the aircraft and specifically how his flights were planned, how it operated, how he had to fly it and the types of missions he flew. It provided details that we had only been able to speculate about previously. I am now on the search for copies of his other books: "SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story," and "SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales, and Legends." I'm sure they will be as entertaining and informative as this one.

The other book I read was "Lillian Hellman, An Unfinished Woman," a memoir by Lillian Hellman. Notably, Lillian Hellman was a most prolific playwright and this book allows her to reveal her innermost thoughts about her life-long relationship with Dashiell Hammett, noted author of The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man, and other important celebrities such as Dorothy Parker.

Her life included travel to Spain during the civil war and Moscow and Leningrad during the Second World War. It was fascinating to read about how she came to write her famous plays, The Little Foxes, Watch on the Rhine, The Autumn Garden, and Toys in the Attic. They remain as important and controversial as when first produced. My copy of this book is a First Edition (1969) with an autographed inscription from Lillian.

Babysitting, Book Buying, Leaf Peeping, Shopping, and Lunch Out

Update - October 21 – October 27

-- Paige Visits to Help with Baby Olive

Paige Wright

My niece Paige has no college classes on Tuesday, so she asked if she could come over to the house each Tuesday to help care for Lucy and Olive. Patti and I agreed that it was a good idea and have encouraged her to come any time she wants. This Tuesday, Paige stopped by and immediately began helping with feeding, bathing, and rocking Olive to sleep. She also spent some quality time with Lucy including some effort guiding Lucy with coloring within the lines.

As Patti has spent over 40 years in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at UMass Memorial Hospital, she has the ideal technique for instructing anyone who wants to know how to care for an infant. In a mere moment, she can make any fussing or squirming by Olive turn into smiles and gurgles. Changing diapers, preparing formula for the bottle, and proper cradling for feeding are made easy for all. Paige has a light college schedule right now, so she has the time to visit and spend time with Lucy and Baby Olive. I know she enjoys it and it's always helpful to have additional hands around when one baby wants to sleep and the other wants to be outside trying out the bicycle. 

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-- A Visit to Gale Library Book Cellar Yields New Treasures

Anything Named Olive Must be Great

Lucy has a large appetite for books, as I do, so I try to add one or more to her collection each week. At the public library bookshop, I can buy children’s books for 50 cents apiece; sometimes less. So, I keep my eye open for anything I think Lucy will like. This trip found two books; one was the Bunny Rabbit’s Assistant and the other was Olive and the Embarrassing Gift. I could not resist a book with “Olive” in the title. I read it and decided it was a fun story with a good life lesson, so I picked it up.

I also bought several other books for my own reading: Bridge of Spies by Giles Whittell; The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick; Hegemony or Survival by Noam Chomsky; The New Russians by Hedrick Smith; The Yom Kippur War, edited by Moshe Davis; and Jerusalem by Karen Armstrong. My total investment, including the children’s books, was $12.

-- Learning About the Wachusett Reservoir

Patti and Old Stone Church

Patti had Friday off, so we decided to make a run to BJ’s Wholesale Club where we could find things in boxes and bags big enough for someone running a restaurant, or for our household lately. Why buy 10 rolls of paper towels when you can buy 24? I guess I’m still low on the learning curve as far as the value in bulk buying for a mostly retired couple.

As part of the run to the wholesale club, we included a stop for some further leaf-peeping and photo-taking. We stopped at the Wachusett Reservoir near the Old Stone Church to get some shots. I also took the time to read about the newly completed irrigation and run-off system installed around the reservoir to cut down on pollutants draining off into the reservoir. The whole concept and design were impressive and I’m glad to see that it was done in a manner that allows it to be instructional for visitors to better understand how the reservoir is being protected.

-- Lunch in Shrewsbury at Burton’s Grill and Bar

Lunch at Burton's

I was in the mood for fish tacos and Patti was hungry but didn’t know what she wanted. So, Burton’s Grill and Bar was a good choice. They have a big menu, so I knew Patti would find something she liked. It turned out to be the Mediterranean Chicken Risotto and I got the “street” tacos. Very good. She got some exotic drink and I got a glass of wine. We agreed we liked the service, the atmosphere, and the food, so it was a good visit. Burton's is in the complex of residences, businesses and retail services that took over space where Spag's used to be. It's sad that Spag's is gone, but I'm happy to see the area upgraded this way. 

-- Bonus Visit from Olive and Lucy on the Weekend

Lucy and Paige; Artists

Olive Helen Perras

Corinne had an appointment for Saturday afternoon, so, even though Patti had to work, I agreed to take both granddaughters for the afternoon. Paige volunteered to help, so she came over in the afternoon. It was a fun day for everyone. When Baby Olive arrived, she was at the peak of interest in being fed. So, I took charge of giving her a bottle feeding while simultaneously pulling out the potty seat for Lucy to take into the privacy of the guest bathroom. I literally had my hands full; first with a squirming, hungry infant, and second with a squirming, desperate, four-year-old looking for some relief.

Paige, Lucy, Lilly, Marna, Olive

Things settled down when Paige arrived so that between us we could keep everyone occupied. Lucy really enjoyed the attention she got from Paige when it was time to draw. Together, they worked at the table creating various bits of artwork to share with everyone.

When Paige was dropped off, her sister Lily and her Mother, Marna, stopped in for a while to visit with Olive. Lucy requested that everyone pose for a photo - with her in the middle (naturally). So the photo is included here so that she knows her Papa will comply with reasonable requests.

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Reading Update: I picked up "A Safe Haven" by Allis and Ronal Radosh quite a while back at Yes Books, a used bookshop, in Portland, Maine, but only just got around to reading it. I have always been struck by the fact Harry Truman was President when I was born and as the years have gone by I have come to realize he was actually a very good President. This book deals with the issue of how Truman coped with the pressures on him, the country, and the world as the Jews tried to establish a homeland in what has become Israel.

Despite a lot of promises made by many over the years, it was to finally land on Truman's desk to make the final push that allowed Israel to join the family of nations. The book reads like a fast-paced novel with intrigue, deception, bitter conflict, and recriminations that if it wasn't all true would seem like preposterous myth-making. It's no myth, Truman made the choices at the time that went against political expediency and international trauma, to finally help Jews around the world find a "safe haven."

Air and Space Museum, American Indian Museum, Retirement Roast for Carey

UPDATE - October 14 - October 20

-- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is Special

Break Speed of Sound

On Sunday, one day before leaving Washington DC for home, Patti and I went downtown again to visit a few special places. Patti wanted to see the American Indian museum and the Newseum too. I wanted to see the Air and Space Museum again. I can never see the airplanes, the rockets, or the science enough.

At the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, there were whole sections, such as the exhibits about aircraft carriers, that I had not previously visited in depth. Each time I visit I learn more about the history and accomplishments of our military. As dramatic as the U-2 plane was, as it related to "spy" missions, against the Soviet Union, it was just as exciting to see the Wright Brothers flyer, which got all of us into the air, to begin with.

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-- American Indian Museum

Outrigger Canoe

This museum was beautiful. The four floors were filled with stories about the various tribes that populated America when the white man first arrived and went into extensive detail about what happened to the American Indian as a result of the white man's influence.

Of particular interest to me was the clarification of the role of Pocahontas and the Trail of Tears, which was the forcible removal of the Indian tribes under the direction and leadership of President Andrew Jackson. (See related story below) Any visitor to this museum will certainly come away with an improved understanding of what happened to the American Indian and what is happening up to now.

-- Returned to Massachusetts for CDR Retirement Roast

Carey D. Rhoten, CEO, and Owner of The Hope Group officially retired this year and a gathering was held at Allora Restaurant to salute him on the occasion of his having finally sold the company to KLX Aerospace, recently acquired by Boeing. I drove back on Monday from Washington DC to be sure and attend the gathering as it was my final chance to wish him and his wife Pat well in retirement. As he had sold the business I had made it known I would not continue with the company after he finally left. We thought the sale would have happened by 2015, as originally planned, but it stretched into 2018. Pat and Carey will continue living on Cape Cod and in Florida where their new condo is being completed.

Carey D. Rhoten retirement roast Oct 15 2018

-- Petersham Country Store

Patti and I spent Friday on the road visiting apple orchards and leaf peeping. We got to three orchards during the course of the day - and naturally managed to stop at The Salem Cross Inn for lunch. Our day started by following 122A until we got to our common launching point: The Country Store in Petersham. We often buy groceries, puppets, jewelry, coffee, lunch, snacks, wine, books, games, maps, and more snacks.

It's a great shop and perfect for launching us on our way across the western part of the state to find colorful leaves. While the leaf peeping was not as good as hoped, we managed to find a few places to take pictures.



-- Touring Apple Orchards

Red Apple Farm

Our other major stops were the apple orchards. The three we got to before the day ran out was Breezeland Orchards in Warren, Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, and Brookfield Orchards in North Brookfield. We chose these locations today because we didn't want to collect apples off the tree, but knew they had baked goods including cinnamon donuts, pies, and dumplings.

We loaded up as we knew we would be having company visiting in the next few days. In most cases, the "picking" season was over, but the farms all had large selections of apple, maple, and other products.



-- UMass Daily Collegian "Cape Cod" Reunion

Heidi joined remotely

On Saturday, I drove to West Barnstable to join my fellow UMass Daily Collegian alumni at a gathering hosted by Dan Smith. Earlier this year, the students at the Daily Collegian hosted an event which brought back many former staff members from the region to attend a special event on campus.

Someone got the idea that we could hold a mini-reunion on the other side of the bridge to make it easier for "Capers" to attend. It was great seeing everyone and talking about the old days.

Reading Update: I finished reading Andrew Jackson, His Life and Times, by H.W. Brands.  It wasn't until Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States that America had its first, real Democrat; that is, someone who thought that the "citizens" of the country should have a say in how things are run.

If Washington, Adams, and many others had their way, it would only be the elite, white, male, propertied citizens with the authority to pick elected officials. Jackson was the breakout man. When he got elected it showed that popularism had taken root.