Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas 2012

 DiMartino's Home on Jackson Road is always decorated for the holiday season. I always enjoy it!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Back from Texas!

Last Wednesday afternoon/evening I decided on a spur-of-the-moment to travel to Dallas to be with a whole pack of relatives on my moms side of the family. The were all gathering for a "festivus for the restivus".....I had a great time, and am thankful to all of them for letting an "outsider" join in the party.

Okay all you old Sharonite's out there around the country......here's one for you...


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Sharon Town Hall


The lights are on in the offices, so the employees must be all at their assignments, keeping Sharon running......

The wreaths and greenery all add a nice touch during this holiday time.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Mitcheltown Bridge work finally begins...



Safety was of great importance when the Selectmen closed the Mitcheltown Road to thru traffic a number of years ago now, as the bridge was deemed not safe for travel. After a great deal of "discussions" with neighboring property owners, work which has been basically stalemated has begun.

 I live on the other side of town, so the road really didn't affect my traveling much, but I am sure those who live near-bye will indeed appreciate getting the road open again. I also understand how the owner of the major property adjoining it must have certainly enjoyed not having a cars going thru. The family owns much land in the area, on both sides of the road, and making it private must have indeed been nice, for sure. But, the road was there long before any of us came to be, and the town voted to not "sell" it to the family, so therefore it needs to be fixed. Enough time has gone by. Onward!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

always the last ....

just up the hill, this guy is always the last maple to shed his leaves.....


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Flipped

Al and I flipped shifts today at the store as he wanted to attend a family function this evening. That gave me the opportunity to have a nice breakfast at home with Clare this morning. After that , we ventured over to Falls Village to help a friend program an automatic thermostat. That went well, and after that we went down the street to The Toymaker's Cafe. The cafe is a stop we need to frequent more often but never seem to get there. We had a great bowl of soup, shared a delicious homemade corn muffin and went home just as happy as can be. If you haven't been, I recommend it.


Work went well. I must admit, it is a good thing to switch with Al from time to time and work the afternoon/evening shift on Saturday. It's good to see and thank those supporters as well! Hope everyone had a good day out there, wherever you may be!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Five days does not make a week.

My last posting in my blog, Sunday I believe it was, was waiting for our big storm. Five days later it has come and gone. Lives have been changed forever. Landscapes have been changed forever. Lives have been lost. Miracles have happened. So much work has been done already, and so, so much more is yet to do. There will still be more storm-related deaths. The dollar losses are, well, just way higher than I can count. And they will climb for months to come.

But we Americans are a resilient group. It seems as though the worst brings out the best oft-times. It had better be to continue to do that now, for we surely need it. I just read where a fund-raising event for Connecticut is going on right now, and they are hoping to raise twenty thousand dollars. A lot of money, for-sure. But just a drop in the big bucket that it will take to return life pre-Sandi in Connecticut. Honestly, is it at this point in time even possible to think we will ever get to that point? For some, nothing can replace their losses, or fill their voids. But, we will strive to do so. We are Americans. It's what we do.



This was the scene just up from my home on Sunday. It didn't last long.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Pre-Sandi

       I went and picked up the generator on Saturday morning, as it had been away at the repairman's shop, getting fresh oil, a plug change and a complete go-over. I stopped and filled my five gallon can with fresh gas, plus the five gallons the generator tank holds on the way home. Today, Sunday, I slid in-between gas lines in Sharon to fill up three more more old jugs I keep around just for times like these. They hold another eight gallons or so. With all this, I think I have enough for two and maybe a half days of generator use, should the need arise. The forecast is looking for lots of wind beginning tonight (Sunday) through Tuesday. Here's hoping that all the tree trimming the companies have been doing this last last year help prevent long, wide-spread outages in our area. Watching the Weather Channel™ makes me glad I don't reside on a low coastline town this time around. I hope area residents there follow the experts advice and get out while they can.

Line-up next to the barn, where the wind shouldn't hit..

Gas lines....in Sharon no less...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

from inventive minds comes....

     In this day of computers, laptops, cellphones, iPads, Blackberry's, etc, etc, etc, it seems, at times there is no time for good, old-fashioned play. Everyone has to have "technology" to occupy their time. Well, I know one family where there is exceptions to this "rule" the world seems to have developed (maybe its just the U.S). 

     Meet my man Holden. This guy is, so it seems, is always coming up with something. Sure, he has his tech stuff too, but he just seems to come-up with fun stuff too. I stopped by to visit his parents one night a while back, and his mom said..."check this out.....a new approach to skateboarding"...



     Now, is that a look of determination or what? Hand-powered, stabilizer/brakes, all-in-one! He went easily a hundred yards or more while I was there watching....   :)

     I haven't been back to see if Holden and his dad have built a longer and wider skateboard, better suited for belly-boardin'!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

New Roof.....and more!

The old  Consignment Store/ Fitness Studio/Herrington's Lumber/Community Service Lumber building was recently gutted to the bone, and is being rebuilt completely. The most visible aspect to passer-byes is the new ribbed metal roofing. My two cents? Love it!


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Road Trip

Clare and I ran over to Cairo, New York this morning to see some store-related hardware and software in action. It was indeed a gorgeous morning for a ride. The air was clear and the foliage is, well, pretty much at its peak.We went over thru Stamfordville and out to the Taconic State Parkway, where we then went north up to 82. We then traveled west to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, crossed the Hudson and on to Cairo we proceeded . The ride was just spectacular in colors on the trees and shrubbery . The view of the river valley from the bridge was, well, a-may-zing!

On the way back, we took 82 all the way to Pine Plains,and then picked up 199. Along the way, and I am not sure in which township it was, we stopped at Green Acres Farm Stand. What a great time we did have there. Pumpkins, apples, gourds, indian corn for decorating,veggies, squash, home-made bread and a pie! Highly recommend a stop there if you are out for a ride in the coming days.....












Thursday, October 18, 2012

Gull in glide pattern

     Happened to catch this gull and a golden background which proved to be interesting. (at least I thought so...)


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Motif


~up on Bailey, there is this fishing shack. I have been taking pictures of this building since I was probably about eight years old, and had a brownie, or maybe an instamatic! I liked it in this photo against the clear fall sky and with the lobster boats in the harbor. Hope you agree!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Lobster Shack...Closed for the season

As I stated the other day, we made it to Maine for the weekend. Per usual, we visited Bailey Island. One of the businesses that is known or famous there is Cook's Lobster House. They have at Cook's a large main building, which is followed by a short stretch of a peninsula that has this neat little shack on the tip. In the summer, they set up a small tent next to it, and if a group should want to have an outdoor experience of a clam bake or lobster bake, they do it here. The tent, and the crowds are gone, and the cooking is now inside for the winter. But the colors of the shed....it's shining brightly on this late fall afternoon...on the left, in the back, you can see the worlds only cribstone bridge in the background.


Monday, October 15, 2012

Travel day

It is amazing what just a few days away from the norm can do for ones psych...... This trip to Maine has been fun and I am glad we made the effort. From a boat ride to LL Beans, and lots of good food, sea glass and laughs inbetween.... Now, for a safe ride home and we'll be all good!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Vacation

Got out of Dodge for the weekend. If you are a Sharonite, you probably remember the family named Garavoy. Today we met up with Kit Garavoy in Wiscasset, Maine who took us out on his 27' outboard. We journeyed all the way out the Sheepscot River to open water of the Atlantic! We then came back in to Boothbay Harbor, where we saw the Amistad and The Bounty! How crazily cool! Took lots of pics with my digital which I'll put up sometime in the future, after we get home and download...working on my phone now so no pics.,.nice to live in Sharon, nice to get away and see something different...bye all!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Cartoon show at the Library


~have you been yet? I want to go, but time has not permitted. Maybe next week.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Sunset from private lands in Sharon....


~it's been a number of days since we had a clear sunset like this in this neck of the woods. Our summer of gorgeous weather, and early fall of rain only at night is just a memory now.... Now it has turned into rain and clouds for many days it seems. What is the old farmer/indian tale....the swamps have to be full before winter can come? They must be getting there.....

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thank's Brian!


    Roadside mowing.....9-30-12.....Fairchild Road......

~sure like being able to see those varmints before they get in the road.....Thanks Brian!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Change #2

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. 
Maya Angelou 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Change.

"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." 
Steve Jobs 

Monday, September 24, 2012

One more day.....

The car is still in the garage. I never left the store. No story .

Tomorrow maybe!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Locked away

My camera has been locked away in Cat's car at the garage downtown. She swerved to save a squirrel but cut up her front tired on a culvert header on Friday. She now has my truck. I have my scooter. It will get repaired tomorrow, and I'll get my camera back and my blog can come to life again .

Probably just as we'll I didn't have it... Been working in the cellar way all weekend, and as Bob says.... Boring!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Still kicking....

Of Sharon's various "outlaws", one of recent times has been the son of the late, great Art Hall. His name? Tom. Tom Hall. Notoriously known in these parts as the former owner of the Snack Shack in Canaan, and the Country Corner and before that The Ironworks Restaurant in Sharon, Tom had disappeared from the radar but I caught upright him recently to grab this mug shot. Tom Hall. One of the only people I know who went thru the Clocktower intersection at 115mph! On a snowmobile @ 2:30 in the morning! And that was actually a mild maneuver for him!

Tom Hall. Still kicking!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Never under-estimate the quality of an iphone™ camera..

Today I heard a relatively loud chopper flying over, and I happened to have my iphone with me.....I walked out looked up, and snapped in the direction of the sound, as it was also looking into the sunlight. I just downloaded the pic, and not only did I get the chopper, I got a rather large bee or wasp who was flying thru at the same moment....! See it against the white cloud, to the right of the chopper?  :)



Is it Two-day?


Over Sharon last evening at dinner hour. I don't own photoshop™...this is how it was.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

He huffed, and he...

So we had a bunch of rain yesterday, hard at times, and a bunch of wind in certain locations. Found these two down on South Main...

Certainly has been a year for "thinning out" the tree population in Sharon.....



Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Rip and tear..


This was the scene yesterday afternoon at the old Community Service on Gay Street as contractors started removing siding and the thin insulation which was underneath. I have no idea what is going on other than I heard they are planning on renovating the entire building, top to bottom. If so, wow! That will be a chunk of change in todays pricing.... I saw a very reputable local builder there so I bet if the above is true, it will certainly be a good job.


Anyone else remember when there used to be a gas pump out front, right in the middle? It's been a while. I know the mayor remembers.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

No story today

Church. Lunch. Amenia for joint compound: closed for inventory :( . Home and more trimming in the cellar way. Primed the bare wood. Sanded some of the thin areas of yesterday's joint compound. Washed up and had some supper. Bed. Oh ya....Tylenol.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

...so it took a little while...

     I moved into my house about twenty-four years ago. Today I emptied all the brooms and dustpans, posters and white board, extra stock on facial tissue and paper towel and cat food to the cellar below, and went to work making the stairwell from the first floor to the cellar presentable. I say presentable as I am but an amateur at spreading joint compound and making walls look real nice is not exactly one of my strengths. I did a bunch of carpentry too, putting in some sheetrock and "trimming out" the end of the walls with pine and trying to make it look like something. I have a table saw down cellar that  I used to rip lots of old pieces of #2 pine to help clean things up. I had a two gallon pail of joint compound that was about half-full when I started, and its now empty.  I started at around 3, and I just stopped at 9:45! (so I'm not fast either!)

     But you know what? It's coming, if I do say so. Find some more joint compound and get second coat on tomorrow, and I should be ready to maybe sand on Monday night. Couple coats of priming, and a couple of finish, and then paint the stairs and I should be in good shape! Oh..gotta do some kind of baseboard for the landing yet...almost forgot.


     I must admit.....it was kinda fun, doing all the wood work and thinking that we can get this project off the list. Colors you ask? Thinking a colonial light yellow, with some light grey stairs.









Oh.... If anyone who is good at spreading joint compound has a desire to come help me out.....come on up! All help gratefully accepted!

Seasonal change

Another way to know the season is starting to change? Check your local wine shop, as the reds are suddenly starting to be in demand again. Personally, I like when the whites come in demand....

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Slim pickin's (or should I say cuttings?)

 As we all know, there are a still a few working farms in the area, and of the ones that are left, there is one quite large, in terms of the number of head that they milk each day. That farm would be the Jacquier Farm, up in East Canaan.

 In order to keep all those girls fed, The Jacquier's acquire silage from all over our seven town area, and also from a number of towns in New York State as well. If you go back into last year in my blog, you can see them loading trucks and drawing from the old Austin Jackson land on Jackson Hill Road. On this particular morning, I found where they had laid down their last cutting (3rd?) farther up here on the hill, at the corner of Fairchild and Lucas. If my memory serves me correctly, this was not cut when I came home at night, yet done when I left for work early in the morning. They're working while we are sleeping!

 So, not much here, but every bite counts when it comes to feeding probably close to two thousand head ( I honestly don't know how many they have currently, but I do remember a few years back them saying they were at 1400 or so.) Not a lot compared to out west, but by far the largest in our immediate area. Good thing there are enough tracts of open land left so they can acquire what they need to meet their needs...