What we've been up to at Cafe Chatelaine

Spending a relaxing evening at home on a Saturday. I love it. I love to have no plans and just unwind every once in a while, don't you?

Earlier I took photos of the Wyoming neighborhood in Melrose. The trees had flowered. So pretty!

The building ahead is so cool. Condos upstairs with rooftop decks and retail space below. The building is quite old.

The commuter rail station or the T station as it is called in these parts, is always gorgeous this time of year.

Has a bit of an Asian feel with the tree in full bloom and all the windows in the waiting area.

I used to watch the comings and goings at the station from the bakery across the street. Sadly the neighborhood bakery closed last year.

The area can be bustling depending on the time of day. Not so around 7 PM on a Saturday.

Apple blossoms were fragrant and plentiful near my friend's house today. I got a nice whiff as I walked by.

We gathered for a Kentucky Derby Party. My horse didn't even place or show.

Earlier, I watched people sitting in the sun outside Starbucks. It was exciting to see the Sun. It so rarely appears anymore.

The Sun was out on Friday morning when I took this shot from my dining room window.

I had lunch with my sister at Aroma Café on Friday and I discovered caramel cappuccinos. Bad, very bad!

Oscar was finally ready for his close up last week. I don't know why he is so shy around the camera, he is such a handsome boy!

Molly with her beautiful eyes and magnificent whiskers is happy to oblige the paparazzi.

This happened on Monday. It was cold and my upstairs neighbor's heat kicked on. Her radiator was leaking and the water came through to my ceiling. She has agreed to pay for the painting of the ceiling so I can't complain.

Percy inspected my new mug. I bought it at the Melrose Arts Festival last Saturday.

Molly pretends she is under a sun lamp. It was the only sun she was going to get pretty much all week.

I bought my cat mug from Julie Fox, a local potter. I really like her work.

Thom Ciulla, a photographer from Melrose, made this art piece. The base is an old wallpaper roller and he added vintage sheet music to ceiling fan blades. It is a steampunk dragonfly. I had a nice conversation with him about steampunk and photography.

My friend Lisa O'Connell of Snap Kick Studios had lots of cool items for sale. I bought a digital print of a Provincetown Shack from her. I love it.

My sister and I had been invited to our friend Jolie's for dinner. You may remember Joie as the person with the killer Christmas parties. She is a fantastic cook as evidenced by these cream puffs.

Poor Buddy was waiting for me to drop some of my dinner. Sorry Buddy, no chance I was sharing anything. It was too good!

Chicken with lemon extra virgin olive oil, panko, thyme, oregano. Mini raviolis stuffed with gorgonzola.

Oh my, oh my. Jolie said she just threw it together. I don't even want to discuss when I try to just throw something together.

This was the salad. This could have been the meal. Fresh and absolutely yummy!

I had friends over for dessert Easter evening. This has become a tradition for the last few years.

Everybody brought something for dessert. Mary made a cream cheese pie. To die for! My lustreware kitty pitcher made an appearance.

I bought a Easter Bunny chocolate pound cake and put him in a vintage crate.

Oh yeah, I served my favorite cheese, white stilton with mango and ginger. Everyone loved it.

 

Here's a shot of the tablescape. If I don't take a photo before the guests arrive, I often forget.

Oscar was preoccupied with the birds outside the window. That bookcase turned window seat works perfectly for the kitties.

Easter Mass was beautiful at Saint Patrick's Church in my hometown.

I've been using my Boston Strong wine bottle as a night light in my kitchen. The loving cup I bought a few years ago is a vase turned utensil holder.

Now you are all up to date with the goings on at Café Chatelaine. Hopefully the weather will turn warmer and drier and I can do a few daytrips. Then I'll really have something to blog about!

My take on photography

As a Board Member of the local Chamber of Commerce, I am supposed to volunteer my time.  Some of our Board Members work on the finance committee or conduct membership drives. I photograph events for the Chamber.

Yesterday, there was a ribbon cutting, ho hum! Not the most exciting thing to photograph. Usually a handful of people show up, all related to the new business owner. I am sure it is momentous for them and of course I am happy they are starting a new venture but, for me, it's basically photographing a lineup.

I got everyone assembled on the front steps. This is a yoga studio and inside was not really an option once I saw the number of people to be in the photo. I took the traditional photo. I always take several shots at pretty much the same angle. People blink, move, talk and everyone needs to look good in a photo for the newspaper. For example, someone has her eyes closed in the first row in the photo above.

Next, the woman has opened her eyes, I can see the new business owner looks good, the Mayor is in the shot, oops the little girl in purple looks angry.

I notice I can't see everyone. I ask people to move. Some do, some don't. It's Friday afternoon, I want to go home and they want to party I'm sure.

Yay, the little girl has moved. Now the scissors are closed. We probably want them to be open.

Oh great, now I notice the woman in the back has sun rays coming out of her head.

Oh, I decide to back onto the street so I  can use my zoom. I close in but not enough and the bush to the right is bothering me. Well, that can be cropped.

The Mayor decided to speak. I love to hear the Mayor speak. He has a way with words and he is inspiring. He is down to earth and genuine and completely supportive of his City's businesses and of the Chamber.

I decided to keep snapping as he was speaking. I was watching everyone listen to his speech about Joy, the business owner. It was really inspiring. Joy has built quite the business in Melrose. She runs a boot camp in Melrose and now a yoga and wellness studio. She is a true entrepreneur.

Some people are still aware of the camera and others are not. Interesting. Maybe I will get the shot I really want.

Joy, the blonde wearing gray, is surrounded by the people who care about her most and they are here to support her in her new business. She was beaming. She photographed well in every shot. Her happiness was shining through.

I zoom in closer, hoping to get a few nice candids. People are not focused on the camera, this is good

And there it is. The happy business owner, the applause by the crowd, the movement of the hands. Proud mama in the blue on the left, lady in the back with a fantastic expression of happiness on her face and the sweet smile of the woman in black holding the ribbon.  Yes, some people are not totally visible but this shot is the money shot. This is the shot that captures the joy of a business opening. This is the shot I envisioned. Snap, I got it!

Melrose Victorian Fair

It's September and that means it's time for the Melrose Victorian Fair. Each year the fair seems to get bigger and bigger.  Booth spaces numbered 187 at last check and then there were the artists and crafters at Artisan Alley. A large section of Main Street is closed every year to accomodate the crowds.  Some years, the attendance is over 10,000.

This year's fair was a wonderful blend of community organizations and the business sector. Students sold items as fundraisers for their sports teams.

I went clothes shopping at my favorite booths, hoping to achieve the Melrose chic look like this staffer at the Rada Boutique booth.

My co-workers were on hand to answer questions about banking and to give away some cool items.

The day started out cloudy and then the sun came out and the temperature was perfect.

In my opinion, the best giveaway at the fair was a Tshirt from Full Circle Design.

Some people brought their dogs. In fact, I saw almost as many dogs as babies.

Turner's Seafood did a brisk business.  They were serving mini lobster rolls and clam chowder.

Center stage had a variety of performers. One could see Irish step dancers, karate demonstrations, and choral groups.

A municipal parking lot served as a mini carnival with games and rides.

Another cute dog takes it all in from street level.  I hope he enjoyed himself.

I liked these costumes the best of all the center stage performers. Melrose chic, mais oui!

I was asked to take a photo of this man who is 90+ years old.  He rode his bike to the fair and then relaxed outside the local Starbucks at the heart of all the action.

I told you dogs were plentiful.

Center stage was not the only place for performers. There were clowns and living statues.

This man wanted to talk about free speech and the democracy amendment question on the November ballot.

Kudos to the Melrose Chamber for organizing another first class Victorian Fair. It was a perfect day.