Spontaneous trips are best

Minggu, 18 Mei 2014


Yesterday while lunching with my sister I mentioned that I might go to Rockport in the evening to photograph the sunset. I told her I wanted to do something fun. We have two parents not in the best of health so weekends are not always fun.


"Aw, I want to go!", my sister said. So we made a plan for the evening. We would have dinner in Rockport and watch the sun set. Our spontaneous outings are always the most fun. Less plans equal a better time.



We had dinner at Brackett's Oceanview, a gem of a restaurant on the main drag in town. We split a clam roll and I had a cup of chowder too. Since we didn't call for a reservation we did not get an oceanview table. We didn't care. We were by the ocean on a beautiful night.


After dinner, we walked down to the boat launch. We could hear the waves rolling in. The breeze was just perfect. The temperature was cool, just to my liking. The sights and sounds were heavenly. I love exploring off the beaten path.



We did not think we would get a glorious sunset and we didn't but we didn't mind. It was peaceful by the boat launch and the sky with it's soft pastel hues was magnificent.


The houses by the ocean are not mansions but they have such charm. My sister said the trees over the red house looked spooky and should be in Salem not Rockport.


The sky got pinker as we stood watching the colors develop. I could have watched all night. It is such a special place. I think it could heal whatever ails you.


Here's a better picture of the spooky trees. As you can see, the houses are modest here.


I was losing the light at this point so forgive the blurry photos. Tulips in a garden by the sea.


You see this type of garden and fencing on Cape Cod too. Beach gardens are fascinating to me.

After we viewed the gardens, we walked downtown. We browsed through the merchandise at Wicked Peacock and conversed with the owner. Further down the street, we started talking with some women who were fundraising for Rockport Fireworks and Illumination Night. August 9th will be a fun night in Rockport. There will be lanterns hung in the town center and fireworks over the harbor. We marked our calendars and gave a small donation. This is a grassroots effort by a couple of women. Very inspiring!


Speaking of illumination, we walked back to the other end of Main Street and marveled at the newly constructed Shalin Liu Performance Center. This building is set oceanside and behind the stage is a glass window with the ocean behind it. It is the coolest venue for a concert. The outside is just as impressive. Functions are held here too.


Here's a closer look at the Performance Center. I hope to see a concert there this Summer. But even if I don't get tickets I will definitely be back to relax, hear the crashing of the waves and watch the pink skies over Rockport.

Quote of the Day

Rabu, 14 Mei 2014


 
“Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.”
Hermann Broch

What we've been up to at Cafe Chatelaine

Sabtu, 03 Mei 2014


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!

And the winner is ...

Kamis, 17 April 2014


Percy is just busting at the seams. He wants to reveal the name of the winner of the Susan Branch autographed book.

So, without further ado...




Laura Jenkins! You are the winner of the Susan Branch autographed book. I used the trusty random number generator to pick a winner.

Congratulations Laura, please email me your address. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Susan Branch's birthday and a blog giveaway

Sabtu, 12 April 2014


Today is Susan Branch's birthday. If you read my blog often you will know I am a big fan of Susan's. Susan and I have much in common. We both love animals and we have lookalike cats. Her Jack really looks like my Oscar. We are both foodies, love England and tea, and then of course there's Martha's Vineyard. She lives there and I would love to have even a Summer home there.

 
I met Susan twice at two book signings. Last Summer, I met her in Sandwich, Massachusetts for the signing of her book, "A Fine Romance".  Here's the original book with Susan's handwriting. Susan's husband let me get a peek at it.


So since it's Susan's birthday, I thought I would celebrate by giving away a copy of this book. I bought an extra copy at the book signing and I told her I was going to give it away on my blog.

So, here's what you need to do. Leave a comment on this post. I am not going to make you follow my blog but I do hope you will come back. I'll draw the winner on April 15th and I may even throw in a few extra goodies!

The Subject is Selfies

Kamis, 10 April 2014



Percy fancies himself a model. So when I caught him with my phone in his paw I knew I needed to teach him proper selfie technique.



First, I told him to find your light. Your face always looks better in the light.


We decided to go with a soft filter on Instagram to soften our wrinkles.


I think he's got it! Just a little more to the left.





Oops, I think we moved. Practice will make perfect and I am sure he will get his whole face in the shot very soon.


I decided selfies are fun. When I met a friend for coffee, we took a selfie.


And tonight at my sister's art reception, we went all out and did our best imitation of the famous Ellen selfie. Ellen I hope you are reading this.

So how about you? Do you selfie?
 

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