On the border....

...breakfast.

Or should I say, over the border breakfast?

Yes, we actually left the state for a late morning breakfast out today.

The south easternmost town in the state, Westerly, shares a river with the state of Connecticut and we ate at The Primetime Cafe which is just over the border on the other side of bridge(the restaurant is practically on the bridge itself, it is so close to the river).

Mr. F had banana pancakes, R(that's her in the red cardigan, and doesn't she look great in that shade of red?) had the famous Coconut French Toast(supposedly, this is what Conan O' Brien has ordered here--don't know if they still do, but his parents have a house near here and he has been spotted in town in years past when his show was in New York), and I had the Cinnamon Almond French Toast. Plus perfectly cooked home fried potatoes. Talk about overloading on carbs!

Typical April day, it was threatening rain under a grey sky, but warm. We walked back to Rhode Island and strolled through Wilcox Park. Not much blooming and the fountains weren't yet running, but it still looked pretty there. I managed to get R on the much-climbed-by- children-and-photographed "Goodnight Moon Bunny" sculpture. At first she was embarrassed, but then she obliged. When she was three years old, I had to help her up onto it and I was afraid to let go of the waistline of her pants in case she slid off(it is made of a slippery metal). Now I think her legs are as tall as the sculpture itself(or almost as tall).

I also was able to buy some art supplies at a place in Westerly, to restock my depleted supply of acrylic paints. Yesterday, J commented on an unfinished painting I have had up on an easel since....October.

My ghost painting.

In a way, I like how it adds to the ghostly look, being uncompleted. But J was sweet enough to nudge me towards painting again , when he found out I was low on paints. He was the one who suggested I buy some more paints today.

So, that has been my day pretty much--aside from my decluttering and cleaning out my closet and drawers.

And to make the day that much more exciting--I have a 7:30 PM mammogram appointment waiting for me. Whee....

One year ago.....

..on this date.

Out of curiosity(and because I couldn't get my brain to think of anything to write about tonight), I went back in my archives to see what I was doing/writing about exactly a year ago.

I wrote about and shared some photos from Wickford, a village near me.

A favorite place to just walk around,

sit and have some coffee or ice cream at an outdoor table,

do some people watching

do some duck and/or swan watching on the bridge

do some real or "window" shopping.

I had wanted to go there yesterday, in fact, but with the gusty winds I decided against it, and ate take-out falafel and drank French Martinis in the backyard instead.

The photo above (from last year's post), shows the corner of Brown and Main Streets. (clicking on it will give an enlarged view)

I have taken numerous photos of this same corner. Something about it--the brick building,

the fact that there is a used bookshop behind the green door,

the iconic "Main Street" sign post,

the red fire hydrant,

that there are almost always pedestrians(two-legged and four-legged)congregating there

appeals to me.

What were you blogging about a year ago? Has your life changed drastically, looking back? Mine hasn't changed much at all. That could be a good thing..or a bad thing.

What a difference....

...a day makes. Yesterday looked and felt like December. So cold and windy and grey and wet. The sea was churning and absolutely wild. I could hear it all the way from our house all night. I had to bring my seedlings and plants in pots indoors because of the cold. As soon as I got up and looked out the window this morning, though, I saw that it had turned around completely. Sun shining brightly, and when I let the dog out, I immediately felt the warmth. So strange how it could all change so dramatically in twelve hours. I wore flip-flops, exposing my white toes for the first time this year, as I walked Jewel. Supposedly, R is going to quickly clean up her room(although I hear her singing along with Adele behind her bedroom door, so I am not sure if she is actually picking up in there, or singing in front of her mirror), and we'll go do something later on(lunch outdoors by the river in Wickford, or a walk down to the bay with the dog?). I have freshly baked coffee cake to eat for Sunday brunch and the second episode of the new Upstairs Downstairs to watch tonight(for both of these things, I have Rosemary to thank, for inspiring me to bake and to watch). I might write a letter. I might finish cleaning out the garden beds. I might just sit out back in a deck chair and let the sun soak into me. ** update: turns out, it is way too windy out there to sit, unless you don't mind your hair being blown into your eyes every second and the sound of clanging windchimes from every house on the street(maddening), and not even being able to keep a book page open because the wind keeps flipping it.

I did go into the record shop yesterday(and bumped into Mr. F there) and bought the latest CD from Bettye LaVette(my sister has raved about her)--"Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook". Her version of The Beatles "The Word" is the best I have ever heard(it is the first song on the album, and I'll have to become better aquainted with the other songs on it).

Record Store Day

Newbury Comics, Newbury Street, Boston

"dusty violin maker shop small corner record store water holes for dreamers don't stop breathe more”

- The Record Store by Damien Rice

"I was introduced to lots of great music through my local record store. It was a place where people knew music and they knew me, and could make great suggestions and discoveries. Whether it is in the physical world or on-line, the value of a great and knowledgeable record store has not gone away"

- Peter Gabriel

"Growing up in Rhode Island, not really the center of the rock world, Independent record stores were like a community meeting place for kids who looked beyond the Top 40 charts and were open to hearing something other than what the big record companies told you should like. Any of the significant musicians of the past thirty years, I first heard and heard about through independent record stores from the music playing in the store, the true music fans/staff, and the independent magazines and music sold there. Independent stores are the only places where the history of music can still be found along with the next great music not just a few titles from a select few. Thanks to long missed stores like Sam's, Tom's Tracks, Moffat's, and Two Guys to "Still Doing It" Luke's and Newbury Comics. Support the little guy!!!"

- William Chalko

Woke up with the Prince song, Raspberry Beret in my head this morning.

Sort of appropriate since today is International Record Store Day.

I have to work today(eh), and there is a record(and CD) shop right next to where I work(yay!), so I'll definitely be popping in there to buy some new music on a lunch break.

If you are lucky enough to still have an independently owned record shop near you, don't deny yourself the musical adventure and feeling of discovery(which used to be so common to so many, but is now a dying thing...)today!

Support your indie record store.

The above quote mentioned "Sam's" and "Tom's Tracks" in Rhode Island--and it took me right back to those days , buying the latest XTC, The Fall, Julian Cope or Tom Tom Club LP, EP or 45 single. *sigh*

In Boston(I was a student there in the 80's), I used to buy at least one new record a week, mostly at Nuggets on Commonwealth Ave. in Kenmore Square. I wasn't even sure if they were still in business, so Googled them this morning and was elated to discover they are still there! Miraculous!

Of course, Newbury Comics , which started out as a closet size shop selling comics and punk 45 singles on Boston's Newbury Comics(moving down the street to slightly larger accommodations and then into a successful chain with 27 stores throughout New England) is still around.

This is a short blog entry --might have more to share about today, later.

Now, I have to jump into some clothes(maybe the new "old" clothes I bought at the consignment shop yesterday that make me feel like a 50's housewife), eat breakfast and go off to work.

Scented 13

For my Thursday 13 list this time, I have listed 13 perfumes I have pulled out of storage now that its spring. I have packed away the rich, spicy ones since I want to lighten up and wear my more floral and airy scents now.

1. "Ferre" Gianfranco Ferre (starts off with a pineapple note and dries down to a powdery iris)

2. "Oscar Bamboo" Oscar de la Renta (very different from anything else I wear, and just plain "pretty" but I wish it lasted longer on me)

3. "Skin Musk" (my old drugstore favorite--been wearing this since the 80's when it was made by Bonne Bell)

4. " Duende" Jesus del Pozo (I love this one so much, I even wear it from time to time in winter--such a driftingly soft and soapy scent that always makes me happy)

5. Terranova "Rain"(another oldie-but-goodie-a lily-of-the-valley and musk scent that smells green somehow))

6. Terranova "Sakura & Green Tea" (I am wearing this one today)

7. "Max Mara" (sugared lemon and magnolia)

8. "Noa Perle" Cacharel(I like this one on foggy, rainy days--it has a hazlenut note!!)

9. "Always" Avon (tulips and melon?)

10. "Wish Of Luck" Avon (cheap but cheery!)

11. Marc Jacobs "Essence" (creamy gardenia overload!)

12. Cerruti 1881 Lumieres d`Ete (a fresh breeze)

13. Elizabeth Taylor "Violet Eyes" ~~I can't believe I like this one so much and never would have thought I would be owning and wearing an Elizabeth Taylor scent which I always thought of as "old lady"(even though, yes, yes, that is probably the category I belong to by this time), but this is amazing! It actually makes me think I am smelling the color violet(but there aren't any violet notes in this, interestingly enough. Its like wearing a soft, violet hug, actually.