Last Friday was a pretty day. Between doctor appointments, getting cookies at Tatte in Wellesley, getting a sticker to use the town dump, going into best Buy and getting a new tv and setting it up. (We went larger this time and one that utilizes a better display technology), and then prepping some food for the next day which was…
Saturday we had a couple of friends over for a BBQ. It was such a nice fun time! We need to hang out more often. Anyways, I grilled up some salmon and roasted veggies, nothing too crazy. Then I went and bought a subscription for the Ring doorbell.
Sunday. Had to go to Marshfield to get the lobster roll we love so much and they close after Labor Day for the season. When we got there, though, it was a little iffy to see if we’d even be able to get one because they were running out. It was getting really close! The cut-off line was fast approaching! It would suck to go all that way and miss out.
We just made the cut! Two people after us was the cutoff line! LITERALLY just made it!
. Then back to Wellesley to put together a bookshelf which took me about an hour or so.
Currently watching: Vatican Girl. A selection by our BBQ friends this weekend! Thanks L&D!
We found this really great place for lunch yesterday but actually finding the place turned out to be a little difficult, mostly because it’s actually inside s parking garage! It was so weird to be in the garage, going through a door, and being instantly transported into a cute little café. This has got to be the strangest location for a café I’ve ever seen in my life! But as I said, the food was actually quite good!
Let’s see, Monday night I “snuck” into the gym to use the hot tub. Tuesday was just a regular type of day I guess, Wednesday was pretty uneventful as well. although I did watch Chronicle to see if there were any good restaurants to try out that had great views, and Bubble Bath looks like it could fit the bill but it also looks like a hassle to reserve the rooftop spots which is where I’d want to be. (Also, somewhat of a strange name if you ask me).
Currently Reading: Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations. This book is actually pretty cool in that each chapter is set in a different place and time in human history (or prehistory). The author intercuts his modern-day exploits with vignettes about an inhabitant of that time period doing activities that he discusses in the contemporary parts of the chapter, from 75,000 years ago in Africa to Rome in the 100 ADs, to China in 1200 and a bunch in between. I feel it makes it so much more interesting as if you were there doing what the people of that time did and felt.
Game time: Frog Puzzle. This starts off pretty easy but give it time!
I wanted to take a jaunt over to Newport Rhode Island yesterday to check out this marketplace that has umbrellas all set up hanging above one of the walkways throughout the complex. Got some amazing deals of some hoodies and shirts while we were there, so bonus. I also learned that two of the elephants from last years migration along the Breakers are now permanently installed over at the library a few blocks down so I had to check them out as well.
On the way back we hit our favorite vegan ice cream place in Providence. They have a vegan deli next door and I tried the “fake” ham and cheese. LD found she couldn’t eat it – it was just too “wrong” but surprising I was able to chow it down just fine, which is rather unlike me. I guess there really is no replacing the real thing!
We decided to go see Pretty in Pink playing as an outdoor movie at this neat little rooftop park in Cambridge down by Kendall Square. It was hot all day and there was a chance of rain but all our apps said it should be okay. We got in the parking garage and not a drop around. Coming out of the elevator of the garage to access the roof we were bombarded with a pretty heavy rainfall. Oh no! I said we should wait it out a bit. It started thundering. Still waited a bit. Finally we decided to cross the rainy park to this area on the other side that looked to be covered and had one of those pop up food thingies. After getting a burger and some mac and cheese with pulled pork (both were really good by the way!) the rain stopped and we were able to watch the rest of the movie!
Just as we were going to head back home, LD noticed that the skies looked pretty wild and there might be an opportunity for some interesting sunsety shots, and once again she was right! The sky had this amazing pinkish color to it and just the way that it reflected off the water of the river made it look like you were in some magical place, which I suppose we were.
This park is really cute plus it’s neat that it’s up on a roof. We might go back to see the Goonies playing there in September. Anyone is free to join us!
As usual, you can click any picture for the captions.
Gametime: Cloud Walk. I like to keep my brain sharp! I need to, I forget stuff all the time and can’t remember half the shit I need to!
A moment is not complete until you realise it is fleeting…
Last weekend down the Cape is in the books! The high point of Saturday though would have to be getting invited up to the deck above the restaurant there at Rock Harbor to enjoy the sunset. Mind you, the deck is someone’s apartment and a restricted area, so it was cool to be invited up there, just us and our two friends. Felt like a real excusive VIP experience! I also finally also get to check out “Staples Rock”, a silly little Orleans ‘attraction’ that’s gained a lot of traction lately. On the way down we usually stop at a place by the canal for lunch, I was jonesing for a clam plate. It did not disappoint. The Airbnb we were staying at had a piano which I played a bit.
The next day was even more fun. Also the weather has been gorgeous, but I digress. We started by hiking the Eddy Trail in Brewster, a favorite of ours. We love to get to the end where the cliff overlooks the miles of Brewster Flats below. It’s a great trail and pretty easy going. Then it was off to the pool and sun and some outdoor fun and games. Wrapped it up with a dinner with out friends and another beautiful sunset evening. (You can click through each pic for the captions).
I brought my professional camera down and took some shots but I haven’t processed them yet. I’ll post some of those up and soon as I find enough time to do so but the top photo of this post is a quick example!
Did a bunch of things around the house yesterday. I finally got around to installing the new doorbell. It’s pretty sweet how it senses when someone’s outside. Mostly good to know when an package has been delivered. Went to the hardware store and got some screws to help address some issues with the side door and got a new hibiscus plant to be planted in the corner now that the new fencing is just about done. Ended up watching some tv, the first part of that Billy Joel documentary for one. It’s really good but be prepared to watch it for a while – the first part is almost 2 and a half hours long. For lunch LD drove me over to the Bubbling Brook in Westwood where they have different food trucks on different days and yesterday was Capt. Mardens. I was jonesing for a clam plate. Must have been all that beach time we had the other day.
I had a great time at the pool yesterday. I must have spent at least 4 hours solid in the pool, which is a lot for me. We played water basketball, and I was very tired afterward but it was a lot of fun. I got a pretty good sandwich from a place called Café Sarina. I wish there were more places to eat up there but I guess that’s how it is. I love visiting the dog Mollie. She is so cute, but a little sassy, which I like. When we got home, we got takeout from a local place and watched a documentary about the Idaho college kids tragedy.
I was planning on going to Maine this morning but I was too tired so instead I went to LD’s gym and used the hot tub, which I needed since my arm and shoulder were a little sore from all the throwing and splashing in the water yesterday. Ended up chatting with the trainer there today. Pretty cool.
Then, this afternoon we decided to hit the beach and meet up with another pal! Why not?
Also starting to set up a new doorbell this weekend with video capabilities as a side project.
Yesterday was a good afternoon to hang by the pool, even if only to watch LD get some more yards in. What else happened? Not too much, kind of a rest day. Went to the lobster food truck for lunch, watched the Indiana Fever game, did some weeding and cleaning of the back deck, had a pizza for dinner. Pretty chill for a hot day.
Woke up this morning to some kind of screeching. Couldn’t tell what it was. Eventually we figured out it was a Common Raven! Never encountered one of those before, it’s always been crows.
Checked out the Blueberry Festival this afternoon in Mendon over at the Vandervalk Winery. There was a giant Santa there and we got some really cool stuff from some artisans that had a few tents there. Before that we hit this Hosta place in Mendon that sells very specific varieties of Hosta and Lillies that they grow themselves. Got a few of those. They also do a great job with Lotus plants, but that’s really tricky stuff to grow, plus you need a body of water. I ate some grilled cheese from a food truck that was there as well for a quick bite.
My Princess Cheyanne book arrived just as we were leaving the house. I grabbed it up but LD wants to read it first, so I let her. She actually knows the person, from a different time and career path at the time. Anyways, I’m going to see if I can find the former Princess and see if I can get her to sign the book.
Gametime: Blobun Mini. Get the snake to cover all the squares!
Sun’s Out – Tongue’s Out! 👅 Also highlights: Enjoying lunch at the Pompton Queen Diner after a long drive down, watching LD do forty lengths at the Madison Y – amazing facility and great job LD! A dinner at a place called the Thirsty Turtle – the pretzel buns are shaped like pretzels! A doggo falls asleep on my foot after I took him for a couple of long walks – think he enjoyed! Finally Cowboy Up before leaving – also I learned something new called “Alabama Apple Sauce!” – you had to be there.
Had a fun fourth over at a friend’s house down in Fairhaven along the water yesterday. I ate a bunch of burgers, dogs, chicken, chips, desserts, etc. Hung with with 4 dogs. So cute. This was right after we celebrated LD’s achievement again at the pool at the gym – there were treats and balloons and a lot of fun. Also picked up a bunch more Dedham pottery bunny stuff in Swansea which was sort of on the way and today in Dedham of all places, obtained a bunch more, some of them cats with their kittens. So it was a good haul this weekend to be sure!
Enjoy this pic of the lilies on our friends property from yesterday.
We headed off to Cape Porpoise for a little mini weekend getaway. I really enjoyed this trip. The Airbnb we stayed in was really great – I would surely return to it. It was so spacious and the hosts were super great. The first night we headed to the town over called Biddeford Pool because there was a food/store place called Goldthwaites that we wanted to try. It was good and the views from their back outside area were wonderful. I noticed you could even see the Stage Island Monument in the distance. I do so love this area of Maine. We also saw deer and what appeared to be a company of black swans, but could that be true?
Next day we did a bunch of things. We hiked a part of the Carson trail, which is part of the Rachel Carson Reserve Wildlife area. It was kind of too hot to really do too much of that though plus it was a little buggy so we didn’t stay there too long. There were a ton of chipmunks around I noticed. For lunch we drove into Kennebunk and I ended up getting a burger at a place called Duffy’s. We then headed back for a little rest before hitting Goose Rock Beach for the afternoon. While there we saw piping plovers, a cool sandcastle that someone built, and a very cute Bassett Hound named Baxter that we had to greet.For dinner we got some good eats at Mabel’s Lobster Claw.
Next day we went to Sunday services at St. Ann’s Church, What’s cool is that they do the service right by the water weather permitting. It was a bit rainy when we went so the service was actually indoors but even that was pretty cool. I actually really liked everything about this location and plan to return for some other services soon. We got breakfast at a place next to Mabel’s from last night called the Pantry. I decided to try the eggs benedict with lobster and it was damn good. Another afternoon at the beach afterwards I wanted to catch a sunset at the famous fish shacks. Thanks to LD for finding the perfect location for me to shoot from!
The fish shacks. I was always curious about these buildings. After taking these shots we eventually found a place where we could get some eats (a pizza actually) which was a bit of a struggle to find food since it seems all the places around here close at 8 or 9 o’clock. I caught the tail end of the Valkyries WNBA game as they beat the Suns. It’s nice that this Airbnb had all the stations you could want, they aren’t usually like that in my experience.
Finally on Monday it started to get really hot. We checked out, hit Stonewall Kitchen for a quick bite and Yummies to get some candy fix. Our freinds up in Georgetown were kind enough to let us stop by and use their pool for a bit so we could cool off before going all the way home. So we took a dip for an hour or two and were then on our way back home.
All in all, this was a fantastic trip! I probably left out a ton of stuff but these were some of the high points!
Currently Reading: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers
Today was National Donut Day so I made use of the opportunity this morning and got my free donut. (Is it really that free though? You did have to purchase a beverage first). Anyways, I went down to a local CVS to pick up some LD meds but they weren’t in stock yet, even though they said it would be there last night. Annoying, I’ll have to go back later tonight. Anyways, there’s a DD across the street from the pharmacy and that’s where I picked up the D. I ended up going with a maple glazed, which I had not seen at other DD establishments.
I haven’t updated in a while because it’s been sort of busy, but nothing to report of great import so that’s why. Let’s see if I can give a little catch up. In no particular order, took my mom’s cat to the vet (see above). Don’t be fooled, it was a bit of a production to get him there first into the carrier to go, and then out of the carrier so they could give him his annual shots and things. He did seem to like staying on the scale though, And of course, once he’s done it’s like they know and happily carts himself into the carrier to go home. Will have to get his brother there next month to do the same.
What else? Bunch of gardening things, pulled out the little Adirondack planters from last year that I had forgotten about but was reminded when I went to the Depot to get a new watering can and saw they had new ones. Still waiting for the fence guys to return to install the panels just laying about in the driveway. Went back to that food truck last Sunday and got another roll. Chicken on the Road guys are going to be there on Saturday so I may need to take a trip down and get some. I remember when they used to come to the office where I was working at the time and I liked it very much. Been so long since I’ve had one of their entrees.
I watched the Suns get absolutely shellacked last Friday by the New York Liberty. Damn, are they good. Hopefully the Suns can get a win on Friday. And then on Saturday is a national televised game with the Valkyries, LD trainer’s daughter’s team, who is a badass in her own right. I’ve been really getting into this WNBA stuff. No other good sports stuff going on around here lately. Sox blow but I can’t stand baseball anyway,
What else? Found a fun little demo of a game called Feezie and Friends on UFO Island which was cute. Pretty much finished all the Sokubird2 levels but gave up on the last couple. Guess that’s it for the moment. Looking forward to reading about Princess Cheyenne memoir by the princess herself, Hmmm, she also did other things after that career that might be even more fascinating but I wonder if this book she wrote doesn’t go into any of that now that I’ve read the blurb.
We were quite busy today getting a bunch of stuff done around the house. But first we saw a promotion from a local floral business that stated if you brought them 2 or more old vases you would get a free floral bouquet. So we looked around, found two old vases that we had no real attraction to keeping anymore and went down and met the folks. And got the free bouquet. Pretty good idea actually.
Then it was on the yard tasks. First before anything else, I put the AC up in the window because it’s going to start to be getting hotter. Then I went ahead and gave the outdoor grill a thorough cleaning, inside and out. I also cleaned down the patio table and LD planted more potter plants. Then we went over to the “prairie area” we have a weeded out there. Now the 100 year old lilies that we planted there a few years back will have more room to grow and prosper. I have to say they look really good and healthy so far, I guess they like the location. I then decided to go ahead and mow the lawns and edge the fences. That took a while since it’s a pretty big yard, but I like the job that I did. I left a spot in the middle of the lawn where some wild buttercups are in bloom for pollinators though. Once they’re done I’ll mow over them.
As a reward LD decided to take me to a place I saw on tv the other night that makes mochi donuts, an Asian specialty that I wanted to try. I got three different kinds but I think my favorite of the ones I got was the taro. Now it’s wind down and relax time as our bodies muscles are hurting! Escpeally mine after all that biking yesterday.
Yesterday was a pretty busy day! In the morning some guys we got to replace some of the falling fence panels in the back yard came by to remove the worst of the offenders. These panels are just so old and waterlogged, one even fell down. Those will be getting replaced piecemeal as time goes on. By the end of a week or two they should be done with the work. Good thing I had finally mowed the lawn a few days ago. We then had our previous massage lady come by and pick up the supplies she had left here, by now a few years ago, like her table and heater and bolster, and it was fun to reconnect. Maybe we’ll do a lunch or something in the future. We then hit the town’s garden flowers sale, something that we do every year. It wasn’t as big this year and it was a bit rainy but we got a few things. LD had a bunch of things to do while caught the Celtics game and then we planted the plants we got earlier, but then the sun had come out and it was a nice day.. We then cooked and baked some things as well, and I ordered a pizza. That’s that, a typical Saturday around here.
First really warm beach day outing of the year, sort of a test run if you will. Saw an interesting rock and then had a late lunch at a place called 135 Ocean which was pretty good.
Not generally a place we would normally check out, but we do like to shake things up and try something different now and again. This place surely was that. This was the kind of place you visit just once.
Currently Reading:The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty. I happened to see the author of this book doing a talk on C-Span after just flipping around the dial in a moment of boredom and it sounded interesting. I mean we all know the story but this traces the history back to the great-grandfather and all the previous fathers leading up to Alex. Come to find out, they’ve been pretty corrupt all along! When I saw how big it was I started to get a little daunted but the style is perfect and it’s easy to read. I recommend it, especially just to see how corrupt this family was from the start,
We had a nice little weekend getaway down the Cape to help celebrate LD’s birthday month. Here’s some of my highlights. I will say it was an awfully windy weekend down there but it was beautiful. Some fun stuff we got to do were some Chocolate Sparrow trips, dinner at a great place we like called Island Blue Crab (where our favorite Bulgarian waitress works), hanging out in such a cute little Airbnb right next to the water, grabbing another Dedham Pottery item to the collection, checking out the sunsets and just overall chilling out. Even set up a future trip in the area for August already! More pics from the trip over on the Instagram account.
Last night we went out to celebrate LD’s birthday at a place called Black and Blue Steak and Crab. Since the establishment was participating in restaurant week we decided to go there, plus I like to try new places. Although the food was very good, it’s not really our vibe, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. When we got home I presented LD with some gifts that I got my little swimmer. A book by Katie Ledecky and some really cool looking smart AR goggles which have a heads up display in the eyepiece so you can see all kinds of stats as you are swimming – pretty futuristic looking, hopefully they’ll work well for her.
Went into Brookline today to go check out some of the turkey sculptures! After finding some of them we went to Legal Seafoods and I bought LD lunch as part of this thing I’m doing for her birthday month which is everyday I do a little something, could be big, could be small, like yesterday’s corn muffin. Sort of like an Advent Calendar of the Ladydoc! Haha! We made use of the restaurant participating in Boston Restaurant Week so that was cool. After that we got some vegan ice cream and a place next door called Van Leeuwen. I ended up getting a hot chocolate while LD got some delicious vegan ice cream flavored treats.
Saturday we got invited to participate in LD’s former landlady’s birthday. A glorious 86 years! Amazing! Yesterday we kind of hunkered down dealing with the snow (which thankfully wasn’t a big deal) and baked a bunch of things while running the Jukebox. Tasty treats like banana bread and muffins, chickpea muffins which are surprisingly good and of course, the signature lemon orzo soup! We also watched the Puppy Bowl which has become a yearly tradition. No interest in the actual Super bowl.
Currently Reading: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.
![](https://hatchetation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/491839867_10233678197792149_1307572033211940647_n.jpg "Lobster "flavored" ice cream. Meh.")
