Emily Turns 5

Our wonderful little grandbaby turned 5!  I can't believe she's already old enough for kindergarten.  Her Mom and Dad threw her a party in their backyard.  Since they have a new pool, it was a pool party!

Hubby gave her some shiny new rocks for her collection.  Hubby has tons of them, and every time she comes over, she wants to take them out and sort them and play with them, so he gives her  a couple to take home with her. 

The new dress I made her for school.   With pockets!

Jumping into the pool is fun when Mom is catching you!

Her Nana made her a mermaid cake to go along with the theme of the party.

Lots of presents!

Five candles to blow out!



Pepere enjoyed the party and one of Emily's new puppies.

Tailgating at Tanglewood

This summer, Hubby and I did something we've both always wanted to do.  We went to see the Boston Pops at Tanglewood.

For those not in the know, Tanglewood is in western Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains, and is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.   It was an experience to be remembered. 

Because of the price of the tickets, I bought "lawn" seats, rather than seats in the "shed".   The shed is the massive structure where all the more financially endowed folks get to sit.

The only benefit is that it's under cover if it rains.  We situated ourselves on the lawn right beside the shed, and we had a decent view of the orchestra.





We stayed at a lovely Bed and Breakfast about a mile away.  When we asked the innkeeper why people were already congregating early in the afternoon, she informed us that we were seeing "Tanglewood on Parade" which is a special event with music and activities all afternoon.  Hubby and I decided to pack our cooler and head over there earlier than planned.

We'd been told that bringing a "picnic" and our own beverages was acceptable.    So we packed some cheese and fruit and wine.

Red Solo Cups!!



We didn't know the proper way to tailgate at Tanglewood was to bring tables, tablecloths, wine glasses, candles, etc!!

We found out from the innkeeper afterwards that there were over 10,000 people there.  This photo is well before the place filled up.  

We walked all around the grounds, saw all the other buildings, and enjoyed a little of the other musical offerings before the main program started.  The view behind the grounds:

Porch Band

All ages enjoyed the show

It was an amazing experience to sit back as night fell and listen to The Tanglewood Orchestra, The Boston Pops, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, who played the 1812 Overture, complete with cannons!!



During intermission, Hubby and I snuck into the shed area and down to the front, where Hubby drooled over the Steinway piano.

The evening was capped off with a phenomenal display of fireworks.   It was a fantastic experience for both of us.   It leaves us wanting to go again next summer!

Mom's Spoons

I don't know how it all started.  I don't know what made her embark upon such an adventure.  How does anything like this begin?  

Spoons.  My Mom collected spoons.   Not just your averge kitchen cutlery.  Decorative spoons.  From anyplace and everyplace.

Some of the spoons were from places she and my father had visited. 

Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine

Once you start a collection, everyone likes to get in on the act.   So others were given to her as gifts from places friends and family had visited.

Montreal, Canada

There are spoons from many of the United States.  Some are just spoons from the State itself, and some are spoons depicting special places, such as the Nubble Lighthouse one.  Mom's goal was to have a spoon from every state.

She had 81 spoons.

They were all displayed on three spoon racks - one for the United States, one for places she'd been, and one for those given to her.

When Hubby and I went to Niagara Falls recently, I realized that every time I went into a gift shop and saw a decorative spoon, I had the urge to buy one for my Mom.  This isn't the first time it's happened.  And every time it does, it reminds me how much I loved my Mom, and how much I want to keep a part of her in my life.

So I asked my Dad if I could have Mom's collection.  I checked with my brothers and sister as well.  One brother said I could have it as long as he would still be allowed to contribute to it when he and his wife go traveling.

I said, "Of course".   Because it's not really my collection.  It still belongs to my Mom.  I'm just going to take care of it for her, until I can hand it down to one of Mom's great-grandchildren.  And I'll hope that the collection will not only be a legacy from me, but that my Mom's memory will continue on in the pleasure the next generations derive from it.