Artsy Anne

Where did the time go...

2008-08-28T21:30:00.004-04:00

Wow, it's been forever since I posted and I feel like I have completely forgotten how to use blogger...yikes! Things are doing well on our end. Erik and I are trying to enjoy the last bits of summer before it fades away, I can't believe Labor Day weekend is here already! I really love Fall, but I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. I haven't posted since February (sorry!) but I have a feeling that once Fall sets in I will get back in the swing of things. Hope everyone has been having a good summer :)

Snow Day!

2008-02-22T09:11:00.005-05:00

beautiful beaded snowflakes

My fabulous snow dance worked last night and I'm so grateful to have another three-day-weekend. Hip hip hooray for snow days! I got a call from work this morning telling me that we were closing early due to the impending winter storm and I didn't need to bother coming in. It was music to my ears :). Not that I didn't want to go to work...but Erik has been home on vacation all week and this gives me the chance to spend a day at home resting and relaxing (or cleaning and organizing...) with him. Maybe I will even get a chance to dust off my craft table and do something creative! Thank you for snow days!

I must confess...

2008-02-22T09:04:00.006-05:00

...I still have some Christmas decorations out. Yikes! I really thought Erik and I put most of it away when we got rid of the tree in January, but I'm just now realizing I never put away our nutcrackers. (or the ceramic Santas on our kitchen windowsill) Oops! I guess I will spend part of today making sure there are no other remnants of Christmas laying around, after all, it's almost St. Patrick's Day!

Pretty in Purple...

2008-02-21T21:27:00.000-05:00

I made a few easy necklaces last month to give out as gifts...but this one is for me! I love the color purple and while at the bead store in December I fell in love with these and simply had to use them all together in a necklace. It's perfectly purple. It makes me think of all the lavender that grows in our garden...I can't wait for spring!

Adventures in Alabama Part 2: Trap Shooting

2008-02-16T11:07:00.007-05:00

Hunting is an everyday part of life for Erik's family down in Alabama. Since we were out in the middle of nowhere, there really wasn't much for us to do other than shoot things. I got to try my hand at trap shooting for the first time and it was actually quite fun! The first three photos are of us trap shooting. The orange things in a box were the clay pigeons we were shooting. The next picture is of our ammo and the last is photo is of a shell shoved in an ant hill...boy oh boy did those ants get mad :)

Adventures in Alabama

2008-02-15T21:15:00.008-05:00

I'm sad to say that Erik's grandfather, Elsie Whatley Jr., passed away on 2/3/08. He was a wonderful person and I feel blessed to have had a chance to meet him a few years ago when we traveled to Alabama. He led an amazing life and will be greatly missed. Erik and I were able to get tickets and fly down to Alabama for the wake and funeral last week. Despite the occasion, the trip went well, and it was really good to spend time with family. Erik's grandparent's are from a very small town called Sweet Water in southwestern Alabama. (insert banjo music...) It is literally out in the middle of nowhere...and it was kind of nice to be away from everything for four days. No malls, no traffic, hardly any cell phone service, no internet...nada...just miles and miles of pine trees. Here are some photos from our trip down south...

Alabama here we come...

Watching the sunrise while on the airplane and enjoying the view of the mountains...

Once we landed in Birmingham we rented a car and drove 3 hours to Sweet Water...

We were out in the middle of nowhere...and it was nice for a change!

Baby pine trees were everywhere...

...and I had to take a picture when we drove by the hay-bale art! There was a monster truck, tank and helicopter all made using hay bales.

Here is the "Whatley Estate"...otherwise known as Erik's grandparent's house :)

Say hello to the Elk...and the elk's rear...

...and last but not least, Anne the hunter...lol...not really, but I did get to learn the fine art of trap shooting and brush up on my target shooting skills. :)

So, there are a few pictures from our trek to 'bama. More to come soon...

Hola Amigos!

2008-02-04T22:22:00.011-05:00

Señor Erik and I trying on the festive sombrero at Mary's birthday party 1/18/08...olé!

Hello everyone...sorry it's been forever since my last post. January was a crazy month for us and every-time I sat down with the intention of blogging I would have a hard time relaxing much less find something interesting to blog about! But I'm back, and hopefully will be able to get back in the swing of things. Anyway, January was a blur and I won't bore you with all the details, but here's a peek at what I've been up to...

We hung out with my sister for her birthday...

We visited Cassandra in Boston...and helped show Flat Stanley around town :)

We totally broke every New Year's resolution we made...

and we also took several more mini-trips to the shore...check out the waves!!

There's January-in-a-nutshell...now onto February! (even though it's already half over...oops!)

Winter Walks on the Beach

2008-01-27T11:24:00.000-05:00

I miss summer. I really, really miss it. Erik and I have been talking a lot about the beach lately. It must come up in conversation at least twice a day...so we figured we should take a trip down to the shore, even though it's freezing out! Yesterday we hopped in the car after a yummy breakfast, fueled up with some coffee...mmmmm coffee, and headed to Misquamicut, RI. We were secretly wishing it was the Outer Banks we were driving to, but we will have to wait a few more months for that drive.

It was cold and overcast yesterday at the shore, the sun kept poking out from behind the clouds and we had the beach to ourselves. It was so refreshing.

I love being by the water. I even made a mini video on the camera of the waves... I know, I'm a dork, but I figured it would be a good pick-me-up to watch it whenever this winter weather has got me bored.

While walking we found lots of seashells, neat rocks, a piece of sea glass, seaweed, bird footprints and Erik even spotted a lobster tail.

This first trip to the shore of 2008 definitely left us rejuvenated and I'm sure we will be hanging some pictures on the fridge to remind us of the day.

On the way back home we stopped by the Connecticut River Museum in Essex.

We didn't see any eagles out and about, but there were lots of sea gulls walking on the ice and even a pair of swans swimming in the water. Erik was hoping to see some eagles, but I guess we will have to plan another trip down to Essex to do that.

Also, If we ever win the lotto, we want one of these :)

Friendship

2008-01-17T01:27:00.000-05:00

"Friends let you know that you are not alone on the road of life."

-Unknown

Catching Up With Old Friends

2008-01-17T00:23:00.000-05:00

"The best mirror is an old friend."

--George Herbert

Catching up with old friends can be so rejuvenating. I always love it when I get in touch with an old friend for the first time in years and we are able to reconnect and talk for hours as if time hadn't past at all. Even though time had passed (lots of time..) and events had occurred (major events...), it's proof again that true friendship always lasts, no matter what life may bring. You never forget your friends. (evidently I have a hard time remembering events though,lol)

Savoring the little things...

2008-01-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

Since today was a snow day at work, Erik and I spent lots of time resting and relaxing at home. I never feel like I have enough time to do this, so it was a nice treat. Spending time at home gave me the chance to look around and appreciate my surroundings and also made me want to take photos of random everyday things that sometimes go unnoticed in the helter skelter of everyday life. Things I walk past or use each day but don't ever think twice about. I took ten minutes and walked around the house and took pictures of the first 10 things that caught my eye. It was nice to have some time to enjoy the little things in life...

Snow Day!!

2008-01-14T07:35:00.000-05:00

Snowy backyard!

View from upstairs...

Let it snow, let it snow!

Our snowy street :)

Hooray for Snow Days!! Winter storm Christopher has dumped several inches of snow at our house so far and outside the snow is still falling. It's a heavy, wet snow and the trees in our backyard are covered, creating a beautiful winter scene. This morning on the news they said we have now received more snow this season so far than we did all last winter...and it's only January! Pretty cool, I guess I should go out and buy myself a pair of snowshoes! I can't wait to go outside and explore! Thank you for snow days!

Salmon River

2008-01-13T21:51:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago Erik and I drove out to the Salmon River in Colchester, CT to poke around and enjoy some time outside. It was a pretty overcast day, but we didn't let that get in the way of a nice hike through the woods (and along icy paths) down to see the river.

We also stopped to see the historic Comstock Covered Bridge. I had visited the bridge about a year ago while on a day trip with a friend, but Erik hadn't seen it before, so he got to visit two new sights in one day.

On the way home we couldn't resit a stop at the wonderful Colchester Bakery to pick up some bread. If you have never had bread from Colchester Bakery, you are missing out on a treat! We picked up a loaf of our favorite Russian Pumpernickel bread with these little little black charnushka seeds on the top that smell wonderful! Ahhh...happiness is a good day spent outside and some still-warm-from-the-oven bread!

Snowball Fight!!

2008-01-03T23:35:00.000-05:00

While we were visiting my parents over the holiday weekend I had fun spending some time with Jake and Rudy. Jake loves the snow and Rudy, well, he tolerates it! But they both like playing with snowballs. Jake gets so excited and practically knocks me down before I can even get a snowball made so it was pretty tricky getting pictures of him catching snowballs...I was lucky he didn't send me and the camera flying! In the picture above I love how Rudy is looking at the camera and Jake is more interested in the snowball I had in my hand! Here they are having some winter fun in the snow!

Handsome Jake strikes a pose for the camera...

He caught every snowball and loved jumping off the picnic table to get them!

Rudy missed a few times and was giving
me the "why don't you just give me the snowball please" look...

...then he caught one and had to look all rough and tough doing it!

Ringing in the New Year!!

2008-01-03T20:33:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year again to everyone! I can't believe it's 2008...something makes me feel this year is going to be amazing. Maybe it's the optimist in me or the fact that 8 is my favorite number, but come on...8 is great, right? We spent New Years Eve with family and friends enjoying food, fun, and fireworks courtesy of Danielle's Dad! A good time was had by all! Here are some photos from our count down 'till 2008 at the Shea's in Woodstock, CT.

Krystal and me being goof-balls and making monkey faces!

Eric and Danielle :)

Group photo time!!

Paul and Krystal :)

Krystal and Paula making some noise for the New Year!!

Adventures in Snowshoeing

2008-01-03T18:53:00.000-05:00

On New Year's Eve Erik and I drove up to the White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, CT to try our hand at snowshoeing. Erik got some awesome snowshoes for Christmas and has loved doing it, so we rented a pair for me at REI and hit the trails. The conservation center was beautiful...a true winter wonderland! The center is located on 4000 acres of land (yes, that's right...4000 acres!) in Litchfield and we will definitely be visiting it again to hike it's many beautiful trails. Snowshoeing was fun and I can't wait for more snow so I can try again! The photo above is one of my favorites from the day. A quintessential New England barn in the winter...what could be more beautiful!

snowshoes...check!
poles...check!
snow...check!
Let's go snowshoeing!

Winter Wonderland

Busy Beavers

We were in a "Natural Area"...

Erik enjoying his new favorite winter activity!

Me, all bundled up!

There were giant pine trees all around us, it was gorgeous!

Adiós 2007

2008-01-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

Goodbye 2007...Hello 2008!!
Happy New Year!!

Footprints in the snow...

2007-12-26T21:13:00.000-05:00

So, the other morning Erik and I were walking out of the house and couldn't help but stop and check out all the footprints on our deck and driveway. There were bird prints, raccoon prints (I think...), cat prints and a few others we could not identify! Our backyard must be a pretty hoppin' place on a snowy night because the footprints were everywhere. I can't wait 'till we get more snow!

Chicago!!

2007-12-26T20:26:00.001-05:00

Here is a short slideshow/video of our trip to Chicago to see Brooke!

Holiday Movies

2007-12-26T20:10:00.000-05:00

So, while browsing on JibJab the other night I couldn't resist making a few videos with their new "Starring You!" option. They came out pretty good, so I had to post them on the good old blog. My family and I got a good laugh out of them on Christmas. Erik even made a disco video that will remain off the blog for now...but I'm hoping he will let me post it in the future, it's hilarious! For now, enjoy the two videos on the right-hand side of the blog or view them at my page on JibJab.

Mr. Nutcracker says...

2007-12-24T22:45:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year!! Sorry there has been a lack of posts lately. I haven't been good at keeping up! The holiday season has kept us quite busy and I will have lots of catching up to do soon! Merry Christmas!

Weekend Getaway...

2007-12-20T18:23:00.000-05:00

Last weekend my sister Mary and I hopped on a plane and flew out to Chicago to visit our cousin Brooke who is living there temporarily for work. It was a very quick trip, but we packed it full of fun! Snowstorm, good food, shopping, and skating filled our 30 hours in the windy city. Here are some shots from the trip...

up, up and away!!

The view was beautiful...

sweet home Chicago...

We went ice skating and saw Santa...

and ate some yummy pizza!

It was an amazing trip and I will be posting more pictures as soon as I can figure out a cool way to do a slideshow. Mary and I had lots of fun visiting Brooke and can't wait to plan a trip to see her in Florida once she moves back!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2007-12-13T19:04:00.000-05:00

The first big snow of the year! The snows been falling all day, our backyard has been transformed into a winter wonderland, and I slept through the entire thing. :) I'm still battling bronchitis and took the snow day as a chance to rest and recoup...Erik on the other hand was busy as usual working from home and made a video of the snow around 3pm. This photo is actually a still frame from his movie. Neat huh? It's blurry but shows the pile of snow on the deck which has grown even more majestic as the snow continues to fall! Hope everyone had a safe and snowy day!

Move out of your comfort zone...

2007-12-04T22:18:00.000-05:00

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new."
-- Brian Tracy

Turkey Day 2007

2007-11-24T13:29:00.001-05:00

There was food...mmmm...lots of food...

There was family, friends...

and some fun...

...ok, lots of fun!

and at the end of the day we were all dog-tired!

On your mark, get set, SHOP!!

2007-11-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Wrentham Village...

Mary and Mom at the start of the day...can you tell we were freezing?

Black Friday usually makes everyone cringe. Traffic, crowds, messy stores and long lines at the registers. For the past few years I have been going shopping after Thanksgiving with my Mom and sister up at Wrentham Outlets in MA. This year was actually quite tame. We left the house around 6:45am, arrived at the outlets around 8:15am and shopped 'till we drop. I picked up a few goodies and Mom bought us some early Christmas presents. A good time was had by all and we even got home before dark! Good shopping trips and bargains always make me smile :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero

Fall Decor...

2007-11-19T20:22:00.000-05:00

I love decorating for the holidays. I love "house stuff" as Erik puts it, and enjoy decorating the house each season. I don't go overboard, just a few things here and there. It gives me something to do and makes the house all warm and fuzzy feeling. Anyways, I don't have a fall wreath for our front door and decided to make a ridiculously simple one the other day. It's quite plain since I'm waiting until all the fall things go on clearance at the craft store so I can make a snazzy one for next year. But, until that happens, here's my "5-minutes-and-its-done-cause-im-sick-of-a-plain-door" wreath! (p.s.--I'm not loving the bow...but it will only be on the door for another week before I switch into Christmas-mode!)

Something for the birds...

2007-11-19T20:03:00.000-05:00

In the spring I painted a few birdhouses for our backyard. Unfortunately, this is the only one that survived the wrath of the evil squirrels in our yard this summer. I don't mind squirrels, but these ones are quite annoying. They loved digging up my potted plants, eating all the birdseed and knocking the birdhouses off the deck causing them to crack apart into a zillion pieces. Grrr... Well, now that the squirrels have left our deck alone and are busy hiding acorns I have decided to paint a few more to add to the deck. I'm honestly thinking about anchoring these down, but instead I will take my chances and hope that the squirrels will leave them alone.

Sunday strolls...

2007-11-18T23:35:00.000-05:00

Isn't Fall just beautiful? A few weekends ago we went out for a hike and on the way to my parents house for dinner we stopped at Soapstone Mountain and took in some gorgeous views from the observation tower. It was a bit hazy, but other than that the view from the top was quite colorful.

Beautiful Beads

2007-11-06T21:59:00.000-05:00

Tonight after dinner I felt inspired to finish a necklace I started in June, yes folks, JUNE (yikes)! I received some lovely beads from Cassandra for my birthday back in June and tonight I put the finishing touches on the necklace. So...I present to you the first necklace I have made in quite awhile courtesy of Cassandra! Thank You! It felt so good the be making things again after a long creative siesta!

Jake thinks he's a fire engine...

2007-11-06T21:11:00.000-05:00

So, this video is definitely not the best quality...I'm a bit crazy with the camera angles and for most of the video Jake and Rudy are sideways (sorry!!), but I think it's cute. The video shows how goofy Jake is every time a siren sounds in the town of Tolland. He loves to howl along with the sirens. He's done this since he was a pup and Rudy tries sooo hard to copy his cool brother...but he just can't pull it off. Sorry Rudy!

A day in the life of Ms. Anne...

2007-11-05T22:12:00.000-05:00

I don't talk much about work here in the land of blog, but I took a few pictures of some projects Sarah and I did with the kids the past few weeks and thought I would share. Too bad I can't post the pics of the kid's making their projects...they are adorable! Anyways, here is a brief glimpse into "Anne-Land"...

Window art and hand print trees...

Apple taste testing and yes, I'm a nut!

Pumpkin prints w/silly stories and our goofy pumpkin creatures...

...one big happy pumpkin family!

So, there you have it...a glimpse into Artsy Anne's day job, at least the creative side of it! (trust me, not all sides of it are pretty--working with 3 and 4yr olds is always an adventure!)

Girl's night out!

2007-11-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

Last night the guys had a surprise poker birthday party at our house for Ben (Happy Birthday Ben!) and that meant that Krystal, Jen, Lisa and I could finally have a girl's night out. We ate dinner at Sukhothai in Manchester and then headed over to the new and beautiful Blue Back Square in West Hartford for dessert at the Cheesecake Factory and a stroll through the gorgeous new Crate and Barrel. I'm in love with Blue Back Square and I'm sure this won't be the only time I write about it. Ahhhh....it was a much needed evening of fun, food and friends!

Meet Jack...

2007-10-31T20:00:00.000-04:00

Here is the Jack-o-Lantern Erik and I carved at Ben and Jen's fall outing. Isn't he cute! We were going for a goofy-Cheshire-cat look, but he ended up looking just plain goofy. I love his smile. Happy Fall!

Happy Halloween!!

2007-10-31T18:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!! Here are the pumpkins I carved at school with the kids...their favorite part was "scooping out the goop" on the inside of the pumpkin! :)

2007-10-28T21:36:00.001-04:00

Well, it's the end of yet another busy weekend and I feel like I need 2 more days off just to recuperate! I should have spent this afternoon catching up on some cleaning and laundry, but instead Erik and I went for a walk at Never's Road Park and enjoyed the breezy, beautiful day. Nothing beats being lazy on a Sunday afternoon. :)

I have no idea why I like taking pictures of things in the middle of the road, but I find it quite amusing. Here are some pictures of an acorn we found along the trail, the beautiful nature preserve in South Windsor and the trail at Never's Road Park.

Jones Family Farm!!

2007-10-21T23:02:00.000-04:00

Today we headed off to the Jones Family Farm in beautiful Shelton, CT for a day of wine tasting, pumpkin' picking, and frolicking in the beautiful fall weather with friends. First stop was Ben and Jen's house in Waterbury where Ben cooked up yummy egg sandwiches for us to start the day! Next we headed to the Jone's Winery. After the wine tasting we drove over to picturesque "Pumpkin Hill". The place was packed! While at Pumpkin Hill we walked around and...

pretended to be farm animals...

got lost in a corn maze...

and chose the perfect pumpkins for the carving competition back at Ben and Jen's. It was lots of fall fun!

2007-10-15T20:58:00.000-04:00

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.

~Elizabeth Lawrence

It's Apple Pickin' Time!

2007-10-15T20:37:00.000-04:00

Decisions, Decisions...

2007-10-12T23:44:00.000-04:00

If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise. -Robert Fritz

Paper or plastic, chocolate or vanilla, change jobs or keep the same? We all face decisions each day, both small and large. You would think that as we grow older decisions would get easier to make...not when your a worry-wort like me! AHHHHH!!!!

Goodbye Summer...Hello Fall!

2007-09-23T22:14:00.000-04:00

one last look at summer...

Well, Fall is officially here and I couldn't be more excited!! Erik and I have been really busy this past month, but we took time on Saturday to drive to the shore and bid farewell to summer. It was a cloudy day and we kept thinking it was going to pour, but we were still able to enjoy a nice walk on the beach and smell the refreshing salt air. When I have some time this week I will post a few photos! Sorry for the lack of blogging in September. I have lots of make-up posting to do! Erik's birthday was on the 16th (Happy Birthday hun!) and we had a great meal at my parents house last weekend to celebrate. Dad made his famous German Chocolate Cake...yummy! I started taking an adult hip-hop dance class with my sister on Wednesday nights. (Yes...you read that right...I'm dancing!) I haven't danced since elementary school, so this should be very interesting. I'm just trying it out for now, it's a good workout and it's nice to spend some time with Mary. As far as crafting goes... I've been busy with 3 different projects. I can't seem to focus on one project at a time, so I've been working slowly but surely on all three whenever I get the chance! This week I will be knitting a comfy plum colored scarf, practicing my crewel embroidery skills (and still looking for the proper yarn to use...), and making a few felted projects that will be given out at Christmas. I promise I'll post pics of some finished projects soon! Hope everyone has a good week!

Leaves are falling...

2007-09-16T23:03:00.001-04:00

I was amazed to see how many leaves were already on the ground this weekend while out and about with Lisa on Saturday and Erik today (it's his birthday!). I hope a few stay on the trees for the fall. This leaf was floating in the water at Nod Brook on Saturday and for some reason it caught my eye. I can't wait for more leaf peeping soon! But for now, it's Sunday night and in a few hours I'll be back at work, doing the same old things and counting down the days until next weekend. I might have jury duty on Tuesday...I'll keep you posted! Have a good week!

Guess what time it is...

2007-09-16T22:22:00.000-04:00

It's birthday time!! Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby Erik. Today he celebrates the big 3-1. We ate out at Rein's for breakfast, sipped on yummy coffee from Starbucks, went for a walk at Nevers, ran into Lisa and Krystal, did some light shopping, hiked a bit at Gay City State Park and then ended the day at my parent's house for a yummy birthday supper. We had a birthday feast fit for a king and dined on steak, sausages, grilled pork chops, corn on the cob and roasted potatoes! No birthday dinner at Mom and Dad's is complete without a delectable homemade birthday cake. Erik wanted my Dad to make his famous homemade German Chocolate Cake and it turned out great! I look forward to this cake every year when he makes it! Happy Birthday hun!

Fall is in the air...

2007-09-15T21:23:00.000-04:00

Today Lisa and I took a mini day trip out to Nod Brook Wildlife Management Area in beautiful Simsbury, CT. It was a gorgeous day and we could sense that fall is just around the corner! We didn't plan on going to Nod Brook, we just sort of stumbled upon it. We like to go on "Adventure Rides" and this looked like a neat area to explore. Yippee! I can't wait for more outings this fall!

The dog days of summer...

2007-09-07T21:08:00.000-04:00

Well, we are one week into September and it's still very hot outside. Not just kinda hot...real hot. I think it was close to 90 degrees in Manchester today, yikes! I love summer, but I'm starting to get excited about fall. Apple picking, cool nights, pumpkins and beautiful fall foliage here we come! After all, it's right around the corner. I think Jake and Rudy are sick of the heat too. We saw them last weekend for Labor Day and they were both pretty lethargic. I guess nothings worse than being a 145 lb. black dog sitting outside in the blaring sun. Jake was sitting by the gate when I took this picture of him. He looked like he was staring off into space... probably dreaming about bunnies in the yard...or trying to figure out how he was going to get the teriyaki steak off the grill and into his mouth. Rudy on the other hand was posing for me in the yard. He was sitting in the grass by my dad's beautiful flower garden just asking to have his picture taken. He's a lot more patient with the camera than Jake. Anyways, hope everyone is having a good week! Enjoy the warm weather!

Sunrise over the ocean...

2007-09-07T00:22:00.000-04:00

Sunrise in Nags Head, NC

"In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary."
--Aaron Rose

Self Portrait

2007-09-06T23:30:00.000-04:00

Say Cheese! This is me in my parent's backyard last weekend attempting to take a quick photo of myself. I am contemplating chopping my hair off and needed a good "before" picture. Hopefully I will take the plunge and cut it, what do you think? Should I cut it off (chin length) or keep letting it grow long? I'm torn between the two and being the most indecisive person in the whole wide world doesn't help the situation either!

Busy as bees...

2007-09-06T23:11:00.000-04:00

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive."
-Lee Iacocca

One of those days...

2007-09-05T21:47:00.001-04:00

"AHHHH!!"

Today was one of those days. You know, one of those days that nothing seems to go right, everything frustrates you, and you're ultimately reduced to tears while driving home from work. If you haven't had one of those days, count your blessings...you are one of the lucky few. Maybe its due to lack of sleep (since I can't blame it on PMS) but I'm not spending much time analyzing what went wrong during the day. Nope. No over-analyzing Annie here. Instead Erik and I went out to eat. I eat when I'm pissed. Tonight I was soothed by baby back ribs, French fries, and an ooey gooey brownie sundae. It helped tame my temper and melt away the frustrations of the day. Thank goodness for food.

Cool Crewel...

2007-09-05T00:11:00.001-04:00

I was browsing at the craft store the other day and ran across The New Crewel book, written by Katherine Shaughnessy. I LOVE it! This is some pretty cool crewel. I've dabbled in crewel before in the past and I have many vintage crewel pieces made by my grandmother and her many, many sisters. I've always enjoyed crewel work and this book has lots of modern patterns that are super easy to do...the only downside is I can't find the correct crewel yarn to use ANYWHERE in the Manchester area. So, for now I am forced to practice with plain old embroidery thread. Oh well, at least I can get some practice with the stitches before the real yarn comes in. Yeah!

The photos above are of a crewel pillow made by one of my relatives on my Dad's side of the family sometime in the late 1960's or '70s. I'll be posting pics of my first project once it's completed!

Man's best friend...

2007-09-05T00:07:00.000-04:00

Jake saying goodbye to Erik on Labor Day

Jake, one of my parent's dogs, LOVES Erik. It's cool to watch them interact. Jake follows either Erik or my Dad around all the time. He's a true guy's dog.

Road Trip Time!

2007-09-04T21:30:00.000-04:00

Krystal, me, and Lisa (l-r) striking a pose as the sun sets over South Windsor, CT

This past weekend Krystal, Lisa and I took a mini road trip up to the Yankee Candle Factory in South Deerfield, MA. We hit the road around 9am, stopped for breakfast at Bickfords, then made our way to the candle factory. After lots of candle fun we headed back to CT and had dinner at Bellini's in South Windsor. Yummy, yummy salads! After filling up on yummy food and re-fueling at Starbucks, we headed over to enjoy the sunset at the Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve. We ended the day (literally...we were up past midnight) at the studio making an awesome slide show of our day! We had a blast! I will post the side show soon, but until then here are a few pics to tide you over...

Lisa, me and Krystal (l-r) in front of the Yankee Candle Cow

...a yarn pic for Cassandra! We saw some beautiful Alpaca yarn at the farmers market outside of the candle factory.

...more Photo Booth fun

2007-08-30T23:14:00.000-04:00

Silly Anne...this is what happens when it's midnight and I can't fall asleep. I make faces at my computer. Erik thinks I'm quite odd...

The face is the mirror of the mind...

2007-08-30T23:04:00.000-04:00

The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without
speaking confess the secrets of the heart.
-Saint Jerome (374 AD- 419 AD)

Erik and I have had our new laptop for awhile now, and I find myself still soooo amazed by the built-in camera. When I'm bored or need a good laugh I sit down and play with the "Photo Booth" application. It can keep me busy for hours...really. Hey, what can I say, I'm easily amused! This photo of my lovely eye was taken using the comic book effect.

Wanted: Paper Source in CT

2007-08-30T22:39:00.000-04:00

I love the store Paper Source! I wish we had one here in CT. The nearest store is in Boston...and that is too far to drive for paper. Paper Source is the place to go for decorative paper, gifts, cards and more. It is a creative superstore! I was on the hunt here in Manchester this evening for some cool wrapping paper for the gift I'm bringing to my friend's shower this weekend, and not a single item at the stores I visited made me oohh and ahhh. Paper Source would have had the artsy paper I was envisioning, I just know it! I'll have to stock up next time I'm in Boston visiting Cassandra! I'm fully aware that I am way too picky and should have settled for the first decent wrapping paper I saw tonight, but it was $6.99 a roll, and there was no way I was going to spend $6.99 for a roll of so-so wrap that I will probably never touch again. Grrr... Sometimes I wish I was not so picky. Sometimes I wish I could learn to just settle for something. But no, not me. I get this picture in my head of how I want something to look and I just can't seem to be happy until it is just right. Well, after many stops around town I ended up at Christmas Tree Shops in total frustration (Erik was happy, he could at least go into Guitar Center for a minute) and I did it...I settled for a nice gift bag, pretty white curling ribbon, and plain jane tissue paper. Well, enough ranting over useless stuff tonight, I'm off to bed.

We are tied to the ocean...

2007-08-24T00:11:00.001-04:00

"All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea -- whether it is to sail or to watch it -- we are going back from whence we came."

--John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Speech given in Newport at the dinner before the America's Cup Races, September 1962

New Layout...

2007-08-22T21:23:00.000-04:00

So, I have been bored with the way my blog looks lately and have decided to make a few changes. This, of course, has forced me to learn a bit of html. I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of it and will be tweaking the blog over the next few weeks. Let me know what you think/like/dislike! The header up right now is something I threw together fast while the new and improved Artsy Anne header is being built. Yippee!

Craft Meme...

2007-08-20T18:51:00.000-04:00

Last week Cassandra tagged me for a Craft Meme! Here are my limits on creative pursuits in order of things i do most often and/or importance...

4. Love it! This is my thing
Photography, gardening, paper crafts, baking, jewelry making

3. I do, or have dabbled in it
Rubber stamping, beading, scrap booking, knitting, painting, sewing, cooking, drawing, floral arrangement, woodworking, macramé, crewel

2. I'll give it a try
Glass blowing, book binding, weaving, mosaics, stained glass, pmc (precious metal clay)

1. I've got absolutely no interest
Soap making, candle making, doll making, leather work

Summer Fun

2007-08-19T21:14:00.000-04:00

We spent this past weekend at the Cape visiting Erik's grandmother. We were blessed to have another wonderful trip with minimal traffic and beautiful weather. I love the beach! After every trip Erik and I spend the drive home thinking of how in the world we could pull off moving to the shore! I doubt it will happen in the near future, but we can dream about it!

On the way down we made a pit stop in Chatham, MA before visiting with Gram and had fun seeing the boats at the Chatham Fishing Pier. It was a very very bright sunny morning and I even had to break down and wear my sunglasses. For those of you who know me...I never wear sun glasses. I know, I know, I should wear them more often...I'm just not a fan.

While there we bumped into this guy hanging out relaxing in the warm water by the boats. A Seal!! My guess is that he was waiting for a big old fishing boat to come in and throw some of the days catch over his way! He was so calm just floating in the water.

Next we rambled over to the Chatham Lighthouse and walked the beach there. Despite some strong winds, we had a beautiful walk! We left Chatham and drove back towards Hyannis around noon to visit with Gram. We relaxed on her beach for a bit and then had a wonderful dinner! (followed by watching the Red Sox game...Erik was very happy!) It was so nice to be able to visit! Thank You Gram!

These are a few of my favorite things...

2007-08-19T21:00:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to do more writing on my blog...so bear with me, I'm trying something new. As I was re-writing my profile info last week I realized I had lots of things to say, but didn't want to put it all in my profile. So, I started a post on my favorite restaurants. Then I saw a post Cassandra put up Thursday on her blog for the weekly blog challenge listing her favorite things. It got me thinking and I'm going to do a series of posts on my favorite things, places, restaurants, etc....basically anything that makes me happy. This first post is on restaurants. I would love to hear your comments! Here goes nothing... bon appetite!

Anne and Erik's Favorite Restaurants

I LOVE to eat! Erik and I love to go out to eat, it's not that we don't enjoy cooking, we just love to go out. We have been trying to stick with local restaurants...or smaller chains lately. It's hard to do, but it feels good to support the small businesses out there. Here are some of our favorite spots to eat...

Breakfast-

Reins Deli, Vernon, CT -- Reins Deli makes a breakfast sandwich called the "Next Door Special". I get mine with baked ham, fried egg, cheddar cheese on a pumpernickel bagel.

Bonnetts, Harwich, MA --They are famous for their breakfast treat "The Meltaway". Mmmmm... My mouth waters just thinking of them!

Nags Head fishing Pier, Nags Head, NC --Nothing beats eating breakfast in a screened-in porch on a pier overlooking the ocean.

Lunch/Dinner-

Not Your Average Joes, multiple locations in MA -- We have never been disappointed in their food or service. I love this place! I have enjoyed every meal here.

Shady Glen, Manchester, CT -- Cheeseburgers here are sinful. The crispy cheese makes it amazing!

Owens, Nags Head, NC

Penguin Isle, Nags Head, NC

Sukothai, Manchester, CT

Al Dente, Boston, MA

Dessert/Coffee-

Shady Glenn, Manchester, CT-- The best ice cream...yummy! Mocha Chip is my personal favorite and Erik is partial to their Chocolate Peanut butter. We have never had a flavor we did not love.

Finale, Boston, MA -- I had a chocolate fondue with Cassandra a few weeks ago that was finger licking good!

The former Junkanoo Island Cafe, Nags Head, NC :(

Mr. Garden Gnome Says...

2007-08-17T00:11:00.000-04:00

"Thank Goodness it's Friday!"

Hide 'n Seek...

2007-08-16T22:59:00.000-04:00

We went for a walk the other night at dusk and all the frogs were hanging out in the pond. Most of them hopped away when we stopped to take a peek...but this little guy hung around for a quick (very quick) picture!

Walking

2007-08-13T19:39:00.000-04:00

I love to go for walks. It's a great time to reflect on the day and get in a little bit of much needed exercise! Erik and I have been trying to fit in more walks during the week. Erik walks around our neighborhood a lot on the weekdays and by doing so he has learned the back roads around our house very well. One of our favorite places to walk (other than on the beach...I miss NC!) is Nevers Road park in South Windsor, CT. It is a 1.57 mile loop and is very well maintained. The trail is scenic and we always stop to visit the frogs in a small pond along the trail. Erik's grandfather has a tree planted at the park in his honor, so we like to visit it first, say hello, and then hit the trail!

Erik's Grandfather's Tree

The little things in life...

2007-08-12T21:33:00.000-04:00

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."
-- Vincent Van Gogh

When life seems hectic and you feel as though you are being swallowed up by all the stresses of the world, try to remember to take time to enjoy the little things that make you happy. It's hard to do when your mind is racing in a million directions, and you can't seem to find a moment of peace...but try, even if it means staying up past midnight on a Sunday night when you are exhausted. :)

Girl's Weekend in NYC!!

2007-08-12T21:20:00.001-04:00

NYC here we come! Last weekend I spent the day with Dyann (Erik's Mom), Holly and Brigette (Holly's Mom) in NYC! We had a great time seeing the sights, meeting the stars, and celebrating Dyann's birthday. It was a fun girls weekend! The photo above is of us having brunch at The View Restaurant. It was located on the 47th floor of our hotel and it revolved!

Here is the view from The View!

Me and Dyann

Holly and Brigette

The view from our hotel room.

We stayed at the beautiful Marriott Marquis Hotel right in the heart of Times Square! These were the elevators in the hotel...they were quite space-age! We had lots of fun riding them up to our room on the 22nd floor.

A beautiful day at the Cape

2007-07-24T20:52:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we spent a beautiful day on Cape Cod visiting Erik's grandmother! We spent a few hours walking in the tidal pools at Sandy Neck Beach and then headed off to Hyannis. We had a great time visiting with Erik's grandmother and she treated us to a delicious lunch at Cooke's! Yummy!! It was a beautiful day! (plus...for some reason there was NO traffic on the Cape...it was sooo odd!) We can't wait to go back up for another visit! Here are some photos from our day...

It was very cloudy when we first arrived to Sandy Neck Beach...

...but then the blue sky came out and we had a beautiful morning on the beach!

I love how the clouds look in this picture of the dunes!

Here is a photo of Erik's grandmother's house in beautiful Hyannis, MA. I love her gardens!

We went to Cooke's Seafood for lunch in Hyannis and it was wonderful! I had fried shrimp and scallops, Erik had salmon, and Grandma had a lobster roll! Yummy! I love seafood at the shore!

Last but not least, here I am on the beach soaking up the sun! (...and getting a small sunburn!)

NC Day #5: Let it pour!!!

2007-07-17T22:00:00.002-04:00

No trip to the Outer Banks is ever complete without an awsome thunderstorm. We were on the beach and saw this rolling towards us. I love storms! We sat and watched the rain as it creeped up the beach towards us...

...and then ran inside when it started pouring!

NC Day #2: Fourth of July

2007-07-17T21:55:00.000-04:00

Spending the Fourth of July on the beach was amazing. We packed a picnic in our awsome new picnic bag given to me by Jay, Suzie & Patience for my birthday and headed down to the Nags Head Pier to watch the fireworks show. People all around us were setting off small fireworks and sparklers...it was quite a show!

This last photo is not the best...but it shows you the HUGE fire we saw on the 4th from our hotel balcony. Part of the salt marsh on Roanoke Island caught on fire from a spark from some fireworks...yikes!

Windy day...

2007-07-17T21:41:00.000-04:00

Here we are in front of the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
It's not the most flattering photo of Erik and I...
we were both hot, tired, and windblown...
but it's the first one I've had to post of us in awhile!!
More vacation pics coming soon.
Oh, how I miss the beach!!

Birthday Meme...

2007-07-17T00:09:00.000-04:00

I was tagged the other day by Cassandra for a Birthday Meme. I'm not quite sure what it means... as far as I know all you have to do is go to Wikipedia, look up your birthday, and then post 3 events, 2 births, and a holiday. Then you tag 5 friends....well, I'm leaving out that part! So, here goes nothing...

My Birthday: June 8

3 Events:

1783 - The volcano Laki, in Iceland, begins an eight-month eruption which kills over 9,000 people and starts a seven-year famine. (lol, thought this was interesting since Erik is really into Iceland...)

1912 - Carl Laemmle incorporated Universal Pictures.

2004 - First Transit of Venus in this millennium

2 Births:

1867 - Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect (d. 1959)

1977 - Kanye West, American rapper

1 Holiday:

World Ocean Day

All in all it was a pretty interesting thing to do since I have never taken the time to research what interesting things have happened on my birthday!

Nags Head, NC Day #1: The Long Drive

2007-07-15T23:37:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the MANY photos we took while in Nags Head, North Carolina this year on vacation. I can honestly say that I never get tired of vacationing there. It's such a beautiful and relaxing place!

We left Connecticut on Tuesday July 3rd at 4:15 am driving our wonderful (really!) rental car. It was a Ford Fusion and believe it or not Erik and I had a hard time giving it back to Avis when we came home!

We arrived at the Surf Side Hotel in Nags Head, NC around 3:15pm after 11 hours of rather traffic-free driving (we weren't so lucky on the drive home). Erik and I have been staying at the Surf Side Hotel since our first trip down together in 2000...yikes! We love this place and would recommend it to anyone looking for a clean, well-priced hotel on the Outer Banks.

After checking in we went out to the grocery store to stock up on all the essentials for a yummy and healthy vacation. We ate dinner outside on our balcony while listening to the waves.

Since we had such perfect beach weather this first day, I decided to take a dip in the ocean before the sun set.

Later that evening Erik relaxed while playing guitar on the balcony as the sun
set over the beautiful Albermarle Sound.
What a great start to vacation!

Where flowers bloom...

2007-07-15T22:53:00.000-04:00

"Where flowers bloom so does hope."
- Lady Bird Johnson, Public Roads: Where Flowers Bloom

Oh how I love wisdom teeth...

2007-07-14T10:21:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! Sorry I havn't been writing, but as most of you know I had to have all four of my wonderfully impacted wisdom teeth out on Wednesday. Fun, fun, fun. I have spent the past four days doing nothing but icing my jaw and laying on the couch, so I am begining to feel like such a couch potato. Erik is watching the Tour de France once again this morning...and believe it or not I am starting to get sucked into it. Yikes! I guess anything can seem really interesting when you are taking a massive amount of vicodin.
Even though I have had an ice pack attatched to my face 24/7, I'm still quite sore and swollen. Erik said I look like a "cute chipmunk". Sorry, I'm not going to post any picks of me in chipmunk-mode...I don't see it as a very flattering look on me :). I'm not looking forward to going back to work on Monday with these gorgeous chipmunk cheeks either. I will have to think of a creative explanation to tell the kiddies so they are not terrified to go to the dentist. Hopefully it will be a nice easy week. It will be hard to get out of vacation mode! I will be posting some photos of our trip to NC soon. We had a great time. It was probably one of out best trips down there, minus my constant jaw pain. I will write more about our trip later...but for now, it's back to icing.

Welcome Summer!!

2007-06-21T21:23:00.000-04:00

What do I want to take home from my summer vacation?
Time.
The wonderful luxury of being at rest.
The days when you shut down the mental machinery that keeps life on track
and let life simply wander.
The days when you stop planning,
analyzing, thinking and just are.
Summer is my period of grace.
-- Ellen Goodman

Penguin Power!!

2007-06-20T00:37:00.000-04:00

Penguins!!! I love penguins and for my birthday Erik and I took the day off and went to the Mystic Aquarium for the day with our friend Suzie and her adorable daughter Patience!!! (Jay had to work :( but hopefully he will be able to come along on future adventures!) We had an amazing day! Here is a picture of Patience and I in front of a huge penguin statue!

where did the time go...

2007-06-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

Hello! It has been forever since my last post, but I'm back! The garden has taken off since you last heard from me in April. All the mystery plants have been discovered and most are in full bloom! I will have to post pics asap. But for now, here are some photos of the delicious cheesecake my dad made for me for my birthday! It was amazing...I ate about half of it! He does a great job! This cheesecake was plain with fresh strawberries, kiwi, and raspberries on top!! He made another one this past weekend for Father's day with amaretto and yellow raisins. He calls it the "Italian cheesecake". It was heavenly!

Hello Beach!!

2007-04-22T09:28:00.000-04:00

Ugh, it's the end of a gorgeous weekend. This weekend went by way too fast. You know it did when you find yourself spending Sunday night counting down the days 'till Friday. The warm weather was a wonderful treat, and I can only hope that it stays like this for awhile! After a morning of raking leaves on Saturday, Erik and I headed out to the shore to enjoy the sunshine. We went to Rocky Neck State Park, Mystic and ended the day watching the sun set in Misquamicut. There were lots of people sunbathing at Rocky Neck. Now, I know it was practically 80 out, but I just couldn't get past the whole sunbathing it CT in April thing. It just seemed odd. But anyways, we stayed there for about an hour and then headed over to Mystic to grab dinner. I have been on a huge salad kick lately and can't seem to get enough greens, so we searched the Mystic travel center's menu display and found a restaurant with both good seafood and good salads! Yummy! We had a great dinner and then headed down the road in search of a pretty spot to watch the sun set. We ended up going to the state beach in Misquamicut, RI. I have been going to Misquamicut since I was little, and I don't recall ever seeing starfish on the beach...but they were there on Saturday! They were pretty beat-up looking, so I am guessing they came in with the storm last week. I was able to take a few pictures of them and thought this one came out cool. I am excited that good weather is here and Summer will be here before we know it. Hopefully this weekend's beach trip was the first of many great beach trips this season!!

Pretty flowers...

2007-04-20T22:56:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of some Crocuses we have growing in the backyard. There are about 100 in bloom right now scattered around the whole house. They keep popping up everywhere!

Spring has sprung!!

2007-04-20T21:06:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! Today was such a beautiful day! When I got home from work I decided to do a bit of spring cleaning in our backyard. The sun was shining and the birds were singing...it was so peaceful.

While clearing out dead leaves and branches I discovered so many plants coming to life in our yard! The people who owned the house before us loved to garden, so I know there will be lots plants coming back to life over the next few weeks...which also means I will be spending lots of time cleaning up the flower beds. I can't wait to post more pictures once things start to bloom. Taking pictures of flowers is probably my favorite thing to do when I have spare time. I'm not quite sure what type of plants are in the photos I took today-- I guess I'll have to wait for them to grow some more to find out! If anyone out there has a green thumb and can help me identify plants I would be very grateful!!

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.
~William Shakespeare

Happy Birthday Jake & Rudy!

2007-04-18T21:32:00.000-04:00

This Friday is Jake and Rudy's 2nd birthday. Time has sure flown by! It seems like yesterday they were just tiny little puppies you could fit in the palm of your hand. I have decided to post a few pictures of them from the past two years to help celebrate!

Today Mom and Dad loaded them up into the car to take them for their two-year check-up at Dr. Bach's. They are doing great!

At the last weigh in the fall, Jake was 135lbs. and Rudy was 130lbs. Dad called to let me know about their appointment and when he told me to "sit down" before he told me the news about the big weigh-in, I knew I was in for a surprise. For those of you who don't know, Jake and Rudy are giant dogs. They aren't your average German Shepard/Lab Mix. As of today, Jake & Rudy now weigh the same...a whopping 143lbs. (EACH!!) Yikes! Jake is so tall and strong, and Rudy...well, he is just Rudy. Anyways, Happy Birthday to the best "Dog-Boys" in the world!

Into each life some rain must fall...

2007-04-16T20:16:00.000-04:00

Be still, sad heart, and cease repining; Behind the clouds the sun is shining; Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rain, rain, go away....i miss blue skies

2007-04-16T19:42:00.000-04:00

I hate the rain...I know that "April showers bring May flowers", and I love flowers, but I am so sick of the rain. We had about 1 hour without rain today. It's hard not to mope around all day when the skies are dark and dreary. The good old weather man says we are supposed to have sunny skies and 70 degree weather next Monday...lets see if he's right.

Vacation Planning...

2007-04-12T19:41:00.000-04:00

All this rainy weather is making me think of how much I miss summer...which is then making me think of VACATION!! I have the first two weeks of July off this year and we are having the hardest time figuring out where to go on vacation! As most of you know, I can be pretty indecisive. (okay..really indecisive)

I miss the beach terribly so we will most likely be going to North Carolina for a week...but I'm not sure where we should go for the remainder of my time off! I'm thinking of doing some day trips and would love to go up to Cape Cod, but it's hard to plan this year because Erik will be working while I'm on vacation. He just picked up another class at Manchester Community College and will be teaching Monday and Wednesday nights from June 4th to July 27th. It's good that he is teaching a class over the summer, but I'm bummed that it's during my time off! Oh well, life goes on and I'm sure we will figure something out, but if anyone has any good ideas for neat day trips around New England please let me know!!

The long road...

2007-04-11T23:35:00.000-04:00

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
--E. L. Doctorow

Spring!

2007-04-11T22:44:00.000-04:00

Spring has returned and that means I will be out and about with my camera more often...HOORAY!! I enjoy taking pictures of everything and have been called a "shutterbug" numerous times! I love taking pictures of flowers and have been excited to see new things pop up in the garden each day. This is a photo of a plant called "Hens & Chicks".

Let the blogging begin!

2007-04-11T21:48:00.000-04:00

Well, here goes nothing...I am going to attempt to blog! I can't promise you I will post on a regular basis and I can't promise you any of my posts will be fun and exciting...but hopefully this will help me keep in touch with my fellow blogging friends! Wish me luck!