Today's treat

When they mentioned "occasional parking" at the orientation for my current job my ears perked up. You pay $30/year for a sticker that goes on your car window and you can park up to 8 times a month for $3.50/day (and $10/day after the 8th time). Did I hear that correctly?! If you are familiar with the greater Boston area you know that parking is ridiculously expensive. I have been heard saying "sometimes a parking ticket is cheaper than parking!" (It's true.) I signed up for occasional parking that very day. It has been handy if I have plans after work, a doctor's appointment, or I'm bringing a cake to the office.

Driving to work was a treat during the end of the summer. I made notes in my calendar when I drove so I wouldn't go over 8 times. There was construction in a neighboring town which was a bottleneck but other than that, it was a fairly easy drive in and out of Cambridge. The end of August I drove quite a bit and it was a breeze. I could get to work -- door-to-door -- in about 50 minutes! (Note: that is a breeze!)

I decided to treat myself today by driving in to work. As I pulled out of my parking lot onto the street into traffic I noticed my fellow bus buddies waiting on the bus stop and thought I should have just taken the bus. Too late. I was already in my car and ready for the ride. It took me 10 minutes to get out of my town and I soon realized that driving to work during one of the busiest weeks was a bad idea. Everyone is back from vacation. Everyone is back at school. Almost everyone was in their car driving. My treat turned into wrestling with traffic and at a very slow pace. That is no treat! So I turned around, backtracked to the neighboring town, parked in front of a friend's house and walked 10 minutes to the subway station.

I love the subway. I like the bus (and love the bus when it's on time...). Boston has great public transportation. Just this week I mailed my subway passes in so I can get 10% off my car insurance because I take public transportation to work. When I get the reimbursement check from my car insurance company I might treat myself to a new book or some fancy fabric!

People remember you (see 09/05/07 entry)

This is one of my favorite pictures of my brother John taken in the 70's. The Earth Wind & Fire poster and phone on the bed kind of give the era away. My brothers had a beard contest once and maybe this picture is proof of a hair growing contest. I'll have to ask John.

When Grandmother Pitchforth would introduce John and me to people, she would always say, loudly, "It's natural!", referring to our beautiful red hair.

It's natural all right (with some credit to his afro comb)!!

Redheads

I recently read a book review about "Not a Happy Camper" and it sounded like a good book so I checked it out from the library. It's a memoir about a girl's experience at sleepaway camp in Maine. I started it on the bus this morning. I smiled when I read this:

"The other campers' parents had sprung for airfare and the girls hadn't yet arrived from the airport. I was the first one in Bunk Three, just me and my counselor, the very redheaded Gita Isak. I wished I had red hair. People remember you."

Back to school

The L.A. City Schools always started school the day after Labor Day -- today! So in memory of my wonderful years at Gault Street, Mulholland Jr. High, and Birmingham High, here is a picture of my elementary school lunch box. The other lunch box was my Grandma Pitchforth's. She probably started kindergarten in Nephi, Utah 104 years ago this week!

Vacation is over

I'll be setting my alarm clock tonight...bummer!

Babies and brownies

I went to visit my friends' new baby today and took this platter of brownies with me. John Henry's older siblings were pretty excited to see the treat and they all knew what it spelled!

Family Reunion

I was hired to be the Family Reunion photographer this morning. It's not easy getting 21 people to smile at the same time! I got some good shots and it was fun to be with one of my favorite families. They have a fun weekend planned. One of the events is "telling stories"; that sounds really fun!!

Cool photo

David L. Ryan of the Boston Globe took this photo. I think it's really cool. Can you tell what it is?



YEP -- SCHOOL BUSES!

Flower Power

Last year I wrote about going to Small Farm in Stow, where you can cut wild flowers and fill a quart sized yogurt container for $5. I read about it in the Boston Globe.

I went back today with 3 friends and their collective 7 kids and then saw another friend there with her 2 kids. We had a great time. The kids loved running through the gardens and cutting flowers and the people that own the farm were so kind. It was a perfect summer day activity.

Who won the hat?

The Raymonds said...

Scott and I used to live two streets from Fenway Park. I always had to leave work early on home games because otherwise I couldn't get any parking. The gas stations around there even sell their tiny lots as parking. They make more money with parking than they do pumping gas! Our friend's car got flipped after one of the World Series games. Ah, fond memories.

The Raymonds live close by so I'll hand deliver the hat. Congratulations!

I really enjoyed reading all your Red Sox stories. What a treat; thanks!

School is starting soon -- remember Fedco?

At the end of the summer our parents always took us to Fedco to get school supplies. [I found Fedco in Wikipedia (who knew?).] Fedco pre-dated stores like Target/K-Mart/Costco. We loved going to Fedco! Things were a lot cheaper and it was a fun store. You had to have a Fedco card to get in. And we always saw someone we knew there. Always! So back to my story about buying school supplies...my parents (both former teachers) would take us to Fedco and we could get whatever school supplies we wanted. Seriously! As many Pee Chee folders, pens, and tablets of paper as we wanted (maybe there was a limit of one pencil case per child). I think it was their way of getting us excited about starting school! I kind of miss those days of getting supplies and clothes ready for school and meeting a new teacher and classmates. I don't recall taking many "first day of school" photos (it's all the rage now with the scrapbooking craze) so here is a class photo from elementary school.

Oh, Boston, you're my home

My brother asked for my shipping address and the next thing you know I've got two of these sweet Red Sox caps.

Since I only need one I'm going to have a drawing for the other one. Leave a comment about Boston or the Red Sox (nothing rude, please) and I'll pick a name Wednesday night at midnight (eastern time) and the winner gets a cap!

GO SOX!!!

How much for one of them blueberry cakes?

I make a mean blueberry cake (I got the recipe from a friend that I think got it from a farm stand in Michigan). The secret ingredient is sour cream (it makes for a moist cake).

I made one for an activity once and my friend Lee Hurst asked how much it would cost for me to make him "one of them blueberry cakes". I told him twenty bucks. He pulled out a twenty dollar bill---and I made him a blueberry cake. Unfortunately Lee has relocated to Arizona but if anyone else is interested, I'll make you one of them blueberry cakes for twenty bucks too (shipping not available)!

Here is the recipe and a picture of the cake I made tonight. Enjoy!!

Cinnamon Blueberry Cake
1 cup soft butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 t. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 ½ t. baking powder
½ t. soda
¾ cups chopped walnuts
¼ cup sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 ¾ cup blueberries

Place butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream and vanilla in large bowl. Mix 2 minutes at medium speed. Add flour, baking powder and soda. Beat 1 minute at low speed. Spread one half the batter in greased 13x9x2 baking dish. Mix nuts, sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of this mixture over the batter. Drop remaining batter in mounds on top and spread over the whole top. Sprinkle blueberries on top and sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar over blueberries. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until done (if using frozen berries increase baking time--I freeze blueberries in ziploc bags and toss them in the cake right from the freezer.)

Friday night babysitting

I babysat my friends' 5 kids tonight while they went to the Temple. I offered when he helped me with my computer problems and was glad it worked out tonight. Their kids are great and low maintenance. We watched "The Princess Diaries 2". The oldest dozed and the baby slept until about 10 minutes before they got home so it was really like babysitting 3 kids! The next-to-the-youngest made this cute card for me. Nice!

This caught my eye three years ago when I was driving in upstate New York so I pulled over and took a photo.

End of Summer

My niece and nephew in Florida started school today. I called my niece last night to wish her good luck in 7th grade and she said she was pretending that school wasn't starting today. Sounds like she wasn't ready for Summer to be over.

Good luck with this year of school!

Priceless Princesses

Anniversaries

25 years ago today I graduated from Brigham Young University.

25 years ago tonight I was a bridesmaid at the wedding of one of my college roommates (the 2nd of eight times being a bridesmaid and I've got the sweet photos to prove it). That ruffle has 33 feet (that = 11 yards) of fabric in it. No joke.

15 years ago today my youngest brother Chuck married his wife Jennifer! This photo was taken in May 2006.

Congratulations to me, Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, and Mr. & Mrs. Patton!!!

Little friends

I don't think I will ever get tired of photographing kids. And I think I might need to enter this picture of Baby Neighbor in a contest!