Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!

Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat
at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
Springfield Museums

Today

On March 2

We wish you,

Dr. Seuss,

a Happy Birthday!!!

So many of us enjoy the books that Dr. Seuss wrote!!  Here in the Springfield, MA area his birthday is celebrated this week, as it is in so many other places.  He was born in Springfield, MA on March 2, 1904 and grew up in this city.  For that reason he has a very special place in the hearts of area residents.  Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote fascinating stories for children and used the name Dr. Seuss.  Seuss was his mother's maiden name.  On the grounds of the Springfield Museums in Springfield there are many large bronze statues of the characters in his books.  They were designed by his step- daughter the sculptor Lark Grey Dimond- Cates. 

His inspirations for his stories came from his surroundings when he was growing up.  Theodor Geisel grew up in the Forest Park section of Springfield.  His dad was the superintendent of the Forest Park Zoo.  Theodor often heard the phrase, "If I ran the zoo...".  Many of us have enjoyed his book, If I Ran the Zoo.  

Indian Motocycles are drawn in some of his books.  These motorcycles were manufactured in Springfield!  Theodor Geisel never lived on Mulberry Street.  His maternal grandparents owned a bakery in Springfield.  

Whenever I stop in, now, to visit one of the five museums at the Springfield Museums, it's always a treat to take a walk around the beautiful statues.  

Horton and Other Friends
at the Springfield Museums

One day many years ago after giving a tour to a school group I was leaving the complex.  Suddenly, I saw a little girl with her parents coming on the grounds to visit.  She ran over to The Lorax and gave him a big hug.

The Lorax
at the Springfield Museums

              
It is a very special place!  Now, there is also a museum, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, to visit.  It is a great place for children, young and old, to use their imaginations and have fun.  History of the area is also covered as it relates to this great author, Dr. Seuss!  If you have never visited this museum, stop in!  It is one of the five museums at this gem in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts!

Enjoy!

 

"Spring Fever"

It's beginning to feel like- well Spring!  This past weekend's activities brought thoughts of warmer weather. 

1. Taking walks outside instead of using my treadmill.
2. Grilling Chicken outdoors for dinner.
3. And- the first sign of color in our yard!  A Crocus is blossoming today!

WooHoo!
Enjoy!

 

Wild Turkeys

Wild Turkeys passing through!

This was a surprise!  As I was placing the ingredients in my Slow Cooker this afternoon, a family of wild Turkeys passed through our backyard - Mom, Dad & the 4 kids.  The first time we've seen them strolling on by.   

So cool!
Enjoy!

 

Power is BACK!!!!!!

View from Kitchen Window a Week Ago

WooHoo!!! Now my DH and I know how dependent we are on electricity! The nor'easter slammed into Western MA and our power was out for 6 days. We are thankful for the hard working men/women from all over our country who are helping our state. We have power back on our street!

JG

11/8 - Update:  Yesterday AM (11/7) our Internet + t.v. service was restored!  My son and his gf welcomed us back to the 21st century and to the internet!



Hubby at Work!



The Debris Pile Gets Taller

From scratch ...

and also from the soil rising upward!  Usually food is my topic of choice, but during this past week I have been enticed with the plants growing around our home.  Summer in the Pioneer Valley is so colorful - filled with annuals  and perennials.  The local Strawberry and the local Blueberry crops have been sweet and also abundant.  In my last post I mentioned that while growing up my family always had two large gardens filled with veggies.

My Hubby & I continued my tradition.  We lived in an apartment in a suburb and had a great landlord!  He knew that we were dreaming of a garden ... someday.  Well, his thought process was why wait?  Part of his side lawn was plowed, so we could have our wish!  Now, that was totally cool!

We grew corn, cantaloupes, squash and all of the customary veggies.  I canned and froze veggies to my heart's content!  After we purchased our house and moved into our home, my DH and I were raising a family and gardening was in the past.

However, there was always a place for flowers and flower boxes.  Flowers are just gorgeous!  Earlier this summer our Salmon colored Daylilies blossomed for a month.

Last year after having a difficult time locating Zinnia plants that would grow to a certain height, I decided to plant Zinnia seeds.  Until a hard autumn frost arrived, the vibrant colorful display of blossoms were so pretty!  One of our planters contained deep purple New Wave Petunias.  Throughout the growing season, I saved the extremely delicate small black Petunia seeds and also many Zinnia seeds.

This past week has been sunny and bright.  The seeds that I saved and planted in early June (from last year's abundant crop) is now blossoming!  A few Zinnias and one Petunia!  There are so many buds visible!  How cool is that?!?

We will have a very large bouquet of Zinnias in our yard starting this week!  (I did keep my distance from the Bee.)  Cardinals and Blue Jays sing in our trees, but a ceramic bird makes his home on my pot.  :)

Yes, I will be saving seeds, again, to plant next year!  I will plant the seeds 2 weeks earlier.

Do you save flower seeds to plant the following growing season?

We are enjoying their beauty!

         

T’is the Season for Sherbet Punch!

August has arrived and we have had two or three typical days of summers past! Not every day, but they do pop up here in the Pioneer Valley with the heat and the humidity. If you are having a gathering and have invited guests of all ages, include a punch bowl filled with Sherbet Punch (click here). On a hot, humid, sunny day a cup of this quenching beverage hits the spot!

Sherbet Punch has 2 ingredients:

(3- 4) 1 Quart containers of Sherbet (choose one flavor)
Orange, Raspberry and Lime are tasty. My family likes Orange.

(5 – 6) Bottles of Diet 7-Up Soda (refrigerated)

The directions are easy:

1. In a large punch bowl place 1 Quart of Sherbet.
2. Pour (2) bottles of chilled Diet 7-Up in the punch bowl, pouring some over sherbet.
3. Stir a little to mix ingredients.
4. The result - a frothy top and softened sherbet. Mmmm!
5. Ladle into cups, adding some of the softened sherbet.
6. Replenish the Diet 7-Up and sherbet, as needed.

Sherbet Punch is so easy to make and it tastes so good!

Yummy!