"I Do"

Emilie and I attended a beautiful wedding last weekend in Mattapoisett - first cousin once removed wedding.

We booked a hotel and stayed the night in New Bedford.  We arrived early, too early to check-in, so we went for a walkabout.  There were oodles of commercial fishing vessels all docked along the piers.  Pretty elaborate pieces of equipment to say the least and clearly these fisherman mean business...

Some of the side streets and sidewalks were old school cobblestones, with the all too familiar thump thump thump thump thump thump thump, as cars drove by.  New Bedford is an old costal town that I suspect would be fun to visit and explorer.  Perhaps, one of these days.

The wedding itself was beautiful.  It was held at an older country club, on the lawn with the ocean as a backdrop to the ceremony.  The weather cooperated and it was a wonderful evening ceremony, followed by cocktails and hor devours on the grass.  Dinner was fantastic, as were the festivities and dancing.  We had a great time and thankful for getting to spend time with family.

#blessed

Be Considerate of Others, That's All

"Mutants that device around in their loud cars..."

I luv me some Vic DiBitetto and his perspective on things.  His short videos, which he posts daily, are usually funny.  Here is one of is recent ones below where he goes off on the dipsticks and their loud vehicles.

Just so happens he and I are on the same page with this annoyance, as I've been bothered by the same for quite some time now.  There are a couple a-holes that live nearby and they're forever zooming and racing by with all kinds of ungodly noises.  Honestly, I'm not sure how most of these vehicles are able to pass the yearly registry inspections with how loud these things are.

The only loud noise that I'd be okay with following one of these knuckleheads roaring by is the sound of their vehicle crashing into an immovable object...

Anyway, here is Vics take on it - 

 Ticked Off Vic:  I hope your engine and your eardrums throw a rod

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the below photo?!

This is as close as my iPhone would get -

Moth Decoys

I got my cabbage moth decoys in order and placed out with my broccoli.

Supposedly the butterflies are territorial and will not deposit their eggs if they think another female has staked her claim to that area.

I'm not sure how effective these are but if it deters even one moth from visiting my plants and laying eggs then it's worth it.  They doesn't cost anything other than time really.  Also, not sure how hanging them with clothespins will do but that's all I have for now.

The broccoli plants are doing fantastic. I even built wire cages to keep them protected from the rabbits and deer, which seem to be visiting on a regular basis these days.

BEWARE, Turtle Crossing

I came across this new born baby snapping turtle the other morning on my walk.  One of it's litter mates was squashed in the roadway nearby, sniff.  I moved this little fella safely away from the road and in the water, where hopefully it'll be fine and surive.

I stopped this rather large lady was just before she walked into the road.  I moved her safely to the edge of the tree line, in the direction she was traveling, and towards the water.  It was for her own good, however, she did NOT see it that way, nope!  She was a bigg'n and she definitely wanted a piece of me with her attempts at getting ahold of me with her snapping. 

Honestly, shocks me that turtles this size get hit by vehicles.  I would think she would do some damage.  Supposed people are distracted and too concerned to care about what they hit or run over.

Here is a side by side comparison showing a new born versus a much older snapping turtle.  Found in the same area, so perhaps they're related.

All's well that ends well.

Irony

Yummy, BURP!

Seems appropriate to me especially with the overall size of SO many people these days but I'm also offended (well NOT be but someone for sure)!

You know with today's culture and all, and with how the littlest of things get's taken out of context and ultimately ends up offending someone for some reason, I'm kinda surprised a company would choose such a name.  

Yeah, I'm talking to you "Karen"!

A Yellow Pollen Blanket

I took this picture last week when I went for a lunchtime walk.  It's a small pond at the office.  It shows you just how bad the pollen has been this season!  A thick blanket covering everything, and with the lack of rain we've had this spring, it's lingering.  Looking for a good drenching to wash this all off and away.

These Are The "Breaks"...

By looking at this folding lawn chair wouldn't know I've lost about 25 pounds.

Was sitting in this chair, the last of a set of four chairs I've had for many years, and taking a break from yard work and BOOM!

The previous three chairs went in the exact same manner.  It's too bad as they were pretty comfortable and folded up nice to be stored out of the way.  Looks like I'll be sitting on a 5-gallon bucket for my breaks until I can find suitable replacements.

Free Passes, Score!

I scored some free passes to the New England Aquarium and the Zoo (either Franklin Park or Stone Zoo).  Courtesy of the company I work for!  There were other options too for local museums but since I'm not too refined for the fine arts I opted for the places I connect with.

Looking forward for Emilie and I to use these at some point this summer.

Out With The Old...

Tossed!

I replaced my Zipcar mouse pad.

There was nothing wrong with it, it was just time.  I've been using this one for several years and needed a change.  I had a similar one but a bit larger and red, brand new with the name and logo of the company I work for, stored in my office desk, so I'm now using it.

I'm Seeing Purple

My Clematis is loaded with blooms and looking terrific this year!

I've been cutting it back the last couple of years, something I was always fearful of doing, and it seems to respond well and shoots right up come early spring.

Quitters

 

Opening Day!

Yesterday was pool cover removal day, UGH!  So much anxiety with pool opening weekend worrying there are no issues with the cover removal, the liner or the pump and filter.

All went well with but the pool is awful green.  I shocked it last night and will backwash today, hoping this helps and it clears up nice.

Spread the cover in the driveway to clean and dry, then folded it and put away till fall -

And We're Off...

After hemming and hawing I finally decided to plant some veggies.

So, off I went to my favorite local farm stand and picked up some cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. 

I got them all in the ground and nestled comfortably.  They seem to be loving the daily watering I've been providing, as well as this hot weather.  Hoping the critters leave them alone and that they do well this season.

My Emilie Is SO Sweet!

Best birthday gift ever!

I love it, THANKS Em!

More Spring Flowers

The neighbors Wisteria, both purple and white, have BIG beautiful flowers all over!

Even my Honeysuckle is flowering away.  This is very pleasing, as I thought it had died but thankfully one single strand survived and is looking good -

Very Perdy!

The Iris's are doing fantastic this season, with BIG beautiful blooms!

Here are some of what's flowering now at the olde homestead - 

Like A Glove

I help out an elderly old family friend with miscellaneous things around her house.  Primarily, I clean her gutters in the fall and then again in the spring, but also rake her yard and prune back the overgrowth in her yard.  

Her house is nestled among a canopy of oak and pine trees, which cover her house in shadows and dampness most of the time.  They also make a BIG mess with ALOT of clean up to do...

Her porch storm door was damaged and needed to be replaced. Reluctantly, I agreed to take this project on back in the fall. Being there was no rush and that I really didn't want to do it, I procrastinated some (Duh, I'm a Frye, so of course I did...).

Logistically, this was a challenge, as I had no way of picking up a new replacement storm door and getting it to her house.  In the end I had to call in a favor from my neighbor who has a truck.  He went with me to purchase the door, then to drop the door off and in the end, he also helped me get the door installed.  I would have been able to eventually get the door installed alone but having a second set of hands was super helpful!  

The porch is really in terrible condition, being in the shade and dampness all the time, but the new door looks great and fits in quite nicely -

 

Old porch door -

Replacement Andersen door, outside view - 

Replacement inside view - 

Bark Bark! Get It? Dogwood...

Our dogwood tree looked terrific this spring!  Full of beautiful pink blossoms!  I love this time of the year.

Slow Down!

FPD doesn't do speed control enforcement on our street nearly enough, so when I see them out and have someone pulled over it's great!  I got a front row seat for this show.

The speeds are too fast and easily, in my estimation, 10-15mphs over the posted limited.  That coupled with the aggressive drivers and distracted drivers, it's always welcome to see when the FPD is holding people accountable.

Um, Yum!

A Mocha chip ice cream sugar cone with chocolate Jimmies, SO scrumptious and SO worth it!

And Off It All Went!

Our town had their annual spring yard waste pick up day a couple weeks ago.  Their fall yard waste pick up was cancelled.  Apparently, the company picking up the waste was short staffed due to covid, alas.

Since there was no fall pickup I was forced to dump stuff in my backyard.  Since it was unsightly, I bagged it all up, (15) bags in all, and put out for spring pick up.

Sadly, my Redbud tree died. It was in tough condition last summer and had quite a bit of dead branches all through it, so I'm really not too surprised, rather bummed out.  It was nice looking tree with awesome flowers in the spring. 

Anyway, I took advantage of yard waste pick up day, and cut most of it up to fit in the green landscape barrel seen in the above pic and off it went!

I transplanted the flowers planted at the base of the tree, dug out around the base so I was below ground and cut the rest of the tree trunk down.  Looks odd with it gone, alas.

Pinus Rigida

Pitch Pine.

I thought these were cool looking, so snapped a couple photos and I'm now sharing them with you.

Honestly, not sure if these things eventually turn into pine cones but this tree was loaded with cones this past fall, so could be.

Into The City I Go

I went to our Boston office a couple weeks ago and spent the day on the 24th floor.

Here are a couple pics looing at the Charles River and State house.

I'm not sure if this is where the "Elf on the Shelf" spends his off season time but what's troubling is that he's sitting on a shelf in the men's room on the 24th floor in Boston!  I can't explain it.  I'm as puzzled and confused as you...

Clean As a Whistle

Trixie has her spa appointment the other afternoon, finally!  Perfect timing too, as we had a couple really hot and humid days, and now that she's older, they had an effect on her.

She looks like a different dog all clean and with her hair cut.  She smells nice too!

Before -

After - 

VERY Proud Dad!

It's official, Emilie has completed her sophomore year at URI!

She's all moved out of her dorm and waiting to receive her final exam grades, as well as her overall semester grades!

Next stop, summer job at the local Y!