My Mr. Darcy (swoon now)

Our Wedding in Cornwall 2002

I have said it once and I will say it again and again.  Luke is my Mr. Darcy.  Yes, I went to Bristol, England with thoughts of Jane Austen and her wonderful novels swirling through my head.  I thought, wouldn't it be amazing to be whisked off my feet by a Brit!  I didn't actually think it would happen.

Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

Cut to, my first week in England - I spent £20 equivalent to about $30 on a phone call to my parents in a red phone booth, hysterically crying.  I HATED England and I wanted to come home.  I wasn't adjusting well, hadn't gotten into the pre-approved courses and didn't know how to cook!  So picture me - nearly hyperventilating, gushing with tears, in the very picturesque area of Clifton in a red phone box with many people walking by trying not to notice.  Fast forward 7 months and I was calling home to tell my parents that I'd met someone - the one- and I didn't want to come home yet.

I have some friends to thank for actually getting together with my husband.  We were acquaintances before becoming a couple and the stars aligned on April 23rd at three friends' birthdays (they know who they are) - a curry, a pub crawl and Odyssey (a club in Bristol) were all involved.

So, I will tell you the reasons my husband is my Mr. Darcy:

1. He was very aloof when we were about to all go out.  Didn't talk to me.  Much like the snub Mr. Darcy gave Eliza Bennett.
2. He is debonair (he will disagree with this - actually probably all of this!)
3. He's opinionated.  Really he comes from a long line of seasoned debaters.
4. He is the best with children.  I saw this the first time I met his family (after dating a week).  Now, he is the perfect father.
5. He is protective and loving.

Luke with our nephews, 12 years ago.

The only thing that differs from Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy and my husband is that he's not landed gentry.... You should have seen some of the places we've lived.  Since we married straight out of uni, I always tell him, "Well, at least  you know I didn't marry you for the money!"

To quote Mr. Darcy, to my husband:

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." (Mr.Darcy, Chapter 60)

"Mr & Mrs." in Pisa.

A Piece of Cake

This may look like just an ordinary piece of cake, but it is so much more than that.  This is a piece of blueberry coffee cake from Morning Glories in Scituate.  The cake itself is so moist and the topping bursts with the beautiful flavors of blueberries, icing sugar and crumb topping. So delicious.

We've had many lovely meals and treats from Morning Glories.  My kids love their sugar cookies and John had a beautiful pirate cake for his 2nd birthday.  The quiches and pies (especially the strawberry rhubarb) are fantastic.  Their fresh baked bread is also out of this world.  Oh, and their chicken salad is filled with chunks of chicken, creamy mayo and red grapes - yum.

Arrrr, Matey.  John's 2nd birthday cake.

But by far, my favorite dessert offered at Morning Glories is the blueberry coffee cake.  My neighbor, now a very good friend, brought over a box filled with this blueberry coffee cake when we first moved to Scituate 4 years ago.  I remember it like it was yesterday, her standing at our front door with the big box in hand welcoming us to town and the neighborhood.  My heart welled up and I was so touched by this offering.  We had found our home, after living in Bristol, London and Newton.

So to me this piece of cake represents not only a very delicious treat to have with coffee at a playdate, but also a promise.  A promise of friendship.  A promise of being welcome to a new place.  A promise that life is so very sweet.  Every time I take a bite I'm reminded of that.

The Sweet Life: On Minot Beach

Not Your "Mum's" Planter!

Each year I usually plant Mums outside the front door, but I was bored of them.  They never last the whole season and I always think they look half dead.

I was very inspired by a Better Homes and Gardens article about container gardens called "Movable Feasts". They used all different plants in the September issue: Ornamental kale, sea grasses, swiss chard, brussel sprouts and various flowers.  When I saw the magazine, I knew I wanted to do something similar this year.

Here are some images from Better Homes and Gardens:

 

While picking up a few bits and pieces at the grocery store, Conor and I saw some very cute baby Flowering Kale and Montauk Daisies which would be perfect for the planters.  We then went to the Village Greenery in Cohasset to see what they had there.

Conor in the pumpkin patch at the garden center!

Conor was such a big helper at the garden center!  He found the ornamental "medusa" peppers and then we found the seagrass (red head fountain grass).  Both the seagrass and the daisies are perennials that I can replant before the hard frost and enjoy in our yard next year.  Conor charmed them at the nursery and they gave him the white and orange pumpkins in the top photo.  He was so happy and hugged them all they way to the car - I think he thought they were baby pumpkins.

When John got home, we got started on our planting project.  Both my boys love digging, as you know from a previous post.  They had so much fun looking at worms and helping me plant the peppers and baby kale.

I had to share the photos with you all now because I don't have the greenest of thumbs and I'm worried about all the plants dying.  What do you think?  What are your plans for fall planting?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Joy Rides and Antiques: Take 2

Cozying up to a ghost oustide Salvage Chic Antiques.

I love antiques and old knick knacks.  I really love to rummage through looking for vintage finds.  As far as I'm concerned, half the fun is in the searching.  On Sunday the whole gang climbed into the car and we went to Salvage Chic Antiques.  Last time Conor and I went we were lucky to find so many little treasures.  If you remember, in the first Joy Rides and Antiques, we found a buoy for Conor's room and he picked out a little leopard.

There were so many fun things to look at and explore.  They had about three rotary phones in the shop that day  and John had never seen one before.  Isn't that funny?  I remember many homes having them when I was little.  He loved those, particularly the red one.  Both John and Conor were excited about the opera glasses, the old calculator and an old fashioned car that the roof came off of.  They both were intrigued by a vintage typewriter.  I remember typing all my papers (pre-computer) on my one-line-correct Smith Corona and getting very angry when I'd have to rewrite papers for my 9th grade English teacher, Mr. Becker.

The store is currently kitted out for Halloween: ghosts, hand painted Halloween signs on slates, baby dolls in baskets (John thought were very creepy and scary).

I found a treasure on Sunday for my kitchen!  I was tired of all the utensils falling out of the small wine jug they were housed in when I'd reach for a wooden spoon to stir the pasta or a spatula to mix the brownie batter.  I'd pull out one and everything would fall onto the counter.  I'm in love with the large enamel slop bucket I found at Salvage Chic.

Yes, I'm aware that slop buckets took scraps of food out to the pigs and other livestock.  But doesn't that white enamel, trimmed in blue look so clean and crisp against the white bead-board?  Added bonus, it is huge and nothing is falling out of that thing.

The four of us enjoyed pizza next door after a very fun day of treasure hunting.  Salvage Chic is turning 5 this month and is doing a 20% off sale this week to celebrate.  Hope you make it out there soon!  

Kids Soccer: Swarm Ball

John - after his game.

This Saturday was our 5-year-old's second attempt at soccer, or should we say swarm ball?  The boys were like bees to a hive.  These 5 and 6 year olds swarm after the ball and don't stay in their positions.  It really is so cute to watch.  Scituate has a really great program for kids with Scituate Youth Center, who have been running programs for 40 years.  This year it was $30 for  8 weeks.  I thought it would be a great way for John to try soccer (football in the UK) for the first time.

If you remember Saturday was a very, very warm day - near 80s and muggy.  The field was overgrown and squiggy from all the rain.  The game was eventful.  There was tackling and kicking, not to mention many wipe outs as the field was as slick as a slip and slide.  At one point John was kicking the ball approaching the other team's goal and then just sat down on the ball when someone tried to kick it away.  Yes, if all else fails, sit on the ball!  Part of me wondered if I was watching a rugby game  minus the scrums.

Game Day Action.

I don't really like watching sports, but I was so excited to see John play and all of the boys out their in their soccer kit.  Nonni and Grampy came to root him on for hist first game.  It is crazy, but when I sit on the side of the field in my portable chair, Mary Lou's coffee in hand, I turn into this other person.  Not a Tiger Mother but dare I say it: a Soccer Mom!  I hear myself yelling, "John, the ball is coming!"  "Stop being a dinosaur and pay attention."  Or, "John, you are going the wrong way!"  I know it is completely cringe worthy.  I really don't even care about the score of the game.  I just want him to have fun, but I also want him to pay attention, listen and play the game correctly.

The cheering section.

I'm not at all athletic.  When I was about 8, I attempted soccer in Andover and I was put on the WORST team.  I was on the Roses (our shirts were as red as my face from embarrassment).  One time a girl named Buffy tripped me and the wind was literally knocked out of me.  I couldn't breath, I couldn't stand up.  I thought I was going to die on the field.  I really did.  Then someone helped me up.  I did two seasons of soccer and hated every minute of it.  I did score a goal once after a pep talk from my dad on the side lines, but I was scared of the ball, I would close my eyes when the ball would come at me.

I hope John isn't having the same issues with soccer that I did.  After about 15 minutes of game time John was done; his head soaking with sweat, his shirt muddy and his stomach hurting.  He watched the rest of the game perched on Luke's lap cheering on his teammates.  Perhaps, my dramatic son will enjoy drama club after school more than swarm ball.  Maybe he'll follow in his mom's footsteps.  I'll keep you posted.  Drama club starts next week.

Forecast Today: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

The skies are dark and foreboding.  It rained all day yesterday and promises to do the same today, tomorrow and Sunday.  If I was still living in England, I may not mind this dismal weather.  It just is expected to rain there and really walking through a light mist isn't that bad.  On our wedding day nearly 10 years ago it poured in Cornwall.  Everyone tried to make me feel better telling me, "It is raining riches," while the photos were taken inside.  I mind the rain here in Scituate, when the weather should be cooling off.  The sun should be brightly shining through the cool, crisp Autumn air making one thirst for apple cider, crackling fires and toasted pumpkin seeds.  Instead, these showers are more like April and they are not bringing May flowers, but making wet leaves fall from the trees and rotting pumpkins laying in their patches.

One of my boys' favorite books and films is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  It is a fantastic book!  One we read quite often.  Imagine, amazing and fun things falling from the sky, like - hamburgers or ice cream sundaes or actual meatballs.  It would be great!  No more cooking to be done.

I think John loves the book so much because he LOVES meatballs, especially Nonni's meatballs.  Yesterday, he raved about the meatball sub he bought at school and today I sent him off with a meatball sandwich packed in his lunch.  Yes, it is definitely cloudy with a chance of meatballs today.  Hope everyone gets to enjoy some delicious meatballs and a good slosh in the puddles today!

Flip Flop Mentality

Living by the sea, we have a pretty laid back household.  Beach toys, bikes and boogie boards are packed into our mudroom.   The red wagon is parked in the back yard ready to take the kids up to the beach.  There are always a vast collection of sea shells and beach rocks on most surfaces.

Some of Our Beach House Rules:

1. Flip Flops are Mandatory
2. Wake Up Smiling
3. Say Please and Thank You (or in Conor's case 'Peas' and 'Ta')
4. Hang Up Your Towel
5. No Wet Suits on Wooden Furniture
6. Be Grateful for this Day

Flip flops are mandatory in our house!  I had to share this picture of Conor's brand new flip flops which winged their way last week from Oz!  Aren't they the cutest Havaianas you've ever seen?  They  are tiny and have little alligators on the inside.  Adorable.  He loves running around the house in them!  Now we all have at least one pair flip flops.

Now that Summer is a distant memory and that we have to unpack all the winter clothes from the attic (Brrr).  It is time to put the flip flops way for the year (sigh).  Oh, well, at least we have apple picking, trick or treating and snowmen building to look forward to!

Puppy Love

Poppy amongst the roses!

Is there any greater love than between a boy and his dog?  Think Old Yeller!  Think Marley & Me!  I think you'll find the answer is, "No."

There is a bond between our two youngest - Conor (2), our biological baby, and Poppy (soon to be 1), our rescue puppy.  The bond developed the day they met at Animal Shelter, Inc in Sterling, MA and has grown with each passing day.  I discussed adopting Poppy in an earlier post.  They are like two peas in a pod.

Their first day together.

Conor loves to help with Poppy.  He enjoys taking her for walks up to the beach or in the woods.  He loves to prepare her food and place it next to her water.  No small feet for a boy his size.  He takes pleasure in rewarding Poppy with treats and knows the command signs.  He likes to quench Poppy's thirst, as in the photo below:

A nice thought even though it was from his dirty paddling pool water.  He loves to stroke her feathery-soft hair and play chase with her in the yard.  She, of course, always wins.  Conor finds it so funny when Poppy chases her tail or runs after the seagulls on the beach.

Two peas...

Some people thought we were crazy to get a 12-week-old puppy when Conor was only 15 months.  They said that it was like having another baby, but with sharp teeth.  Poppy was great from the very beginning.  Yes, she did chew on some furniture and yes, she had a few accidents, but they were usually our fault.  We were learning and she was getting settled, it was very similar to bringing home a baby minus the diapers and breast feeding.

Room for 2 in Poppy's crate.

Both Luke and I grew up with dogs and we wanted our sons to grow up with one, too.  I kept saying that I didn't mind what our dog looked like, I just wanted to find the perfect dog for our family.  One that would be gentle and loving.  Poppy is both.  Conor and Poppy are growing up together.  They are out of the teething stage and now toddling.  She really did find us and we all love her, but I think Conor loves her most of all (and vice versa).

Book Club / W(h)ine Club

One of my favorite outings each month is Book Club.  I've been going to book club since moving to Scituate four years ago and it is so much fun to get together with the girls once a month.  It is one night that I look forward to each month and it really got me back into reading after having my first child.

Yes, we talk about the book eventually.  Sometimes only for a few minutes, sometimes for an hour or more depending on the book.  Most of the conversation revolves around our lives.  Some women have grown up kids, some women work full time, some have new babies and some girls don't have kids.  Everyone is welcome and there is no right or wrong.  There is a core group of us that have been going for a while and we are always welcoming new members as my book club is part of the SCNC - Scituate Cohasset Newcomers Club.

Sometimes the discussion is around our kids - potty training, sleep issues, tantrums - are all topics up for debate.  They may sound trivial, but when you are going through the terrible twos or are in the trenches of a sleepless child then you, too, would hold firmly to the advice of others.  We also talk about decorating, electricians, painters and carpenters for our homes.

Each month we take turns meeting in each-other's homes for a spread of wine, apps and desserts.  In June, we get dolled up and go to a local restaurant for dinner and a book discussion.  Much wine is consumed while we whine about our kids, our kitchens we want to remodel (me) and just about the day we had.

Me at Riva's in Scituate Harbor, discussing a book with friends.

Here are my top ten favorite book club books (in no particular order):

1. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (we debated and debated - great heated discussion)
2. One Day (Just read for last meeting, real tear jerker)
3. The 13th Tale (for those who like mysteries)
4. The Glass Castle (great memoir)
5. Sarah's Key (set in France - depicts a part of history that I didn't know about)
6. A Thousand Splendid Suns (great story about the relationship between two women)
7. The Thorn Birds (a classic)
8. The Help (well-crafted, funny book from the help's perspective in the South)
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (mystery / thriller set in Sweden, quite a page turner)
10. The Namesake (loved the imagery)

One of my most favorite book clubs was when we discussed The Help.  The host made a Southern spread complete with cheese grits served with shrimp, tossed salad and the caramel cake that is in the book.  I hosted one when we discussed the Swedish-set, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I served Daim Bar Cake and Swedish Meatballs from Ikea.  The girls love to nosh on chips and dips, the more the merrier.  One favorite for book club is Skinny Girl margaritas with Chips & Guac.  Or I also like Lite House Margaritas (a local Scituate resident created the mix).  My favorite Guacamole recipe is below:

Liz's Guacamole (so much better than Wholly Guacamole)

3 Avocados
1/2 yellow onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup cilantro with stems (roughly chop)
Salt
1/2 lime


Cube avocado and mash.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Keep it chunky!

*Liz doesn't like tomatoes but sometimes I like to throw them in when I'm making it at home.  I deseed the tomatoes and chunk them up.

I also love to serve Stacy's pita chips (or make my own) with Giada's white bean dip and Cupcake Vineyard's Pinot Noir - delicious and very satisfying while discussing the current novel.

You may also want to plan movie nights with your book club.  We've gone to see several movies and also hosted some at members' homes.  We've found the movie never lives up to the book.  We are going to see Sarah's Key this week and I still need to see The Help.

Do you attend a book club?  If so, do you have any book club recommendations?  If not, you should join our's, if you are local, or you should find one in your area.  It really is a great way to make some new friends and to also find some great books!

Airing Out My Dirty Laundry

Suits drying on the line.

Is there anything that smells better than fresh, air-dried linens (especially close to the shore)? I don't think so.  We got the idea when we were 'holidaying' in Tuscany with Luke's family.  We rented a very nice villa complete with stone floors, beautiful vistas, refreshing (very cold) pool and it even had a laundry line.  It was so amazing to hang our clothing out on this line that stretched between cypress trees and overlooked rolling countryside.

Campo Della Donna, Tuscany, Italy

If you can imagine, that the clothing line was to the direct left of this photo, hung between several trees.  Beautiful, huh?  I hung heaps of clothes on that line because my boys (and I mean all of them) sometimes miss their mouths and we were eating lots of pizza, pastas, lasagnas and gelato.  The freshly hung linens smelled amazing - that gorgeous Tuscan air.

So when we returned to Scituate, the first thing Luke did for me was go to a DIY store and got a very long clothesline to hang between the two trees in our backyard and I love it! Not only is it better for the environment because we aren't running the electric dryer, but it is better for our clothes - no shrinking, no wear, less fading.  The laundry line also holds a much more personal memory.  One of my grandmother. 

This is my grandmother, Maas.  That is what we all called her, Maas, I'm not really sure why.  She always called me 'Dolly'.  Growing up, I was very close to my grandmother.  I wear her platinum wedding band each day along with my own and my engagement ring.  The herring bone has worn but the inscription is still there with the year 1933.

Gramps and Maas

When I was John and Conor's ages, I used to go with my mom to visit Maas every Thursday.  We would help Maas do her shopping, Auntie Ka would read me storybooks, we'd have Antonio's cheese pizza and I'd get to wash it down with pink milk.  Strawberry Quik was a special thing I only had at Maas' house.  Even though we were visiting, Maas and Auntie Ka had chores to get done and we'd usually help them hang out or take in the laundry.

Now, when I go to hang the laundry out, I'm always reminded of Maas.  As my whole body reaches up to the line, trying to navigate the wooden peg on the tightly stretch cord, when the dappled light hits my eyes I'm reminded of her.  I miss her so very much and wish she could meet my sons, two of her great grandchildren.  Hopefully, she can see them from up there.

Pub Grub

Let's go to the pub!

Where are we?  Is it infront of one of our locals in London or Bristol?  Perhaps a family favorite in Cornwall?  Or did we finally make it to Ireland?  Any guesses?

Well, my boys are actually infront of Mr. Dooley's, a brand new pub, in Cohasset Village! We really miss a lot of things about England, especially family and friends, but beyond that we miss the pub atmosphere.  The pub is a place where you can congregate after work, bring your children on the weekends for a bit of Sunday lunch or a full English (Breakfast).  We really miss stoping into the pub after work for a pint and a packet of crisps.

When we heard that Mr. Dooley's was opening we couldn't contain our excitement, especially Luke.  He really misses having a proper Guinness.  He said that the pint at Dooley's was poured perfectly.

You're staring again!

We went with the kids last night and it was wonderful.  The pub just opened Thursday, but it looks like it has been there for years with aged patina on the walls, tin Guinness posters, frosted mirrors, beautiful iron pendant lights above the bar and it was packed with 'regulars'.  The bar was abuzz with activity and we got there just after 5pm!  It is quite intimate with little nooks to have a chat with friends.

John, takes after Daddy, and is so happy in the pub!

My kids had their hearts set on fish & chips, but because the pub just opened they haven't got their shipment in yet.  We'll have to go back another time to try this family favorite.  Instead they were happy with burgers and steak chips (which were amazing) - look at the kids burger and chips!

The menu is very large and offers all the traditional favorites - Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash, Fish & Chips, Mixed Grill and Chicken Curry, among others.  They also have more American Fare with entree salads, sandwiches, appetizers and steaks.

My husband couldn't resist the Traditional Irish Mixed Grill, which included tender prime aged Angus Guinness steak tips flame grilled to your liking and served with Galtee irish sausages & bacon, Irish Bachalor's baked beans, grilled garden tomato and Pub Chips.  Our 2 year old loved the baked beans and was dipping his chips in them.  Luke was in heaven with the bacon, probably the one food item he misses most of all.  American streaky bacon just isn't the same.

Irish Mixed Grill

I really miss Chicken Curry from England so opted for the Homemade Chicken Curry which was full of flavor - curry and cardamon but wasn't too spicy.  The tender New England Farm chicken breast was sautéed in homemade curry sauce with onions and peppers all served over a bed of fluffy long-grain rice.

Yummy Chicken Curry

The prices are fantastic and our waitress was really great and understanding with the kids.  We even met Mr. Somers, the owner, who was on-hand to make sure all the patrons were happy with the pub and the service.  He asked why my husband left Cornwall as it is such a beautiful place and Luke replyed, "Well, we moved to Scituate!"  Not has rugged as the Cornwall coast, but the weather is much more predictable.

Mr. Dooley's is part of the Somer's Pub chain that includes Mr. Dooleys in Boston and Wrenthem and The Green Dragon and Paddy O's.  Mr. Somers immigrated from Ireland at the age of 19, he is now 60, and has successfully built on American's love of all things Irish.

It is so nice to live on the Irish Riveria and have a proper, local Irish pub.  We highly recommend it to South Shore residents and friends and family from across the pond - you know where we're taking you on your next visit!   Mr. Dooley's Olde Irish Village Pub is located at 9 Depot Court in Cohasset.  I have a feeling we are going to regulars there!

Back To Balance

This is not me, but wish it was!

I got up this morning at 5:30am to return to Balance Studio in Cohasset.  My kids and husband were still sleeping and I didn't pass a single car on the road.  There was an older man walking along South Main Street with his elderly Golden Retriever.  I love the quiet and the dark of this time of day.  I love the morning because it is so full of possibilities of what the day might offer, even the sun hasn't woken up yet.

When I got to Balance, I was greeted by my good friend and teacher, Kim, who welcomed me back with open arms.  I haven't been to a HOT yoga class in 6 weeks and really missed my stress relief.  The room was warm, the lights dim and the music turned down low so it sounded like chanting.  I laid on my mat, waiting for others to join, and hoped my knees would be better.  On the mat I enjoyed the warmth and the quiet and let the tension melt away.  Once the hot vinyassa flow class started it felt wonderful to breath and to go through the postures: sun salutation, downward dog, cat and cow, warrior 1, warrior 3, chair pose and my favorite warrior 2.  I was careful to listen to my body and not do some poses and was also careful not to do anything to strenuous with my knees.

With the beads of sweat running down my face, I felt a cleansing.  The ujjayi breath filling my body with warmth and a feeling of well being.  I really love the principals of yoga - to listen to your body, to not compare yourself with others and to let your body and your spirit be one.  It is the one time of day that is for me and I'm not thinking of my "to do" lists.

It was really great to be back at Balance this morning.  If you are interested in finding out more about the studio; hey are having a Ladies Night Out on Friday, September 23rd and an Open House, Saturday September 24th (more details are on their website).

When I returned home, I was welcomed by this note on the door from my sweet son:

Yes, the day is full of wonderful possibilities.  Happy Weekend!

Namaste.

Outdoor Movie Night

Last Saturday we went to our friends' 5th Annual Outdoor Movie Night and it was awesome!  Our family had so much fun, as did the rest of their neighborhood and other friends.  It has grown each year and this year they hosted over 100 people in their yard.  Despite the large crowd it felt so much more intimate than going to the cinema.

The big screen.

Right when we got there we set up our chairs - making sure for an unobstructed view.  Our friends have the only outdoor 15 foot screen with dolby digital surround sound on the South Shore.  They constructed a wooden frame and sewed two king size sheets together.  The Dad is the projectionist and sound man!  Each year they do a double feature, but with two little ones we only make it through the first movie.

Luke and Conor setting up our chairs.

The smell of freshly popped popcorn filled the air, kids and adults alike were happy to fill their paper bags with this salty movie stand by.

Freshly popped, buttery popcorn.

The piece de la resistance is the cotton candy maker - kids were lined up for this around the block.  I was never allowed cotton candy when I was little no matter how much I begged.  My parents were always happier to give me a snow-cone doused in sugar rather than spun sugar that looks like insulation (go figure).  Well, my little Conor got in line behind the big girls to eat this pink confection.

Once he got it, he didn't want it.  Guess who helped him out?  Yup.  Your's truly.

John & his bag of popcorn

With goodies in hand and the sun down, it was time for the movie to begin.  The first movie was "Despicable Me," such a great film!  All the kids sat down in the front row mesmerized by this humongous screen.  Even little Conor sat with the big kids (not with us) and watched the WHOLE movie.  I usually have to leave movies with him after thirty minutes once the popcorn is gone.  But he watched the whole thing.

There is just something so magical about watching a movie outside with your friends and neighbors on a gigantic screen, feeling the warm breeze, seeing the light of the moon and hearing the chirping crickets and other insects.  We are already looking forward to next year!

The Outdoor Movie Night really encapsules life on the South Shore in Scituate.  Our fishing town is laid back and no frills.  Everyone has the obligatory beach chair to bring to this event or parades in the Harbor.  The most important thing in our town is a sense of fun and the enjoyment of friends and family.  Neighbors are always helping one another whether it is to weather a storm or bring over some beers and watch a movie on a big screen.  We love Scituate and all the wonderful friends we've made here.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Thank you all for visiting Finding Silver Pennies!  I've been so inspired and touched by all your comments - on the site, twitter and facebook.  It really means so much to me.  One friend said, "I feel like I wake up with a little inspiration from you each morning when I'm checking everything as I get to my office!!"  So I feel really blessed and lucky to be sharing my thoughts with you all over your morning coffee, as you start your day!

Today, I'd like to talk about pennies and the luck associated with them.  My mom was going into French Memories in Cohasset for a cup of coffee (I highly recommend their cookies, croissants and pies) when she came across something on the ground.  Unsure of what it was she picked it up.  Alas, it was a penny in a clear bag with a little note.

The paper read: "Find a penny, pick it up.  All day long you'll have good luck!

The 1968 penny is nondescript.  It is not shiny, instead it is dull with a few scratches.  It looks as though it may have gone through the wash a couple of times, but I thought the sentiment was just so sweet.  Someone purposefully packaged this penny up to wish another stranger luck.  I wish you all good luck today!  Here is a silver penny for each of you!