Down on the farm...

Today's excursion involved visiting the farms of Hardwick and West Brookfield... We met all kinds of characters.. Like this guy!



And how much more "New Englandy" can you get than this lovely barn with it's gaggle of Canadian Geese in the field... ok.. so maybe it looks more Canada than New England but whatever...



Unfortunately they planted a HUGE satalite dish right in front of this barn (you can just see the corner of it) I can't crop it any closer without losing the lovely cupola on the top of the barn, so if I decide to use this pic for printing purposes I'm gonna have to take some serious Photoshop tools to it..

And then... there was this guy! Amazing how I got him to pose for me - isn't it?



Ok.. so he was a really bad example of amatuer taxidermy... but how cool is that? We found him sitting on a wall at a "Pick your own Blueberries" farm... he got our attention for sure... He made my day!

Later...

Learn somethin' new...

I'm a proponent of the adage "learn something new everyday"... so todays lesson was taken from an absolutely wonderful blog I found on photoblogs.org... This woman does some awesome stuff with her photos! So I did a little experimenting and although I probably need about 8 more years of practice to get as good as her.. here's my first attempt..

First the un-retouched version.."



Pleasant enuf I guess... and now the extremely Photoshopped version!



Oh... but then there's the old 'sepia' standby..




So... what do you think.. am I on the right track or totally lost?

Later...

My ride...

I don't know how I missed posting this pic... maybe it was the glare off the handlebar that made me change my mind... again.. Quabbin Reservoir - but this time one of the gates in Hardwick was the location...

Unsure about Beavers....

I'm not sure if I posted this pic or not, it was actually taken this past fall, but here you go... This is the swampy - beaver infested area on Route 9 in Ware.. I'm sure you know it.. The Quabbin Reservoir... I've been going thru the hard drive and trying to get some organizatin to the hundreds of pics I've got splayed all over the place.. if it catches my eye, I'll put it up!

Later...

De-signed...

Well I managed to rip the sign right off those lovely doors! (And of course I just had to add those lovely poster edges again...) Came out pretty darn good if I say so myself - I managed to match the color of the surrounding door but then I realized there should be another triangle rosette thingy under that sign so I had to go back in and grow one, but then, I once grew hair on a bald man's head with Photoshop - he looked 20 years younger and I gained a whole new level of respect from the client... I love it when everyone wins!

Later

ps... for a REALLY cool effect.. right click on the pic and select "set as background" this will change your desktop picture so be warned... make sure you have your desktop set as "tiled" (right click on the desktop - go to properties - click on the 'desktop' tab - and select 'tile' from the dropdown box)... awesome effect.. the other pic that I love doing this with is the potpouri photoshopped cosmo below... give it a try!

I hope they save them...

Here's another pic from the Unitarian... One of the best features of this old place, besides the awesome brick-work, is the doors... I sure hope they salvaged them!



If you click on the pic to go to a larger version of the image - you can kinda read the sign on the door.. "Condemned"... So very sad! I may have to fire up Photoshop and see if I can de-sign the lovely doors...

Later....

Yesterdays pic...

So.. a quick way to get your stuff back is to complain about it publicly.. Amazingly my camera card reader appeared on the kitchen table tonite.. woohoo... So here's the picture you should have seen yesterday!



It's Ware's Unitarian Church... soon to be no more... in case you don't recognize it, it's located on Rt. 9 - Ware Center - next to the Town Hall... I've always loved this building and would have loved to purchase it when it was up for sale a few years ago, but you know how that goes... you kinda get have some money... I always thought it would make an awesome 'in-town' home... Well.. it's just as well I'm broke cause it suffered a collapsed wall a while back and is now condemned... the crane and wrecking ball are all in place ready to take out this lovely old building.. I have to say.. I'll be VERY sorry to see it go... it brought a grace and style all it's own to downtown Ware...

Later

From the archives...

A little flashback to help you thru this sizzlin' cookout weather...

Robbed... again....

Well.. you would have had a new pic to look at today, but it's stuck in my camera... Once again, I've been robbed... first it was my old laptop... then my Palm pilot... then my old camera... then my thumbdrive... and now the latest theft... my camera card reader... and who has all my electronic toys?? Mr. 9 2 Bay 2 9 2 10! That man can pick up a piece of electronics and abscond with it faster than the stupid little dog can grab your sandwich outta your hand!

I don't even know why he borrowed it, but it disappeared into his(read formerly MY) laptop bag and went off to work with him... I may never see it again... I still haven't gotten even a glimpse of my old Palm since the day he decided he needed it for something or other...

Anyway... I'm sure the pics I took this morning are just stunning... photo-card worthy even... but then in all actuality.. we may never know... at least until I buy a smaller-cooler replacement! HA!

Later...

New Bloggy Features!!!

That's right dear Readers... we've got a NEW feature here on
9 2 Bay 2 9 2 10!

ANNOUNCING!!! DIRECT EMAIL!!"

WOOHOO!! That's right... now you can all shoot me private comments... I'd heard a few things from some readers that are also friends of mine that went kinda like this.. "If it wasn't gonna be published directly on the blog - I was gonna reply to that post..." So now... ya'll can do just that... ok.. so it's just a crappy hotmail account - but hey - it should work...

So.. take note.. the bottom of each post is now different... there is a link for "post a public comment" which of course will still post directly to the blog.. and then there is the NEW "email me privately".. and as usual the little envelope icon will allow you to email this post to your friends and family...

This could be a great new feature here.. I may even run a CONTEST... that's right.. PRIZES and everything... I've been wanting to do this for awhile now but couldn't come up with a 'safe' way for people to enter the contest with their reply information so I could get in touch with them should they be the "lucky winner"... Well this should solve that! HHMM.. the ideas are flowing already... if you got any.. well.. NOW you should know what to do!

Later....

New England Adventures...

Well.. it was quite the New England Adventure yesterday... from a Mountain top to a Lake.. I saw and did it all.. Yeah me... the computer geek again found herself on top of a Western Mass mountain! This time it was lovely Mt. Tom... other than quick trips over the top o' the mountain from Easthampton to Springfield and back I don't think I've spent any time on the mountain (we won't count the time spent at conferences at the Log Cabin)since I hiked the 7 sisters in 6th grade with my friend's family... (Barb W. - if your out there give me a comment! I think of you often!)

Anyway.. here's a pic of the lovely Eyrie House Ruins at the top...



So now for a quiz...

1. Tom is one sister - Holyoke is another.. What are the names of the other 5?

2. Does anyone know why one of the "Sisters" is named "Tom"??

If you have the answers - send me a comment, cause frankly I don't have a clue and Google has been no help whatsoever...

Ok... so now.. on to the Lake.. Lashaway to be exact. I have a sister that has lived on this lake for 9 years now.. and other than the occasional boat ride I really haven't been putting that access to a lake to good use.. But yesterday that all changed.. yeah.. I went and jumped in the lake.. It seems this has been a weekend ritual for 2 of my sisters for the past few weekends but this time I got an invite and frankly, I jumped at it.. now I don't think I've been swimming in a lake since 1981, where I promptly lost my brandy-new class ring.. Boy I tell ya.. once you get over the 'ick' factor, it was heaven!! Of course after 3 weeks straight of 90+ degree weather the water is warmer than it will ever be again (approx 82 degrees)... With the aid of various floaties we bobbed lazily in the water for 3 hours, with only the ocassional break for a butt and a drink.. well ok.. after an hour or so we all got the hang of bobbing and smoking and drinking all at once.. Did I mention it was heaven? I may go back again today... and of course... I'll bring the camera!

Later...

I wasn't done...

But then sometimes you just gotta open your eyes and know when to stop.. I really like the funky potpourri look of this.. I guess I am done now!

Later...

Hi Pollen Count...

No Allergies Here!"

Truck Eatin' Bridge Strikes Again...

Last nites drive home was just a total pleasure thanks to the truck eatin' bridge. This time the truck was traveling east-bound... note the giant yellow sign 11' that the driver didn't manage to notice even tho it's pretty much eye level in a big truck.. sigh** Maybe we should put up a neon sign that states:

FREE BEER - 11 FT BRIDGE

You know.. get their attention... and IMHO, nothin' does that like free beer! It's worth a shot!

Later...

A New Film Short...

Yeah.. so who wants their newly released sex film to run a short 15 minutes? I don't blame Colin Farrell for sueing.. Imagine what that trial is gonna be like? "But your honor.. yes.. I act in films, but this wasn't my best performance.." Hopefully he won't be lying on the stand... Man.. you've hardly got time to get the cellophane off the microwave popcorn, and you can forget the Pepsi...

With the plethora of these type of "stars in action" films maybe they should start having an awards show! They could call it the "Fast Forward till Their Naked" Awards.. or maybe the "Yes, I'm That Stupid" Award... OH.. I know.. the "They Swore They Would Erase It!" Award...

Anyway.. if they do, I'm sure Colin will be up for "Best Male Actor in a Quickie Film" Award... He must be so proud!

Later...

Corrections

ok.. so dear Commenter... Skinner Mountain is in actuality, Mount Holyoke.. it's located in Skinner State Park, the mountain often takes on the name of the park, especially to us somewhat 'locals'... I've also always referred to the offically named "Summit House" as "The Hotel on Top of the Mountain"... I hope to stop along Bay one of these days where you can get a spectacular long distance view of the ... ahem.. Summit House.. and shoot some pics.. want some more info on this awesome viewing spot? you can go here... or you can just take a ride down Bay to Route 47 South in Hadley and just after Mitch's Marina you'll see the entrance to Skinner... keep an eye out to the ridge on the left and you'll spot the beautiful white building shining in the sun at the very top...

Later

Stop me when you've had enuf!

Yeah.. Poster Edges... again....

I can't help it.. but I'm a sucker for applying a Photoshop 'poster edges' filter to alot of my photographs.. it just gives them such a nice feel... I also couldn't resist cropping this one for a 'tall' effect... Skinner Park again... this one could end up being one of my favorites!

Later...

Skinner Mountain

"On a clear day you can see forever".. Today.. not so much!



A room with a view!

New Discoveries...

We had quite the interesting Sunday drive today... from Skinner Mountain.. to the center of Northampton.. with a quick stop for breakfast in Morocco... that's right.. Morocco.. by way of the Amanouz Cafe.. I discovered lots of things today, perhaps the one thing that will stay with me the longest is that I don't like Moroccan food...

now.. I can't say Moroccan food sucks cause Mr. 9 2 Bay certainly loved it and it was a good thing, he not only ate his own Pasha Omelet but he ate my Mediteranian French Toast and my sausage... me.. I couldn't get past the smell... I can STILL smell it... stinky feet... I'm not sure what that spice was that they so liberally sprinkled on EVERYTHING...cumin?? curry?? I'll just refer to it as 'powdered toe jam'... and it was on everything... the french toast and especially the sausage.. and my husbands breath.. (stop talking to me.. NOW.. I can't breathe!) The stench was horrible... My stomach still isn't back to normal... I may be stuck with bland oatmeal and boiled chicken for the next week cause that's about all I can stomach right now.. hours later... no spices.. no sauces.. and please NO aromas!

So anyway... unless Morocco has sprouted a Wendy's or KFC on every street corner, I don't think I'll be visiting there anytime soon - unless of course I decide I need a really quick way to lose weight, but of course I'd need to pick up a gas mask first as well.. OH THE STENCH!! Powdered Toe Jam... indeed!

Later...

Quickies for Friday...

They recovered a couple of those poor dog-napped pooches... stellar! They guess that when the nappers discovered that the dogs weren't pure breds they dumped them in the woods, where they were rescued by a good doggie samaritan... Luckily the bad guys were biggoted uneducated snobs! IMHO you can't beat a mutt - all the fun of the different breeds in the dogs makeup without all the inbreeding problems... Some of the rarer breeds really can say "I'm my own grandpa"... and unfortunately they also got great-grandma's blindness, deafness, hip problems and siezures... gimme a mutt anyday - just not today, thanks!

HOT>> HOT>> HOT>>> Killer heating bills thru the winter.. and now killer electric bills for the AC... stop already!

Construction on Rt 9 Hadley... so.. I thought I'd beat it outta the office early yesterday... so in my wisdom I packed up the laptop and hit the road at 3:30 yesterday afternoon... thanks to the backup on the backside of that darn bridge I lost a half hour of my 'stolen time'... so much for bright ideas...

Missing men... this time it's a 20 year old and a 57 year old... and again.. Masslive.com hasn't featured any of the stories... they did do a quick mention on one of the sections of their site of the 20 year old but you really had to dig for the story.. HELLO... you feature a story on missing dogs but this makes 3 people now that you've done nothing to get the word out on... Masslive... I love ya.. but DAMN!!! Ya'll should be ashamed of yourselves!!! So much for Community Service! Shame.. Shame.. SHAME!

Later....

Case in point...

Dognappings...

According to Masslive (and the giant graffiti type sign on Bay Rd. in B'town) there has been a rash of dognappings in the area of late... My heart goes out to the poor owners, having a pet can really be like having a child.. you baby them, and love them, and they love you back.. it must be really horrible to find your beloved Pookie missing... me on the other hand... I'd be amazed if:

a. Anyone actually WANTED to steal my beloved Gretchen (have you seen her pics on here?)

b. Anyone could actually CATCH Gretchen, so they could haul her away (see the post "It's F'in Thursday!")

c. Anyone other than Mr. 9 2 Bay 2 9 2 10 could find her so charming as to be irresistible (When we met Gretchen at the Puny Paws Pound she ran in circles about 50 times, jumped 8 feet in the air, and then promptly shit on the floor... yeah.. charming.. let's take her home and not the fully trained, extremely well behaved collie over there!)

d. All of the above.

So.. everyone that has had their little FooFoo taken from them, I'm so sorry... as for my Gretchen, may you all feel sorry for me!

Later...

Plant life from another planet...

We found these wierd looking plants on a lovely Sunday drive thru the Quabbin - I have no idea what they are but they look like they could be from another planet, and perhaps, be featured in the next big summer blockbuster...

"Killer Plants from Outer Space" - The Roots of all Evil!

Barn window...

Bloomin' Wet...

Tiger, Cosmo, Mornin' Glory!

Jonesin'....

Jonesin' for a turkey sandwich!

Quabbin photos

One of my favorite Quabbin pics! This was actually taken this past fall. There is just something nice about the browns and greens playing off the blue of the water and sky that I really like. I've always wanted to go and explore that island in the middle of the reservoir but it's not allowed... you know that would be a great fund raiser type thing for the state - a couple of times a year they should offer tours of the islands of the Quabbin for a small fee... I'd sign up!

Later...

Happy Blogiversary!

Hey.. it's our first Anniversary here on 9 2 Bay 2 9 2 10! For one full year I've been posting stories about whatever happens to be on my mind, and I've enjoyed every minute of it.. I hope you, Dear Readers, have enjoyed it as well!

What can you expect over the coming year? I'm not really sure, as I said earlier I don't plan my posts, but just the nature of a Blogiversary makes you want to take a look at where things are going and maybe putting some semblance of a plan in place. More rants? More raves? Pet Peeves? Oh.. Word of the Day, we haven't had one of those in a while... More Politics and/or "in the news" type stories? Quickies? Silver Toilet Paper Awards? I guess we'll just have to wait and see... In the meantime, thanks for reading along, I appreciate it!

Happy Blogiversary to us all!

Later...

Tough week!

Yeah.. it's been a tough week... Dad is home now, so that's something anyway.. I think I'm as happy to have him home as he is to be home! Enuf stress already! There are only so many beers in the fridge! :)

So anyway.. here's some quickies...

The little girl Shasta from Idaho..
FOUND ALIVE!! Woohoo... I'd say 'alive and well' but we can only hope that she will be 'well' after having spent 6 weeks with that monster! Hopefully they will invent a new way to die just for that man! I also wouldn't mind if they came up with some kind of punishment for that idiot judge that let this guy back out on the street!

Bush Crashes into Cops
Seems Bush was out mountain biking while at the G8 Conference and managed to collide with a cop sent to secure the area. Bandaged hands and arms later you can bet that cop won't be on a bike anytime soon.. or carrying a gun... or wearing a badge.. at the very least he's gonna get a heck of a lotta ribbing back at the police station.. comments like "Come on.. it's as easy as riding a bike.. ooops.. that's right.. never mind!"...

Masslive.com off the air
Seems my favorite news site is having a power outage problem that's effecting their hosting company... it's been over 24 hours that they have been dark.. HELLO.. can you say NEW hosting company... Hey guys! Give me a call.. I'd be happy to host your site for you and I can guarentee you wouldn't be dark for 24 hours ever again!

Dancing with the Stars...
Yeah.. I'll admit I've been watching that bit of fluff... you gotta admit John Hurley is a hoot! Love those soundbites... like.. "anyone can sweat but right now I could knock the buzzards off a dung heap!" and "Oh Mommy.. make it stop!" Anyway, we can just ALL be thankful that the new season of Stargate starts soon... frankly.. NOT soon enough!

And that's about it for now... I'm gonna try and get back on track here.. I was doing pretty well with the posting till this latest bump in the road.. a little catchup and hopefully we can all get back to normal...

Later

Even worse...

Perhaps the only thing worse than the cops showing up at your door at midnite with an "emergency message" is the message itself: Dad has had a heart attack!

HORRORS!

Several days later - spent in the ICU - his Doctor's are calling his recovery the quickest recovery they have ever seen! He has no heart damage at all and although he's due for some rehab and some MAJOR life changes (read NO MORE BACON!)he should make a complete recovery! He was lucky!! EXTREMELY LUCKY!! Thanks to the quick action of brother Eddie... not one to mess around... as soon as Dad uttered the words "My chest hurts" Ed was on the phone with 911... no questions asked.. no time wasted... and each moment was critical... So HURRAH for Eddie... I'm not so sure I would have been so quick to act as he was... so Ed moving in with Dad, yeah, freakin' BEST thing that ever could have happened... I've always thought so, but I know Ed has always felt a little guilty, laboring under the delusion that he was somehow 'mooching off Dad', but the rest of us knew better... Having him there with Dad has always been a comfort to the rest of us.. we knew Ed would take good care of Dad, and even without the quick phone call in this emergency, he has taken extremely good care of Dad... mowing his lawn... cooking dinner... and perhaps even more important - being there for him!!

So yeah and hurrah for Eddie - he saved Dad's life as surely as the EMT that revived Dad in the ambulance did! (Dad doesn't know that he coded in the ambulance - he thinks he 'fell asleep' - so if your reading this and you know my Dad - please don't tell him - we've decided it's just one bit of information that he doesn't need the stress of knowing right now - thanks!)

So.. the point of this post... if you don't feel good... get some HELP!!! IMMEDIATELY... Besides Dad's horrendous bacon addiction, it turns out he has had pneumonia for weeks now... he had a cold, and he did do the right thing and go the Doc's and got some antibiotics - which he took and finished as directed - but he never went back to the Doctors when he still wasn't feeling any better - the breathing difficulties put tremendous strain on an already over-taxed heart... so people.. if your chest hurts and your thinking "maybe it's just indigestion", as your standing there debating between taking a Pepcid and calling 911... just call... let the pro's handle it... what's the worse that can happen?? They give you an antacid - you let out a huge burp in the Emergency Room - and you walk out of there feeling so much better... but if it's not indigestion... if it's NOT... you'll be in exactly the right place at the right time... and time is OH so important...

Thanks to the quick actions of Eddie, we now have more time with Dad... time that we came so horribly close to losing forever! Thanks Ed... we love you!

Later...