Blog Entry #2: Pay It Forward

Both of these posts are from Kat, by the way. I forgot to put my name on the first one.

So I thought it might be fun if people participated in a "Pay it forward" type of event this week. Those of you who want to, must do one nice thing for a complete stranger at some point this week. Then, if you choose to participate, report what you did here in the blog. It's very thought-provoking!

Blog Entry #1: 'Tis the Season to... ?

I'm hoggin' the blog today :) I came up with two fun blog entries that I thought people would enjoy participating in. Even if you're too busy to respond, at least think about both entries, because the thought counts.

Christmas is fast approaching. This is the one season out of the year where old traditions come alive and new ones are made. Consider your holiday traditions. What is one tradition or event that holds a special place in your heart? You don't necessarily need to explain WHY it's special to you (unless you'd like to) but you do have to name the tradition, and be specific.

Here is my favorite tradition: setting up the Manger. Every year I set up the Manger, and I set the figurines up in a different way, as though each year they are there for the first time. I love this tradition because it's a special addition to an already wonderful season.

November Birthday Pics

Hey ya'll.

It's nice to see so much activity out here!
I'm uploading a few shots from our little get together. Sorry... I didn't take many.

Enjoy!

Mike

Brian Dennehy sighting!!!

He parked a very nice blue-gray, top of the line, Cadillac right outside my store and went into JavaJive for a cup of coffee. He wore a handsome dark green cudoroy suit jacket with tan cudoroys and a tan colored shirt. He also wore spectacles on his nose. Then he sat in his car with his coffee for a minute before driving off towards the Putnam-Pomfret area. VERY COOL!!! Hopefully next time he stops in to buy a book!!!

Kat

Wedding Video & New Ghost Site

Heya,

A couple of things from Brian and Me: First, we got the wedding video yesterday!!! So after I got home from work last night, we sat and watched it. OH it is so good!!! And can I just say---all of you crack me up SO much!!! The videographer did a great job, and boy did we need the tissues again! Whoo! It came out great, and NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE, looked like a fool, TRUST ME! You all looked like you were having a great time, which makes us very happy. :) Anyway, just wanted to share....We'll have to get together soon so we can watch it! I'm very glad we decided at the 11th hour to get a videographer--we would've missed out on so much.

Second, late-breaking news from the Woodstock Ghosthunters: yesterday while at the store, Brian (who was here keeping me company) and I found out about a new haunted site in the town of Pomfret via one very talkative customer. Totally crazy stuff. Read on!

Back in the late 1600's, Pomfret was just being settled. At that time it was called "Bara-Hack." Well, one day two travelers passed through the town only to find a disturbing sight--NO ONE was in the town. No people, no animals. But upon inspection of the houses, the travelers found fresh food on the tables, still-warm soup, fires roaring, etc. BUT NO PEOPLE. A similar case was discovered in Roanoke, VA back in the 1600's....to this day, no one knows what happened to the first settlers there. Over the years, people have reported "time warp activity" consisting of orbs of light, noises of a regular town going about its business (but of course no one is there) babies crying, cows mooing, etc. There are old house foundations in this area about a mile into the woods. People report their dogs getting spooked, a force pushing people, etc. Also, there is a cemetery about a quarter mile from the foundations where these early settlers used to bury their folk. People have reported seeing figures reclining in trees, orbs of light, and more voices and noises of an active town. The Native Americans called this place "thin," meaning that it is bordering another dimension. Anyone up for watching "Watcher in the Woods"?????

We *will* be investigating. Stay tuned!!!

Kat & Brian, The Woodstock Ghosthunters :))

A Swedish Kind of Day

Hi Everyone -
Eric gave Maurie for his birthday, a DVD set of the complete PBS, 26-episode show about Swedish cooking/sightseeing with the host named Tina Nordstrom. What a coincidence, huh? It's much more than just a cooking show. She takes you to different parts of Sweden, talks about the history, culture, etc. and actually cooks outdoors. We have watched several episodes already...the country looks beautiful. Anyway tonight we are trying one of her recipes...sauteed scallops with a blueberry vinigrette.

In one of the episodes we watched last night she did fried smelts which Maurie had often in his childhood, so we just bought some at the store and that's what HE is having for lunch. Me? I'm having a good old tuna sandwich.

And, since we have the woodstove cranking, Maurie made Swedish coffee bread this morning and it is now rising on the hearth...so it's a Swedish kind of day here at snowy High Meadow.

Maurie has been practicing with the camera and today he did a short film...digital is great because you can practice and then erase it...very convenient.

Skoll (sp?),
The High Meadow Team

Some REAL Snow

Hi Folks -
We're back at High Meadow and the attached pictures are what we found when we drove up the driveway...Maurie took them with our new digital camera and we figured out how to get them from the camera to the computer and then onto the blog!!! A real coup for us!!! Anyway here they are.
The High Meadow Team

Minor accident this morning

Hello,

So I left the gym fifteen minutes earlier than I normally do because I started getting a bad sinus headache that got worse the more I exercised. I was driving down the road in Southbridge and there was a white commerical van behind me. The driver was drinking from a cup of coffee. She was about twelve to fourteen feet behind me. I was going about 20mph, and slowed down even more to let a car merge into my lane from a side street. Then the van hit me from behind. She was going faster than I was, because she hit me pretty hard, in my opinion. No question that it was her fault. She claims she slid on the street. I personally think she was more absorbed in her cup of coffee and not paying attention. Either way, neither of us were hurt. She even had a couple of handicapped adults in her van with her, as passengers. My neck definitely was sore for a while, but the EMT checked me out and I said I didn't think I needed to go to the hospital. So just thought I'd share my morning adventure with you all. The kicker is, before I left the house, a semi-comatose Brian said, "Be careful driving this morning." He never says that to me. Hmmm....

Kat

Let the shopping begin

My sister just sent me this link to what will be on sale at the 170 stores in the Wrentham outlets the day and weekend after Thanksgiving. Looks like there are some really good bargains. If you go wear comfortable shoes and get ready for some pedestrian road rage. But think of all the money you'll save :)

Enjoy!
- joyce

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/salespdf/wrenthamatw.pdf

Even More Snow

Good Morning All -
Imagine our surprise when we got up this morning and found High Meadow dusted all in white. It was most unexpected. In fact when we got home last night after a great dinner with Sid and Barbara at Foster's Steakhouse (Maurie had fish & and I had chicken) at the Common Man Inn, he said he'd leave the car out since nothing in the way of precipitation as expected...this morning I said "the Runabout is not happy with you," since it's covered in snow. It will all melt fast though. Sounds like we're in for a cold Thanksgiving week and maybe a storm on Tuesday...

Sid and Barbara leave for Florida first thing Saturday morning. We will miss them as it's been very nice having someone to go out with. We sat for 3 hours over dinner last night just chatting. Sid has the greatest stories about his years owning all those beauty salons...incredible listening to him. They'll be back in May, in time for us all to go over to UNH to see Andre Rieau on 5/25 (sp?).

We bought a reconditioned digital camera for short money...still need to get a few accessories for it though, like the card and batteries, and will be bringing it with us when we leave here on Sunday...can't wait to try it. Be prepared to give us a 101 lesson with it. Maurie is studying the manual that came with it though.

Jon and I had a very exciting hour-long phone meeting with the marketing department of Sentient Publications. They seem to want to get behind the book in a big way. We are very pumped about it. Our contact said she would have a marketing plan drawn up within a week...this after she exclaimed about the 25-pages I sent her in response to their author questionnaire. It's nice to know we have someone helping us with the book's marketing...she seemed quite willing and able to call anyone anywhere to promote it! It will be a busy winter!!!

Cheerio,
The High Meadow Team

Pork--the other white meat

Okay, so I thought I'd pass along a recipe that I've made twice and is soooo good. I thought ya'll who are looking to spice up your typical dinner might want to make it, as well. Prep time is next to zilch, then it's just waiting on the oven. I cleaned my car and put away the rest of the wedding gifts in between the baking--imagine what YOU can do!

Here it is:

Ginger-Orange Glazed Pork Chops & Veggies

1 (9 ounce) bag of frozen baby carrots (or roughly 1 and 1/4 cups of non-frozen carrots)
1 (9 ounce) bag of frozen sugar snap peas (or 1 cup or so of non-frozen sugar snap peas)
1 (8 ounce) can of water chestnuts, sliced and drained (This is optional. I don't use them)
1/3 cup of orange marmalade
1/4 hoisin sauce
1 and 1/2 teaspoons of grated gingerroot--you can find it in the produce section. It looks like a petrified tree.
4 (4 ounce) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
salt and pepper


Heat the oven to 450. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray. Thaw the vegetables in the microwave if you need to, otherwise, continue to next step:

Combine the marmalade, hoisin sauce and gingerroot in a small bowl. Mix well. Reserve 2 tablespoons for later.

Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper and place the pork in the corners of the baking pan. Place thawed carrots in the center of the pan, drizzle sauce over carrots, brush pork with the sauce.

Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove the pan, brush the pork and carrots with more sauce. Add sugar snap peas and chestnuts, toss gently.

Return to oven, baking until the pork is no longer pink. Turn everything, including veggies, half-way through, add any remaining sauce (NOT THE 2 tablespoons you'd put aside earlier!) and continue baking.

Remove from oven, place on platter, and drizzle the 2 tablespoons of sauce over the pork chops.

That's it.

Now--one thing they didn't include in the recipe that I did add, and we both loved, was brown rice. I just cooked up a bag of instant brown rice, put that on our plates as a foundation for the food, and allowed all the juices to drip in...it was delicious. The sauce is sweet, not spicy, and really complements the carrots and peas. The pork was delicious, and very healthy, especially if you use olive oil in the baking pan. Enjoy this meal with a nice glass of white wine. We did!!

Enjoy!!

Kat

Life imitating a Game

Figured this might spice up everyone's afternoon.
Inspired by a Gamewright game character, our resident Drag Queen made this character come to life for our Toy Fair booth.... Meet Beatrice.

Enjoy!

Mike

Food For thought!

I'm having lunch...
Sliced Chicken on french bread with a lovely side of Doritos'. A Dunkin Donuts coffee and a donut for dessert. I know, I know. Don't judge me.

If your reading this entry you need to tell us what you had for lunch today. YES. I'm talking to you.
I'll feel better about my donut later tonight when I watch the biggest loser. Don't judge me for watching that show either.

Hollar Back

Mike

A feel good story

This new movie came out the other day...it looks like a good one.

http://www.ps260.com/molly/SHINING%20FINAL.mov

Here's a link to the trailer..enjoy!

Jeremy,Nancy, and Sarah ;-)

First Snow

Snow has come to High Meadow. Late yesterday afternoon, and all through the evening and even as we speak, it is flurrying...the leaves and driveway were dusted this morning when we awoke. The first few times are always so beautiful.

We put the wood stove on for the first time this week too...quite late this year but it's been so warm. Right now the house smells of burning wood (and leaves, Maurie threw a handful in) along with cranberry bread which I'm making for Thanksgiving. Very nice!

I'm also in the throes of making hammies and I made hot dog bites yesterday...so the holiday cooking begins! David wants me to make my pear bread too...haven't made that in ages, so will do a few loaves.

I'll be bringing cranberry bread with us on the 20th so those of you who won't be with us on Thanskgiving will get your loaves then, along with loaves for Mike's folks, Joyce's folks and Brian's folks. We will have loaves for Nancy, Amy and Eric when we see them on the 22nd!

Cherie is coming up tomorrow morning so we can tour the holiday house at Camp Pasquaney. It's quite something from what I've heard. She needs decorating ideas for the 3 Christmas parties she's hosting. She'll go back on Sunday morning.

Maurie has had a cold but is feeling better today. His legs seem a bit better too...here's hoping!

Blue sky and snow flurries...a nice combination!

Cheerio!
The High Meadow Team

Mystic Pizza comes to Tell-Tale Books

Ah yes, one never knows what will happen on a daily basis at my store. One day I have a religious zealot wanting to "save me," (yes, yes, I am apparently in major need of saving. Woe me.) A few days later (today, in other words) two women come in offering up books their mother wrote back in the early '80's. She (the mother) was a middle-aged model who helped set the standard for middle- aged women in the modeling world.

So anyway, the women are interrupting one another, talking over each other, chatting away with me about the lack of ethnic food in these parts (ain't that the sad truth), and then one says, "We're from California; we just returned to Pomfret to clean out our mother's barn which is full of these books."

"Oh," I say, struggling to think of something to say in return. "What part of California are you from?"
"L.A.," one replies. This doesn't surprise me. They are very "L.A."
"And what do you do out in California?" I continue.
"We're screenwriters."
"Really?"--And now my mind is working-- "What sort of screenplays do you write?"
One says, "Mainly comedies. You might have heard of us; we wrote a little film called 'Mystic Pizza.' "
"Ohhhh!" I say, more intrigued. "Really! That's a great film," and I mention how the main character in that movie has the same name as I do--Kat--which they get a kick out of.

So the conversation switches to writing, and naturally I mention how Jon is a published author, and tell them what he's written. Never hurts to drop some good PR his way--one never knows who THEY know, right? Well, of course their cell phone rings at that moment, a reminder that they are late for lunch with relatives, so they bid me much luck with the store and leave in the same puff of whirlwind high-energy that they arrived in.

Could Brian Dennehy be my next customer? (He does has a house in Woodstock) Stay tuned...

-Kat

The Pumkin and The Bear

The title of my post sounds like a children's book, doesn't it?

I know Halloween was last week, but here at last are pictures of Jack & Will in their costumes. I love how Will is showing off his Italian heritage by talking with his hands. Look at those little teeth! And I'm sure the bears up in High Meadow don't smile like Jack does :)

Enjoy! - joyce

Ghost in our house!

That's right...
We suspected a few things for a while but it's confirmed. J was hearing some odd noises yesterday. She heard garbled words. Nothing that made much sense. Just a constant mumble. She decided she would use our camera and try out some of Kat & Brian technique's for capturing orb's on film.

Johanna was able to capture several bizarre photos in our dining room. When I saw all the pics last night it definately looks like it was following J around the house. J didn't know where to point the camera but no matter where she did there's the obvious ghost!

All you ghost hunters are welcomed to come over and try to communicate with it and even take pictures of it. Be our guest!

Get ready!
Here are some of the photos J was able to capture!

Will is 8 Months Old Today!

Can you believe it? Time has gone by so quickly. He already has two little bottom teeth, is rolling around, and is very close to crawling. And you should hear him giggle. It's a good guttural laugh too. Jack can really make him laugh hysterically. It's all too cute. You should see Jack & Will together. You can tell by the way they interact that they love each other. Will's face lights up when he sees Jack and Jack is always looking out for Will. The total opposite of Cain and Abel!

Speaking of Jack, this is what he said to Jon yesterday: "Daddy, I just want to say to you, good luck today". And today, when I spoke to Jack on the phone he said to me, "Mommy, I like it when you come home to me. It makes me happy". AAwwwwwww....this kid is going to make me bawl my eyes out with all this sweetness.

I was going to post photos of the boys today, but of course forgot the attachment I need to download pictures from the camera to the computer. D'oh!

On another note, my department just had a little "ceremony" for me to mark my 10 year anniversary with the company. I got my 10 year present, which is a framed Picasso. And no, it's not real. You get a real one after 100 years :) (Jon asked if I get a million dollar bonus, and I told him that's for 500 years of service.)

Apparently, with the present there was a set of guidelines that my boss got on how to celebrate the occasion. We were just laughing at them. Some of the rules were "Do not make fun of the employee" and (my favorite) "Do not make any comments that could prove to be humiliating or lead to sexual harassment".

Kind of ironic that I'm being commended on 10 years of service on the day that I haven't done a lick of work.

OK, time for lunch!
-joyce

Under the weather :(

Brian and I are both feeling sick---no energy and foggy feeling, plus my head and neck hurts, so I hope we're not coming down with the cold everyone had at the wedding. I also hope we feel better for Sunday. :( As for the birthdays on the 20th, I'm content as long as there is turkey (white meat), mashed potatoes, peas and cornbread. I adore Thanksgiving---I get to have my favorite meal multiple times in one week! Woo-hoo! Okay, I'm going home to rest. It's nearly 4. Have a good one, everyone.

Kat

Oh--How could I forget?? I got a phone call from the wedding photographer; the proofs are in! Brian will be picking them up tomorrow night on his way home from work. Hopefully, we can still go Sunday and we'll bring them.

Great Day1

Yipee!!! I have finally got the computer set up so I can log into EH via high speed!!! The 21st century dawns. I can't tell you what a change this is going to make in my working day. There are a few little items still to be ironed out, but already everything is working so much faster...thank goodness! EH would not give permission for me to log in to their VPN (virtual private network) when I had satellite, so I had to use dial-up, but once I got cable all was ok. My computer tech came at 8 a.m this morning and got me set up - not without several calls to the EH tech staff, however. It was quite complicated. Both my computers will soon be able to do the same work, etc. etc. I won't go into all the details. Suffice to say, I am psyched!!!

On another note, it appears the November birthdays are finally squared away...
Hubby and I are going up to the Mount Washington for a birthday lunch on Saturday, 11/19...
We will celebrate Kat & Maurie's birthdays at J & Mike's on Sunday, 11/20 around 5 p.m. ..
We will be celebrating Maurie's birthday with Nancy & family, Amy and Eric at Eric's new apartment on Tuesday evening, 11/22...

Once we come down on Sunday, 11/20 we will be staying down till the morning after Thanksgiving. It's our best attempt to maximize the trip and save gas.

Maurie has the hot tub all enclosed, although it's not shingled or painted on the outside yet, and he's now stringing the lights around the room. It looks great!!! Just in time for winter.

That's it from here. I've been on this computer almost all day...ug!!

Cheerio!
The High Meadow Team

Jon's in NYC today

Hi Everyone,

My first time posting an original post. Yay! Hope I do this right.

As some of you might already know, Jon's in NYC today to pitch the Lawson Series to a film/production company. Jon got in touch with a contact at this company through his contact at the Circuit (an entertainment industry event) he attends in NYC once a month. Apparently, the people at the production company are "very excited" to meet with Jon today and hear what he has to say. I hope this works out great. Please keep your fingers crossed!

Jon will be meeting with Joanna and Jonathan (my sister and future brother-in-law) later today for drinks and dinner. We're all hoping they'll have something really good to toast about tonight (in addition to Joanna's promotion and ginormous raise she got yesterday).

I just spoke with Jon and he's getting ready to hop off of the Fung Wah bus. His meeting is at 2:00. I'll try and send an update as soon as I hear from him after the meeting.

Thanks in advance for sending good wishes his way!
- joyce

One of those days...

When will 4 o'clock get here? This day has been TOUGH. I get an oil delivery and then am told that the guy won't light the burner because he doesn't know anything about furnaces....OKAY.... so I had to wait for another technician to come out. Then this guy tells me that furnace needs three replacement parts. Lovely. Then the technician set off all four fire alarms in the store--while I had customers. UGH!!!! -Kat

Happy Halloween!!

Hello All,

I like this site, it's pretty darn cool!! Anyhow, here is a photo of Sarah the bee. We didn't take her out door to door, just to the neighbors house...but we did go to a "baby halloween" party in Cambridge on Sunday (a friend of a friend). It was too cute, all the babies were about the same age. They took a picture of all of them in costume lined up on the couch, needless to say 9 out of the 10 were in tears but it made for a cute picture. We had a pretty quiet night where trick-or-treaters are concerned, only a handful (that's OK because now there are plenty of leftovers...just what I need, lol).

-Nancy

Introducing XO Events, Inc.!

H! J here...
I am on my way to being a business owner! I met with "my" lawyer yesterday and I should be a real deal honest to goodness corporation within the next week! He checked on the name and it is available (despite the fact that there is an "XO" resturaunt in Providence, as we know girls)...

XO Events, Inc. will launch with the 2005 Holiday Gift Fair season- I am booking space at area hospitals, universities and large office buildings, and then recruiting 8-10 crafters and artisans to sell their products. The space in these facilities is free- esspecially since I am marketing this as an "employee" event. The vendors however pay a fee for the table. This is how I make money. I have two gift fairs already booked and some very interested vendors- if anyone knows someone who does a craft or gifty type thing keep me in mind!

XO will then kick off the New Year with its Prom Fest 2005 season. Same concept as the Gift Fairs except it's high schools and the vendors are prom vendors. That season will run through mid-march, and after that, I begin work on my summer idea; a big, multi weekend event- not sure if it will happen, but I'm hoping it will..

So anyway~ that's the news from me today- very exciting! :)

Halloween Spooks

After waiting three hours for Woodstock trick-o-treaters, and getting no one, we decided to put away the 8 bags of candy I bought at CVS (I guess I went overboard...) and head down to what I call the "Devil's Bird House." It's aptly named--it's an old abandoned house a few miles from our house that has at least 30 vultures watching guard over it. They perch in a leafless, dead tree in front of the house every single morning and evening, even in torrential downpours with no leaves to protect them. Then they disappear once it gets dark. Where do they go, if vultures are not nocturnal? It's a mystery...so we brought the digital camera with the hope (fear?) of finding those vultures or perhaps catching an orb, or maybe something more. Well, we weren't as lucky as we were at the Wayside Inn that time, so we headed back home to listen to the coyotes howl, which was just as spooky....Happy All Soul's Day....

Kat & Brian, Woodstock Ghosthunters :))))

Our Little Pony

Good Morning ,

J, Ellie and I went trick or treating last night. Ellie had a great time showing off her horse costume and collecting candy for Mommy and Daddy to eat. It's quite the trick to use little children to get candy. We went to a few neighbors who were excited to see her.

We didn't get a ton of kids to the house but enough to almost get rid of our candy. Amazinglywe got a group of 3 young mothers with children dressed up in costumes in strollers at 9:20..... Ah... kinda late to be trick or treating with 1 year olds.

J and I kept our Halloween tradition of beer and pizza going. We ate Jax cheese curls waiting for the pizza to arrive.
Hope you all had a great Halloween! M, J, & Ellie