Is That a Horse In the Driveway?

DH startled me awake this morning. He was shaking me and yelling, "Come Quick! Grab your camera! There's something for you in the driveway!"


OMG! I felt like Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I threw on my robe and headed down the stairs. I was sure this was The Big One...the year DH really outdid himself for Christmas and bought me...
a sports car!

As I paused by the door to the garage, I quickly practiced my best "surprised" and "for me...really ?" facial expressions.


Then, I opened the door, s-l-o-w-l-y peeked out...

  

...And saw three horses in the driveway!

Now this might not seem as strange if we still lived in the big old farmhouse in West Falmouth, but now that we're in a quiet condo community...yeah...pretty unexpected. Once I accepted the fact that what I was seeing did not even remotely resemble a BMW convertible, I was totally focused on the presence of the three huge horses instead. Were they for me? Are we going on a romantic sleigh ride? And...

 

 

 

How the H*ll did these horses get here?
 

It seems that the horses live in a barn hidden back off a road less than a quarter mile from our house. They had broken our of their pen and, unbeknownst to their owner, just gone for a walk!

  

DH fed them carrots and apple slices to keep them calm while a neighbor went to find the owners. Another neighbor (who really looks as if he should be driving a sleigh!) came out and helped Hank hold the horses while they waited.

Once our equine visitors were safely back home, I headed out in my trusty 2006 Subaru to do some Christmas errands.

Who needs a BMW convertible in this weather anyway?

 

 

Finding Street Art

Last week, new friend Anita and I took our cameras with us and roamed the back alleys of St. Augustine looking for what we decided to call "Street Art".  Here are a few works of "Street Art" we found along the way...

 

 

 Can you tell what the rusty collage element on this door is?

 

I love the contrast of colors in the windows of this old house.

 

 

Can a fence be art?

 

Maybe our "street art" is a variation on "found art "or even "folk art"..which leads back to the big question:  "What is Art?

 

We decided, for that day anyway, that art was whatever we decided it was and just went with it. As long as we could see it from the street, anything was fair game for our cameras!

 

 

 

 

To me, the window in this garden is just as much a piece of art as the sculpture.

 

 

 An outdoor mural, painted by local children...I love that kids aren't afraid of color.

 

 

 Graphic Art?

 

 

 A mosaic wall on Aviles Street.

 

 

 

 

The Star General Store on the edge of Lincolnville, a section of St. Augustine settled by freed slaves after the Civil War.

 

 

Is this Art?

 

It is to me.

 

How do you "know" art when you see it?

 

 



Too Old To Make New Friends?

On the "Retirement" forum at the City-Data website, someone asked whether it is still possible to make new friends after age 55. I clicked on the discussion and was surprised to read the responses. Many posters seemed to feel that it is difficult, if not impossible, to make new friends in retirement.

I disagree!

Meet our "new", and very dear, friends...Anita and Fred.


We met Fred and Anita while camping at one of our favorite spots,  Searsport Shores in Searsport, Maine. We had so much in common and had such a good time together on those short summer camping trips that they invited us to visit them at their "winter campsite" in St. Augustine, Florida. So, last week we flew down to spend a week with our new friends in a new place,  leaving the snow, and the fear of being "too old to make new friends", behind.



I hope I'm never too old to learn from and laugh with new people. I hope I'm always open to new experiences (like figuring out this Cuban menu with Anita)... no matter how old I get.

Our old friends mean the world to me...but so do the friends we've made in the last few years...like Mary Elizabeth, Rosalie, Anita and Fred. I can't imagine not having each of them in our lives.



"Nights of Lights" in St. Augustine

What do you think? Do you find it more difficult to make good friends now than you did when you were younger? Does it still matter? Still being new to this retirement thing, I'd love to hear your experiences...

 

Yummy Crock Pot Chili

Last week, we tried a new Chili recipe and it was delicious. It makes a large amount (10 1-cup servings) so would be good for a family, pot luck, tailgating or holiday party. We like our chili spicy so DH added 2 teaspoons of extra chili powder. We really enjoyed the flavors of the fresh lime and cilantro that you add just before serving.

photo courtesy of Weight Watchers

We liked this chili so much that DH made another pot this afternoon.  It's especially good with a little cheddar or pepper jack cheese shredded on top. Perfect for a cold December night!

Super-Easy Crock Pot Three Bean Chili

1 large uncooked onion(s), minced   
30 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained   
30 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained   
30 oz canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained   
30 oz canned diced tomatoes, with chilis   
15 oz canned tomato sauce   
1 1/4 oz spiced seasoning mix, chili variety
*2 tsp. chili powder (optional; if you like hotter chili)   
14 oz frozen corn kernels   
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice, or to taste   
1/2 cup(s) cilantro, fresh, minced   

Combine onion, garlic, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for 2 to 3 hours (or low heat for 4 to 6 hours). Add frozen corn during last hour of cooking. Stir in lime juice and cilantro just before serving. Yields 10 servings.

*Recipe from Weight Watchers; 6 points per 1 cup serving on WW program.

Enjoy!

  

Small Towns to Visit #2: SunRise Corner, Standish, Maine

We were out for a ride yesterday and decided to pull over to photograph this old school house in Standish, Maine. It turns out that the school house, which closed in the 1930's, is now a shop, as are the original fire house and historic home adjacent to it on the two-acre property.  

 

 

Our unplanned stop was such a treat...we not only enjoyed the shop and beautiful holiday displays but we met Ann, the owner, who has made bringing SunRise Corner back to life her life's work.

This is the side of the old fire house. It's open as a "sweet shop" in the summer months, complete with vintage ice cream shop tables and chairs.

 



  

I liked the look of the burlap twisted in and out of the garland on the school house stair railing.
 I seem to be attracted to burlap lately.

 

 

 Inside the school house door, a formal portrait hangs incongruously over a foyer full of greens and berries. I wonder if this stern gentleman was the school's principal or, maybe, a beloved former teacher?

 

 

The old slate blackboards are still there, as are the oak coat racks. Both are now adorned with wreathes. Ann and her helpers explained that they are busy preparing for their Open House on Thanksgiving weekend.

 

 

 

Inflation has hit penny candy as it has everything else, but it's still fun to see all the old favorites. Remember the little wax soda pop bottles? You had to bite through the wax to get to about a half teaspoon of sugary goo? They're here,...as are Mary Jane's, squirrels, candy lipstick, wax lips, and hot balls. (And, yes, I'm old enough to remember when they were a penny each!)

 

 

 Next to the school house is the antique shop, which is located in a historic three-story Georgian home built in 1810. This is the side entrance...

 

And this is the front. Isn't it beautiful?

I absolutely love old houses and would probably start a collection of them too if I could afford it. (But how would I display them???)

 

 

For more history of the house and outbuildings, click here.

 

 

 One of the front rooms in the house still displays the original wallpaper.

 

Ann uses each room to display antiques, crafts, holiday decorations, floral creations, and gifts. It's fun to be able to explore the whole house. Here is the pantry...

 

 

 

With its original counter tops and drawers. 

In the old kitchen at the back of the house are oranges, spices, linens, pottery... 

 

 

And dried herbs and fruits, displayed in antique kitchenware.

 

 

 I love the color that's left on these old scales.

 

 

 There was a Christmas tree in every room, each decorated in a different color palette. This "green" tree was embellished with ornaments, grapes and ferns. 

 

 

We were starved when we finished touring Ann's shop/museum/school house...so off we went to Cornish for a big bowl of lobster stew...perfect on a cool November day in Maine. Over lunch, DH and I talked about how lucky we are...we seem to meet fascinating people wherever we go.

I love to hear the stories of people like Ann from SunRise Corner