Spring has sprung

I planted Sweet Pea seeds, and they're sprouting!!! I haven't killed them! (yet)

Another pretty sight

This one is from the parking lot in our apartment building. I'm sorry it's a little blurry, but it was getting dark outside. In case you can't tell, that's a sofa on top of a GIANT pile of bark mulch.

HA!

THIS is New England!

The boy and I went out to the Olive Garden tonight for dinner, and went driving around afterwards to see the pretty spring sights. This is one of the pretty sights we saw. :-)

I don't know where it is, but I had to pull over to get a picture.

FINALLY!

I'm FINALLY getting around to watching the Bollywood movie, Bluffmaster. I'll let you know how it is when I finish it! :-)

Maybe this is a sign...

I didn't watch the Sox game yesterday...and they won.

I didn't watch the game tonight...and they won.

Perhaps I should stop watching the games???

Julian Tavarez...

GO AWAY!!!

Things I'll miss...and things I'll remember...

I know I will be adding more to this list...but this is what I have come up with so far. Feel free to add your own.


The constant "badgering" if we've done what we're supposed to do

Counting trees in the field

Wagon rides

The little green pedal tractor

"Dark Castles" on the Mac Plus

My introduction to Benny Goodman and other swing classics

Listening to the Annie soundtrack over and over in the car

Housesitting while he's on vacation - watering plants, indoors and out

The meticulous care of his lawn and landscaping

Sharing stories of our lives with each other

Interviewing him about his service in WWII

Listening to the touching story of how my grandparents met

The exercise bike

Washing his car (and mine if it was too dirty)

Aiming for seagulls in the "Grey Gull III" (don't call the MSPCA, we never hit one)

Taking the boat up and down the Merrimack River

Walking in the day glo orange vest

Volunteering together at AJH

Never missing a school function (especially the band concerts...they LOVED going to those)

The Navy hat in the back window of the Caddy

Showing me how to shell peanuts while watching the Sox

Talking Red Sox stats

Candlepin bowling instead of Saturday morning cartoons

Watching the little tiny TV in the shop

Naming every old-timey car's make, model and year when going by in parades

Staking out the best spot at the Training Field to watch the Memorial Day Parade

Finding the longest "short cuts" I've ever travelled in my life

Never taking the same route to get somewhere twice

My inbox always being full of forwarded emails

Getting the same emails over and over

Sitting on the front porch watching the cars go by

Riding in his lap on the John Deere tractor

Riding in the tractor's trailor

Getting the tractor stuck in the mud with 7 grandkids in the trailor and having to walk all the way through the field in the mud

Getting to drive the tractor

Learning to drive on my permit - "Rachael you can go 35 through the center of West Newbury, they won't stop you, you're in a Cadillac"

Asking if he could walk me down the aisle on the day he met my fiance 6 years ago

Asking when the boy was going to pop the question for the next 6 years after that

Getting to finally tell him that he did

Being his "Number One"

My grampy

Arthur E. Fernald II, Retired AT&T Employee

York , ME : Arthur E. Fernald II, 80, of 11 Orchard Farms Road, died Friday, April 20, 2007 at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover , NH after a short illness.

He was born in Haverhill , MA on May 3, 1926, son of the late Harold A. and Leona (Horton) Fernald. He was a graduate of Haverhill High School in 1944 and the University of Maine , Orono in 1951. He was a World War II Veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy Armed Guard on convoy duty in the North Atlantic and South Pacific. His awards included: American Theatre medal, Asiatic Pacific medal, European Theatre medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Victory medal. Mr. Fernald retired from AT&T, Merrimack Valley Works in 1987 after 31 years as a former Business Methods Specialist. He was a member of the Union Congregational Church in York Beach , ME and a former long-time member of the West Newbury Congregational Church where he served as head usher for many years. He was a member of Saggahew Lodge, AF&FM. He was former chairman of the West Newbury Water Department, former chairman of the West Newbury Boy Scout Committee, former member of the West Newbury Fire Department and a volunteer at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport for over 30 years.

He leaves two daughters, Deborah S. Fernald, York , ME and Jill F. Godin and her partner, Raymond “Rock” Dower, Groveland , MA ; two sons, Bruce A. and his wife, Anna Fernald, Coeymans , NY and LTC (retired) Scott A. and his wife, Denise Fernald, Manassas , VA ; and 8 grandchildren. He also leaves a brother, H. Allen and his wife, Sally Fernald, Camden , ME and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 54+ years, Jean (Booth) Fernald in Nov. 2004. He also had a sister, the late Janet E. Fernald, who died in infancy.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 3:00 pm at the West Newbury Congregational Church, 308 Main Street .

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made in his name to Pentucket Regional Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 36 , Groveland , MA 01834 or to Union Congregational Church, P.O. Box 969 , York Beach , ME 03910 .

Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Service, 655 Central Ave. , Dover , NH . For more information or to sign our on-line guestbook, please go to http://www.purdyfuneralservice.com/

whose idea was this?

Oh sure, just take the cactus home and repot it...it will be good as new...

Ok...have YOU ever tried to repot a CACTUS???

IT HURTS!!!!

And each little branchy-thingy is a different set of roots. I had to pick up 6 prickly cactus stalks and hold them upright to bury them in the soil.

And don't tell me, I already know I need more soil in the pot, but that's all I had here at the apartment, I'll get some more to bury the little suckers in...don't worry.

OW!

one of my favorite restaurants

We were having fun playing with the camera while we went out to eat last night at Ken's American Cafe in Littleton Commons. For the first time this season, we were able to eat outside on the patio. It was a GREAT meal, and we had a blast.

We got to watch the cars go by (Grampy would have loved it...everyone was out in their fancy cars enjoying the weather, more than likely heading to Kimball's Farms).

could it be true?

Here's to hoping/wishing! We might be going to Aruba for our honeymoon! :-)

WOOT!

WOW!!!

4 home runs in a row!!!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

it's official

June 28, 2008

Mark it on your calendars!

Not ready for Monday to come...

My grandfather passed away on Friday, and I spent the last two days with my family. I want to be with them, and not at work on Monday. The memorial service won't be until June, which means I get to go through all of this again.

I miss him very much. At least he's with Grammy now, he's happy.

I love you Grampy

grrrrrrrr

It's midnight, and I STILL CAN'T LOG ONTO YAHOO! MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know if I can sleep without checking my email.

I can log onto Yahoo!, I just can't access my email. I know I have emails...I just can't access them...

uggggggggggh

I'm having withdrawals...

Help!

I can't log into my yahoo mail!

Help!

What do I do?

What if there are important emails?!?!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!

Happy Birthday Sis!

She'll totally kick my ass for this...

Today's lunch

and by the way...

I found a Long John Silver's in Massachusetts....so I had to eat at it today!

New favorite salad

1 head romaine lettuce
1 green apple, sliced
handful of blue cheese
handful of dried cranberries
handful of glazed walnuts
toss with Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette

YUMMY

I heart old people

The YDDB played at a nursing home tonight. We played well, and everyone had a good time. Everyone in the audience (residents and staff alike) enjoyed the show, and we had a great time.

We even got free punch!

Successful Day!

We went to the two reception halls, and met with the caterer. We're definitely leaning towards the Groveland Fairways at this point.

After talking to the caterer, this is the menu that we're thinking of: (remember we're having a cocktail reception, and that nothing is set in stone yet...just our ideas)

Passed Hors d'Oeuvres
Shrimp with zesty cocktail sauce
Scallops wrapped in bacon
Skewered tortellini with Pesto Cheese Sauce (sorry Amy and Debbie) :-P
Stuffed mushrooms with goat cheese, spinach and bacon
Cucumber cups with boursin and dill
Chicken lollipops - half cajun flavored, and half oriental flavored


Stationary Hors d'Oeuvres
Cheese and Cracker platter with fruit (TONS of different cheeses and crackers, ie. brie, gouda, swiss, cheddar, etc)
Quesadilla station (you pick fillings - cheese, chicken, peppers, and spiced spaghetti squash, they make it for you)


Carving Stations
(These come with condiments and bread to make sandwiches)
Roast Top Round of Beef
Roast breast of Turkey


I seriously can't wait until NEXT JUNE!

seriously

:-)

Things I'm doing tomorrow

1). Drop off the boy's car at the garage to get an oil change and tire rotation
2). Drive to the Bradford Country Club to meet and greet with the important people to ask questions about how wedding receptions happen
3). Drive to the Groveland Fairways to do the same
4). Meet up with the caterer for pretty much the same
5). Stop by mommy's house to drop off some stuff and say hi if anyone's around
6). Come home
7). Pick up the boy's car
8). Meet with Greg at 5:15 to head off to the YDDB gig
9). Play my clarinet with the YDDB to no doubt hear some lady screaming "let's go! play something!" at the nursing home
10). Come home

...what a long day...







PS - SAYONARA SANJAYA!!! :-)

NVCB

Tonight was MY night! I conducted! Me! woot!

I worked them too! We got through all but two of the songs for the upcoming concert in May. That's including a lot of talking by some of the board members (not me!!!) about upcoming events, etc. I thought we did rather well!

Then of course, came O'Hanlons, where I am still trying to get rid of the onion breath from the nachos!!

it's starting to come together

We're scheduled to go check out Groveland Fairways and Simply Elegant Catering tomorrow. I'm also waiting to hear back from the Bradford Country Club and from the pastor at the West Newbury Congregational Church.

We're looking for a June 2008 wedding...boy is this a lot of work! :-)

my pier 1 finds

The bunny was too cute to leave behind...and he was only $3. The vase is supposedly an Easter egg...but who could tell? It was only $2.50...too good to pass up! So I bought a small bouquet of flowers at Trader Joe's to put inside it. I love bargain hunting!

(I also got some other things, but since they are gifts, I can't post them for fear that the recipients will get a peak!)

A little late...

Here are some pics from Easter weekend. The hydrangeas are from Chip, the roses from Mom F., and the froggy from Dad F. The froggy sings...he's so cute!

Excellent Leftover Veggie Casserole

I made this tonight. I used veggies I had around the house, but I'll give you the original recipe. In my version, I used a bag of assorted veggies, a can of diced tomatoes, and I sliced a zucchini. I also sauteed the garlic with the onions. I also only needed to cook mine for about 40 min.

A Vegetable Cornucopia
1 small yellow onion
1/4 c. butter
2 small ripe tomatoes
2 c. frozen whole green beans
1 clove garlic, peeled
2 c. frozen whole-kernel corn
2 c. frozen sliced zucchini
1/2 tsp. salt
Dash pepper
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
2 slices white bread
2 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese

Peel onion and chop coarsely. In a skillet heat 2 Tb. butter over moderately high heat until melted. Add onions and saute about 5 min., stirring frequently, until tender and translucent.

Wash tomatoes, remove cores, and cut each tomato into 8 wedges. Cut frozen green beans in half crosswise if they are very long. Cut garlic clove in half, rub over bottom and sides of a 2 qt. casserole dish.

In casserole place sauteed onions, green beans, corn, zucchini, and fresh tomato wedges. Toss gently to mix thoroughly. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and basil; toss again to mix.

Cut remaining butter into small pieces and place on top of vegetable mixture. Trim off and discard crusts from bread; cut into slices into 1/2 inch cubes and arrange around the outer edge of vegetable mixture next to dish.

Shred cheese coarsely in a food processor or by hand and prinkle over the bread cubes in casserole. At this point, vegetable casserole can by covered with aluminum foil and refrigerated until 1 hour before you are ready to serve dinner.

Preheat oven to 350. Uncover casserole and place on center rack in oven; bake 60 min. or until vegetables are tender, cheese is melted, and bread cubes are lightly browned. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

This makes me even more interested

After hearing about people in India burning effigies of Richard Gere, I now HAVE to see what this is all about!!

I bought the Bollywood movie Bluffmaster, and I haven't had the chance to watch it yet. I want to see what the big deal about Priyanka Chopra is! I might have to watch it without the boy, and just watch it again when he's around!

Saturday fun

Jenn and I spent the day walking around Boston on Saturday. We went to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, walked around to many stores, around Fenway Park (didn't get into the game though), Copley Place, and the Pru. We shopped A LOT!! We stopped to listen to many street performers, some of whom were musicians, and others were entertainers.

Things I bought while out on Saturday:
-a pair of sunglasses
-a barette for my hair for my wedding day
-an ENORMOUS duffle bag at REI (way cool store) to put our tent into, since we can't get it back into the bag it came with
-envelopes for bridal shower invitations (I bought the invites for real cheap at a flea market, but they didn't come with envelopes)
-a Bridal Shower Game book
-2 pairs of gym pants (one of which was only $2.99 - yay clearance racks)
-a bottle of bloody mary mix for the boy that I bought at Cheers
-a new laptop bag, since my old one barely holds my laptop and cord, forget anything else
-and a few other various items that I can't quite seem to remember right now

Things I ate on Saturday:
-Dunks for breakfast
-Indian for lunch
-Cold Stone Creamery for a snack

We were gone for 12 hours. It was great. :-)

Bohemian Rhapsody with Mnozil Brass

Thanks to Steve for showing me this!

I need vacation

so badly...you have no idea...

I plan on checking out some places for wedding receptions, like these:

Groveland Fairways
Bradford Country Club

We're thinking of having an afternoon cocktail reception.

I'm so excited! :-)

Grampy update

I went to see him today. He looks a lot better, but still seems to be in some pain. He'll probably be there for a while, before he is transported to a rehab hospital. We watched some of the ballgame together with my mom and aunt. My mom, my two aunts, and my uncle and I had lunch in the cafeteria of MGH (which is huge, btw). I'm glad I got the chance to see him today. He seemed to be in better spirits (but so is everybody when they get a shot or two of morphine).

I should be back to work tomorrow.

wedding page

My Wedding Page has been updated! Thanks to Jenn for showing me the really cool Wedding Map. Right now I'm just using it to show our possibilities, since we have no idea where we are going to have our reception. :-)

Update on Grampy

He's out of surgery, and seems to be doing well. He's still at Mass. General. I'm going to try to visit him tomorrow.

what a weekend...

This weekend has been a mix of emotions.

Saturday was the memorial service for my grandmother's sister. (my mom's aunt, for those of you keeping track). It was a great remembrance. Everyone sat in my aunt's living room, sharing stories and memories of my Auntie Dot. After we were done, my grandfather went to stand up, but couldn't. He didn't look good, and was very unsteady on his feet. His right leg wasn't working the way he wanted it to. We called an ambulance, which took him to the local hospital in York, ME. We continued on with the rest of the day, with the aunts and uncles taking turns staying with him at the hospital. He didn't seem to be too bad, so I came back home that night.

Sunday the boy and I went down to see his family on the south shore for Easter. When we got there, his family had a surprise get-together for our engagement. I found it very difficult to focus and be happy, thinking of my grampy. I kept receiving updates throughout the day from family members, which made it even harder to keep a smiling face with his family. His relatives are all great, and understood, but I felt bad for not being able to share in their joy.

Grampy is now at Mass General, where he is undergoing more tests. They found an aneurysm in his leg that had burst, and is slowly bleeding out. That would explain how awful he looked yesterday (his skin was gray). They're looking into surgery options, but I haven't heard anything for a while. The most important thing is for my Grampy to fight.

Fight, Grampy, fight...

I have Happy Feet!!

I bought Happy Feet today! Cute movie!!

Bluffmaster - Say Na Say Na

I need to see this movie.

Funny cover

I laughed so hard when watching this! Alanis can make anything sound dismal and depressing.

invitations

We were looking at some invitations today.

What do you think?

Our current first choice

Our second choice

Our third choice

Let me know which one you like!!

new website

I have a link on the right to my wedding website!

There's not much on it right now, but I'll add more as I get more info

Check it out!!

Dice-K

Dice-K is

O-K

by me with his

10 Ks

Snow

Snow day!

4 day weekends rule!! I'll deal with the consequences in June later...

stupid New England weather

no jazz band

no Nashoba Valley Concert Band (aka Harvard Town Band)

no O'Hanlon's.......

sadness....

I think I live here....

This is me taking a time out at 6:10 p.m. to play with my camera. Yes, I am still at school.

Ugh...

I never leave...

Correcting papers, entering grades, school committee meeting....

ick

It's that time of year again...

Fall 2006 Frozen Food Fundraising from Cherrydale Farms

We're selling cookie dough, and pies, and pizzas....let me know if you're interested!! :-)

ouch

that just hurts.........

To look on the bright side.....We did lose the season opener in 2004 ...

Something new

I'm trying a new layout for my blog.

What do we think?

It's all mine!!!

I got my ring back this afternoon! Isn't it gorgeous?? We're really and truly engaged now!

I have a ring! WOOHOO! :-)

happiness

I'm engaged!!!!! :-D

We ate our 6 year anniversary dinner at Gibbet Hill Grille last night, where we had an amazing meal. We walked around outside after dinner, where he led me over to a porch off the back of The Barn (where they hold functions, but it was empty tonight). He started to tell me about all the good times we've had together, until we both started gagging from the smell of cow. We decided to move before the fumes overtook us both. We walked back to my car, where again he told me about all the happy times we've had in the last 6 years, and how I have seen him through some harder times as well. We got to my car, and he got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him. Of course I said yes! :-)

I would show everyone the ring, but we had to get it resized. Since today is Sunday, we had to leave it at the store. Hopefully I will have it back tomorrow...I haven't even had it 24 hours yet, and I've had to give it back up!!!

It's beautiful. Simple. Emerald cut. White gold. I love it.

I love him.

Life is good.

More flute playing

You can check out more of Greg Patillo's music here.

Beatboxing flute inspector gadget remix

This guy is incredible

Getting to know me - a meme

I was tagged by Kelly, and since I have nothing better to do this beautiful Sunday morning...

What time did you get up this morning?
7 am, which is VERY unusual for me, since I usually sleep VERY late on weekends. I slept a lot yesterday, and I am just TOO excited to sleep anymore today.

Diamonds or pearls?
Seeing as how I got engaged last night....DIAMONDS BABY!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Oooh...that's a tough one....we don't go to the movie theater very often...I'm going way back here..."Stranger than Fiction" with Will Ferrell.

What is your favourite TV show?
I'm with Kelly on this one...it would have to be Grey's Anatomy or House. But if we're talking of all time, then the answer is Friends.

What do you usually have for breakfast?
On weekends, I make breakfast. We'll have muffins, or eggs, or bacon, or sausage, or pancakes, or french toast, or waffles, or something yummy like that. During the week it is usually just coffee from Dunks, but occasionally I'll buy a muffin or donut.

Favourite cuisine?
I don't really have a favorite food....I eat lots of different foods.

What food do you dislike?
I do not like raw onions. I love them cooked, and I LOOOOOVE onion rings, but don't ask me to eat onions raw, it ain't gonna happen....

What is your favourite CD at the moment?
The CD I listen to the most right now is the 2007 Grammy Nominees album.

Morning or night person?
If I could teach school starting at the time most schools end, I would be very happy. I HATE getting up early.


Favourite sandwich?
It's a toss-up between grilled cheese and grilled peanutbutter.

What characteristic do you despise?
People who are rude. Why can't we all just get along?

Favourite item of clothing?
Currently, my two pairs of fleece pants. I have a Hello Kitty pair, and a blue pair with frogs.

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
France, Ireland, Italy, or the tropics

What colour is your bathroom?
Sage green....it's awful....

Favourite brand of clothing?
Whatever is on sale!!!

Where would you retire to?
Oh...that is so far away from right now it's not even worth thinking about....

What was your most memorable birthday?
My 21st was pretty memorable. We slept in a tent in my parent's backyard drinking beer the night before, a pool party the day of, and free drink at Uno's the night of!


Favourite sport to watch?
If you know me at all....BASEBALL!!!!!!!!! More specifically, the SOX!!

When is your birthday?
July 15

What is your shoe size?
I've got clown feet...I'm a size 10.

Pets?
I've got a lot of fish!! In one tank I have 5 pink and yellow danios and a snail. I have a betta in a vase, and a betta in a bowl, and a betta in my classroom. Someday, I want a dog though.

What did you want to be when you were little?
I must be crazy, but for as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. Except when I wanted to be a major league baseball player.....

What is your favourite flower?
Hydrangea and lilacs.

What date on the calendar are you looking forward to?
Whatever date it is that we decide to have our wedding!! Sometime in summer of 2008

What music do you like?
I listen to anything from classical to hiphop and everything between!

Your Favourite Book?
I like William Martin. Great historical fiction