Weekend Wrap Up & Many Happy Returns

Poof, It's Gone.

My post was just eaten by the computer, so here's a condensed version. The Dublin visitors left this morning. That said, you can imagine we tried to make the very most of the past weekend. 

Some of the things we did included:

• stroll through Prescott Park
• lunch at RiRa
• Friday evening visit across the street in Tom & Joan's driveway
• back to The Bates Estate for a campfire
• lots of laughter and many memories made. oh yes, the stories will be told for years to come.
• Saturday date with a Ralph & Cathryn's Lobster Bake
• Sunday BBQ at The Bates Estate with birthday cake and wish for Harry & Dad

• Made Sangria, Guac and rice/shrimp/caper salad
• Listened to everyone moan and groan over how good the banoffee was, thanks to bil Niall (I'll post the recipe sometime soon and you do not want to miss it....bananas, whipped cream, caramel, ginger snaps...bring on the goodness!) 
• Got stung by a yellow jacket on my thumb. Ow. 
• Sang happy birthday to godson Harry and Dad
• Made scrambled eggs with help of niece Leah
• Goodbye time with our Dubliners

It was a great visit, and hopefully it won't be too long before we see each other again in person. Until then, we're very grateful for Skype. 

Dad's Big Day

It's my Dad's birthday today. He got to enjoy a little pre-birthday celebration at the cookout yesterday, complete with his serving of the banoffee with candles to blow out for wishing.

Here he is serving up one of his specialties....linguine with clamsauce.  He's a heck of a cook. 

He's also a missile test engineer, problem solver, community volunteer (lions club, elks club, and many, many more), skilled woodworker and folk artist, voracious reader, excellent writer, Dad to 5, Grandfather to 8, Great Grandfather to 2, husband for 59 years, friend to many, traveler, go-to-man and man with the microphone....the list goes on.

cake photo via karaspartyideas.com

Hope you have a fantastic birthday Dad!

Thanks for being here everyone.  It sure makes my day.

See you on the flip side,

A Day In Beantown

Good Day For One & All

Yesterday was simply perfect. Gorgeous temperature with a lovely breeze. Blue sky against the Boston skyline. The Aquarium. The Marketplace. The Black Rose. Good times with our Dublin family- Gar's brother Niall, our sister in law Caragh, our niece Leah and our nephew Harry. What more could we ask for?

We really seem to luck out weather-wise when we're off to Boston for the day and yesterday was no exception. I only wish I'd been able to pop into my blog pal Amy's new Maison Decor store in Beantown, but it was a day with the kids. (Next time Amy, for sure.)

It started with the the Aquarium which was great, as usual. Even if most of the penguins and the shark were off site while they did some maintenance. Bummer. It was ok though, there was so much more to see.

The seals greeted us upon arrival. The kids got to go face to face with them.

The sea turtles where the indoor greeters since most of the penguins were off site.  The were really big. The picture doesn't really have any scale to compare them too, but suffice it to say, the big one was as big as our dining table and a whole lot heavier.

Leah's favorite were the little Blue Penguins. They were pretty darned cute. They even shook their butts like Shakira. She had to see them twice. 

It was a beautiful day on the Harbor, even the seagulls thought so.  Once we were done at the Aquarium we headed back to the Greenway Carousel and then back to the Marketplace for lunch at The Black Rose.

After lunch we strolled the marketplace and Faneuil Hall. There was a lovely woman, Pamela Means, playing guitar and singing. Her music helped soothe Harry who was getting a bit tired.  Before we headed home though, we had to pick up a box of Canoli to bring home. Can't leave Boston without them!

Super fun day filled with lots of good memories. The best kind of day, right?

ps- While the penguins were Leah's favorite, mine was Isaac with his spikey mohawk.

courtesy New England Aquarium

Apparently, he had one serious itch to scratch.  My second favorite can be seen in the background....the smaller sea lion who loved the hose. He nearly got the crowd a couple of times. Back to Isaac though, he just had great laissez faire attitude. 

May I Have Your Attention

Giveway. 180+ worth of handmade and vintage prizes. Enter here.

A quick shoutout to all the new followers of the Muse. So happy to have you here with all my other blog-pals. I hope you'll stick around, and please feel free to comment. I just love hearing from all you guys.

Gorgeous day here. Will probably be going to the park with the Dublin kiddos later, and we will sure be in the pool while it's a warm one! Got to get it in while we can.

See you on the flip side,