Category: THOUGHTS

Don’t Labor your day away… this is the best grill EVER!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Vermont Casting Grill vc

First of all, let me start by saying HAPPY LABOR DAY! Hope you enjoy the day off, and if you have to work, hope you don’t have to work too hard!

Years ago we invested in a good grill, a Vermont Castings grill… and its still going strong many years later. Ours has a little side burner, which we’ve only used a few times. If this grill ever poops out we’ll get a two burner model, that’s all we need. This grill has porcelain covered cast iron grates, which they say creates an even cooking temperature… I would have to agree! Ours is much like this model, but we don’t have backlit controls… the easy flame ignition is awesome as is the fact that it’s made in the good ole US of A… yep, right here in the states! Buy American and help keep the country strong! The 323 Tribute Series Grill is the one pictured above…

They have some great grilling recipes on their site… check it out! We bought ours at Home Depot years ago, but they don’t carry them anymore… check out their store locator to see if they sell them near you!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

FLASHBACK

O N E   Y E A R   A G O:  A pretty flower and a happy day to you!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O:  Artist to watch… Shannon Runquist!

Image via: VermontCastings.com

Wouldn’t you like to be here… listening to this??

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS, TRAVEL6 Comments
Monhegan, Maine
Monhegan, Maine

Wouldn’t you like to be sitting on a rock, here, in this fabulous place called Monhegan? Located about 10 miles off the coast of Maine sits this pristine little island called Monhegan. It’s a dream come true to spend a few days listening to the ocean, watching the waves, not answering a phone or checking messages. Hell to some I guess, but heavenly to us!

If you’re the type of person who loves the outdoors, doesn’t need to dress up to be happy and loves the sounds and sights of a beautiful rocky coast, this is your place! If you ever get the chance to visit… do! It’s a classy place, full of amazingly talented individuals. You won’t believe the number of famous artists that have painted on this tiny island.

Happy Memories – Catch you back here tomorrow!

FLASHBACK

O N E   Y E A R   A G O:  Rockville, SC photos: What a beautiful place to take a drive!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O:  Foods that should never cross your lips… #3!

Now this would make one heck of a rooftop painting!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTS, TRAVELLeave a comment

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San Francisco, CA… gotta love it!

This would make one heck of a challenging rooftop painting wouldn’t it? Whew, not sure I would want to give it a whirl, but I would enjoy seeing the progression of an artist painting a similar scene. It facinates me how there really is no right or wrong way to paint. I see people break the “rules” all the time and they’re awesome artists… what works for one doesn’t always work for another… I like knowing I have options, ha ha…

Have a good weekend! Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…  Featured Artist… Romel de la Torre!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…  What to do with your garden’s bounty? VEGGIE PASTA! Dinner this evening!

“I do” or shall I say… “I did”…

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTS14 Comments
fred barbara first photo 1991
First photo taken of us at my sister’s house… 1991!

Twenty one years ago today I said “I do” to the sweetest man on Earth, my husband, Fred Stroud. I remember that day well! We were so excited to get married, we didn’t want to wait for an evening wedding… we were married at noon on a hot August day. We had a beautiful wedding in Summerville, SC – we left the reception on the way to the John Rutledge House Inn (Charleston, SC).  It was such a treat to spend the first (luxurious) night in Charleston!

John Rutledge House Inn Balcony, Charleston, SC [image]
John Rutledge House Inn Balcony, Charleston, SC
[image]
After we checked in and put our bags in our room we had family meet us at the inn to sit out on the veranda. Spending time with my husband and family at the most beautiful inn was such a treat! As was the breakfast the next morning… we had slept through it and there was a knock at our door, they brought us breakfast in bed… it was scrumptious and so beautifully delivered. Something I’ll never forget!

John Rutledge House Inn Suite [image]
John Rutledge House Inn Suite
[image]
I swear, if this isn’t our room it was one very similar… When the bellman was showing us the room, he told us to “feel free to walk around the hotel and enjoy the beautiful art work, such as the piece above the mantel“… it was a piece that my dad had painted!!! He snuck down early that day and asked them to hang the painting… what a wonderful gift! Here is a photo of it… it’s not a good one… reflections make this a tough one to take a photo of… so disregard the reflections, and the fact that I had to crop off the frame, this is a watercolor by my dad, Joe Fidler… (frame cropped to get it somewhat square, sigh…).

Painting by Joe Fidler
Painting by Joe Fidler

From the moment I met Fred I KNEW he was the one. There was something about him. We clicked. Is it cliche to say that we’re soul mates? Well, we are, I can’t think of any other word to describe it. He is an amazing man, and I pray that I am as wonderful a wife as he is a husband. Something tells me I got the “lucky end of the stick”… ha ha…

Fred, 1992 - I love this guy!
Fred, 1992 – I love this guy!

Here’s to you Fred! You’re the best! I feel so blessed…

Charlie and his dad... Fred!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K

O NE   Y E A R   A G O..  You see this man? He is the love of my life!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…  The great escape on our wedding day… 19 years ago…

A double yolker… should I go buy a lottery ticket?

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
A Double Yoker...
A Double Yoker…

In my 50+ years I have yet to see a double yolked egg… until the other day! I was making scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese (an all time favorite)… I tossed the eggs in the pan (I scramble them in the pan)… and out of one of the eggs a double yolk appeared! I think it might be time to go buy a lottery ticket, ha ha… weird, eh? I read that a woman in the UK bought a half dozen eggs and every one was a double yolker! Interesting, huh??

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R    A G O…  The art of the Staycation…

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…  The wildlife around here is going to do me in!

I think I deserve the day off… whaddaya think?

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS14 Comments
POTS DE CRÈME AU CHOCOLAT at Rue de Jean
POTS DE CRÈME AU CHOCOLAT at Rue de Jean

Today is someone’s birthday… and I hear she’s taking the day off… but, she’ll be back tomorrow… Same bat time… Same bat place…

Thanks to all of you who check this blog daily… you are the greatest birthday gift ever!

Enjoy your day!

My post from one year ago…  Birthday Candles, AARP and a Colonoscopy!

My post from two years ago…  What a cutie!! Happy day!

Do you know what today is? Don’t miss it…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Image: Second Sunday On King facebook
Image: Second Sunday On King facebook

Just a reminder, if you’re in the Charleston, SC area, that today is SECOND SUNDAY ON KING. If you haven’t walked on King Street while its closed to car traffic, let me tell you it’s quite the treat. Music playing, tables and chairs set up in the street where you can dine at some of the restaurants along the way… sales of all kinds. LOTS of people! It’s so much fun, truly it is! It makes you realize what a cool city we have here! Second Sunday begins at noon, when they block the street to traffic.

When you finish on King Street take a short walk to Queen and State Street… pop in the Anglin Smith Fine Art Gallery and say hello!

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Click HERE to print a parking voucher, good for two free hours in a city parking garage (or email info@charlestonppt.org and they’ll send you one)!

Hope to see you there!  Catch you back here tomorrow!

My post from one year ago… Port Clyde, Maine – Truly the way life should be!

My post from two years ago… Cancer Prevention Tip #12

Monhegan, ME stroll…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS, TRAVELLeave a comment

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It’s the most beautiful place, ever! Water surrounding this small island on all sides. The creative people who live here all year long… the creative people who visit make it a fascinating place. Not just for the breathtaking scenery, but for the friends you make along the way. We’ve made many, and they’ve become like family to us. It’s neat to keep in touch all year long and then catch up once we’re all on the island. It’s a place of hiking, eating, ocean watching, photo taking… painting… and just being. When was the last time you sat down (without TV, radio, cell phone, etc.)? You can do this on Monhegan and be completely entertained. The thought of a TV doesn’t even pop into your head… we’ve met some of the coolest people ever.

If you ever get a chance to go… don’t miss the opportunity! You will become crazy like me and post photos like you live there, ha ha…

Tell me a place that you’re passionate about! I love to hear of new areas!!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

My post from one year ago: Burton Silverman, artist!

My post from two years ago: Oven roasted cauliflower – you won’t believe how good this is!!

House Plan: Nipper’s Escape by Flatfish Island Designs!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Nipper's Escape by Flat Fish Island Designs [image]
Nipper’s Escape by Flatfish Island Designs
Fred found this house plan and I have to say, I LOVE IT! Nipper’s Escape is such an efficiently designed plan! It has it all and only 1,100 square feet! An open plan with an optional upstairs, great living space on the porches, a master suite tucked away in a secluded spot and STORAGE! I know I’ve been showcasing small cottages, I will move up to the moderate sized 2,000-2,500 square feet roughly… in the coming future. I just know when we look for a home to build one day AFTER we retire… it’s going to be small. Neither of us want a large home with more room to spread out and collect “stuff”. We’re pretty good at getting rid of excess just because we don’t have a lot of extra space to store. So a pantry, and a few closets… fabulous!

HP NippersEscape plan FlatFishIslandDesigns.com

So many great features. Especially if this house were built here in Charleston, SC.  Just look at these wonderful porches! We could easily be outside on our porches the majority of the year (all but summer with the mosquitoes and heat/humidity). A little powder room right inside the front door, can’t beat that for convenience! I LOVE the kitchen, lots of counter space, and open to the living/dining room… and A PANTRY! Oh, how I would love a pantry! Fabulous design, done right here near Charleston! Check out their website… full of amazing house plans!

Here’s a blip about Nipper’s Escape from the Flatfish Island Design website:

For a couple or a small family, the Nipper’s Escape house plan has a cozy, casual, outdoors feel perfect for a weekend retreat.
 
The Nipper’s Escape home plan features classic cottage styling, including distinctive gables with shed dormers. A private master suite on the living level features three exposures and a private patio offering spectacular views

This house plan features wrap around porches that offer a relaxed setting and lovely views. The deep-set design of the covered porches provides excellent shade for the entire ground floor living area, making the Nipper’s Escape home plan an efficient, eco-friendly green design.
 
Nipper’s Escape is a simple house plan that allows for easy expansion or modification. For example, you can add three beds and two baths to the second floor to create a loft space if you wish.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via flatfishislanddesigns.com

Do you remember Orange Julius? Here’s the recipe!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, THOUGHTS1 Comment
OrangeJulius

Who remembers the Orange Julius drink? Do you remember that wonderful orange flavored iced drink? I remember certain things about my childhood… like when my dad would go to Sears and look at tools… as a little girl… I can still remember the tiles on the floor at Sears in Macomb Mall (St. Clair Shores, MI). A beigy colored tile… HOW do I remember that?

Continue reading “Do you remember Orange Julius? Here’s the recipe!” →

A fabulous painting by Tim Bell… walking away…

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, THOUGHTS, TRAVEL10 Comments

Tim Bell, Artist
Tim Bell, Artist

Monhegan, ME. Artists everywhere. I. Mean. Everywhere! Everyone is busy painting away, doing their thing, and let me tell you , there are some incredibly talented artists who’s work just blows you away! We met artist, Tim Bell (pictured) on the island years ago (I’m thinking 2006?!) and have remained friends with him through the years, and have made new friends through him. He’s such a talented, brilliant artist. Tim had so much information to share that I had to go get a pen and paper. Great, useful information. One year we watched him paint this painting… and as he walked away with it… we had to have it. So it’s pretty cool that we have this painting… good memories. We love every one of our paintings, they’re all special to us in one way or another. This is a perfect example!

Have a great Sunday! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Island Sunset… Monhegan, ME.

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS, TRAVEL2 Comments

Monhegan Sunset
Monhegan Sunset

Ahhhh, about this time every year I really get “home sick” (if you can call it that… since I’ve never lived there) for Monhegan. There is nothing like a Monhegan sunset! I would love to catch a sunrise, I’m definitely up early enough, I just haven’t been able to give up my coffee… yet! This photo was taken during dinner at the Island Inn (and I am longing for good fish dinner from that restaurant… the best ever!), I had to excuse myself during dinner to run outside and get a quick shot. How stunning is this?

Ahhh, see you just went on a mini vacation… you feel better already, don’t you? I know I do!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Let me tell you about the harrowing saga…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

imac applestore

Let me tell you about the harrowing saga that filled our weekend… I was working away… attempting to write a post. Everything was painfully slow… and then all I could see is that little colorful ‘death wheel’ as I like to call it spinning around… computer unresponsive. Thankfully, I purchased the Apple Care extended warranty (adds two years on to the regular one year warranty). So I was able to call support to get some much needed help. I’m not an Apple genius. I try to keep up, but whew, some things are beyond me, and this was one of them! I got a great support person I could understand, he was clear, we went through steps and he determined I needed to wipe the hard drive and reload Mac OS X Lion. “Uuuuhhhh”,  I heard myself stutter “ooooo-kkkkkk”, but really my innards were screaming NOOOOOOO! “Do you have a backup?” he asked. “Yes” I replied, without hesitation. I mean I have an external hard drive plugged in, I assume it works? I have taken a trip through the TIME CAPSULE just to see what riding in space is like… it miraculously captures your info from each day… We wiped it clean, and reloaded Lion. After that, the computer was unresponsive. We determined that we would make an appointment and take it to the ER (Apple store)… luckily we were able to take it that night. Genius Brian ran the first diagnostic on it. “Everything looks like it should”. Oh. Great. I don’t want everything to look like it should or these problems are going to keep happening, I mean I DO want everything to be ok, but not unless it really is… He said there is one more test… he ran it… and it could not recognize the hard drive. Ok… now we have a diagnosis… that’s a relief! It was scheduled to have the hard drive replaced, and I am sooooo very thankful that it was still under warranty (I LOVE YOU APPLE CARE!)! We were able to pick it up the next morning…

It was nice to have it back in our hot little hands. The backup worked like a miracle. It costed us nothing. Dropping it off we even got a parking spot in the front of the store, WHEN does that ever happen. One more thing… next week is tax free weekend… which means it would have taken MUCH longer for the computer to be worked on, because the Apple store becomes a zoo during tax free weekend! After all, that’s when we bought it a few years ago! It was worth standing in the heat for hours to not pay tax on it!

All this blah blah blah, to say… if you’re about to purchase an Apple product… do not hesitate to buy the Apple Care extended warranty. It’s worth Every. Single. Penny.  We, in Charleston, SC, are so fortunate to have the Apple store right here. First class all the way.

So glad to be back among the living… !

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image: Apple.com

Freaky Flounder!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments

IMG-20130525-00008

I shouldn’t say ‘freaky’ flounder, they’re actually very cool. Flounder is a fish that is caught here in Charleston, SC. One day we were at the Shem Creek dock and watched a man catching them… I’ve never seen them (other than in a restaurant on a plate)… he told us some neat things about them…

The opposite side was a different color… did you know, as they feed on the bottom of the sea they can change color AND PATTERN to blend in… they can even resemble grains of sand! I guess this one was trying to blend in with the railing?

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Read this from Wikipedia… its just what he told us!

Eye migration

In its life cycle, an adult flounder has two eyes situated on one side of its head, while at hatching one eye is located on each side of its brain. One eye migrates to the other side of the body as a process ofmetamorphosis as it grows from larval to juvenile stage. As an adult, a flounder changes its habits and camouflages itself by lying on the bottom of the ocean floor as protection against predators.[1] As a result, the eyes are then on the side which faces up. The side to which the eyes migrate is dependent on the species type.

Here’s proof! WHOA!

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Catch you back here tomorrow!