Shadow Shot Sunday - Harvest Fest 2016

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and so am I after a busy last Saturday at our small city of Ansonia CT and its 2016 Harvest Festival. Being the one-of-four who coordinate the event, I was up and down Main Street and with the brilliant sun, shadows abounded all over the downtown venue. And we introduced a new mascot, the winsome walking pumpkin named Harvey. It was a great day of food, craft vendors, sounds and shadows!

See Monday's edition of our Valley-Voice Newsletter has even more pics - now if we could only sell more ads for said newsletter...

Friday’s Hunt 2016-2.14

It's time again for a favorite meme, Friday Hunt. I was busy last week with Ansonia's Harvest Festival as chairman of the cultural commission - only four people made the event happen, and it was a great day - but a bit tiring. Nevertheless I am back and here is my post with Teresa's prompts for the week...

Starts with 'N'. I am today choosing New York City in three eras. The first I believe is from 1939, and it is my dad (aged about 11-1/2) I believe on the Queens side off the East River. The next one is from 1961, and my father and his sister (my Aunt Terry) on a building giving another view of the then skyline. The final pic in color was taken by passenger and first officer Patti on the southbound on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in December 2013.

Weeks Favorite. This was last Saturday at the Harvest Festival on Ansonia's Main Street. The first pic is Mayor avoid Cassetti posing with festival mascot 'Harvey' - what a sight! The second is a reflection of some of the city from the Griffin Hospital van, facing dad's Food Truck, a fabulous food destination (think a burger topped with mac n' Cheese if you can :)

I Made This. A few years ago, with assistance from my daughter Allegra, I made a frittata in three stages: sautéed the veggies, added the egg and cream mixture and after it was taken out of the oven and served with a Portuguese red. Thanks again Teresa!

Wordless Wednesday - Bounce House Patron

At Saturday's Harvest Festival in our small city of Ansonia, there was a bounce house with no shortage of children, and this girl showed a few acrobatic moves. The unending energy of youth is astounding to this old-timer...see more WW at NC Sue

Friday Hunt, 2016.2.11

Friday rolls around and a favorite meme of mine, hosted by Teresa, is back, Friday Hunt. She provides the clues and we look for the pics...

Starts with K: I am looking at a variety of subjects, and I chose a few that may work well and these are…Kids, Kansas and Kettle Korn (which could have been as a yellow clue)

Kids. First day of school, ours in the jumper and red shorts. Ansonia, CT, 08/28/1996

Kansas. My dad at the CO/KS state line; guess the Summer of 1938

Kettle Corn by Giggles, Ansonia, CT

Yellow or Gold: Although I prefer the warmth of Summer, I acknowledge that autumn will occur, so a couple of autumnal pics (2013, I think) help to go for the gold. Taken by our front door (L) and our unkempt forsythia. Thanks again Teresa!

Shadow Shot Sunday - First Days

The new school year began this week in our area. And no doubt many parents took pics of the kids o the first day. So for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I revert to our now grown kids first days. To the left, September 1, 1995, our experienced Allegra, already an old pro as she began grade 2, escorts Cameron to the school bus stop on his very first day of kindergarten at Mead School. To the right is the first day of school, Sept. 1, 2004. Allegra is the old pro at Ansonia High School entering 11th grade, Cameron a mere freshman. The shadows indicate a bright future and what a difference nine years make :)

Friday Hunt, 2016.2.10

Another Friday is here, and we are ready for another fun edition of Teresa's fun meme Friday Hunt. She provides the clues and we look high and low to find said clues. With success I hope :)

Starts with 'J' Today's pic was taken at JFK Airport in New York City. This is my father on the tarmac of JFK in January 1970, just deplaned from a very early flight on the then new Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Look at how people traveled by jet in those days, nicely dressed with the old-fashioned vinyl flight bag on the shoulder and carrying a hard-sided Samsonite briefcase. For reference, I was just a high-school freshman at the time...

Week's Favorite. Just an hour ago, the always lovely Patti captured the setting sun out our back window in the Ansonia Uplands. It almost seems an Impressionist painting, the bold yet soft pastels looking like a just completed canvas in a gallery...

Surprise. I don't know if Linus McDonald is really surprised...but he may have been. Thanks Teresa!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Rock the Valley 2016

I am back to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 after a week's hiatus. Last Saturday, I was on the committee that put on Ansonia's Rock the Valley 2016 with food and craft vendors, kids events and six musical acts including the Cast of Beatlemania - and a shadow or two  further highlighting the fun day (even if I missed trying out Crepe Hut for dinner :)

Friday Hunt, 2016.2.9

Well, it is good to be a bit less busy for this week’s meme Friday Hunt, hosted by Teresa. Last week I was part of the committee that put on Rock the Valley 2016 (7-8000 attendees) with food and craft vendors and six musical acts, the biggest of those acts the Cast of Beatlemania. So I missed a fave meme, but am back…

Starts with I: These pics were from Rock the Valley, and perhaps the ‘I’ theme is being stretched a bit, but here goes: Iced Latte advertised at the Gypsy Joe truck

Intently: The audience listened to perfect Beatles covers, none so much as Ansonia Mayor Dave Cassetti (front center), Beatlemania promoter Rich Grassi (L), event director Rich DiCarlo (back center) ad the rest of the audience

Imitation: All you need for a great time is Beatlemania on stage in Sgt. Pepper costumes…

Week's Favorite: I helped to run the concerts by Ansonia city hall this summer. Here is from Wednesday’s show, the lead guitarist/front man of the group asked his 10 year old daughter to sit and play for a sound check. Cute!

Pink: Also from Rock the Valley, my pink was taken at the Love Bug Tie Dye vendor. Plenty of pink here. Thanks Teresa!

Wordless Wednesday - Lego comes alive

At Ansonia's Rock the Valley 2016 Saturday, not only the Cast of Beatlemania and other music played numerous food trucks fed the thousands - there were many artists vendors too. Like these artisans who created Lego action figures. Cute, colorful and cool! See more WW at NC Sue

Friday Hunt, 2016.2.6

It is time for another edition of Teresa's fun Friday meme, Friday Hunt. She kindly offers os clues for this week's theme, and we are happy to  comply!

Starts with 'F'. For me, it is and was Ford. I'm showcasing my second wheelchair vehicle, set up so I could enter, transfer to the driver's seat, use the hand control to drive...Took delivery of my modified 1998 Ford E-150 van on 26 May 1998 and donated to a worthy individual in May 2012 (at 158,000 miles). So a full-sized Ford fits the theme well...

Three weeks old in June 1998, my Ford E-150, with seven year old Cameron 

In Sept. 2009, Hartford, CT

Front view of Ford E-150, also Sept. 2009, Hartford, CT

The Ford cockpit: Hand controls, spinner knob, 90-deg transfer seat and (5) furry plush bears for company...

Week's Favorite. It is a monument to the volunteer firefighters in our small city of Ansonia CT, pop. 19.000. We may tend to pay little attention - until they are needed...

Monument in front of City Hall, Ansonia

Shiny. I am using an old Triumph TR-3 I saw at an old car show. Fully restored, I chose the rear fender view which is such a shiny red, and the photographer leaves a ruby reflection within...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Inertia

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns, in this season of strong overhead sun, and equally well-defined shadow.This was taken at a block party being held in downtown Ansonia. A youngster was trying very hard to keep the hula-hoop moving, perhaps not understanding the intricacies of inertia, that is, keeping moving so the hoop stays up. Of course, physics lessons are not part of the equation today, just food and fun for all guests today...