Ice Cream Heaven

I finally found it. The perfect ice cream. Imagine this. Premium vanilla ice cream laced with chunks of brownies and chocolate chips, and threads of smooth, creamy fudge. It's worth eating salads all day in penance in order to savor a guiltless cup of Moose Tracks at Bailey's Bubble, my new mecca. It's in Wolfsboro, New Hampshire on the north-eastern rim of Lake Winnepesaukee. I think it's the prettiest town on the lake and the most real--meaning there's more to do there than buy souvenir kitsch. If you try Bailey's, let me know your thoughts.

You've Gotta Love Those Guys in Brown

fontgombault
Originally uploaded by EJGcatholic

...not the UPS guys, silly. But the monks--specifically the Trappist monks who make those delicious jams and jellies that we love so much. Now we adore them even more after they sent us a case of jellies gratis, to apologize for a processing glitch in a jar of preserves we had bought from our local grocery. How's that for smart public relations? They have rightly earned our undying devotion and loyalty. We're eating our way right now through the dozen flavors, specifically plum and blueberry, but to date, the cherry is still my favorite. Give Trappist Preserves a try. You won't be disappointed.

100 Calories? Are You Kidding?

That's what I said after I tasted this delicious potato pancake,which has now become a staple in our house, along with Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burgers, Spinach Pancakes and Broccoli Pancakes. Dear, dear Dr. Praeger has rescued me from the culinary tundra I've stumbled into now that Rich has declared his undying allegiance to vegetable kingdom and has sworn off meat. Created by two New Jersey heart surgeons, Dr. Prager's products are all natural, low in fat, sugar, and cholesterol, and are made from fresh ingredients. Plus, all his foods are certified Kosher. How perfect is that?

You can find Dr. Praeger's in the frozen food or organic section of your grocery or online at: http://www.drpraegers.com/index.aspx

P.S. Next, we try the pizza bagel.

The Pink House

Faded,paint crumbling. We pass it season by season on our morning walks. We wonder who the house belonged to and why it was abandoned years ago. Curtains still hang from the windows. Boxes on tables are barely visible from the street as if the occupant decided in mid-move just to stop packing. A mystery. What do you think happened?

My Favorite Shot of the Week

Taken on the road in Boston in a garden off Lewis Wharf with my Canon EOS Rebel XT:

What They Take With Them

I don't understand the allure of the RV. Aficionados claim it's the perfect getaway vehicle, but unless you're willing to tow a car behind you, you're limited to going to state parks and other rural places. It's not economical anymore either, given the price of gas. And if you lug a car, trailer, boat, bicycles, and hundreds of other things from home with you, then you're faced with the drudgery of unloading, setting up and packing up. RVs also come with a hefty price tag, and with that money you could go on a dozen very nice trips just about anywhere in the world.

We've been making a list this summer on our daily walks to Ellacoya State Park of the things people take with them in their RVs. Here's a partial list:

plastic lanterns
5-foot high plastic palm trees with mini lights
lawn chairs and rugs for the "front porch"
lawn ornaments
wooden signs with the family name inscribed on it
flags
tablecloths for the picnic table
dining tents
outdoor lawn games
inflatable kiddie pools
bicycles
motorcycles
barbecues (even though the park supplies them)

Can you help me understand the allure?

Blame It On The Mexicans

Pyramid of Kukulcán, Chichén-Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico, originally uploaded by jmhdezhdez.

Conversation #1 at the only local Mexican restaurant in this area:

Me: What's the Mexican population here?
Restaurant Owner: Well...there's me, my wife, my daughter...


Conversation #2 at the local gym:

A man is complaining to me about a wallet being stolen from a locker at the local gym.

Man: I think it's the Mexicans.
Me: What Mexicans? There aren't any Mexicans around here.
Man: They drive up from Manchester.
Me: Manchester?

P.S. It's over an hour away.

Two Dogs Out For a Stroll

...in a stroller. Why? Their owner explained that the one on the right has a hip problem and needs surgery and the one on the left tagged along for the ride.

This is my favorite shot of the week, taken with my Canon Rebel XT.

Top of the Muffin--to You

Like Elaine on Seinfeld, I love muffin tops. They definitely are the best part of the muffin. But the calories always stop me from enjoying them on a regular basis. Well, after discovering Vitatops, I'm in breakfast heaven.

These 100 calorie muffin tops are not only delicious, they're also healthy for you. If that sounds like an oxymoron (how can anything with vitamins and minerals taste good?), be prepared to be surprised with how delicious they taste. Apple, cranberry, multigrain, corn, even chocolate chip--I'm planning on trying them all. And by the way, it takes 13 minutes of walking to burn off one of them--according to their website. So far, my favorite is the corn, which comes out of the toaster crisp and golden brown.

By the way, Vitalicious also sells muffins, brownies and coffee. They also accept web orders. You can find them in the freezer section or on the web at:

So Tired

exhausted, originally uploaded by Dalla*.

How tired was I? So tired that I drove to the gym after teaching, parked the car and decided I'd shut my eyes for a few minutes before I got out of the car and worked out....

Twenty minutes later, the phone rang and woke me up. It was my son.
"Where are you, mom?"