Sugaring Season

Perhaps you've seen them -- the metal buckets hanging off the sides of trees, little spouts stuck into the wood -- it's maple sugar season in Western MA. I've seen signs at garden & supply stores advertising sugaring supplies, and someday I hope to have a sugar maple of my own to tap. But for now, the best I can do is enjoy the sights and flavours of local maple sugaring.

The River radio station has a Sugarhouse Directory on their website. It pretty much focuses on sugar shacks around the Northampton area -- doesn't get into shacks around Belchertown, but if you're in the Northampton area or Amherst, take a look. If you're a little south and east, like in B'town, take a look at last year's post -- it's worth it for the links to the two local sugar shacks. There are still some good weeks left in the season -- enjoy!

House Fire at 71 Hamilton Street

A multi-family house went up in flames this afternoon at 71 Hamilton Street. Police and fire were on the scene and set up a roadblock to any would-be passers-by. Unfortunately, the house, from what I could see, could not be saved and is little more than a shell at this point with the back of the house completely destroyed. I do not know the cause of the fire or if anything can be salvaged, but WGGB was there with cameras, and I'm sure it will show up in the news.
Be careful in your houses -- turn off the stove, blow out the candles, check the smoke alarms, look for grey streaks around your outlets, run fire-escape drills, and completely crush your cigarettes (if you smoke) in an ashtray.

From Our Most Recent Snow Storm

Brillaint Red and Lacy White

Happy Valentine's Day.


(This picture was taken during the snows of January; the cardinal is at quite a distance away, but such a beauty among the snow-covered branches.)

Snow Day!

Snow Day!
I'll try to keep you updated, if the snow really comes as predicted (check the twitter feed at the right).
Drive safely.
Build a snowman.

(A Christmas snowman in Ohio.)

Happy (Mid) February

My, oh my. It sure has been a while since I've posted. And it's not entirely because I haven't had things to post.

I had a lovely early dinner at Judie's, ate another delicious popover, had soup and salad -- all for only $11;
I witnessed a flood on Hamilton Street during all those meltings and rains;
I've been driving around the area looking at countryside and visiting open houses;
I've been feeding birds, and generally keeping myself busy supporting the local library system.

This message is mostly just to encourage you to check the links on the right for local events and for school cancellations -- there's supposedly a storm coming -- be prepared -- get up early to see if you can sleep in.... And when the storm disappears, treat yourself to a popover!

Don't Forget to Vote -- Tomorrow! (Tuesday)

Tomorrow is election day for the state of Massachusetts. The polls are split between State Senator Scott Brown and Attorney General Martha Coakley. Visit their websites to find out more about them and their stances on the issues, and see the multitude of news articles for info on their sentate race, debates, and other such election-type information.
(You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter and YouTube.)

Be sure to make time on Tuesday to get out and vote! Polls are open from 7am-8pm.
Find your polling location here.

Captain Candy Strikes Sugar into the Heart of Amherst

Perhaps you have heard of Captain Video in North Amherst -- where you get free popcorn while you search for a movie and where there are large bins with candy to buy. Well, Captain Video has expanded their candy selection into Captain Candy, a new sister-store at 103 North Pleasant Street between Bart's Homemade and Panda East Restaurant. We discovered the sugary delight on New Year's Eve and stopped in after dinner to peruse their selection of sweets.

And what a *selection there was to peruse! Bins and bins of bulk candy (150+ reportedly) -- gummies, licorices, jellies, chocolates, taffies, and sugar-frees; nostalgic candies like Bit 'o Honeys, Mary Janes, Now & Laters, Sky Bars; and novelty candies like gummy snakes, licorice pipettes, extra-large lollipops, and jawbreakers bigger than my fist. They also have a chocolate case with hand-made chocolates (chocolate covered cherries, truffles with sea salt, chocolate brandies, etcetera) for the more discriminating candy lovers.

The large selection, very reasonable prices (many of the bulk candies come in at $1.99/quarter-pound, packaged candies are individually priced), great location, and enthusiastic and friendly staff (we had an entertaining time talking to the manager/owner/employee) make this a perfect place to find the treats that will satisfy your sweet-tooth -- or sweet-teeth, as the case may be. Just be sure to brush & floss after your visit.


*A listing of candies I remember from my first visit: swirly gummy bears, large sour gummy bears, gummy sharks, gummy peach penguins, gummy cola panda bears, gummy brains, gummy fried eggs, fruit gels, realistic gummy worms, gummy worms, gummy dinosaurs, bit 'o honeys, mary janes, black taffy, licorice scotty dogs, nerds, now&laters, licorice pipettes, cotton candy, smooth&melty mints, lollipops, mint nonpareils, squeezable liquid candy, yard-long gummy snakes, sky bars, french chew taffies in a variety of flavours, jelly belly jellybeans, gummy raspberries, gummy fruit salad, peach slices, mexican hats, jawbreakers, sour patch kids, sour gummy worms, fruit slices, chocolate covered coffee beans, chocolate-covered cherries, truffles, swedish fish, spice drops, red licorice laces, licorice wheels, salt water taffy, laffy taffy, cowtails, giant sweet tarts (or giant smarties)... and there were many many more. (I can't wait to go back again!)