a terrain holiday

December 2, 2016

I do feel so sorry for those of you that may not live close enough to a Terrain store to experience it at holiday time!

It is such an inspirational experience!

For today’s Friday field trip, I am providing a few glimpses of the Terrain holiday display so you can experience it for yourself!

If you live close enough for a visit, please don’t miss the chance to experience a Terrain holiday! Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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wild about harry

November 4, 2016

If you know me at all, you know my favorite entertainer is Harry Connick, Jr. I have watched him perform in person more than any other entertainer… in addition to seeing many, many of his concerts, I have watched him perform on Broadway – from the front row…and, I even sat in the audience for a taping of one of his holiday specials…and now, I can say I have seen a taping of his new daytime show, Harry!

For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing a few photos from my first visit to a Harry show taping!

If you live somewhere commutable to New York City, I definitely recommend requesting tickets to see the Harry show for yourself! Not only is Harry Connick, Jr. a great guy and a wonderful performer, but his show includes his full orchestra! A visit to a taping is like attending a concert…Harry singing with a full band…incredible! The band even performs during the breaks! And then, a few celebrity guests are thrown in.

Photos of Harry or the actual show to be aired are not allowed, so I can’t share that with you, but if you watch the show today, you may just catch a glimpse of me “backing it up” with Harry!

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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the woman behind the man

October 28, 2016

A recent work trip to Texas gave me the opportunity to visit the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin.

I had never before been to a presidential library and always thought of them as archives and not necessarily something I wanted to visit. I found out in Texas that I was wrong on that thought. The LBJ library was not just archives – though there was plenty of that, all stored neatly and expansively in red covered boxes.

In addition to the traditional archives, the building is a storehouse of memorabilia and artifacts, interactive displays, replicas, and presidential telephone recordings – all exquisitely displayed. Quite honestly, regardless of party affiliation or political beliefs, this historical record of Lyndon Baines Johnson, our 36th president, is fascinating!

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The Oval Office from 1963 to 1969, when LBJ served as president.

I enjoyed my entire visit, but my favorite part of my tour was the top floor where all the former first lady’s artifacts were on display. Mrs. Johnson – Lady Bird – was an amazing woman.

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A portrait of Lady Bird Johnson at the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin, Texas

On Friday field trip today, I am sharing a couple of my favorite photos from my visit to the museum. The trip created a new motivation to try and visit all of the presidential libraries! I even picked up a ‘passport’ that I can use to document my visits to each of the 13 libraries!

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Lady Bird’s office during the time she worked on the LBJ Library & Museum.

If you want to learn more about Lady Bird, I highly recommend a great recent nonfiction book (that reads very much like a fiction) titled Lady Bird and Lyndon: The Hidden Story of a Marriage That Made a President by Betty Boyd Caroli.

Another recent title you might also enjoy if former first ladies are of interest to you is First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies by Kate Andersen Brower.

The outside of the LBJ Library and Museum on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a marvelous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a vermont country home

October 25, 2016

I must admit, I have never really considered a move further north than my home state of Connecticut. I have tent camped in every state in New England and I certainly appreciate the beauty of them all…but, to live?

Why would I never move to Vermont myself? That infamous four letter word…s-n-o-w. But that is exactly one of the reason’s my childhood friend Donna loves living in Vermont. Although skiing every day in the winter is not a motivator for me, it is part of the appeal of living in snow country for Donna and her husband!

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Ready for winter! Donna’s son and the rest of the University of Vermont lacrosse team made short work of stacking up this stockpile of firewood!

Today, I am sharing a little bit of the home that could actually make me consider a move! With a wonderful sense of style, great resourcefulness and vision, and unique collaborations, my friend and her husband have created an amazing home inside and out!

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Though frost was called for during the week, a couple garden plants were still hanging on!

Starting with a wonderful respect for the view and using many reclaimed materials from the area, this couple has spent the last five years creating a home that is uniquely their own.

I hope you have enjoyed the photos of this home and its amazing views. If you want to see a few sneak peeks of the inside, I have shared a few photos on Facebook and Instagram…you will have to wait till spring for a full inside tour! :)

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like visiting childhood friends, Jackie

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new england autumn splendor

October 21, 2016

Vermont is certainly the quintessential place to observe the beauty of autumn. I was lucky enough to visit during the peak of leaf peeping.

Even though the weather was cloudy during my visit, the beauty of the season was inspiring.

For Friday field trip today, I am sharing some of the beauty of Stowe, Vermont.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a really wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like enjoying the beauty of the season, Jackie

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a visit to ben & jerry’s

October 14, 2016

A trip to Stowe, Vermont wouldn’t be complete without a tour of Ben & Jerry’s! A recent trip to attend a wedding gave me the perfect opportunity to be a real tourist and check it out! I am sharing today on Friday field trip!

The 30 minute tour started with a short video about how the ice cream phenomenon called Ben & Jerry’s got started and some history on its growth over the decades. Started by two guys in 1978 after they took an ice cream making course at Penn State, the first Ben & Jerry’s shop opened in Burlington, Vermont in a renovated gas station.

My favorite fact? Putting cookie dough in Ben & Jerry’s ice cream was started after an anonymous tip was received from a customer in 1984!

Guests to the Ben & Jerry’s facility are asked not to take photos of the actual manufacturing room, so I am sorry I can’t share that part of the tour with you.

From there, the tour took me to the Tasting Lab. A flavor called Caramel Apple was in process for the employee Halloween party…sounds yummy! Fun fact: Employees can take home free pints every day! Of course, some tasting went on in the Tasting Lab…for me, Strawberry Cheesecake!

My favorite flavor has always been Phish Food, so I was surprised to find out the number one seller isn’t Phish Food but Half Baked!

Over time, I switched my Ben & Jerry’s purchases to the yogurt, then Greek yogurt flavors when those became available. Now I may need to decide which non-dairy flavor I like best – there are currently four available.

Surprisingly, the tasting was not my favorite part of my visit. The best part of my visit to Ben & Jerry’s was actually outside the factory – a walk through the Flavor Graveyard looking through the retired ice cream flavors!

I hope I have inspired you to make a visit to Ben & Jerry’s next time you are in Vermont! Or, maybe just to try a new flavor of Ben & Jerry’s from your local market!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a library themed restaurant

September 23, 2016

I can’t help but share some photos from a visit to a new restaurant; today on Friday field trip.

You know my penchant for a good theme!

Well, The Library Wine Bar and Bistro is housed in the building that was originally a city library, built in 1899 and it totally embraces its roots!

It has been restored back to its classic, architectural beauty by the Gouveia family of Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford, Connecticut. Yes, the same vineyard I visited and shared on last week’s Friday field trip!

I am totally in love with this place! In my imagination, I have already planned an entire library themed shower in one of the restaurant’s beautiful private rooms!

I hope I have inspired your imagination as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a connecticut vineyard

September 16, 2016

Connecticut may not seem a likely state for vineyards, but we do have them! Today’s photos for Friday field trip prove it!

Recently, I attended a meeting that was held at a vineyard. Although the meeting was held indoors – someone made a bad call there – I took a few moments to sneak outside to check out the view.

A warm summer evening was the perfect time to enjoy the lovely grounds!

I now have Gouveia Vineyards on my list of places to visit. I plan on returning when I have some time to really explore! This could be a perfect leaf peeping location!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a really marvelous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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stop and smell the roses

August 19, 2016

Friday field trip today is a simple reminder to enjoy the flowers around you! I am sharing a few photos of the beauty surrounding me.

As the summer gardens are winding down,

I am appreciating all the beauty they have to offer!

Before you know it, I will be harvesting the last of my summer flowers and displaying them in pumpkins!

I hope I have inspired you to take some time to notice summer growing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend!

And, remember to take pleasure in simple things – like smelling a fresh flower! :) xo Jackie

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creations in the sand

August 5, 2016

I love checking out sandcastle contests at this time of year! One of the great things about living on the coast in Connecticut is that it is easy to find one!

Today for Friday field trip, I am sharing a few of my favorite sand creations from a recent contest. It was not easy to edit my photos to post just a few sand sculptures, but it was easy to pick my favorite!

There were plenty of wonderful creations, but the couch design was my personal fave! Isn’t it great?

The best part of this Christmas in July themed creation was probably the music! The creators played the Hawaiian Christmas Song (Mele Kulilkimaka) during the judging! I had the Christmas classic by Bing Crosby stuck in my head for at least a week after the contest!