Sleigh Bells Of East Hampton: A Family Factory Survives - Courant.com

A favorite sound of Christmas for me is the sound of sleigh bells. It was nice to see they are still being made in E. Hampton, Ct. In the early fifties we lived next door to E. Hampton and attended church there.
I can remember when my Dad came home with a porch bell made there. I still have it, along with a piece of harness with sleigh bells attached and an old cow bell on the leather collar. I'll ring those sleigh bells every so often just to hear the sound.
I loved the ending of "The Polar Express" when the boy rings the sleigh bell. Can you hear the sound?
I can!   

Sleigh Bells Of East Hampton: A Family Factory Survives - Courant.com

Another New England Favorite Gone ??

Today is pie making day in our house and one of my favorites is Squash pie not pumpkin. I usually make a few Apple, squash and maybe a chocolate.  My mom would make the squash out of a large Hubbard squash from the garden, but over the years using a canned squash produced by the " One Pie" canning Co. of West Paris, Me was much easier. But much to my dismay my bride came home empty handed. She went to 4 different stores( she's a good woman) early this morning  but couldn't find any. Being really distraught I went to  another store in the next town, no luck. I broke down and made a pumpkin, but used the recipe from the "One Pie" can, I hope the taste will be close.

I searched the web for info on the company, but couldn't find an active web site. I'll have to try "Hannaford's" when I go to Me or NY. and hope I can stock up.
I hope the company hasn't gone the way of all to many of the small canneries in New England.
I mean whats a guy to do?? I can't remember not having a squash pie on a holiday or the next day for breakfast.  

Mystic: Wolf Stones and Old Mystic's Wightman Burying Ground - CTnow

Here's an interesting story on rare wolf stones, which protected the remains from being disturbed by animals.
If there's one thing we have is rock and hardpan in New England, and hence some shallow graves in olden times. 
In addition to Wrightman, other names mentioned were Burrows and Morgan.


Mystic: Wolf Stones and Old Mystic's Wightman Burying Ground - CTnow

MARINE STUNS A TEA PARTY WITH THE FOURTH VERSE OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

I've never heard this stanza but, according to wikipedia  on some formal occasions this 4th verse is sung in addition to the first verse.
 I think the guy did a great job, and it would be great if it was sung more often.

Picking Strawberries

My  Mom and  Sister in the 60’s.

And this Little Redpole Flew All the Way Home

This little guy flew in through our garage and into the breezeway window
I found him on the floor stunned. So I took him outside and set him on the back of my truck and tried to  bring him around. Several of his friends came by to visit and he sat there quite a while before flying off.

His right foot seemed to improve as he came around.
When  I was a kid, a Partridge flew threw our living room window and ended up behind the TV  out cold.
I took it outside and put it under a bushel basket until my brother and sisters got home from school to show them
Well when I lifted  the basket  it took off as only a partridge can, with a thunderous beating of its wings. We all jumped back and I don’t think
the kids saw much more than tail feathers.

Lewis St. Cemetery Walking Tour

I went over to the old “North Cemetery” on Sunday mostly to check on the “Merriman” connection and met a very distant ”cousin” of my wife. I plan to visit with him at a later date. Alden O’Brian  from the D.A.R. in Washington DC. gave a great talk on the Lewis family gravesites. It seems many of the married daughters returned in death to be buried with  their birth family.
The tour had a very good turnout. It was held as part of activities for Bristol’s 225 yr anniversary.
below is the article from the Hartford Courant :