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Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:48:23 -0400

P.O BOX 357 Gales Ferry CT

People ask me how I come up with the photo for Photo Friday. Sometimes people give me ideas but mostly the idea just presents itself. Fortunately I ALWAYS have my camera with me. I went to pick up the mail in my post office box on Wednesday and it occured to me that those that send mail to P.O Box 357 never actually know where it ends up, unlike a letter to the physical location at 8 Hurlbutt Road. So, if you send something to P.O Box 357, here is the little holding cell where it remains until I rescue it. Directly across from here, maybe two steps, is a large waste basket. So if you are sending junk mail, it will be quickly relocated there.

Best of Connecticut

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:42:16 -0400

Connecticut Magazine Announces Annual Awards

Each year Connecticut Magazine publishes the Best of Connecticut awards. It is my favorite issue of the year and when I receive it, I quickly start flipping pages to see who won the award for best chicken wings, best clam chowder and best apple pie to name a few. Yes, I do seem to gravitate to the food awards. Sure, it is nice that the Wadsworth Atheneum won for best museum, but what’s more important than finding the best nachos?

Which leads me to the best coffee award. While you might think Starbucks would be a natural winner, it isn’t so here in Connecticut. That award goes to Dunkin’ Donuts. The first Dunkin Donuts was opened in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts its headquarters is located in Canton), so voting for Dunkin Donuts for best coffee in Connecticut seems like a neighborly thing to do. If you have never tried Dunkin Donuts coffee and you live in Connecticut, finding a Dunkin Donuts shop is as easy as finding a real estate agent. They are everywhere.

Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:50:39 -0400

The shoreline of Stonington

There are shorelines and there are shorelines. A ride through Stonington Borough with its vintage homes, quaint shops, and favored restaurants (and a gazillion real estate offices) is a treat but arriving at the rocky shoreline is the best part.

Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:30:51 -0400

Taking charge in Ledyard?

The mayor is out of town for the next 3 days. That means someone gets to be the "acting mayor". Yep, that'd be me..

Here I am with Mayor Allyn being handed the keys to town hall. You didn't think I'd miss that photo opportunity did you?

Scott's Farm and Greenhouses in Essex CT

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:57:03 -0400

Cutting garden a fabulous photo opportunity

Blogging has given me a new enjoyment of photography as a hobby. So much so that I’m threatening to buy a “real” camera rather than continue using my little point and shoot. The nice thing about my tiny camera is that it is ALWAYS in my purse just waiting for that perfect photo.

I was bummed last week that I had to drive to Essex for a closing. Having a closing as far away as Essex is a little unusual and the drive down the shoreline on a Friday afternoon was not one I was looking forward to. I took consolation in the fact that Essex is picturesque town that might provide me with some photo opportunities.

As I approached the office where the closing would take place, my navigation system spoke “your destination is ahead on the left”, I glanced in that direction. I’m sure it was the colors that attracted my attention, certainly not the sign for “Scott’s Farm and Greenhouses”. I quickly made a turn into the parking lot. I had found my photo opportunity!

There were a number of people with clippers in hand cutting flowers that were being sold by the pound. I'm sure these gardens fill plenty of vases throughout the summer. I took more than a few photos and loaded my favorites on Flickr. Enjoy!

Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:22:00 -0400

A movie, in Gales Ferry?

As I watched a movie being filmed at the corner of Route 12 and Military Highway in Gales Ferry, more than one person said "A movie....in Gales Ferry?"

Yep, Gales Ferry is one of several Connecticut locations being used by producers Nick Huston and Paul Jarrett for a film called "Once More With Feeling." The comedy is expected to be released in 2009.

Watch for these red and black cars at a traffic light.

Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:54:46 -0400

A unique perspective by High-View Photography

This is the cool rig of the photographer from High-View Photography of Mystic CT. Today he was shooting my waterfront listing at 26 Bluff Road West in Gales Ferry Village.

Explorer of the Seas docks in New London

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:27:13 -0400

Becoming a cruise ship tour guide

by guest blogger, Jo Wood

Knowing that one of the biggest cruise ships afloat was coming to New London, my curiosity got the best of me and I thought it would be interesting to learn a little more about the passengers who were travelling here to New England. I wondered what kind of things they might want to see and do. So, I offered up my services to the New London County Historical Society to acompany one of the tour buses on the day they arrived: July 4th.

The ship offered quite a range of tours from Newport, Rhode Island to other places here along the Connecticut shoreline, such as Mystic and Essex. I had a nice cordial group of tourists ranging from eight years old to an elegant lady well into her 80's. I kept the information concise and helpfully interesting. I spoke about the history of New London harbor and the ship building of Mystic. Since we were headed to the Mystic Aquarium that day, I wanted them to know a little more about the Institute of Exploration that is now centered there. They were fascinated by the work of the famous underwater explorer, Dr. Robert Ballard. He moved his research center to Mystic in 1997. It only came to light a short time ago that Dr. Ballard was on a covert mission to uncover information about two nuclear submarines that sank back in the 1960's. The U.S. Navy agreed to help fund his research to locate the Titanic if he would first use his underwater surveillance robotic submarine to gather as much top secret information as possible from the bed of debris scattered on the ocean floor.

My group was happily entertained at the Aquarium and also managed to get some shopping in at the Olde Mystik Village. This is a shopping center made up of a series of buildings that replicate an old New England Village. There is a wonderful range of shops from a General Store and Munson's Chocolates to a boutique that caters to cats and dogs. On the way back I told them about the local Indian tribes that occupy this part of New England.

I also gave them a brief history of the Thames River, where their elegant cruise ship was docked. We can also brag about two of the largest are employers being located on the Thames River, Pfizer and Electric Boat as well as being the home of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, and the Naval Submarine Base which is home to 21 attack submarines, the latest having been christened a month ago as the New Hampshire.

Now I am anxiously awaiting the next arrival of the Explorer with her cruisers. She is scheduled to come back for another visit Friday, August 1st. Hopefully I will meet up with another group of curious tourists who are anxious to learn about our wonderful little part of the world. Now I am off to get my tour guide uniform ready which just happens to be a white polo shirt and khaki pants! Follow me....

Jo wood is guest blogger and the owner of Showhouse Ready, an interior decorating & design studio located on Route 12 in Gales Ferry.

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Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

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Best of Connecticut

Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

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Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

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Scott's Farm and Greenhouses in Essex CT

Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

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Eastern Connecticut Photo Friday

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Explorer of the Seas docks in New London

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