by Susan | Feb 5, 2018 | Granny Gadget
Mom (aka Granny Gadget) sent this new bird feeder to me. I finally had the chance to fill it and put it up yesterday. Since the ground is frozen I couldn’t rig a pole for it, so I opted to hang it from the trunk of a young tree. The birds love it. It look just a...
by Susan | Sep 3, 2017 | Family, On My Mind
I am very lucky to have a super mom. In all my adult years, we’ve only spent a few of those within easy travel distance of each other. Whether I lived near or far, she is always thinking of me – and the rest of her family. When she is out and about, it’s always with...
by Susan | Apr 26, 2016 | On the Farm
My birthday passed quietly last month. Mom (a.k.a. Granny Gadget) honored it (as she did last year) with a cute little metal owl. Last year’s pair resides by the front door welcoming visitors. This new one I put up on the post at the end of our drive over the...
by Susan | Feb 28, 2016 | Out and About in Maine
In Maine, sweatshirt weather in February calls for a celebration. This morning found both Hannah and I dragging. It was 2:30 a.m. before I made it to bed following the high school state championship basketball game last night. (They won!) It was so beautiful outside...
by Susan | Dec 25, 2014 | Family, On My Mind
As I snuggled down in bed last night, Christmas Eve, I commented to Paul that Hannah didn’t negotiate a wake-up time for Christmas morning. Our 15-year-old is growing up. What a gift to be able to sleep in on Christmas morning! Yet, at 6:45 a.m. this morning I...
by Susan | Aug 14, 2013 | Garden
This spring,Granny Gadget sent me hens and chicks. Not of the laying variety, but a new plant for my garden. They looked a bit like a cactus. I didn’t have a plan for them, so I just tucked them into an empty space to keep them alive. They were cute, if a bit...
by Susan | Jun 18, 2013 | Granny Gadget
This incredible edible breakfast sandwich machine is brought to us by Granny Gadget. She sent Hannah this Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker. We’ve had fun testing it out. This little gadget is very fun. Hannah said that it makes “the best breakfast...
by Susan | Dec 16, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
I spent much of the weekend cleaning and pulling out Christmas decorations. This wooden Santa face Mom gave me is perfect for one of our porch posts. I made a garland to frame my grandmother’s mirror using White Pine brush that Hannah gathered for me. An old...
by Susan | Nov 22, 2012 | In the Kitchen
My mind didn’t fully focus on Thanksgiving this year until the last minute. This last week, full of meetings and a trip to Portland left me a bit discombobulated. Almost two months ago, Mom (aka Granny Gadget) sent us a CharBroil Big Easy Smoker. It sat in the...
by Susan | Nov 13, 2012 | On My Mind
We purchased our first generator eight-and-a-half years ago when building our home. It provided necessary power to begin our building project until Bangor Hydro connected us to the grid. I wrote about the demise of the generator in The Seven Year Slump back in...
by Susan | Nov 12, 2012 | On My Mind
My love affair with owls started when I was a little girl. My grandmother, Ruth Bender Nerviani – affectionately known to me as Mother, had a few owls in her home – some have since made their way to me. As a child, I wondered why she had so many owls...
by Susan | Aug 24, 2012 | Hannah's Cutting Board, In the Kitchen
I made tacos for dinner tonight. Hannah opted out and did her own thing for dinner. I’m thinking Paul and I got the short end of the stick. Check out what Chef Roo (age 13) made for her dinner. I think tomorrow I’ll ask Hannah what’s for dinner....
by Susan | Aug 15, 2012 | Granny Gadget
This isn’t a fashion blog, but I couldn’t let this pass. A package arrived from Mom today (aka Granny Gadget). Now and again Mom will surprise me with little goodies – a pretty scarf, a blingy purse, fun earrings, etc. She knows that I don’t...
by Susan | Aug 12, 2012 | In the Kitchen
Granny Gadget (AKA Mom) sent Hannah a cheese making kit for her birthday last week. We made a batch of beautiful homemade mozzarella from whole milk the very next day. The kit has the ingredients to make mozzarella or ricotta – citric acid, rennet tablets,...
by Susan | Aug 7, 2012 | Granny Gadget, In the Kitchen
Saturday night is Pizza Night at Downeast Thunder Farm. I get in big trouble when I mix things up and don’t serve Pizza on Saturday – Paul and Hannah have come to count on Saturday homemade pizza. A key ingredient to pizza is the herb mix that goes in the...
by Susan | Feb 18, 2012 | Granny Gadget, Odds and Ends
My cameras have always been point and shoot. Recently, I told Mom that my next camera would be a digital SLR. Shortly after that conversation I received an email from Amazon – a Canon Rebel EOS T3i had been shipped to me, courtesy of Granny (and Papa) Gadget....
by Susan | Jan 7, 2012 | Granny Gadget
Last month Granny Gadget sent us (via QVC) this new six-plate George Foreman Grill. Years ago Mom sent us one of the the original George Forman Grills. It was handy, but came out of the cupboard only three or four times a year. This new version has yet to see the...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2011 | Granny Gadget
I spent the week after Thanksgiving with my folks in Pennsylvania. As I was packing up the night before returning to Maine, Mom presented me with the 60 Second Pomegranate De-Seeder and said, “You can’t leave without something from Granny Gadget.” I do love...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2011 | Granny Gadget
Blessed am I to have a wonderful mother. Although I am 40-something and live 13 hours away, Mom still does her best to take care of me. Daily phone calls, care packages, emergency cash, surprise gifts just because; the list goes on. I have always been a very practical...
by Susan | Apr 22, 2011 | Hannah's Cutting Board
Granny Gadget of the Ebelskiver fame struck again. She sent Hannah the cookbook “Crazy About Cupcakes” and a truckload of candy. Hannah made cupcakes for our Easter dessert and used the book as her inspiration for decorating. Nice job, Roo!
