I see a black door

and I want it painted red.
I'll take Mick Jagger's words and turn them on their head.

Sure, it looks like this now...

But wait'll ya see it in August!
.
Anyone living in Avon or surrounding towns knows of Chrissie D'Esopo and her jaw-dropping gardens. I got a little bold with the camera this weekend, stopping the car and venturing out into her yard. If she hadn't come around the corner as I was snapping, looking like she might chase me off the property, I'd have gotten a better look at that soil to see what's in it to produce such fabulous results. She's got to be using more than Miracle Grow! Anyway, come back in August and this is what you'll see.

Now I ask you...

Is there anything better than a porch?? On this beautiful sunny Sunday, I swept my back porch off, potted a few plants and sat myself down with a good book. Sweet!!

This is my neighbor, Beth's, porch. She's got me beat with flowers and pots...but I'll catch up!

Art that inspires, in times like these...

...is hardly a luxury; now more than ever, it is a necessity.
—Joseph Duveen

Through my employer, Aetna, I got to attend a gala celebration of The Charter Oak Cultural Center, a place that has been referred to as "Hartford's epi-center of cool."

I bid on this artwork created by one of the children involved in Charter Oak's many arts and culture programs. And I won!

Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette

State of Connecticut. Wondering where a city boy can go to get a little conversation.

Actually, my nephew had a homework assignment: go out and photograph some Hartford landmarks. So standing on the corner of Lafayette, we snapped the landmark statue of Lafayette himself. Mostly his horse. Apparently there's a small turtle built into the horse's back hoof to symbolize the artist's tardiness in getting the project done. We missed that on this trip. Guess we'll have to go back.

Let's see if the English Beat can do as well

Made it up to Infinity Hall last night to FINALLY hear the McLovins live. The 3 talented lads rocked the house!

Putting Down Roots in Hartford

One sows, another waters and another harvests. Some friends and I from work have partnered with the Charter Oak Cultural Center to "Put Down Roots in Hartford." We got started last week at the Center where local kids went to work sowing seeds that will produce broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots and who knows what else! Additional gardens are planned on the grounds of 2 local schools.