3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Connecticut

Day 223/365: Vintage VW Beetles

by

I have fond memories of Volkswagon Bugs, or VW Beetles. It was the only car my best friend in high school drove, and in the 1980’s it was almost a disposable car. Pick one up for a couple hundred, drive it till it dropped and get another.

Vintage VW Beetle
Yellow VW Bug

Seriously, my Mother would take bets to see what color he would pull up in. Green, red, yellow, white, orange, convertibles and hard tops, we rode in the full line.  During the summer a convertible was the best way to travel  and my favorite was a little red Beetle convertible.

Volkswagon beetle convertible
Vintage Beetles resting in storage

The doors didn’t always shut correctly and going down the interstate with a semi going by while holding the door was an experience. But hey, we lived. Now we have the stories.

Beach trips were always better in a VW Beetle convertible.  Ok, at night when the wind got cold and the top didn’t go up, it was was chilly, but that’s what beach towels were for and the heater blowing full blast. Now why didn’t the heater work in the winter.

Sad to say, my friend no longer has running VW Bugs, these are the last remaining two of an era and they are for sale. Hopefully someone will buy and restore them to their original splendor and create new memories.

Satisfy Your VW Beetle Craving

Scale VW Bug models Set of 4: 5VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia 1954 through 1979 All Models (Haynes Repair Manual)Volkswagen Classic Beetle Key ChainMaisto 1:24 Scale Volkswagen Beetle Diecast VehicleVw Beetle: A Comprehensive Illustrated History of the World’s Most Popular CarHot Wheels 2014, Volkswagen Beetle. Herbie The Love Bug. HW Workshop 191/250. 1:64 Scale.VW Beetle Keychain New Yellow BeetleTeal Blue Convertible VW Beetle Car Piggy BankVW Beetle Convertible 12-Volt Battery-Powered Ride-On

More Information on VW Bugs

Classic VW BuGs How to Quickly Clean Restore Beetle …

Classic VW BuGs How to Quickly Clean Restore Beetle Ghia Bus Speedometer.
Classic VW BuGs Rare Collectable Features of the 1953 …

Classic VW BuGs Rare Collectable Features of the 1953 Oval Window Beetle.
Classic VW BuGs Presents “The BuG Movie” Preview Film …

Classic VW BuGs Presents “The BuG Movie” Preview Film Trailer Beetle Volkswagen Type 1 Film.
One of the first VW bugs imported to the US, 1 of 8 that exist of

cool stuff with wheels. Thursday, March 26, 2015. One of the first VW bugs imported to the US, 1 of 8 that exist of the first shipment. Posted by Jesse Bowers at 10:26 PM. Labels: Bob Baker 2015, rare, VW bug. No comments: …
Volkswagen used to give $25 savings bonds to babies born …

Volkswagen used to give $25 savings bonds to babies born in VW bugs! Posted Feb 24, by Bonnie. Share on Facebook. Share on Twitter. We’ve all seen those movies where the nervous husband is driving like a maniac to the hospital while …
Classic VW BuGs What to look out for When Buying a …

Classic VW BuGs What to look out for When Buying a Vintage Volkswagen Beetle!

Day 221/365: Shade Tobacco in the Connecticut River Valley

by

Made in the Shade, Tobacco
Made in the Shade, Tobacco

Growing up in the 1970’s and 80’s in CT there weren’t too many jobs for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16. You either worked the tobacco fields, the vegetable farms, or babysat. Since my Dad worked for Consolidated Cigar Company (warehouse) for over 25 years until they closed their Glastonbury Connecticut doors in 1986, he figured one person in the family worked in the tobacco industry was enough. So I picked tomatoes for two summers.

Thus my first hand experience is limited, I do know from listening to friends that it was hot, sweaty and tiring. Much like detasseling in Nebraska is now. The CigarLife website has a very good article called Shade Tobacco Days if anyone cares to live vicariously.

The Connecticut River Valley has been known for it’s shade tobacco for hundreds of years and it’s used primarily as the wrapper.

This picture was taken close to Broad Brook Connecticut, near South Windsor.

Day 219/365: Clam Pizza

by

Clam Pizza
Clam Pizza

Yes, you heard right clam pizza. I decided that during my trip to Connecticut I was going to eat as much regional food as possible and expand my palate. I love clams, and I love pizza, so why not.

A creamy Alfredo sauce was used instead of tomato and bacon topped off the cheese. It was very good. So when in Connecticut, don’t just try the clam chowder, but try the clam pizza.

When In Connecticut, eat clam pizza
When In Connecticut, eat clam pizza

Day 218/365: Grinders vs. Subs

by

American Slang Dialects

I have lived in three distinct areas of the United States, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Each region has a regional dialect and slang for various words. We all know of the nationwide debate between pop, soda, and Coke but there are many other traditions.

I grew up eating “grinders”, pictured above from People’s Choice in East Hartford, but in the Midwest these are called “Submarine” sandwiches, or Subs. The latest made popular by Subway restaurants. In other areas of the country hoagie is the preferred name for a toasted sandwich on a bun.

What’s in a name anyways, what is the history and origin? Garzelli’s restaurant has a theory.

New England "Grinder"
New England “Grinder”

The biggest difference I see is the amount of meat. In Connecticut, the meat comes first and foremost and it’s piled high. At Subway you would never see this much meat.

The definition is as follows:

“A long French or Italian-style bread loaf, filled with meats and cheeses, topped with an assortment of lettuce, peppers, pickles – whatever – with a vinaigrette dressing or mayo.”

American Slang, sub vs. grinder
Turkey Sandwiches are nothing to sneeze at either.

So what do you call it: Grinder, Sub, Hoagie, Poor Boy, Hero? Or maybe something entirely different.

The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & IdiomsBuy At AmazonAmerican Slang Dictionary and ThesaurusBuy At AmazonLet’s Talk Turkey: The Stories Behind America’s Favorite ExpressionsBuy At AmazonDirty Sign Language: Everyday Slang fromBuy At Amazon

Differences in the American Language

A State-by-State Guide to the Most Hilarious (and Annoying) Slang Across the U.S.

Actually, it’s only 49 funny sayings, from where I sit. Probably from where you sit as well. Let me start by saying that I am from Texas, and the rest of y’all talk funny. Now don’t get riled up — we all sound funny to outsiders. I’m going to ask the …

10 American Slang Terms and Phrases That Confuse Brits

Like any other language, American has its idioms. Some are very similar to British English, and it’s not difficult for Brits to figure them out. “Peaks and valleys,” for example, is obviously the American version of “peaks and troughs.” However, there …

International students reflect on American slang

As unfamiliar as American slang may be, international students have found many ways in which to draw parallels between the slang used in the U.S. and that used within their home countries. Freshman Vlad Papancea, who is from the Covasna region of …

Are You a John Q. Public or a Joe Blow?

A dictionary of American slang bears witness to an explosion of Joe-inspired characters in the mid-20th century: Joe Average, Joe Beige, Joe Lunch Bucket, Joe Sad, Joe Schmoe, Joe Six Pack, Joe Yale, Joe Zilch. (Joe Cool, from the same era, is no …

Day 220/365: Friendly’s Ice Cream Sundae To Go

by

Ah Friendly’s ice cream, it’s been too long.  As all my friends know I’m just a little obsessive about Friendly’s, so when my friend Jodi found out I had  not made a Friendly’s run since being in Connecticut, she was amazed. It had been been five days! She became determined, that no matter how busy we were returning tag sale tables, a take out order to go was mandatory.

Friendlies Sundae To Go
Friendlies Sundae To Go

We went up to the counter and she asked,  “Are you going to get ice cream? (eye roll) silly question, of course you are..” 

I combined my two passions, Friendly’s Sundae with Chips Ahoy Cookies for a topping.

We reached the car and as I took out my camera I said, “You know what I’m going to do next don’t you?”

Jodi just laughed and helped me pose my cup properly. I love my friends, they support my obsessions and habits

Making Homemade Ice Cream

My Mother-in-law makes great home made ice cream, part of the fun is the cranking on a hot summer day. But like Friendly’s ice cream taste best when there is fun and memories involved. How many of you remember making home made ice cream? It’s become quite popular not.

27 All Natural Homemade Ice Cream Recipes – Living Green And …

Welcome to living Green & Frugally. We aim to provide all your natural and frugal needs with lots of great tips and advice, 27 All Natural Homemade Ice Cream Recipes.
Recipe: Vegan Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipes …

As with most ice cream recipes, the mix-ins are certainly adaptable: if you like, say, another kind of chopped nut and white chocolate instead of dark, go to town. If you want to forego the nuts altogether and mix in little bits of …
RateYourBurn | 16 Scrumptious Paleo Ice Cream Recipes

Nom nom nom…. paleo ice cream? Yup, you heard that right. These 16 ice cream recipes will blow your mind – no refined sugar, no dairy, insanely delicious. There are a couple tricks of the trade when it comes to making …
The Essential Ice Cream Recipes, Techniques, and Discoveries of …

SLIDESHOW: The Essential Ice Cream Recipes, Techniques, and Discoveries of 2013. [Photographs: Max Falkowitz]. 2013 was a banner year for the Serious Eats ice cream bureau. We played with booze, coffee, and …
 

Ice Cream In the News

This Kid’s Reaction to the Ice Cream Truck Is Perfect

In this video making the rounds, it’s hard not to laugh when not one, but two children take a dive for no apparent reason other than pure comedy. The video starts with two kids kicking it in the kitchen eating a snack. The toddler tumbles, as toddlers …
You really shouldn’t laugh at this – but you will.

Behold, the awesome power of the ice cream van and the Pied Piper-esque grip it has over millions of children worldwide. The reaction of these two boys perfectly demonstrate how the sound of an ice cream van can bewitch even the busiest of young minds.
Iowa man turns ice cream hobby into business

Gott said nearly seven years ago, he combined his grandma’s vanilla ice cream recipe and a church cookbook recipe and adapted them to use cream instead of milk, added more eggs, and used high-quality bourbon vanilla for flavoring. Gott said he started …