3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

new england

Day 228/365: Graces’ Cove, Block Island, RI

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During our stay on Block Island we rented bikes for three days. So glad we did, one late afternoon I took my rented bike, from Aldo’s, and explored the west side of Block Island. The road isn’t near the beach but a sign pointed me to Grace’s Cove and it sounded inviting.

Heading down a 1/2 paved road on a bike, Grace's Cove
Heading down a half  paved road on a bike, Grace’s Cove

After bike riding a half mile, I hiked down a rocky path and the following oasis is what greeted me.  A view straight our of the Caribbean but in New England.

Yes, this is Rhode Island
Yes, this is Rhode Island

I could have stayed for hours, but the sun started going down and I had promised my room mate we would eat supper and watch the sunset. Here is the beginning of the show before I left the beach.

Sun setting over the ocean
Sun setting over the ocean

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

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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 216/365: Trip To Connecticut

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My apologies for being away so long. In the past three weeks I have sent my youngest son off to Marine boot camp, and took a trip to Connecticut to empty and clean my Mothers house so it could be sold. A side trip to recover from such an endeavor was to Block Island, RI.

So be prepared for several postings per day until I catch up.

Estate, Tag Sale
Estate, Tag Sale

I had ten days to completely empty and catalog the belongings of my Mothers house, she passed in January, and it would not have been possible without a small army of wonderful friends who gave their time and friendship during my stay. Looking back on the pictures it was a huge undertaking, but we had a wonderful time, laughed and strengthened friendships that will last for a lifetime.

After the house was empty I rewarded myself with a four day trip to Block Island, Rhode Island for a “girls weekend”, a trip that was twenty years in the making. Here is a sneak preview.

Block Island Beach, Graces' Cove
Block Island Beach, Graces' Cove

Day 43/365: New England Blizzard

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Day 43: Snowy Red Barn, Ellington, CT

Winter storm Benedict brought a record snowfall to the State of Connecticut. I was lucky to be there when I was to remember great snows of my childhood which brought back memories of snow forts, snowball fights, and sledding at Wickham Park.

New England snow is different than Nebraska snow. It is softer, gentler, and quiet. Even though Benedict was officially called a blizzard. Compared to Nebraska storms, Benedict was a whisper.

I spent several hours shoveling snow in the driveway, and enjoyed it. There wasn’t a 50 mph wind cutting through me, and the temperature was almost a balmy 27 degrees with a slight breeze of maybe 10-15 mph. A vast difference from most shoveling conditions in Nebraska when the temperature is in the teens with 50 mph winds.

Bowing to my middle aged years I took several breaks, took pictures of the birds in the backyard, and just let memories linger. As I entered the “plow ridge” at the bottom of the driveway I paused.

Here was another difference. In Nebraska the street plows wait until the snow stops before getting to the residential areas. If a plow had come by my Mom’s once, they came by at least a dozen times pushing and packing snow at the bottom of the driveway. The streets looked good and passable, if you could get out.

As I paused to start the heavy lifting a pickup with a blade drove by, I glanced and nodded. He stopped, asked if I would like the bottom pushed out, and I smiled and gave the thumbs up. In less than two minutes the bottom was clear. Turns out, he was the son of a neighbor two houses down and 45 years later I meet  Bobby Milton. A name I hadn’t heard in many many years. I didn’t know him, and he didn’t remember me, but he was probably 10 years older and into racing cars when I was in elementary school. But when I mentioned his Great Dane, Xeno he smiled and said, “You really did grow up here.”

He then went across the street and pushed out another neighbors driveway where a nine year old boy had been shoveling for several hours. It was a random act of kindness, one of several in the week I will remember.

Friendly’s Restaurant

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I’m not too passionate about restaurants, but Friendly’s restaurant is my exception.  Give me two minutes of your time and I’ll tell you why.

For those of you that live west of New York you may not understand the reason why I love a restaurant and why it holds a dear place in my heart. The credit goes to my teenage years in the 1980’s. Every outing with high school friends ended with a trip to Friendly’s: the beach, tubing, movies, you name it Friendly’s was involved. Maybe it’s the reason I lost 20 pounds my freshman year of college, we didn’t have Friendly’s.

Friendly's Sundae To Go
Friendly’s Chocolate Chip Sundae To Go

Friendly’s is a New England tradition, the ice cream parlor around the corner where young and old can met in the corner booth, order a Happy Endings Sundae for 99 cents and have it served in a real glass sundae glass with whipped cream and a cherry on top.  Don’t know if Happy Ending are still 99 cents, but in the 1980’s they were just the right price. Some of my friends liked Fribbles better. (No, not Tribbles, but I wonder where they got the name) Fribbles are deliciously rich shakes, that almost need a spoon.

Get extra spoons though because with my group of friends sharing wasn’t an option, it was mandatory. Sharing sundaes is such a tradition at the restaurant that Sharable Sundaes were created, starting with the Jim Dandy

Sure, they serve burgers, salads, fries and the like, but who really goes to Friendly’s for real food when they have a whole menu dedicated to sundaes! I loved their ice cream sundaes so much I asked for a sundae menu to take to college.

Maybe it was the name that is inviting? It just sounds like a place for friends, family and good times. As a marketing geek I love the concept from start to finish. The name, the friendly setting, and the branding of the company has transcended generations and miles. I recently met someone in Nebraska who misses the sundaes as much as me and we are both fans of the Friendly’s facebook page. With over 300,000 fans there are a lot of people that love Friendly’s. I even read their Mom’s Just Want to Have Fun blog

Friendly's ice cream is best shared with friends. The Friendly's restaurant chain can be found east of Pennslyvania in the United States and they are best know for their sundaes

So now I marry my food passion with social media passion. Every Friendly’s Facebook  post receives dozens, if not hundreds, of comments and likes. Talk about a social media success! But it proves that online social media is just not a stand alone marketing method, it starts with “real” social media with “real” customers who have a social connection. There is a Friendly’s Twitter page if you’re into Twitter.

Friendly’s ice cream couldn’t be more social in the physical world, it’s all about interacting with friends. A perfect formula that transcends into online social media.  Excitement and new products are created, in this case new ice cream flavors and new salads. Social media is a great place to listen to your audience, and comments about store locations, hours, and complaints are posted as well. What a great way to listen to your customers. Every now and then the CEO of Friendly’s get’s on to chat. I’m campaigning for a Friendly’s restaurant in Nebraska, don’t know if I’ll get it, but it’s fun asking. I love it!

No reunion with friends is complete without a trip to Friendly's restaurant
No reunion with friends is complete without a trip to Friendly’s restaurant

The only advantage to not having a neighborhood Friendly’s is I can still walk through the doorway without walking sideways. Metabolism after age forty is a terrible thing. But when I go home I still gather with my best friends and order the mint chocolate chip cookie sundae shared over laughter and tears all those years ago.

Yes, longer than 2 minutes, but it got you craving for ice cream didn’t it.

If you like to make your own ice cream then head over to my ice cream recipe article.

More Friendly’s Articles

Are You a Good Marketer or a Great One? – bly.com blog … – Bob Bly

Friendly?s restaurant, regardless of what you think of their food, is often a great marketer. Yes, when you walk in, there are always specials, enticing you to buy more during your visit. These specials often include an ice cream …
Save Huge By Cutting Out Friendly’s Printable Coupons Inside your …

You could just be shocked at how many people throw their friendly s ice cream coupons away. You may determine to shop distinct retailers for savings instead of going to one shop at a time. Dollar shops usually can help you save an excellent …

Do you have any favorite Friendly’s restaurant memories?

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