Here Come New Ideas for Volunteering

Many of us can profess to leading busy lives. Between working full time, taking care of the family, cleaning the house, and running errands, you probably hardly have any time for yourself.

The Ivoryton Playhouse, Ivoryton, CT

One way to get some time to yourself is to do some volunteer work. I volunteer at the local theater, The Ivoryton Playhouse, as an Usher.  I also help them with some online marketing whenever I can. I enjoy this kind of volunteer work because I love the theater and it is a way to make new friends. My interest in the theater came from my Grandmother, now I continue on the tradition with my Mother. We usher together.

Another way I found gratifying to give back to the community was to volunteer as a Friendly Visitor for the local Assisted Living/Convalescent Home. As people grow older they find many of their friends and relatives pass away over time. Older people also develop more health problems and they need some support or friendship because they become lonely.  This program was created to help give them a better quality of life. Someone other than their family they can turn to talk to and have some fun. They bring in a Friendly Visitor.

I was vetted through an agency in my local, and matched with a person in the Convalescent Home. I told them my likes and dislikes. The Home gave me the rules. I follow the dress code, and follow some safety and cleanliness guidelines. More or less I am there to be a friend for someone who needs a friend.

We play game like scrabble and rummy. You can be matched up with someone who shares you interests. Many people need letters written for relatives for them, or just someone they can talk to. It is a way to pay it forward, perhaps you might have your own Friendly Visitor in the future. It is a way to give back.

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Crispy Chicken from the Longhouse at Mohegan Sun

This meal took some time to prepare. There was a couple of hours of pre-preparation plus I let the chicken sit overnight before cooking. If you are expecting guests this is the meal to make. This meal has lots of flavor,. It has Julia Child's one ingredient no meal should be without ingredient - butter.  And if you have chicken eaters who won't touch the dark meat - this is an ideal dish.
Here is a picture of the restaurant at Mohegan Sun where this meal would have been served.

I have eaten at a number of restaurants at the Mohegan Sun, including this one -  but this restaurant is no longer at Mohegan Sun.

This meal comes from Under the Mohegan Sun Cookbook which I purchased while at the casino in Connecticut..
Here is the recipe.

What is really tasty is what is inside the chicken.

The buttery sauce lent so much flavor to the meal. You should make sure you have some of the butter you prepared for the meal set aside to serve on other side dishes you have prepared.  The meal is worth the work.

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The Pearl Harbor Bridge, New Haven CT Construction

Monday through Friday I drive to work across the Pearl Harbor (Quinnipiac)  bridge. I am one of the many commuters. It has taken the construction workers some time to get where they are today on the bridge.Considering this is my first time seeing a bridge of this size being built. It is cool and I have been taking pictures because it is really cool and I want to share.
 I tried to put them in order coming from I95 South.

This is before the bridge with the new entrance to downtown New Haven coming up on the right.

 These are the roads you see as the cars are coming up from downtown New Haven onto the bridge.

This is on the original bridge looking at the new bridge on the right hand side.

Here is where the cables are suppose to go through. This bridge is definitely going to be different than the last.

This is even closer. This was a lot of work considering I was driving. This is when I am thankful sometimes that there is traffic. The more traffic on the highway the slower you travel.

This last picture is not my own. This is a rendering of what the bridge will look like when its finished.  It can be found on the I95 New Haven website which can be found at this link.

By 2015 they are expecting I95 to have 140,000 vehicles traveling this route.

At this link you can find the designer information.

Here is the link where you can find out more information about I95 in Connecticut in New Haven.

Lunch from Panera Bread

Today I was hungry for Panera Bread. I work in Milford so the place to go was the Milford Mall. I called up the restaurant and placed my order to go. I wanted something different.

They were sure busy, look at that line.

They had 4 people working the registers  The line appeared long but in time at all I was at the register.

And here is what I purchased for myself for lunch.

A Greek Salad and an apple. It was yummy but I would have liked more tomatoes.

The salad contains romaine lettuce, vine ripened tomatoes, feta cheese, red onions, peperoncini, kalamata olives, pepper and Panera Bread's Greek dressing

North and South, Ivoryton Playhouse and a Chicken

Image via WikipediaI have been on another hemisphere recently -- because I started watching  this old television mini-series North and South Book 1 of North and South: The Complete Collection (Books One, Two & Three). The mini-series originally aired on November 5, 1985. All the actors may be dressed in clothing dating back to the pre-civil war but many of the actors have hair styles of the 1980s. Patrick Swayze who sadly died at the age of 57 of pancreatic cancer.

The Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton Connecticut is celebrating it centennial. With the centennial came a change to the website -- it is now interactive.  Here is the link. The first show is The Irish...and How They Got That Way by Frank McCourt.

I recently wrote an article for Triond on Online Recipes and Blogging. I haven't been writing as many articles as I use to.

Tonight I tried making Poulet au  Beurre. I found this recipe in this Classic French Cooking cookbook. It did not turn out the way I wanted it to. I will have to try again. 

Here is a picture of the failed bird.

Despite the fact that I made a mistake with the recipe and will have to try again. I still am able to make the bird  nice and juicy.

Try new things, make mistakes, and have new experiences,

Cassandra

Life After the Holidays

I have been busy but not in the normal way since the holidays. My cousin moved from Los Angeles to New York City by way of Connecticut to be closer to family so I have been cat sitting. Here is a picture of the lovely little guy.

I have never had a cat as a pet before but apparently I am really a cat person. His name is George. My cousin wants to change his name, so he has picked up the name Leo. My sister-in-law came up with the name because he looks like a lion. I pet him all I can and he sits on my lap and gives me kisses and love bites.

My boyfriend's mother came to live with us and we are working with in house hospice. She has a live in aide.

I have written articles on Feedly, an extension that can be used on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and Inside PR, a podcast I listen to.

I do have plans to Marmalade Morning Muffins.

Enjoy new experiences and try new things.

Cassandra

Balducci's The Food Lover's Market and Deep River Snacks

Yesterday I took a trip to Balducci's - the Food Lover's Market in Cos Cob/Greenwich. I picked myself up a roast beef sandwich on sourdough bread which was definitely tasty.

Image via WikipediaAlong with that I had myself a Orangina. I had a relative who lived in Italy and he talked about the joys of drinking them. Thank goodness we don't have to go to Italy to have an Orangina. Talk about scrumptious and juicy.

I also bought myself some Deep River Snack potato chips -- Rosemary and Olive Oil. These are made locally right here in Connecticut. I love the taste of the rosemary and olive oil on the potato chip. I have never tasted anything like it before. I would say it has a very lady like flavor. It is definitely gourmet. That is the only way I go if you know the way I grocery shop. These potato chips should be in the supermarket in full size bags.


Whip up new recipes and try new things.

Cassandra

M&Ms Coconut and Jewelry Scrapbooking

Recently while on the M&Ms website I found out about a new M&M flavor - Coconut. I did not even notice until I purchased a single serving package that one package contains 210 calories.

Here are the M&Ms out of the bag.

The M&Ms taste like the Almond Joy candy bar because you also taste chocolate. The one difference between the M&Ms and the candy bar is that the M&Ms taste like itty bitty Almond Joys where you taste a little bit more chocolate and a lot less coconut then the candy bar.

I also took a trip recently to the scrap booking store in my area -- The Scrapebook Clubhouse in Westbrook, CT.

 II don't do scrap booking as much as you know that I make jewelry. There are some scrap book items made by Ranger which you can add to your jewelry which can make your jewelry that much more creative.

I can not wait to use them. I am trying to become more creative with my jewelry ideas, while still having a classic vintage look.

I also went to a charity event at my high school and I test road a Ford Fusion hybrid. I have never driven a car that is electrical.

Until next time; remember,  try new things and visit new places.

Cassandra

Seminar at Quinnipiac University with Elizabeth Stark on Free Culture

On March 25, 2010, I attended a seminar at Quinnipiac University on "Free Culture: The Future of Creativity, Collaboration, and Knowledge"
I would like to share the seminar with you because I found it quite informative as it deals with copyright on the web.

I hope you enjoy,

Cassandra

What is life that is not busy?

What is a life that is not busy? I try to keep mine busy at that. Recently I became sick and am on antibodics which is in no way fun. I also purchased my first pair of Keds. They are very comfortable.
I loved them so much I wrote an article about them. They are a classic sneaker I have to say. I also wrote an article on Autolycus "The Prince of Thieves".

I am also the very proud owner of my first Vera Bradley handbag. It is the Little Betsy from the Hope Garden collection. It was such a surprise to receive since it was not even my birthday.

This is the time of many events. My father's birthday just passed along with my niece's in which myself and my boyfriend gave her a homemade French Memo Board. My Mother's birthday is in the middle of the week, and then of course, Easter. Spring really gets me into the spring of things.

We recently dined at the Equinox Diner in Orange. It was worth the trip and am intent on going back. We also went to the Baja Restaurant. Although the food was quite good we didn't care for the atmosphere.

Today we are having a peaceful Sunday at home. Chris is drawing and I am working on my writing and other projects. I am a bit behind in my reading and have not finished The Egyptian. The week may be slow but life will be speeding up by next weekend.