Category Archives: Holidays

Patriots’ Day 2026

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A modern soldier and two Revolutionary War reenactors symbolizing centuries of American service. Taken on the Lexington Battle Green on Patriots Day

A Weekend of History in Lexington & Concord

Patriots’ Day doesn’t always line up neatly with Marathon Monday — and in 2026, it definitely doesn’t. If you live in Lexington or Concord, the celebration stretches across an entire weekend, with events beginning Friday night and continuing through Tuesday morning. Strangely enough, the actual date of Patriots’ Day — April 19 — is the one day with nothing scheduled.

Friday, April 17: The Weekend Begins

The spectaors line up for the Battle of Lexington.. 2011

The Crowd Gathers- 2011

Festivities kick off Friday evening with awards ceremonies and speeches, but the real highlight is Paul Revere’s Ride at 9 PM. Watching the rider thunder into town under the night sky feels like stepping straight into 1775.

Saturday, April 18: The Big Reenactment

Most of the major events happen Saturday. If you’re brave enough to get up before dawn, you can catch the famous 5:15 AM reenactment on Lexington Green. I did it once, back in 2011, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. I left the house at 4 AM and still found parking tough and the crowd already deep. People even brought step ladders so they could see over everyone’s heads.

When the Redcoats marched down the main street, their uniforms looked astonishingly authentic. And the muskets — I had no idea they were that loud. The smoke from the black powder hung in the air like fog. I’m glad I went once, though I don’t feel the need to repeat the 4 AM wake‑up call.

After the battle, everyone heads to one of the three pancake breakfasts happening around town. I skipped it in 2011 and still regret that choice. If you’re already up before sunrise, you might as well reward yourself with pancakes.

Smoke from the musket fire drifts over the redcoats

Sunday, April 19: The Quietest Patriots’ Day

Here’s the odd part: Sunday is the actual date of Patriots’ Day, but there are no scheduled events. Maybe because it falls on a Sunday this year — who knows. But it creates a natural pause between Saturday’s reenactment and Monday’s festivities.

Monday, April 20: Patriots’ Day Meets Marathon Monday

Events pick back up Monday morning at 9:30 AM, with activities continuing until Paul Revere’s arrival at 12:30 PM on the Battle Green. By the time Revere completes his ride, the Boston Marathon will already be well underway. Two Massachusetts traditions, running side by side — literally.

Tuesday, April 21: A Ceremony Worth Noting

The weekend wraps up with something truly special: a Naturalization Ceremony at 11 AM on the Battle Green. Imagine becoming a U.S. citizen on the very ground where the country was born. If I were one of the new citizens, that moment would move me deeply.

 

Happy Easter

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May your Easter be colorful, cozy, and just a little bit sugary. Happy Easter!

Enjoy a colorful, spring Easter Cake with family and friends

Make your Easter Special

Classic Easter Traditions

  • Play Easter Games.
  • Enjoy an Easter Meal.
  • Dye Easter Eggs.
  • Eat a Giant Omelette. …
  • Host an Easter Egg Hunt. …
  • Make Hot Cross Buns. …
  • Fill Easter Baskets. …
  • Eat Chocolate Bunnies.
  • Enjoy an Easter Cake
  • Share an Easter Basket of Goodies

 

Happy Easter from my kitchen to yours!

April Fools!

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Balboa did this all on his own. It really is my life

April Fools!

🌼 April Fool’s Day: A Little History… and a Lot of Eye‑Rolling

April Fool’s Day is one of those holidays that refuses to explain itself. Historians have theories — calendar changes, spring festivals, general human mischief — but no one can point to a single moment when someone declared, “Let’s dedicate a whole day to tricking each other.”

Honestly, that feels about right.
Humans didn’t invent pranks on April 1.
April 1 simply became the day we admit we enjoy them.

🎭 The Calendar Confusion Theory

In the 1500s, France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, moving New Year’s Day from late March to January 1. People who didn’t get the memo (or ignored it out of sheer stubbornness) were teased as “April fools.”

Imagine missing a calendar update and suddenly everyone’s taping paper fish to your back. Tough break.

🌱 The Spring Mischief Theory

Across cultures, spring festivals often included jokes, role reversals, and general silliness. After months of winter gloom, people were ready to laugh again. Hard to blame them.

🤷‍♀️ The “We Honestly Don’t Know” Theory

This is the historian’s shrug.
April Fool’s Day may simply be the result of centuries of people deciding that life is more fun when you keep everyone on their toes.

👀 My Role in All This? The Quiet Observer

Some people plan elaborate pranks.
Some people fall for them.
And then there are people like me — perched safely on the sidelines, watching the chaos unfold like it’s a nature documentary.

I don’t set traps.
>I don’t spring surprises.
>I just sip my coffee, keep a straight face, and enjoy the show.

It’s peaceful up here above the fray. No whoopee cushions, no fake spiders, no “your shoelace is untied.” Just calm observation and the occasional raised eyebrow.

🎣 But This Year… I’m Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone

In honor of April Fool’s Day, I decided to contribute one tiny prank of my own — something gentle, something silly, something very me.

Here it is:

**“Happy April Fool’s Day!

In true New England fashion, today’s forecast calls for sun, snow, rain, hail, and a light chance of frogs.

Or as we call it here: Wednesday.”**

A harmless little wink to the weather gods — and to anyone who’s ever lived through a New England spring.

🐾 Banner & Balboa’s Official Statement

Of course, Banner and Balboa fully support April Fool’s Day.

  • Banner believes every day is a good day to knock something off a counter.
  • Balboa has been practicing stealth ankle attacks since February.
  • Together, they consider themselves pioneers of the holiday — true innovators in the field of household mischief.

Frankly, I’m just grateful they haven’t learned how to order prank supplies online.

🌸 And Now… the Required Dad Jokes

Because April Fool’s Day practically demands them.

  • Why are trees so excited in spring?
    They’re releafed winter is over.
  • What do you call a bear with no teeth?
    A gummy bear.

  • Why did the scarecrow win an award?
    He was outstanding in his field.
  • And the classic:
    I told my dog it was April Fool’s Day. He said he didn’t believe me. I told him I wasn’t kitten.

(Groans are optional but encouraged.)

🌼 Final Thought

Whether you’re the prankster, the prankee, or the quiet observer like me, April Fool’s Day is a reminder not to take life too seriously. Spring is here, the days are brighter, and a little silliness never hurt anyone.

 

St. Patrick’s Day in New England

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St. Patrick’s Day in New England: Where Tradition, Parade Routes, and a Whole Lot of Green Collide

Why St. Patrick’s Day Hits Different Up Here

In most parts of the country, St. Patrick’s Day is a fun little holiday—wear something green, maybe have a beer, maybe listen to a fiddle tune or two. But in New England? It’s practically a season. The Irish roots run deep here, especially in Boston, where St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a cultural event, a family tradition, and sometimes a political lightning rod.

Growing up around here, you learn early that March 17th is not to be taken lightly. The parades, the music, the food, the crowds, the weather (which can be anything from sunshine to sideways sleet)—it’s all part of the charm. And even when the parade gets tangled up in local politics, the spirit of the day never really fades. New Englanders are nothing if not persistent.

A Little History, Because We’re Nothing If Not Thorough

St. Patrick himself wasn’t Irish by birth, but he became the patron saint of Ireland after spreading Christianity across the island in the 5th century. Over time, March 17th became a day of remembrance, celebration, and—eventually—green everything.

But here’s the twist: St. Patrick’s Day as we know it is actually more American than Irish. Irish immigrants in cities like Boston and New York turned the holiday into a public celebration of identity, resilience, and community. The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade in the U.S. happened in the 1700s, and Boston has been proudly carrying the torch ever since.

Today, the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the biggest in the country. Bagpipes, marching bands, veterans’ groups, dancers, floats—you name it, it’s there. And yes, every few years the parade organizers and the city find something new to argue about, but that’s just part of the tradition at this point. If New Englanders aren’t debating something, are we even awake?

The New England St. Patrick’s Day Experience

There’s a certain rhythm to the day around here:

  • Corned beef and cabbage (which, fun fact, is an American invention—but don’t tell anyone’s grandmother).
  • Irish soda bread that ranges from “heavenly” to “doorstop,” depending on the baker.
  • Green everywhere, from hats to hair to the Charles River (Chicago dyes theirs; we just let ours stay its natural shade of questionable).
  • Bars packed by noon, because it’s tradition, not poor planning.
  • Weather roulette, because March in New England likes to keep us humble.

And through it all, there’s this wonderful sense of community—neighbors greeting each other, families gathering, and everyone claiming at least a little Irish heritage for the day.

A Toast to March in Massachusetts

With the Ides of March behind us and yesterday’s Plymouth Rock post already up on the site, St. Patrick’s Day rounds out a surprisingly festive stretch of mid‑March. It’s a reminder that even in the tail end of winter, New England knows how to celebrate—loudly, proudly, and with plenty of green.

And after today’s festivities, who knows where March will take us next?

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

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Sweet Words for Your One and Only

Need something heartfelt to say to your special someone this Valentine’s Day? Sometimes the perfect words are already out there, waiting to be borrowed. Here are a few romantic gems:

  • “You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought.” —Arthur Conan Doyle
  • “In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours.”
  • “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” —Emily Brontë
  • “You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars.” —E. E. Cummings

I’m partial to that last one — it’s simple, poetic, and swoon‑worthy — but you know your sweetheart best. Pick the one that will make their heart go pitter‑pat.

Homemade Fudge for Valentine’s Day

Words are lovely, but chocolate? Chocolate seals the deal.

As many of you know, I’m a caramel‑and‑pecan girl through and through. I’m forever chasing the perfect “Turtle” recipe, so instead of classic chocolate fudge, I’m sharing a Caramel Turtle Fudge that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s rich, gooey, and guaranteed to win you some extra points.

This recipe comes courtesy of Dash of Sanity.

Caramel Pecan Turtle Fudge

Ooey‑gooey caramel layered between rich chocolate and sprinkled with chopped pecans — this fudge is a candy lover’s dream come true.

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces caramel pieces (I use Kraft Caramels)
  • 1 heaping tablespoon heavy cream (evaporated milk works too)
  • 2 cups semi‑sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Line a 9×9 or 8×8 baking dish with parchment or wax paper. If you don’t have either, just grease the pan and set aside.
  2. Combine unwrapped caramels and heavy cream in a microwave‑safe bowl. Heat in 30‑second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and salt. Heat over medium, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.
  4. Stir in pecans and vanilla.
  5. Pour half the fudge mixture into your prepared pan.
  6. Pour the caramel layer over the fudge.
  7. Top with the remaining fudge and swirl gently with a knife.
  8. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until set.

A Sweet Finish

Once it’s firm, cut it into squares, tuck them into a pretty box, tie on a red ribbon, and pair with flowers and candlelight. It’s simple, thoughtful, and delicious — the perfect Valentine’s Day gesture.

Happy Valentine’s Day!