Is Lake Sabbatia a Paddling Option

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Is Lake Sabbatia a Paddling Option?

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As I looked over the Norton Reservoir I thought of another option for a quiet paddling location. Lake Sabbatia is even closer to me than the Norton Reservoir. I pulled out of Tang’s parking lot and headed back to Taunton. Along the way even more possibilities ran through my head. There’s Watson State Park and Lake Rico to check out too.

Watson State Park

As I headed over to Lake Sabbatia I had to drive right past Watson State Park. Even though it hasn’t opened for the season, cars were lining the side of the road. It’s a very popular place in Taunton in the summer. Only about 10 acres it has a playground, 300 ft beach and picnic area. Non-motorized boats are welcome. I expect it will open up Memorial Day weekend.

The Launch Area, Lake Sabbatia

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Just past Watson State Park I arrived at the boat launch for Lake Sabbatia. It was really busy today! Dogs and people milled about. The parking spots were taken up with pick up trucks and boat trailers. While I was there several more trucks arrived with kayaks on board. They off loaded and lined them up at the side of the launch area. After the trucks were parked each paddler picked up their kayak and into the water they went.

Time to Leave

I watched a good size recreational boat  get pulled out of the lake. It was clear that I was in the way.  I’ve dropped by this spot many times and never seen it this busy. It must be the excitement of the  first nice weather of the spring/summer season.I took a  couple of pictures of a particularity cute dog, part pug , part frenchy, and it was time to go.

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The Sunday that Almost Got Away

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The Sunday that Almost Got Away

I lost Saturday and  now Sunday almost got away from me. My own fault. I was slow to get the laundry going so other resident’s of my condo got ahead of me. Consequently I didn’t get my weekly laundry done until close to 12:30! The day was half gone. I’d planned to look for Doane Falls in Royalston, MA but with such a late start that wasn’t an option any more.

NEMASKET KAYAK CENTER

My backup plan was to check out the Nemasket Kayak Center. http://www.nemasketkayak.com/ Based on their web page they offer paddling lessons, have a retail outlet and rent equipment. I’m still not sure a kayak is right for me with my bad hip but kayaks are far more affordable than canoes and I think more light weight. That would make them easier to handle on my own. They have 4 locations. Not all of which are open yet.

Norton Reservoir

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In the end I opted to check out the Norton Reservoir. I drive by it everyday on the way to work. There are fishermen, kayakers, swans and geese. I want to see how hard it would be to put a small boat or kayak into this calm body of water.

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An internet search said the most common place to put in was next to Tang’s restaurant. I know exactly where that is so I was off. When I got there there were a lot of trucks and a few SUV’s. A fisherman was just leaving. He said that there are 2 places to access the reservoir. Here off Rt 140 and off Juniper Rd. I don’t know where Juniper RD is so for now this will have to do.

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A few facts about Norton Reservoir

The Norton Reservoir is a body of water within the towns of Norton and Mansfield located in southeastern Massachusetts. The Rumford River empties out into the reservoir.

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Another Saturday Gone

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Another Saturday gone

Sounds like a good title for a country song to me. Its hard to believe that another Saturday has slipped through my fingers and I haven’t done anything interesting to talk about. Who knew that finding topics of interest to share would be so hard?

Where did the Day go?

So let’s see, where did the day go. How did the time get away from me?

  • 8-11 am  Wait for the Fire Department to come by for our annual fire inspection.

 

  • 10:20 take Rocky to the Vet for his annual wellness check. He’s a senior kitty now so this is even more important. Besides he really needed a “mani/pedi”.

His claws were turning into samurai swords!

  • Lunch and a hair cut.
  • Top off the gas tank and get the car washed. Get all that sticky tree sap off the hood.
  • Stop off at Walmart and Big Lots to see what kinds of boats/kayaks they have a how much they cost.

By then it was 3:30 so I checked out cat trees for Rocky.

Why does Rocky need another cat tree?

My silly kitty won’t go on the old cat tree that he used to share with Smokey and Buddy.

He hasn’t been on it since Buddy passed away. I’ve tried catnip spray, hiding treats on it, toys but he just sniffs it and hops down. I thought I’d get him a new one to see if he’d have any interest in something with no other cat scents.

I’ll set the big one on the porch for now.

Weekend Project

With Memorial day Weekend coming up I have decided to complete the long side tracked catification of my back porch/ deck. I have the lattice work to set up and just need to pot some catnip. It will serve to entertain Rocky and keep the mosquitoes away at the same time. Maybe after 10 years of living here I will finally be able to use my deck.

 

 

10 Reasons You Might Need A Vacation

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Springtime in the New England Real Estate Market

Spring is a crazy, busy time of year for us in the New England Real Estate world. New England has one of the most seasonal markets in the US.  I’ve been clocking long hours, OT almost every night and breaking my own rule of No Work on Weekends! My boss questions me about burn out once or twice every week.

Burn Out Is Real

In my younger years I didn’t believe in burn out. I scoffed at those who complained they were suffering. An excuse to slack off I said! Wimps! But of course I was wrong. Science has proved it and I have suffered from it myself.

Do You Suffer From Burn Out?

Do you need to take a vacation? AAA thinks you do if you meet only a couple of the 17 signs they list on their web page. AAA.com/needavacation. I looked over their list and here are my top 10 reasons to take a break.

  1. The weekend arrives but you are too tired to venture out for local adventures.
  2. You daydream about all the places you want to go and things (fun things, not lawn mowing) you want to do.
  3. Wonder how those people on the Travel Channel manage to take all those fabulous vacations.
  4. You can’t seem to focus on any one task for long.
  5. Getting home at the end of the day is a single minded obsession.
  6. Forgetfulness abounds. You can’t even remember what the string on your finger was supposed to be for!
  7. Are you on edge? That’s one of my first indicators. My team starts finding me scary!
  8. Watch out for over eating (or binge drinking). What happened to that jumbo bag of tootsie rolls? More potato chips anyone?
  9. No one is posting on your social media accounts, not even you! There’s nothing exciting going on.
  10. Your Life revolves around going to work, paying bills and sleeping. Get up and do it all again.

What’s the Verdict?

So how did you score? Did you even read it or did you park yourself in front of the TV and cry over vacation commercials? Those palm trees and sandy beaches are calling you. It’s almost a physical ache.

Do yourself, your family and your work a favor. Take that break. You’ll come back refreshed, more productive and maybe even with an attitude adjustment. Just be sure to let me know where you go! I want another place to daydream about.

Spring Has Sprung when Lilacs Bloom

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Spring has sprung when Lilacs Bloom

Lilacs are one of my favorite spring flowers. From their beautiful fragrance  to their delicate blooms, Lilacs are the comfort food of the flower world. I’m blessed with a ride to work that passes everything from pruned and pampered lilac bushes to wild road-side shrubs. This time of year they are all covered in purple blooms.

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Lilac Sunday

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum was canceled because of the rain. Of the many thousands of flowers at the arboretum, only lilacs get their own special day. Most of the lilacs in the Arboretum are located at the edge of Bussey Hill Rd. The Arboretum has 369 lilac plants! If next week is nice maybe I can catch the tail end of the blooming season.

Lilac Symbolism

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The lilac story actually goes back to Greek mythology. According to the story Pan was enamored of a nymph named Syringa. Pan chased Syringa into the forest. Syringa wanted to avoid his advances so turned herself into a lilac bush. To Pan’s surprise, he could not find Syringa, but he did find the shrub. A lilac shrub consists of hollow reeds. Pan cut the shrub to create the flute he is so well known for playing.

Lilac Meanings

Lilac meanings vary throughout different cultures and time periods.

  • The Celtics regarded the lilac as “magical” due to their incredibly intoxicating fragrance.
  • During the Victorian Age, the giving of a lilac was meant to be a reminder of an old love. Widows were often seen wearing lilacs during this period.
  • In Russia, holding a sprig of lilac over the newborn would bring wisdom.
  • In the United States, the lilac is the official state flower of New Hampshire and represents the ‘hardy’ nature of its people.

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Lilac Symbolism & Colors

  • White lilacs symbolize purity and innocence.
  • Violet lilacs symbolize spirituality.
  • Blue lilacs symbolize happiness and tranquility.
  • Magenta lilacs symbolize love and passion.
  • Lilac, the color for which this flower is named, is a light purple that symbolizes a first love.

Lilac Facts

  • The lilac is the official flower of a couple’s 8th wedding anniversary.
  • Lilacs have one of the shortest bloom times and only flower for three weeks at the beginning of spring.
  • George Washington and Thomas Jefferson  loved lilacs, growing them in their gardens.
  • Lilacs belong to the same family as the olive tree.

Comfort Food of Flowers

Lilacs symbolize home to me. Growing up our driveway was lined with lilacs and there was a huge lilac bush in the middle of the yard. The blooms only burst forth in early spring and in a wink of an eye are gone. For about 3 weeks the air is fragrant each spring. No matter where I am, the scent takes me home in my mind.

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Facts and symbolism provided by FTD web site https://www.ftd.com