Massachusetts – Page 4 – Blondie Birdie

Autumn Leaves and Arsenic…

October 4, 2019October 10, 2019by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Friday, everyone! I’m so thrilled that we’ve made it to another weekend!

Having been born and raised in Massachusetts, and spending most of my time in and around New England- I’m no stranger to the curiosities and oddities that can be found pretty much anywhere if you’re keeping an eye open. We’re well-known globally for our bizarre, sometimes morbid history, unusual landmarks and creepy (and often rumored to be haunted) locations.

In October, I like to showcase some of those bizarre places/things as it seems fitting given the Halloween spirit. I figured for the 2019 season, I’d start with a notorious headstone in a small, Quaker cemetery about 45 minutes away from my apartment- and yesterday, after wrapping up a half day at work- I ventured out to find it in the little town of Pelham, Massachusetts while I was admiring the foliage!

Nobody is really sure what the mystery illness that claimed Warren Gibbs’ life in 1860 was (back when the common cold would pretty much seal your fate)– but his brother, William, suspected foul play and accused his sister-in-law- Mary- of poisoning Warren with arsenic-tainted oysters.

The result of this suspicion was a pretty brutal headstone William erected for his late brother that flat-out blames Mary for Warren’s death with a poem etched into the front. You may not be able to read it in the photos- but it says:

Died by Arsenic Poison

March 23, 1860 Age 36 years 5 mos 23 days

Think my friends when this you see

How my wife has dealt with me

She in some oysters did prepare

Some poison for my lot and share

Then of the same I did partake

And nature yielded to its fate

Before she my wife became

Mary Felton was her name

Erected by his brother Wm Gibbs

The next time you think you’re being petty about something- ask yourself- am I William Gibbs level of petty? Because if you’re not having murder accusations etched onto the deceased’s headstone- you are not petty at. all. This headstone was next level.

Next week, I’ll be putting another unusual, possibly creepy place in the “Blondie Birdie” spotlight. It’s one of my favorite October traditions!

But until then, I’ve got to get some work done at the office and then prepare for a fun and (hopefully) productive weekend. Here’s wishing you all a fun and safe couple of days ahead!

See everyone again on Monday!

– Ashley –

September 2019: In a Nutshell

September 30, 2019October 7, 2019by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Monday, everyone!

I’ve never made any attempts to hide or downplay the fact that Autumn is my favorite season and that I enjoy stereotypical “basic” Fall-related activities to the fullest. Apple picking? Pumpkin patches? Leaf peeping? Hay rides and s’mores over bonfires? I’m all about it and I’m not embarrassed or ashamed to admit it.

Needless to say, September through early November is my favorite time of year (after that- Winter, Christmas and coldness tend to take over!) and with this year being my first Fall living in the Pioneer Valley- I’ve been doing my best to make the most of it and indulge in every local Autumnal activity I can.

October is undoubtedly the month/time of year I look forward to the most- but I have to show some love to September, too- especially this past one since it was filled with beauty, travel, good food and time with loved ones!

September started off in true Fall fashion with a visit to the Appleseed County Fair where I got a head start on stocking up on apple cider doughnuts and kettle corn popcorn while browsing local vendors and farm stands. I was so enamored with my time at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston that I returned there a couple of weeks later with my mother and Oliver to partake in our traditional apple and pumpkin picking!

That wasn’t the only tradition I honored in September. My family and I also made our annual pilgrimage to Hampton Beach at the end of the Summer season to shop great deals and chow down on crab cakes, lobster rolls, and savor some fresh squeezed lemonade at their Seafood Festival.

And of course- no early Fall days in New England are complete without a stop at The Big E. I swung by there a couple of weeks ago to grab my favorite fair food (fried Oreos!) and take in the sights and sounds of the best New England restaurants, small businesses and farms had to offer!

And in-between all the travel, taste testing, decorating my place to look like my very own Fall-inspired farmhouse and unpacking my sweaters for the season- I was still able to put together a pretty dreamy Fall playlist, too!

All in all, this past September felt like the perfect way to bid a final farewell to Summer 2019 and usher in the Fall! There’s still a few things on my Autumnal “To-Do” list, of course- but that’s what October is for!

Speaking of- what do I have planned for the coming month ahead? Well, I’d like to photograph the foliage (which usually reaches it’s peak prettiness within the next couple of weeks,) cook up some more Fall-inspired recipes, put together a great Halloween costume and savor all the spookiness that comes with living in Western Massachusetts this time of year! Expect a lot of creepiness and macabre in October! It’s my specialty, after all!

But before I get too ahead of myself- there’s still a few hours of September left to savor- and I’ve got to get some work done at the office.

Enjoy the start of this week, everybody. I’ll be back with a quick, easy and delicious dessert recipe on Wednesday morning!

– Ashley –

Old Fashioned Autumn…

September 25, 2019October 1, 2019by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday, everyone!

It’s hard to believe that September is already winding down considering it feels like it only just started- and the first day of Fall was only a couple of days ago! While October is undoubtedly my favorite month out of the year and Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday- I love those early Autumn, breezy mid-September days we’re lucky enough to get here in New England. There’s something really special about them. The fairs, the farm stands, the first signs of pumpkins and apples. It’s magic!

This past weekend, when the temperatures gradually started to cool as the sun was setting after a couple of hotter-than-expected afternoons- I took a quick drive over to Historic Deerfield to stroll, stop by their outdoor Fall craft fair– and try to photograph some of those hints of Fall in what is one of the most picturesque locations in Massachusetts.

The leaves are just starting to change- some are already falling onto the ground- and with the sun shining and the lovely Autumnal displays outside some of the historic homes- it made for some great pictures and a wonderful afternoon overall!

This coming weekend I’d let to set off to to the Mohawk Trail to really capture the bright reds, oranges, yellows and golden tones I’ve noticed during my drives to/from the area. The trail is truly one of the prettiest backdrops for leaf peeping!

But that’s after I share my September ’19 favorites this coming Friday- and after I get some work done from home today, first!

Enjoy your “Hump Day”, everybody! Let’s push through to Friday together!

– Ashley –

Notes From The Big E…

September 20, 2019September 26, 2019by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Friday, everyone! We made it!

As much as I would love nothing more than to just sleep through this entire weekend since I am absolutely wiped out from these past couple of days (not including work!)– there’s still plenty of things left on my September “To-Do” list I want to see through before this month begins winding down- and this coming weekend is the time to do it!

One thing I managed to scratch off my September/Fall Bucket List this past Wednesday was popping by The Big E for a late afternoon/evening filled with the unhealthiest (and delicious) fair foods, carnival rides and bizarre attractions. It’s pretty much a must-do for New Englanders- often a tradition for my friends and I- and I wanted to make sure I could enjoy it for a few hours while the weather was nice and the sun was shining!

Now that I live in the Valley, getting to The Big E takes no time at all- so I was able to park and walk in without having to sit in post-work-pre-dinner traffic for hours on end (another less favorable tradition…)

I had a lovely time squealing over cute farm animals, eating half my body weight in Friskie Fries (and fried Oreos!) and soaking up the sunset amid all the flashing lights and rickety rides while simultaneously wondering whether or not I needed any of the unusual gadgets and accessories vendors were pitching in the exhibit halls.

Naturally, I snapped some photos along the way…

Such a nice way to spend a Wednesday afternoon.

The Big E is up and running through September 29th if you want to check it out for yourself!

Next week on Blondie Birdie- I’ve got my annual Autumn playlist ready to go for those in need of a dreamy soundtrack, more photos from my early Fall adventures- and some of my favorite things from this past September (and believe me- there’s a lot!)

But until then- enjoy your weekend, everybody!

– Ashley –

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice…

September 16, 2019September 22, 2019by Ashley DeLargeLeave a Comment

Good Morning and Happy Monday, everyone!

While the thought of returning to work after such a great weekend isn’t exactly ideal- I take comfort in the fact that I’ll be heading to The Big E in a couple of days for some early-Autumn fun- so at least that will break up the humdrum of daily office life. I am more than ready for some fried Oreos, hot apple cider- and carnival rides that may or may not have passed “mandatory” safety inspections!

This past weekend was also filled with some early-Autumn fun. After hosting my show on Indie617 and performing in Salem on Saturday night- I made a point to spend my Sunday at Red Apple Farm to pick some apples, find myself the perfect pumpkin, and indulge in all the farm-fresh snacks I could find- all with my beloved little Oliver in tow!

It was a beautiful, sunny- and comfortably cool afternoon. Oliver was completely fascinated by the apple trees, the tractors that were driving by, and the goats and piglets the farm has available for viewing/feeding/petting. I’m pretty sure he’d be okay if I were to adopt a pet pig in the future. They’d probably get along famously.

Naturally, I picked up some apple dumplings, some all natural peanut butter and some homemade strawberry-apple jam before we left for the afternoon- and I’m excited to dive into all of it in the coming days!

But of course, I’ve got to dive into my caseload at work, first- and make sure I stay ahead so I can get an early jump on this coming weekend!

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful start to your week. I’ll be back on Wednesday with a pretty fantastic appetizer recipe that takes no time at all to whip up!

– Ashley –