Columbus Day in Granville, Mass.

I won't get into a discussion as to whether Columbus deserves a day devoted to him. I am not going to argue about getting a day off from work. I am one of the lucky ones who has gotten Columbus day off for the last 30 something years (save a few years when we were allowed to go in for two hours to make the day after not so hard--now we just have a tough day on Tuesday). It's worth a day off.

With most of the state "not" in a day off mode, we have made it a tradition to hop over the border to Massachusetts where Columbus Day is a bigger event and we find ourselves strolling the grounds in Granville, MA every year as they celebrate their Granville Harvest Days. Crafts and food abound and ramble around the town. There are booths on the green, in the church basement, church parking lot, library parking lot, book sale in the basement of the library, craft booths in and out of the school, with shuttle buses taking people to the Meeting house for more displays and to the farms selling apples and such. There are tag sales all around town too and of course the Granville Country Store selling their world famous Granville cheddar cheese and other goodies.

We did a little Christmas shopping but mostly browsing and definitely some eating. Although the selection was sparse, for $3.00 a bag, we could find books to fill a bag at that price in the basement.

We talked to some people we knew and some people we didn't. My husband was in rare form with his quips and puns. We both were feeling better after a lingering cold. It was a little chilly and cloudy, but it didn't rain and was a great autumn day.

The first picture is of one of my customers and her beautiful products she makes--baskets and coasters and mats. She mails them out often and it was nice to see them on display. They are so beautiful that it was hard to chose between them. You can check out her stuff on Etsy at Yellow Violet.

 These  mittens were made by two of the craftiest sisters I know. Every year they come up with some wonderful new item they have crafted. They did have other items on display, but these were the latest edition. These beautiful unique mittens were made out of sweaters. Unfortunately they only sell them here and not online. (But I do know where they live).

                                                                             

 It always amazes us the different kinds of crafts people do and how there always seems to be something new. If you love jewelry, there is no way you could not have found something you liked.

We love the home made relish that they serve with the hot dogs. We did miss the potatoes and onions this year that for some reason weren't being served but we were assured they would be back next year. There was plenty else to chose from for food. You should not go away hungry.

Recent years they have added tours of the Noble & Cooley Company drum shop where I had my first summer job. We went last year and it was fun to once again be in that old building and the memories of my summer factory work experience for two summers.

This year we saw there was a quilt show in the building across from it.

If you have never been to the Granville Harvest Days, you should check it out. It always runs three days ending on Columbus Day--maybe you will find it becoming a tradition with you too.

Return to Red Riding Hood's Basket, Southwick, MA

Once again last night I went to Red Riding Hood's Basket in Southwick, MA. It was a last minute, spur of the moment date. How many times have you said to someone that you should get together for coffee or lunch? How many times do you do it? I don't know about you, but life is too busy and I rarely do it. Things just fell into place last night as I arranged to meet my friend.

I can never say enough nice words about Red Riding Hood's Basket. The atmosphere is so unlike any other coffee shop or luncheon place that I've been too. There are unique antiques perfectly placed throughout. Don't forget to check out the creepy wolf in the window hiding near Red Riding Hood. The ceiling is tin, there are tiny bouquets of flowers or plants on every table. If you don't want to sit at a table, you can go to the little nook area with a couple of couches and an artificial fireplace and a loaded book shelf and coffee table--home away from home. I do believe they have computer access too. There is a little corner with books and a desk for kids.

My friend enjoyed looking at every detail as I gave her the tour before we had dinner. She lives so close to this place but had never been--such a loss. She will be back.

All the food is freshly made on the premises. My friend had the shepherd's pie--a big topping of mashed potatoes with ground beef, corn and green beans. I had the homemade macaroni and cheese made with cheddar cheese and bread crumb toppings--delicious. Both were served with a wonderful salad of greens, oranges, sunflower seeds, raisins and I'm not sure what else, but with the dressing, it was a symphony of flavors that we both loved.

There are coffees, teas, lattes, smoothies and newly added, she sells ice cream. But don't forget all the wonderful homemade desserts. If you go in the morning, you can have a pastry or treat yourself to a breakfast casserole or french toast. The food is wonderful.

Honestly, the part I like best about Red Riding Hood's Basket that keeps making me choose it for a meeting place for friends (when I finally get to do it) is the atmosphere. My friend and I stayed for nearly 3 hours. No one hoovers over and makes you feel like you should leave (though not every seat was taken, so we did not feel guilty). It is a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere to just sit and talk. If I lived closer, I would be there now with my laptop or morning paper having coffee and breakfast. It would be a ritual. My husband agrees. (Maybe we'll just have to move closer.)

Whenever we meet friends there, we just linger and linger. Last night too there was a woman who sang and played the guitar for us. They have entertainment every Friday night and some Saturdays. We are going next Saturday night to see a friend perform.

There is a newly opened bike trail that runs along side of Red Riding Hood's Basket. This makes it a perfect place to stop for a reward after a long ride or walk.

If this seems like one big advertisement for Red Riding Hood's Basket, it is. I can't believe that a place like this isn't thriving. I know the economy is hurting everyone but this is the kind of place to sit back, relax and you can choose to talk about politics or the world issues with a friend or you can get away from all that and just kick back. I hope you will find the time to reward yourself and take a friend.

Red Riding Hood's Basket is on Congamond Road in Southwick, MA. It is close to Congamond Lakes. It is open seven days a week, Sunday through Tuesday 8am-5pm and Wednesday though Friday they are open until 8am or 9pm if the entertainment is still going.

Part 3--The Big E

These are a couple hundred of the million, trillion people who were there today. Actually, they keep a count of the number of attendees on their website and I will let you know what that was on a future blog. Surprisingly there was not a lot of pushing and shoving and there were times when you had an area all to yourself.

One of the pictures here is of a man mixing fudge on a big slab (this is not our fudge people, but was interesting to watch). Food is another big attraction here. There is every kind of fair food imaginable from corn dogs, cotton candy, baked potatoes, tempura, millennium chips, french fries, cheese steaks, mini donuts, onion rings, ice cream, slushies, sit down meals and on and on. I won't tell you everything we ate, but our tummies were smiling. :)

I'll continue this onto one more post. As I've said before, if you click on an individual picture, you can get a better close up.