Author: Ed

  • Is Your Sunday Dog a Snow Lover?

    Does your canine companion drool at the thought of a walk in the snow? Or do the four-paw brakes go on when the door opens onto a scene wet with wintry white?

    CHE_1800 - Version 32013-02-13-poppy-snowgirl-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Our 10-month-old puppy, Poppy loves playing "Queen of the Snowbank!" You can see the smile on her funny little face in this photo.

    But, some of her neighbors are not fond of wet or snow.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e2ffd8ec970b-800wi

    For example, our pal Smudge loves to Pose but not on wet days. Then, he will do his business in record time and try to get back inside. He thinks kids like Poppy, who like being out in it, are a bit looney tunes.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e8629da4a970d-400wi

    Elvis Lives Next Door, and that's where he prefers to stay on snowy days. He doesn't like wet. He's not even into cold and declines to go out and play in the wet with Poppy.

    CHE_2590 - Version 22013-03-09-poppy-snow-hopper-westie-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    What do the dogs in your life think of snow? What do they do that makes you laugh when confronted with a few inches of the white stuff? In her first year, Poppy has become a champion "snow hopper" and that makes all three of us smile.

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Snowy Comm Ave Walk (Photos)

     IMG_1143 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    I was having second thoughts about a snowy Commonwealth Avenue walk with my furry 10-month-old terrier, but she convinced me that it’d be fun! Poppy explained the basics …

    IMG_1137 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Find a big pile of snow …
    IMG_1130 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino
    Eat as much as possible …
    IMG_1135 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Shake off the excess!

    IMG_1120 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There are always other dogs to see along the way.

    IMG_1118 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, if you time it right, there are shovelers to clear the way!

    IMG_1140 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Lots of people stay home on a day like this, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.

    IMG_1152 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    But, you always have to be on the lookout for scary snow plows!

    IMG_1149 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino (2)

    They’re everywhere!
    IMG_1157 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We’ll enjoy watching people wearing funny hats!

    IMG_1132 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, when we get tired we can sit and watch the snow pile up.

    IMG_1156 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Thanks, Poppy. You sure know how to enjoy a snow storm!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

     

  • Snowy Comm Ave Walk (Photos)

     IMG_1143 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    I was having second thoughts about a snowy Commonwealth Avenue walk with my furry 10-month-old terrier, but she convinced me that it’d be fun! Poppy explained the basics …

    IMG_1137 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Find a big pile of snow …
    IMG_1130 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino
    Eat as much as possible …
    IMG_1135 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Shake off the excess!

    IMG_1120 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There are always other dogs to see along the way.

    IMG_1118 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, if you time it right, there are shovelers to clear the way!

    IMG_1140 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Lots of people stay home on a day like this, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.

    IMG_1152 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    But, you always have to be on the lookout for scary snow plows!

    IMG_1149 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino (2)

    They’re everywhere!
    IMG_1157 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We’ll enjoy watching people wearing funny hats!

    IMG_1132 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, when we get tired we can sit and watch the snow pile up.

    IMG_1156 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Thanks, Poppy. You sure know how to enjoy a snow storm!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

     

  • Boston Electronics Recycling One Day Event: March 23

    IMG_6709 - Version 2
    Boston residents can drop off electronics that they want to recycle on Saturday, March 23rd. 

    The photo above is an example of what you can't do. Don't put your old computer out with the trash. The city's recycling brochure says, "For curbside pickup, call Sanitation at 617-635-7574. TVs & computer monitors will not be collected with trash."

    On Saturday, March 23, 2013, you can drop off electronics for recycling from 9 am to 2 pm at the West Roxbury Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner Street, Boston MA. Full information on what they will and will not accept are at this link.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2007 Penny Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Boston Electronics Recycling One Day Event: March 23

    IMG_6709 - Version 2
    Boston residents can drop off electronics that they want to recycle on Saturday, March 23rd. 

    The photo above is an example of what you can't do. Don't put your old computer out with the trash. The city's recycling brochure says, "For curbside pickup, call Sanitation at 617-635-7574. TVs & computer monitors will not be collected with trash."

    On Saturday, March 23, 2013, you can drop off electronics for recycling from 9 am to 2 pm at the West Roxbury Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner Street, Boston MA. Full information on what they will and will not accept are at this link.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or, do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2007 Penny Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • New Boston Addition to the National Register of Historic Places

    DSC_2269 - Version 22013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The Church of the Covenant, on the corner of Berkeley and Newbury Streets (map), has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building contains 42 Tiffany stained glass windows that are an integral part of the largest Tiffany-designed church interior in the country.

    CHE_2091 - Version 32013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Sometimes, when we stroll around Boston's historic districts on daily errands or regular visits, we forget that we're walking though a National Treasure that visitors come from all around the world to see. 

    CHE_2063 - Version 22013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    DSC_2272 - Version 32013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    A project is underway to restore the Tiffany windows. Tours of the interior will resume this spring. Until then, you can take this online tour.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. Canon's G series is our all-time favorite for everyday cameras. We own the G10 and G11. They're a little bigger than the compacts most people use, but let you shoot with automatic settings or easy-to-use manual controls that please the many pros who use them as second cameras. And, if you are ready to turn pro, follow our lead. Ed shoots with the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR too. We just added a Nikon D600
    to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

     

     

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads out of comments.

     Details:

  • New Boston Addition to the National Register of Historic Places

    DSC_2269 - Version 22013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The Church of the Covenant, on the corner of Berkeley and Newbury Streets (map), has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building contains 42 Tiffany stained glass windows that are an integral part of the largest Tiffany-designed church interior in the country.

    CHE_2091 - Version 32013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Sometimes, when we stroll around Boston's historic districts on daily errands or regular visits, we forget that we're walking though a National Treasure that visitors come from all around the world to see. 

    CHE_2063 - Version 22013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    DSC_2272 - Version 32013-02-25 church-of-coventant-National-Register-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    A project is underway to restore the Tiffany windows. Tours of the interior will resume this spring. Until then, you can take this online tour.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. Canon's G series is our all-time favorite for everyday cameras. We own the G10 and G11. They're a little bigger than the compacts most people use, but let you shoot with automatic settings or easy-to-use manual controls that please the many pros who use them as second cameras. And, if you are ready to turn pro, follow our lead. Ed shoots with the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR too. We just added a Nikon D600
    to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

     

     

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads out of comments.

     Details:

  • Cooking in Vacation Rentals: The Spice Box

    What would you miss from your pantry if you were cooking in a kitchen that was empty of food products? I quickly learned that I missed my seasonings. So, I created a spice box that travels with me when we rent a vacation home.

    DSC_8837 - Version 22012-09-27-seasonings-travel-kit-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    I use a box of watchmaker's tins that I've filled with a supply of spices and blends designed to give me the most versatility with the fewest containers.

    What's in my spice kit?

    Sea salt and kosher salt get their own larger containers. The blends are French herbs, curry powder, Bell's Seasoning, Old Bay Seasoning, and an Italian herb blend. One container holds star anise, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and bay leaves. My beloved Aleppo pepper and candied ginger get containers of their own.

    What would be in your spice box?

    We'd love to hear in the comments below. Send us an email and we'll add your ideas to this piece.

    DSC_8635 - Version 22012-09-26-seasonings-travel-kit-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Fortunately, you can now buy peppercorns in containers that are grinders,
    so I carry one of those as well. You can also buy spice kits that are usually sold by ethnic group. If I were creating this today, I think I'd use magnetic spice tins.

    Using what I have as a guide, I make an amazing array of meals over a couple of weeks with just this selection. I've also been able to loan some flavors to neighbors at an apartment complex in Provincetown. I remember one long-time fellow renter calling up to me, "Penny, I'm craving carrot salad, would you have some cumin." I did, and she shared her salad and recipe!

    One exception to this empty pantry rule was a home we rented for a few years on Lake Tashmoo on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. It had an herb garden outside the door and enough equipment to run a small catering business.

    The homeowners stocked every spice, extract, staple, and supply imaginable. A note invited renters to use what they needed but to replace whatever they used up during their visit. That way the kitchen should always be fully supplied. Apparently, this worked because the system continued throughout the years we rented that home.

    Updates from our readers!

    (03/05/12) "I would have pickling spices.  Why?  Because we always prepare our own lobster dinner when on vacation, and the pickling spices added to the boiling water sweeten the lobster meat and create a unique aroma as well. Vacation rentals almost always come with a lobster pot and everything else you need for a lobster dinner, except for the pickling spices," wrote Marlene.

    Thanks Marlene! I think we'll try this. What a perfect excuse to have lobster this week!

    Related Posts:

    Cooking in Vacation Rentals: The Tool Roll

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

     

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny Cherubino 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.