Block Head!

Today was our company Halloween contest. Historically our department does very well in this competition and we didn't want to disappoint this year.

After some debate we settled on an idea I had about making us look like block heads. We'd use cardboard boxes as heads. It kinda works well since our department does all the packaging for product.

I started drawing everyone in the department as a caricature and when each one was done we made the block head. We finished them up a day early.

Well, we won the Foxoboro office competition. Woo-Hoo! $50 divided by 12! Maybe a round of drinks. Let's hope we win the North American office competition and earn $100 for a few more rounds.

Brown's Annual Trick or Treat

Brown does this fabulous event every year for parents that have kids. They invite them to come in starting at 4:00 to trick or treat 3 floors of cubicle's.

Elle's first time doing this was J's first day there in 2007. This year J invited me to bring Elle so I could have a little fun too. I was so impressed with how many people participated and how cool some cube's were decorated! It's kinda like a Halloween dress rehearsal since it's a few days before Oct. 31st.

What fun. Elle had a blast and I think J enjoyed showing off Ellie to her co-workers. Mommy's handy work is getting rave reviews from Ellie's hand made costume! It's looks awesome!

Despite the rules of Halloween and trick or treating. We watched as Ellie would not take anything unless she was invited or offered. She would stand next to a bowl of goodies and unless the treater offered them she would wait patiently waiting for an invitation to partake.

Ellorie is Sleeping Beauty this year and as with any royalty she got a few bows. She had a blast! We all did.

The Rune Oracle Letter Box

We enjoyed another wonderful letter boxing adventure today. Not far from the house is the Snake Den conservation in Johnston. The Rune Oracle letter box is hidden along the trail.

It was a rocky and hilly path with forks and turns. We followed the directions and came to a large rock formation. We needed to find a tree with 3 trunks among the rock wall. Climb up to it and go pass it. There you will see what appears to be a rock room. Do Not enter but look below and you will find the Rune Oracle. Sure enough it was there.

I climbed about 2 or 3 stories up. Along this rock wall was many "rock rooms" that were pretty cool. Seemed like a bat haven to me. I snatched the box and climbed down so J & Ellie can mark our family book and to mark the Rune's journal with our stamp.

It was a beautiful hike at what seems to be peak foliage in our area. I think we're going to hike there more and maybe even hide our own Letter Box there. The Zeus on the Loose letter box or the cursed Ruby Rhino.

Rhode Island Corcorama Clam Chowder

4 Cups chopped clams
4 cups clam broth
2 cups of water
Quarter of an onion (finely chopped onion)
4 tablespoons butter
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper
4 potatoes, peeled and cut

Happy Birthday Elle!

We celebrated Ellie's 4rth birthday at Chepachet Farms in Chepachet, RI. The weather was a bit wet but that didn't stop us from having a blast!

Ellie's friends from school, cousins and family all came to celebrate farm style. Each kid (and some adults) got a cowboy/girl hat. Before lunch we saddled up for a hay ride. A 30 minute ride into the woods to see more horses and a few ponds. The parents had more fun than the kids I think.

When we returned we had lunch and games. The kids were so well behaved and really enjoyed seeing each other outside of school. After everyone won a prize we headed out again to the petting zoo.

Another run around the sun for Ellie! YEE-HAW!

2008 Grape Harvest Festival

Fall is here and that means it's time to harvest concord grapes in our backyard.

Every year that's we've been at this house I've made wine. Well, this year Elle is older and can help so instead of making wine we thought she'd prefer to make grape jelly. Her favorite sandwich is Peanut butter and jelly.

We set outside early this morning in the rain to pick'em. I clipped the grapes from the vine and Elle put the in the bucket. Johanna was in the house preparing all the essentials. Boiling our jars and getting all the pots that we needed ready. After about 30-40 minutes of picking we came in out of the rain.

Every year when I make wine I do it alone. It takes all day and it's hard work. This year was a treat since the 3 us all worked together. J did a ton of work! All the prep work and cooking and canning. We had 8 jars an sure enough we made exactly that.

They're currently cooling on the stove top. Once they're cooled they'll be ready to spread on some bread. Oh wait... no they won't. Being a designer/package designer I'll have to finish this product off just right. It needs a label and a name...

"Ellie Jelly".

Hopefully it'll make the local store shelves this winter!
It's Rhodie fresh!

I'll be sure to post the final package design here. Stay tuned!

Run Ellie Run

Well, this morning ended a wonderful weekend.
Despite being up at 6:30-7:00 on a beautiful Sunday morning we had good reason.

J signed Ellie up to participate in a fundraising road race to benefit different local charities through CVS. The CVS Downtown 5K Run in downtown Providence. Now lemme be clear. Ellie didn't run 5K she ran about 150 feet.

It was a brisk morning down in providence and we saw loads of people getting prepared and warmed up for their races. Elle's age group was the 1st of the morning. It was a bit hairy as we got the starting line just in time with all the people crowded to see. Even the PA announcer who play by played the race halted as he play by played Johanna running with Ellie to the starting line to get ready (I wish I had it on video!).

Within moments the gun went off and they bolted. Elle looked like she was running through a field of daisies. Bouncing along as if not to hurt the ground she stepped on. The kids funneled together to collect their goodies (a banana and a bottle of water) and of course their medals!

After we congratulated Elle and J & I were able to catch our breathe from all the running around we strolled Providence as it was shut down so it was great for walking. We checked out a few tents and got some more freebies.

We had a blast.

It was a great way to start out Sunday and end our weekend. We were in Providence on Friday night taking Elle to Disney of Ice and fortunately for us there was a partial Water Fire when the show got out. So perfect. A brisk night for the 3 of us to walk around and it wasn't crowded. Amazing. As we walked around we both said how much we love Providence. It's so accessible we love it!

Friday night was something we'd never be able to do in Boston. Saturday was our hometown of Johnston's annual Apple Festival. A Corcoran family tradition. Elle got to ride a pony, get her face painted and see some friends from school and ballet. JJ got to get some gorgeous jewelry.

This past weekend was awesome. Something we know we wouldn't be able to do if we lived any of place than here (that we know of). How can you go to Disney on Ice, walk across the street to see an amazing urban city turn into a piece of art? The following day is a country fair and today is a downtown road race... all within a small budget and 20 minutes of each other.

We found it... it's called home.

Oh, and I had a lobster and some local clams for dinner. It just seals the deal!