New England Mamas

Safe outdoor skating rinks for the skittish mom

The Omen (II)  ruined me for ice skating on a pretty lake in the winter (no, I'm not linking to the scene; if you are too young to know it, consider yourself lucky).

Yes, that's my little guy standing on a frozen pond a couple of years ago, but it was after five days of sub-freezing weather  and seeing  250-pound ice fishermen walking on it before I could agree to let him out there.

It would figure I’d marry a guy who loves to ice skate and wants the kids to follow in his footsteps. And, while we could go to an indoor rink, I agree that there is something so quintessentially New England about skating out-of-doors. 

So instead of flashing the dreaded movie scene in my head every ten seconds, I've scouted out a few safe outdoor rinks that my kids and I can enjoy without me stopping every ten seconds to say, “did I just hear a crack?” We haven't tried them all, yet, but we will.  Feel free to add your favorites that are beyond my little corner of the world. 

Starting the new year by homeschooling

The holiday break is almost over. Based on my Twitter feed, this is a source of great joy for many parents, but for some, this fact brings nothing but stress.

Maybe your child's teacher or school is making life miserable for your family. Maybe you are thinking your kindergartner isn't really ready for the daily schedule. Or maybe your child is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, with little success.

Or, maybe you are like I was and are just intrigued by homeschooling but have no idea how to make the first step.

Here's your first step.

2010 First Night Events around New England

Say farewell to 2009 and hello to 2010!  Here's a round-up of First Night activities throughout New England.  All have family-friendly activities planned for kids of all ages. 

Massachusetts: 
Boston - First Night Boston
North Shore - Beverly's New Year
South Shore - First Night New Bedford
Cape Cod - First Night Chatham
Worcester - First Night Worcester (See one New England Mama's take on it here)
Western MA - First Night Northampton

Connecticut:  First Night Danbury;  First Night Westport;  First Night Hartford

Rhode Island: Bright Night Providence

Vermont:  First Night Montpelier;  First Night Burlington;  First Night St. Johnsbury

New Hampshire:  First Night Portsmouth;  First Night Wolfeboro

Maine:  First Night Bar Harbor;  First Night Old Orchard Beach

If I've missed any, please feel free to add them in the comments.  And as always, please celebrate safely and responsibly.

Hanukkah Happenings

No matter how you spell it, Hanukkah begins today and if you're looking for a few things to do, take a look at the ideas below. And Happy Hanukkah!

What's happening this weekend - Family friendly holiday events throughout New England

Looking for something holiday related to do with the family this weekend? We've got you covered.  Here's a sampling of what's going on around New England Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13:

Just in time for the holidays - gift ideas for teachers that deserve an A.

My oldest daughter started preschool last year, and we all couldn't have been happier.  A couple of days a week I would leave her in the care of the most wonderful women I could ever hope to ask for and know that not only would she be learning but that she would be cared for and doted on... along with the 19 other children in her class.

Seriously, how do these women do it?  Twenty kids??  I get the shakes when I have more than one over for a playdate.  Those women need gifts, pronto.

*checking calendar*

Well lookie there, it’s the holidays!  The perfect time to let your favorite educator know how much you appreciate them.  But with what?  Cookies?  Pssh.  Please.  These people help to expand your child's mind!  The least you can do is expand your own past the typical pastry gift.

Etsy to the rescue!

There are many New England artisans and crafters on Etsy, so finding a suitable gift for your kid’s favorite preschool, elementary, or secondary education teacher is a snap, right?

Put down the flour!  Let me help you find something.  I love Etsy.  Some may call it an addiction, I call it... an addiction.  But one person’s time suck is another person’s boon.  I’ve scoured Etsy to find some perfect gift ideas for the teachers in your life, gifts good enough to guarantee your child a good grade.  Not that you would bribe a teacher or anything.  That would be wrong...

Hey, look over there!

My Secret Space along the Cove

A few months ago, I was looking for a house for sale in East Greenwich, RI.

I wasn't seeking it out with any real interest in buying it, per se, but it had caught my eye during one of my "let's just see what's out there in (and out of) my price range" browsings on RILiving.com.

I followed the directions I had memorized in my head (as I know the surrounding area pretty well)... travel South on Rt. 1/Main Street, take a left at Rocky Hollow Road. A few more lefts and rights through the back roads and I found it.

The house was adorable. Perfect, really. I love homes build in the early 1900's, and this was a 1920's Bungalow with a front porch and a beautiful garden. I would have moved in immediately, if there weren't other things to think of first... like telling my husband and selling our house. You know, minor things.

I drove by the house a few times, each time finding something else that I loved about it, and finally decided to stop torturing myself. I could have gotten back on Rocky Hollow Road and onto Main Street easily, but I knew I was near the water and wanted to drive along the road (aptly named: Water Street) with the view of the harbor.

Although I know the area well, I don't travel along Water Street much. It's outside of my normal route, a bit of a back road. But as I had that little Bungalow on my mind that day, I was in a back road kind of mood. And on that back road was where I discovered one of my new favorite Secret Spaces.

It's really just a little look-out point. There's a gravely parking lot. There are a few picnic tables. But it has a beautiful, unobstructed view of Greenwich Cove. It's quiet there, especially on a weekday morning. I imagine it could be a place for teenagers to go "park" on a Saturday night (do teenagers still do this?), but for my purposes - tranquility, thought-gathering, peace and quiet - it is perfect.

There are a lot of restaurants down the road a bit, with equally gorgeous views of the Cove. But if you want a place to sit with your thoughts, without having to buy food and listen to the conversation of the people next to you, I'll share my Secret Space with you.

My mid-summer night's dream

By the time it hits mid-July, I can sometimes get into that mid-summer funk.

You know what I mean? I start to realize that in just over a month, summer will be over, and it’ll be back to shorter days, bulkier wardrobes - and no tan. (The horror!)

But then I remember that it isn’t even until mid-July that something I totally equate with summer is available.

Here in Rhode Island we have Chelo’s restaurants. And every summer they put their famous Banana Berry Pie on the menu.

Now, let me preface this by telling you that I am a chocolate girl all the way. I live and breath chocolate. I could live on chocolate alone. CHOCOLATE RULES! I think you get the point.

But there is something about the juicy deliciousness of the blueberries and strawberries… the bananas mixed into the creamy banana mousse… the flaky pie crust… the whipped cream on top…

Oh yes, I indulged in my favorite summer treat last night.

It was, indeed, a mid-summer night’s dream.

Cross-posted on Jane's Blog

10 things to do this summer in Rhode Island

With summer ("unofficially") upon us, it's time to start rolling out the summer plans.

Even in the tiny state of Rhode Island, there is plenty to do... either for a day trip, a weekend trip or a full-on vacation stay.

If you are planning on visiting our nation's tiniest state this summer, here are the top 10 must-dos:

1) Explore Newport. This seaside city has endless opportunities for summer fun, from the beaches (Easton's beach - or "First Beach" to the locals - is great for families with its carousel, children's playground and skateboard park) to the Cliff Walk (3.5 miles of architectural, coastal and wildlife beauty) to the  Newport Mansions (tour 11 of the historic properties that have helped define America's heritage, located on 80 acres of gardens and parks). Don't forget to stroll down Thames Street and stop for a bite to eat at The Red Parrot or  Salas'. A short walk from Thames St. will bring you to The Black Pearl for award-winning clam chowder and an elegant atmosphere. And for the best buffet in town, plus a fabulous theater/cabaret production, don't miss the Newport Playhouse.

2) Go to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. There are always fun events, exhibits and more going on at the zoo, located on the grounds of Roger Williams Park, which also offers a carousel, boat rides and greenhouses.

3) Watch a PawSox game. The Pawtucket Red Sox are the Triple-A Affiliate team of the Boston Red Sox, and their home turf, McCoy Stadium, is right here in Pawtucket, RI. Enjoy a family-friendly, wallet-friendly experience, watching the future household names of baseball fine tune their skills. Sometimes you'll even catch a current Boston Red Sox star playing at McCoy as he rehabs following an injury.

4) Experience WaterFire. This summertime tradition is an experience not to be missed. It lights the night with 100 sparkling bonfires along the three rivers of downtown Providence. Thousands gather to watch the beauty of WaterFire take in its musical and cultural accompaniments. Don't miss it! (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the  2008 summer schedule.)

5) See the Narragansett Towers.  These much photographed historic Towers are located on a beautiful and scenic stretch of road along Narragansett Beach. Live music and dancing, and other public events, are held at the Towers throughout the summer.  But it's worth a visit, even  if only to take photographs of the architecture.

6) Ride your bike. Rhode Island has so much natural beauty, and one way to experience much of it is by riding on the state's many bike paths. The paths will take you along the riverways, through beautiful towns and into parks.

7) Visit Block Island. The laid-back atmosphere on Block Island is just perfect. Go for the music festival, unleash your adventurous side and go kiteboarding - or just spend the day traversing the island by bicycle.

8 ) Pick Blueberries. July and August are the best months to go blueberry picking around here. When you pick them right from the bush, blueberries are so ripe, fresh and delicious! My favorite place is Rocky Point Farm. You can find detailed information about where to pick other fruits and vegetables around Rhode Island here.

9) Spend the day at the park. For such a small state, there are plenty of wonderful parks in Rhode Island. My favorite two are Colt State Park in Bristol and Goddard Park in Warwick. Pack a picnic basket, a Frisbee and some Wiffle Ball equipment, and you're good to go. Both parks offer walking trails and small beach areas. And you can go on horseback rides at Goddard Park.

10) Kayak on the bay. You're never far from the water when you're in Rhode Island (we are the Ocean State, after all). Take a tour on kayak with The Kayak Centre in Wickford or Ocean State Adventures in Bristol.
 

Try To Set The Night On Fire

Last night, the kids got to stay up late enough to see a river lit on fire.  It was the first WaterFire of the '08 season, and we decided to ignore usual bedtimes in order to be there.

We started our evening at the Providence Place Mall, eating dinner at Dave & Buster's, where no one seemed to mind that Jilly spilled her lemonade, not once, but twice.  After a few video games in their arcade, we were ready to go outside and get positioned for the lighting of the fires. 

Having never been at the start of the event, I had no idea how the whole thing would begin.  The Mall is at one end of the fire's route, so we just started following the path of the river.  It was about 7p.m., about an hour before sunset when the fires would be lit.

In the river were floating buoys filled with wood, waiting for the start.  A beautiful gondola pushed a couple through the still waters.   Vendors sold glow-in-the dark light sabers and necklaces although we convinced the kids to wait until we found WaterFire volunteers selling their "Ribbons of Light" necklaces which double as a fund raiser.  Unfortunately, WaterFire is also feeling the economic pinch; with fewer corporate sponsors this year, they've had to cut back the number of fires that will be lit through October. 

With my kids' tired legs and my husband's broken toe, we did not venture far down the river's route.  We heard that at the other end, closer to the colleges, were more festivities, but we were content to find a spot to sit at  WaterPlace Basin, where the fires are set up in a large circle.  Outside one restaurant, there was beer and wine for sale.  We chose instead to fuel up on Del's Lemonade.

The area around us became crowded with people, and it was a true melting pot of ages, ethnicities and styles (my kids really liked the guy with rainbow-colored hair).  We saw several people walking dogs and pushing babies in strollers.  People ate and drank at the restaurants with outdoor seating along the river.  My kids rolled down a grassy hill as we waited for sunset.

Shortly after 8:00, music started to play through the loudspeakers---a slow, drumming beat.  A few songs played as we sat in the dark.  Finally, we saw a boat appear, followed by several others piled with wood and black-clad volunteers.  A torch was lit and the fire was passed from boat to boat.  Most of the boats then headed back upstream but two stayed in our circle.  After positioning the boats at opposite ends of the circle, they began to light the fires in front of us. 

The crowd cheered.   The atmosphere, though, was calm and soothing.  Many stood to walk up river, although we chose to sit a while and watch the flames grow higher.  The river seemed to glow as it reflected the light.   The ambient music continued to play as we slowly got up and began our walk back to the car with sleepy children in tow. 

The next WaterFire is Friday, May 30th (see a complete schedule here---scroll down page for dates).  Beginning in August, the lightings will occur before 8pm, so those with early bedtimes can attend without too much disruption to their schedule.  Don't miss it.