The Things You Can Find When You're Not Looking...

I'm a frequent shopper on Amazon.com.  I find it a handy place to visit if I am looking to purchase something.  Why??  Don't have to get dressed, fight traffic, find a parking space, maneuver through crowds of people; only to find the store doesn't have what I am looking for.  It's also a wonderful place to read reviews of how the product performs before you buy it. 

I forget what I was looking for a few weeks ago on Amazon.  But you can find the darndest things when you are not looking for it. 

I found Oreo Cookies.  I don't go out of my way to buy them.  I sort of lost interest in them from childhood, but John loves them!  I know they have a little more than the basic Oreo cookie on the shelves, but I had NO IDEA just how many varieties of Oreos until I stumbled on them on Amazon.  I was absolutely amazed.  Let me list them for you. 

I don't think you will find these on your supermarket shelves.  A store can't possibly have room for the huge varieties of each food product on hand.  Supermarkets would have to expand into 4 and 5 story buildings; and that isn't going to happen.  How would they get your groceries down to the first floor without getting involved in elevators large enough to handle hundreds of customers per day?  Too expensive!

Here we go.  Oreos come in the following flavors:

Lemon Twist
Candy Cane
Candy Corn
Peppermint
White Fudge
Gingerbread (yes; gingerbread)
Berry Burst Ice Cream
Coconut Delight Oreo Fudge
Triple Double Neapolitan
Triple Double Chocolate Mint
Golden Oreo Fudge Cream Confetti Birthday Cake
Winter Cookie
Peanut Butter Creme
Halloween Oreo
And sometimes they have the Oreos with the mint filling dipped in chocolate (sinfully delicious!)

And while we are at it; Ritz Crackers does make the Ritz covered in chocolate!  This is not available year-round.  Usually I see it in the late spring, early summer; and it is simply wonderful!

And did you know that Hershey Kisses come in Pumpkin Spice, and it comes with a macadamia nut in the center that you can only get from Hawaii?  Ask me how I know!
Expensive, but worth it!

Milky Ways come in Caramel Apple.  M&M's come in Orange Flavor, Cherry Cordial, Candy Corn, White Chocolate, and White Peppermint.

You can find a lot of treats on Amazon that you will most likely never find at your local supermarket.  Stay away..........

Blizzard of 2013 in Boston - Part Three (and hope this is the last one this year)

I am adding the last of the pictures on this Blizzard. 

The City of Boston dragged its' feet plowing, vehicles could not be used to conduct business; and people could not go to work.  As a matter of fact it was impossible for the regular crew of city workers to handle it so the Mayor arranged snow removal with private contractors.  They too were a bit slow.  Finally they arrived on this street a day and a half later. 

The streets were so impacted regular plows could not handle it, and front end loaders had to complete the job.  Thank goodness temperatures climbed into the late 30's and low 40's to help shrink the snow banks.  We still have quite a way to go before it has all melted.  I read somewhere that winters will produce 'less snow events' and 'more blizzards.'

When is that 'temperate' weather for the planet going to arrive??  Hope I am still alive to enjoy it.  Well, here are the last of the pictures.....

The Blizzard of 2013 in Boston - Part Two

Well the snow stopped around Noon today (Saturday).  The local news stations were reporting that Boston received 22 inches into the wee hours of the morning.  Looking out the windows and opening the doors to the front and back porches I could see a hefty load on the streets.  The plows stopped coming by early last night.  And we haven't seen one at all today.  Using a wooden yardstick the back porch measured 14 inches of snowfall.

When I woke up this morning to take pictures, there was a lot more snow out there.  The winds were blowing so much last night that it left hardly any snow on the front porch, but the streets were a different story.  The cars had about a half inch of snow, if that; but the ground the cars were parked on showed snow up to the hub caps.  Streets for the most part are still not fit for travel, but you always have the handful of fool-hardy nuts who are willing to try.  The thing is; Boston drivers are not allowed to use snow tires (studded), and with today's light vehicles, you need something in this mess.

The airport is still closed until Sunday.  The Governor has lifted the road ban.  Boston has a parking ban; but what the hay, there is never enough parking spaces when the weather is normal.  I've been living long enough to remember if you had one car in the family you were doing extremely well.  Today, everyone in a household has a car. Boston streets weren't laid out for millions of cars.  It's cold out too!  I think it is around 20 degrees, which means you aren't going to get any help from Mother Nature to melt tons of snow.  Monday and Tuesday coming temperatures will rise into the late 30's and 40's.  We can shrink some of the snow piles then. 

I did take some 'before' and 'after' photos for you.  The winds were blowing snow and watery sprinkles into my face. You're going to have to look at what I could take from the porches.   I forgot to add that after viewing the photos and commentary below you can view a slide show of all the photos (without commentary) by clicking on a photo.  Blogger will open a new page for you.

The first seven photos are the "before" pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This one taken at night is shortly after dusk and it had been snowing a good 4 hours.  I seem to have an 'orb' enjoying the snow positioned to the right of the street light.

 

The remaining photos were taken this morning as the snow came to a stop.  You can see the snow accumulations.  The street pretty much looks the same at 7 in the evening.  No plows have arrived.  People are still blocked in.  If they want to drive, or attempt it; Good Luck!  They won't get far, that's for sure!!

 

 

 

 

The Blizzard of 2013

Boston has escaped huge snow storms for quite a few years now.  Last winter we got little or nothing; perhaps a total of three inches.  So far into this winter season we have had about four snow 'events' but I don't think it has added up to a half inch.  Well that's all about to change today.  We are facing a storm of epic proportions. 
Hold on to your Hat!  We can get anywhere from 18 to 36 inches of snow.  The winds are howling outside with gusts up to 60 miles per hour.  Everything, and I mean everything has been shut down by the City and State.  Here is an idea:

The State of Massachusetts has been declared in a 'state of emergency'

No vehicles are allowed on Massachusetts roads until the storm is over.  You will be fined $100 or given one year's jail time if caught.

All public transportation was shut down at 4 pm this afternoon.

5000 National Guard troops are ready to assist.

Amtrak train service to New York has been suspended.

Logan International Airport is closed to air traffic and will remain closed until Sunday..

Utility crews from other states are ready and waiting to assist with downed power lines.

Coastal flooding warnings are in effect and volunteer evacuation has been asked.

The entire New England area is under the gun with this storm, but the Boston and Cape Cod areas will get the worst snow-wise because the storm is stalling over the ocean for a day.  That means more snow and lots of wind for anyone in the radius. 

I am not going outside walking around trying to take pictures in this mess, but I will open the front and back doors and take pictures of whatever I can to let you see what is going on in this neck of the woods. 
The local news interviewed a young man who traveled from Philadelphia to make money shoveling snow.  He says he can't make money where he lives.  Now that's an enterprising young man!!

Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!!

I've lived in Boston's Dorchester Area from 1965 until 1993. You take so many things for granted as you go to work, shopping, and recreational activities. You are practically in a robitic state of mind as you travel from one place to another. You see things, but you don't see them.
Unless someone takes the time to point out something special you need to be aware of, you just aren't aware of it.
As some of you know, I've been "wintering" in Boston the past 3 years and as I travel thru this city with different eyes and a camera, I am discovering facts about landmarks I had no idea I was passing, and was totally oblivious of their importance.

From time to time I'll share my 'new discoveries' with you through this Blog.

Do you like chocolate? Does the mention of the word get your tastebuds ready to receive that creamy, smooth, delicious fudgy taste on your tongue??

Did you know chocolate was introduced to most of the United States of America by John Hannon, a penniless Irishman who was skilled as a chocolatier, a craft he learned in England? Though there were other chocolatiers available, John Hannon was able to make business connections which after his death eventually eradicated competition. It's a long story. One that begins to sound like a soap opera if you read a variety of accounts. So I'll just report the generally accepted version here.

In 1765 John Hannon teamed up with Dr James Baker (yes, a medical doctor) along the banks of the Neponset River in Dorchester, Massachusetts and started a business producing "Hannon's Best Chocolate." The business thrived for 15 years until Mr Hannon decided to take a trip to the West Indies in 1779 and due to reasons we'll never know of did not return. The following year his wife sold the company to Dr Baker who changed the name to; guess what: "The Baker Chocolate Company."

If you come from the "old school" of cooking you recognize that name from having a cannister of Baker's Chocolate in your kitchen. That little box of wonder was the only way you got to enjoy hot cocoa in the winter and chocolate frosting for your cakes and cupcakes. Dr Baker's family built the business and copyrighted the name "Baker" for future generations.

In 1896 the company was sold to the Forbes Syndicate who added 5 buildings over the next 30 years and started advertisments in a variety of magazines to attract sales. They even gave away coupons to be redeemed for bone china, bookends, spoons, serving trays, and published a cookbook every year.

In 1927 the Postum Cereal Company purchased the Walter Baker Company and moved operations to Dover, Delaware in 1969. The Postum Cereal Company became known as General Foods. In 1989 the Baker Company was incorporated in Kraft Foods when it acquired General Foods.
In addition to producing a variety of baking chocolates: German Sweet, semi-sweet, bitter-sweet, unsweetened, white decorating, premium white, dipping, and semi-sweet chunks; the Baker Company also produces Angel Flake Coconut.

I personally wouldn't use any other coconut flakes when baking my cookies, pies and cakes! It's the most moist on the market. My grandmother and godmother used nothing else for their coconut cake frosting!

Today the Baker Chocolate Factory has been turned into upscale condos and apartments. I couldn't find a price for the condo units (perhaps because none are available) but the apartments rent in the range of $1138 to $2700 per month. The main Baker building has been turned into a residence for artists with studio/loft apartments for rent.

Another view of the Baker Complex

Here is a shot of the Neponset River that runs through the grounds

You know me; I had to put in some nature scenery found on the grounds

Here is a link to check out photos of the living quarters and more of the grounds than I had access to with my camera if you would like to see more; plus you can see if apartments are available and fill out an application if so inclined:
http://www.bakerchocolateapartments.com/BakerChocolateMA/Index.aspx

This link shows more photos of the grounds, kitchens, livingroom, common areas, etc.

http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1000056430.php

Wow!! mass-Chocolate production began in Dorchester, Massachusetts for our country in 1765, two-hundred and forty seven years ago!!!