Two of my Favorite things

I have been day dreaming about two of new favorite places in Hampden; Soup's On and Puffs and Pastries. These delicious little cafes provide wonderful food at an affordable price!

Soup's On has the most delicious tuna sandwich I have ever eaten. It is served with avocado, jalapeño, arugula and mustard vinaigrette on a Bonaparte baguette. I have also had their Arugula salad with apples and goat cheese. I've never tasted creamier goat cheese in my life. The only down fall to Soup's On is their hours. Because of my schedule and the cafe only opening for the lunch crowd, I can only go on Saturdays, they are closed on Sundays. However, with an ever changing menu, this place has me always wanting to come back for more!

I had a sweet tooth one day while walking "The Avenue" and stopped into Puffs and Pastries. What a cute little shop! The pastries in the glass casing were so beautifully decorated. I narrowed it down to the baklava or the sweet potato and cranberry puff. Instead of choosing one, my friend ordered one of each. I'm not normally a fan of sweet potato desserts; I think I am expecting a pumpkin pie flavor and am slightly disappointed. But the puff was decorated with a decadent chocolate leaf with silver foil flecks (I assumed it was edible), that I decided I had to try it. Both were amazing. I can't wait to go back and try some more goodies.

When you visit me, plan on stopping in at least one of these places. They are too good to pass up and definitely some of Hampden's finest!

Snowpacolypse

Dear Snow,

As much as I have enjoyed watching you fall and seeing how pretty you can blanket the ground, please stop falling. The first snow storm was fun; although, having a shovel would have helped. Trying to clear a path on the side walk with a dust pan was not so easy. I should have made a snowman then. The second snow storm was fun in the beginning; going to Dad's and being with family. But I got cabin fever... and fast. Also, driving on the icy roads was not fun, especially with a rental. I prayed for my safe arrival to the other side of the road a few times.








Now, you are falling once more. Please stop this snopacolypse... I'm pretty sure my car port can't take anymore snow.

Sincerely,

April

Happy Birthday Norman Rockwell

Today is Norman Rockwell's Birthday. Few of you know, but I am a big fan of Norman Rockwell's work. I love how he can capture everyday people and everyday moments and turn them into wonderful works of art. He also had a wonderful sense of humor in his artwork.

Because I can't say it better, I borrowed this description from The Norman Rockwell Licensing Company, "Norman Rockwell's subject was the America he knew and the people who shared the hope that it offers. For over 60 years he painted this country and its people with unabashed frankness and poignancy, giving us a living chronicle of ourselves, our dreams, and our aspirations. The body of his work is a pictorial legacy of the way we are and the way we wish to be, and constitutes a truly immersurable contribution to American Art."


Happy Birthday Norman Rockwell! We celebrate your life and your work everyday but especially today.