Monday, July 14, 2008

A power outage brings family together


It's funny that a power outage is all that is needed to get my family together. In the winter, we get the candles out(at night), play cards, laugh, and catch up with our teenagers that will soon be on their own. Even in the summer, when we lose power, it is a pain, but I look forward to it for an hour or so. This morning, during breakfast time, we lost power and I was concerned how I would make Sunday morning breakfast. Realizing my daughter just got home from 5 days of camping and cooking on a grill, I thought "I can do that too, why not breakfast at home on the grill?". I started the grill and then proceeded to place sausages, English muffins, and eggs on our flat kitchen skillet. My daughter, who is now a "professional" on grilled eggs coached me as the yolks slowly glided to the front of the grill, and this gave us more time to catch up on her great trip. Once I placed the eggs, muffins, and sausage on our plates, I served everyone with a grin. Here we were enjoying a nice hot breakfast even with no power. Alas, we lost power 4 times today and while I worked a few hours on the road, my family swam and then we played badminton when I got home. I loved it, even though I was worried about our food thawing in the freezer. Oh yeah, I ran out of gas just as I was finishing breakfast... Note to self fill tanks on Monday.



Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Friday, July 11, 2008

The rules on playing polo


I admit it and I'm not ashamed! I had no idea what polo was all about when I was asked to attend and cover a wine tasting event at the Myopia Hunt Club and as many of you know, this is the concept of my web site. When I learn... I share... and I share through my web site New England Fine Living, my blog, and my big mouth. Below, I am posting information I got off another web site on the rules and concept of polo. If you ever get to a match and you did not already know how to play or why they were hitting that little ball off of a horse, here you go!

From the International Women's Polo Association

Two underlying concepts govern the game of polo.

The first is that polo is a tactical team sport with either 3(indoor or enclosed arena) or 4(full size ground) players a side.

Like all tactical team sports, each player fills a specific role and supporting the team effort on both offence and defence.
The objective of the game is for a team to score the most goals by hitting the ball through their goal posts at the end of the ground.

Like other high contact team sports such as Rugby or Football, defensive plays, such as "riding off" and "hooking" are important defence tactics and can result in fouls which incur penalties.

Normally, polo is played on an outdoor polo field which is 300 yards long and 160 yards across, the area of 10 football fields.

The second is "the line of the ball". This is the imaginary line the ball creates as it travels from point A to point B.

This "line" determines the strict rules about how players can approach and attack the ball and each other, ensuring that the players and horses, travelling at 35mph when at top speed, do not collide resulting in serious injury to either horse or rider.

When two players ride to the ball, both hoping to hit it, they must ride on either side of the "line" so that both will have access to the ball. They must remain on opposite sides of the line, thus minimizing the risk of collision.

The line remains set until the ball is struck by a player, changes direction, and a new line is formed.

A player may cross the line only when it does not create a hazardous situation such as a collision with another rider. This may result in a foul and consequent penalty being awarded. read more


Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Everyone needs beauty as well as bread. (John Muir)


As a new Rotarian, my eyes have been opened to how many people give their time, knowledge and funds to help those in need. I wanted to share with you a business that helps women change their lives. I have copied their mission statement so that I could share it with you as well as a link to their site.



Nest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries. The mission of Nest is to support women artists and artisans in the developing world by helping them create sustainable entrepreneurial businesses. To do this, Nest provides micro-credit loans to be used for the purchase of the supplies and materials necessary to begin and/or maintain art or craft-based businesses.

The funds for these loans are generated by selling a unique line of clothing, accessories and merchandise for the home produced exclusively for Nest by a group of artists and designers. The Nest line also includes ceramic pottery, women’s clothing and other items with the Nest logo. In addition to these exclusive items created by well-known designers, the recipients of Nest loans in developing countries also make their crafts available to Nest as repayment for the micro-credit loans. These items, too, are incorporated into the Nest line of merchandise. In this way, Nest draws together artists from across the globe into a cooperative network with a shared vision of mutual support.

When you buy from Nest, you have not only have purchased a unique and beautiful item for yourself or your home, you have participated in a proven effort to better the lives of women all across the globe. Through our work, and your participation, women all over the world are able to plant their roots in a refuge filled with warmth, solace, comfort and joy. It is our sincere hope that Nest can help you create a home, both for yourself and women the world over, filled with energy, beauty and peace.

Thank you for exploring their site.

Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

No weeding while on vacation!



Today, after a week of a semi-vacation, I noticed the weeds in my garden had somehow taken over. How did this happen so quickly? Didn't I just do this two weeks ago? Then I realized that they were lurking beneath the leaves of the then "in full bloom" flowers. We used a product advertised on tv... you might know the one... the one with the sleeping husband while the wife is busy shaking this product on the gardens and never touches a weed again. Well it didn't work for us (yet), but it did kill the "stepables" that were placed carefully between the garden rocks in my moon garden. Curses!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Do you think of wine or lobster when you think of Maine?

Many of us from New England associate Maine for its beautiful coast, light houses and of course lobster, but how about wine? Below, you will find some information that might surprise you. If you get to visit any of these wineries, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Cellar Door Winery and Vineyards

One of the few wine makers in Maine growing their own grapes. The vineyards are set on 68 acres of rolling fields in the coastal town of Lincolnville adjacent to the north boundary of Camden Hills State Park. Cold weather grapes are pressed and cellar-aged to create varieties of white and red table wines. The winery also makes a Maine blueberry wine. Stroll through the vineyard or visit the gift shop and tasting room.



Bartlett Maine Estate Winery

For more than 20 years this winery has specialized in sophisticated fruit wines made with native flavors. Bartlett uses locally grown apples, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, pears and peaches to create distinctive aperitifs, whites, reds, and sweet dessert wines that capture the essence of Maine. The winery is located in Gouldsboro on the scenic Schoodic Peninsula east of Mount Desert Island. A tasting room and retail shop are open May through October.


Blacksmiths Winery

This winery in the town of South Casco near Sebago Lake produces a wide variety of wines with local fruits and hand picked grapes from the state of Washington. Blacksmiths offers a cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay,merlot, pino grigio, sangiovese, vidal blanc, and sparkling blueberry and cranberry among other selections. The tasting room and gift shop are open year round.


Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery

On a working farm in the midcoast town of Union, Elmer and Holly Savage grow eight varieties of hybrid wine grapes and their own blueberries. This year will be the first vintage for Savage Oakes, and with grapes like marechal foch, leon millot, Cayuga white, and seyval blanc, the wines should be a treat. The winery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday mid-May through the fall.

Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

A trip to the Azore Island Ponta Delgada



What a great treat it was to visit the Azores. I just returned from a day trip to Fall River, MA to visit Battleship Cove, and I was pleased to see flags with Ponta Delgada posted. While visiting Ponta Delgada, I was told that Fall River had a large population of Porteguese from the Island. This world is getting smaller and smaller with each of my travels.

Linda Calder Smith, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!