Cold Cuts

We set out to restock our freezer with meats, and Arnold's in Chicopee was the place to go. Possibly because of Superbowl Sunday the next day, the place was bumpin', to use one of Kelly's favorite phrases. Busy as it was, the service there was excellent as usual and they cut up for us a whole pork tenderloin into 15 pork chops, plus a 3 pound pork roast, at a cost of 20 bucks...



This Arnold's in the Aldenville section of the city is the original of two locations for this fantastic meat market, the other one being in East Longmeadow. Aldenville itself is just one of many villages to the north of Springfield that eventualy combined in the mid 19th century to make up one of the more uniquely named cities in Massachusetts: Chicopee.



Judging by the preponderance of French-named businesses we saw in the area, I suspect Aldenville is or had been heavily populated by French immigrants at some time in it's history. But that's just a guess...

With fresh meat in the back, near single digit temperatures outside and little to no heat in the Jeep, we set out for a little drive confident that the meat would keep until we got home. We headed west through Holyoke and Easthampton, then down route 10 into Westfield. Going over the Westfield river, we saw that the Great River Bridge project is really starting to take shape...



Still only about halfway built, right now it looks a little like Westfield's own 'Bridge to Nowhere'. (sorry, Kelly made me put that in...)



It's hard to tell for sure if this is some kind of construction marking, or if some industrious stoner had managed to scamper up the girder high above the frozen river...



With the wind blowing and the sun getting low, it was getting pretty darn cold out. How cold? Snow prints stuck to the weeks-old ice looked like photo negative images...



But we were bundled up pretty good, and decided to brave the brisk weather to have a quick look at Stanley Park in it's winter garb. We drove up to the back side of the park by the pond area, where a slightly disheartening sign greeted us at the gate.



That's ok, it'll soon be over the hump and we'll be closer than farther to the hope-giving, warm and wet breezes of springtime. We exited the vehicle and trudged on into the park where except for the biting wind, all was frozen stillness...






The pond level is very low, as most of it's water is in a solid state.



We maintained as brisk a pace as possible, setting out around the edge of the pond along a crusty snow covered walkway, hoping to get a good look at the water mill and covered bridge on the far end before the wind chills became too unbearable.



I've never been here in the winter time before, and was pleased to see that the marvelously designed park still holds it's beauty, even now.





Down at the far end of the pond area is where the local waterfowl gather. Ducks, geese and swan were weathering the weather, together.







It's incredible how the waterfowl can endure it, but we'd had enough of the penetrating wind, and said our adieu's...



Bee-lining it back to the vehicle, checking out more of the snow-covered park will have to wait for more welcoming weather...



As it was, we already had a cool ride back home ahead of us...



The Jeep's not much for heat, but it does make for a good meat locker...

It Takes A Village

We were going through Amherst recently where, in the newly widened public spaces of Kendrick Park, ice skaters and hockey players were out and sharing an (as yet) rudementary but usable patch of ice. There where a couple of very old houses on the location, that were recently rolled away. Yes, rolled away...





We were on a hunt for a good dog walking route for the pooch. We continued on through Amherst center and then passed through UMass, where there was an odd cloud of smoke rising near one of the frat houses. I know what you're thinking, but no.



It wasn't a very large or menacing or looking cloud, but it was big enough to smokescreen an entire firetruck and about four firefighters who suddenly appeared from behind it.



I was going to keep driving, but decided to pull over when I saw the fire truck, thinking there might be more to this than we first perceived...



But, the firefighters made short work of what soon revealed itself to be short work; apparently the alarm was just a barbecue gone terribly wrong...



Onwards through Hadley, where Kelly sadly noted that a cherished holiday destination from her childhood was in it's final days.



The Christmas Loft, a long-time Christmas supply and trinket shop, is unfortunately having a store closing sale...



If only the Loft could have held out a little longer it might have seen a resurgence of profitability as the bigger chain stores sink one by one...

We continued over the Coolidge bridge, but sidestepped downtown Northampton this time, and headed for the more northerly hamlet of Florence. By this time the dog was bouncing off of the car ceiling. We unleashed him (figuratively) on the peaceful, unsuspecting village...

When in Rome...We parked behind the Miss Florence Diner, where a picture had to be taken. This is possibly the most painted and photographed eatery in western massachusetts...



If you've been to any of the art galleries in the area, you're probably aware of the iconic sign and diner's effect on local artists...



The Silk City Tap Room is right next door. This fine local pub is very unfortunately in the news these days, as the location of a recent late night tragedy that occured just outside it's doors...



We walked a little further down route 9, and hung a left at Cooper's Corner.



I've stopped here a couple times for a fresh deli grinder. Actually, there are plenty of casual places in Florence to eat; especially pizza joints; it appears that Florence is packed with pizza joints.



Cooper's though, reminded me of one of our bike outings a couple of warm summers ago where Kelly, the kid and I were half way through what turned out to be a 29 mile mega-bike-trail-ride. Tired and hungry we pit-stopped at Cooper's, stuffed three of their grinders, some chips and drinks into a backpack, and pedalled on to nearby Look Park for an impromtu, rejuvinating picnic.

Aaah, pedalling on. Remember pedalling on???



We looped around the block and made the return leg via a dark but cleared Northampton bikeway...



The old factory buildings on this side of the neighborhood have been renovated and appear occupied. Small business plods on in spite of the brewing storm.







Home Depot recently anounced it is cutting back sharply on staff and brands. It would be very interesting to see if the few surviving small hardware stores outlive that mighty orange giant...



Circuit city has gone down in flames, and many other massive chains are sputtering. Things are looking pretty ugly, and probably getting uglier. But I wonder if there'll be a bit of a silver lining in that maybe a little corporate melt down is just what the local yokel businesses ordered...?



Probably not. A sinking tide will probably lower all ships...But maybe, just maybe...



We finished our short loop and were back at Miss Florence, where this staff member who was sweeping the sidewalk out front stopped what he was doing to help a customer out of her car and over a snow bank.



When was the last time that happened, in a vast Home Depot parking lot...?

A Different Breed

We were driving through Westfield on route 202, and swung into Hampton Ponds state park for a look. The gate to the main parking/pavilion/beach area was closed, but we found another access a little further down the road. This access is apparently where that 'special breed' of sportsman park before walking out onto the wind swept plains of the frozen pond. Those who snub their noses at the elements, the seasons, luck, even gravity...

The ice fisherman.



Once out in the middle of the pond, they'll (seemingly insanely) drill a hole directly underneath themselves into the very ice that support them from falling into the abyss, then hunker down next to the breech, drop a line and wait.



I know it's pretty much completely safe, especially after the cold snap we've been through the past few weeks, but just the idea of cutting through ice that your standing on...I'll remain here on terra firma, thank you...

For those that don't have that compunction, annual ice fishing derbies are held on this pond. They're sponsored by the The Hampton Ponds Association. This local civic organization also holds bass tournaments here during the saner fishing months, as well as a 4th of July boat parade...

The other dominant ice dwellers on Saturday afternoon were of the mounted, speed-chasing variety; tearing into the ice and flying across the big pond on snowmobiles, quads, three-wheelers and dirt bikes.



The ice makes a good New England version of the salt flats out west; where level ground, lack of obstacles, and clear visibility make your speed limited only by your machine's capability...





Over on a smaller pond on the other side of the access road, a quieter congregation was formed.



A large group of ducks were passing their time peacefully scanning a small patch of unfrozen water for tidbits of food.



It's amazing that the ducks can live in and on such frigid conditions, apparently completely oblivious to the cold...



...almost like ice fishermen.

A couple of people pulled up next to us, got out of the car and began tossing bits of bread into the water. This sent the normally docile birds into a frenzy and soon the patch of water was a churning, frothy jumble of competing bills, wings and paddles.





But the bread soon ran out, and the couple got back into their warm car and left. The ducks just as quickly resumed their peaceful cohabitation, with friendships and relations more or less intact.



Just as we were leaving, we saw that one major representative of the ice-loving sect had finally made their appearance; the skaters. This couple came poorly equipped, but enjoying themselves none the less.



Skates, lawn chairs, what have you. I guess the point is to just get out there, on the ice...