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Wind Turbine Templeton MA

Sep 2nd, 2010 by Diane

Wind Turbine at Sunset 004 150x150 Wind Turbine Templeton MAI came home on Monday to see our incredible wind turbine in motion and it stopped my car in it’s tracks~thank goodness no one was behind me becaue we joke all the time that one of these days that windmill is going to cause an accident in front of our house~glad it wasn’t me this time!

I think it is the neatest thing to be able to sit outside on my deck and watch it spin. I know some don’t like it and many are ecstatic about it, but the fact that we have one and the kids are watching this historical event unfold on their school grounds is definately and plus in my book. 

They are still testing it out and it is on and off during the day and then it seems to spin most of the night.  Elijah told me on Monday while they were at football practice down on field (where it’s located) all of a sudden everyone stopped what they were doing to look up because he said you could hear a hum and then ~ whoooshh….whoooooshhh….whoooshhhh…it was cool and everyone was amazed.

I am very excited about our windmill and cannot wait to see it spinning full time and saving us some energy.  Thank you to everyone that put all this hard work into making this dream a reality!

Of course  I took a very brief video for you from the vantage points of the street just before my driveway, my yard and also the school parking lot ~ ENJOY!

Posted in Education, School Days, Templeton News | No Comments »

School Days ~ School Days

Aug 25th, 2010 by Diane

Good Evening Tuesday Fans ~ I really want to know how school went for you and/or your kids today! 

First Day Freshman Elijah 003 150x150 School Days ~ School DaysI was very happy to be dropping off Elijah and Zach and I joked about having a party and doing the happy dance and yet I was stopped in my tracks thinking “WOW a new era has begun for each of them”.  Elijah is a freshman this year (GO WARRIORS) and that changes things up alot for he and I.  This will be his growing up year and my re-learning how to be a high school parent.  This comes with many pitfalls and I really wish I had written a book the last go round with my older son and daugher (hindsight is 20/20 isn’t it?) 

First Day Freshman Elijah 002 150x150 School Days ~ School DaysElijah has decided to play football this year and A~he has NEVER played sports before and B~I have always said “I am not a sports mom” as my other kids can attest to.  However, after taking in our exchange student, Stephanie, last year, she taught me it’s ok to be there when I can be and when I cannot~I can cheer them on anyway in some other capacity.  So I am looking forward to this coming year of growth for Elijah and for me and I say this years team motto says it all “Step Up or Step Aside” and I know Elijah will give it his all and play like a Warrior and be all that he can be for his teammates.  I am proud of his decision to play and I will be there on and off the field cheering him to victory!!

Although Zach had said the night before he wasn’t happy about going back to school he got up early to be with Eljah and do the whole ~”c’mon Mom are you kidding with the 50 pictures”?  He makes fun of me, but someday they will look back and remember those days.  I also knew Zach has missed all his friends and he was very excited about having Mrs. W as a teacher again ~ because she is cool!!!   We dropped off Elijah and then it was time to take him to Nana’s to catch the bus~inside I was definately doing the happy dance and of course he wonders why I am smiling so much and then….

First Day 4th Grade Zach Cropped for Website 150x150 School Days ~ School DaysIt struck me…THIS IS Zach’s last year of elementary school and yikes I had one year to prepare him for being with the older kids and wondering if he was old enough to doing this and o my gosh how will he do in such a large school…do you see how far and how fast my mind started racing?  Well, I had to take a deep breath and by then we were at our destination and he hopped out of the car and said ~ Bye Mom!  I got out of the car and said can’t I wait with you for the bus? NOPE, I want to do this myself with my cousin Morgan (younger than Zach) and it’s gonna be great ~ SEE YA!!  Well, I helped him with his stuff and said goodbye and going back down the road I knew all the thoughts I had were just silly because he is already growing up and is figuring things out.

Mom Sons 150x150 School Days ~ School DaysHowever,  I am going to cherish each moment of  this year knowing he will be moving on to be with the BIG KIDS next year.  Sometimes we are so busy remembering the “firsts” in our kids lives that we forget to take in all the “lasts”.  I think I forgot about this concept with my oldest son and now he is in college making his own way~his “last” for me was graduation and that was a great day.  I hope this is a good “last” year of elementary school for Zach and that he realizes his potential and keeps his innocence.  He is always saying he wants to be like Eli and how he cannot wait to see him in the hallways at school and really that makes me laugh, yet it makes me feel good to know he has someone to be watching out for him there too.

Remember Tuesday Girl loves a good “yarn” so please share with me in the comments thoughts you have about this coming school year with your kids or how you survived these growing years because I am accutely aware we don’t have instruction manuals and sharing is caring!!

In the midst of all this “school” thinking today I was reminded that last year Zach wrote a short essay on homework that  just cracks me up and I wanted to share it with all of you. 

Happy School Days!!

Homework Boycott Website School Days ~ School Days

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Posted in Education, Parenting, School Days, Team Work | 3 Comments »

Happy 225th Birthday Gardner!

Aug 9th, 2010 by Diane

Gardner Sidewalk Sale 014 150x150 Happy 225th Birthday Gardner!

Hey Everyone!!

On Saturday my family and I took a stroll through downtown Gardner for the Sidewalk Sale Event and had a great time.  Of course, Tuesday Girl took the opportunity to take photographs so that I could bring a fun video to you so that you can share in our experience too!  Historic downtown Gardner has changed much over the years, but it’s so beautiful to walk the sidewalk and see the local businesses and people from all over have a wonderful time together. The weather was cooperative and the train ride conductors, clowns, crafters, vendors and businesses were having a blast!

Of course I love history so here is a small bit to share with you about Gardner because after all, we helped Gardner by giving them a land grant aka Real Estate….to get them started~enjoy the tidbit and the video because I always have a great time making them and bringing you a bit of the past!

Gardner ~named in honor of Col. Thomas Gardner and the community was first settled in 1764.  It was officially incorporated as a town in 1785 after receiving land grants from the surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Westminster, Templeton and Winchendon. From about 1805, it became a center for lumber and the furniture industries, hence,  Gardner is known as the “Chair City” and “The Furniture Capital of New England”. By 1910 it had 20 chair factories which produced 4 million chairs per year.  Gardner was incorporated as a city in 1923. Did you know also that it became a filming location for the 1992 movie School Ties?

Gardner is the birthplace of Heywood-Wakefield Furniture, dating from 1826 when the five Heywood brothers began to fashion furniture in a barn near their father’s farm. Brothers Walter, Levi, Seth, Benjamin and William began that year making wooden chairs. In the early years, Walter fashioned chairs by hand, also using a foot lathe. He was soon joined by his brothers Levi and Benjamin, part-time, while running a nearby country store. A new store was built across the street from the original store. In 1831 Levi moved to Boston where he established an outlet store to sell the chairs, while Benjamin and William remained in Gardner to manufacture the chairs. A fire destroyed the Heywoods’ chair shop in 1834. In 1835 the partnership of B. F. Heywood & Co. was formed, composed of Benjamin, Walter and William, with Moses Wood and James W. Gates. Gardner was also the home of the Conant-Ball furniture factory and Nichols & Stone Chair Company traces their origin to 1762 in Westminster with the company moving to Gardner at the turn of the 20th century.

Enjoy the video and come and you can visit Gardner on the Web here

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Posted in Templeton News | No Comments »

“Tuesday Girl”

May 10th, 2010 by Diane

Tuesday GirlAbout a week or so ago I decided to take my camera, my local history book and one of my friends on an excursion around the town and villages of Templeton.  So, my friend and I hopped in my car and we thought, well, I bet we can do this in an hour or so~WRONG!!

It was sooo much fun looking in the book and trying (sometimes unsuccessfully) to find all the places and buildings that once were, or are still there or perhaps may be just a patch of land now.   It was even more fun doing this with a friend who loves looking at real estate and history as much as I do! 

We drove all over town, got in and out of the car, walked around the streets, met people along the way and just talked, laughed and took photos.  We imagined what things must have looked like or sounded like or exactly where buildings or trolleys would have been.  A older gentlemen stopped to tell us where he thought pictures could have been taken from…now that was cool.  We were driving around the streets of East Templeton looking for the 2nd octagon building and we stopped to ask someone if they might by chance know…she was so friendly and Lisa has emailed me and invited me to a business networking event~again, that was so cool!  By the time we realized it many hours had gone by and I needed to get home~but, there was so much more to find!

Tuesday GirlWhen I was in school (yes many years ago) I did alright in history and it was interesting and fun, but in a school environment sort of way.  Somewhere between thinking of starting a “did you know and everything inbetween Templeton page” and going out that day to see Templeton’s history~”Tuesday Girl” was found and the great adventure was only beginning!!

Thank you Tuesday Fans for being interactive on the fanpage and giving me great reasons to keep bringing you more.  I enjoy being your Tuesday Girl and bringing our town history to you in a fun and informative format.  Because I am a Realtor® it only makes it that much MORE fun to be out and about talking to all of you and looking at real estate in our town and villages!!  Way back when…the townsfolk would gather on the common to have an annual summer banquet, swap ideas, see people they have not seen in awhile and get to know new folks…I think we should organize a large picnic and bring this tradition back~not with a fair, flea market or selling any wares~just a good ol’  fashioned picnic!!

Tuesday GirlI am having a great time dreaming up new ideas for the Tuesday Page and Blog, but better than that I have some ideas I hope will benefit one of our historical sites in town~our Grange.  I will give more details on that as the ideas take shape and a plan is put into place for “Save Our Grange”.  Because of the Tuesday page, I have been asked to join the Narragansett Historical Society and come to their meetings~and I am very excited about this because I hope I can bring more cool tidbits to the Tuesday Page while I am helping the N.H.S.

Well, that’s all for now, but don’t forget to say hello if you see “Tuesday Girl” out and about!  Mention Tuesdays In Templeton to the local businesses you frequent also~I know the Kitchen Garden would love to see all of you fans.

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Posted in Templeton News, Tuesday's profile | No Comments »

The Kitchen Garden~The coffee pot is always on!

Apr 28th, 2010 by Diane

The Kitchen Garden~The coffee pot is always on!“Good Morning Little Store” says Joyce as she opens the door!

What a great way to be greeted by your owner because she loves coming to work everyday!  The coffee pot is always on here and the aroma from the breads, muffins, pies or cookies that may be in the oven greet your senses when the door is opened.  Come in and browse the unique gifts from books to baskets all made in New England or imported from their homeland of Finland.  Joyce believes in supporting New England businesses and artists and it shows in the quality of products offered.  The service you receive is no different~it’s nice to feel like home when you walk in the door.

For over 20 years the Kitchen Garden has been providing baked goods, farmstand vegetables and flowers along with the unique gifts for each season.  This is a family owned and operated business and the Henshaw family has been a part of Templeton since the 1880′s and have always had something to do with farming!!  This year they will be starting up their garden again and Joyce’s sons are looking foward to being a big part of that.  Hopefully this will be a better growing season than last year for all local farmers.  There is nothing better than the taste of home grown fresh veggies right out of the garden~mmmm.

The Kitchen Garden~The coffee pot is always on!Spring has arrived and you can be sure the flowers will be arriving soon so if you are in the mood to spruce up your outdoor spaces~be sure to stop on by.  They carry hanging baskets, small to large potted plants, and many flowers in between.  In the fall there are pumpkins and in the winter they have christmas trees to just name a couple of things….there really is something to stop by for in every season.

The Kitchen Garden started out as a farmstand with the baking only being one day a week and over time it grew to where there is baking going on everyday from Joyce’s famous and absolute best finnish bread, many kinds of pies, muffins, cookies,  and other goodies~all made right there!  The finnish bread is a recipe that has been handed down for generations.  Many customers order many loaves to give as gifts or to bring with them for special occasions or family gatherings.

The Kitchen Garden~The coffee pot is always on!Having customers feel at home in the store and become friends is very important to Joyce, her family and staff.  There is a place to sit outside and enjoy your goodies or there are tables and chairs in the corner of the store that may remind you of being at your grandmother’s house.

The Kitchen Garden is located 1/4 mile off exit 20 on Route 2 West.  I highly recommend stopping in for a cup of coffee and a baked goodie while you browse the unique gifts, flowers and garden fresh produce when it’s in season.  Remember the coffee pot is always on and the friends you will make here will become like family and that is just the way it should be.  Please visit the website www.kitchgarden.com also.

“Good Night Little Store” says Joyce as she closes up shop!

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Who and Why are “Tuesdays in Templeton”?

Apr 27th, 2010 by Diane

Diane Haley Brooks at Towne Country Realtors sm Who and Why are Tuesdays in Templeton?Hello, I am Diane Haley Brooks of Towne and Country Realtors and I am also a resident of Templeton.  I am a Realtor servicing Templeton and the surrounding towns.  My homebase is here and our office is in Leominster so I travel almost anywhere surrounding there also.  I have over 20 years experience in the Real Estate business from lending to homeownership counseling and now helping my clients buy and sell homes.

I am the name and face behind the Facebook FanPage of Tuesdays in Templeton and also this blog of the same name.   I have lived in Templeton since I was 8 years old and it is a great place to call home.  I have so many great memories growing up here of friends, family, school, church and of hosting tea parties at the historical society with costumes and all~and  to think they still do that is just so awesome!

I am now raising my family here and hoping they make some great memories too.  I moved back to Templeton almost 8 years ago and so much had changed, the high school morphed into a middle school too, the Ryder farm is now Cook Pond Estates, there are new subdivisions in places we used to hang out, we have a condominium complex to name just a few, but the piece I miss the most is knowing my neighbors.  Don’t you remember coming home from school, racing to do your homework so you could go outside to play with all your friends?  Everyone knew everyone on the street and that street could go for miles and you STILL knew everyone…well, it’s not quite like that anymore for my children.  Ok, that’s the “who” …~

As your hometown Realtor I want to get to know my neighbors and that includes the local businesses that I choose to support.  So, this is the “why” of the blog…

I thought to myself how could I get to know my neighbors and local businesses and also provide a benefit for them?  Well, I am into social networking as a way to generate business and perhaps I could blog about them and help promote their business?  GREAT IDEA~so I am going out to meet a couple of business owners a week and find out who they are, what they do and sell/make/provide for services and what they love about their business.  Now, because I love to write, on Tuesdays (hence the name) a different business will be featured here on the blog, on the Tuesdays in Templeton facebook fanpage and also my own personal page as a means of advertising for them.  I plan to also spotlight our historical buildings, happenings in and around town, perhaps some residents that would like to share stories with me and anything else around the town to help me get to know my neighbors.

On the Tuesdays in Templeton facebook page I have posted trivia, posts on the discussion tab, some photos (been too rainy to take to many), and tidbits of history here in Templeton.  Please join us on Facebook so I can know more of my neighbors and share your thoughts~I’d really enjoy that.  There is a page for Memories that you can post about memories you have from around town~please write as I love to read too!!

Subscribe to this blog so you can be updated with what’s happening and you also can get to know your neighbors and perhaps some new places to visit!!

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