This Week's Blog Post

Custom Lanyard
One of my customers requested a tiger eye lanyard with gold accents! I love it! 

I may consider adding this to my inventory along with some other more expensive gemstones.

Boston
So this is not my planned post for the week. In light of the tragedy that occurred on Monday, I wanted to do a little dedication to Boston as I have lived in Massachusetts my entire life and always within a 30 minute drive from this great city.  

Yesterday was surreal. Driving to work I was listening to the news and how Boston and surrounding towns were in lock down. Residents were being told to keep their doors locked. Public transportation was not running. I felt a huge sense of relief last night when they took the second suspect into custody!

It is not easy just going on with life as normal between this and the results of the horrific blast in Texas. Life right now feels uncomfortable to say the least.

To lighten things up I will share some of my favorite photos of Beantown in recent years. Those of you who have been following my blog for a while may remember some of these.

This is Jim's favorite painting at a cool restaurant (The Beehive) in the South End where we had a great jazz brunch.

I just love this thick heavy chain!

Fanuel Hall is a neat place for shopping, eating, drinking, enjoying street performers or simply people watching!

Paul Revere! He was the dude that shouted "the British are coming" while riding through on his horse. (although those were not his exact words that night)

Who does not love street art that makes you smile!

Here is the Old State House which is now a museum.

Here is the new State House (in the background) by the Boston Public Garden.

Brownstones!

The John Hancock Tower. My dad worked in this building when I was really young.

Great architecture and accents.

Old cobblestone streets. The Union Oyster House (in the background) is a landmark.

Ok. I do not care at all about sports, but Go Sox!

Why do we call it Beantown? 
Back in the colonial days, baked beans cooked in molasses was a favorite. There was some sort of overage of molasses so I guess the ladies got creative in the kitchen! That is what Boston Baked Beans are although they are no longer popular. 

Why do we call it The Hub? 
Author Oliver Wendell Holmes described the Old State House as a "hub of the Solar System" in a 1858 novel. The nickname was shortened years later. I guess the city was a little cocky during its growth!

Here is my favorite Boston anthem. It is titled "Dirty Water" by The Standells. The drummer cracks me up. I want whatever he is on!!! This song was written jockingly in 1966 when there was tons of pollution in the Boston Harbor and the Charles River.

Here is another one of my favorite Boston anthems. This is from the celtic rock band the Dropkick Murphys singing "Tessie". This Boston Red Sox anthem is a take on the 1902 Broadway musical The Silver Slipper.

I hope you enjoyed my tribute to a great town!!! If you have never been here, it is definitely worth the trip. It is a perfect walking city and easy to navigate!

Thank you for stopping by and have a great, peaceful week!!! ~Val