Month: August 2016

Chillingly Beautiful -Western MA II

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Western Massachusetts is a chillingly beautiful region where creativity comes from blood.  -M. Taggart.

Turners Cold
This building is located on the bank of the Connecticut River in Turners Falls, MA.  Many children have dared one another to enter any one of the old mill buildings. Some of which are dilapidated and empty.
Gill Bridge
This bridge stands some 80 plus feet above the Connecticut River in Gill, MA. It is truly beautiful. However, for locals, it unfortunately holds a haunting reputation. Sometimes the bodies aren’t found until spring, caught on the banking of an island downstream.
Mill Turners
A building left in ruins, Turners Falls, MA. It’s rumored one of the Fallout games was designed after the crumbling mill buildings found in Turners Falls. Photo Credit eofp.net.
B of F
The famous Bridge of Flowers located in Shelburne Falls, MA. Photo credit, millbrookhousenews.
Flood Shelburne
The flood that nearly destroyed The Bridge of Flowers courtesy of Hurricane Irene in 2011.
Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell painting. The Normal Rockwell museum is located in Stockbridge, MA. The painter found inspiration within the hills of the Berkshires. Drive through them and you’ll understand.
inside
As a ‘hello’ to my friends back home, I had to include another Turners Falls photo. Did any of you make it to this hallway? And I wasn’t joking. Turners is rumored to be the inspiration for the Fallout Four release.

 

Strathmore.jpg
The Strathmore Paper Mill buildings in Turners Falls.
IMG_2345
And I leave you with this hidden gem of farmland. Only a few will know its location.

 

Thank you for reading and Cheers!

I invite you to learn about my self published book.

https://mtaggartwriter.wordpress.com/my-book/

Or read the reviews via the amazon link below.

Fallout Four / Turners connection: http://www.barcroft.tv/real-life-fallout-four-urban-historian-explores-locations-boston-massachusetts

Gill Bridge Photo Credit – Mapio.net

Strathmore Paper company photo credit – recorder.com

Odd Walking Thoughts – Let Dignity Embrace Strangeness

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A small man walked in the strangest way. Talking to himself, he walked and flicked at the air with his hands. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ The boy asked. ‘What do you mean?’ Replied his mother. She noted the small man with dignity. ‘He swats the air with his hands while speaking,’ said her son. His mother smiled slightly, ‘when we seat ourselves in muddled afterthought we all say a prayer. Look at the man walk. He is not empty of thought as most, and when he seats his thoughts, he’s swirling everything with insight and depth.’

copyright 2016 -M. Taggart

You feel like home – A Poem

mtaggartwriter4 Comments

It was summer and I was driving alone – windows down – wind blowing
From the rear view mirror I watched dust thickly fly-
I needed this- the dust and leaves dropping – flying so uniquely for themselves-
I didn’t know you then
But I knew I would
You see – it’s hard for me to say – but you see-
You feel like home

copyright 2016 – M. Taggart

 

A Pub Walk – New England Pubs

mtaggartwriter4 Comments

I enjoy pubs. I enjoy reading. I combined them and learned I am addicted to reading while at pubs. Listening to the drone of public speak, mixed with arguments or laughter, I’ve found a gem of solitude and happiness. I have even met great friends.

In New England we have a number of hidden pubs. When asked how to get to one of these gems, some might answer, ‘You can’t get there from here.’

First, The Book Mill. Seated on the bank of a river in Montague, MA. Before this converted mill housed a pub (The Lady Killigrew Cafe), my brother and I would walk this river and watch our father fish for trout. Get there early and grab a seat overlooking the river. Outside seating overlooking moving water stirs imagination. Go here. They have good beer and oddly enough good rice. There’s even a bookstore next door.

Outside Brew

bookmill1

 

Next up- The BridgeSide Grill, Sunderland, MA. Ah, Yes! I cannot write this without mentioning some good friends. I would embarrassingly stay at this cozy family friendly hide-away until closing time. At times I would help them vacuum. These were my bachelor days and the owner and staff were incredibly kind to me. They never kicked me out while I read and drank their beer and held up a seat for hours. In fact, I miss doing that to them. I lived close by. I walked there. And I would walk home. The BridgeSide Grille has a nook style bar and outside patio. I once was able to talk the owner’s son into selling a piece of art work he’d created. His painting was once hung on the wall of the bar. I really should give that back. When visiting BridgeSide be sure to also drive to the top of Mount Sugarloaf. BridgeSide Grille is located just on the over side of the bridge.

B Side Bridge

 

And moving on- Rhode Island has many pubs. One of which is The Twisted Vine in Westerly, RI.. Along with a great name, Pat and her employees were amazing to Megan during her pregnancy. The Twisted Vine has a NYC feel with the comfort of New England. Exposed Brick, properly lighted, with wood floors and a fire place- you cannot go wrong enjoying a drink here. Especially in the winter. Seat yourself in one of the high back leather chairs near the fireplace and enjoy a cocktail named after a famous author, such as my favorite, Ernest Hemingway. Just before Christmas I once walked into The Twisted Vine to find a Christmas party ongoing. It was packed. There wasn’t one seat left at the bar. Everyone was dressed very well. I was wearing a hoodie, blue jeans, and boots. I was even wearing my beat up Boston Red Sox hat. In my right hand was a book. I turned to leave. While walking toward the door, someone grabbed my elbow and said, ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Pat, the owner, had observed me leaving. She wasn’t about to let me feel out of place. And it worked. She placed my butt in a seat and told me to enjoy and read. And I did.

I took the picture of The Twisted Vine’s floor just after Pat had them sanded and urethaned. Pat had seen me walking down the street and waved me in to have a look.

photo (58)

porter

And instead of my sub par photography I’ll post a picture that shows how gorgeous The Twisted Vine is.

Vine.JPG

Vine O

 

And lastly, simply because I’m running out of time to write, The Haversham. Also in Westerly, RI. Within The Haversham you’ll find a large sports pub. You literally can’t get there from one side of the road. You must first fight the Rhode Island road system before being able to enjoy one of the best sports pubs in the area. And when you do, ask for Shane. That man you will not forget. He may, or may not, be slightly crazy. Which I consider to be a word of wisdom and I’m flattered when I’m given the compliment.

It’s simple- if you want to watch a Patriots game and shout at the top of your lungs while drinking beer, this is where you need to be. You will have a rowdy good time. I’ve taken too many pictures of myself cheersing a new friend while at the Haversham. I’ve read numerous books and talked at length about authors, town happenings, and even politics and religion.

H Q

And slightly crazy Shane. The beach is just down the road.

Crazy S

I use the term ‘Pub’ loosely in this article. Each establishment I’ve written about has it’s own brand. I call them ‘Pubs’ because I hold that word close to my heart. To me, it’s an expression. A compliment. When I ask a friend if they’d like to go to a Pub it is because I would like to create a memory over a pint. I would like to charge forward and dive into a conversation that might never be forgotten. I want to cheers to them and to the moment and take a long pull just as Hemingway may have done.  And remember- Don’t ask permission to live your life. Live and be well doing it.

Thanks for reading. If interested in reading more you’ll find information on my self published short story via the link below.

https://mtaggartwriter.wordpress.com/my-book/

Cheers.

 

Odd Walking Thoughts- Wretched Be

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We weren’t asleep. The disgusting face was once again in our ear. The box was heavy and dark over our heads. Ask one more time to see. We bite through our mind’s fluid darkness to find another- alone and alone always here. It is better than being in the box with the heaviness and the darkness with the question to always see.

copyright 2016 -M. Taggart

New England Talking Trail – A Poem

mtaggartwriter5 Comments

A wooded trail in New England is different than any other-
For it speaks to you while you walk

The gray squirrels announce your arrival
while playing tag in the under brush-
The chipmunks chirp their warning
and now every woodland creature is aware-

The blue jay shrieks its boastful bellowing call of territorial command-

The wind rustles the drying leaves –
Readying themselves to drop to the ground-
They sound like evening whispers while sitting on a porch

A bend in the trail beckons you – though it is getting to be dusk-
Now the sounds of the path are darkening-
and have taken a tone of daring

Moonlight is seeping through the canopy of New England-

While you walk you hope the light of the moon will brighten the trail-
Just a bit more-
For you hear the same gray squirrels and rustling leaves-
But the squirrels are much larger now, and the whispers are no longer friendly front porch speak-

copyright 2016 -M. Taggart

 

I invite you to learn about my self published book.

https://mtaggartwriter.wordpress.com/my-book/