Mormon Temple, Farmington

The Mormon Church has just completed a large new temple in the Hartford suburb of Farmington, just the second temple in New England.  Non-Mormons are not permitted inside after the temple is dedicated so, before that happens, the temple is hosting three weeks of open visits.

Photos of the interior are not permitted.

Pink Party

Pink cupcakes.  Pink car.  Pink clothes.  Pink swag bags.  Yesterday the Pink Party at Blue Back Square raised funds and awareness for breast cancer prevention and treatment.

 Kudos to Gale Toyota.  They must have had six different booths and thirty volunteers, in addition to a pink vehicle for writing encouraging messages for and about family and friends.

The West Hartford police looked good with their pink bow ties.

Pratt Street

Pratt Street is a pedestrian-only street in the heart of Hartford's downtown.  All summer long the road has been blocked off and torn up while underground utilities were upgraded and

new brick pavers were laid.  Very tough on the merchants but it re-opens this week.

Unionville

Unionville is the westernmost village in Farmington, Connecticut.

At a time when big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are threatening local merchants,

it is satisfying to see that a Unionville building supply company, Sanford & Hawley, 

seems to be doing well enough to keep its building (dating back to 1790) nicely maintained.

Home to a fire fighting company, I doubt a modern fire engine fits inside.

A Civil War monument stands in front of the First Church of Christ at Unionville's main intersection.

Unionville has many older homes.  This Victorian house on Route 177 caught my eye.

More from the Park Road Parade

Well Done, Big Papi

Saturday night I went to Boston for the next to last Boston Red Sox game of the regular season.

A big draw was the impending retirement of David Ortiz, 40-year old designated hitter.

Ortiz -- "Big Papi" -- is a bigger than life character, a sure bet for the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

He has worn a Red Sox uniform (number 34) for the last 14 of his 20 major league seasons.

Ortiz ended his last season with a batting average of .315 (fourth highest in the American League), 

48 doubles (best in the league), 38 home runs (tied for eighth) and 127 runs batted in (best). 

Ortiz is so popular that the Red Sox organization bought 34 billboards around Boston and 

hired 34 artists to produce different tributes to him.  Well done, Big Papi.
And, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts named the bridge over the
Massachusetts Turnpike leading to the ballpark after Ortiz.

Park Road Parade

The Park Road Parade is a friendly parade in the southern part of West Hartford.  It has remarkably bad luck with weather.  Last year the parade was rained out.  After a very dry summer, 

it began to rain the day of this year's parade.

The fire and police color guards had positions of honor. 

A big Tibetan Nepalese community group has marched in native costumes for the past decade.
(Jeez, I knew that but my mind and fingers were not very well connected . . .
thanks, Bob Crowe.)

A dog obedience group always marches in the parade.

As do pug owners, who march under the banner of The Corner Pug, a favorite comfort food pub.