This blog will be taking a  break for the next couple of weeks. I will leave you with a few photos I  have not yet had the opportunity to post.

First, some iconic summer treats, which we get to enjoy year-round here in RI: the lobster roll and fried clam bellies. Rhode Islanders are persnickety about their seafood. The lobster roll must be overflowing, with not too much mayo.

People here prefer clam bellies to strips, although I like the flavor of strips better.

I saw a creative bird-feeding set-up on a garden tour. Using a big, dead branch to hold your feeders is attractive and functional, don’t you think?

I also saw this row boat planter in the same garden. Do you love it or do you find it kitschy?

The last stop on the tour featured several clematis, including this one, which looks more like a dahlia to me. The owners are dahlia growers, which might explain it.

I saw a man walking down a street in Hyannis, Cape Cod, with what looked like five dogs. They were all perfectly behaved and seemed to walk in sync, almost like doggie Rockettes.

Then I looked again and there were seven! Imagine walking that many big dogs at the same time. He knew what he was doing, though.