Connecticut Day and Being Lazy

First, let me say I don’t mean to imply that the good folks of Connecticut are lazy in anyway. It’s just that today is both Connecticut Day and Lazy Day. One really has nothing to do with the other.

Lately when I’ve honored a particular state on their National Day, I’ve picked a place and really taken a long look at what they had to offer. In Georgia, we took a long look at the life style of Alpharetta on the outskirts of Atlanta. Before that we were tourists in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Connecticut is a beautiful state, very rich in history. I had planned to focus in on Mystic, Connecticut much the way I did in Alpharetta. But beyond the touristy things, I really didn’t find much else about the place. There’s a lot of history, which is great but not much about life in Mystic today. So I guess we’re going to feature the tourist attractions, which are tied directly to the long maritime history of Mystic. Like any place else in America, Mystic was originally settled by Native Peoples. The Pequot controlled the area of Mystic until the English began to arrive. War erupted, eventually leading to the Mystic Massacre of an Indian settlement, and the treaty of 1638. While the Indian conflict was over, land disputes continued. Connecticut and Massachusetts Bay colonies both claimed jurisdiction over the area. This was settled when both sides agreed to establish boundary. Connecticut governed the lands west of the Thames River, while Massachusetts Bay controlled the land to the east, including the Mystic River. By the 18th century, three villages began to develop along the Mystic River. The largest village was Mystic (now Old Mystic). The others were Stonington and Groton. Mystic itself isn’t even a legal township, but rather a village. Somewhere along the line, boundries were redrawn and Mystic is now a part of Connecticut.

If you love the sea and maritime history, Mystic will not disappoint. Mystic is home to the Mystic Seaport Museum, the largest museum of its kind. You can actually see historic vessels. The most famous is the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden Whaler’s ship left in the world. In addition to the historic vessels in the shipyard, there are seasonal exhibits and a re-created 19th Century Seafaring Village. The buildings themselves were all built in the 1800s, then transported to the Museum from all around New England. There’s even a working shipyard where visitors can see firsthand the art of wooden shipbuilding.

If you visit Mystic between May and October, you can experience the river for yourself. There are Sailboats and rowboats up and down the water for rent. There are also guided tours where visitors can bring a picnic lunch and learn about the history from the locals. What a nice, quiet way to step back to a simpler time. When packing your lunch, be sure to visit one of the winery nearby for a bottle or two.

---

Remember at the start, when we talked about today being National Lazy Day? What could be more lazy (aside from getting this at McDonalds) than to enjoy a complete breakfast you can eat with one hand? And for the record, fast food ain’t got nothin’ on homemade. Enjoy!

Sausage Muffin Sandwich
1/2 lb Breakfast Sausage
4 English Muffins
4 teaspoons Butter
4 Eggs
4 slices American Cheese, optional

Form the sausage into four 2-ounce balls. Flatten into patties slightly larger than the English Muffin. Cook sauce in a skillet with a little water for 5 minutes. Flip, continue to fry until the sausage is cooked through. Hold patties in a warm oven until ready to assemble the sandwiches.

Split English Muffins. Toast lightly in the toaster. Butter the split side of the muffins. Stack together and hold in the oven alongside the sausage.

Place water in the bottom of a skillet fitted with an egg poacher. Lightly spray the poacher cups with cooking spray. Heat poacher over medium heat. Working with one egg at a time, crack egg into a glass measuring cub. Beat egg, then pour into a cup of the poacher. Repeat until all the cups are filled.

Cover and cook eggs until fully set and cooked through, about 6 minutes.

To assemble, place 4 halves of the English Muffins on individual plates. Lay a slice of American Cheese on the muffins. Top with sausage patty, then egg, then remaining half of the muffin. Serve warm with your favorite morning beverage.

---

Let my soul glory in the Lord;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.