Winter! It's cold and snowy!!

Lake Hill luminary and Mink Hollow sweetheart Cecilie R. sends in this pic from the winter of 2015. Which, by the way, seems just like winter to me. Seriously, every freakin' winter, everybody freaks the freak out like it's the first time they've ever seen snow or felt cold. It's winter, people. Spring is next. Carry on. Oh yeah, a carton of Duraflame fatwood firestarters goes out to CR as our little way of saying "thanks."

Up on blocks in the front yard . . .

. . . right here on tony South St. in upscale Rhinebeck, NY.

Spencertown

Does not come with the special insurance rider covering host liability for injuries incurred.

A carton of insurance agents goes out to fab reader Patti M. as our little way of saying "thanks" for sending this in.

Labor Day free

Peac

Is that a part of a peace sign?

Thanks to loyal reader Daisy M. for telling us the location of this mess o' free stuff.

Rhinebeck, NY, county fair week.

Who wants pine?

Right here in beautiful Rhinebeck, NY, they're giving away pine! And there's more where that came from!!

Live free or die

Loyal reader and all-around amazing person KS has reminded us here at the free signs blog of another reason to love New Hampshire, their danged state motto! Thanks KS for sending in the fab pics and pointing out the lovely line: "Live free or die." A Harry Houdini lock pick set goes out to her as our little way of saying "thanks."

You gotta love family dynamics. Next up: the brother sitting by the curb with a free sign around his neck.

Fhy I Free

Well, the kids went off to Fire Island, which they lovingly call Fhy I, and at least one of them thought of me at least twice. Thanks to loyal reader ARM for sending in these fab free signs. A lifetime supply of Blue Rhino propane goes out to ARM as out little way of saying "thanks."

2 from KR

It's always nice to meet friends who turn out to be readers of the free signs blog, especially when they have some free signs to share. Such was the case the other day when loyal reader KR shared some lovely pics with us at the frisbee golf course at the Woodstock Public Library. A carton of crayolas goes out to sweet person KR as our little way of saying "thanks."

Joo no wha?

I'll tell you wha'? My cousin and loyal "free signs" reader, JW, sent me in a pic from Juneau, Alaska. Never been, but would love to go. How is it, cuz? Send news!  A case of "Alaska's best insect repellent" Alpenglow goes out to JW as our little way of saying "thanks."

Comfy yet?

This just in via facebook from loyal reader Lucia R-V, who probably found this lovely scene in lovely Woodstock, NY. A carton of bed bug dust goes out to LRV as our little way of saying "thanks."

Woodstock

Fab reader Alison G. sends in this smorgasbord of free things and one over-taped sign from in front of the wooden kazoo sign in Woodstock. A carton of Mop-n-glo goes out to A Grr as out little way of saying "thanks."

Place

Newly loyal reader Eric S. sends in this little gem from Who-knows-where, (which is right next to E. Bumfuck on Googlemaps). Anyway, it's a lovely sign and a lovely shot and we're sending out a gross of mini U.S. flags to Eric as our little way of saying "thanks."

Memorial day free signs

Well, the Memorial Day holiday has come and gone and, like most holidays these days, I wanna do it all over again: it was filled with fun and frolic and (yes, alliteration fans) free signs. So without further ado, here are a few from this weekend:

O, Free!

From our neighbor to the north and NAFTA partner extraordinaire, comes this fab free photo courtesy of loyal reader Anne CH. 

In honor of this, the post that makes us a truly international blog, we reproduce the first verse of their national anthem, "O, Canada."

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land, glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee;
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

2 "frees" in that verse. Not too bad, but really, some of those "thee's" could be changed to "free's", non? Anyway, a big "merci" to reader ACH and, perhaps, that Canada plate from the post below, as our little way of saying "thanks".

Cleaning out the free file

A gaggle of free signs from the last few months; I'm pretty sure none of these have been posted before, but if so, I beg your pardon.

Still life with free sign

New contributor Janet B. sends in this lovely free sign of unknown provenance. A roll of perfectly preserved Kodachrome goes out to J.B. as our little way of saying "thanks."

Post season free

Awesome reader Alice M. sends in a pic of this bouquet of candy canes. Yum. A magnum of Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millésime goes out to AM as our little way of saying 'thanks'.

Fries? Friend? Frumpy?

Fab photog and loyal reader Patti M. sends in this snow covered and presumed-to-be free sign from Germantown, NY. A red snow ball maker goes out to Patti as our little way of saying 'thanks.'

Orange ya glad?

From Durham, S.C., comes this sweet spray paint typography, courtesy of lovely loyal reader Yvette Y. 

A pack of matches goes out to YY as our little way of saying "thanks." Oh. Also this recipe:

Bananas flambé

Ingredients
1 orange
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1/4 cup orange liqueur or brandy
Kosher salt
3 ripe bananas, peeled, halved lengthwise and crosswise
1/2 cup dark rum
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
Remove 4 strips orange zest with a vegetable peeler. Squeeze the orange and strain the juice.

Melt the butter with the sugar, orange zest and vanilla bean in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar caramelizes, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the liqueur, orange juice and a pinch of salt.

Return the skillet to medium heat, add the bananas, cut-side down, and cook until glazed and golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and divide among bowls.

Add the rum to the pan and return to medium heat. Warm for a few seconds without stirring, then carefully tilt the pan so the rum ignites (if using an electric stove, hold a lit match near the sauce to ignite it). Spoon the flaming sauce over the bananas. Garnish with whipped cream and the glazed orange zest.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/bananas-flambe-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

An instant classic

Saw this in Rhinebeck mid October. Met the guy who made it. With a chain saw. Of course. Spectacular.