Pink Saturday Goes to the Travel and Adventure Show

 

It doesn't have to be far away to be a great vacation spot

Love the coast of New England

Yesterday I attended the travel show at the Javits Center. I was at the show in 2020, just before the world turned upside down and last year there was no travel show. It was great to be thinking about travel and I enjoyed seeing the different booths, even if my plans aren't very far afield right now. There were fewer booths and much less glitz and fancy displays. I had my eye on things that would be good photographs for Pink Saturday and didn't find anything that stood out. 

The Ossining (NY) train station, from a collection done by the MTA Arts for Transit  

I chose to photograph two postcards instead. The top card is part of a collection from South County, Rhode Island, a pretty stretch along the Rhode Island coast. The second card is a quick train trip from home, up the Hudson River on the commuter railroad, MetroNorth. It's especially lovely in the autumn, looking at the colors on the trees along the river. 

I enjoyed looking at the booths and brochures, though right now I'm not making any travel plans that take me very far from home. I've got two trips planned for later in the spring (Massachusetts and New Hampshire for college reunions) and a trip to Maine in the summer, so I'm feeling very grateful for those adventures to come.

My new zebra buddy

I was intrigued by the African safari trips and that's a trip to dream about. While I was perusing the displays I made a new friend and the thought of seeing zebras and giraffes in their habitat is enticing. But, with the state of the world, it's going to be the Bronx Zoo for the next while, and I'm glad for that nearby opportunity.  

I'm beginning to get into a new schedule and it feels good. I'm back to the gym (Hurray!) and will try and get there a few times a week. I stopped by this afternoon and plan to sample a class on Tuesday. I'm not trying to get everything exactly as it was pre-March 2020, because some of those things just don't exist anymore. There's a shortage of lifeguards in New York City, so our senior water aerobics classes aren't being held. I'm hoping as things settle, more life guards can be trained. What's your schedule for the week?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.   

H Is for Hanover, New Hampshire

Welcome to Hanover, NH, home of Dartmouth College

We've been literally traveling from one end of the earth to the other and we will continue to until we get to Z. But from time to time we'll be visiting New England. I grew up in Connecticut, went to college in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and regularly visit Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island. This corner of America is home and a piece of my heart is always here. 

I spent my junior year in college in Hanover, as an exchange student at Dartmouth College, in the era before coeducation. Dartmouth, founded in 1769, was a college for men when I arrived in the fall of 1970. There were approximately 100 women who studied there on exchange from our home colleges and thirty five hundred men who were enrolled for degrees. It was difficult, challenging, intellectually exciting and fun. I loved the beautiful town of Hanover and cherished the beauty of autumn and spring and exploring the New Hampshire countryside. Despite any difficulties, it was an extraordinary opportunity, for which I remain grateful fifty years later. 

Dartmouth Hall

I thought I could easily navigate the New Hampshire winter, but I wasn't prepared for a winter that lasted into the end of April. There were nights in January, 1971 that were literally thirty degrees below zero and that didn't include a wind factor. It was beyond freezing, even to this New England born and bred woman. This is Hanover on a perfect spring day a few years ago, but walking from Dartmouth Hall to Baker Library, pictured above, was a slow trudge between mounds of snow. 

I'd hoped to share a photo of myself as part of this post, but the few I have were not quickly retrievable. I found a number of other pictures I hope to use for other posts, so my efforts today will be useful.  

The next stop on our blog tour around the world takes us to Asia. We'll be visiting both a new country, as well as a city there. I hope you'll join us. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Much love and wash your hands. 

I'd Love to Go to Chase's Daily Every Day

My visit to Maine was fabulous. Whether it was a wooded walk to a private beach -- first photograph below -- or blissfully watching the sunset from the sun porch -- second photograph below -- I had a wonderful visit. The only problem was blogging, or lack of blogging. I was for the most part off the grid and blogger was highly uncooperative. There's at least one more Maine post to come with additional pictures of the land and seascape.
 

Besides visiting, sitting on the porch and enjoying the view, eating was a prime activity. There were several lobster treats, but also a trip to the very fabulous Chase's Daily in Belfast, Maine. Family run and focused on vegetables, I had one of the best meals of the summer there. During the summer season there is always a line to be seated, but after Labor Day it wasn't as crowded when we arrived. However, by one o'clock every table was taken.    

Choosing my meal -- I was joined by two college friends -- wasn't easy. Everything looked good.
 

We all started with the soup of the day, tomato spinach. The spinach and the seasoning took this bowl of soup a long way from the classic red can. It was sophisticated and delicious and one of my goals for the fall is to try a variation at home. We followed the soup with tacos and ended our meal with a dessert buffet -- chocolate crinkle cookies, raspberry tart and an apple blackberry tart. If you have the good fortune to be in Belfast, Maine -- about two hours north of Portland -- I strongly suggest scheduling breakfast or dinner at Chase's Daily. 
 

There were beautifully displayed vegetables and flowers for sale in the back of the restaurant.

 

Maine is slipping back into memory now that I'm home. It's back to laundry, grocery shopping and doing my daily walking. I neglected the latter while I was in Maine and it's time to enjoy the almost autumn days outdoors. 

 

Sadness continues and my heart is in Mexico City and Puerto Rico tonight. Prayers for safety and recovery for both areas. 

 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

I Love Saybrook in the Summer When It Sizzles

In black and white...

...and the same view in color.

 

 

With my apologies to both Cole Porter and to the beautiful and non-sizzling weather in Old Saybrook, CT today, I love this view in every season. It's the marina view of the Saybrook Point Inn. My friend Lonni's daughter was married here a year ago and Lonni and I enjoyed the time spent here so much we have returned in every season. Sometimes -- like today -- the marina is complete with boats and other times -- as in the photograph below -- the boats are waiting out the winter elsewhere.

 



 

Each visit brings changes and this visit brought the new wood carvings throughout the property.

 

 

With each visit Saybrook captures another tiny piece of my heart. I spent many summer days at nearby beaches when I was growing up and the visits bring up memories of childhood summers with family. So many of those loved ones I shared those days with are long gone, but their memories are vivid in shores and shadows of Long Island Sound. 

 

 When I was replaying "I Love Paris" before writing this post I thought the words weren't quite right for my experiences along the Connecticut shore. There was no romance and no romantic memories, so the phrase "because my love is there" just wasn't appropriate for this post. But love takes on many meanings and my love is definitely there with family and the dearest of friends. I love Saybrook every season because my love is there.   

 

Yes, this dessert was as delicious as it looks.  

 

There are memories, there is the view and the water and there is also the food. One of the highpoints of our visits are long, leisurely, delicious lunches. Today I discovered Gelato Giuliana, made in New Haven. I had vanilla and salted caramel. Both were delicious, but my favorite was the salted caramel. I'm on the lookout for finding this fabulous gelato in New York. If I'm unsuccessful I will just have to make more visits to Connecticut. I'm especially eager to try the signature flavor, La Giuliana, which is espresso, mascarpone and chocolate swirl. 

Tomorrow I resume my regularly scheduled life: yoga, Weight Watchers -- the scale may not be a friend -- and grocery shopping. How are you spending August?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.

(Hoping, Hoping) Sixty-Seven is a Slice of Heaven

 

The wonderful pies at Judies, in Amherst, MA

I came up with the title for this post a few weeks before my birthday. I liked it for the rhyme and for the thought. Now that my birthday is two weeks past I've come to savor the thought that this year -- and every year that I'm given in the future -- will be a slice of heaven. I don't envision angels and trumpets, but rather the imagery of William Blake and my hope is to see "a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower."
 

Love my lemon meringue!

 

One of my birthday celebrations was spent at Judies in Amherst, Massachusetts. This is one of my favorite restaurants with great food, popovers and pie, lots of pie. I was with my friend Lonni and we chose to split two pieces of pie. Perhaps it was a little much, but I only turn sixty-seven once. Our first choice was a classic, and delicious, lemon meringue.

We followed up with a slice of equally delicious and very rich, derby pie. Derby pie is a wonderful combination of chocolate and walnuts. I didn't know its origins in Kentucky and recommend following the link to learn more about it. Is anyone else a fan of derby pie?

I feel that I'm finally settling back to being home after reunion, BookExpo, BlogHer and my birthday weekend in Connecticut. It was all wonderful, but it's taken me several weeks to settle back into yoga, walking, eating more vegetables than pie and blogging. I'm looking to schedule less for the time until Labor Day and enjoy the pleasures of New York City.

I'm once again joining with my friends at Pink Saturday for some pretty in pink fun.

As ever, thanks for visiting. Hope you're having a weekend that includes pie and fun.

The First Lobster Roll Taste Test

Sometime in the spring I read an article on Facebook about the best lobster rolls -- lobster meat and butter served in a hotdog bun -- in Connecticut. The article nominated Abboott's in the Rough in Noank, Connecticut for this honor. I'm a lobster roll fan and my friend, Lonni, is as well. We agreed to visit Abbott's -- and possibly a number of other restaurants to do a lobster roll taste-test. 

We chose a Friday to avoid the weekend crowds -- which are legendary -- and unfortunately we didn't get a sunny day. We did get a day that made parking and a window seat easy to get.

Abbott's, and most of the restaurants on the top lobster-roll list are not fancy. But the seafood is fresh and I have no problem using paper napkins. Our party of four chose lobster rolls -- the reason for this outing -- lobster bisque and steamer clams. I am a fan of "steamers," and they were small and sweet. Steamers used to be ubiquitous, but now they are harder to find. I was delighted to see them on the menu. We finished up with a delicious strawberry shortcake, made with homemade biscuits.
 

The sun didn't shine on Noank, a beautifully preserved whaling town,

but the sun shined on our meal.

 

 

Was this the best lobster roll in Connecticut? It will take a lot more taste testing before I can present the Buttercup Lobster Roll Award. It was definitely a very good lobster roll and Abbott's is definitely worth a trip. Now on to more taste testing! 

 

I'm back to my regular schedule -- walking, Weight Watchers and decluttering. Lots of books to read (and write about), friends to visit with and summer fruit to eat. 

 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 



 

You Can Go Home Again

Our formal class portrait

 

I'm now back from Reunion and I've slipped back into "real life."  I've slept in my own bed for three nights -- not missing the dorm mattress at all -- grocery shopped and begun to catch up with a dozen other errands. But more often than not, I find my thoughts turning back to the Reunion weekend. I expected to have a good time and enjoy spending time with classmates, but the experience far exceeded my expectations. There was a connection and warmth that surpassed any previous reunions -- which I've enjoyed -- and presents a path into the future.  

 

One of the highlights of the weekend was the Alumnae Parade. Each class that is present marches with the class banner and signs through the campus. We wear white to honor the Suffragettes and an accessory in our class color. The colors alternate -- red, blue, green, yellow -- and my class wears blue. For our fortieth reunion we had bright blue shawls and for this reunion gardening aprons complemented our look.  In the to-do of getting organized in the morning I left mine in my room, so I'm not quite properly attired. 

 

We had dinners, lunches and brunches and this is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend. I'm with my friends Anne and Peggy and Anne's daughters at our Saturday night dinner.

The Class of 1952, back for their 65th Reunion

After my class marched we stood at the sidelines and cheered for the classes of 1962, 1952 and yes, 1942. The women of 1952 are in their late 80s and I was impressed by their energy and enthusiasm.
There were golf carts for those who weren't able to do the walk -- about three quarters of a mile -- but most of the group walked the march route. Reunions are done on two weekends, so we didn't get to see the members of the classes of 1957 and 1967, who returned to campus the weekend before for their fiftieth and sixtieth reunions. 

I feel incredibly grateful for the good health and well-being to be able to be part of this weekend. Our class genuinely likes spending time together and we are planning (at least) four smaller reunions across the country before our fiftieth. We've met in Wilmington, Delaware and Richmond, Virginia in the last few years, but we're now looking towards the West coast to be more geographically inclusive.

Today is the last day of May and the wrap-up for the Mile A Day in May Challenge. I'll be back in the next day with my numbers and information about the giveaway. I've been keeping track and for me, May has been a terrific month for walking. I hope you've had a similar experience. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
 

To the Class of 1972

May, 1969

 

 

I'm just about ready to leave my apartment to begin the journey back to South Hadley, Massachusetts and my forty-fifth college reunion. Suitcase packed, bag of books for the book exchange by the door and a dozen other errands completed. We've been planning this seriously for the last year, and now, somewhat to my surprise, the time is here. Two of the women in the photograph will be in the car with me and I'm grateful for their presence today and through the years.

 

 

This is a toast to friends I knew forty-five years ago and others I've gotten to know in the last five years. Thank you for laughter and friendship. Here's to another step in our journey together. 

Beautiful Vermont Pink Saturday

The view from my friends' house in Stowe

This Pink Saturday we're going to leave New York and go to another picture perfect holiday setting, Vermont. I had the wonderful fortune to visit my dear college friend K. and family in Stowe, Vermont. My last post shared my flight delay in the airport in Burlington on my return trip. Fortunately it was a short delay and I was home that evening. The last few days have been more hectic than I anticipated. I realize that every year this week is busy, very busy. It's been happy busy, but there are packages to wrap and mail, and cards to write. My dining room table is covered with cards, wrapping and all the accoutrements of the season -- tape, tags and ribbon.  

The Community Church in the center of Stowe.

The town is lovely and picture perfect.  It was a great visit and I loved exploring "downtown" Stowe. I did a little gift shopping, made a visit to the library, and sampled fabulous coffee.

 

I fell in love with The Country Store on Main and stopped there both days I was exploring Stowe. I picked up several gifts for events in January and wish I could just move in to this lovely and cheerful place. I don't need one more dish, but there were a few serving pieces that are still calling my name.  

I especially enjoyed my visit to the Library and the Festival of the Trees. This is the Library's own creation for the Festival and the ornaments are made from pages of books. The Helen Day Art Center on the second floor of the library building is a wonderful gallery. If I had an inch of wall space left in my apartment I know I would have purchased several pieces.

 

This beautiful house graces Main Street. The decorations are so simple, but so lovely. I love the bright lights of New York and the glitter and glow, but I also love the greenery and red ribbons of New England. And yes, the sky was really so beautifully blue.

 One task I didn't get to was choosing the name of the winner for the "Winter Sky" giveaway. I am remiss, but I will get to it tomorrow and post it with a few more Vermont pictures.

As ever, thanks so much for visiting. Take good care and enjoy the ribbons, the wrapping and time with those you love.
 

Wedding Weekend in Connecticut

I could title this post "You can take the girl out of New England, but you can't take New England out of the girl." But in the interest of not having the longest blog post title ever I am going with something a little simpler.

This has been -- despite the heat -- the loveliest, sweetest weekend celebrating the wedding of my dear friend's daughter. The fetes are a delight -- rehearsal dinner, "girls' brunch, cocktail hour -- and the company is a treat. Yes, I'm here for a wedding celebration, but I'm so enjoying my vacation at the beach in Connecticut.

We're in Old Saybrook, and both land and seascapes are beautiful. There will be more pictures and posts to come, including a Wedding Wednesday bridal post.

As ever, thanks for visiting. Keep cool and enjoy the weekend.