A wee bit about me, Tracy. Married to my high school sweetie for a looooong time. Mama of 4 beautiful kiddos, now ADULTS!!!! This blog is a potpourri of posts. Some wax on about my Catholic faith, others family, some are just a “diary” of life updates. Life is a journey, taken one day at a time (sometimes one step at a time) and my blog is about my personal trek through life. Peace!
It seems only fitting that I throw up a little fall/Autumn post to follow the summer post.
The leaves have fallen. Except for ONE tree. Hubs has blown the yard clean and tarped the leaves off to the woodsy area to decompose. Sunlight peaces out about 4:30pm and I put my snow tires on today, so we are definitely wrapping up fall and getting ready for winter and the white stuff.
Foliage here is pretty cool. I hope I never tire of it. My commute to work is through one of the loveliest areas on the interstate. Fascinating to watch the changes day by day and playing the guessing game of “when will it peak?” For someone who’s 4 seasons for most of her life have been hot and not hot, the seasons are a phenomenal way to mark the year. I can’t tell you which season is my fave because they all have their own beauty, but fall is mind blowing, that’s for sure.
We were lucky enough to have 3 of our kiddos come visit and enjoy various stages of foliage—no one was disappointed.
Baby boy and his sweet pea enjoyed some lovely temps, gorgeous foliage and the end of summer flowers. Hiking, exploring NH on the coast and Vermont and catching “Hay Day” at the Fells on the way home. The girls hit the peak foliage, and we enjoyed some hiking and tromping through the woods, the annual Duck Drop at Sunapee, Mac’s Maple ice cream and the Harvest Day festival at a local farm. Such a joy to share this scenery!After the kids left, the Hubs and I continued and continue to check out new trails, a trip to Boston to catch a Bruins game, Boston Public Library and then more exploring in Vermont and, and, and, and. No shortage of exploration up here. And this morning sunrise. Swoon!!
Now I guess I’ll peruse the Christmas card situation. Vacillating between the annual card or a slide show. We shall see.
I’m on a little roll today in between walking in the woods, exploring another ski mountain, chilling on the couch and sitting by an afternoon fire in the yard. And with it getting dark at 4:30pm now, it’s nice to look back on sunnier days and remember this cozy season won’t last forever.
Let’s look back on some more summer, shall we?
After our amazing and romantic anniversary trip our baby girl came to visit solo. Parting is always hard so we try to cram as much love and fun into each day as we can.
We try to explore a new area during visits and this time we went to Gloucester, MA.
We enjoyed some coastal exploring, a park with a beautiful old quarry, flowers everywhere and a path to the ocean littered with boulders and tidal pools everywhere. Lobstah and lobstah rolls for lunch—of course. The food and the scenery made up for the traffic on the way in and made for a really fun day trip.
After baby girl, my mom and her hubby came to visit and stayed for 2 weeks in VT, about 40 minutes from us. Lots of good visiting time for us and plenty of new places for them to explore as well (including the Trapp family lodge!). I’m hoping they make this an annual summer tradition!
Simon Pearce and the pottery store, the VT Country store and the Fells were all really cool places to check out and enjoy quality craftsmanship, gardens and fun shopping!
Friends came through on a New England road trip on the (long) way to a wedding and we enjoyed a dinner cruise on Lake Sunapee which is beautiful, day, night or dusk. So fun sharing this gorgeous place we call home with our friends and family.
Our oldest baby girl came to visit solo and we did hiking, exploring and paddling and hanging out with all the cuddles and hugs we could squeeze in.
A very muggy and buggy hike but we saw the orange newts, ghost mushrooms, a sweet pond and fun forest vibes.
And the rest of the summer, we biked, hiked through woods and up mountains, hammocked, ate ice cream and paddled every body of water we could find. It was a solid summer. No regrets.
I figured I’d throw in a real-life pic of me hiking.
This summer the Hubs and I celebrated 30 years of marriage—mawwiage (if you read that in The Princess Bride—iykyk).
Since it was a BIG decade, we decided to GO big. We tossed around 3 ideas: A weekend at the Mt. Washington Omni resort. A bike riding tour from VT to NH on the Cross trail. A weekend at The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. All great ideas, but the Trapp lodge won out.
The drive is about 2 hours from us, give or take and it winds through gorgeous Vermont. We stopped along the way for lunch in Montpelier, Farmway for a little shopping and Cold Hollow Cider Mill for some maple creamee cider donut sandwiches—think ice cream sandwiches but with a cider donut. As good as it sounds. Probably better.
We had no agenda at the Lodge, just relax, enjoy the grounds and each other’s company, explore Stowe and the area. Right in our wheelhouse. At least those were what I thought were our plans! Hubs had a few surprises sprinkled throughout the weekend to really sweeten it up.
The lodge is Austrian inspired, quaint and cozy, with amazing grounds and can be as bougie or chill as you want. There are afternoon cookies and coffee/tea, phenomenal dinners on site, history tours, walking tours, a cafe, brewery, pool, yoga and no shortage of activities in town as well.
Surprise 1 upon arrival:
Apparently, the Hubs still has some sweet tricks up his sleeve. I’m smitten.
We explored Stowe with some coffee, Daily Mass and Surprise #2: Hubs arranged for us to renew our vows during daily Mass. He gave me a 10 second warning prior to Mass starting. The priest was the sweetest and renewing your vows after 30 years is heartwarming and butterfly giving all over again. Because after 30 years you appreciate the work that’s gone into this marriage and fully experience the fruits of your labor. And wow. It’s a hugely reflective and moving experience. 10/10 recommend!
This church had amazing woodwork and this style of wood burning art throughout the church, doors, ceiling, walls. It was very unique!
During the summer you can drive through Smuggler’s Notch to get to the other side of the mountain and it is a really winding, boulder filled, GORGEOUS drive.
One lane road at the top makes you creep ever so slowly around the boulders. Can’t imaging when it’s busy season!Pictures don’t capture the monstrosity of these boulders.
We hiked the grounds, more of a walk with some pretty decent uphill, but less than than a mile to a chapel that Maria von Trapp had built in the woods. A monumental effort for sure and so beautiful. There are longer trails for hiking and biking, but we were in the relax mode and this was perfect.
The grounds were so inviting. Hubs grabbed a sunrise. We grabbed a sunset. Explored the wedding venue area. Chilled at the pool and spied some sheep grazing in their paddock.
For dinners we ate at the lodge. The service was incredible, the food was finger-licking (though we didn’t, but could have) good and some lovely piano entertainment each night. Surprise #3 on our last night, Hubs arranged for the pianist to play our Wedding Song. I was so surprised. I cried. So did all the servers and hostesses. It was perfect. No pics. Just memories.
If you’re ever in Stowe, VT. Definitely a great spot to visit and or stay. You won’t be disappointed! **I will say that we were there early June so it was not the busy season AT ALL. It will be no less beautiful, but might not be as serene—I don’t know. You’ll have to go and let me know!
Life really gets in the way of blogging, doesn’t it? It’s ok, though, we are just over here living our #BestNHlife. Although, currently in a “heat wave” (high of 88), we are making it through. Somehow, someway! It sounds comical coming from FL where they are solidly in the depths of heat and humidity sweat season (through September and/or October), it just hits differently up here. Anyway……we’ll live but hard to believe I’ve acclimated so quickly. <insert all the LOLZ>
In May I took a little week long birthday vacation to FL to see our kids, our baby girl graduate from Radiology school, my family and as many friends as I could squeeze in over the 6 days I was there. While it did involve traversing the state a couple of times, it was well worth every mile! Fortunately, the rental car was big and bougie and made the driving bearable.
There is something about spending time with friends who know your heart, have watched you grow up and grow through life. The familiarity, honesty, and genuine love is priceless. 3 months later and my heart is still so content with the time I was able to spend with my people!
My girlfriend who I’ve known since middle school (and her hubby) housed me for my trip to the panhandle, kicked my rear end at her gym, took me to dinner and just let me be comfortable catching up with her and her family. Bonus: I was able to catch the Aurora Borealis with her hubby and son after a super crazy weather day. Never long enough, but every second a gift!
Almost my entire prayer group who I’ve known and loved for almost 25 years showed up to lunch to catch up, kiss the newest babe and just BE together. Never long enough, but every second a gift.!
My beloved neighbor (and future neighbor in heaven, we have already made a decision on that—hopefully Jesus works that out for us) showed up for some coffee, chatting, laughing, and sharing parenting tips for young adults (spoiler alert: we have none— its all hard), and it was amazing! Never long enough, but every second a gift!
A second coffee stop to spend with my dear friend and her kids (I skipped coffee and just went for the company) found us in a beautiful new Starby’s filled with displaced remote workers looking for electric, wifi and AC since 1/4 of the city was without power due to wild weather and tornadoes in the a.m. A quick visit, but time together! Never long enough, but every second a gift!
Time with my sis and her family garnered hugs from my nephews, laughs with my brother in law and a good walk and breakfast with my sis. We will of course, follow up with our annual girl’s trip later this fall but always time well spent! Never long enough, but every second a gift!
At “home” with my mom (both our guys were not there so bonus one-on-one time!), we also spent time with my kids…. ALL 4 OF THEM!!!! An early Mother’s Day and birthday lunch with my babies, a graduation celebration, visits with my grandfather, aunt and uncle and quality time to just love on everyone. Never long enough, but every second a gift!
Breakfast with a sweet friend, (my spirit animal), and catching up on her family, delicious business, new job opportunities and checking out the newest Costco! A treat of sample cakes to finish our date was a tasty and amazing surprise! Never long enough, but every second a gift!
A long-missed beach walk and coffee with Mon Amie from France was so amazing. If you ever feel sad, mad, confused or just need to work stuff out, hit the beach—-it is forever healing. Of course, walking, talking, laughing and finishing with coffee is also healing. Never long enough, but every second a gift!
Time with ANOTHER dear, middle school forever friend, was filled with laughs, a visit from my baby girl to join us for dinner, champs, tale telling and an AMAZING air boat ride for early a.m. counting alligators, owls and birds. Never long enough, but every second a gift!
Finished up the trip with a night at our dear friend’s (fraternity brother to hubs) and his wife (my sweet, sweet mid-western friend). Always, delicious food, great conversation and all the warm and fuzzies. Never long enough, but every second a gift!
I didn’t take nearly enough pics, and that’s ok!
That’s all for now, but coming soon…..our Anniversary trip—-and I DID take plenty of pics!
Hi. I’ve just completed 96 hours of work in the past 2 weeks. A lot, but I have become comfortably accustomed to working 72 hours every 2 weeks——soooooo, Mama tired. Actually, I slept so good last night and had a leisurely morning of coffee, omelet and relaxation so I feel renewed and ready for the next few days OFF! I figured I’d include some work pics of me (and my personalized lead apron) for you to enjoy before my photo/essay dump.
Now let’s dig into our last two months of adventuring in our New Hampshire winter shall we?
Our snowmobile adventure to Franconia Notch, Apres ski views from the iconic Mt. Washington Hotel and a delicious coffee flight in Lincoln.
Hubs had his annual ski weekend with friends and at the end of the weekend, I (along with other friends & wives) joined them for a few days of fun in the White Mountains. We snowmobiled, shopped, some skied, took in multiple amazing views, basked in fresh snowfall and delighted in yummy meals both in-house and out! A good time was had by all!
I don’t particularly love snowmobiling, but the fresh snow on the trail was really something to behold. We were literally flying through a real-life snow globe. I was grateful for a full suit, boots and hand warmers on the handles and enjoyed following bear tracks for about a 1/2 mile or so on the way back. The warm winter has everyone confused!!! I regret not making Hubs stop so I could memorialize the paw prints, you’ll just have to trust me. I was glad we only saw the tracks and not the owner.
After a shopping session with my UK “girlfriend” (inside joke) we joined the skiers at the Mt. Washington hotel bar for apres ski. The hotel is incredibly opulent and luxuries abound at every turn, just as you’d expect from this iconic institution but I still can’t get “RedRum” out of my head and so we opted out of this for our upcoming anniversary trip. Daylight, yes. Overnight, nope! I know The Shining is a fictional movie and only some filmed at the hotel, but it is forever deeply and creepily etched in my brain, therefore I’m just not sure I could do it.
Our last day in Lincoln, we went to Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s and then hit up the Mountainside Cafe in Lincoln for a coffee flight. It was delicious. With 4 shots of espresso, 1 per cup, it was a good thing we shared! They also had hot chocolate flights which looked amazing! We beat the crowd, and were able to score some comfy seats and enjoy our coffee and skedaddle before it got really crazy.
Since it appeared that winter was coming to a rapid close with temps regularly in the 40 and intermittent rain paired with it eating the snow a little more each day, we enjoyed snowmobile trails for walking Bandit and took a day to visit Stowe, VT for a day of skiing and exploring. It was our first time visiting and the mountain was phenomenal for me with long green runs, limited crowds and opportunity aplenty to enjoy my improving ski skills. After a few hours of increasingly wet snow, my knee cried uncle and we called it a day. We scouted out the resort, enjoyed a gondola ride to view the shops, and ski runs on the other side, enjoyed some coffee and I grabbed a sticker for my collection! Side note: Hubby made it back to ski Stowe a few weeks later and had a phenomenal day so we will be sure to visit again next ski season (and later this summer on our anniversary trip, but that’s another post). On the way home, we stopped at Ben & Jerry’s factory but passed on ice cream because we had our hearts set on a fat burger after a morning of skiing and exploring and we were not disappointed in McGillicuddy’s Pub in Waterbury, VT. Highly recommend!
And as the snow continues to melt, we’ve walked Bandit around the town square to avoid muddy trails and consequently hated baths.
I continue to work on my sourdough recipes, tweaking and cursing as I go, but committed to win this tasty battle.
Our baby boy and his girl came to visit and we enjoyed snuggling, exploring and hockey—-love spending time with our kiddos.
And the bird feeder is back. Along with skunks, budding trees and turkeys in the yard. I think spring may finally be coming!!
And then we hilariously received two more whopper snowstorms. It took me 20 minutes to dig my car out and clean it off after working a 12 hour shift and doubled my drive home—basically the worst weather I’ve driven in so far. Thankfully, I got a hotel room the night before so I only had to drive it once! And then we played in snowshoes, shovels, skis and watching it from the kitchen with hot tea in hand.
And then Easter! Hallelujah!!! And what a glorious day to enjoy. Good Friday brought flowers and Easter brought a gorgeous 3 mile walk around Kezar Lake and checking out Musterfield Farm, finishing with homemade cheesecake—if you are lactose intolerant, look away.
The following weekend we watched our first Pond Skim at Mt. Sunapee. A hilariously impressive series of people of all ages skiing down the mountain and across a 50ft pond in a variety of costumes to the cheers of the crowd. I’ve no interest in partaking but watching was a HOOT and we will absolutely watch it again next year!
THE ECLIPSE. I watched after work from the parking lot. At 97-98% totality it was interesting, however, at total eclipse it only darkened similar to a storm cloud passing over, with lowered temps and cool shadows from the trees. Fortunately, I was off early enough to miss all the traffic a few hours later. Close call!
Among winter projects, the largest one was taking the pine ceiling Hubby experimented with in the bathroom to the kitchen. We still need to finish off with the moulding, but I LOVE it so much. Eventually, I’d love to carry this over to the living room to cover up the popcorn ceiling but this project is still too fresh and I believe we both need time to recover (Hubby more than me since he did the bulk of the work—-but my shoulders need some time away as well). Maybe next year. Maybe.
Spring. Really is coming. My hostas are sprouting and so are some of my bulbs. Although I have no idea what I planted or where, so it will be a lovely surprise at some point! Maybe next year I’ll make a chart, but probably not.
Lastly, this week I went to the annual 5 Colleges Book Sale and wow! I was so blown away. I knew it would be big, but it was really BIG! The event is 4 days long and held at the local high school. The cafeteria, gymnasium, classrooms were filled with books spilling along hallways, organized by genre and accompanied by CDs, puzzles and a variety of “oddments”. I spent about an hour with my friend perusing and filling our bags and finally hit a wall, checking out with 2 piles of books at $30!!! Will definitely be doing that again next year!! But also Sunday is 1/2 price day, so…………….
And that brings us to a close of another post. Hopefully it won’t be another two months until I blog again, but I guess time will tell. Hope you enjoyed sharing our adventures, until next time!
making the trek 