Home with Dogs

I was very fortunate to find a great dog sitter for this trip.  Andy is amazing.  he goes far beyond expectations in terms of caring for pups and even let Skipper sleep int he bed with he and his wife.  I could tell they felt relaxed and comfortable when I picked them up - but boy were they GLAD to be home!!

Both girls ran around the house like crazy when we arrived.  They sniffed everything twice and ran yup and down the stairs a few times.  Eventually Matilda settled in my lap and Skipper crashed out in her bed.  Guess traveling can be exhausting for everyone!

sweetly snoring

City of Brotherly Love

Sherry and foster baby ("T") brought me to the Windsor train station and waited with me until I boarded.  I was sad to go but excited to see my little brother David.

I do love train travel.  Its comfortable, has wifi and usually a scenic view.  What's not to love??

Connecticut River from train window on a gray day.


I love train station architecture!

One of David's dear work friends was getting married so I joined him as the "plus one" and had a lovely evening.  The simple marriage ceremony was deeply moving and the dinner reception was held in a fantastically gorgeous historic building.  I think David was afraid everyone would think I was his GF so I took great care to let them know that I was his much older sister and had changed his diapers countless times!  I think he really appreciated my sensitivity !!

SOPHIE AND FLORENCE!!

Adorabel Sophie!

Sophie is Anne Marie's adorable, smart, sweet and funny daughter!  I have loved seeing her grow into such a delightful young lady.  I think Sophie is pretty special.  She and her mom and "Nana" live in the charming little town of Florence, MA right next door to Northampton, home of Smith College - my daughter's alma mater!  The world IS a small place.

While visiting with Sophie et al I enjoyed another seafood feast.  We began with 'steamers'.  These lovely ladies thought steamers were a favorite of mine.  Although I'm from New England I'd never had a steamer.  Don't know why. So very patiently Sophie coached me as to the proper technique for approaching these bivalves.  I swallowed one  followed by a large gulp of vodka and soda.  Mission accomplished!

ew…we are meant to eat the STOMACH!!

This 'treat' was followed by a lovely baked casserole of scallops and shrimp lovingly prepared by Gloria….ah, friends and food…the best combination ever.  

More on Friends and Food!

Anne Marie is a dear friend from college.  She was my "big sister' = two years ahead of me.  We lost track of one another for awhile but reconnected several years ago and I am so grateful! Anne Marie is a clinical social worker, like me, and our families are French Canadian!! She picked me up from Kim's house and we got right down to having fun together.  Our first stop was at the f'amed' Yankee Pedlar restaurant.  She enjoyed traditional pot roast while I opted for the baked onion soup and a shrimp cocktail.

Yankee Pedlar is a special kind of place and filled with memories for me.  For VERY special occasions my family would to there for a 'fancy' meal.  There weren't many of those and we never ate out at fast food places so  it was a little like coming home to share lunch with this sweet woman who means so much in my life.

Anne Marie

"selfie"

Friends and Food

Kimbo!

I enjoyed A LOT of really fantastic food during my East Coast adventure.  Most of it was seafood which somehow doesn't taste the same in California!

Kimberly and I feasted on a rustic shrimp salad at a lovely inn in Simsbury, CT who's name I can't recall.

delicious

Kim and I became friends in 1979.  It was the year I was getting married.  My then fiancé had his first job as a clergy person in the role of curate at an Episcopal Church in West Hartford, CT.  His new boss was very old school and required that I reside with a parishioner to dispel any potential rumors that I was living with my betrothed!!  I was outraged, but for the sake of my beloved's career I made a sacrifice and agreed to the demands of his boss.

We drove up to a stately home on the golf course and found a bright and pretty young woman with a darling baby boy on her hip ready to greet u s with enthusiasm and warmth.  I assumed she was the nanny.  I politely asked to meet the lady of the house and with a hearty laugh she told us SHE was the lady of the house!  Well, the joke was on me!!Kimberly and I had a blast for the 6 months or so that I lived in her guest wing.  We've been through so much since then but have always held fast to our friendship and I cherish it.  Kim is the sort of person whom I may not connect with for months at a time and then BANG - we are together again and its as if not a minute has passed.  Kim is a very accomplished and successful muralist and is also lucky enough to be a grandmother!!  It was a short visit with her and Cliff but I loved every moment.  I will ever be grateful that she came to LA to care for me during my breast cancer treatment.  Kimberly defines 'friend' and I love her!

a peek at a corner of Kim's pretty kitchen

I wish….

view from the roof of the kids' apartment building

If I could I'd have a sweet little pied a terre in New York.  The pace of life here is very quick, but so easy in so many ways.  No freeway traffic, no smog to speak of.  Yes, there's horrible hot humid weather in summertime but that's why God created Connecticut so close by!  And, sure the winters can be brutal, but that's why God created Los Angeles.  There is no chance that I will every live in NY, but I am thrilled that my children are there and I love visiting with them!!

Here are some treats for the eye and food for the soul!

may I live here please?

let's go for a walk...

Day with Boy!

Nathaniel had planned to take us all to a Yankees game as a Mother's Day gift but unfortunately we got rained out.  The next day was bright and sunny so we took advantage and spent a day out together.  He took me to the Apple Store at Grand Central Station - what an impressive place!

Later we ventured to Bryant Park for a lunch al fresco and then on to the NY Public Library.   I had lots of fun with him exploring the sights of the city he calls his own now.

There was a wonderful exhibit at the library on children's literature which I very much enjoyed.  I also LOVE museum/library/cathedral/etc gift shops and found a gorgeous scarf for my friend, Kimberly's upcoming birthday.

Bryant Park

Inside the NY Public Library

Goodnight Moon!

not sure one is actually supposed to SIT in the exhibit!

We went on to explore Central Park where I'd not been in years.   Such a glorious place with so much to see and do.  I really loved this day.

NOT what you think this is!!

a nice walk

a place to play

an impressive sight

more vacay stories…

So, after my five days of fun with the kiddos in NY I travelled by AMTRAK to Suffield, CT.  Suffield is a picturesque and quintessential New England town.  My cousin, Sherry, lives there with her husband, three little daughters and an adorable 8 month old foster baby she's been caring for since he was two days old.  Four legged family members - Tinkerbell and Jack round out the household!  Sherry is amazing.  She has three grown children and four ( I think) grand kids!!  She has more energy than I have EVER had and I watch her in amazement as she juggles, homework, laundry, ice skating lessons, piano lesson, acro lessons, Tae Kwon Do lessons, school field trip permission slips,  packing lunches, and on and on and on.

Happy Birthday Ana!

Ice Skating Practice

We took the girls to the Eric Carle Museum near Northampton, MA and out for ice cream at the famed Farrell's later on.  both experiences were quite a treat!

Sherry and girls in front of one of the Museum's murals

YUM!!

I love spending time with Sherry.  We laugh all the time, have shared memories, especially of our mothers (who were sisters) and various escapades while growing up together.  Example:  My Aunt Ena (Sherry's mom) would make Sherry take me along on her dates with the idea that I was supposed to 'spy' on Sherry and her boyfriend and report back to her mother.  Sherry would give me three dollars and tell me to get lost which I happily did!  I always reported back that Sherry and her boyfriend were on perfect behavior 100% of the time (!)

Sherry's big brother (whom we always called Billy Bumps) lives nearby with his wonderful Doraine.  We enjoyed a big family barbecue at her son Todd's home.  It is SO great to be near family.  I miss everyone very much.

Bill and Doraine

cousins

While staying with Sherry in Suffield I spent two nights way - one with dear friend, Kimberly, in lovely Farmington, CT and the other with old college friend, AnneMarie, in Northampton, MA.  More on those visits later.

Finally the time came to head south to Maryland to hand with baby brother David and my two amazing little nephews - DJ and Tyler.  This is the quaint train "station" from which I departed in Windsor, CT.

Yup - this is a real, working train station!  

The Circle Line Cruise

This day was one of the high points of my time in NYC.  Its a two and a half hour cruise around Manhattan.  The cruise is narrated by an older gentleman with one of those FM radio voices.  He was funny, for the most part, very well informed but all of us agreed that we wished for more silence so we could simply take in the wondrous sights we were surrounded by.

It was a glorious, sunny NY day and just perfect for our activity.  I was delighted to learn that the USS Intrepid, (a now decommission and turned into a museum aircraft carrier on which my father had served while in the Nay) was docked right beside the departure point of the cruise.  We met up with Emilie and Steven (two of Meredith's old friends, they are siblings) and two of their friends visiting from out of state and boarded our boat.

I loved the whole experience!  I have a dear friend who lives here in LA who was visiting NYC with her mother to sell their apartment and shared our wonderful adventure with her when we met up for breakfast.  She and her mother and sister decided to do the cruise a few days later and also really enjoyed it!

This city is so amazing and has so much to offer.  It is a wonderful places for young adults or very wealthy older adults to live.  I love being able to visit so often and hope to go again in the fall to celebrate Nat's and my birthdays!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DIL

Today is Meredith's birthday!!  I love this girl who has joined our family and I really enjoy being a part of the wonderful relationship that she and my daughter share.  These are amazing young women!!

So - here's a photo celebration of the birthday girl…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WONDERFUL YOU!!