tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73496325327491913032024-03-12T19:49:50.201-04:00Tea and CircusesTravel, books, tea. Journeys, near and far.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-5922300726209484872014-12-31T14:07:00.000-05:002014-12-31T14:07:14.020-05:00The End of Another Year<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another year draws swiftly to a close and I can't help but wonder where the past four months went. With changes at work and the typical busy fall schedule busier than typical, our trip to Italy in October seems a lifetime ago. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo0nv3pAr-BegIRQteuztyvVvkJol_ACBminsZqKZVSOBz4YL2q1Wv2FvU7rCYF7pNmHjoOx6TESM2IfalftWfTlIag8sov3-NbCNR_HNVtElQYZIrLwiGRKvotBP-_DjsJwwTkOCm4xF/s1600/001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But when I look at the photos I can easily recall the warm Mediterranean sun, the slower pace, and the history - and gelato - around every corner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRNBJfXT7Eh4wJIgCLMmKL_UKodu5w_4lG-XOnkvjqW9FPiEN85S6CGiiLiRei_3yai8Xr1gIT3FvpKSYUdN4EaXHiiozr86rVhxkOE75JHkjrT3WM5M0PWllXWcdMnbTxGMl-ojrklJN/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRNBJfXT7Eh4wJIgCLMmKL_UKodu5w_4lG-XOnkvjqW9FPiEN85S6CGiiLiRei_3yai8Xr1gIT3FvpKSYUdN4EaXHiiozr86rVhxkOE75JHkjrT3WM5M0PWllXWcdMnbTxGMl-ojrklJN/s1600/011.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ancient civilization hovered in the background as modern life unfurled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_a3jyGVemrHRmYYdQnjzVTJnTqSo0Woccs4bW_kQ9ghOsJwdKxAv5rLSUCAvEJoiMEe1FGV1IW2JkDOoO2ZwNEZU-WToPEUTOK0OHwmbhkvktl9uT31nBjpi0-itOhdl8up4CK5x_1mP/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_a3jyGVemrHRmYYdQnjzVTJnTqSo0Woccs4bW_kQ9ghOsJwdKxAv5rLSUCAvEJoiMEe1FGV1IW2JkDOoO2ZwNEZU-WToPEUTOK0OHwmbhkvktl9uT31nBjpi0-itOhdl8up4CK5x_1mP/s1600/013.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGepnnu3Vzsx3ay0K1XwRBuaw329wSmEJQ_WYE1QgVwTTggP2WIjKaXU7kP15zFlDq1-AlFo8nqqNO5D4BU9QltzwlCM5v6hAerLQ30em5YL6urbsJVuw8dU-drGIHKU5HVUEJRRhitfG/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGepnnu3Vzsx3ay0K1XwRBuaw329wSmEJQ_WYE1QgVwTTggP2WIjKaXU7kP15zFlDq1-AlFo8nqqNO5D4BU9QltzwlCM5v6hAerLQ30em5YL6urbsJVuw8dU-drGIHKU5HVUEJRRhitfG/s1600/016.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2,000 years of human life, from the smallest detail to the greatest accomplishment...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOYrRXfZ9SPlXc4ZyHff5QcHLYBTcKEk5zasi9WW-1TjShEWiM1SUw4SJVaQGa-PIcJtEhzZWqizdshSXrZsyxt3VY_tIW41a41Y8GsJuV2qeeagMlJ1894OCsP6WGUhwr0Wjhth6nIlK/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOYrRXfZ9SPlXc4ZyHff5QcHLYBTcKEk5zasi9WW-1TjShEWiM1SUw4SJVaQGa-PIcJtEhzZWqizdshSXrZsyxt3VY_tIW41a41Y8GsJuV2qeeagMlJ1894OCsP6WGUhwr0Wjhth6nIlK/s1600/028.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbZGGYMm9Y4-NHgmz2tPLuks-Ih2KQpYaxAQbL8D-adFDuFCkdrjM2ZZw8DGjiSinmWItwYevTSXYhrFiRRPrUmCaTPgW6dGTf6n9f9fSS0A3-40P9y7v9zdH_c8pKHR4a7Z_XoQKvv6x/s1600/030.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJE9I6R6KAJr6RGy2gCF45gHhAXkuD8LYTfXqTYa0HYqCK4PmHfYT0Bm4dHIUGWvJQBKS5QZ3cumpzah9b6lQWy1lUwL5w8M7AeUOMfJeDX2aEeWv2DFeVs7mUe-H6YR9tSIzmW6i64rc/s1600/043.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And among all the majesty, the simplest every day things done beautifully and with care. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SvcJyF6cpLQGgkciT5drHtvtwOgh2Hq-1BTqLJEaMtqbKHsd3BCMerwOMFWGmP12Ywg7S0cQBaaamEuNNFh-jclcjhmWZA4S_bMfcswlWZS0Z_xqvqj2g_ga61KACJ0NVdx4f7RSxfAi/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SvcJyF6cpLQGgkciT5drHtvtwOgh2Hq-1BTqLJEaMtqbKHsd3BCMerwOMFWGmP12Ywg7S0cQBaaamEuNNFh-jclcjhmWZA4S_bMfcswlWZS0Z_xqvqj2g_ga61KACJ0NVdx4f7RSxfAi/s1600/047.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life can be vast and loud but in the quiet overlooked moment, we find the unique, the beautiful, the meaningful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl4OhZ5hlfPRmexOJCseXTD5pjUCrWyW9hgwdlCNHOIHiHIkr1eyOta9DgI86FmoMZE9cwfXcks62ML1xmcIFDp9Jigr5g-svvmxSwttKN7JJToDAo9IgoNYXM7PGZv-9RU4fX5z-rE6z/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl4OhZ5hlfPRmexOJCseXTD5pjUCrWyW9hgwdlCNHOIHiHIkr1eyOta9DgI86FmoMZE9cwfXcks62ML1xmcIFDp9Jigr5g-svvmxSwttKN7JJToDAo9IgoNYXM7PGZv-9RU4fX5z-rE6z/s1600/050.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(And the silly. Life can't be taken too seriously; none of us will get out of it alive anyways).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The passions that drive all humans, from the monumental to the entirely personal give life meaning. And from works of exquisite art...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7NpsdFW59_KMa62v4bB5hL_GdSzAxvGDm1O74BwpZnzzNrIdrOZ_FGnQjP6jMcIMZak0jR7UEYzxf8qpsJ1H3FkT02UvesmAkcWHfDCHKzM6FFuOzJnh4PRrJCsQenL7BVMQNL3J7zUc/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7NpsdFW59_KMa62v4bB5hL_GdSzAxvGDm1O74BwpZnzzNrIdrOZ_FGnQjP6jMcIMZak0jR7UEYzxf8qpsJ1H3FkT02UvesmAkcWHfDCHKzM6FFuOzJnh4PRrJCsQenL7BVMQNL3J7zUc/s1600/051.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to the simple act of protecting another creature, it all matters.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHn39bceziA0bvRwCETe06cDd7vn5mf7g9kBEZN190rydo3W5tyifYs0z9LEZyfp2hOmQeklHgmAU5-Tp4I2KtT26WNYn0ZuQNeJlsjRGaI7DWQ_jtTo4qxe0oIu_1eNWFgOKw3QQE1om/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHn39bceziA0bvRwCETe06cDd7vn5mf7g9kBEZN190rydo3W5tyifYs0z9LEZyfp2hOmQeklHgmAU5-Tp4I2KtT26WNYn0ZuQNeJlsjRGaI7DWQ_jtTo4qxe0oIu_1eNWFgOKw3QQE1om/s1600/062.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iVL624EN6xckKjg9JjzF4jL0UWgljiFPF0BL0UV5LFTVNaSWCCbfCX_onKyZNxYeLxkKID4Zor6IZ2Ncb4whBTlJF4hc9QyUaWCbTWEnLo-Mg4VCy5DZxxyj1tqoKhzGUT8cd38sjnEm/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iVL624EN6xckKjg9JjzF4jL0UWgljiFPF0BL0UV5LFTVNaSWCCbfCX_onKyZNxYeLxkKID4Zor6IZ2Ncb4whBTlJF4hc9QyUaWCbTWEnLo-Mg4VCy5DZxxyj1tqoKhzGUT8cd38sjnEm/s1600/067.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So remember that.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Create, consume, feel, experience every bit of it - for better or worse - with both eyes open.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZC3rIhia8_QPP-UCHHWaVf7A-V6VCF7-E1AP2nnZgN4anU2WI9sAWcrM6u0r3JLbjWCayGu7LiLnJ1SPok4fz7LM-dbHWIp5P3QYOf2S_ztis8e2ns4FxnA9_1K4d7o6NGhIR6MB4UbW/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZC3rIhia8_QPP-UCHHWaVf7A-V6VCF7-E1AP2nnZgN4anU2WI9sAWcrM6u0r3JLbjWCayGu7LiLnJ1SPok4fz7LM-dbHWIp5P3QYOf2S_ztis8e2ns4FxnA9_1K4d7o6NGhIR6MB4UbW/s1600/070.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy New Year!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-47536750526687803302014-12-08T14:51:00.000-05:002014-12-08T15:09:35.300-05:00The Quest for the Perfect Pimm's Cup; A Memory of Summer Days...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Summer seems a long ways away now with swirling ice flakes and a grand high of 24 degrees here in Boston, but once upon a time we were making citrus-y cocktails and sitting on the balcony in the sun-dappled light.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U-_7BBHsjFTPl1v-KVYX2YU1lOaeLT-dwEeBU6GBD_zdvwhkDd2sz6cXjMYmeJEyETcgEVeh-7N52t4bTT6h7Hf6sp7H0O_ArGhz1Fa7f8Dj7pgozPRnaTRh3Z3r2PXpBVgwmFzxOScy/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U-_7BBHsjFTPl1v-KVYX2YU1lOaeLT-dwEeBU6GBD_zdvwhkDd2sz6cXjMYmeJEyETcgEVeh-7N52t4bTT6h7Hf6sp7H0O_ArGhz1Fa7f8Dj7pgozPRnaTRh3Z3r2PXpBVgwmFzxOScy/s1600/045.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Pimm's Cup hardly suits now but you can always tuck away the thought for June. We started out with 2.5 recipes, a bottle and some of Pimm's, and all the fruits and garnishes we could dream up (well, almost).</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCzMmGfNMlI838cnI6s1xyZoXY6o4WqO16FnZNUle2CiInGQggd5Jw-yXoAxwfK0COAOHWX4RlPYLXmLtDa2BGf_HPt7EvTYUbGtoqmMbfZDalXFV_v4jDwx_sS7B3Szvub4R1gOiXKwI/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCzMmGfNMlI838cnI6s1xyZoXY6o4WqO16FnZNUle2CiInGQggd5Jw-yXoAxwfK0COAOHWX4RlPYLXmLtDa2BGf_HPt7EvTYUbGtoqmMbfZDalXFV_v4jDwx_sS7B3Szvub4R1gOiXKwI/s1600/040.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Proper bartending / cocktail sipping attire also required.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpO2YLQZ8NSACf_06RfJlCKFrncQrsAFmbnXx5Hp4SnWaHnsjAFFnLEzXlzOv-Faoff9C84yWHAE6aU3vmSC16aH8vP98myhMZisjFMyrujhbhC5c2MLj4MbFdGIiW8LM3RMlUKC58PTm/s1600/pimms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpO2YLQZ8NSACf_06RfJlCKFrncQrsAFmbnXx5Hp4SnWaHnsjAFFnLEzXlzOv-Faoff9C84yWHAE6aU3vmSC16aH8vP98myhMZisjFMyrujhbhC5c2MLj4MbFdGIiW8LM3RMlUKC58PTm/s1600/pimms.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shoes are not.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR5lQzXaOFldyk5xBNMO2r7FQ8GdokaUuJYgBLVitiQ8yERw4xYFeF2_nnsDsTSMXO4OAXY68ErOSpYiG_Qj0Tl517-tRSsXOhV_Q5iHu40fNWSLTgCZfGx23NpmAXixqw9zNfpFXmf78/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR5lQzXaOFldyk5xBNMO2r7FQ8GdokaUuJYgBLVitiQ8yERw4xYFeF2_nnsDsTSMXO4OAXY68ErOSpYiG_Qj0Tl517-tRSsXOhV_Q5iHu40fNWSLTgCZfGx23NpmAXixqw9zNfpFXmf78/s1600/055.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In our research, we came across a wide variety of Pimm's recipes all slight variations on the basic idea of Pimm's, lemon flavoring, bubbles, and fruit/mint. British lemonade seems to be a carbonated ready made lemon drink while American lemonade is water, lemon juice, and sugar. Lemon-lime soda is the closest we seem to have this side of the states.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXFBBcA4HoE6TeP3Er90eEhiVzPhCyxFQ7ctpFkZm08nWhDBwo5Bl9uCT-rL07bfHmo__i_5QlsV62zdL445JNjFbR0mAfr0zJJ-b18tCOPJoBCevYeyFIC_0SKU06k0ue0J7x0m3AI3H/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXFBBcA4HoE6TeP3Er90eEhiVzPhCyxFQ7ctpFkZm08nWhDBwo5Bl9uCT-rL07bfHmo__i_5QlsV62zdL445JNjFbR0mAfr0zJJ-b18tCOPJoBCevYeyFIC_0SKU06k0ue0J7x0m3AI3H/s1600/057.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Starting with Pimm's and small glasses so we could easily go back for seconds - and thirds - we topped it off with lemonade, lemon-lime soda, and ginger ale alternately. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2bbE7p5ekfRzIIYIDQd7Qmy86YWiN-_C9CXYYSZCOzZmhyphenhyphenYIc_ftVrSeqhqqEsZjbhfkdyi4H_Ozm0WX63En9qi0B85F0qRZ866aAqE8RMDTkSTOrtRNQQ5m-ay7IsK5EHbgTlK8OTpd/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2bbE7p5ekfRzIIYIDQd7Qmy86YWiN-_C9CXYYSZCOzZmhyphenhyphenYIc_ftVrSeqhqqEsZjbhfkdyi4H_Ozm0WX63En9qi0B85F0qRZ866aAqE8RMDTkSTOrtRNQQ5m-ay7IsK5EHbgTlK8OTpd/s1600/061.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every option seemed to have a shining feature, be it aroma, color, or taste and it quickly became a bit hard to pick a favorite.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdisC15JpzSWQeihJQPHqHeAsCwCKx3ZXcK54fa03lYkdBwyqy5OXVzghkkUEmXqEBjujV0jWqZne8fSRtbean9jaUFgJhQZJn3Nq33ZFSoKbZ7N5tX0KHN69DK_wXrnkqH3CPVDFukQf/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdisC15JpzSWQeihJQPHqHeAsCwCKx3ZXcK54fa03lYkdBwyqy5OXVzghkkUEmXqEBjujV0jWqZne8fSRtbean9jaUFgJhQZJn3Nq33ZFSoKbZ7N5tX0KHN69DK_wXrnkqH3CPVDFukQf/s1600/064.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We retired to the balcony with the best of a good group. Just a bit of American lemonade, topped with ginger ale and stuffed with fruit.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeqxVIy1glTJYkeS2yzkE_OFOqHw3fHaXcnM5n1SCzy4N1iLsFoJe_7TngsbxLYiBn970_Ar7jWO5S0zuI0MZs8xTPn9L8OUkDTn6aE01HnBm3VpX7rbGEWbbkXrD4BeuULqrgF0cVBzs/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeqxVIy1glTJYkeS2yzkE_OFOqHw3fHaXcnM5n1SCzy4N1iLsFoJe_7TngsbxLYiBn970_Ar7jWO5S0zuI0MZs8xTPn9L8OUkDTn6aE01HnBm3VpX7rbGEWbbkXrD4BeuULqrgF0cVBzs/s1600/066.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe we need to work on a Pimm's Cup seasonal recipe for the holidays?</span></div>
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-qJodIFULdbM%2FU87e_MT4FqI%2FAAAAAAAABl0%2FaQE8RKOGBi4%2Fs1600%2F045.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U-_7BBHsjFTPl1v-KVYX2YU1lOaeLT-dwEeBU6GBD_zdvwhkDd2sz6cXjMYmeJEyETcgEVeh-7N52t4bTT6h7Hf6sp7H0O_ArGhz1Fa7f8Dj7pgozPRnaTRh3Z3r2PXpBVgwmFzxOScy/s1600/045.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U-_7BBHsjFTPl1v-KVYX2YU1lOaeLT-dwEeBU6GBD_zdvwhkDd2sz6cXjMYmeJEyETcgEVeh-7N52t4bTT6h7Hf6sp7H0O_ArGhz1Fa7f8Dj7pgozPRnaTRh3Z3r2PXpBVgwmFzxOScy/s1600/045.JPG" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U-_7BBHsjFTPl1v-KVYX2YU1lOaeLT-dwEeBU6GBD_zdvwhkDd2sz6cXjMYmeJEyETcgEVeh-7N52t4bTT6h7Hf6sp7H0O_ArGhz1Fa7f8Dj7pgozPRnaTRh3Z3r2PXpBVgwmFzxOScy/s1600/045.JPG" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-79493035399746858732014-09-12T12:16:00.003-04:002014-12-08T15:10:55.242-05:00...the Rest of the Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As creatures craving warmth and leisure, summer is the golden season of holidays, day trips, and beach time. In our case this year, it was a whirlwind of working overtime and making ridiculous travel plans to fit in seeing everyone.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW6Mv115GOluJe-QOikODzkYWUZKjJI6tzSPBXI6ppFe8ORgJQkwVHpXhd7ePkpX-yQNXQ5_oSnoeEeo5nWt7CbxhL6Rb7pDTcz6XdXrXgUQws9j4G2XzQHyxo8TrelByIxptOM-6gVNc/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW6Mv115GOluJe-QOikODzkYWUZKjJI6tzSPBXI6ppFe8ORgJQkwVHpXhd7ePkpX-yQNXQ5_oSnoeEeo5nWt7CbxhL6Rb7pDTcz6XdXrXgUQws9j4G2XzQHyxo8TrelByIxptOM-6gVNc/s1600/109.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We started in Minnesota for a wedding, preceded for a trip to the </span><a href="http://www.comozooconservatory.org/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Como Zoo and Conservatory</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> shortly after reaching Midwestern terra firma.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqUdKCt1bYlx0nYfhE4dX2tNrrYsW6QbhtnHA1itn_b0qa_j4cp_Cz9VyBSC49XZfpCp82-xFY-ErybYKv8LBNISu4eKtyTZ0y1LT5rYzarMMfG3brLVFEEQWU52zOZTxYWVLeXWwu2XV/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqUdKCt1bYlx0nYfhE4dX2tNrrYsW6QbhtnHA1itn_b0qa_j4cp_Cz9VyBSC49XZfpCp82-xFY-ErybYKv8LBNISu4eKtyTZ0y1LT5rYzarMMfG3brLVFEEQWU52zOZTxYWVLeXWwu2XV/s1600/019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Fabulous! (my spirit animal)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's a small 'donation suggested' (free) zoo but it has a lovely selection of animals from around the world. The Botanical Gardens really stood out.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYGX8Q4xO_jbLqHRp9XbYPxX3KLmNMKspgIPJDp-A41eWbOzeC6x6ZtNtigN89y4ltUBnOOWVcd2BFT7TsoIl185Y3lxWDij8Zw2lKcX5OKxk4P2LmI4PykD1Xf7nkkd2FJH4wRa_8-mn/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYGX8Q4xO_jbLqHRp9XbYPxX3KLmNMKspgIPJDp-A41eWbOzeC6x6ZtNtigN89y4ltUBnOOWVcd2BFT7TsoIl185Y3lxWDij8Zw2lKcX5OKxk4P2LmI4PykD1Xf7nkkd2FJH4wRa_8-mn/s1600/003.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">How do you get a job taking pictures for postcards?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdTo8i26foz8W1DgBUYajActhp0QMVl3Kn9x5oW5C6yohSXhbcg0c7Is6ZuuWEYGm8wBeiKrOtgWwlr5UFMtxJOx8tf3A7V4WHi2pIhIry8h4TGXzy-fDGTSW-AQxezHi__UP718-AdXm/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdTo8i26foz8W1DgBUYajActhp0QMVl3Kn9x5oW5C6yohSXhbcg0c7Is6ZuuWEYGm8wBeiKrOtgWwlr5UFMtxJOx8tf3A7V4WHi2pIhIry8h4TGXzy-fDGTSW-AQxezHi__UP718-AdXm/s1600/033.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The glass and metal greenhouse contained a variety of habitats and groups of plants. I love taking pictures of flora. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7aMxQrEKvhSjwZRao4IC_M0gx1pFp76vfm8caIebT_7huXONDqOis762hSxWQKchW6Cu_eIpbLYrKPpyULvuI32ihWDgxyNqJUvuxiqMHxkJTLRpGvw8CVkgf2X_OKh9o-WTA3KCx-qP/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7aMxQrEKvhSjwZRao4IC_M0gx1pFp76vfm8caIebT_7huXONDqOis762hSxWQKchW6Cu_eIpbLYrKPpyULvuI32ihWDgxyNqJUvuxiqMHxkJTLRpGvw8CVkgf2X_OKh9o-WTA3KCx-qP/s1600/029.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZwanVzy6pqu7qL70ZDEyOXevZqp7lCfrI5EI1iOF-ogpqpjRJPudilJ2zWZb3bZUJvjXylqzeeVnb1zWh3hRCOjb7rj-wUgtqHUj7c5pb8Oi8NIt6aGAshP7Fn9VKg6QNRxfRtWtL6dt/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZwanVzy6pqu7qL70ZDEyOXevZqp7lCfrI5EI1iOF-ogpqpjRJPudilJ2zWZb3bZUJvjXylqzeeVnb1zWh3hRCOjb7rj-wUgtqHUj7c5pb8Oi8NIt6aGAshP7Fn9VKg6QNRxfRtWtL6dt/s1600/023.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGTaa0VKz0XKQ7afk5ovAr5d_07UHJOfXC8TWbRB9Uw2gsLrspabLzIJsb7nPrFm7HDRRc4_v40Ry4YpDofuBbTAYkcPDhhD-bgYZPnBvSETLzbCHYOTJWEaqVY7uklERZCgCPW6B-e3M/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGTaa0VKz0XKQ7afk5ovAr5d_07UHJOfXC8TWbRB9Uw2gsLrspabLzIJsb7nPrFm7HDRRc4_v40Ry4YpDofuBbTAYkcPDhhD-bgYZPnBvSETLzbCHYOTJWEaqVY7uklERZCgCPW6B-e3M/s1600/032.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wedding time! Obligatory pictures (the selfies were just in another league).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATAAAFfXv7LuWGuLKjrCwF8hjTXL1g9_ZyYzkDNnxUkX9ZyggX0g-MaH7BgzYSdU4jOcc6AgPS9n60n6wAfrMKBIMTG8zBo4NBXSwjGpzu_LS-RYECCxnPQt17ESrpHQpQZFdYxsZlWAV/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATAAAFfXv7LuWGuLKjrCwF8hjTXL1g9_ZyYzkDNnxUkX9ZyggX0g-MaH7BgzYSdU4jOcc6AgPS9n60n6wAfrMKBIMTG8zBo4NBXSwjGpzu_LS-RYECCxnPQt17ESrpHQpQZFdYxsZlWAV/s1600/049.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's unfortunate that the blue crabs on A's tie are not more visible here.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q9mk-wZa0z6zWrzjK1H_LAL-Wk4aa4OaL4YimETULTE2VegpOIh_R3CNDQqh7mQTkXVl7ZIGqhu7uEfdXPca3ND7C_vMCgbe97BCaOCG_K16PFFhT1NmiWJLp4D5M3c_bvnqcy-lt42y/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q9mk-wZa0z6zWrzjK1H_LAL-Wk4aa4OaL4YimETULTE2VegpOIh_R3CNDQqh7mQTkXVl7ZIGqhu7uEfdXPca3ND7C_vMCgbe97BCaOCG_K16PFFhT1NmiWJLp4D5M3c_bvnqcy-lt42y/s1600/047.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After dancing the night away, we took a two hour nap and headed back to the airport. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We got there before security opened. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hit Charlotte right around the time everyone else in the Eastern United States decided to go to the airport and finally got on the last leg to...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bermuda</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeBSEq7eIKzuAwrkd6uLtQZlv83tTYDmX_v3DJs6VN5RwO0glPVjJvRBt1GR6dGKHWmaKaZYhCYfcx1nMgKDTVuiWvDp_JCB6tw6wdgSJNt0beNb5CBTnClHHN1dukRPhqRxsvUZXS00b/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeBSEq7eIKzuAwrkd6uLtQZlv83tTYDmX_v3DJs6VN5RwO0glPVjJvRBt1GR6dGKHWmaKaZYhCYfcx1nMgKDTVuiWvDp_JCB6tw6wdgSJNt0beNb5CBTnClHHN1dukRPhqRxsvUZXS00b/s1600/090.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We met up with some friends who were kind of enough to let us join them at their perfect pink house in St. Davids.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHyqc3X3D8jRjaK3VmP9FUr4V_g4nmaPdcJqSEzvd-5KMkH46HLC7xDhf-d69j-aNhdT9CgMEPX5AC_VNsNRujixmNUPq82XsZrst4ysSspVrZKL9ruFFLjGo-hI8iF_MHXcbdp0CYhzo/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHyqc3X3D8jRjaK3VmP9FUr4V_g4nmaPdcJqSEzvd-5KMkH46HLC7xDhf-d69j-aNhdT9CgMEPX5AC_VNsNRujixmNUPq82XsZrst4ysSspVrZKL9ruFFLjGo-hI8iF_MHXcbdp0CYhzo/s1600/103.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We immediately went into hardcore holiday mode: no schedules, no pressure, and thus very few pictures. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was the view that greeted us each morning.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1h-Jhf0SSqC6LXmBQwMO_s1nCTi0lGitJRZ7rDSlROm9PQbIyYrhMnSGDKwg2hN9NAQ9WLtnNSpunATC6NT5OyjYGnZnRCpsLh27gTiyFFzzTc7VJtvh045ytUcJrJJyCymLxyEe3QKP/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1h-Jhf0SSqC6LXmBQwMO_s1nCTi0lGitJRZ7rDSlROm9PQbIyYrhMnSGDKwg2hN9NAQ9WLtnNSpunATC6NT5OyjYGnZnRCpsLh27gTiyFFzzTc7VJtvh045ytUcJrJJyCymLxyEe3QKP/s1600/096.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it seemed after a life time of planning all the way back to a frigid January day in London, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we had arrived.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A4i3l9k2NiM9urlIjcd-oODxWnNLfA-0d4581dOyhm0_lLR6wnJkyI6QG9TjCN4S6h2SayZxuBq5qHKoQcoxwyBtnF89ZuwzSB2nbzTMNWtKi9p4dcpIS1fizrqB-k-kbr7bW15AgyCU/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A4i3l9k2NiM9urlIjcd-oODxWnNLfA-0d4581dOyhm0_lLR6wnJkyI6QG9TjCN4S6h2SayZxuBq5qHKoQcoxwyBtnF89ZuwzSB2nbzTMNWtKi9p4dcpIS1fizrqB-k-kbr7bW15AgyCU/s1600/113.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And where else could one want to be?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-48561803490420469102014-09-09T15:43:00.000-04:002014-09-09T16:21:27.113-04:00Franconia Notch: Hiking though Mist and Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moths can appear when you least expect it and disappear in a flash. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvfWrH4sQK09ljHFv7byqOWQSeE_Bs0gR4XkS_oqQWDXULXtvVdlEfmm8kpQQrpQ3jizJalSoh2HMFFPQeVnjYz9UB7Ku381VzPvQpB9soNXAb_Km_AvpDzxKeQbyk1shr3FfJpz9xj-P/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvfWrH4sQK09ljHFv7byqOWQSeE_Bs0gR4XkS_oqQWDXULXtvVdlEfmm8kpQQrpQ3jizJalSoh2HMFFPQeVnjYz9UB7Ku381VzPvQpB9soNXAb_Km_AvpDzxKeQbyk1shr3FfJpz9xj-P/s1600/076.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ly2mYMR43ZtxzPn0HZ95wILrYGhEjWHPf18TetBQPFnFaIBQ4lg7dSgk3jbM47h8GRp0slIOrY27oOmHIa2-B2TqQB1lyjtKvtokCdgD2BeIJHZMH0VC8zpkAHlK9a1q91i9JmFXa04M/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ly2mYMR43ZtxzPn0HZ95wILrYGhEjWHPf18TetBQPFnFaIBQ4lg7dSgk3jbM47h8GRp0slIOrY27oOmHIa2-B2TqQB1lyjtKvtokCdgD2BeIJHZMH0VC8zpkAHlK9a1q91i9JmFXa04M/s1600/077.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(...sort of like my regular posting here).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But objects, beings, and moments of beauty should be treasured for what they are even if they are fleeting and sporadic.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1fu9Pb6yQ8-zH_wAhGzATFkdCzevJtnrbYX_dsEaHZ2FkUHo2yFS4R1J9EpNvwS-O-TUC1zJCGv-g5YLaKEeavaJWvHJvmMMgcTyi1kN11vL_Q670UylkI8TibOAJJTdhLgzqvNgPiol/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1fu9Pb6yQ8-zH_wAhGzATFkdCzevJtnrbYX_dsEaHZ2FkUHo2yFS4R1J9EpNvwS-O-TUC1zJCGv-g5YLaKEeavaJWvHJvmMMgcTyi1kN11vL_Q670UylkI8TibOAJJTdhLgzqvNgPiol/s1600/090.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/franconia-notch-state-park.aspx">Franconia Notch</a> State park has drawn visitors in for decades and it is easy to see why. My memories of this lush, rugged mountainous land are tinged with a sense of magic.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEylZ_0w-uX7QOO9sc75aI4Cc52IW1uadbmVrmlaiDKYVNqNWQzHzClahP924nxdm8KZdRKYMRpr83OdW7guIuGE_MH6oosEyz1RbvtDTPsaK4lyd69VjyBiN6RFj4CeWpo95vPmwhely/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEylZ_0w-uX7QOO9sc75aI4Cc52IW1uadbmVrmlaiDKYVNqNWQzHzClahP924nxdm8KZdRKYMRpr83OdW7guIuGE_MH6oosEyz1RbvtDTPsaK4lyd69VjyBiN6RFj4CeWpo95vPmwhely/s1600/091.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There has to be some type of wood nymph or fairy amongst that moss, right?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtf3teDHjPn4NZ83FkYHTNFqx0pxGa4EWJUDPtfn3dt2Nil0qKOpJrVz92DP1rqqHTPNPoZgxQVVEiM8oRStfLxXu4N-56hYoXSDc_0QtCbs7QFcVKI-U4I6INgw1FBYMonKp9cXyD3aF/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtf3teDHjPn4NZ83FkYHTNFqx0pxGa4EWJUDPtfn3dt2Nil0qKOpJrVz92DP1rqqHTPNPoZgxQVVEiM8oRStfLxXu4N-56hYoXSDc_0QtCbs7QFcVKI-U4I6INgw1FBYMonKp9cXyD3aF/s1600/098.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJC4FB3aY4UPGLZ8Z4U_JJcllHYi046e5_QQ1QIHzu7jAG_Ndx5TrrHTc6YHDXTKtzMHwYp5BgLoqe_6CkwO9IaCIVJAOxkO2yVEGPig6JthtpEGTTK5BhkJKlZM0Us1AIvzH-c0Y0MrS/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJC4FB3aY4UPGLZ8Z4U_JJcllHYi046e5_QQ1QIHzu7jAG_Ndx5TrrHTc6YHDXTKtzMHwYp5BgLoqe_6CkwO9IaCIVJAOxkO2yVEGPig6JthtpEGTTK5BhkJKlZM0Us1AIvzH-c0Y0MrS/s1600/105.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpc8lFrz5Mci5xlNX3-uOxhYSYkIMxYxaKC6dW5YSFhVw5ajUJzP2c925gAJo2Wh-5aUW6B95sjlOIa5X2HrW52YhV3Ya0aHg_qpcpyPLJOhvRW1E7LEl88sRhRj6wp05uzN7AQnMsIoh/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpc8lFrz5Mci5xlNX3-uOxhYSYkIMxYxaKC6dW5YSFhVw5ajUJzP2c925gAJo2Wh-5aUW6B95sjlOIa5X2HrW52YhV3Ya0aHg_qpcpyPLJOhvRW1E7LEl88sRhRj6wp05uzN7AQnMsIoh/s1600/107.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The fairy folk were busy maintaining the dreamy atmosphere, but I had some human folk along for the hike in the <a href="http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/flume-gorge.aspx">Flume.</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME_pT3BBVhHKCv-GSu9udLsbYNKULn0xbgr3emyLzYBi4WBDWo-xU1JpZzvNP_w5NrzPJvHV7QxFsH7sgtqSUg2q1G8A2A6SxYXqhMUw2NAHWSyTdQjLuAq6sc-BKlah9SY0a0x2n8_Vi/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME_pT3BBVhHKCv-GSu9udLsbYNKULn0xbgr3emyLzYBi4WBDWo-xU1JpZzvNP_w5NrzPJvHV7QxFsH7sgtqSUg2q1G8A2A6SxYXqhMUw2NAHWSyTdQjLuAq6sc-BKlah9SY0a0x2n8_Vi/s1600/112.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made a winged friend who flitted along the trail with us for a while...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO9lr4s5yEps_mRK2wCbctC8nCPbAtZhLdI6-V0k6EmN7mtNO1P8Zgpeq_SfdCNJcy4GB0twDUQghxUzoDQDnAhYtr5YTLKAyhs_3UV4XjiUT6q_vEbF7tTQa4R1n__e_G7ct7MBPc7xw/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJO9lr4s5yEps_mRK2wCbctC8nCPbAtZhLdI6-V0k6EmN7mtNO1P8Zgpeq_SfdCNJcy4GB0twDUQghxUzoDQDnAhYtr5YTLKAyhs_3UV4XjiUT6q_vEbF7tTQa4R1n__e_G7ct7MBPc7xw/s1600/116.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">as we continued to delight in discovery of new discoveries around every bend.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOyWV1J8VdPiX7PmoAHGwEZxst7zSgUdzHUpU5qG7cXTtQqfgch6R5nueZzAS8tlw_ykXSJXFYF2ir2Iq7g35Q8JVhk8bRHzjmzTnyxOy8i0MeUj_oGzkUsW9jnJXQrwc4GmkF7bvc90V/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOyWV1J8VdPiX7PmoAHGwEZxst7zSgUdzHUpU5qG7cXTtQqfgch6R5nueZzAS8tlw_ykXSJXFYF2ir2Iq7g35Q8JVhk8bRHzjmzTnyxOy8i0MeUj_oGzkUsW9jnJXQrwc4GmkF7bvc90V/s1600/134.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w45ZrDjF9Dr3IWUUf88ScyxRDRA3zIu6j3sTHnIXtDQcJOVLEHa-h4mr7slYbiDzCfpzIfgUsAgJtaPtDZhbxCcNf4E6NXrTY_Nts7BHD_lbvbuTaoqbHENdDDp1ssnTPXMqkFhHYlPe/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w45ZrDjF9Dr3IWUUf88ScyxRDRA3zIu6j3sTHnIXtDQcJOVLEHa-h4mr7slYbiDzCfpzIfgUsAgJtaPtDZhbxCcNf4E6NXrTY_Nts7BHD_lbvbuTaoqbHENdDDp1ssnTPXMqkFhHYlPe/s1600/137.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You have to stop and take it all in; imagining a time when this was our natural habitat instead of just a day trip locale.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J22cwL5QGo_Msh-ED9SLeZf4eCOdPgujJVFud67WeVOaHtEtCmoeFNyi3G3BBySg9xxJOX-y2WBj4m1q0hd1o2YjbjBdFIdSN-jj4es05juab052HtsFLgJmBv2oE-xNkNd5WmambobQ/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J22cwL5QGo_Msh-ED9SLeZf4eCOdPgujJVFud67WeVOaHtEtCmoeFNyi3G3BBySg9xxJOX-y2WBj4m1q0hd1o2YjbjBdFIdSN-jj4es05juab052HtsFLgJmBv2oE-xNkNd5WmambobQ/s1600/139.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xH2YK8t8SmPNaV56w1REuV9Kb2PdrlX5hSB7t49OCnHd3w0I4_2rTSP9mGdgNe6N3mQPPmGTvhtfvNOkDofpSK4A6NWz1iX_GH2PsWfqLHSb2qQ5VRQOGdIb-lTilLZLs78_2iqZrka/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xH2YK8t8SmPNaV56w1REuV9Kb2PdrlX5hSB7t49OCnHd3w0I4_2rTSP9mGdgNe6N3mQPPmGTvhtfvNOkDofpSK4A6NWz1iX_GH2PsWfqLHSb2qQ5VRQOGdIb-lTilLZLs78_2iqZrka/s1600/142.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmHULx-_fBkcnmVB9z8OHnqCMn7iUOnvKRCcvzj1abkdxPjgJUyaWE95D3R4rEwvaU02NhbK2Vi9S0zFA9LM1na27Ni1A-u4VJrWW2C6WcnTbgTRN2IKPa23A9jXbMsM5TD3NVMlaraFX/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmHULx-_fBkcnmVB9z8OHnqCMn7iUOnvKRCcvzj1abkdxPjgJUyaWE95D3R4rEwvaU02NhbK2Vi9S0zFA9LM1na27Ni1A-u4VJrWW2C6WcnTbgTRN2IKPa23A9jXbMsM5TD3NVMlaraFX/s1600/145.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8LxvG85uPOpsCMzkzmgb7jsanWDsqBBJKwrNjwDkUqpwS2y9QIxt6iAn2hXDi-Li2yQtvRwaCFZJAqVm5_c8HMTFxXzg2va57uQbQBUKtbbjfX4Wo63v6KPAOfc6jTltylgk6oOeqiSO/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8LxvG85uPOpsCMzkzmgb7jsanWDsqBBJKwrNjwDkUqpwS2y9QIxt6iAn2hXDi-Li2yQtvRwaCFZJAqVm5_c8HMTFxXzg2va57uQbQBUKtbbjfX4Wo63v6KPAOfc6jTltylgk6oOeqiSO/s1600/153.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We often forget how much the earth does on its own, unthinkingly, unflinchingly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nature doesn't forget, nor does it slow for any man.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzNlsqcmh_aVSxkGeVLalP1JxW2weQqDZmWNswaGKJUKnlX3nLced1r6QC3BMwvbLwLsNPABX4syn8cSojCNvFaUTEDmFXbseGhwHKFSDZU4bsfWOT8gelUoZDAx2AvaBXP9iMnj3K5f7/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzNlsqcmh_aVSxkGeVLalP1JxW2weQqDZmWNswaGKJUKnlX3nLced1r6QC3BMwvbLwLsNPABX4syn8cSojCNvFaUTEDmFXbseGhwHKFSDZU4bsfWOT8gelUoZDAx2AvaBXP9iMnj3K5f7/s1600/160.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWcAZtCZO_Ix7uqsEK9qurb_lsQSar7xpcnl7NIqBW_RuGGLnWojwFqjMEAvnu1QZEO3xXPTpBjLOR1d0iHSfqL_evbEWiO9dNckcY13v1HQkQ9OP61xsaaMwwELIQgZ9_30CuKpia-Fd/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWcAZtCZO_Ix7uqsEK9qurb_lsQSar7xpcnl7NIqBW_RuGGLnWojwFqjMEAvnu1QZEO3xXPTpBjLOR1d0iHSfqL_evbEWiO9dNckcY13v1HQkQ9OP61xsaaMwwELIQgZ9_30CuKpia-Fd/s1600/161.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlubyXDtwma3lgoU-avmHyQoGb7qzOJG1KhPqM1oOe1AWP78uA-ZsrSdyR9hJ8Nsf8ikwxAgwlUkgoZRUFGVlANas4eaSw6pUCN4Jj3RfHrCi0dFvBj1cqAqo_yF7giol0Re3S6aEaECP/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlubyXDtwma3lgoU-avmHyQoGb7qzOJG1KhPqM1oOe1AWP78uA-ZsrSdyR9hJ8Nsf8ikwxAgwlUkgoZRUFGVlANas4eaSw6pUCN4Jj3RfHrCi0dFvBj1cqAqo_yF7giol0Re3S6aEaECP/s1600/163.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a variety of natural wonders to explore in the Franconia Notch state park area. Perfect to get some exercise, spend quality time with friends, or rediscover what it is to wonder, discover, - and even, believe in magic.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-69873014553975005002014-06-24T15:12:00.002-04:002014-06-26T15:23:49.160-04:00The Berkshires: Natural Bridge and Mount Greylock, Western Massachusetts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Berkshire county is a popular vacation spot for the urbanites of Boston and New York, with theatre, dance, music, and locally inspired dining in picturesque New England small towns. But the big city people often stay in south county, missing out both on the cultural attractions and natural wonders of north county.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Natural Bridge is a place I grew up on: we picnicked there as a family, did school trips there, stopped by when at a loss for something constructive to do during school breaks. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stone formations, a marble dam, wildlife and plants and the only naturally formed white marble arch in North America, <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-west/natural-bridge-state-park-generic.html">Natural Bridge State Park</a> offers a lot in a relatively small area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The marble dam...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlebOOjuOwBVTl6mtiV-peKjJ_nu3ZHZXYSImUW87l6UuDKDNWpMz5ObjBXlUqH4YSv9XRWLnFBsTpI74AZRoAzlkR-pmAMJayHjh-whH43zj-OemW0MOBaRNr8I6R8iEuCLgZbt_KdKO/s1600/003.JPG" height="172" width="400" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFZCeZof0U9QGgcgTckKNzVmZUhe8pClrsOMOb7sld2H7a-RampfIXf_MMm1Srn1SWG5SNs4F6htRAjhSaDHOaxSHBgXo__mdGPjiMSBkKu6BwEafgv-u5F5K_PK0rfYFjM1kY2q__QWP/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFZCeZof0U9QGgcgTckKNzVmZUhe8pClrsOMOb7sld2H7a-RampfIXf_MMm1Srn1SWG5SNs4F6htRAjhSaDHOaxSHBgXo__mdGPjiMSBkKu6BwEafgv-u5F5K_PK0rfYFjM1kY2q__QWP/s1600/004.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYQ3h91jZAx1hXyINRrijoR4BsAnQvLWfVRTxxYeB_2UIFkVKhy4hHNAW0bCve1MA9vBjVNGthPV5g7IaJbED4SCpNYXRYT-BJZieHJq3LQ1O98nMuR5ybu5jg6cm6fzEnwEXCHkMunYn/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYQ3h91jZAx1hXyINRrijoR4BsAnQvLWfVRTxxYeB_2UIFkVKhy4hHNAW0bCve1MA9vBjVNGthPV5g7IaJbED4SCpNYXRYT-BJZieHJq3LQ1O98nMuR5ybu5jg6cm6fzEnwEXCHkMunYn/s1600/006.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...along the way to the bridge and other sights, we discovered a ladyslipper on the last visit.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3ZY4Vyqr6gvvFdmIDfx_RwWu968mwWf5laNvxXEqb1nLl-upceDsK8wFa5mNCEJiW6VB9h8lanpGD_5Nmr4EELV5WK07sIq76HvsKHHrNgxOgW_4y_IuLpu5aRYBH1SoKu0AdIsD2K-H/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3ZY4Vyqr6gvvFdmIDfx_RwWu968mwWf5laNvxXEqb1nLl-upceDsK8wFa5mNCEJiW6VB9h8lanpGD_5Nmr4EELV5WK07sIq76HvsKHHrNgxOgW_4y_IuLpu5aRYBH1SoKu0AdIsD2K-H/s1600/042.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had an expert verify that this was, in fact, a ladyslipper (e.g. my sister in law).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGMbdVKNznrM-1u0c0Kn9JaPSHSpBcnFIhN9YP4SzWmZMhPYcfTmpkp-57VO1rh-sU1qZ33Wo3SPpNDojbZVKkWfZp0c9WuauKaeBup9NG9sDG2BSK4xE4tzBppRJ8u33Z553snmPdwU9/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGMbdVKNznrM-1u0c0Kn9JaPSHSpBcnFIhN9YP4SzWmZMhPYcfTmpkp-57VO1rh-sU1qZ33Wo3SPpNDojbZVKkWfZp0c9WuauKaeBup9NG9sDG2BSK4xE4tzBppRJ8u33Z553snmPdwU9/s1600/043.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We peered into the bridge up close and at a bit of a distance...(the feet are naturally formed too).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRaWIdx13q-xCnwL2yxX-aIOxwh9F9o9nWJiqVzUJdg82mJwrfBTagrfu0y_cjI-1PKixEGOypIIxoeWY-fydT7Z_1J2xvZvWl-XY2niVApf0NdcVIxsb3Ewin2IOaentC1vGgc3bvdUn/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRaWIdx13q-xCnwL2yxX-aIOxwh9F9o9nWJiqVzUJdg82mJwrfBTagrfu0y_cjI-1PKixEGOypIIxoeWY-fydT7Z_1J2xvZvWl-XY2niVApf0NdcVIxsb3Ewin2IOaentC1vGgc3bvdUn/s1600/015.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spotted the dog head or (camel head, depending on who you ask)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EDTJ9v5deYtNPCfNADB6GIP6dmLbCyoy5AmIko3DKg1-X3fXgl4AlGnaStZKcu2kKMt0zX39BFOjaKfKQLrvI687TGtBW1cN9hFyMfX74EVo1tqVgw7EocENebefIrXBop206i0Ygq5Q/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EDTJ9v5deYtNPCfNADB6GIP6dmLbCyoy5AmIko3DKg1-X3fXgl4AlGnaStZKcu2kKMt0zX39BFOjaKfKQLrvI687TGtBW1cN9hFyMfX74EVo1tqVgw7EocENebefIrXBop206i0Ygq5Q/s1600/021.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And continued on like good little adventurers through the greenery.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllsAG7KTT18K_FEl7A_Fl4GgPhd2cluN3w6eAxeg8UgIQXmnSFQSd-o7_KoaJkCIoRSjXebQ9RIOrVyc6iZ5cr-YNA1yKQwFgfY32mAxz7D303q7EWVwP-bny8lkWDldQx43vWt6efA4d/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllsAG7KTT18K_FEl7A_Fl4GgPhd2cluN3w6eAxeg8UgIQXmnSFQSd-o7_KoaJkCIoRSjXebQ9RIOrVyc6iZ5cr-YNA1yKQwFgfY32mAxz7D303q7EWVwP-bny8lkWDldQx43vWt6efA4d/s1600/024.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The foundation of an old mill hints to the importance of water power in these parts and provides a lovely footing for a fern awning.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJiz0Y9HHc0wxDspDlL7kB32em-hDPl0lsaFNLwWm1pC2BKSNp4WmRNUWDuv5ZHvXk4p3f8b4m_-Enqe3kiPVD2gBWdShkUCiacHP8x65emUliruxKfV6upvYN8IxXHLIER4dpUxV3HYa/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJiz0Y9HHc0wxDspDlL7kB32em-hDPl0lsaFNLwWm1pC2BKSNp4WmRNUWDuv5ZHvXk4p3f8b4m_-Enqe3kiPVD2gBWdShkUCiacHP8x65emUliruxKfV6upvYN8IxXHLIER4dpUxV3HYa/s1600/028.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Part deux of our natural tour focused on <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-west/mt-greylock-state-reservation-generic.html">Mount Greylock</a> the highest peak in the state of Massachusetts at <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.5px;">3,491 feet</span>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The climb rewarded us with a very auspicious sighting of a porcupine by the roadside. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_zskWOxTQaFrHdFd6KlG6HX-mVcCtO6sKCTmpRPGBHufwrYgCi-6vWBNYuaAFayR1WfCY97cG00WCoVottisUbU_5JHqGDDGSpT7xaeZRdyIu0Te0GTxQ_ts-tQBNK6ykDApdbnhs7wK/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_zskWOxTQaFrHdFd6KlG6HX-mVcCtO6sKCTmpRPGBHufwrYgCi-6vWBNYuaAFayR1WfCY97cG00WCoVottisUbU_5JHqGDDGSpT7xaeZRdyIu0Te0GTxQ_ts-tQBNK6ykDApdbnhs7wK/s1600/047.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mr. or Ms. Porcupine was not bothered.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0vxbSRznI_NHvXev7Tl8ldYkx4bvmk_Yl8uVZ9UH-TDeKPhtbG0IdmDklBJcU3QXCOUG729-AHFn6kCPx9JVKbVa2x1hl_o_WJEfrhjQ0jKh6SGD6glisgxQXUtLvBNWnBv0TjtDCVaE/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0vxbSRznI_NHvXev7Tl8ldYkx4bvmk_Yl8uVZ9UH-TDeKPhtbG0IdmDklBJcU3QXCOUG729-AHFn6kCPx9JVKbVa2x1hl_o_WJEfrhjQ0jKh6SGD6glisgxQXUtLvBNWnBv0TjtDCVaE/s1600/050.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other reward was the view from the summit. I've probably seen in nearly a hundred times over the years but it still impresses. On a clear day you can see into a few other states.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUHFq2s9exvxGKjpe7sCAEg_PZkmusJr5IDvw_e4CbOWWNBICDzF4dn6-DjJ_9124qXs8e2tmN2YR7TMv0WL8uChxE5j-dDkJJU8SrOrkduAPLr9AlZSnQTFk_ZdnbHl8TiUPTapfYShyphenhyphen/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUHFq2s9exvxGKjpe7sCAEg_PZkmusJr5IDvw_e4CbOWWNBICDzF4dn6-DjJ_9124qXs8e2tmN2YR7TMv0WL8uChxE5j-dDkJJU8SrOrkduAPLr9AlZSnQTFk_ZdnbHl8TiUPTapfYShyphenhyphen/s1600/052.JPG" height="190" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmCXse3RjgfpoLScHzEKVopx870RV7qpnSomsuVo0h_oO64iFVM-5ehVT3efoX96tQA9PqnFqnvVWNAYLcK8kTvAnwWQ-BHi6LaN3uT_kjg49RjXKqwRYrb_isgvqmugZ-5ADdI5gBNsH/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmCXse3RjgfpoLScHzEKVopx870RV7qpnSomsuVo0h_oO64iFVM-5ehVT3efoX96tQA9PqnFqnvVWNAYLcK8kTvAnwWQ-BHi6LaN3uT_kjg49RjXKqwRYrb_isgvqmugZ-5ADdI5gBNsH/s1600/063.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM67d5wChnfojzsn4trmxEAVefPJrK7E-CZiUuZSZwBS-Ll637xKzrdUZNs3okAvlwuDKnWWKgfj1Iw2NRqWijB04m7zwqoRujyFsZ8v4aA8B0rMFX_jzLxnxA8KxbZBOu48FXcaOY7Buc/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM67d5wChnfojzsn4trmxEAVefPJrK7E-CZiUuZSZwBS-Ll637xKzrdUZNs3okAvlwuDKnWWKgfj1Iw2NRqWijB04m7zwqoRujyFsZ8v4aA8B0rMFX_jzLxnxA8KxbZBOu48FXcaOY7Buc/s1600/065.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're lucky enough to catch the sun on a clear day, you're lucky enough.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0Berkshire County, MA, USA42.311782 -73.18216230000001641.5612565 -74.473055800000012 43.0623075 -71.89126880000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-60802663495804748872014-06-12T08:30:00.000-04:002014-06-12T09:11:31.019-04:00Oh (Ottawa) Canada...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like to cross the U.S. border at least a few times a year and luckily we are not all that far from the Canadian border. We've been to Montreal a few times but decided to venture further into British Canada. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next stop: Ottawa! The capital of Canada with one of the world's most picturesque <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/Visitors/index-e.html">parliaments</a>, Ottawa turned out to be one of the nicest, friendliness, and quietest capitals I've ever been to.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRUQFnt-GsK4yDXtNLcgDFU5ph8AYXdpBRGIev59pku5__x-mSFVSl9fs2wrh014KHENgwqcHcJE5TOhWCzF-wlEKWcYn1fPRYwtWZXWyXJ8rjd-oJKGbyHxShEKeuDJ5CKAI1qB0yyP_/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRUQFnt-GsK4yDXtNLcgDFU5ph8AYXdpBRGIev59pku5__x-mSFVSl9fs2wrh014KHENgwqcHcJE5TOhWCzF-wlEKWcYn1fPRYwtWZXWyXJ8rjd-oJKGbyHxShEKeuDJ5CKAI1qB0yyP_/s1600/151.JPG" height="218" title="canadianparliamenthill" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The neo-gothic architecture of Parliament Hill was astounding. Incredibly detailed inside and out, the buildings combined influences into something that in uniquely Canadian.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjsGJCEu5xbcUzUVamXAd_CVi-GnBdAOq-qTZndFqalktNES_IkMqtzwCdtkAXo8uITqR4gtzK48q2svBqefS99izGrk1PCGfMoMiNGQuEQKfGrw69n7rbXeOIZngJhcinAiGHfaRkwyB/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjsGJCEu5xbcUzUVamXAd_CVi-GnBdAOq-qTZndFqalktNES_IkMqtzwCdtkAXo8uITqR4gtzK48q2svBqefS99izGrk1PCGfMoMiNGQuEQKfGrw69n7rbXeOIZngJhcinAiGHfaRkwyB/s1600/160.JPG" height="400" title="ottawaparliament" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operating canal in North America. The lock system used to move boats up the incline can be witnessed up close - and because this isn't America, you can actually climb on and across the locks...and get way too close to the edge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe1Huc75FN-CB3KQgqFUzuy4rOq16Z_DyGAeWbbuOFvARu9U0WsE1JFfAGM5s73LoAgw8R526HznpNpicO3MD5BdYxLj4c-5hUeKdsm3Njs4SsNkfysG7kcJW7ie3rsf2pswOQcIBVeiu/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe1Huc75FN-CB3KQgqFUzuy4rOq16Z_DyGAeWbbuOFvARu9U0WsE1JFfAGM5s73LoAgw8R526HznpNpicO3MD5BdYxLj4c-5hUeKdsm3Njs4SsNkfysG7kcJW7ie3rsf2pswOQcIBVeiu/s1600/163.JPG" height="640" title="rideaucanalottawa" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0X-TpaafOi2PMiGkmRhB2IYpRRrj2WghLZDRSrwhQuJ_kOWnqBC9IzhtZlzE8_hQvG1mXB46Eit5VdJWbVjaxSYbvRsMFjKWOAfpl7eTUtpk59nZRktS8_O-XCvavETchNgLejCHMQHz/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0X-TpaafOi2PMiGkmRhB2IYpRRrj2WghLZDRSrwhQuJ_kOWnqBC9IzhtZlzE8_hQvG1mXB46Eit5VdJWbVjaxSYbvRsMFjKWOAfpl7eTUtpk59nZRktS8_O-XCvavETchNgLejCHMQHz/s1600/219.JPG" height="480" title="rideaucanalottawa" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXhbaUQxSMLjZ37emf_iU16MM9cWvMUrDoGXPeulRaH8PVLFupZuXzRKUM6Vn-xarXDPA0WUVYSDbIHKAW1s_aD6Y3zoDKxmuwfEU4J7GjuA1xh_KEOYQQqZLVd2vx2aLySFZ2jCFl5RL/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEXhbaUQxSMLjZ37emf_iU16MM9cWvMUrDoGXPeulRaH8PVLFupZuXzRKUM6Vn-xarXDPA0WUVYSDbIHKAW1s_aD6Y3zoDKxmuwfEU4J7GjuA1xh_KEOYQQqZLVd2vx2aLySFZ2jCFl5RL/s1600/164.JPG" height="640" title="canadaparliamenthill" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We did the free tour of Parliament and saw the House of Commons, which is nearly outgrowing the space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGVUJJCRwD3EoWIG9iiseNxggQS2RiCSXfzZEmYBTYiKyOtYDNHJ__jFbVvElHrg1V-bPnD7x06prVHeMRHO5_2c1dIe2EDtqZw8WbjsbWoiM8I-0ptN-WTgzHILe3scCFuz6FCnZYnfA/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGVUJJCRwD3EoWIG9iiseNxggQS2RiCSXfzZEmYBTYiKyOtYDNHJ__jFbVvElHrg1V-bPnD7x06prVHeMRHO5_2c1dIe2EDtqZw8WbjsbWoiM8I-0ptN-WTgzHILe3scCFuz6FCnZYnfA/s1600/181.JPG" height="400" title="Canadianhouseofcommons " width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...and the Parliament library which was beautiful and heavily air conditioned (I'm sure it's better for the books, just not for patrons).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NcOcVq-3YXCDQkuddba00AY8KotKCiJFeXZDvHwdAP_xdYx68z_mjFlHr9ZcnSWRcvjvjfoEAWM02vUbFJdioDrF802rewKOsMPJy3br1sh6WK0W4aW2-oRsKL8mZHFrBt6oqkSOCGOs/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NcOcVq-3YXCDQkuddba00AY8KotKCiJFeXZDvHwdAP_xdYx68z_mjFlHr9ZcnSWRcvjvjfoEAWM02vUbFJdioDrF802rewKOsMPJy3br1sh6WK0W4aW2-oRsKL8mZHFrBt6oqkSOCGOs/s1600/184.JPG" height="640" title="canadaparliamentlibrary" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXsByhP6svyw3rw-CCTXBlRcaaHq68gCnLfCSFQodhmMDM4yph-I-46_76cDjtYqF5qtBb9E4KXXXYsVlt8oYOYAqQSx1r9A6ovhsTU4otJUvthcwe45f_mDjNYcCHPSndnhdKLlk2BH4/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXsByhP6svyw3rw-CCTXBlRcaaHq68gCnLfCSFQodhmMDM4yph-I-46_76cDjtYqF5qtBb9E4KXXXYsVlt8oYOYAqQSx1r9A6ovhsTU4otJUvthcwe45f_mDjNYcCHPSndnhdKLlk2BH4/s1600/185.JPG" height="640" title="canadaparliamentlibrary" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_uP3EAAKZjdE07SOKZyFS1cRMWXUMemkYZP6bDlMKenrsU-y7LNhZWKoBivBhLqQeTw7FSTSA2io7H9AyxZvXxLnIByceWz7vjU53xnXYIM_TltMogMM_O7CcHkCCf4yNUaKjDESWplJ/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_uP3EAAKZjdE07SOKZyFS1cRMWXUMemkYZP6bDlMKenrsU-y7LNhZWKoBivBhLqQeTw7FSTSA2io7H9AyxZvXxLnIByceWz7vjU53xnXYIM_TltMogMM_O7CcHkCCf4yNUaKjDESWplJ/s1600/188.JPG" height="400" title="canadaparliamentlibrary" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our very handsome guide stopped us for a viewing of the royal family portraits before turning us loose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3i-oCsTL7pbr0AfH2fAQVtP6AU2mxEeCKEpeBZDydW4Zy2FXMtXfmVe6EitVn-kQtJEugmD3DNEL_TcyAyWwfe2wfPxiii4blTBC6sKTdIT_eq8MaULwwsL2VBrSt8L3gk4KpAwiT5bWK/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3i-oCsTL7pbr0AfH2fAQVtP6AU2mxEeCKEpeBZDydW4Zy2FXMtXfmVe6EitVn-kQtJEugmD3DNEL_TcyAyWwfe2wfPxiii4blTBC6sKTdIT_eq8MaULwwsL2VBrSt8L3gk4KpAwiT5bWK/s1600/191.JPG" height="400" title="canadaparliament" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZuwN2K1WNiCHhx_oSAUwlaEbl4NCKR7FFfv9-a8869PNC-pjtSptQ-hXcFjk0s6YBvslMESYb0IkTo-XudCArky_7reBjO3weLvX82e-7uDntji-3MYiTFa-uH3V-6KBWcysdl1c1ctj/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZuwN2K1WNiCHhx_oSAUwlaEbl4NCKR7FFfv9-a8869PNC-pjtSptQ-hXcFjk0s6YBvslMESYb0IkTo-XudCArky_7reBjO3weLvX82e-7uDntji-3MYiTFa-uH3V-6KBWcysdl1c1ctj/s1600/204.JPG" height="640" title="canadaparliament" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ottawa is a great place to visit and the weather cooperated so well, I got to break out my new pinafore!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQnbNnFJQ9XzyD9nV6AN4mURbermGTJ47w7nUrHRM58ORI0ZlCnO1_8phoZbk7wyCd4s6cpRPR0TRIdW6h9dFiJJnKUPCzxhNW8jXyO84GYMko7JshAYmwOZLz3tuCdHEDO9gyBa4m_ja/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQnbNnFJQ9XzyD9nV6AN4mURbermGTJ47w7nUrHRM58ORI0ZlCnO1_8phoZbk7wyCd4s6cpRPR0TRIdW6h9dFiJJnKUPCzxhNW8jXyO84GYMko7JshAYmwOZLz3tuCdHEDO9gyBa4m_ja/s1600/233.JPG" height="400" title="pinaforeparliament" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-53822127443925863302014-06-03T09:30:00.000-04:002014-06-03T09:30:01.173-04:00North American Safari: Parc Omega<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We left for Ottawa at 3:30 in the morning, determined to beat all the traffic and make a few stops along the way. After making record time to the border we made a beeline to Parc Omega. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ta-da!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DIlsWNRXgWj_BrIsz0MO1nZPjWTKMxLtFCj8FSV4juSzWuN9WCa0yg2zFFLWw_vfZifWpqd-qm6D1tW4gN2jJ8RqyMFtM6ih21tFHmk4n1yH5f9GTMesxdTkCBW0MhI0XAB_D2gRMmgf/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DIlsWNRXgWj_BrIsz0MO1nZPjWTKMxLtFCj8FSV4juSzWuN9WCa0yg2zFFLWw_vfZifWpqd-qm6D1tW4gN2jJ8RqyMFtM6ih21tFHmk4n1yH5f9GTMesxdTkCBW0MhI0XAB_D2gRMmgf/s1600/142.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Parc Omega is a self-guided drive through park showcasing a variety of North American wildlife in recreated natural habitats. You can visit the locals through wooded forest, open plains, rocky outcrops, and wetlands. Even better, you can feed many of your new friends!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddUCroqgD_TG8bRwKm1fji0amQzKKCeD9Q6XVEAjMqgYWp6ArGidlndl0fnPceYWxTMJsoeIAUpsit9i39vYcvadtxwGvDAmW6zfRI_bhalxlcnJq3Sry0LIBZbhS5R7BsQDiaGo4yXqa/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddUCroqgD_TG8bRwKm1fji0amQzKKCeD9Q6XVEAjMqgYWp6ArGidlndl0fnPceYWxTMJsoeIAUpsit9i39vYcvadtxwGvDAmW6zfRI_bhalxlcnJq3Sry0LIBZbhS5R7BsQDiaGo4yXqa/s1600/002.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stop at the lodge to grab a bag (or 5) of carrots and get your map ready. You can tune your radio in either French or English to a station that tells you about the park and it's inhabitants as you cruise, but we were too excited to keep our voices down for long.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0ldyJzljpbQhTBI6YLo4GaAqw-iVq-xL7LHDlWUIfjuVb3f8Ws7GDzcdKKz_l68TTr_8eQnJbHKjwverjaMWAGrE-PlfVK7GOM5bvY0ym0YRqngYmoTsUR_HBB9uwYOjr4adNxSc11cY/s1600/2014-05-23+10.53.53+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0ldyJzljpbQhTBI6YLo4GaAqw-iVq-xL7LHDlWUIfjuVb3f8Ws7GDzcdKKz_l68TTr_8eQnJbHKjwverjaMWAGrE-PlfVK7GOM5bvY0ym0YRqngYmoTsUR_HBB9uwYOjr4adNxSc11cY/s1600/2014-05-23+10.53.53+(1).jpg" height="640" title="parcomega" width="360" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Carrots, check.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZSpWdH_1U2PyGV5I4XcvLVakLiC1RIKrGFN0N0v6Dd17B46ZZtUZ8zdHBNb2ZLwHIA9od1yspFPnhzpCoTcmJSARYbIoOm6S01PKWV9d9HeeeML_nw5rGx4ZXkuVUdXjzobGTEVKVlfA/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZSpWdH_1U2PyGV5I4XcvLVakLiC1RIKrGFN0N0v6Dd17B46ZZtUZ8zdHBNb2ZLwHIA9od1yspFPnhzpCoTcmJSARYbIoOm6S01PKWV9d9HeeeML_nw5rGx4ZXkuVUdXjzobGTEVKVlfA/s1600/008.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Excitement at it's finest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You're met at the gate by some pretty clever deer who demand homage before you are allowed through.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu2yLN8QhTaohZ8yIdUZSuyUoO7TdFIBEgpXX4cqsjdj_1wx3ovDAQ9PouAaPDLJ6QnOL5YmGaXv0nmyI8H9i14mBp-z4OS3JuSr7p6Ijcnp_phMFhhXxd4tAFifJ80NC5apIKp5EJkn8/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu2yLN8QhTaohZ8yIdUZSuyUoO7TdFIBEgpXX4cqsjdj_1wx3ovDAQ9PouAaPDLJ6QnOL5YmGaXv0nmyI8H9i14mBp-z4OS3JuSr7p6Ijcnp_phMFhhXxd4tAFifJ80NC5apIKp5EJkn8/s1600/012.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are feeding stations which prove distracting for a little bit...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAa56pTijCT9osSIoqax-TFFlOA9V2PiqZavKFTuPAh8rpZpmiAY1YHvHrhu3ZanW5n0iK4EksjE-BrrbgE-Q6XPptpgdL4o04J0XcAtaIcL6QS-F42PWYWm6wt4CDrnJXEZfadsYCRQD/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAa56pTijCT9osSIoqax-TFFlOA9V2PiqZavKFTuPAh8rpZpmiAY1YHvHrhu3ZanW5n0iK4EksjE-BrrbgE-Q6XPptpgdL4o04J0XcAtaIcL6QS-F42PWYWm6wt4CDrnJXEZfadsYCRQD/s1600/032.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But this guy wanted to get in and come with us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh4G1bVCJcK5oqMVNhECeUSWfrwACrqsOXCuNC0Sh7MMl2VstFmPZU3LyO86-6nlxCTBO9yD7P2mK03qXTFO4dU6RvEY41gA_53b-G928iX6lMJYVykmgQjI6jEHoMqbMs11vMM4V5bkl/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh4G1bVCJcK5oqMVNhECeUSWfrwACrqsOXCuNC0Sh7MMl2VstFmPZU3LyO86-6nlxCTBO9yD7P2mK03qXTFO4dU6RvEY41gA_53b-G928iX6lMJYVykmgQjI6jEHoMqbMs11vMM4V5bkl/s1600/024.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQTqOgn2EORRQdmUPkGIYGXJQ0uAmfkTBg6SQiQguv1BSmBrZMt0HYQRp2yUHd7H0mTYujJNPm5qFUEaoTIdz_ooi2LHmBUlW9vCUBYMfTUJgCC3nB9TI-0mQkJLUxjl-WwymzCalmIzT/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQTqOgn2EORRQdmUPkGIYGXJQ0uAmfkTBg6SQiQguv1BSmBrZMt0HYQRp2yUHd7H0mTYujJNPm5qFUEaoTIdz_ooi2LHmBUlW9vCUBYMfTUJgCC3nB9TI-0mQkJLUxjl-WwymzCalmIzT/s1600/018.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgBVIzcvBjA7mkroLYPkJg6qZG4nGfJxbk4RxMNYXhyphenhyphennr6WZ2weLrAV5buhgDCLX9UWuAr0Uq4po_cd3I0VrLVqENXlFrSrEGspiKLVpazlE7WvAoMvUB7ikO-vyQFqWqZurQLqNK7eAP/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgBVIzcvBjA7mkroLYPkJg6qZG4nGfJxbk4RxMNYXhyphenhyphennr6WZ2weLrAV5buhgDCLX9UWuAr0Uq4po_cd3I0VrLVqENXlFrSrEGspiKLVpazlE7WvAoMvUB7ikO-vyQFqWqZurQLqNK7eAP/s1600/042.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvAPEJoyOIp-mmXTTe1qLcYQWzRHEuoE2g4o1rbwi7e4_rhMVgw9dvIwElfi4QlozDakCcQyWFYzX1oNitKVN9Qvej-B44SkpvQZRnJEJxuMvWohFFrcQceoYssvuHBR2YXGZNd6pdNQq/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvAPEJoyOIp-mmXTTe1qLcYQWzRHEuoE2g4o1rbwi7e4_rhMVgw9dvIwElfi4QlozDakCcQyWFYzX1oNitKVN9Qvej-B44SkpvQZRnJEJxuMvWohFFrcQceoYssvuHBR2YXGZNd6pdNQq/s1600/118.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTShMKQcbXSwKqERCFDWVGGGYLHoFuaW9px-pWOBEl1Fdm6OR-WvTpCDAjI7wbeU92oQ9UnP1XBM0fXY6RvBbbS0STL8zBfAkD3UuOsdSQzY3HjsRVmQ0yp3IxrprezcmRWxeTa45a7wP/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTShMKQcbXSwKqERCFDWVGGGYLHoFuaW9px-pWOBEl1Fdm6OR-WvTpCDAjI7wbeU92oQ9UnP1XBM0fXY6RvBbbS0STL8zBfAkD3UuOsdSQzY3HjsRVmQ0yp3IxrprezcmRWxeTa45a7wP/s1600/080.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's a variety of deer, elk, wapiki that readily approach cars. Some animals are better viewed at a distance like bison...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTL1V4Z8Ixe0yy9hrKcZkWgd3P1RbsMI6lQfeyrcn9YKw7zWK1xt4FbJM52nKNoAa_oBD78UCwA4g0fTsDavXehYVSU5rOjsmDPFchqDzjKdLT6_Cu1Qi5-oawTvHbQ3XJA0mtg-Uvr0J/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTL1V4Z8Ixe0yy9hrKcZkWgd3P1RbsMI6lQfeyrcn9YKw7zWK1xt4FbJM52nKNoAa_oBD78UCwA4g0fTsDavXehYVSU5rOjsmDPFchqDzjKdLT6_Cu1Qi5-oawTvHbQ3XJA0mtg-Uvr0J/s1600/072.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and MOOSE (the holy grail of the trip)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObQPdSp_wqYSUqGGemlWXFak0cs4UVJXzzDuIzgysIyCaus-WyPsiuayvm28v8jkBA65j2afd3hrtGv6_VDTIYKwWEuTJgY6d3ajGeWOZYqkSTPm8SU8vd-dqipL5KqwUSoUjXMsGdoEK/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObQPdSp_wqYSUqGGemlWXFak0cs4UVJXzzDuIzgysIyCaus-WyPsiuayvm28v8jkBA65j2afd3hrtGv6_VDTIYKwWEuTJgY6d3ajGeWOZYqkSTPm8SU8vd-dqipL5KqwUSoUjXMsGdoEK/s1600/090.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5Pykk1t4OcTd0C3co2jahRBQAigtVUbNht0xszu1xTqZOKQ7BZwkUkrtFjyBi_4tpyzViKcr_CR4xT953JdbLzWtF5y-RIiuYSaGioFuGTPCK7imL08c4sfj-157ysy3q7r6aQeskGcB/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5Pykk1t4OcTd0C3co2jahRBQAigtVUbNht0xszu1xTqZOKQ7BZwkUkrtFjyBi_4tpyzViKcr_CR4xT953JdbLzWtF5y-RIiuYSaGioFuGTPCK7imL08c4sfj-157ysy3q7r6aQeskGcB/s1600/086.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...arctic wolves...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHFdXVxgtN3y-dn0D1Q6T9-zeOnrqn3kBwlldvMy8N2CFjRsnnmDiLTrstB1NBu1HgMMDZCOOhxR-b7J3_0iorCtqshMLWWkWxUa5WH-9_pf_XffTwF0lcTKopQ7HkoFNF6HRUISa17XG/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHFdXVxgtN3y-dn0D1Q6T9-zeOnrqn3kBwlldvMy8N2CFjRsnnmDiLTrstB1NBu1HgMMDZCOOhxR-b7J3_0iorCtqshMLWWkWxUa5WH-9_pf_XffTwF0lcTKopQ7HkoFNF6HRUISa17XG/s1600/110.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...and bears! A Momma and two cubs were scampering about, an electric fence between us and the happy family.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwdf2bOhRB_uKoxcuymIrhRnuaZmXvH8CK1CWsaOIB1_o7M1qzm-Fy5YkP5176xMEzjqd7AX26YQ5W2koIT3KNVam48je7V1WutMBXCRRsawJxNm5aIXaWVeJ1fCyh8OMVdxqW4tQxias/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwdf2bOhRB_uKoxcuymIrhRnuaZmXvH8CK1CWsaOIB1_o7M1qzm-Fy5YkP5176xMEzjqd7AX26YQ5W2koIT3KNVam48je7V1WutMBXCRRsawJxNm5aIXaWVeJ1fCyh8OMVdxqW4tQxias/s1600/138.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BxeX8ryEj79e5hyMGWVbiGmS-xbliyS0RYdnmeYq-fklt_dRYMQOTlXq8cr0IaDIzBc_2fYsHrN0FPZ0n2aeyksbUT-0Lx0a505cxGLd9p4Z1xgqPZu_8xST1xLEeF73Uo_Fpp4WFiB7/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BxeX8ryEj79e5hyMGWVbiGmS-xbliyS0RYdnmeYq-fklt_dRYMQOTlXq8cr0IaDIzBc_2fYsHrN0FPZ0n2aeyksbUT-0Lx0a505cxGLd9p4Z1xgqPZu_8xST1xLEeF73Uo_Fpp4WFiB7/s1600/128.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tenacious Elk does not allow passage without payment.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLm7APgzkQThz-OOBuQHXB9w6P0BePjzhnPdOF1obj2mEjdtE2V_kRDvozYPHOZRfUye8wYiBa2c7gDBHa9EUqwB5rRS9quKeGxGBw2X3rxdglpFA5SZsz0EGnAj39Ybo33AP39GqDlnp/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLm7APgzkQThz-OOBuQHXB9w6P0BePjzhnPdOF1obj2mEjdtE2V_kRDvozYPHOZRfUye8wYiBa2c7gDBHa9EUqwB5rRS9quKeGxGBw2X3rxdglpFA5SZsz0EGnAj39Ybo33AP39GqDlnp/s1600/096.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or you at least have to listen to one of his jokes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCmBGY3g0m_u4WrI0iZjIVRPNGwFq-SgJYCAnO5YgNrW8yvMsJYZJdazwIPOKXT8xQMUdJRXi3nbqspN_b65w9byM_xEk-VX89o1L6pGDsa3vrX4_b40DF54XNUi9vlISY1B4BI558rO1/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCmBGY3g0m_u4WrI0iZjIVRPNGwFq-SgJYCAnO5YgNrW8yvMsJYZJdazwIPOKXT8xQMUdJRXi3nbqspN_b65w9byM_xEk-VX89o1L6pGDsa3vrX4_b40DF54XNUi9vlISY1B4BI558rO1/s1600/101.JPG" height="480" title="canadaelk" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Is that not a 'get it?!' face or what?? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://parcomega.ca/en/">Parc Omega</a> is located an hour-ish west of Ottawa and about 2 hours from the VT-QC border crossing (traffic depending). We were there over two and a half hours and probably would have stayed longer if we had thought to pack a lunch...and dinner.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0Montebello, QC, Canada45.6519493 -74.94087150000001445.6075503 -75.021552500000013 45.6963483 -74.860190500000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-25860107060491207902014-05-28T18:11:00.000-04:002014-05-28T18:11:04.878-04:00Anniversary Tea and Sandwiches in Sandwich, MA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While our anniversary has moved since we got married, I still like to celebrate our 'original' anniversary. I don't need an excuse to day trip!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We headed to Sandwich on Cape Cod to have afternoon tea and take in the sea airs. The weather actually cooperated and the earth was in bloom. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2gZAKzCNN9Lfw9wt1i6IWWJC2TQdJ4L2Vnfwr68e82UIIWIB91x8MnKeq-eGO1bSBHZ19nf4lUKV6UrrzQM8lI6tKTKpb9sKF0aNBSWA_zV-i6eB6La1hfTwI24jhsvt1wggqezwcAjJ/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2gZAKzCNN9Lfw9wt1i6IWWJC2TQdJ4L2Vnfwr68e82UIIWIB91x8MnKeq-eGO1bSBHZ19nf4lUKV6UrrzQM8lI6tKTKpb9sKF0aNBSWA_zV-i6eB6La1hfTwI24jhsvt1wggqezwcAjJ/s1600/027.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">We cruised the colonial (early American) sites, like this grist mill from the revolutionary days that still grinds corn in season to this day. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzIQt1QpkYWc4RcvCPsFB0C3Ns_zGZRIdu4hcJytaCWSkO0JjD6TYz6CAXSN8F30_2gSvuEMkfjNecIb6P_j5p6Eoe3SEXaylFCjGWYlHJ3ROSJ17fuZd48LSrr6FJ3pV5hhuyumDD1jl/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzIQt1QpkYWc4RcvCPsFB0C3Ns_zGZRIdu4hcJytaCWSkO0JjD6TYz6CAXSN8F30_2gSvuEMkfjNecIb6P_j5p6Eoe3SEXaylFCjGWYlHJ3ROSJ17fuZd48LSrr6FJ3pV5hhuyumDD1jl/s1600/035.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was warm enough I only had to wear three layers. Success.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpjgpiZk3IWdS27A_HAebgEeqhDTErokSc_m3O6W1fkddKjMlip-e4UYowejro8EYv5AYY1vEmBD2Nq9SKHqb-w2rGisL34_nyyFufRb89DBe2y6gibazCQLH0WDNNO3WBrO89KBvWrD9/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpjgpiZk3IWdS27A_HAebgEeqhDTErokSc_m3O6W1fkddKjMlip-e4UYowejro8EYv5AYY1vEmBD2Nq9SKHqb-w2rGisL34_nyyFufRb89DBe2y6gibazCQLH0WDNNO3WBrO89KBvWrD9/s1600/039.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had tea at</span><a href="http://www.dunbartea.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Dunbar Tea Room</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> which is housed in a carriage house of a colonial home from the mid-1700's. We took no time before diving in...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZBj8yXE1_SaT4ZIXBNhwXnt8JvdYVArrGsBJcFbIi5hSWp3WL6sc4JGFOHQEHqIp8XuRgsoKk_d1K6Zm5EHElEODloxnf7VKFsmGer1To1nE_dmKIdLWG6m4siYXfC3xcNIm-ZqGPAIV/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZBj8yXE1_SaT4ZIXBNhwXnt8JvdYVArrGsBJcFbIi5hSWp3WL6sc4JGFOHQEHqIp8XuRgsoKk_d1K6Zm5EHElEODloxnf7VKFsmGer1To1nE_dmKIdLWG6m4siYXfC3xcNIm-ZqGPAIV/s1600/045.JPG" height="640" title="afternoonteafood" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW1D5GW2jIwX2BUQ0DwWwh9KmpC6lQRrEByPoSW2Tml6hwAYPdr8p0D0ngDLFp6SHo2gW765lTEsGc-mXYGGFs3QMJKCAfi1YviX-jRGrbPoR8V9-oqiHsKOXxqHmb209WccVLKyNobYi/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW1D5GW2jIwX2BUQ0DwWwh9KmpC6lQRrEByPoSW2Tml6hwAYPdr8p0D0ngDLFp6SHo2gW765lTEsGc-mXYGGFs3QMJKCAfi1YviX-jRGrbPoR8V9-oqiHsKOXxqHmb209WccVLKyNobYi/s1600/047.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_pn7iNW5-C_V1GXE6YGSxBOZBe9qIBK4usyAnAhJD9O1-jGMOTPOjtfvwUtLdU_uP9KnJrKtKFsxdw43CrAiqpGG3yWmO4W9fEFYz1NNWo6QAXy7EZrmkU2ZDiW9G097J6c3ki05hQHS/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_pn7iNW5-C_V1GXE6YGSxBOZBe9qIBK4usyAnAhJD9O1-jGMOTPOjtfvwUtLdU_uP9KnJrKtKFsxdw43CrAiqpGG3yWmO4W9fEFYz1NNWo6QAXy7EZrmkU2ZDiW9G097J6c3ki05hQHS/s1600/051.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After tea we headed to the Sandwich glass museum to see a glassblowing demonstration. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUUoLna2PJIFNnDLKyxHGHQE_5Z7K8iC99kYB9MgDCxaa6pUV8xexMAA8wl8ARM6xi7rJqoSafvpNKogYGmxajID5bq5_Bk4mv2Dy1N6UwO-hU5lqVor-lOtsBdcpmqOoPqarXXo709rC/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUUoLna2PJIFNnDLKyxHGHQE_5Z7K8iC99kYB9MgDCxaa6pUV8xexMAA8wl8ARM6xi7rJqoSafvpNKogYGmxajID5bq5_Bk4mv2Dy1N6UwO-hU5lqVor-lOtsBdcpmqOoPqarXXo709rC/s1600/060.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiZdlKECMFeRb8O5S68Kxoc7_Jlh9F8DIufThgxHswXgK5sd_3tv5gpXpxluWHwiV-sMol5Zc3TKCplNqCbNu4MxcM_gDajjQDiGz8Sz-HvRva8geynIIMvGVoeEzC783Vdgr5STNcXwm/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiZdlKECMFeRb8O5S68Kxoc7_Jlh9F8DIufThgxHswXgK5sd_3tv5gpXpxluWHwiV-sMol5Zc3TKCplNqCbNu4MxcM_gDajjQDiGz8Sz-HvRva8geynIIMvGVoeEzC783Vdgr5STNcXwm/s1600/061.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whilst in the neighborhood we came across a turkey vulture plucking at a cute fuzzy thing. Everything's got to eat and he was quite the majestic creature.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHuKKzW-zx3QKJSFOmviXZvCJw-yT33J-yHeWWNRmTKpVO0i38CB34Dea6Y_txDXGH5U0ltiMEbxCW29rQqz9y-SEhGp2uy_rOC4y10l2A6vAB6hzWgOf1L5PGMXE0uZF99wFGEE17TRy/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHuKKzW-zx3QKJSFOmviXZvCJw-yT33J-yHeWWNRmTKpVO0i38CB34Dea6Y_txDXGH5U0ltiMEbxCW29rQqz9y-SEhGp2uy_rOC4y10l2A6vAB6hzWgOf1L5PGMXE0uZF99wFGEE17TRy/s1600/055.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before leaving the cape we stopped at the shore and walked the longest boardwalk in the history of boardwalks:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwjm_yZQXAgMIYNrdqpUBP_37v_659vxeTSnNbTbr0o_2eg2H6XPpU9WCczBtc2khIxe7i4C5a5TjsBZvv95eLyx55JbA7zRBM183HJBIxJQKTyKy6sGvREsbX8IpqDiIXMhfNbe1aMBY/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwjm_yZQXAgMIYNrdqpUBP_37v_659vxeTSnNbTbr0o_2eg2H6XPpU9WCczBtc2khIxe7i4C5a5TjsBZvv95eLyx55JbA7zRBM183HJBIxJQKTyKy6sGvREsbX8IpqDiIXMhfNbe1aMBY/s1600/062.JPG" height="640" title="sandwichmaboardway" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...finally the Atlantic lay before us. Beautiful, windswept, and cold - as usual!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J-KOQ9otyoV67b0GSrW-4Mera_QXZu8x_18arrGCIud2jYILyGU89QbjafidLOAFNDIOU4_eJ15-nOPCyKndHaqqNpz1yU7oGYsdsFlisiMdjAo_L6gr-EgmiRiw4LffpSUNcWQwT9dj/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J-KOQ9otyoV67b0GSrW-4Mera_QXZu8x_18arrGCIud2jYILyGU89QbjafidLOAFNDIOU4_eJ15-nOPCyKndHaqqNpz1yU7oGYsdsFlisiMdjAo_L6gr-EgmiRiw4LffpSUNcWQwT9dj/s1600/065.JPG" height="480" title="capecodshore" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-51679887548580293862014-05-13T15:01:00.001-04:002014-05-13T15:01:44.316-04:00April Showers bring May Flowers and Mayflowers bring Pilgrims<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love New England, but sometimes I wonder how we all managed to stay here when winter rolls around. It is brutal and this year was especially brutal, we're still shaking off the cold in May.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But then, spring arrives. When the first dogwood blooms, the birds return en masse, and the tulips emerge, I remember. This kind of beauty can make you forget the worst of Nor-easters.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTTKKvqdvAUgmWVLzxw8RFeLG86ndWMYwnZFRWM-pnwFbbghNb1lHhjLNd845ZQlNmgMMSn6jUKhks3sFeWL4z47XSlx3r-_ocQu6Y2jwZmZfru3hg6LL2EiGPNYuGkntBGnysO8-yY42/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTTKKvqdvAUgmWVLzxw8RFeLG86ndWMYwnZFRWM-pnwFbbghNb1lHhjLNd845ZQlNmgMMSn6jUKhks3sFeWL4z47XSlx3r-_ocQu6Y2jwZmZfru3hg6LL2EiGPNYuGkntBGnysO8-yY42/s1600/069.JPG" height="640" title="bostonspringtulip8" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqRAUi8Eff-yNLzAUJDSYeRCpDhTy-67ncyd5CueQSWhFY4t1xEid7aDgcRUSX5pqGc-wXRzAgsFLxLnwKs1dNN-hd2BLuAp7vWQK8kd9kRyRPJgHrJ5lhnLOysymjK77WOhFoXstboxx/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqRAUi8Eff-yNLzAUJDSYeRCpDhTy-67ncyd5CueQSWhFY4t1xEid7aDgcRUSX5pqGc-wXRzAgsFLxLnwKs1dNN-hd2BLuAp7vWQK8kd9kRyRPJgHrJ5lhnLOysymjK77WOhFoXstboxx/s1600/073.JPG" height="640" title="bostonspringtulip7" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobFcGxVo59xdmpZAn6y2UVwvgnFowEk3qd_f2U5TKpZBvPhyphenhyphenqnorAQb2oXZACzVT_MhOCXCRZt6w8TsCOcdN2oFRoJCo3gTcVqEBHmRmxk0MeIfTVXaBuekvE6qMTe3Lrua-bheuuLr3b/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobFcGxVo59xdmpZAn6y2UVwvgnFowEk3qd_f2U5TKpZBvPhyphenhyphenqnorAQb2oXZACzVT_MhOCXCRZt6w8TsCOcdN2oFRoJCo3gTcVqEBHmRmxk0MeIfTVXaBuekvE6qMTe3Lrua-bheuuLr3b/s1600/077.JPG" height="480" title="bostonspringtulip6" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRnFGaKsU8sOzkxlEviDKNiIhTCOa4fbIvvfNjgUZhrT0gWrq-RsMHkKjhDsjhbjPAgc0LQ7oZ9eI8cL8DH83O3EPE6etAAy53bFsKMFsqMALzWojuZ5-igDrZkLOvGcwckfQ7PZw5IdN/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRnFGaKsU8sOzkxlEviDKNiIhTCOa4fbIvvfNjgUZhrT0gWrq-RsMHkKjhDsjhbjPAgc0LQ7oZ9eI8cL8DH83O3EPE6etAAy53bFsKMFsqMALzWojuZ5-igDrZkLOvGcwckfQ7PZw5IdN/s1600/080.JPG" height="640" title="bostonspringtulip5" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSpC0Mby-br8clVvhxtYcs91zUeZxcdtU_AZL7GSmSrRTgxNVWRtuhAgSfiQx3GQYCCVsm0VUO07bqGjm2I6jqMQ0XGo4BtYmCehBXe56v9uJrOuX4UI_Xkn2YD5cjNw5g3lclkDM6J_v/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSpC0Mby-br8clVvhxtYcs91zUeZxcdtU_AZL7GSmSrRTgxNVWRtuhAgSfiQx3GQYCCVsm0VUO07bqGjm2I6jqMQ0XGo4BtYmCehBXe56v9uJrOuX4UI_Xkn2YD5cjNw5g3lclkDM6J_v/s1600/088.JPG" height="640" title="bostonspringtulip4" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBiheL-Uhyqq1i3CApiO7Dk4NnHv0qZrfZXyE-z3FWZ1H3raZb7XvagILCH_uWqHxu2esjJpM0YDTPGkALleknQ6-C_poaX7x66S4IgC8cADhvo8vbnCWTT_K8iwnYvNpapKM-Ii7VP4O/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBiheL-Uhyqq1i3CApiO7Dk4NnHv0qZrfZXyE-z3FWZ1H3raZb7XvagILCH_uWqHxu2esjJpM0YDTPGkALleknQ6-C_poaX7x66S4IgC8cADhvo8vbnCWTT_K8iwnYvNpapKM-Ii7VP4O/s1600/092.JPG" height="480" title="bostonspringtulip3" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_HrqYnN2ZEb4J0d4yAYBOR-ecSFbvl_XRRMZyk7WLdED-58IJUqEqJQfiPWTnvg1hHg1jxGQ_Bz7zOxZr6srHWGG1ilZjr5BcSI3HC0p737q5L16HcRChNT2G5UsZ1K-UTWRAG5qHVyb/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_HrqYnN2ZEb4J0d4yAYBOR-ecSFbvl_XRRMZyk7WLdED-58IJUqEqJQfiPWTnvg1hHg1jxGQ_Bz7zOxZr6srHWGG1ilZjr5BcSI3HC0p737q5L16HcRChNT2G5UsZ1K-UTWRAG5qHVyb/s1600/096.JPG" height="480" title="bostonspringtulip2" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI19jjwqroZEeInI4_S3oqz0Q_5YYyNdpMbPnTllrnwtDwmKTrrx36zkHLMlLeIDmtsNeLxDxVSPZQSfe91l42d8r7sJ0H5l2Pk_NGHP7oIjmGYVTg1n8EBesHIAWCN9tN0hUTT4YyNN_5/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI19jjwqroZEeInI4_S3oqz0Q_5YYyNdpMbPnTllrnwtDwmKTrrx36zkHLMlLeIDmtsNeLxDxVSPZQSfe91l42d8r7sJ0H5l2Pk_NGHP7oIjmGYVTg1n8EBesHIAWCN9tN0hUTT4YyNN_5/s1600/097.JPG" height="480" title="bostonspringtulip1" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy - almost - Spring!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-71022310528964733392014-05-02T14:33:00.000-04:002014-05-02T14:33:37.656-04:00New Bedford Whaling Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Winter seems to be intent on lasting a record time this year. All the New England-y summer tourist things are waiting for us, but everyone's still inside waiting to see sunlight and temperatures above 45. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However if we all waiting for the weather to cooperate, New England would still be huddled in the first huts the early colonialists built. So onward and upward or perhaps, seaward for fun.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">New Bedford Massachusetts has a long (read: as long as America's been a country) history of shipbuilding, sailing, fishing, and whaling. Whaling as since been replaced by whale conservation, but the history if this integral part of early New England industry and livelihood is a tale of riches, dangers, and of course, the world's largest creatures.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ljC9hVRRijh45oBbmjitIUTgQy1vrtcuNl7SLDTmBjWkPGkUtWHXVpSqsqMUNlJP7wEXqE99M17tWP7ljWRYUx7iwj6DIfIUMC6oqqZ6s-Q7uLQFYzlfQRufYuTdkTI9qENzR5weEeWo/s1600/759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ljC9hVRRijh45oBbmjitIUTgQy1vrtcuNl7SLDTmBjWkPGkUtWHXVpSqsqMUNlJP7wEXqE99M17tWP7ljWRYUx7iwj6DIfIUMC6oqqZ6s-Q7uLQFYzlfQRufYuTdkTI9qENzR5weEeWo/s1600/759.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To try and imagine the true size of a whale is daunting for me; I can look a at school bus and know there are animals that size in the ocean, but it's still a bit fuzzy. Conveniently the New Bedford Whaling Museum has solved my spatial thinking problems with a real life blue whale skeleton. It's almost 14 years old, but it is still dripping oil, as seen by the Plexiglas plate in it's jaw.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPdZ1ZHTSL8tb97n6bYKf0rkeiR5iSufJrD0uKkHu9Hg97LSNUQVV44NzsCaAyHTSK9QPiNcZ7QAWNYXiFLWvNVL9glPdwWCVfFzBOWt0lJ2bRG8Xn1F5E_3OL20rGfbmgUwWdh1zJNP3/s1600/761.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Whaling Museum explores what whaling was like for the men who did it and what it meant to their home communities. Far flung sea journeys expanded the ideas humans had of the size and scope of the world.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcbzPrbXqbQLu8EeitqWEO63T74eFNybliLi3TmZgOyfYd6DRoIKQ_n_n8XE1d3FWyiF9A699mURgQ3HFJidw6NOTiCyg6ZEoUWn4MjtJwFjC4hyphenhyphennIYZ_CKBTaOwEBWeZ-trGLt8lEvZA/s1600/764.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As dangerous as whaling and arctic exploration was, there were always those who could see the beauty in unforgiving ice and cold.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zha7imxBZODbJU6ivEvd-tBCmpMTOv7j8JdSpadHV51hhyphenhyphenYEbP4q1vCYlGUdDBKniztBQMvCgvUmMyNwSTQd1xSxIrIU4NVcTBs56c8rg0uGCJIEOIFBtCGom9fk6CCCKWmkfc7HHtVL/s1600/767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zha7imxBZODbJU6ivEvd-tBCmpMTOv7j8JdSpadHV51hhyphenhyphenYEbP4q1vCYlGUdDBKniztBQMvCgvUmMyNwSTQd1xSxIrIU4NVcTBs56c8rg0uGCJIEOIFBtCGom9fk6CCCKWmkfc7HHtVL/s1600/767.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Explorers and whalers met people living in isolated, brutal locations like Greenland only to discover they thrived, created, and dreamed like they themselves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi4NBJh7Ko_QVd3DbLuyg2jhBPMpe51x2RUvoVOPSQWYYPItEB8jXze7U9KfCLJaa7tMfJWmhW0m1LQTdR3VnWMRQS3a7NiBdh9WZhZjZlb0Jqjn8g1PtexIhxqUVKwv1eCkZ-GzvQL9b/s1600/768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi4NBJh7Ko_QVd3DbLuyg2jhBPMpe51x2RUvoVOPSQWYYPItEB8jXze7U9KfCLJaa7tMfJWmhW0m1LQTdR3VnWMRQS3a7NiBdh9WZhZjZlb0Jqjn8g1PtexIhxqUVKwv1eCkZ-GzvQL9b/s1600/768.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A solitary snowflake revealed an intricate design of nature's own plan.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYHtm849aunNv40ljRDr71ScATUy3u_a20-76Iferdh9jAsLerDUdQ1jGp82mRZMHZS6Rs1bw7KawC4YN-99guQ3O0AV9JGgknLSs0vSugoIktqBaih2JYMlRRyYQgbzKK0BBkV5AhNqk/s1600/769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYHtm849aunNv40ljRDr71ScATUy3u_a20-76Iferdh9jAsLerDUdQ1jGp82mRZMHZS6Rs1bw7KawC4YN-99guQ3O0AV9JGgknLSs0vSugoIktqBaih2JYMlRRyYQgbzKK0BBkV5AhNqk/s1600/769.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But back to whales, I required my fellow museum goers to play along. A sperm whale jaw bone comparison:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VkjLuqd1fr71mu1iJIc6tSsrAdpRf_0GWMmKrrz2xRkGfj8cWidSiniTbzwiPCUQWlIodlpXvx9mqLxCZX25IY_PLkZBMZ16kbFo03D2fpXSC-qNVktshYR9gxUWoBZ8Sa5JtfamuNG-/s1600/780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VkjLuqd1fr71mu1iJIc6tSsrAdpRf_0GWMmKrrz2xRkGfj8cWidSiniTbzwiPCUQWlIodlpXvx9mqLxCZX25IY_PLkZBMZ16kbFo03D2fpXSC-qNVktshYR9gxUWoBZ8Sa5JtfamuNG-/s1600/780.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I had to join the congressional delegation:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1rt8HIdvtBzZoCCLhbKvb5kY0fQu_fK_WRci296VboDA3AS0eUyKSBNNeQ1BQ0wysgApHR0tre4PpLLCBxfseDhaMj61LwvI78U7js3amsydygBv6T-itdnJy3RSpdoOhNwEQbmDsm_b/s1600/781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1rt8HIdvtBzZoCCLhbKvb5kY0fQu_fK_WRci296VboDA3AS0eUyKSBNNeQ1BQ0wysgApHR0tre4PpLLCBxfseDhaMj61LwvI78U7js3amsydygBv6T-itdnJy3RSpdoOhNwEQbmDsm_b/s1600/781.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moving on to the arts side of things, we took in an extraordinary collection of crafts made from whale bone and baleen.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNmkN5Luq7hLVnhqMnr9c32Bmzh0khgU2fXgtblQ6SsYqn11vOjDANOjZbZ00gv-IEWNWuoIH323NJVHytR2Atwkj5e0JFsA5W568NnI4O6Yfts9EscSU1FPBxW0Cz6osPfo2is6PEcR7/s1600/785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNmkN5Luq7hLVnhqMnr9c32Bmzh0khgU2fXgtblQ6SsYqn11vOjDANOjZbZ00gv-IEWNWuoIH323NJVHytR2Atwkj5e0JFsA5W568NnI4O6Yfts9EscSU1FPBxW0Cz6osPfo2is6PEcR7/s1600/785.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other sailor crafts like carved abalone shells,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4Og9a8gsifl0AYFiL235PIquWAGvaVCvh-BpB5N2_3RhOue5YrqI-xuhmXUzcEXnIyCTkzGYBAF-yird5C3lT9CainuIKeSiTpRt8kWDkK_bHSsnIxiIdOeFqpcGOS0euB8xL-dP64zX/s1600/786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4Og9a8gsifl0AYFiL235PIquWAGvaVCvh-BpB5N2_3RhOue5YrqI-xuhmXUzcEXnIyCTkzGYBAF-yird5C3lT9CainuIKeSiTpRt8kWDkK_bHSsnIxiIdOeFqpcGOS0euB8xL-dP64zX/s1600/786.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And shaped, decorated thin strips of whale bones made into corset inserts, or busks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJoO5ugn5uT1NDj-KE1fGdkS6-KsJCKcu06VA8SKjfs-8dpJjeHcoTcnL9jjomZxZVF6CMN76HR-7q4qX7AQlCNcYesOEgjmAwgCfpgNHWgHn6AhHheK9kdePvc0-G8a-bplocB_1KnuK/s1600/788.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sailors made these whilst on long journeys for sweethearts back at home. An intimate accessory as they were tucked inside a lady's undergarments, a man had better been set on marriage bringing home such a token.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD08yu5EqPiJNnxqeCh8zilPtA1O3enTk3cttBw4nIf-WTWV4hRAcuUSE-go3DFK8J3bz6GPwE3X8BipoivnjH38onYkhDoYno4mfU7mKHZyxuV0nXwngzP5lPLe2OttUhWrEZjkqqNAm/s1600/790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD08yu5EqPiJNnxqeCh8zilPtA1O3enTk3cttBw4nIf-WTWV4hRAcuUSE-go3DFK8J3bz6GPwE3X8BipoivnjH38onYkhDoYno4mfU7mKHZyxuV0nXwngzP5lPLe2OttUhWrEZjkqqNAm/s1600/790.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP4xM7l1kTMTFYsdnkKRaPqoMeCr7ZmW_fSrMoIS8nRN1HS9oaHGp4nsfluLGY6D3C_9e1glq2nchZ1oVxvSL7ysfYDnIPcU4UKmios_yZn8ns48tOTtJyx73DbE06XmEzhVQG_odO2l5/s1600/792.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The amount of time and careful work these busks required seems unbelievable but with an average whaling tour lasting upwards of two years, I guess you needed a project.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCwDdG6xqLuZ3FBeV4KPJWvnqOAax5u7q9Y5rnEPM_RRvHwo7GQCtu8tPGwXOt5ZRcX97rmfmuC2lAd6WzHPhGJ8ZYcIFkB230IEe4bF6uME9liwyQMZ8H5e_JDZyBF1gKpsmtvxhPfPH/s1600/795.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lastly, we checked out the 50 percent scale whaler from the ground...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX20XTVn2QUQordusSZhrre6Xg2_zQ-QjFGAfgGuDjgXbM9EIaozyNlMHEDwOeD0yvElqS_hOv6dNsfHuzn2jaRheLHHZS_5pgvUAPoQUNzvXrjsnQxDZ5AhyKOGqzuR4Ccn6YzFt2qjSY/s1600/802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX20XTVn2QUQordusSZhrre6Xg2_zQ-QjFGAfgGuDjgXbM9EIaozyNlMHEDwOeD0yvElqS_hOv6dNsfHuzn2jaRheLHHZS_5pgvUAPoQUNzvXrjsnQxDZ5AhyKOGqzuR4Ccn6YzFt2qjSY/s1600/802.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and the viewing gallery.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlKfjl-Z-nmtL9jqll9NATH-ORzMeorBfiojWUugTdETrNbZC1IiMpe1DcrRojq9LuAsn2VotlQmaUl-u8AryuGdgT6IwLYB37rD2p57ex2YMCITWqQ-dsISIHrHqQmrR8muwMBiBIBZ/s1600/804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlKfjl-Z-nmtL9jqll9NATH-ORzMeorBfiojWUugTdETrNbZC1IiMpe1DcrRojq9LuAsn2VotlQmaUl-u8AryuGdgT6IwLYB37rD2p57ex2YMCITWqQ-dsISIHrHqQmrR8muwMBiBIBZ/s1600/804.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And took in the view of old New Bedford from the roof.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXFW_wnMwS5SGtTaVPLwRlWH4Au7xScdcb4URqFywOpy3UebDxr0HsxDhlzwoGeXm-I_-E0QQJlUnQr4iXdO82n8a5Lmjt2UwYTzD0BO5U3Dr1B-TqIwzo4rnFOp-DO3YKjnn52a_jydI/s1600/814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXFW_wnMwS5SGtTaVPLwRlWH4Au7xScdcb4URqFywOpy3UebDxr0HsxDhlzwoGeXm-I_-E0QQJlUnQr4iXdO82n8a5Lmjt2UwYTzD0BO5U3Dr1B-TqIwzo4rnFOp-DO3YKjnn52a_jydI/s1600/814.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And of course stopped to chat with our new friends.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mr. Emperor of the Antarctic...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGmKx3hzzTbFHz8Qa92zy2OlZ8kzg-ebZ9hxe5e5bDMwtPOZ6ArjbNOw9py9aLVApPtipWtq-Jdvoh-Q7UtKScXpoHK8Z02fd2G6ouidqafePBshiKKt9-CJDGX2nlQqjlqfEpelq99c5/s1600/816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGmKx3hzzTbFHz8Qa92zy2OlZ8kzg-ebZ9hxe5e5bDMwtPOZ6ArjbNOw9py9aLVApPtipWtq-Jdvoh-Q7UtKScXpoHK8Z02fd2G6ouidqafePBshiKKt9-CJDGX2nlQqjlqfEpelq99c5/s1600/816.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and Sir Walrus de LongTooth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n_M3ZuZIQapY2-l_XQChB6-IVOPcMjcSIvRU-UhHRXm5B1YkumbSgNd0Skj16xE-yxY9cmarkOiNPaD8TNolbK16Ex9X3gz956kniF0stS5MBOeN32Fpf_NiLGIpiqcRaGM2vg77bAVL/s1600/817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n_M3ZuZIQapY2-l_XQChB6-IVOPcMjcSIvRU-UhHRXm5B1YkumbSgNd0Skj16xE-yxY9cmarkOiNPaD8TNolbK16Ex9X3gz956kniF0stS5MBOeN32Fpf_NiLGIpiqcRaGM2vg77bAVL/s1600/817.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <a href="http://www.whalingmuseum.org/">New Bedford Whaling Museum</a> is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-5448988289862532902014-04-24T16:20:00.001-04:002014-04-24T16:20:39.914-04:00Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole: Mario the Italian Greyhound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My family always had dogs when I was growing up. Retired racing greyhounds from all over the country. Largeish female dogs that could outrun a car. But on the day before Valentine's Day 13 years ago, the dog officer brought us a tiny - by our typical dog standards - blue-grey Italian greyhound called Bailey. He was skittish, hungry, and had just survived two weeks on his own in a Massachusetts blizzard. The dog officer knew my Mom couldn't say no and thus he was ours. Quickly renamed after me and more befitting his Italian heritage, Mario Romeo Segala quickly became a part of the family. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsepz5MbVSqYFMV3SrRosaAQc_oG-uMaH__n2Zw_oFhzhCmlVkl2X0dk59ZBbum9U1kgkO4pwcXuxtfFsMB4YxeNGIJyT2cwOnBz6Fwh6hSr4r3dEjT2hyGQhtXaKMer7D7eGPEwDcLCy/s1600/6523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsepz5MbVSqYFMV3SrRosaAQc_oG-uMaH__n2Zw_oFhzhCmlVkl2X0dk59ZBbum9U1kgkO4pwcXuxtfFsMB4YxeNGIJyT2cwOnBz6Fwh6hSr4r3dEjT2hyGQhtXaKMer7D7eGPEwDcLCy/s1600/6523.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mario was at the center of many events: holidays, vacations, and weekday breakfast. He went camping, which he liked since all his people were within easy reach. He went to the beach, which he wasn't always so fond of since his underbelly would get sunburned. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdX-yZ8a9-mplKvSK5CVgofUlA004VGxQiMUpF8Vw6va7a7LgKOUVuUmsw28KEGOdUtMeReliwiKm6n40NaKEZGduiByy1RIWCyO9JhUDP_TPwRTNuwmLfmV7QHxtPSAieYaFa-D_3VFa/s1600/5121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdX-yZ8a9-mplKvSK5CVgofUlA004VGxQiMUpF8Vw6va7a7LgKOUVuUmsw28KEGOdUtMeReliwiKm6n40NaKEZGduiByy1RIWCyO9JhUDP_TPwRTNuwmLfmV7QHxtPSAieYaFa-D_3VFa/s1600/5121.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming was not a self-selected hobby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3QSCTrJxHYGpBW7FIcbxUTh7Vx6reWG3SdSrQ8QU3WTsuTXx63rKXoqsBfmzmYyeCstpzpg23ZBB-snl7NyPNvKrTWJfJW4e4oKQd6qk43M_igoCDRicmVJlXJI35GJdk-Rb2H8qcPNi/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3QSCTrJxHYGpBW7FIcbxUTh7Vx6reWG3SdSrQ8QU3WTsuTXx63rKXoqsBfmzmYyeCstpzpg23ZBB-snl7NyPNvKrTWJfJW4e4oKQd6qk43M_igoCDRicmVJlXJI35GJdk-Rb2H8qcPNi/s1600/109.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mario liked meal time the best. Toast, cheese, and broccoli were favorites. He most liked being a part of family dinners.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySp5If-etdy_uxJLsZPJWXnXVSFaZF1Wle3fAGnsQVDTAj8cFZifcMZbiGHRLQQdQvgKDRj4zTHXJ3ykEfyOJ0GoS8CFqzXzDe6SQjfHqAig3lhq6TqqU4IAlqqri6y7c44A3NqlfNaz7/s1600/4258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySp5If-etdy_uxJLsZPJWXnXVSFaZF1Wle3fAGnsQVDTAj8cFZifcMZbiGHRLQQdQvgKDRj4zTHXJ3ykEfyOJ0GoS8CFqzXzDe6SQjfHqAig3lhq6TqqU4IAlqqri6y7c44A3NqlfNaz7/s1600/4258.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mario was very popular with the ladies, having several girlfriends along the way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jOdTs5W6BHwiV9DmvNjwFQMyewVe2Y_dPEUgbfjIM2ab0p3CoWWz4JfSmMcT5dw_-a358nguW37m6UFu9DkDFznpfoIe1NXQhyphenhyphen-MmNpb9M_MaYqwBeat5v47ClEh7EndToCOhllf200F/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jOdTs5W6BHwiV9DmvNjwFQMyewVe2Y_dPEUgbfjIM2ab0p3CoWWz4JfSmMcT5dw_-a358nguW37m6UFu9DkDFznpfoIe1NXQhyphenhyphen-MmNpb9M_MaYqwBeat5v47ClEh7EndToCOhllf200F/s1600/070.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gazing at Lucy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Though I like to imagine I was one of his favorites...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP7j5ZUOGqyB8wUzLzm9QBbU8hUZlR_hTuB7B-k-J2smLEH6bqVgUV5N8RjQK9nDEajVLoVhSuFEJxlhtiYt8lFFWyVuh9RGmImXduZrOYZYzMxjuS2qs56dBtIw8-GoK7ItUFT2E1kjR/s1600/5537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP7j5ZUOGqyB8wUzLzm9QBbU8hUZlR_hTuB7B-k-J2smLEH6bqVgUV5N8RjQK9nDEajVLoVhSuFEJxlhtiYt8lFFWyVuh9RGmImXduZrOYZYzMxjuS2qs56dBtIw8-GoK7ItUFT2E1kjR/s1600/5537.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mostly, he didn't like not knowing what was going on. Mario expected to be in the middle of the action.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP19NhD98Djr3HQHHGX7oLG6cT6hZTSsTXQfi_ETVamnmS0qDWI95LUvXPP1EKW9pPK7BDKwrNWkhx5JQrl876Dy-bksV1PYodM4AMWz0Q1LTU2AZ0ZgEc57JHvXi_ApERQddl701iY8e/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP19NhD98Djr3HQHHGX7oLG6cT6hZTSsTXQfi_ETVamnmS0qDWI95LUvXPP1EKW9pPK7BDKwrNWkhx5JQrl876Dy-bksV1PYodM4AMWz0Q1LTU2AZ0ZgEc57JHvXi_ApERQddl701iY8e/s1600/016.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo bombing Christmas pics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An active family member eternally interested in what was going on around him, Mario didn't hide his feelings. His face told you where you stood.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsx40W1IbAskPN0qQQBzTxlqqoc8lBkQh6xaCmWOQhWNMMuXoMrfE24ukU1ENzjRgoeHChF9R_QzPzi3Kptm2lYhpeNHhfvY943Row8mihOS14UqGf-IX_vmGUsaVO6yfXGeWOX1E1MpH/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsx40W1IbAskPN0qQQBzTxlqqoc8lBkQh6xaCmWOQhWNMMuXoMrfE24ukU1ENzjRgoeHChF9R_QzPzi3Kptm2lYhpeNHhfvY943Row8mihOS14UqGf-IX_vmGUsaVO6yfXGeWOX1E1MpH/s1600/019.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contemplative</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPweJ_TVg8Q9hp3MOfSjjl4tHlqvZPZxaiuRBN2k8a37EwB1PSWzfW5h8LAaLQzrKhTzq9Wjgkog5z2_WPk6KmwAy8L8UKh4G5l2WOHI45InyndWdJa2Ai1jx0jQu6TViJHjxIPz-5YYbb/s1600/4909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPweJ_TVg8Q9hp3MOfSjjl4tHlqvZPZxaiuRBN2k8a37EwB1PSWzfW5h8LAaLQzrKhTzq9Wjgkog5z2_WPk6KmwAy8L8UKh4G5l2WOHI45InyndWdJa2Ai1jx0jQu6TViJHjxIPz-5YYbb/s1600/4909.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unamused by your childish antics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mario was a source of entertainment, comfort, and love. He made it clear what he thought of my first boyfriend - it was a clear 'no' - and loved my eventual wife as if I had brought her home for him. He always broke out his toys when no one was paying attention to him and growled unexplicitly at Dad when he looked at him wrong. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mario was like another sibling; he showed up when I was just a freshman in high school and saw me through three graduations, a few break ups, and eventually a wedding. A few weeks ago, after so many memories we had to say good bye to Mario. It was time for him to go home and spend some more time with his old girlfriends. The hole left behind by this little dog is vast.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dog's love without condition or limit, without requiring anything other than love in return. Love you Mar.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwulS8rv1_KiXEpGjldq3QlQAw92LT9qnbQHgcl7CAiKn7sNw1y4ybxFTY2LSTKTWp_SWUh4ytpbJiyZr8upYcKBi6VuOXOqJdsp6TtX8W7CVWMUbsRWrFllC6EfEcGK4n23UjIv1BxwH/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwulS8rv1_KiXEpGjldq3QlQAw92LT9qnbQHgcl7CAiKn7sNw1y4ybxFTY2LSTKTWp_SWUh4ytpbJiyZr8upYcKBi6VuOXOqJdsp6TtX8W7CVWMUbsRWrFllC6EfEcGK4n23UjIv1BxwH/s1600/123.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-61119296280404846872014-04-09T16:38:00.001-04:002014-04-09T16:38:05.154-04:00The Holy Grail of Carbs and Comfort: Pasta (homemade!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone has things they want to accomplish in their lifetime. The 'Bucket List' if you will. I don't really care for that term, but I do like (love) lists and make a new list of goals each year. Some are 'real life' goals like paying off student loans but most are little accompliments meant to make life better. Unsurpsingly enough, that means many of them involve food and books. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I managed to make bread just fine a bunch of times so I moved on to my other favorite carbohydrate, <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pasta/homemade-pasta/">pasta</a>. I of course started with the red and white checkered bible that is 'Better Homes and Gardens' <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Homes-Gardens-Cook-Book/dp/0470560770">cookbook</a> - I assume this is what people used before they had google. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made my pasta half white, half wholewheat flour and I'm not sure if that was the true culprit but this dough was so hard to work. I mean, like trying to bend cold rubber with stiff mittens on. I had to get help kneading it. Because of the crippling arm fatigue, so photos exist of the early stages. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IYMV8TLKvMFSEDBmNEOjNNMu4qzgLqLDWbCyq_P_wQLGZV8Ax6kp0e-hnKoqB-jMTePb70ZxOvU4W2WAzKb6OWpALFGfEGpDOO7fwTdIYaFcjl11FWV5twbBC54mEKQOYqa4yuorqioV/s1600/856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IYMV8TLKvMFSEDBmNEOjNNMu4qzgLqLDWbCyq_P_wQLGZV8Ax6kp0e-hnKoqB-jMTePb70ZxOvU4W2WAzKb6OWpALFGfEGpDOO7fwTdIYaFcjl11FWV5twbBC54mEKQOYqa4yuorqioV/s1600/856.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As a rule, I always wear my harem pants for Sunday cooking adventures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After finally rolling it flat and letting it rest, I aimed to make parpadelli.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXkZGVP9HUmiwGOFHV8jA_NW1xYSIBXZh0oNw-d2rQ09Po4ZsueY-FRqVpBtDwcrjZVCppQSVt6EZKg8oP0kgbOpau8V_NVKD4v9Ufse8X9zl57vQvhTX9xNC8L5dS2Zt3ThLmU_oN6B8/s1600/852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXkZGVP9HUmiwGOFHV8jA_NW1xYSIBXZh0oNw-d2rQ09Po4ZsueY-FRqVpBtDwcrjZVCppQSVt6EZKg8oP0kgbOpau8V_NVKD4v9Ufse8X9zl57vQvhTX9xNC8L5dS2Zt3ThLmU_oN6B8/s1600/852.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...it went a bit wide. In retrospect it wouldn't have hurt to use a straight edge.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehDFeXCU0gcMFHNASrv_rzjLHn81t3SWtoIMzLyF0RBtqtVPPLcIHW_bcMXzpf0FP8B-pSJKypBY8xGPNd9-kUgoH-9VmDHXLchL8vUKAZBdBgMbhZxjEsVMsssLW4Y00EpWxWcnufDaa/s1600/851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehDFeXCU0gcMFHNASrv_rzjLHn81t3SWtoIMzLyF0RBtqtVPPLcIHW_bcMXzpf0FP8B-pSJKypBY8xGPNd9-kUgoH-9VmDHXLchL8vUKAZBdBgMbhZxjEsVMsssLW4Y00EpWxWcnufDaa/s1600/851.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pile o' pasta. And the pasta cooking times were on the page next to pies, <br />I promise I did not get that confused</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After two batches were cut, I decided to try my hand at a few other 'shapes' and drying the pasta for storage.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sort of linguine...</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94TT_8TFEcu6UGL0aYISUoana90aKNZw7hWIyM5AMCXgh8tXyTNFC1iqOt-BDCrK7gGHxdPa_xN4ysE1YGBTgneCplAqRmCpMMMXz07tDD9B4NUYBO9OvCTTehOZvJDpFAR5fyD25qWO4/s1600/857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94TT_8TFEcu6UGL0aYISUoana90aKNZw7hWIyM5AMCXgh8tXyTNFC1iqOt-BDCrK7gGHxdPa_xN4ysE1YGBTgneCplAqRmCpMMMXz07tDD9B4NUYBO9OvCTTehOZvJDpFAR5fyD25qWO4/s1600/857.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And bowties / farfelli! There's a sliding scale of success evident here.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaemSkyByYLJXHGpMobSmxad4D7W2lk6Q3r-YNzOuti6ncmSP5QycdJUY-ofESdE6uKR-6oSm0mgw5jjY8DDgdbHiBaP0t0k9y5AAKLc1y7Vew4rHd2V3M-3_AV5w0eohKskJXdT29LAQ8/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaemSkyByYLJXHGpMobSmxad4D7W2lk6Q3r-YNzOuti6ncmSP5QycdJUY-ofESdE6uKR-6oSm0mgw5jjY8DDgdbHiBaP0t0k9y5AAKLc1y7Vew4rHd2V3M-3_AV5w0eohKskJXdT29LAQ8/s1600/003.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I almost feel bad for my little pasta children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8TaZ7IO0vqkoD6R8zmbHtTpWMbD-Ls3GtyqcDlBC81wDzp1kcTmJoZRPGyUdEq1lfhqreweQ4h7DXvty74Rfi-kBFW9-FhJ7HfzW294KM3MLlOQZfWVq3U7_ZfiotlZRaXcHeZFkcppZ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8TaZ7IO0vqkoD6R8zmbHtTpWMbD-Ls3GtyqcDlBC81wDzp1kcTmJoZRPGyUdEq1lfhqreweQ4h7DXvty74Rfi-kBFW9-FhJ7HfzW294KM3MLlOQZfWVq3U7_ZfiotlZRaXcHeZFkcppZ/s1600/002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four bowtie, outstanding in their field</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was pretty worried about how this whole project was going, not to mention the wife had asked for lunch about two hours before I even got the pasta into the boiling water. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eventually, the pasta cooked, I only burned myself half a dozen times, and lunch was on the plate half a day later than expected.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVg79NA98w8n0PaedOWlkcVi8Rhey8meSA1UVynLTIuhFyRzm1d7jNOK7PsFyZZwBlQlCmOObpCVKa1L5-9ig7wdeLn82kx_HhdDsvvdbSb6fAAkXrPaG3wCqr3YwrFsxQZR-RMh9-l3G/s1600/864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVg79NA98w8n0PaedOWlkcVi8Rhey8meSA1UVynLTIuhFyRzm1d7jNOK7PsFyZZwBlQlCmOObpCVKa1L5-9ig7wdeLn82kx_HhdDsvvdbSb6fAAkXrPaG3wCqr3YwrFsxQZR-RMh9-l3G/s1600/864.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It looks all right though, eh?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-16171984591438651052014-04-04T15:02:00.001-04:002014-04-04T15:02:14.639-04:00SOWA Antiques Market and New Uses for Clip-ons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sundays are made for brunch, gin before noon, and browsing. The newest drink of the day around the homestead is the French 75, with it's lovely mix of gin and champagne. You can't go wrong.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh6Gjr3SAeIedwOebWZqY-e-D-_6YFSB5D7KiVLSD_Yndspp0PDlFGWZ7rA1GRKXoTfCMQLZ-M_5FB7feZtULPKkVbeC9Cx48y3tXDM2ugaV2hce9jRDANJ3Ek95OFkv_eCCBMJ4wOpJ_/s1600/725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh6Gjr3SAeIedwOebWZqY-e-D-_6YFSB5D7KiVLSD_Yndspp0PDlFGWZ7rA1GRKXoTfCMQLZ-M_5FB7feZtULPKkVbeC9Cx48y3tXDM2ugaV2hce9jRDANJ3Ek95OFkv_eCCBMJ4wOpJ_/s1600/725.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We also had crepes with nutella, biscoff, bananas, powdered sugar, etc...but we ate the whole batch before I thought to take a picture. Oops.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We then headed out on a mission to find clip-on earrings. Not something many people go looking for very often, but I had a plan. In Boston's South End neighborhood, the <a href="http://sowasundays.com/">SOWA</a> ('South of Washington Street') market offers an outdoor arts fair and farmers' market in the summer and an antique market year round. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xjP3kDApC9mTod3ThVGmWthOAjpGZQUYSaPAoUxp2y6uoMinXzDcrMhZ8Yd1t7PVmXaJD2BPeoAtHwGe8vtR9Nx9ET6bfcwmZNeXftIaCtS_ZjFgi0TRDKRj_S5UoCitnN2kW2WIwVsU/s1600/732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xjP3kDApC9mTod3ThVGmWthOAjpGZQUYSaPAoUxp2y6uoMinXzDcrMhZ8Yd1t7PVmXaJD2BPeoAtHwGe8vtR9Nx9ET6bfcwmZNeXftIaCtS_ZjFgi0TRDKRj_S5UoCitnN2kW2WIwVsU/s1600/732.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is housed within old mill-style buildings with a variety of sellers offering home goods, objets d'art, clothing, and of course jewelry.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E1PL4yjCSvfO7ucB-HFRPNXhVkj3uPKZ1mcl-miNJJ_mYgIv31RP9RfoH36AVIbime6MWBYjRtLUDb9HPoRtEvP3PI2nAHIMzkDhiAQYv7kQDeDvupYXPLqbtlhzGPcLgVm1Bz6RiI6j/s1600/734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E1PL4yjCSvfO7ucB-HFRPNXhVkj3uPKZ1mcl-miNJJ_mYgIv31RP9RfoH36AVIbime6MWBYjRtLUDb9HPoRtEvP3PI2nAHIMzkDhiAQYv7kQDeDvupYXPLqbtlhzGPcLgVm1Bz6RiI6j/s1600/734.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a good place to find a special gift, an interesting accent for that blank wall, or just to take a stroll through time and taste.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMExjCceabStetlzO6SrkXfSwQjGEdxBbNJzTkqXtaPLbSWdQ4iJH7Nwlh1eFSWB9suIgNg0onknZPTAMjyg3vYrGewDIbGy1Oputc2Z6MQqugLe-TTv0cK5Plb36pFSN_pLpJSMFf2TJ/s1600/730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMExjCceabStetlzO6SrkXfSwQjGEdxBbNJzTkqXtaPLbSWdQ4iJH7Nwlh1eFSWB9suIgNg0onknZPTAMjyg3vYrGewDIbGy1Oputc2Z6MQqugLe-TTv0cK5Plb36pFSN_pLpJSMFf2TJ/s1600/730.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0IJTHTWnY7dCec4-puHsNJI4R61cUMpdwbLt7tqIcYgnyh4tWfPhR10fsi0zClQtnTt7k2erTyFBIYer2h3CRqc4XGR7gCpG2gPzTNvi-l3aD4D6pzkNeL9f4IeTEcCwKyb7_lCm8Usm/s1600/729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0IJTHTWnY7dCec4-puHsNJI4R61cUMpdwbLt7tqIcYgnyh4tWfPhR10fsi0zClQtnTt7k2erTyFBIYer2h3CRqc4XGR7gCpG2gPzTNvi-l3aD4D6pzkNeL9f4IeTEcCwKyb7_lCm8Usm/s1600/729.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPRbgM4De7DUAsWGIG1OOn3jReptxE-URGjJlIbrcRIoF7xbT_Dzhm0OTIoluhnUFktF2Si2JvliXrxSxQwuZPNfyjdz4g_E8jPbbHAmkboFzud7KyQfAN-fBm_mzzPKNUCZPW8BG0Ds7/s1600/727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPRbgM4De7DUAsWGIG1OOn3jReptxE-URGjJlIbrcRIoF7xbT_Dzhm0OTIoluhnUFktF2Si2JvliXrxSxQwuZPNfyjdz4g_E8jPbbHAmkboFzud7KyQfAN-fBm_mzzPKNUCZPW8BG0Ds7/s1600/727.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did find my clip-ons for $5 and with a few furniture sticky felt pads, turned them into collar tips.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2IRH14iXr5oquI-vXPMm82LfAiZg2r8vONmNeRSHw31K0zec4Hw3NwujUV8YKyA13yunzn1jF7yu2Mo2i9_LDyKVOYf6N9jUDYwucELBpahmkp4fMxGBAozDcxVfYEBRHq9i_Kd5rhML/s1600/IMG_20140404_022055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2IRH14iXr5oquI-vXPMm82LfAiZg2r8vONmNeRSHw31K0zec4Hw3NwujUV8YKyA13yunzn1jF7yu2Mo2i9_LDyKVOYf6N9jUDYwucELBpahmkp4fMxGBAozDcxVfYEBRHq9i_Kd5rhML/s1600/IMG_20140404_022055.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Volia!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-33364517798401443442014-03-12T13:54:00.000-04:002014-03-12T13:54:01.806-04:00All You Need is Love...and Cookie Cakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes, you just need dessert and you need it now. Let me present the cookie cake:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7so4pdSEdCFyXCxU5-F3HdhtPnZjZszJ1P2DNxc_cGaBQopEaUUH2WHsBl222wCXqpr2mosGW_4aEyRAsIRHsSNPJY1cN1EdlhnE7kWFn_F106PZlUbkculMpYhenbcEDcPicmMDUmyv5/s1600/028.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You could always buy one from the supermarket but then it is at least a foot in diameter and its harder to handle having that much cookie cake in your life at one time. (You're gonna keep going back, don't lie). And there seems to be some type of perserative in supermarket baked goods that makes me feel a bit gross aftter a few rounds...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the easiest, laziest cookie cake in the world. Meh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What you need:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">chocolate cookie mix, and whatever that requires. I use Betty Crocker.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Canned frosting and sprinkles/jimmies/whatever you call those decorative accents. I used funfetti Christmas-themed (hence the green) because it was on clearance. Judge away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Make the cookie dough. Eat some. Immediately split it in half (or thirds) and put half in the freezer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Squish remaining dough into vague roundish shape. Bake according to package directions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Let cool. No really, it needs to cool. All the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. FROST! As much as you can get on there. I actually piped my canned frosting on so I felt like I was making some sort of an effort. Add any other decorations you may want.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Display on a board, ala Jamie Oliver. Cut and serve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amaze your friends, astonish your family! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or, maybe not. But they can't complain or they won't get any cookie cake.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQ5DsUkRbIWPDZtCE6HYU0xpuK-7FR_9_ss7FIVIcgXKAP0bPsiEAZhSDeN2-WF8we3-2Suda76tgIKMevpkgRN7yVikgw_kd3ZbptHSriUtKi7IoyG2qP-cFf8focP1h_Gr7hm7V1QY9/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQ5DsUkRbIWPDZtCE6HYU0xpuK-7FR_9_ss7FIVIcgXKAP0bPsiEAZhSDeN2-WF8we3-2Suda76tgIKMevpkgRN7yVikgw_kd3ZbptHSriUtKi7IoyG2qP-cFf8focP1h_Gr7hm7V1QY9/s1600/030.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-58127543086958728882014-03-06T15:40:00.001-05:002014-03-06T15:40:24.415-05:00Boston loves Impressionism (...and pizza)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When life kicks off your weekend on a rough note, you go to brunch. Actually, if life is going swimmingly, you should probably go to brunch. Brunch is where it's at: either side of the river, Saturday, Sunday, or every weekend, do it. Go to brunch.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then you can have magical things like breakfast pizza: baked runny eggs, garlicky spinach, brown sugar (!) glazed bacon, and crispy, crispy crust.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqw1vobhyaJlsYtMmw2EC6Byv1hvGhJ0ZjlGTcKFSPnGfw-ZAeUDrouuZnyTvNJqLBPvMDydmOdosMNZeJpy_TL2fqyUvDrSPIMgh9vFosdOkYSZ4-aEgPWM_roLnwUvPZ77XspMU3tRRc/s1600/003.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You could survive on a serving of this for a week, no joke. <a href="http://russellhousecambridge.com/">Russell House Tavern</a>, check it out!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Museum of Fine Arts opened it's first guest-curated exhibition, <a href="http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/boston-loves-impressionism">"Boston loves Impressionism"</a> on V-Day appropriately. You could vote online in the weeks leading up for your favorite and earn free passes! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdllCFobbMI-TQwn-HU7UOfKLzEXdGmwpZMZBo5LA0yXAEG6WJaTjhlIV_SxTpetdqNacvR9XLJe4Wvp3__WiZs5VIFUSI96oRqMEhzdbIaNYPIC7hLC5Nz9ZgJaxODopsdfN4fQ0IEMMv/s1600/004.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span><span id="goog_804449975"></span><span id="goog_804449976"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We popped into see the winners - and the favorites (notice the heart?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgKc7V44rM_VyfK5pzW-3p0xI_GLE_6BupOByIR2BtUZ1a3X5u9-Yvl-3Cb1e457Xbd4NiazSl6FMhh6glMhfA8Rd0xeJOi8azrtzTGh6l2Y-GS89r-ui_6TeFtTuDhEbSpYvls4DjCLV/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO-_aRQ7JUcu5XgupabIndCxST48pvutjw_6T-eumh1n-iWxKDEUKoHa-k8PDsFx4kMYP2P3z550C4OtLZh3rtd1NPTfjT8aZdjtxRN9MVKGHO1xF09cC8wrSshJVemqQrrT9rY-kUS1V/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO-_aRQ7JUcu5XgupabIndCxST48pvutjw_6T-eumh1n-iWxKDEUKoHa-k8PDsFx4kMYP2P3z550C4OtLZh3rtd1NPTfjT8aZdjtxRN9MVKGHO1xF09cC8wrSshJVemqQrrT9rY-kUS1V/s1600/013.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was very pleased to see what good taste my city has - we didn't go for the obvious Monet 'Water Lillies' - not that there is anything wrong with Monet...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8twiele_Fafe2lftH4eMsUmk_If-R3I8hM8EsirmPeUxrz0oWIw56COR6s1ApzCyWfWzjmZ1qhm9HQXvbzIAnxK81dzh6HfGXKFh1ywqGDuuMvuDaKJyfVRi42wIDCQ9-nfQkiq8Kztd/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8twiele_Fafe2lftH4eMsUmk_If-R3I8hM8EsirmPeUxrz0oWIw56COR6s1ApzCyWfWzjmZ1qhm9HQXvbzIAnxK81dzh6HfGXKFh1ywqGDuuMvuDaKJyfVRi42wIDCQ9-nfQkiq8Kztd/s1600/007.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgKc7V44rM_VyfK5pzW-3p0xI_GLE_6BupOByIR2BtUZ1a3X5u9-Yvl-3Cb1e457Xbd4NiazSl6FMhh6glMhfA8Rd0xeJOi8azrtzTGh6l2Y-GS89r-ui_6TeFtTuDhEbSpYvls4DjCLV/s1600/005.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Speaking of Monet...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kopEjNNoYVYppWXhmWgDSiKiyRZfH4DdHem6ekTZbW8gOX01POKzpUbiSkE6rBgndTigiUOMytyCmAWrv7YK0VIZTZav-PMY1DtzxFkZf0zQRWD-X9UxZw6xmOjd2fT7H_U_qwa1pYz7/s1600/008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a quick spin around, we decided we needed food. I'm a sucker for museum cafes, but the MFA's is in a glass artium between the original museum and the new wing and is incredible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQjoPXyzITRpq6o1eAK_7i14R260KSp-BJvGHRUr1bHSff5y35f7g6agvSYwqNThlAk7PfVD_EC_7KMzWMTdCwuzOe1mcqa-JsjMH-T4zsapYFyXHF2CFx3LbhnURdxUl9ZPyrzf2ifiX/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQjoPXyzITRpq6o1eAK_7i14R260KSp-BJvGHRUr1bHSff5y35f7g6agvSYwqNThlAk7PfVD_EC_7KMzWMTdCwuzOe1mcqa-JsjMH-T4zsapYFyXHF2CFx3LbhnURdxUl9ZPyrzf2ifiX/s1600/015.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Give me free bread and I may give you my heart.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SxS23-fcH4foY5avMXwnlkOp1fgYJCc5FT4q-cxd6HBvs7OMo5AgaFrKJW6wbhjoVDQDUv69dGre9RSMecnAaA91DzMgHYD1eAyDymKyzJixv5uuqYeLiqgI9SnuZutdWW9HHRsWhfLN/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SxS23-fcH4foY5avMXwnlkOp1fgYJCc5FT4q-cxd6HBvs7OMo5AgaFrKJW6wbhjoVDQDUv69dGre9RSMecnAaA91DzMgHYD1eAyDymKyzJixv5uuqYeLiqgI9SnuZutdWW9HHRsWhfLN/s1600/017.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We shared some fablulous cod cakes served with bacony, smoky white beans. It was a perfect snack in between all the cooking I've been doing lately. For some reason these cod cakes like being viewed at a strange angle and will not cooperate today...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpCluT-o8Q3OJMxW_K-A_hadxbpVxYqGUrNaaYaqRpZ8tvItqQvTiRM0xXqaEEPvj__sT4Uixy93GUSjI3wbL5mmtCFPzWWfR6jjFhlTv_F-XuPWDcYjqK41x3xfrHLyouWGNsCRej51z/s1600/020.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weekends around town when we don't have any plans are some of the best times - we always find good food and something to dazzle the senses!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-42512174716828327182014-02-28T15:36:00.000-05:002014-02-28T15:37:46.518-05:00Book Review: If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the last three years, I've set a variety of concrete goals around the turn of the calendar. Some of them are about personal growth, some are career-minded, but a lot of them are just reminders to do things I love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of main ones in that category is the aim to read at least 26 books a year, or one every two weeks. This year, I specialized and denoted at least a half a dozen of those should be non-fiction. I kicked that off with one of my favorite British historians: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.lucyworsley.com/">Lucy!!</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/newsreview/features/article1011228.ece" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/multimedia/dynamic/00259/P5_Lucy_Worsley_259483k.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lucy Worlsey is the head curator for the Royal Palaces and writes extensively about life, love, and all the dirty bits of royalty and the palaces they inhabited. She has hosted a variety of television specials that bring the times and ways of England's past to life and is incredibly enjoyable and relatable throughout. Unsurprisingly, her book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/If-Walls-Could-Talk-Intimate/dp/1620402351">'If Walls Could Talk</a>' (which has a t.v. companion series) was my favorite book of the year so far.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/If-Walls-Could-Talk-Intimate/dp/1620402351" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://media.npr.org/assets/bakertaylor/covers/i/if-walls-could-talk/9780802779953_custom-b6faec59d07fa1c14a91914f56ae22057c944187-s6-c30.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"If Walls Could Talk' explores the evaluation of the four main rooms of the house: bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Beginning at a time when all four co-existed in one space through the eventual prosperity of the late 20th century, Worsley informatively and - most importantly - amusingly explores what these four rooms were used for, looked like, and meant for people across the social and economic spectrum. From the medieval cottages of manor fiefs to Henry VIII, the reader experiences the sights, sounds, and often the smells for better or worse of over 700 years of history. While this book is an image of British/English domestic bliss, it is enhanced by references to life on the continent and in America. Influence came and went from all over, and it is intriguing to imagine how much life on one side of the Atlantic could differ - or be like - from the life on the other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Broken down into four room-themed sections filled with easy to get into short chapters, 'If Walls Could Talk' stands out as one of those books I will go back to again and again, after spreading it amongst my friends. Lucy Worsley recreates worlds and people that contributed to our own modern time and deftly shows us how much we have in common with our ancestors through the centuries.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-72116037114584680502014-02-11T14:44:00.000-05:002014-02-11T14:44:12.271-05:00Sochi Olympics and Rainbows<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Olympics have begun and you may be excited or upset, or upset about being excited or just plan excited to be upset. Regardless, the wifey-poo loves the Olympics. The opening ceremony hadn't even happened and every conversation was peppered with 'Ohhh I love rhythmic gymnastics!' "Oh ice dancing is so great" or "I can't wait for ski jumping / half pipe / bobsled / skeleton / that ski and shoot event, whatever it's called'. She marvels whilst I sit near by, muttering 'fascist' under my breath or yelling about chauvinistic commentators</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But since I am to be widowed by the aforementioned international spectacular every two years for the rest of my life, I have to make the best of it and what better to make than cake. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rainbow cake, of course.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After an afternoon of scholarship application reading, I thought I'd stick with the Better Homes and Garden's (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Homes-Gardens-Cook-Book/dp/0470560770">red and white checked bible</a>) '<a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/layer-cakes/busy-day-cake/">Busy-Day Cake</a>' that promised to be simple and tasty. And I had seen numerous 'rainbow' baked goods techniques on pinterest, so I was set.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So it goes...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dCaE_DqfrBjTCYk25KDzZXa67jwejH9hGrRFlApB_fKS_bYvgC3XqLhSa_bZGLxeuxeOsjLsTNvGOn0eJeyiDYW4DUo63Sk8hA1YccIe5cWeCdcgaioZ3XCttMuwb81cx_8tUDZd4-Js/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dCaE_DqfrBjTCYk25KDzZXa67jwejH9hGrRFlApB_fKS_bYvgC3XqLhSa_bZGLxeuxeOsjLsTNvGOn0eJeyiDYW4DUo63Sk8hA1YccIe5cWeCdcgaioZ3XCttMuwb81cx_8tUDZd4-Js/s1600/002.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxb0Bg6qWRAINeyFrN5t6Q-JdgQrDM9NGXbnok27N9PXRtE-DSbkSRVSZqvNCewMPLlwDHmRff2Z1MlvX61-OcXn3xDMTkCGGimA7t7H0nyTJktY-Ji17CJqUd2jue9_7p1jsGX-IKAzY/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxb0Bg6qWRAINeyFrN5t6Q-JdgQrDM9NGXbnok27N9PXRtE-DSbkSRVSZqvNCewMPLlwDHmRff2Z1MlvX61-OcXn3xDMTkCGGimA7t7H0nyTJktY-Ji17CJqUd2jue9_7p1jsGX-IKAzY/s1600/004.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite part</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have always loved using food coloring. It's like magic! Some of the joy was deadened by my constant fear for my butcher block counters, but I persevered to this:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7hVwLL-Io5xHM1BthDWAr_4OefbAnUdgnMU3A-mVfgqWiKnBykPSgtB1VCIqrZR3f9zo8SM3fDxnwwntPO0T-k5m7aXUg8XMRQHsQEC-BXP55QaqhFPb8I_P7ZWotOjQKD0x_1Wy02Nk/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7hVwLL-Io5xHM1BthDWAr_4OefbAnUdgnMU3A-mVfgqWiKnBykPSgtB1VCIqrZR3f9zo8SM3fDxnwwntPO0T-k5m7aXUg8XMRQHsQEC-BXP55QaqhFPb8I_P7ZWotOjQKD0x_1Wy02Nk/s1600/006.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Time to pour! (Do I have six spatulas? I better, because I am not washing in between.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ROY G BIV! (There's a British memory aid for this order, but I've forgotten. Back to that when my hands are dripping electric yellow foodgrade dye).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not far into the assemblage, I had several thoughts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiAW9VGb9RvGsAYYleBotSrFVj2IwtGGd5pbwPgGnNlFUgrLnefD4IW36Y-saUpX4ROOABTQIESj-9frLAm55tIQvfepLa4mlLP9IxP3s1WCxIYf025XBPNAaPd6bVhaciZEKaJ_Sz7A5/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiAW9VGb9RvGsAYYleBotSrFVj2IwtGGd5pbwPgGnNlFUgrLnefD4IW36Y-saUpX4ROOABTQIESj-9frLAm55tIQvfepLa4mlLP9IxP3s1WCxIYf025XBPNAaPd6bVhaciZEKaJ_Sz7A5/s1600/011.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) Oh shit, is this not really an 8 inch pan? Is this 9 inches? Didn't I just measure this last week? IT'S SO LITTLE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2) My orange isn't very orange. Rather, it's 'Barbie doll flesh tone'. Gross.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3) I guess if this goes terrible, I can submit it to '<a href="http://pinstrosity.blogspot.com/">Pinstosity</a>'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I continued on, because regardless of how ugly it looked, it'd still be edible...as long as I managed to not incinerate it in the meantime.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2nygrI0pMx-PWiIGFrHk5qxklBeMFD2PaDOZNhrqN_s8DQl4uPj8a9W9JNQouJNHSSsjJ7bmWz8tNiYIbg-6qRvYhh1wU83phPfiuAqz_D1I92mbtYl9wBYusSE1vih97z6WhebHR8VU/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2nygrI0pMx-PWiIGFrHk5qxklBeMFD2PaDOZNhrqN_s8DQl4uPj8a9W9JNQouJNHSSsjJ7bmWz8tNiYIbg-6qRvYhh1wU83phPfiuAqz_D1I92mbtYl9wBYusSE1vih97z6WhebHR8VU/s1600/013.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I poured on and on, trying not to get too excited...though I did have to remeasure (definitely 8 inches! OMG You're right for once).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then I decided to shake the pan to spread out the batter. It was one of those decisions where you know this will be a major turning point in your life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1jEaaVg7THyKxiFruHobZVAOPc6US8ZBmx1UJGLyjun2RVlWZAe2-Pm8e9o96uGRXXa7t5BKMKEfzvwEgR3M6w18h2TbkjnVGrXoBh4HkNKaalKuNre7Dir4GPy14VS1kLbC3j-kHnnZ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1jEaaVg7THyKxiFruHobZVAOPc6US8ZBmx1UJGLyjun2RVlWZAe2-Pm8e9o96uGRXXa7t5BKMKEfzvwEgR3M6w18h2TbkjnVGrXoBh4HkNKaalKuNre7Dir4GPy14VS1kLbC3j-kHnnZ/s1600/014.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAFE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Didn't eff it up completely! Finally finished and into the oven. *wipes brow*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9-n2bd5V5GhNK1v7h0aBYXdz7HsYuQcmEkA3FPKOzF1EoU1NUbhMEbuv-_IOk50vhmACUNxgV3WBYMf43Bx5fYL4Me0j4i8_QrDk9LCBM9RkIRxaHmpl7BpsrN1NI4gEzZXuvj5xvQ-x/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9-n2bd5V5GhNK1v7h0aBYXdz7HsYuQcmEkA3FPKOzF1EoU1NUbhMEbuv-_IOk50vhmACUNxgV3WBYMf43Bx5fYL4Me0j4i8_QrDk9LCBM9RkIRxaHmpl7BpsrN1NI4gEzZXuvj5xvQ-x/s1600/015.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably should have swirled it, but after all that work, couldn't be bothered</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And ta-DA!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDeju82Ctszu1vlgrG7rwVTH0U1S5CM8nuhgbh987IhFzk6cR8_pbbVdcnmNJCNZtjTa2rBbR_EVARmFnP-SJh8ha4MpqKX1VzLsvfZr6rMDz-uJ2-yNQrJ316B2TAqszFrIZ5XQL1NMl/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDeju82Ctszu1vlgrG7rwVTH0U1S5CM8nuhgbh987IhFzk6cR8_pbbVdcnmNJCNZtjTa2rBbR_EVARmFnP-SJh8ha4MpqKX1VzLsvfZr6rMDz-uJ2-yNQrJ316B2TAqszFrIZ5XQL1NMl/s1600/018.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay, not so impressive from that angle, but I was just so surprised it didn't get really dark and brownish. Proper decorations were needed to really bring it up to Opening Ceremonies standards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j4I9MUC7KiLyzcPES_BjUguCD15sDov04gnJV-YKeWzfQ2_nvtyLljOFFi3DhZtTTn0pObhFE1Gxjuhb6CFZbsb2avlkqhYx2bk-JAimUYo6Tz4AY0rs6q5GKL7rdQXE1JEFlraBEiKW/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j4I9MUC7KiLyzcPES_BjUguCD15sDov04gnJV-YKeWzfQ2_nvtyLljOFFi3DhZtTTn0pObhFE1Gxjuhb6CFZbsb2avlkqhYx2bk-JAimUYo6Tz4AY0rs6q5GKL7rdQXE1JEFlraBEiKW/s1600/021.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My rings worked the first time<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MND-nOLOVT1d0LwRDiWKIF88oy-i5g2EWsUgFwmxaoIOt9cmX84lwmdfE2iroM7uv6O8M1szySkfBi5kO_w5ejJxA6OvByIFHrK9bwGPKWd7wp4Uu8XDp_bGvKXYz9iceYpVYkyRqThK/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MND-nOLOVT1d0LwRDiWKIF88oy-i5g2EWsUgFwmxaoIOt9cmX84lwmdfE2iroM7uv6O8M1szySkfBi5kO_w5ejJxA6OvByIFHrK9bwGPKWd7wp4Uu8XDp_bGvKXYz9iceYpVYkyRqThK/s1600/022.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpGchBf8l32aIdkQXy4eTaDQ0qpaAtyAnYqaVbIl9kTwiOTNiXU8jgR3peeeiOyqVvTwMWF_2OEInK4sucvRyYFlc_3jXcBwWNwWrIuMlCPRizDeHXfO_bYM8xgALwM728DgewqMrsahG/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpGchBf8l32aIdkQXy4eTaDQ0qpaAtyAnYqaVbIl9kTwiOTNiXU8jgR3peeeiOyqVvTwMWF_2OEInK4sucvRyYFlc_3jXcBwWNwWrIuMlCPRizDeHXfO_bYM8xgALwM728DgewqMrsahG/s1600/023.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Profile shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember, love is love. Don't let the Russians / Muggles / bitches get you down. Do you and if all else fails, eat cake. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUa5I8UqiP0UKwHOLTZksftOGsnka0KY3L0ZRYcVrH92zfgXfzXHQh9Jjg32n4r-y0ftJGbW2hgCC-a1MDaWCHvRXhX3MvybDLv3f6eZpnb6FtV3-K-FgIrZcu8PZ2O0Od1PjMw2qvCKcw/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUa5I8UqiP0UKwHOLTZksftOGsnka0KY3L0ZRYcVrH92zfgXfzXHQh9Jjg32n4r-y0ftJGbW2hgCC-a1MDaWCHvRXhX3MvybDLv3f6eZpnb6FtV3-K-FgIrZcu8PZ2O0Od1PjMw2qvCKcw/s1600/025.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...Just realized the red blurry thing in the upper left hand corner is the sprinkle shaker caught in the act!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-80767769528035190092014-02-05T09:27:00.000-05:002014-02-05T09:27:00.936-05:00Living Deliberately in Concord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Concord has been the home of many great American thinkers and writers like Louisa May <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_May_Alcott">Alcott</a>, Henry David <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau">Thoreau</a>, and Ralph Waldo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson">Emerson</a> to name a few triple monikered locals.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the center of town, a path weaves out to Walden Pond. While we're in the middle of another snow storm right now, there was a perfect coating of snow on the woodland trails.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD0SeW-d8MlsWextF-02DjhtlPYt-lyOF1A1fBK2clTBadzVXozPR4vDFP8-1oBias93PgrSan-uVUJmySMWTxyjZxS1z8bC76t1lfXRi83qc6IxkQaMUoSoe6tD0Tcw0r9fBR3XfPnCa/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD0SeW-d8MlsWextF-02DjhtlPYt-lyOF1A1fBK2clTBadzVXozPR4vDFP8-1oBias93PgrSan-uVUJmySMWTxyjZxS1z8bC76t1lfXRi83qc6IxkQaMUoSoe6tD0Tcw0r9fBR3XfPnCa/s1600/003.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIqWN8dc0kA-vMRSBG1rfA145iOsKOeBsw-jGYg-2tJ5WWD_P5bNwGi4wC_u1Sicb6e65RhObMgYqkGh5uz5TPiAgrOR8o1k_4tdJFbsUXhwUoJ3IRT7Zy9JqvxEO0gAj9M_0ym0OS_SQ/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIqWN8dc0kA-vMRSBG1rfA145iOsKOeBsw-jGYg-2tJ5WWD_P5bNwGi4wC_u1Sicb6e65RhObMgYqkGh5uz5TPiAgrOR8o1k_4tdJFbsUXhwUoJ3IRT7Zy9JqvxEO0gAj9M_0ym0OS_SQ/s1600/005.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gkgsBvNN6Ta69O2N-wMVr0-4xIo__2AQOsPCPX3KlAbcayJktsbeiR7SCUkBxxm04sHSapUQorFyLMfJtKMCeHDmCZUyBlcDpSYBj5NPYK2PEvI1cn9-Z4d2gO75_nBl9mIWHEBRP-oW/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gkgsBvNN6Ta69O2N-wMVr0-4xIo__2AQOsPCPX3KlAbcayJktsbeiR7SCUkBxxm04sHSapUQorFyLMfJtKMCeHDmCZUyBlcDpSYBj5NPYK2PEvI1cn9-Z4d2gO75_nBl9mIWHEBRP-oW/s1600/007.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was unseasonably warm for the Northeast - over 40 degrees F - but people were still out on the pond ice-fishing. We kept to solid ground and walked the entire perimeter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiVnYD0gETBDVMCUCjKgSc_eMfIcmWo5DbfgSrwU6n_VIsMlOo9dR73ukiBr91VkG4O5fDwdqk7tzGFt4pX6HZ-uBzHmRL78ZDWn6TR1a1pjp2OQOfWy-yGWZ6FV95eqpyp5k12PgR5Q-/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiVnYD0gETBDVMCUCjKgSc_eMfIcmWo5DbfgSrwU6n_VIsMlOo9dR73ukiBr91VkG4O5fDwdqk7tzGFt4pX6HZ-uBzHmRL78ZDWn6TR1a1pjp2OQOfWy-yGWZ6FV95eqpyp5k12PgR5Q-/s1600/010.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc6ct00KA7-XcHulVHh_jMNFIsigjhFybPA6-q8jIsAc5B9QRXFTJmrCfNvcC1qeDn3Rtb7ZIW7cQDQ3fnrrLv35fWd6x5lF-ggSi17sGt7qAA7krToCco0U1_yqJ9rgZ76yeIUeT2KSo/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc6ct00KA7-XcHulVHh_jMNFIsigjhFybPA6-q8jIsAc5B9QRXFTJmrCfNvcC1qeDn3Rtb7ZIW7cQDQ3fnrrLv35fWd6x5lF-ggSi17sGt7qAA7krToCco0U1_yqJ9rgZ76yeIUeT2KSo/s1600/013.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a bit slippery, but we managed to make it around the Pond.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiDHT8ccwBH_hwM-dzjNt8tksSlSGtmey3gK6j5SMmoQoafuFCVg1_XTVP7dy6o3yQGvv9_RZFiacudjCdSxM73EWeMlMlrThgqPRn5tK1LundJ0uMmE3Hz2PNSQt1xk_HphIOBZq7wDM/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiDHT8ccwBH_hwM-dzjNt8tksSlSGtmey3gK6j5SMmoQoafuFCVg1_XTVP7dy6o3yQGvv9_RZFiacudjCdSxM73EWeMlMlrThgqPRn5tK1LundJ0uMmE3Hz2PNSQt1xk_HphIOBZq7wDM/s1600/014.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGbZCYhobrBF_Xsdt7pxQ5m-ij8SKlPITBbby3mW91q8JusViHMsz85SnHn1RVEZpnLbC_EcaKuOFAaskL6_BNCoOb8480659x1u4yrwUeWJonNNjA5heAH0qXVTr1MTk75nUcjs60QPW/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGbZCYhobrBF_Xsdt7pxQ5m-ij8SKlPITBbby3mW91q8JusViHMsz85SnHn1RVEZpnLbC_EcaKuOFAaskL6_BNCoOb8480659x1u4yrwUeWJonNNjA5heAH0qXVTr1MTk75nUcjs60QPW/s1600/020.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We then headed back to the site of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau">Henry David Thoreau</a>'s cabin. The structure has been gone for centuries, but the ideas of connecting with nature and living deliberately thrives. We have one chance to enjoy as much of life as possible, so go outside, look at the stars, and eat that cake / cheese / wine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60rsXC5RBrUEDo1atZVi5isxUM3LMDW2puUCtyHbQhzGgvPG6QiZwW0jKAz2Xrc_o4w7OovnpK5-tu2iqCi6d9OGVEsLvfgcWXIOLIm4M84JCm2t3P6kghUCmIq5kcEqF3gQFZrZ68uFT/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60rsXC5RBrUEDo1atZVi5isxUM3LMDW2puUCtyHbQhzGgvPG6QiZwW0jKAz2Xrc_o4w7OovnpK5-tu2iqCi6d9OGVEsLvfgcWXIOLIm4M84JCm2t3P6kghUCmIq5kcEqF3gQFZrZ68uFT/s1600/022.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZjisDU5fJjM1E3De_D6T54ANDDfF5lr2cCjYWLuZKFIXrQkZzjB234u1yUujIYd4aAfpH18HofL6JWnOI3Vf0xhwodFIk_XIklTrsA_9e0F6_mlJ9pxLhubuPgMOQG7C4bQcblva2XQB/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZjisDU5fJjM1E3De_D6T54ANDDfF5lr2cCjYWLuZKFIXrQkZzjB234u1yUujIYd4aAfpH18HofL6JWnOI3Vf0xhwodFIk_XIklTrsA_9e0F6_mlJ9pxLhubuPgMOQG7C4bQcblva2XQB/s1600/023.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBrZacpLvy-Q2ocp3SyvxviGrE-_vH07a69OFt43wKxUvSEohtStLLhJTSg_ew-7XxUNxyCpzvTA2GlISHRXzqq1D_BtDg8V88J0YJenBCoxG00WemRpH1KITCHZBflt4VcMvs2GSf94N/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBrZacpLvy-Q2ocp3SyvxviGrE-_vH07a69OFt43wKxUvSEohtStLLhJTSg_ew-7XxUNxyCpzvTA2GlISHRXzqq1D_BtDg8V88J0YJenBCoxG00WemRpH1KITCHZBflt4VcMvs2GSf94N/s1600/024.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-35260435940884858962014-01-29T13:08:00.002-05:002014-01-29T13:08:34.239-05:00Good Bye 2013, Hello 2014...in London!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seems like eons ago, but just a few short weeks past we we're in London, visiting Platform 9 and 3/4, celebrating New Year's Eve in the shadow of Big Ben, and tromping through Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland. It's nice to look back in the middle of this very long stressful week to such a lovely holiday.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2LqItX5kBkyab3IS-ZzqDD25JtGn53_nFiXLRfEJpQt_7sY9Tb3aqeUufR-MfN7I5evcd-lc7oswE6Zk5H4DGz-JeKr1ML9Ww5wh2TB6616k115iYV_2ZPJTzF_DVG8abaEHbL4HPxfC/s1600/259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2LqItX5kBkyab3IS-ZzqDD25JtGn53_nFiXLRfEJpQt_7sY9Tb3aqeUufR-MfN7I5evcd-lc7oswE6Zk5H4DGz-JeKr1ML9Ww5wh2TB6616k115iYV_2ZPJTzF_DVG8abaEHbL4HPxfC/s1600/259.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTrFncvH2cr0JqDscTJknSqdqDAqMgVHTUOHSPCBDcF5WV6hkY7cIPhAUBf6ZDe81H0XLxPfbxllkwtf-wGJhXyIQ-qSVn7fV9mogF2tGUmxFxv82xDwQ6kwKpqKyKOPRpQZ91nlOELyh/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTrFncvH2cr0JqDscTJknSqdqDAqMgVHTUOHSPCBDcF5WV6hkY7cIPhAUBf6ZDe81H0XLxPfbxllkwtf-wGJhXyIQ-qSVn7fV9mogF2tGUmxFxv82xDwQ6kwKpqKyKOPRpQZ91nlOELyh/s1600/261.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiREYC_Gs47qsRjGhfYRzn5mNZixz6iJRLOOeAgkIvGD_QMZOkIWI2Pox4CRF9oiPOJTZtvUST2utcKdHJAzfwYL0P7CXUe7G-SpYlHPkHKvuvKKz2GTNttQakJo2av8LtGhEXu2dT3Cg/s1600/267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiREYC_Gs47qsRjGhfYRzn5mNZixz6iJRLOOeAgkIvGD_QMZOkIWI2Pox4CRF9oiPOJTZtvUST2utcKdHJAzfwYL0P7CXUe7G-SpYlHPkHKvuvKKz2GTNttQakJo2av8LtGhEXu2dT3Cg/s1600/267.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GjtHilJvrY4OgmqWYgjXWWedSQWPsdz4UE7N_2Sfqa9FsO211EakpomCi5ZMZFjJAeG30sMC8KF9pIBxFMVZ5QIwKYnyRYGIi6bkPMrcj4xfjhHo2i8CwmH3Rj-6lgGrLF7bugJVlTqV/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GjtHilJvrY4OgmqWYgjXWWedSQWPsdz4UE7N_2Sfqa9FsO211EakpomCi5ZMZFjJAeG30sMC8KF9pIBxFMVZ5QIwKYnyRYGIi6bkPMrcj4xfjhHo2i8CwmH3Rj-6lgGrLF7bugJVlTqV/s1600/274.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6EWi9COlPgpVB001lC4kBQ-mTZ9JRfU6ZFTQJgryOX19IF8EdBArNa9SDGgdXghn-jsFohJ73SPxCWoUibup1o7leXLWoTcQbXf1czkvD8pTqHm-mSO5BQ0Nid1ZLzCsPgcAOVGo82q1/s1600/296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6EWi9COlPgpVB001lC4kBQ-mTZ9JRfU6ZFTQJgryOX19IF8EdBArNa9SDGgdXghn-jsFohJ73SPxCWoUibup1o7leXLWoTcQbXf1czkvD8pTqHm-mSO5BQ0Nid1ZLzCsPgcAOVGo82q1/s1600/296.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T4QEGU14xi2NhvG2b6zJnsJFMx5i2gDz3vUA3JIpb5atWgnOVkQuO2PmkwmeT8JbNcHYbtqrTa-TF1TKoJxYsVFY0qYZksxBI3xZPuYjDn1jP1v2x6bMuiTJ4LntFV3rR3wnO7DvV6Sy/s1600/305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T4QEGU14xi2NhvG2b6zJnsJFMx5i2gDz3vUA3JIpb5atWgnOVkQuO2PmkwmeT8JbNcHYbtqrTa-TF1TKoJxYsVFY0qYZksxBI3xZPuYjDn1jP1v2x6bMuiTJ4LntFV3rR3wnO7DvV6Sy/s1600/305.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qeEAz6_DXbkGQHdyy7j_5-k7ltXX9onycL9hSD9FRAr9JllPD9V0EpzJ4Owzz4ARRu47_q-nWNKynRFzanyzv78sLO4Mc3D7eYX2ZK-08czNmTkl1akPScg0baw7gG8uiY8ELu1PVFva/s1600/306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qeEAz6_DXbkGQHdyy7j_5-k7ltXX9onycL9hSD9FRAr9JllPD9V0EpzJ4Owzz4ARRu47_q-nWNKynRFzanyzv78sLO4Mc3D7eYX2ZK-08czNmTkl1akPScg0baw7gG8uiY8ELu1PVFva/s1600/306.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2zLcnrtkmJwHk7eQEZWz_OItzt_5lHUNTWmsnGT6pAW_YY0VmFnIG8EUZRqY89PPhmlPlgU0YRFJEuOMiHpP4A_dw-N8x5d1cUwEG7yLFqqs2NjzjgH4kL8xfLtuvRJOQ9x0ObllGxmf/s1600/327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2zLcnrtkmJwHk7eQEZWz_OItzt_5lHUNTWmsnGT6pAW_YY0VmFnIG8EUZRqY89PPhmlPlgU0YRFJEuOMiHpP4A_dw-N8x5d1cUwEG7yLFqqs2NjzjgH4kL8xfLtuvRJOQ9x0ObllGxmf/s1600/327.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckEPdmDC3Zk3QjPNFrWfT0ywWJvy6Bf6kFwk8o7zpyx1vlE37q499mC1Spq4R8BMlkJ4ADfrw9_avK7QDZwISsBrsMLW9Y1jLEELhft63rxPngA_nuGkm0tqxOtVRgyZWUqNmvJ0i7Oyo/s1600/332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckEPdmDC3Zk3QjPNFrWfT0ywWJvy6Bf6kFwk8o7zpyx1vlE37q499mC1Spq4R8BMlkJ4ADfrw9_avK7QDZwISsBrsMLW9Y1jLEELhft63rxPngA_nuGkm0tqxOtVRgyZWUqNmvJ0i7Oyo/s1600/332.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KN6hkgXCw6LNEX5oYi01S5LxV4EJazJX145Eq5LlpqHpXusxPq96UtBAf_ypPCQ2Ssu56cD8hx_rO9kYr3s1sLYZJJSgYdCba2mbbcJ_muegBMYsYElGyzhQ8Ru5tmzEZ8svQNQ6WWKR/s1600/340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KN6hkgXCw6LNEX5oYi01S5LxV4EJazJX145Eq5LlpqHpXusxPq96UtBAf_ypPCQ2Ssu56cD8hx_rO9kYr3s1sLYZJJSgYdCba2mbbcJ_muegBMYsYElGyzhQ8Ru5tmzEZ8svQNQ6WWKR/s1600/340.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmXmuVr1Vl253xHZxNion8aejJIucE4o1LmpYsXO0ecBV9tGXqS44A-JTFwtcgRR_vjBz0B9U17HEzqbF2jXJIVx-aktd4ImlwstdQTPZveAF6Oc7fZtMmiVXBdznMpowYpp9gKLQqC3A/s1600/368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmXmuVr1Vl253xHZxNion8aejJIucE4o1LmpYsXO0ecBV9tGXqS44A-JTFwtcgRR_vjBz0B9U17HEzqbF2jXJIVx-aktd4ImlwstdQTPZveAF6Oc7fZtMmiVXBdznMpowYpp9gKLQqC3A/s1600/368.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBCX1ZDX17jfCbYtDrWvV9sqPRbXpZWIYoWI33kI8PqAJ3nNmbYBHZYYiEG4_93kyIK6DZhdd0eXLDRC-zKL4s-J23ORfF_x_yHAb1tbe32G0GrdaLG8XutBdVWa74fmfYO85w4CRdvMr/s1600/389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBCX1ZDX17jfCbYtDrWvV9sqPRbXpZWIYoWI33kI8PqAJ3nNmbYBHZYYiEG4_93kyIK6DZhdd0eXLDRC-zKL4s-J23ORfF_x_yHAb1tbe32G0GrdaLG8XutBdVWa74fmfYO85w4CRdvMr/s1600/389.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEjbiWe-5Z8fi45XkJeE702k-7t4UW8iYLlymwub-M8Wlu0169TgWXHmSYpVHxvsITT_gS9odIWP3vceU_AU3MYm2yR8LJ-EuNgBOSXcwxla5ZuO2J1-I1aVx-scVoK0eI2Swx5roVyT-/s1600/399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEjbiWe-5Z8fi45XkJeE702k-7t4UW8iYLlymwub-M8Wlu0169TgWXHmSYpVHxvsITT_gS9odIWP3vceU_AU3MYm2yR8LJ-EuNgBOSXcwxla5ZuO2J1-I1aVx-scVoK0eI2Swx5roVyT-/s1600/399.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-EWpxLF9hXh_nUhXyBJcC7L0HJe9CnEv27yCpys2bk5l-2e8HBABCHHJZ0ib43AjfymBoK2TyD1R5LLC585w2yeV2r4tBKBmbC9TSm1JITwHtnfJxsXPDXSthTOpdKRFGGlDveGykhIi/s1600/411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-EWpxLF9hXh_nUhXyBJcC7L0HJe9CnEv27yCpys2bk5l-2e8HBABCHHJZ0ib43AjfymBoK2TyD1R5LLC585w2yeV2r4tBKBmbC9TSm1JITwHtnfJxsXPDXSthTOpdKRFGGlDveGykhIi/s1600/411.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cheers to a great trip and to all that 2014 has to offer, on this side of the ocean and the other!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-75984254562310836372014-01-21T15:48:00.000-05:002014-01-21T15:48:29.591-05:00Two Short Days in Bath<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am not a Jane Austin fan *cue the wails* but I am fan of the Georgian era historically and Romantically. (Or simply, all things British.)</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtG7KoFxMIeKu9Xb4zoVMvVRD5v5_1NP4XwgqmVhC7_zNqW9kTJwnYaPMspPTN5CTCIOk0cFX1MycZyhjNTxhTl8lQvchx8_nSxCwy7IAjWj73kBHfsWWHORMUbihqxK95GeYHRbBmoNB/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtG7KoFxMIeKu9Xb4zoVMvVRD5v5_1NP4XwgqmVhC7_zNqW9kTJwnYaPMspPTN5CTCIOk0cFX1MycZyhjNTxhTl8lQvchx8_nSxCwy7IAjWj73kBHfsWWHORMUbihqxK95GeYHRbBmoNB/s1600/081.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We did lots of walking and admiring of Bath during daylight hours, but the main was the </span><a href="http://www.thermaebathspa.com/treatment-prices/spapackages/package/twilight-for-two" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">twilight package</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> at the </span><a href="http://www.thermaebathspa.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thermae spa</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bkBVuRQPAjXmKICow8Si9VOIneF7pYgxES8NSvFZtJtMhfDU-ZUMoj0ZlzoyUAnPkAmO9nPer_8DbFPPxTnfvFXXc9sFFeQteB9vSRV3MAiyoB_pjW6QQCkxO3Xk4JFyoheF4SKsGqrI/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bkBVuRQPAjXmKICow8Si9VOIneF7pYgxES8NSvFZtJtMhfDU-ZUMoj0ZlzoyUAnPkAmO9nPer_8DbFPPxTnfvFXXc9sFFeQteB9vSRV3MAiyoB_pjW6QQCkxO3Xk4JFyoheF4SKsGqrI/s1600/060.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roof top pool / deck just waiting for me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj0lg376BbOLfxB_j2EphG6BEzq73pSHPYo2hCK-M5FYTISB01pyxV3gIX16YJns1aiB9E5na8u64C4BBmKOgemn7xjua2TbNeJBHV9VhlzD9QuQdrqK6cQXLEIY3h9DfZLJClJ1IU3cW/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj0lg376BbOLfxB_j2EphG6BEzq73pSHPYo2hCK-M5FYTISB01pyxV3gIX16YJns1aiB9E5na8u64C4BBmKOgemn7xjua2TbNeJBHV9VhlzD9QuQdrqK6cQXLEIY3h9DfZLJClJ1IU3cW/s1600/065.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little spa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought we would be the only ones there, but we got in line with lots of locals and tourists alike shortly before 4p. For 80 pounds for two of us, we spent three hours splashing about, steaming, and indulging in spa food and bevys. I've never been to hot springs and it was the best way to spend our first evening in the UK - especially after getting off the worse landing I've ever experienced. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoNf-hgBNplJ864kwz5NB53WkPjLEvfw-XhPJ01izKNnaTKz-RveTNwb4ywAC9kfBgFbFPAT8fbSQYrcHiEZl1QieeUnEB64U5pJXK5OKN70gyD5tJ8n-Rn5vW0Z977YQqXBs6PEzAci6/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoNf-hgBNplJ864kwz5NB53WkPjLEvfw-XhPJ01izKNnaTKz-RveTNwb4ywAC9kfBgFbFPAT8fbSQYrcHiEZl1QieeUnEB64U5pJXK5OKN70gyD5tJ8n-Rn5vW0Z977YQqXBs6PEzAci6/s1600/125.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After spa evening walk<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG_bAnC4hiDZkwqfljEZfWT5FgFb_wat23artYdGzOWxU47wmSmmxwT7MJYG7SL7akl_wqpSE7B3DZDANO2sQ0WT1cHFVQ7GPJ865hozR6NBxFk1OEMDyHe-XZsjo1_UVKPEeB1H3xtCk/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG_bAnC4hiDZkwqfljEZfWT5FgFb_wat23artYdGzOWxU47wmSmmxwT7MJYG7SL7akl_wqpSE7B3DZDANO2sQ0WT1cHFVQ7GPJ865hozR6NBxFk1OEMDyHe-XZsjo1_UVKPEeB1H3xtCk/s1600/127.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were only in town for about 24 hours, so early the next day we went to the <a href="http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/">Roman Baths</a> in the center of town, near the gorgeous Bath Abbey. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT0RipPg3OL6hhSmElkgrXcXYRyrjC5yrFCqrmGj_vYoZdA0u7MgVVDx3HrY3uN-xFrsq4JVTSDKICz8f9voNxMYKpXrbeXjPtserguxkcTwZ6pDNuRcTPOO7xdL_QMr4n4-HKxRDTtin/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT0RipPg3OL6hhSmElkgrXcXYRyrjC5yrFCqrmGj_vYoZdA0u7MgVVDx3HrY3uN-xFrsq4JVTSDKICz8f9voNxMYKpXrbeXjPtserguxkcTwZ6pDNuRcTPOO7xdL_QMr4n4-HKxRDTtin/s1600/079.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d7yB0a45Hntl11TjFGYFPv5TGt9UfTVrhY_LRTu4CownXeOI3nGGoHijaG6NG9lPRc7qBdbLBVnz-kFNnc1PUIx1pgSJbhBNNUeAL7lcR-dLHMrTUaFN4hoqzfk2If0puVDUrQQjK4zD/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d7yB0a45Hntl11TjFGYFPv5TGt9UfTVrhY_LRTu4CownXeOI3nGGoHijaG6NG9lPRc7qBdbLBVnz-kFNnc1PUIx1pgSJbhBNNUeAL7lcR-dLHMrTUaFN4hoqzfk2If0puVDUrQQjK4zD/s1600/087.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had gotten the impression there wasn't all that much to see in the baths, but the facilities they've unearthed are astonishing and we almost ran out of time explore the temple / bath site. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGOJrLmpJo7s77PauSrkTmIvp6XcZ-oGMjVCG0L_CQTxvaZCQOOb4N1KLartP8RSgM1RIoIT0oYKRELHZ5N-l3s2EhKMBnzhIlb6KJsmwrawEbKNOCSQ89Ae3ql3YqwTOjfa5ckFG4_S6/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGOJrLmpJo7s77PauSrkTmIvp6XcZ-oGMjVCG0L_CQTxvaZCQOOb4N1KLartP8RSgM1RIoIT0oYKRELHZ5N-l3s2EhKMBnzhIlb6KJsmwrawEbKNOCSQ89Ae3ql3YqwTOjfa5ckFG4_S6/s1600/199.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAw-VCoLik-3QJwXNE9SIEumv3uj-3dmHkx_U7vjqsweHGdzVBPzoR_G2frt0rnzndAXUTdniZ2u45mzXLB17DE-BmFeWVq137jARg8wByMcBPSvbYrXjXFdzdgzUaTXbHDOweXUJd7rd/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAw-VCoLik-3QJwXNE9SIEumv3uj-3dmHkx_U7vjqsweHGdzVBPzoR_G2frt0rnzndAXUTdniZ2u45mzXLB17DE-BmFeWVq137jARg8wByMcBPSvbYrXjXFdzdgzUaTXbHDOweXUJd7rd/s1600/203.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmx2byE9UcQCwJ5Vz1xpLNSPz3z2sGLD8kgX7keZTX6rTP5utZ0u8IV5e6hMIwkHTiLBlbnPfoICM0ZxhbooWK3J_5Foj_naJNQpVcuIWfEkFqM-MSxvcb-sJbLXuRpi2U1MGf0KNqXfX/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmx2byE9UcQCwJ5Vz1xpLNSPz3z2sGLD8kgX7keZTX6rTP5utZ0u8IV5e6hMIwkHTiLBlbnPfoICM0ZxhbooWK3J_5Foj_naJNQpVcuIWfEkFqM-MSxvcb-sJbLXuRpi2U1MGf0KNqXfX/s1600/205.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecfV44REX2Ez3G9C8vzUFYyVkqLVzdDvFWnmzEEZOAzAofApaot3QtwRhLHI2YoTbDIZLBncy_5ufMoYxR18206RKJzQW_FZtMTzmARkXPdU2zl0DCG-WIWFHbAeF4hB-MaOyNzAeLezh/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecfV44REX2Ez3G9C8vzUFYyVkqLVzdDvFWnmzEEZOAzAofApaot3QtwRhLHI2YoTbDIZLBncy_5ufMoYxR18206RKJzQW_FZtMTzmARkXPdU2zl0DCG-WIWFHbAeF4hB-MaOyNzAeLezh/s1600/206.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9upHgHxKj9U4TCSe3WVHSl6KGtVAPufutsQPe0wvGNGiipXJBKw7SG3xWkiWSD_K0IM5TO0ZyHyr_yO-NvOHA4wbQAPdOApiWKW5osJJlDx2OzdOJJcIjsm_sWI3MlNQKiV-yxXvqCBW/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9upHgHxKj9U4TCSe3WVHSl6KGtVAPufutsQPe0wvGNGiipXJBKw7SG3xWkiWSD_K0IM5TO0ZyHyr_yO-NvOHA4wbQAPdOApiWKW5osJJlDx2OzdOJJcIjsm_sWI3MlNQKiV-yxXvqCBW/s1600/209.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX9Ch1v-EVQgePdp3KwIHtgw1yAkhgpJdQgZA2IGa0pz7HbFwZjoO_Ydu8469p5mCdeQkNleMlv5eWVYGmaeYH8H74-p53ADoAlsI8w___KJPPx0PH11S39Ucln5ZlmIhWF-EBcNJJU29/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX9Ch1v-EVQgePdp3KwIHtgw1yAkhgpJdQgZA2IGa0pz7HbFwZjoO_Ydu8469p5mCdeQkNleMlv5eWVYGmaeYH8H74-p53ADoAlsI8w___KJPPx0PH11S39Ucln5ZlmIhWF-EBcNJJU29/s1600/212.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4cSTTATLUOnnZc7g2NSLUEUkJoRIsTBOXGPckNmG8OMr3JyTgFoJLSANsRlRuxt7GAW69e4rNQ6ipHRG_ODCby0dXfjW45PpfRnz_gmHlacW1HeoIFxuXlsMpwZqiUj8GDJyx3iN3-Ht/s1600/222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4cSTTATLUOnnZc7g2NSLUEUkJoRIsTBOXGPckNmG8OMr3JyTgFoJLSANsRlRuxt7GAW69e4rNQ6ipHRG_ODCby0dXfjW45PpfRnz_gmHlacW1HeoIFxuXlsMpwZqiUj8GDJyx3iN3-Ht/s1600/222.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswA4Egzp5jmzq3I26oyYdw60sVBgnLkD5t5hICrICvUxZOAnuh3dHC988wOksa6zVLv8qpBzg1NJSNbogrVDZdYD1QuoNYwK0twvjCeKyp63ek3ch0mXlgTd0lELx-Kf07RNq8i03OBeM/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswA4Egzp5jmzq3I26oyYdw60sVBgnLkD5t5hICrICvUxZOAnuh3dHC988wOksa6zVLv8qpBzg1NJSNbogrVDZdYD1QuoNYwK0twvjCeKyp63ek3ch0mXlgTd0lELx-Kf07RNq8i03OBeM/s1600/227.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's easy to see why the Romans were drawn to Bath - and others ever since!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-60955571538968411912014-01-09T12:30:00.000-05:002014-01-09T12:30:53.815-05:00Bath: A Photo Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We only spent about 24 hours in Bath, but it was worthy side trip. It is the kind of city that lends itself so well to strolling and taking pictures.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak6us-wP9b_kfiQlewnrnEfuZpvQ7cCng0i9VY5SdkAoCYvfRDb7hajnOC72qvTcywk-9RwBtWYBI2ja2yXfFpkdWxmuMiiGIp0OuI_X29u_fDi_5OuyIZMPR5hV50wTvOR5UPrIXUycl/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak6us-wP9b_kfiQlewnrnEfuZpvQ7cCng0i9VY5SdkAoCYvfRDb7hajnOC72qvTcywk-9RwBtWYBI2ja2yXfFpkdWxmuMiiGIp0OuI_X29u_fDi_5OuyIZMPR5hV50wTvOR5UPrIXUycl/s1600/199.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCdWnDYnKYpBxQXBvUvVr5dEe68VrkiYe_EreIEBPeAuMtXxbP3uSiWN5FjlDr_3rHsb41cRbTv5owOREs7_iBX6PGTBbeTFRtsE6byNCRIXqFACVox1767Oph9fRScR1IRVj0yALj_lZ/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCdWnDYnKYpBxQXBvUvVr5dEe68VrkiYe_EreIEBPeAuMtXxbP3uSiWN5FjlDr_3rHsb41cRbTv5owOREs7_iBX6PGTBbeTFRtsE6byNCRIXqFACVox1767Oph9fRScR1IRVj0yALj_lZ/s1600/201.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzHFSXgrWkl-2WSifjmrPndLzzq-F2GqyfTsSOmHIBirYYW6hZWXPdOJtTQ7HMmDjAEqhrzt9wcl2n8Ksny3Uv6H9s9Lc61crM2-4VTcVFDBt1KW2p3kYHlnRqNN2lOcwHcCefkxDgO7X/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzHFSXgrWkl-2WSifjmrPndLzzq-F2GqyfTsSOmHIBirYYW6hZWXPdOJtTQ7HMmDjAEqhrzt9wcl2n8Ksny3Uv6H9s9Lc61crM2-4VTcVFDBt1KW2p3kYHlnRqNN2lOcwHcCefkxDgO7X/s1600/205.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0wDS9QcUiehtf3T_PnukrE3lhmeyZTe90f22SQwZCVl1cQ0QaIvpDFgkh9edMM7FRAXKqx2unrsrnW4w5OwjMobWB6UnhCjQ8hDJq3cvSimxMdRT1CxGZwREvHfRzICkxcLa6AQeuaIM/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0wDS9QcUiehtf3T_PnukrE3lhmeyZTe90f22SQwZCVl1cQ0QaIvpDFgkh9edMM7FRAXKqx2unrsrnW4w5OwjMobWB6UnhCjQ8hDJq3cvSimxMdRT1CxGZwREvHfRzICkxcLa6AQeuaIM/s1600/206.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOgEfRegngU-jaeRUD5Y7W87No3dcPo-7Mtdaz3NmJi1z4ZQIPti_TPp5-0vlR_a_CTk5eIiF6GjQ-GrSycY7QZXdhVu6Eh05py_FmiMnEdD04nGYy-3ISev33gxz0kkC1DO2kzwBpVBf/s1600/207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOgEfRegngU-jaeRUD5Y7W87No3dcPo-7Mtdaz3NmJi1z4ZQIPti_TPp5-0vlR_a_CTk5eIiF6GjQ-GrSycY7QZXdhVu6Eh05py_FmiMnEdD04nGYy-3ISev33gxz0kkC1DO2kzwBpVBf/s1600/207.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eAZ2vgkSGrZ-AFa7X2cCHAJBTj9GKQG9ZrXuwoma-5rXBD-jASPSJMMY-b75XNrXIAfLu2VS_pKbiJ5Y3JMXQ9wR4AJnxuMUCYnC_HZ-slRJBnoNgdF21U3G1gIWNbgmEgXhXmh-jd_w/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eAZ2vgkSGrZ-AFa7X2cCHAJBTj9GKQG9ZrXuwoma-5rXBD-jASPSJMMY-b75XNrXIAfLu2VS_pKbiJ5Y3JMXQ9wR4AJnxuMUCYnC_HZ-slRJBnoNgdF21U3G1gIWNbgmEgXhXmh-jd_w/s1600/221.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB8rxJhFhgCmZFKjBuQ2hO_8WWCkrxLLH8gL1RYQ7zRDIQp_FhopXRkJE4D6SSKEcgtrtVws6kQaQcb_5GhW5FEgnTfzUsMXKbdWWxIF8K7Un0giBRtnLBEn1MpRZ9yAVdZ6qHoh47lK8/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB8rxJhFhgCmZFKjBuQ2hO_8WWCkrxLLH8gL1RYQ7zRDIQp_FhopXRkJE4D6SSKEcgtrtVws6kQaQcb_5GhW5FEgnTfzUsMXKbdWWxIF8K7Un0giBRtnLBEn1MpRZ9yAVdZ6qHoh47lK8/s1600/227.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-45422828643738933532014-01-02T08:00:00.000-05:002014-01-02T08:00:03.660-05:00Holiday travels abroad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By now, we're somewhere in the vicinity of this...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa7aPQJxdNfCozFTnupIMSlygDCN39JtTSOpGUlUAiNl_j7mrPmN42uhkTUedNPXD5hBIhWKa2o0oJl9OKmW32E8Wr_uxSdq11gjlSeT2WTVaisok4bP9awIeTw1OZW66xIY51a0tLTr0/s1600/london1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa7aPQJxdNfCozFTnupIMSlygDCN39JtTSOpGUlUAiNl_j7mrPmN42uhkTUedNPXD5hBIhWKa2o0oJl9OKmW32E8Wr_uxSdq11gjlSeT2WTVaisok4bP9awIeTw1OZW66xIY51a0tLTr0/s640/london1.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...but I'm hoping for a light dusting of snow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy New Years!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-74926232337741780762013-12-23T08:00:00.000-05:002013-12-23T08:00:01.738-05:00Nando's Copy Cat Beanie Pita<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I really enjoyed my time in Ireland, but as an 85% vegetarian I struggled to find food that appealed and wasn't fish and chips (I love fish and chips, but I cannot handle eating it every day.) I have really relaxed my picky eating ways in the past few years, but I still don't eat most meats other than fish and poultry. I felt a little off the first few days in Dublin, so I stuck to porridge and cheese sandwiches, but when I finally felt better and had traveled back and forth the width of the country, I was starving for a 'real' meal.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I noticed <a href="http://www.nandos.com/">Nando's</a>. I thought I heard of it somewhere. Then I overheard some people complimenting the food. I scoped that menu and put it on reserve for when A joined me in town. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh my god. Joyful tastiness in a warm pita! Lemon-y pepper-y chicken wings! Cider! It was the best meal I had eaten in days (no offense to Irish cuisine, really) and I could have eaten another round almost as soon as I had finished my first.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few days later, we did go back. It was still amazing - too bad there isn't full Nandos in the U.S. (and none whatsoever near us)! But they do have locations in London and we'd be there shortly! It seemed so simple, except for one little thing: the price. I consider Nando's a kind of upscale fast food restaurant and while it was very good, each of our two meals were well over the money I had spent on food for the three days' prior meals in total. On vacation that's fine, but what about the rest of the time?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Challenge Nando's Beanie Pita Re-creation was born. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...and in the second go around, I created something that came pretty close and satisfied all hungry parties:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYVb77k1CP9QKK4xsEc3eMlXrVKfEJbYKs6Od2ZpDEk3MVNKc_trPawSMJWNalhhoZZjAyIgZkRpk35LDCaA2XmIHP5_ErwYC0TdRmHI8gfglcnvM7BsMqO9krbyMUv0MmggckOveMeZM/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYVb77k1CP9QKK4xsEc3eMlXrVKfEJbYKs6Od2ZpDEk3MVNKc_trPawSMJWNalhhoZZjAyIgZkRpk35LDCaA2XmIHP5_ErwYC0TdRmHI8gfglcnvM7BsMqO9krbyMUv0MmggckOveMeZM/s640/037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seasonal plates! There's moose hiding under there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What you need for <b>Copy-cat Nando's Beanie Pita:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Trader Joe's garden variety veggie burgers (light green package)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 pitas of your liking (I used Trader Joe's 'pocketful of fiber'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Handful or two of mixed greens (I used a variety of red cabbage, romaine, carrot shreddings)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A bit of cheese, cheddar or colby jack both worked nicely</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mayo</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sriracha ('cock') sauce</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Cook the veggie burgers to your liking. Put the pitas in the oven to warm.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. When cooked, chop up the veggie burgers and divide them evenly between your warmed pitas, along with the sliced cheese and a generous helping of greens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. For the sauce (the most important step): mix together equal parts mayo (I used light) with the sriracha sauce. You can add more sriracha, depending on your taste for spiciness. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Apply the sriracha mayo generously and serve some on the side for additional dipping (you're going to want it).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's that easy! It may not be an exact replica, but it is very tasty, pretty healthy, and can be easily made in larger quantities. And there is definitely some more uses for that sriracha mayo...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0eBXNOgiCIJxqui4deBvOHpQoizvJjwWCeehF2HzKRM4juXr0PRa28dhsTnM5ZFpKpg9jmNcZa5e5HUrI-9PARXxZ8fnXG1b0jwptzREa3nFkm7MPwgjXA2NHkELo0NmbFomPzAvGu4H/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0eBXNOgiCIJxqui4deBvOHpQoizvJjwWCeehF2HzKRM4juXr0PRa28dhsTnM5ZFpKpg9jmNcZa5e5HUrI-9PARXxZ8fnXG1b0jwptzREa3nFkm7MPwgjXA2NHkELo0NmbFomPzAvGu4H/s640/044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that pita, bursting with flavor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-7969315096532428522013-12-18T13:54:00.001-05:002013-12-18T13:54:09.643-05:00Christmas Nights, Christmas Lights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since we spend Christmas Eve and Day at my parent's house in and then this year are heading immediately to England (!), A and I always celebrate our own Christmas one weekend before December 25th. This year we headed to brunch at one of my favorite places in Boston: <a href="http://www.kitchenbostonmass.com/">Kitchen</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZTAjImEtfDhLhT9WUIkdu1tKm3jgFnxzFLfLQsuOm7ZWvblJC0Eo6JOerKGXCcA9i_kV8hqEyDm4Tu6QDLOofxyg054zst37C1jQH_yEEPYxtWiVatjy-libuxhNcS90JY-GyV3Tc8C7/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZTAjImEtfDhLhT9WUIkdu1tKm3jgFnxzFLfLQsuOm7ZWvblJC0Eo6JOerKGXCcA9i_kV8hqEyDm4Tu6QDLOofxyg054zst37C1jQH_yEEPYxtWiVatjy-libuxhNcS90JY-GyV3Tc8C7/s640/022.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kitchen brings to life dishes and recipes from throughout time - all the meals have dates of origin next to them on the menu, dating all the way back to a 17th century 'sallet' (salad). I love the historical aspect, the old cookbooks and records that make up the decor of the small South End locale, but I most of all love the doughnuts:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6WFT0SODiiLbX6RssmA0LT7Ff9Pq4bMB-jINV-CNiDluGadP24WvboXBk08J2aOhVUrFPzpRQqKDG7H9rdCqqQLoAAd0gfkfd-l-oFDV72XZNUyGncdj9lWUgsJt5Nucs1ir0HaXjuSv/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6WFT0SODiiLbX6RssmA0LT7Ff9Pq4bMB-jINV-CNiDluGadP24WvboXBk08J2aOhVUrFPzpRQqKDG7H9rdCqqQLoAAd0gfkfd-l-oFDV72XZNUyGncdj9lWUgsJt5Nucs1ir0HaXjuSv/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLiV1t50IHK0KD4KOiEyFqkuU-Wt1_KcydHXwtIx4dLiPjGqZxmx85XsFw4kRknQwUP39NVA9BupZ_KRJQD_eDuJqj00gkFNKineihLQTdAcuSQ_-aR3TTHa9uFo-n3u9YEQTDoQBdGem/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLiV1t50IHK0KD4KOiEyFqkuU-Wt1_KcydHXwtIx4dLiPjGqZxmx85XsFw4kRknQwUP39NVA9BupZ_KRJQD_eDuJqj00gkFNKineihLQTdAcuSQ_-aR3TTHa9uFo-n3u9YEQTDoQBdGem/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But really</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't even really like doughnuts as rule (cider doughnuts be an exception) but these little pillows of cinnamon-y sugar goodness are heavenly. They are both a brunch starter and a dessert; they actually appear on the brunch menu twice. They are perfection in a little warm cakey bite, completed by the berry jam and vanilla sauce. </span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkyr3oU84VzrfvM7jcNdcXQkrmw5415nYS8hiufYd6Ts8gLZoMp_s1ojGuNSDLqUIAlVnayOxm5Kx39_k6KhyRAFVQppK8GpnXqfbzJR0XcLXEfkFoCeSY3WLzrjX8UK8EquvVu3SsmsS/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkyr3oU84VzrfvM7jcNdcXQkrmw5415nYS8hiufYd6Ts8gLZoMp_s1ojGuNSDLqUIAlVnayOxm5Kx39_k6KhyRAFVQppK8GpnXqfbzJR0XcLXEfkFoCeSY3WLzrjX8UK8EquvVu3SsmsS/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOK at that</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During brunch hours, complimentary homemade warm from the oven muffins are also served. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQXlGtUzI4J2TpgVdalQDTLPgzCiYgUeVdegs1MzZjaDg4WOE4nMxyL6YVlM_-ZSxrZ3FcYaQnpZRU8pH-Z-N2fPMit1H_sprG6-2t6VnH7CO-0selW5qMUmr7xXd8HPKcnC7g2IJMQhX/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQXlGtUzI4J2TpgVdalQDTLPgzCiYgUeVdegs1MzZjaDg4WOE4nMxyL6YVlM_-ZSxrZ3FcYaQnpZRU8pH-Z-N2fPMit1H_sprG6-2t6VnH7CO-0selW5qMUmr7xXd8HPKcnC7g2IJMQhX/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A broken muffin still remembers it's true strength</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The evening carb offering is homemade pretzel rolls. They may sound simple, but they are worth the trip. Really, if one went to Kitchen and had nothing by a cocktail and the doughnuts or pretzel rolls, one could be sated...until the call of the carbohydrate rises again...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After I stopped crying my tears of joy over the doughnuts, April had some beautiful oysters on a half shell that I did not partake in and thus forgot to photograph, but then the (other) piece d'resistance: lobster grits.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEkp97mxod_-A4baKMU2xk2jxO7Ag7NlNiJNf7UAkSXSs8IbZ6x4ajdB6_2GNsn9M44HBXBN1WvzdqIfd_GF5nZIn9iTsaFIYjpLYd-9axWMHp8c2lFzYYS68jYn28dVSKy4A_PLNMPPA/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEkp97mxod_-A4baKMU2xk2jxO7Ag7NlNiJNf7UAkSXSs8IbZ6x4ajdB6_2GNsn9M44HBXBN1WvzdqIfd_GF5nZIn9iTsaFIYjpLYd-9axWMHp8c2lFzYYS68jYn28dVSKy4A_PLNMPPA/s640/023.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubblin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lobster grits may sound simple, but that is the magic of Kitchen: they take beautiful, high quality ingredients and make them live up to their tastiest level. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZUUeXo3QgjBMrqMA26kSSUu_YtsSrbA8y3XmY90uxfI5_6DTCrNORNHqXjx9ae0daGEVm1thMPeoH0d3tR3B_TbSk2vpZ1Evua3MRNmNgfNh_pmFItPje6dwMj81aRGLJz4UmEReKTQw/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZUUeXo3QgjBMrqMA26kSSUu_YtsSrbA8y3XmY90uxfI5_6DTCrNORNHqXjx9ae0daGEVm1thMPeoH0d3tR3B_TbSk2vpZ1Evua3MRNmNgfNh_pmFItPje6dwMj81aRGLJz4UmEReKTQw/s400/024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extreme lobster close up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lobster grits half-consumed and the rest happily packed up, we wandered in the bitter cold through the downtown lights until it was time for the annual <a href="http://trinitychurchboston.org/">Trinity Church</a> Candlelight Carols. Trinity is a beautiful Romanesque church that sits in the center of Boston's Copley Square. Every December, Trinity hosts a carol service for the community. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QxUpbaVIPTrElsA4bk1ams1KAIGdIDGnsUJY_TrpwcvXmw8LGKqCE3KgbQmHZms49_sn3brnlC0NNK1PwCxsBjkR8vXqhRqj3itubN0wF6Wouad8q1Iz0N7MYRstG34wZlNZZLxAXRuH/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QxUpbaVIPTrElsA4bk1ams1KAIGdIDGnsUJY_TrpwcvXmw8LGKqCE3KgbQmHZms49_sn3brnlC0NNK1PwCxsBjkR8vXqhRqj3itubN0wF6Wouad8q1Iz0N7MYRstG34wZlNZZLxAXRuH/s640/027.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the balcony<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzar9bbZ8gleunx8iGXl318FH9m_hJfygp-649tjO8PAD4F412dconSxzSa3P3cuKGk83M3vpdMtWQGagSqm1pAe6-w_lhXH1Eh4o9T3dO3o94YF4_6qo-1wy91jwSJkCxz1H7Vg7WcEtF/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzar9bbZ8gleunx8iGXl318FH9m_hJfygp-649tjO8PAD4F412dconSxzSa3P3cuKGk83M3vpdMtWQGagSqm1pAe6-w_lhXH1Eh4o9T3dO3o94YF4_6qo-1wy91jwSJkCxz1H7Vg7WcEtF/s640/028.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As twilight drains out of the church, the candles are lit and the light spreads throughout every nave and row of the church. The carols represent countries and cultures from around the world, including medieval folk songs and African spirituals. The spectacular surroundings combined with the soaring music of a choir could put anyone in the holiday spirit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the music ended, we re-entered the city to find a pristine dusting of snow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCaO2dacsUbEQHerogvYh_NyMtgyTlRYdmGw-JkIqk4M9UbHr_jqJEopgEcX95UCpit0-tKC4kbpMQG-1KyEBVarf2x2Rwbk49VkGKseH0ao9KvnZDOJEhlMGR1pdNhF3y31C4gbv-Bwc/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCaO2dacsUbEQHerogvYh_NyMtgyTlRYdmGw-JkIqk4M9UbHr_jqJEopgEcX95UCpit0-tKC4kbpMQG-1KyEBVarf2x2Rwbk49VkGKseH0ao9KvnZDOJEhlMGR1pdNhF3y31C4gbv-Bwc/s640/031.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY9kvAmhKwWCFvt7T-slfLntv_DuXs8CbA7iLrCFAsmLA89hVPorjUSG90ADefOdGLZPbjwVCA2EySl53AYrab1ObkT0tG0TSxIHVnWOqhSx_QrMcHceaIJYqtHL0_2XgpmPtqKkYVG-D/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY9kvAmhKwWCFvt7T-slfLntv_DuXs8CbA7iLrCFAsmLA89hVPorjUSG90ADefOdGLZPbjwVCA2EySl53AYrab1ObkT0tG0TSxIHVnWOqhSx_QrMcHceaIJYqtHL0_2XgpmPtqKkYVG-D/s640/032.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MsnERLyLzpYNySocJ771iYz8WfccuBEab4Lt474FWtKMbVQcRYaAtZR_kduqAjly0or92cdjwelwGxtDLl2O2Fq7Uab7HE1FNboWFs6ZBx4z6Kyz9zxYH_tlTti0ac8YAfvlhuByGVOE/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MsnERLyLzpYNySocJ771iYz8WfccuBEab4Lt474FWtKMbVQcRYaAtZR_kduqAjly0or92cdjwelwGxtDLl2O2Fq7Uab7HE1FNboWFs6ZBx4z6Kyz9zxYH_tlTti0ac8YAfvlhuByGVOE/s640/033.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our perfect day was complete. Until the next Christmas event...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC0TO8NYWKCmSpsIDl4CqPZIvjpar4GZZb7LKgRZ4adIvDAVwMRFtfCtUYo1bfJfpukJlRl7SCADqbf1LnpbmXFFtesQBx8s8yhL_E7OwqFkaSE50WheaURshfnoKKaVhuvcNd8hoPBd-/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC0TO8NYWKCmSpsIDl4CqPZIvjpar4GZZb7LKgRZ4adIvDAVwMRFtfCtUYo1bfJfpukJlRl7SCADqbf1LnpbmXFFtesQBx8s8yhL_E7OwqFkaSE50WheaURshfnoKKaVhuvcNd8hoPBd-/s640/035.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349632532749191303.post-90272903975743752282013-12-10T13:55:00.003-05:002013-12-10T13:55:41.764-05:00Holiday Spirit is all Around <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have lived in our own little piece of Boston for almost four years and while it is tiny, it suits us entirely.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, I have reached an impasse in one case. It seems I have accumulated too many Christmas / winter holiday decorations to fit them all into 560 square feet. It is a delicious problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV0TAMl7z8M22CDyyD-utr4S6l_Y8kgJmQG1uwEJOdBt94vtqt4xgbQVKTI5x0QiDG59d1Gqc5x-ToY8oCeo0o3uXGkK57bSWK0TtY5Lj6RXYZxZGJxweFGxEGs5iFKStgoPaHuzsdY1c/s1600/IMG_20131209_115105+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV0TAMl7z8M22CDyyD-utr4S6l_Y8kgJmQG1uwEJOdBt94vtqt4xgbQVKTI5x0QiDG59d1Gqc5x-ToY8oCeo0o3uXGkK57bSWK0TtY5Lj6RXYZxZGJxweFGxEGs5iFKStgoPaHuzsdY1c/s400/IMG_20131209_115105+(1).jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Construction crafts are in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lSu6Sm9Eu6asmyGK3M_qghF-g_HfyhGOq4YV1CzRRFJvDJd4NMCtMZIZAtQZPCgz6g37i7IzypCQZ2Csvk49zR71lRF9jPzEfPOyruI-hvPMAShCn6g9qmV3Q9QlJ0yiTJIDS2ibF1h4/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lSu6Sm9Eu6asmyGK3M_qghF-g_HfyhGOq4YV1CzRRFJvDJd4NMCtMZIZAtQZPCgz6g37i7IzypCQZ2Csvk49zR71lRF9jPzEfPOyruI-hvPMAShCn6g9qmV3Q9QlJ0yiTJIDS2ibF1h4/s640/021.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas tree, 'yule log' stockings, snowflakes, oh my</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei_GOHpoq5IqrPtEl9r7JReGwb43AThFpd6JipJCMZoXMcN4fwcw4aAmuSvwmk6O2vdw4b1Qawj2iG2ZHmqXRdUIoe8vXiXYHrcD9goKfhzo6rZdaeD6UqiUUo_OxOQ1c-l5OIoV3Vaqj/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei_GOHpoq5IqrPtEl9r7JReGwb43AThFpd6JipJCMZoXMcN4fwcw4aAmuSvwmk6O2vdw4b1Qawj2iG2ZHmqXRdUIoe8vXiXYHrcD9goKfhzo6rZdaeD6UqiUUo_OxOQ1c-l5OIoV3Vaqj/s400/015.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's too many ornaments on the tree already...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qMsibPkt9Ds4xgxYsgyBIqCZ5In0nGFvWDAwAGTkqP2FzGiwegzg7HwnCb2XuaMzoxSTT6fsSSzqDQnlpBo21pbjUPNZyW-2zM6Fqs9f13yu-_agwCokS3SbXPoqS-eg8RzlBfsWupvf/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qMsibPkt9Ds4xgxYsgyBIqCZ5In0nGFvWDAwAGTkqP2FzGiwegzg7HwnCb2XuaMzoxSTT6fsSSzqDQnlpBo21pbjUPNZyW-2zM6Fqs9f13yu-_agwCokS3SbXPoqS-eg8RzlBfsWupvf/s640/016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparkles...and my lens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNaVeVHdZYTZ60YfN9UYyDdkuzZPDmm-O4peizARvd7q0NdP35FmFFrjwBh6sZeOMmIfyP6_vSLxvOhNKnLGsfSDjUjIVsGm9RwuPSYnSc48RT1-mG_siK12TioTD7nWLM1vZTshhTTin/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNaVeVHdZYTZ60YfN9UYyDdkuzZPDmm-O4peizARvd7q0NdP35FmFFrjwBh6sZeOMmIfyP6_vSLxvOhNKnLGsfSDjUjIVsGm9RwuPSYnSc48RT1-mG_siK12TioTD7nWLM1vZTshhTTin/s400/030.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini dishwasher deco!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLwSPHvATgaYofBY8C5B3dRHFrZCavS8vq0CidHzov2vVNsYsAgyQZ3x4NQWp30vQ_Y1zr30ksp6KKiakef85CPpTzxez_obcfltKBtWqytlbtGANAh7HfWsymY7JMglERgkO3s2BA0m0/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLwSPHvATgaYofBY8C5B3dRHFrZCavS8vq0CidHzov2vVNsYsAgyQZ3x4NQWp30vQ_Y1zr30ksp6KKiakef85CPpTzxez_obcfltKBtWqytlbtGANAh7HfWsymY7JMglERgkO3s2BA0m0/s400/043.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very old family advent calendar. Mouse!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cFUd0VHkfAo07jkmKhwepPcbf9FQXP6qDtFCVMCjzLfbmLp1olEvbn8qKbiaGFgYk_OvS6kMNIP5Ak8Hrz-jRaK-Wg_sW_dCHCCDW-cJACisP9TruQRiJhZ0_l4R4j_FwLp5IlCkQ2Sb/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cFUd0VHkfAo07jkmKhwepPcbf9FQXP6qDtFCVMCjzLfbmLp1olEvbn8qKbiaGFgYk_OvS6kMNIP5Ak8Hrz-jRaK-Wg_sW_dCHCCDW-cJACisP9TruQRiJhZ0_l4R4j_FwLp5IlCkQ2Sb/s640/060.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baron Kingsley the 1st of Berkshire, our resident elf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I only bought one new thing this year (giant sparkly pinecones) but I really can't buy anything else until we upgrade. Unless of course I get rid of some of my clothes...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09221691466009120761noreply@blogger.com0