Easter in Cleveland

Kathryn, Dan, Owen, Julia, Hampton, Kevin

We were in Cleveland over the weekend, and had such a great time.  We saw lots of family, took a long walk around Euclid, went to the Cleveland Art Museum, had macarons and champagne at a cool little patisserie downtown, and watched March Madness.  We had a delicious Easter brunch at my niece Kathryn's house in Shaker (baked eggs in hashed brown nests, thanks Pioneer Boy!) and a wonderful Easter dinner at my sister's, and Tom and Evie even came in from Chautauqua for the day. So nice to  be back home for a few days, and with our family. Of course before I left I collected three or four bags of rocks from my sister's beach, to bring home for my garden. Much of my garden is bordered by rocks from Lake Erie, and I can always use a few (well, lots) more.

We came back on Monday to 77 degrees in Virginia, greened up grass, daffodils blooming, and some early cherry tree blooms. What a difference a warm day makes! Yesterday morning I was outside spreading bonemeal over my perennial garden, something I do every year. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I've been doing it for years. It's the only fertilizer I use. I also cut back my 'Limelight' hydrangea, a little later than usual, but it should be fine as it blooms on new growth. It's raining this morning, so that bone meal will soak in nicely around my plants and strengthen those roots!!

Fun Times in North Carolina

I drove down to Pinehurst, NC last week to meet two of my dear friends from high school, Kathy and Mika, for a few days of fun.  We don't see each other very much, because we live in Cleveland, Boston, and Virginia, but we stay in touch. We last got together about five years ago for a whirlwind weekend in New York City, and had such a good time, I can't believe it's taken us this long to get together again.  We were delayed a day because Mika couldn't get out of snowy Boston, and poor Kathy had a broken foot, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. Lots of talking and laughing and drinking wine, good meals, a wine tasting with chocolates at a local wine shop, and visits to lots of the local potteries.  Who knew there were so many potters in that part of North Carolina?

Mika and Kath

Kathy

After a few days with the girlfriends, I drove about two hours west to Charlotte, to see Julia and Hampton for the weekend.  It was a gorgeous weekend, sunny and warm (70 degrees!), and so we spent most of Saturday walking around town and around their neighborhood. They live right next to a great park, and it was so nice to see so many people out and about. We even walked to dinner and Uber-ed home (my first Uber ride!). And I was so excited to see one of these Free Little Libraries in the neighborhood. People can build one of these little boxes and put it in their yards, and then anyone can borrow and leave books inside. Such a great idea. I drove home on Sunday, and back to winter.

Christmas at Longwood Gardens

Last week Eileen, Prudy, and I took a short road trip to see the Christmas displays at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. We stopped first at Terrain, a very fancy garden shop and restaurant in Glen Mill, PA, to get some inspiration. They had beautiful displays of Christmas greens and trees,  wreaths, arrangements, and tons of potted bulbs. That arrangement of white amaryllis in the copper tub (above) was absolutely gorgeous. After shopping around a bit, we had lunch in their garden cafe and then were on our way to Longwood to see the conservatory and the sparkly lights in the gardens.

We loved these orange chairs at Terrain

Christmas trees at Terrain

Terrain

Pots at Terrain

Pots, vases, watering cans at Terrain

Potted hellebores at Terrain

Conservatory at Longwood

Prudy and Eileen at Longwood

Winterberry at Longwood

Conservatory at Longwood

Outdoor lights at Longwood

Outdoor fountain show at Longwood

More Maine

Lobster traps

A few more pictures from Maine...lobstering, hikes in Acadia, a boat trip to Little Cranberry Island.

Harbor at Little Cranberry Island

Lobstering at Little Cranberry Island

Passing by Bear Island

Northeast Harbor

Hike to the top of Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain

Somes Sound

Hiking Acadia

Acadia, near Jordan Pond

Carriage Road near Jordan Pond

Carriage Road near Jordan Pond

Carriage Road, Acadia

Trail markers on carriage roads

Colorful lobster buoys

Maine

Bass Harbor at sunset

I have the post-vacay doldrums. After spending a week on Mount Desert Island in Maine, I'm finding it hard to be back in crazy northern Virginia and the same old routines. I don't want to do any of the things I have to do, like go to work, make dinner, or even write this blog!  It was so nice to be away from everything in such a beautiful place~~and that's how you feel, away from everything.  We rented the same place we did last year, and really felt at home in the town of Southwest Harbor. We know our way around now, know the good places to eat, where to buy our fruit and cheese, and the prettiest walks. I like that familiarity.

Wonderland Trail

It's so peaceful there and so, so beautiful. We had picture perfect blue skies every day.   I really tried this time to just sit and take in these gorgeous views.

Wonderland Trail

One of the highlights of this trip was a visit to the Bass Harbor lighthouse.  At around 5 pm one day, I suggested we go visit the lighthouse because I knew the light would be great. As we climbed down on the rocks below the lighthouse, we were slowly joined by lots of people, photographers setting up their tripods on the rocks, getting ready for the sunset shots. One couple was there with a bottle of wine and cheese. Sunset wasn't until about 6:30, but we decided to stay and wait. Why not, we had nothing we had to do, we could wait. To sit there on those rocks, with that view--heaven.

Bass Harbor Lighthouse Sunset ~1

Bass Harbor Lighthouse Sunset~2

Bass Harbor Lighthouse Sunset~3

Most days we took one or two hikes in Acadia, either on trails or on the carriage roads. We would take along water, cheese and fruit and a bar of chocolate and eat our lunch on a hike. We got into a routine of hiking for several hours, then coming back to our cottage in the afternoon and reading. Sometimes I would walk into town and look around the few shops, or just look at all the cute houses around the harbor. We'd relax for awhile and then decide where we would eat that night. There are several good restaurants in the town of Southwest Harbor (Sips, Red Sky), so after a glass of wine, we would walk into town for dinner. There is also a bakery in town (Little Notch Bakery) for morning pastries and a great place to get a scoop of Maine blueberry ice cream (Quietside Cafe). Yummo.

Cadillac Mountain

Atop Cadillac Mountain

Bubble Rock Trail

Lichen on trails

There is a lobster pound at one end of our street (Beal's Lobster Pound), so one night we went there for lobster rolls and lobster chowder and sat on their enclosed porch on a misty night, overlooking Southwest Harbor.  Thurston's (in Bernard, ME)  is another lobster pound we like, and we went there twice for whole lobsters, along with corn and coleslaw, and mussels. Delish!

Bass Harbor from Thurston's

Thurston's Lobster Pound on Bass Harbor

Lobster roll at Beals

Jordan Pond is one of our favorite places in Acadia, with a 3.5 mile trail around the water and lots of carriage roads around the area, too.  And of course there are those popovers to look forward to after your hike! 

Jordan Pond

Popovers at Jordan Pond

Jordan Pond

More to come!