Sunday So it Must Be NEW YORK!!!

Guess where we are?

Lady Liberty Looking As Lovely As I Thought She Would!!

Amazing Skyline!!

Not The Ferry Across The Mersey!!

It's been a long day, but we have arrived and cannot wait to see the city  that never sleeps tomorrow.

The B&B is a little tired, but it is clean and the bed is comfy, so it's ok, I was disappointed when we got here, but after the Shaker Farm B&B anything would disappoint.  So we are relaxing watching Titanic and tomorrow we shall hit the town. Sightseeing tomorrow and Tuesday, meeting Buttercup on Tuesday evening, shopping Wednesday. Home Thursday...

Beautiful Boston

Well my man did good, we got to Boston, dropped the luggage at the hotel and got the car back to the airport before 11am. We also got the money back for the car repair that we had to sort early in our trip.
They tried not to pay us, saying we hadn't paid for roadside recovery or the damage waiver. We had and when the Manager checked, they soon paid up, thankfully.

We have spent a relaxed afternoon walking around the city. Just about ready to go out to experience the city at night.  Halloween has started in earnest today and we have seen quite a few people dressed up this afternoon, so we expect to see a lot more tonight.

The train to New York is booked, the suitcases sorted, one already locked and ready for the journey home.  So the only thing to do tomorrow is relax and have fun.

Happy Halloween

Friday so it Must be Boston?

Well here I am snuggled up in this huge bed at 6am Friday morning, my husband snoring at my side...ahhh bliss.  today we leave this delightfully, delicious, darling house. Kathy and Joe are really lovely folk and made us feel so at home. Joe has got the same coughing lurghy as me and Ralph wasn't too good yesterday either.

We went to Vermont yesterday, again we had a lovely time despite me coughing and Ralph starting with a cold. We went to Quechee and visited Simon Pearce, a wonderful glass blowing studio. Ralph took some photo's but didn't download them due to feeling rough, but I will post some as soon as I can. We then went to Quechee Gorge, I didn't go down as my chest was rattling good style, but I encouraged Ralph to go, I am looking forward to those photo's too. Then we had lunch in a diner where the soft drinks were served in jam jars!!  Novel..lol

Then we drove through Hanover, a very pretty but busy town.  The traffic was horrendous and we couldn't find anywhere to park, so didn't stop:(  when we got back to the B&B Ralph had a nap and I had a chat with Kathy. We discussed, kitchens, schools,daughter's, grandchildren, she is a brand new grandma to Mickey age 6 weeks. Respect, Sunday school, cooking and several other subjects, so it was a good old blether as they say in Scotland.

We packed up our case last night and will be leaving here at 8am  to get to Boston, drop the bags off at the hotel and return the car by 12 noon. Then we have a day and a half in Boston before a train ride to New York. I cannot believe our two weeks in New England is drawing to a close.

Well my guy has just woken up so it is time to shower and get dressed for breakfast, then we will hit the road. Have a great weekend.

What Day Is It?

Is it Wednesday?

Both Ralph and I have lost track of the days, he had to check his phone tonight to find out what day it is!!

Tonight we are in a very beautiful B&B in Enfield New Hampshire, the owner's Kathy and Joe are wonderful, the house is stunning and our room divine, the bed is HUGE!!!!!!
Photo's will follow.

Our last night in North Conway was very nice, until I lay down on the bed and saw that the ceiling was swarming with ladybirds/ladybugs!!  I jumped out of my skin, Ralph went down to reception and they sent someone up to our room with a vacuum cleaner!! Seems it is a regular occurrence if the weather gets warm?? Even the chambermaid this morning said she had them in her house...yuck yuck yuck!!!

Needless to say we left as soon as we could. On our way here to Enfield (in the rain may I add) we called into an AMAZING shop called Kokopelli and spent a few bob!!  Ralph had said before we came on holiday that he would like to get a pair of cowboy boots and a leather waistcoat (Vest) guess what? he got them today plus a stetson, oh he looks good in a steston..mmmm. We had the best shopping experience at Kokopelli, the staff were wonderful. I got a couple of things too, but that is another post in it's self;)

We had lots of rain today, but we cannot complain, the colours of the leaves were even more intense, as though the rain had washed the dust off of them. I was on the lookout for a rainbow as the light was just right for one, but I didn't get lucky.  Though Kathy said she saw a very vivid one on her way home from shopping, she was further south than us.

One of the really sad things we have noticed driving through New England, is the number of vacant, abandoned houses there are.  The economic crisis is plain to see in all three of the states we have visited.
We came through some very rundown area's today, reminiscent of gypsy sites at home.  Watching tv and all the political adverts you can see there is a big divide in this country and Mr Obama is not very popular. It will be interesting to see the results of the mid term elections. That is another thing, the negative propaganda that is put out here, it is not allowed in the UK, it is an eye opener to say the least.

Anyway, enough of that, I will end tonight  just saying we had a delicious meal in an Italian restaurant called "The Three Tomato's".  The atmosphere was great, the service superb and the food....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I refuse to get on the scales when we get home...lah.lah.lah.lah.lah.lah....

I am Out of Words!!!

Two Days at The Green Granite Inn, North Conway, New Hampshire.

A-W-E-S-O-M-E.

The weather sunny and warm.  The sky so clear and crisp.
The mountains AmaZing, the tree's Beeeeeeeeeautiful.

Heavenly!!!!!!!!

Hello from Bethel

We are all snuggled up in a lovely B&B in Bethell, we have just had fabulous pizza in a restaurant down the road.  My cough is back with a vengeance and it is very tiring.  We have been having a great time, driving thorugh miles and miles of wilderness here in  Maine.  If anyone doubts the existence of God, they should just drive through the Amazing natural Splendour on this earth.  At times the journey was very spiritual, passing through this huge natural cathedral of nature, I found it very emotional at times.

We travelled up from Bangor to Millinocket to meet up with Kathleen, my first face to face meeting with a blogger friend.  what a lovely lady she is, she treated Ralph and I to lunch at a cracking restaurant. Ir belongs to a family of lumberjacks who have a reality tv show, I cannot remember the name of it but it was a great experience. After lunch Kathleen directed us to a drive that she likes to do with her husband Lyle. It was beautiful, miles from nowhere and not a car or house for miles.  Ralph took some great photo's, I will borrow  them when we get back home and publish them on here.

we then went to find the accommodation Ralph had booked for the night as we had decided not to go back to Bangor after meeting Kathleen.  He wanted to stay in a cabin for a night, so he booked one........  It was a little yellow box, I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it, it was very basic, but cosy and the owner gave us some delicious hot muffins straight from the oven..mmmm

After settling in and freshening up, we went off to meet Kathleen and her husband Lyle for a meal, boy oh boy do you serve big in America. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs, but I was defeated as soon as it was put in front of me!

The evening was lovely though, I could have sat all night and listened to Lyle, he is such a character. I felt as though I had known Kathleen for years and we have the same thoughts on a variety of topic's.

Ralph and Lyle

Kathleen and Me.

Thank you Kathleen, it was a pleasure and I now what to meet more blogger friends.  And remember, you promised NOT to give up  blogging.

Wednesday Wonders and Woe's.

Again the weather has been so fantastic, I cannot believe it, summer is here in Portland.  Though there was frost on the ground this morning. a day of lighthouse spotting was planned, but we only got half a day:(

The hire/rental car started flashing that we had a flat tyre/tire, so we pulled in at a petrol/gas station, as Ralph tried to fill the tyre/tire the value blew out.... three hour's and $202 later we were on our way, the tyre/tire sensor had to be replaced and re calibrated as well as the tyre/tire being repaired.  Not happy bunnies but we went off on our delayed trip.

The day got better and better by the minute.  We had a great afternoon, Ralph had his first lobster roll and thoroughly enjoyed it. We went to Two Lights and Portland Head Light and walked around Fort William.

We had a bit of bother with the sat.nav/gps and it got us lost , so we missed out on two other lighthouses we were hoping to catch for sunset.  Hey ho....

Eating tonight on the way home was at "Friendly's" I had a chicken salad and it was scrummy.  Ralph is sick of fries/chips already..lol  I have said I am living on fruit tomorrow, I feel stodged and bloated, five days American eating is telling on me already. What is it in the food over here that turns poo green? I am going for healthy options from now on.

Blogger is not playing again with my photo's, I don't know when I will be back on line as the hotel for the next three days doesn't have wifi in the rooms....but I will be back, sometime soon.

Random Pictures

Ralph Buying Bagels

No We Didn't!!

Andy Up a Tree

Andy Smelling Devine

I Love This

And This

Oh and Him

Just a Touch of Colour

Scarborough Fair....

Tonight we are in Scarborough Maine after a wonderful day travelling and stopping off at beautiful places.
The weather has been amazing, bright sunlight with  clear blue skies. The colours of the tree's are gobsmackingly gorgeous.  Blogger is not letting me load photo's from the past couple of days. I will try again tomorrow.  We are going lighthouse spotting tomorrow..YAY!! love it!!

Beautiful Boston

What can I say, that is one Fabulous City.
My feet are screaming, my hip is moaning, but we had a GREAT day.
The sun was shining all day and the sight's where wonderful.
Hopefully I will post some photo's tomorrow, but right now there is
a bed calling my name. This tourist stuff is very enjoyable but tiring.
We must have walked six or seven miles or more today. Every step was
great. 

I must just say this though, each time we asked someone for directions, they didn't speak English, they were not tourist's either:)  But almost every time we were looking at the map, someone would volunteer to help us.  There are some very handsome, helpful gentlemen living in Boston.  Tall, handsome, well spoken, well mannered, a couple sort of swoon making gentleman.  Shhh....

First Full Fabulous Fall Foray....

Remember my post about "Line Drying"?

Saw some school children put this display up on the lawn in front of a church in Concord MA today:)

A life long dream came true today, when we visited Orchard House.

I read "Little Women" for the first time as a nine year old. 

I have read it often throughout my life and todaythe words jumped

 off the page and came to life in this amazing house.

There was a ten year old little girl called Erin in our tour group.  She was a beautiful little girl and I mean a little girl.  She was dressed as a child and not as a mini adult. She was so enthralled by the house and the words of the tour guide, it was such a pleasure to see her reaction to all the different aspects of the house. The tour guide was wonderful with Erin and encouraged her to lead us through the house for part of the tour.

I got so much pleasure watching this. Speaking  to her mother I commented I would have loved to have experienced Orchard House at her daughter's age. He mum smiled proudly and agreed with me. She was allowed one treat in the small shop and she choose a cross stitch kit of the house.  The pleasure on her face was magical.  So not only did I fulfill a lifetime dream today, I also experienced it through a child and so had more than double the pleasure.

Our first full day here has been wonderful, the weather could not have been better, the pleasure of Orchard House and a visit to "Absolutely Everything"   was a JOY. I could have spent a fortune, but was very good, we have to be aware of  baggage allowance so it has made me be very selective.  I bought some lovely rubber stamps. so Ralph now thinks that is my crafting fix for the holiday...lol, he can dream can't he?

Hello from BOSTON!!!!

Yes we are here, I am totally worn out as I didn't sleep a wink last night in the hotel, couldn't sleep on the plane and felt really sick toward the end of the journey.  The Mr Obama held us up in the sky for forty minutes.  He was arriving in Boston and the air space had to be cleared for him.  Might pop over and have a drink with him later;)

Since arriving we have had nothing but the best contact with the American people, from the security guards at the airport, to the lovely man on the immigration desk. We had an in depth conversation with him all about beer and whiskey...  The the bus driver taking us to the care hire depot was wonderful, the lady at the car hire place was fabulous also the security guard who checked us out of the depot. Then the receptionist here at the hotel is wonderful,  She let me take her photo with Andy, more about him later.

Ralph has gone for a walk up to the ice cream parlour we came across on our way to the hotel, I reckon he is going to put about 15 pounds on in the next three weeks! I reckon it will be an early night tonight and hopefully I will be rearing to go tomorrow.

We are On Holiday:)

We are sat in the bar of Bewley's hotel, watching the news that Liverpool FC now belongs to the own of Boston Red Sox, wierd coincidence...

We are totally relaxed and laid back and I am loving it.

This time tomorrow we will be in Boston...WooHoo!!!

All Packed Up and Rearing to Go

The suitcases are packed and locked :)
Ralph started his holiday tonight, I am in work until Friday :(
We are both ready for this holiday, it has been a long time coming.

Ralph received an invitation today, to attend an awards dinner.
It is a formal do, on November 25th, I guess I better be good
on holiday so I don't look like a barage balloon in a black sack....

Ho hum, I will just have to savour the smell coming out of Dunkin Donuts...

I'm So ExCiTeD

Packing almost done..
Money changed...
I'm Sooooooooooooo Excited!!!!

Do you Do it Inside or Out?

Line Drying

I love hanging my washing out to dry and dread the winter when I have to use the drier.
One of my favourite things when I had my babies was to hang a line of terry nappies out to dry.
It was a wonderful sight:) Terry nappiers should make a comback for enviroment reasons.
That's Sheilagh's Thought for Today..lol

Have a good weekend.

Friday Night

Another week gone, one week to go...Did I tell you I was going on holiday???

Tomorrow Trish arrives for a weekend of fun and laughter and I can't wait to see her.
So after a yucky week I have a yummy weekend.

Hope you have a great weekend too :)

Feeling Better

I finally started to feel a little better this afternoon, my head feels clearer, the cough is not so painful and the achey joint pain is easing off. 

Now I can resume getting excited about our holiday, but first I have a wonderful weekend planned with my bezzy  Trish. We are going to a stamping show on Saturday, then to see "Eat, Pray, Love" on Saturday evening.
Then on Sunday we are going to an all day workshop to make an Advent Calendar. 

My darling will be at home with a list of job's that need doing before we fly away......
Am I Blessed or am I Blessed??

Rough Rough and Rough...

Oh boy do I feel rough, hardly slept, coughing like a good'un,
swallowed some crushed glass. Got to go to work though, already two girls off....
Flu Clinic this afternoon  :(    Should be fun..
Where is my orange juice?..Time for mor pills...yuck, yuck, yuckity yuck!!
It better be gone by the weekend, Trish and I are due some serious fun.



The shoebox looks like a jumble sale gone mad.
How do you make your mind up what to pack for a three week holiday?
Should we just take a weeks worth of clothes and keep washing them?
Or take a fortnight's clothes and mix and match?
I'll tell you something right now,
Ralph is worse than me about the clothes!!
At the moment on the clothes rail he has:

4 Shirts.
8 T Shirts
4 Polo Shirts
1 Sweatshirt
2 Jumpers
4 pairs of trousers
1 Fleece.
1 Leather jacket
1 Rainproof jacket
15 pairs of socks
10 pairs of underpants
He cannot make his mind up about shoes, 2 or 3 pairs?

Now thats before I get started...

Streaming Cold...

I have had a streaming cold since Saturday,  it is so wearying, I hope it has reached it's peak today.
I'm looking like Rudolph right now and feeling totally wiped out.  So I am off to bed to try to sweat it out.

Ooops

Ok I was very tired. unable to sleep and I had a brain slip...it's only Friday.
Silly Me!!

Who is Stealing Time?

I cannot believe it is Saturday already, where did that week go?
Ok it is only ten minutes past midnight but it is still Saturday.
That means it is two weeks to our holiday.
This time in two weeks we will be at a hotel at Manchester airport.
Not that I am excited or anything...

September has come to an end and my 30 day plan has run it's course.
How have I done?
Well not too badly I think.

I have been eating healthy home cooked food.
In fact I am really enjoying cooking and having family around for meals.
I have been reading most nights and enjoying the pleasure of snuggling down with a good book.
Meditation in the usual sense of the word as been sparse, but I have found that cooking and reading have been nurturing my self worth and self esteem.

I am spending more time with family and friends which is wonderful.
Have been doing some creative arty stuff, just for me and that is a pleasure I have rediscovered. Walking has been sporadic but I'm getting there. I need to build up a pace over the the next two weeks, ready for walking on holiday. So all together I feel September was a success in many ways. The weather was rubbish, but there again most of the year has been pretty awful weather wise.

So October is upon us and the tree's are beginning their gorgeous costume change and hopefully we will get some lovely sunny days to enjoy the kaleidoscopic display of colours nature dazzled us with this time of year.


Colors burst in wild explosions
Fiery, flaming shades of fall
All in accord with my pounding heart
Behold the autumn-weaver
In bronze and yellow dying
Colors unfold into dreams
In hordes of a thousand and one
The bleeding
Unwearing their masks to the last notes of summer
Their flutes and horns in nightly swarming
Colors burst within
Spare me those unending fires
Bestowed upon the flaming shades of fall.

- Dark Tranquility, With the Flaming Shades of Fall