Lake House: Week 2 SNOW!!! and Family...

After our first week at the Lake House, my brother's family decided to come an visit for a long weekend. We were JUST able to cram everyone into this one shower house. Everyone had beds except the little kids. We threw them on a pile of blankets to sleep.

While hanging with the family, we decided to split up. The girls headed out for a spa day and a modern dance show at the Boston Conservatory. The dance show was... interesting. We didn't stay the whole because we were starving and the relative who was in the show had already performed.

That evening Chris started up the pit fire. It was pretty perfect! It was soooo cold outside, but pulled up to the fire, with a nice "drink" in my hand, I could have stayed there all night. I chatted with my sister in law and watched the kids light things on fire.

Chris and I convinced my brother and his wife to hit Foxwoods for some unsuccessful gambling.

The day after my brother left, it snowed.

It was like Christmas morning for Isabel. She burst into our bedroom and screamed "It snowed!!!"

We spent the morning destroying every bit of that 1-2 inches of snow.

The next day we decided to check out a recommended Maple Syrup House in New Hampshire. We traversed 1.5 hours north and got there. It isn't currently maple syrup season, but they still served breakfast to us.

Since we were already in the car, I decided to make the day a road trip and get Maine out of the way. We kept heading northwest until we finally hit Maine. I think we only spent 2 hours there. We looked at the harbor of KIttery. We ate Lobster in Maine. Then we hit a candy store that had post cards. And more candy...- sigh-

After we left Maine, we headed south towards Ipswich, MA. I have always heard of Ipswich clams, and where better to eat them? It was dark. It was a long drive. But I got my clams! Best food day EVER!!!

Random photos:

She starts off looking like some sort of panda...

Then she adds blood...

What a pretty picture, WITH all of the technology!

Are those the elusive galaxy leggings that we have been searching for???!!!

Lake House: Week 1

We have arrived home. About 30 minutes ago. I realize I am behind on the blog, so I am working on catch-up this week.

After we left Salem the day after Halloween, we had rented a house in central Massachusetts. It is called The Lake House and it is about 15 minutes west of Worcester. We chose this location because:
1. It is beautiful
2. It is central to New England
3. So we weren't in a hotel long term.

We got there on time and were given a tour by the owner of the place. We dragged in our luggage and then Chris and I hit the grocery store.

It was quite funny how "tourist" must scream from us, because the locals and employees were quick to help up find everything, including signing up for the store's discount card.

We needed to stock the kitchen and I decided to do the majority of shopping that day. I think that I have never had a grocery bill so high! Usually I buy for 1 week, not 3. Also, I have a lot of staples and condiments already at home. The Lake House had a lot of them available, but I still needed to buy what I cook with. It was A LOT. Chris was a little afraid of the cart being so full!

First things first.... LOBSTER!!!!

The next day we were kind of stuck because New England goes into a mini-vacation between the leaves changing and the snow coming. They call it "stick season" and many businesses close for the Winter.

The owners of our home also owned a place called Davis' Farmland and Maze. We decided to head to the maze to check it out.

Cici had a plan! She had read/watched something about maintaining a right turn only course. This didn't work. I explained to her that they had hired a maze designer and he probably knew this trick. Regardless, we worked on the maze for an hour and then the kids gave up... sigh.

Isabel insisted that the ONLY reason that we were in Massachusetts was for apple picking. It was hard to find a orchard still open this late in the season, but my cousin made a phone call and got us into George Hill Orchards. It was amazing. There was a large farm full of every type of apple know to man (except Fuji and Granny Smith). We picked a half bushel of apples and darn if those kids didn't eat a million apples over the next few days. I felt like a good mother for a bit with all of that healthiness!!!

The beginnings of Apple Butter!!!

We had caught the leaves in Pennsylvania and they were beautiful! In Massachusetts, we were there only for the very end. I couldn't resist a photo shoot with the girls at this beautiful library near the house.

My Father, who attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, insisted that I MUST see the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester. The museum is scheduled to close with the New Year due to a lack of endowment. We grudgingly attended and LOVED IT!!!

Just a funny moment...

Cici really, really wanted a glass bottle of Coke, because "it tastes better."

After received said bottle, she reached the problem that she could not OPEN the bottle cap. I refused to help her and she struggled for 15 minutes to figure out how to open it. She finally reached SUCCESS!!!

I will be continuing the adventures of New England in later blogs. I think I covered the first week... I will post again in 2 days. New England continued!!!!!.....

Mid-Trip Lamentations: Why am I doing this?

Two days ago I had a bad "Ian" day. That's what I am calling it. I don't know how else to describe the dark days that accompany loss. Most people, at least people I know, know exactly what I mean when I am having a "bad Ian day." They just don't know what to do. They nod silently. Serious in expression. There really isn't anything to say, is there?

It started with a "do-nothing" day. We were in central Massachusetts in the lake house we have rented for 3.5 weeks while touring New England. We just had returned from a 4 day jaunt to Vermont. We had a marvelous time (blog coming soon). We were tired. We didn't want to do anything.

Being Irish, I feel that means I need to cozy up to a nice mixed drink, snuggle under a blanket in the living room, and multitask between my iPad and TV. All day.

Now friends... Lets talk.

I know you don't know that I am having a bad day, but did it HAVE TO coincide with the most sappy day of shared videos on Facebook. I watched quadriplegics being carried on the back of their new wives. I watched chubby wubby babies being adorable. I watched videos of children being achingly honest. I watched old men/women mourning the loss of their spouses.

It was torture!

As a woman, I MUST torture myself with this sappiness on a regular basis to keep my "woman card." I actually usually like it. Relish it. Perpetrate several happily-ever-after scenario in my head.

It was too much.

Couple that with the kids watching that HORRIBLE movie "Up," which just happened to be one of Ian's favorite movies.

I was a leaking, sappy, sobbing mess. All day.

It made me start thinking. Why am I doing this? Why am I traveling? Why am I away from my bed, my cat, my home, my friends, my bar, my family?

I'm not sure. Maybe that is WHY I am doing this. To figure this out. To figure out what I want to do. What Chris and I want to do. What we want to be. Everything has changed. Our future is unclear.

On the other hand, I feel that I am avoiding. I am avoiding the empty bedroom. I am avoiding the framed pictures on the wall. I am avoiding the "niceness" of everyone who feels pity.

I also feel that I am doing what I would have wanted to do with Ian. Packing into one short year. I would want him see these cities. Tour these factories. Play in the snow. He had done a ton of stuff in his short six years, but I had plans for so much more.

So, as I sit in the bitterly cold north, sipping drinks, trolling Facebook, and working on doing nothing. I want you to know, I am working on everything. Working on my future. Never thought I would have to do that.

Leg 8: Salem: Where do YOU trick or treat?

Obviously, on posts like today, you can tell how far behind I am on blogging, but I plan on this being a week of catching up.

We left New York City on October 30th and drove 4-5 hours up to Salem MA. Just in time for Halloween.

Poor Sierra thinks that she needs to trick or treat this year at the old age of 14. I disagreed, but allowed it if she coordinated with Isabel's outfit. Her Mother complained that Cici has ALWAYS been a vampire. I stood my ground and the two of them dressed as ninjas this year.

We arrived in Salem in time for dinner, and since we were in Massachusetts, we NEEDED lobsters. We headed to The Sea Witch (because I liked the name) and partook of lobster. Cici's wasn't quite ready to try that yet, so she ordered the shrimp. Isabel, Chris and I delighted in our lobster heaven.

The next morning, I was CRAVING bagels for breakfast. I had missed out on getting some in NYC, so Chris ran out to the local Bagel King and we partook of a feast in our hotel room before heading out for Halloween fun.

^^She looks this happy every morning^^

Cici was familiar with the story of Salem and their Witch Trials, but Isabel hadn't learned about it yet in school. Our first stop in Salem was the Witch Museum. It was a hokey set up in a large room with a narrated story depicted my mannequins set up in scenes. About midway through, Isabel had HAD ENOUGH and started crying. "It is scary Mama!" Isabel and I sat in the gift shop until it was over.

We then traversed through the town streets, where many of the witchy stores were located. We pursued the merchandise as I explained to Isabel how she needs to be "accepting" to people who think they are witches.

It is an interesting conversation to have with your child when you encounter people who share different beliefs than you want to instill in your child. I, personally, don't believe in witchcraft or the idea of spells, charms, etc. I straddle the fence on how "accepting" to be when teaching your child your own beliefs. We decided to tell Isabel that "we don't believe these things, but they do, so be respectful and keep you mouth shut if you disagree." I think that was the best way to do it.

^^Some founder of Salem, who WAS NOT a witch!^^ 

Look! It's Samantha!

Chris found his buddy, Locutus!

We went to this historic cemetery in Salem, and when I mentioned to Sierra that she probably isn't supposed to smile in cemetery pictures, she gave me THIS face instead. Her sarcasm comes back to bite her in "the blog"

Sierra is trying out of America's Next Top Model soon...

After wandering for a while, the rain started and we escaped to a local sushi restaurant near the center of town. The most interesting part of this restaurant experience was that I ordered a tuna tartare that was presented prettily. Also, Cici, who has been eating different seafoods while on the road with us, decided to try rolls other than Californian. Score!

The official town rules of Salem is: No Trick or Treating until 5:30, then it ends at 7:30. We were anxiously waiting outside our first house at 5:25, and darn if they didn't make us wait until 5:30 on the dot to approach for some candy collecting.

Salem is built around a town square with streets projecting out from the main square/commons. It made it very easy to trick or treat and we were accompanied by another family from Apopka (weird, right?) for the beginning. We trick or treated for about an hour until Cici's ankle started hurting and I slipped a little on the cobblestone and twisted my own ankle.

The kids had plenty of candy, so there were fine with wrapping it up.

Overall, Salem was a cool experience to do for one day. I know that Cici definitely understood how cool it was to be there on Halloween. Hopefully, Isabel will realize it one day too.