The days ahead...

While this past holiday time has been especially hard for us for various reasons, I want to focus on some of the less heavy, small, perhaps seemingly insignificant, but happier things. First, my beautiful new antique tea cups and saucers that I received for Christmas. They are a similar pattern to the other set I purchased a while back. It's amazing how much time can be spent perusing auctions for these little treasures.

I am currently enjoying a "staycation" and since it's been just too chilly to go out, I've browsed the internet on end, and did some baking today.  We made a marvelous spiced pumpkin and walnut bread. The amazing recipe can be attributed to one and only GP, here. The spices, together with the warmth of the fresh bread were perfect for a  frozen, icy day. 

This year, with some uncertainty as to how the New Year will be, I am especially hesitant (as always) to make any resolutions. I enjoy taking each day as is and having bigger, overarching goals to generally live by so that I don't tend to disappoint myself. Some ideas (big and small) I've toyed around with though, have been:

Eating more wholesome, delicious foods. Taking/consistency in taking our vitamins and supplements. Purposeful intention to everything, even seemingly small tasks during the day- what is meant by this I think I will have to figure out slowly, but I suppose the idea can be said as: living each day for just that- the day. As an astute (to a fault) planner, this is a very new way of thinking for me, but may just be what we need for the new year ahead. 

A while

Well, it's definitely been a while since the last update. My on-going goal is to update weekly, but there were a few snafus- the primary one being that my dear old (7 year old!) laptop finally succumbed to the ravages of time (or rather, my own clumsiness, as I spilt coffee all over the keyboard- how this never happened in the past, I don't know).  But now I can resume, with my brand new, lighter, shinier (but not better!) version. 

We've been doing pretty well with filling our weekends with activities as much as Chris' schedule will allow. I remember being quite pleased with myself a couple of weeks ago about filling our social calendar for the weekend. Trust me when I say this is not at all said to be boastful, but rather, as a surprise since most nights (weekend nights included), I am all too pleased with pajamas/sweats, tea, and internet surfing time. That weekend, we had guests over for dinner, attended another dinner [early Thanksgiving] party the following evening, and also went to brunch on Sunday. 

We've gone to more movies (2) in the past month than we've been to over the past 2 years. We also enjoyed Cirque du Solei for the first time. 

Looking back at the pictures I took, the colors were pretty incredible! Of course, the acts did not disappoint. 

Today though, it's a lazy Sunday as usual. We're sitting at the dining table, each with our computers in hand (me- internet surfing; Chris- "studying"/petting the cat). For me, internet surfing includes  holiday gift browsing, catching up on all my favorite blogs, and investigating other knick knacks I've been eyeing for the home (more on that another time)!


*first picture: Christmas time in the city.


RLJ

Last wedding of the year

This past weekend, we headed to Bristol, RI for the last wedding of the year. Bristol is near-ish to Newport, and seemed to be a quaint, waterside town. The wedding took place on the grounds of a beautiful farm, right next to the water.

Despite the sun in the photos, it was chilly! We warmed ourselves up with some delicious butternut squash bisque and indulged in the raw bar (best wedding hors d'oeuvres ever!)

right before sunset

I love this photo. Chris' movie star picture.

first photo: neat pattern of the reception tent.

Lazy Sunday

The above picture pretty much sums up the weekend. Saturday started out really beautifully and we took Harry on a short walk to Whole Foods for some breakfast- we also stopped by Starbucks and the local library to pick up some books. We wanted to take advantage of the fantastic weather and the fact that we both had a free weekend without work, but it became quite dubious and starting to pour while we were out and on our way home!  It's been pretty cloudy and cool since last night.

We basically did not leave the house today, and slept IN. We've both been a little under the weather, so it was really much needed. 

This weekend, we didn't do anything "new" new, but we did do a fair bit of cooking of some new Clean meals. One not-so-Clean meal included a homemade pumpkin pie!  What a fantastic way to start off a rainy fall weekend. No pictures, unfortunately, but trust me when I say we had delicious, perfectly spiced pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream (whipped with our new KitchenAid mixer. What we used to do before the mixer is a story for a different time). So delicious. 

I also found a new potholder in...toile(!!) to add to my collection. I could not be happier. They had an orange one as well, but the burgundy was so appealing and a very much an "in" color for this season.

It feels great to have these low-key weekends to recharge, and cozy up with a book. Next weekend, Newport, RI!

Fall's arrival

The end of summer is officially here. And what a great way to celebrate the coming of fall, with a beautiful day of apple picking. We found an orchard not too far from the city to go to this weekend. Of all the years living in New England, this was our first time (see post on experiencing the new every weekend). It was pretty great fun and the since we only picked as many as we could eat, we won't have to be making apple-everything for the next 2 months.

They had so many varieties of trees and the apples were just delicious right off the trees- juicy, crisp, and tart. And not to mention, the weather was just perfection- sunny, but with a cool, slightly brisk breeze. Really a perfect fall day.

Not only was the farm all about apples, but there were some pretty happy-looking chickens in the chicken run.

There were other crops, like fields of corn (not really for picking, but that was up for argument). Much to my dismay, peach season is over so no peaches to be picked, but we did meander through the peach orchard.

Free cron (no, not a typo) and the hill of apple trees in the distance.

Sampling a fresh apple off a tree

To top it all off, we had warm, freshly-made cider donuts and apple cider after picking! Donuts and cider may have been the driving force for going to the orchard in the first place!

La Renaissance

I read an article in Vogue (Sept 2012) about Chelsea Clinton. She talked about how when she was growing up, she and her family would do something new every Sunday- whether that be something quite minor (like cracking open a coconut for the first time) or major- like going to some new destination in the world. I think that this something-new-on-Sundays idea is a wonderful goal, however small or big. [Although, I may stretch it out to something-new-on-the-weekend].

This past Sunday, we spent the afternoon at a Renaissance-type festival in MA. I have been to a similar type of thing before, in grade school and had a blast. I couldn't wait to show Chris what a good time a ye old renaissance festival can be! It was plain fun- lots of people dressed up in medieval clothing, knights on horses, potions, swords, and fairy trinkets for sale. I especially loved that it was in the middle of a forest of trees- its own medieval village, almost.

We found a seller selling...swings! Not entirely middle-ages, per se, but (see previous post on swinging) fun nonetheless. (I had to convince Chris that we don't have room in the apartment for one)

total relaxation in the enchanted forest

swing with a swinging foot rest

Amongst knights' jousts and maidens in bustiers, we saw some pretty fun games like archery...

bull's eye

We also watched several gentlemen and ladies take a swing at the good ol' hammer and bell game, and lots of knife and axe throwing.

the shield and crest shoppe

Finally, it wouldn't be a proper faire without a proper feast- bloomin' onions and fried dough galore! (Actually, the fried dough was appropriately named "Peasants' bread.")

A perfect new-thing-on-Sunday event on a perfect fall afternoon. We'll be back next year!

Country mice

Recently, I've extolled the benefits of country living. It isn't necessarily that I want to move to the country (probably never going to happen), but I feel that ever since school, I've had a greater, new-found appreciation for the country. There is truly something to be said about being in isolation, enjoying the outdoors, and the slower, relaxing qualities of life. We try to at least once a year, get out to the country for a long weekend. Each year, for about 4 years now, we've headed out to the Catskills, rented a nice, quiet house with acres of land, and just enjoyed ourselves. This past Labor Day weekend was no exception.

cabin in the woods- total seclusion

Not only do we enjoy our time out there, but Harry absolutely loves "vacation," as we call it.

It's the only real vacation that Harry can enjoy with us and that's another big reason we love going out there. Even though we joke around about how much he loves the country, he actually does! He sort of perks up, has great run of the yards, plays outside, and just has an extra spring in his step. This time, we found out how much he loves swinging...he actually ASKED to go outside to get on the swing on the front porch.

frisbee time!

just. so. happy

 grilling in the evening

game time

 chelsesa and me, just hanging out on the front porch

We grilled, we ate, played cards, read, and just took it easy. Next, it's time to look for a vacation home in the country!

*first photo: Harry swinging on the front porch- didn't even get off of swing until I picked him up out of it 30 minutes later!