Summer Break

 One of the things about going back to school is that all of a sudden, after seven years of spending time in offices, only having time for beach trips on weekends, summer break becomes a thing again. I've always been pretty big on summer, but this year, there is something about the sudden freedom from classes that prepared me to really seize the adventure in a way that I hadn't in a long time. This year, I'm making lists and buying passes to Walden Pond and Crane Beach because even if I'm working almost full time, I have flexible hours and dammit, I want to spend all my time outdoors and maybe go to the beach on a Wednesday because I can.

Over Memorial Day weekend, I had to work on Sunday*, but that meant Saturday and Monday were free. James and his fiance, Aaron, and I all piled into their little red car and took to the mountains for a hike. I made sandwiches with rotisserie chicken, cheddar cheese, avocado, and mayo even though it freaks me out a little, and at the last minute I bought a pound of cherries. Less than a mile into the hike, we got to a fork in the trail and decided to take the less-direct path, which turned out to be exactly the right choice: beautiful views almost all the way up, plus far fewer companions on the trail, which meant we could stop for instagrams or water breaks whenever we wanted, without worrying that we were getting in someone's way.

We got to the top, where we tried really hard not to get blown over by the wind as we admired the view. We snapchatted a selfie to the friends who stayed home (learning to unplug is a work in progress), then scooted back down a little ways for our picnic. The mayo was a good choice. The cherries were an even better one. We took the popular route down, where we saw many college students who think it's cool to wear Greek letters on your sweatshirt or your butt. I felt a little bit old when I remembered that ten years ago, I used to think that, too. On the drive home, we stopped for ice cream cones as big as our heads.

There's something about adventures, I find, that beget more adventures. Having spend Saturday on the mountain, when I found myself with a free Wednesday afternoon, I hopped in my car (I got a car! and it's been a surprisingly transformative experience) and booked it to the Crane Estate to explore. This weekend, I'm going to the Jersey Shore, of all places.


Here's to a summer break positively filled with adventures.

*you're not supposed to write about your job on the internet, but just to clarify, I love what I do- I get to drive all over Massachusetts and talk to moms about their lives and their kids for research purposes, and it's the sort of thing that I'd happily do on a Sunday even if they weren't paying me.

A Trip to the Seagull

I have mixed feelings about the end of summer. While the weather for the last couple of weeks has indicated that Fall is clearly on its way, and I do enjoy the fresh start that comes with the beginning of the school year, I'm also not inclined to willingly give up any days of the short warm season we get here in New England. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 91 degrees, so I'm inclined to believe that summer hasn't left us yet. Which means that the trip we took to the Seagull Inn last week was more just a summer trip than a "goodbye to summer" trip.

My mom wanted to have a trip with Dewey and me, and since Dew's about to marry Will, we invited his sister, Kathryn, along, too. We were at the Seagull for less than 24 hours, but it was long enough to feel like a vacation. I took two beachy novels out of the library, and I read for hours; first on the lovely lawn, and the next morning, on the steps up to the roof deck with a cup of tea. We had fried fish sandwiches and paper cups of pink wine on the beach at dinnertime, and the next morning, we took full advantage of the generous breakfast the BnB offers. I may have had second breakfast ten minutes after finishing the first one.

Sledding Adventure

Happy New Year! I hope your 2014 has started out perfectly.

On Thursday, just as I was getting ready to go back to work after two days off, Boston got hit with a snowstorm and I got a bonus snow day. Who knew those existed when you were a grownup?

  

It was too cold to leave the house on Friday, so by the time Saturday rolled around, everyone was feeling a little bit of cabin fever. It took minimal convincing to get Elizabeth and Chris to agree to go sledding. We borrowed sleds from my mom's basement, trekked over to Danehy Park in Cambridge, and tried really hard not to end up in the weeds at the bottom of the hill. We failed, but it was still so much fun.

 

And then, at the end, I dragged Elizabeth home like a sled dog.

Not really.

California, part 3: Big Sur

 

 

You guys. Big Sur. I can't even.

I flew in to California on Thursday. The Tuesday before that, I convince Sinny to drive up from LA. Neither of us had ever been to Big Sur, so we decided to drive down Highway 1 for a little camping trip.

Except that there was nothing little about Big Sur. It took my breath away. (Kind of literally- we went on some STEEP hikes.) Every time we made a turn on the highway, we'd see another stunning view of the ocean and the cliffs. When we were hiking, we'd be in the middle of the woods one second, and then all of a sudden, we'd turn a corner and the whole Pacific ocean would be laid out before us. It was just so BIG. I love New England more than anything, but things just don't exist on that kind of scale in this part of the country. The cliffs, the mountains, the ocean- this is the kind of place that the word majestic was invented to describe.

Fenway!

Last night my friend Elizabeth and I went to a baseball game. It was SO much fun. 

I've written before about how I think that a trip to Fenway is one of the most quintessential "Boston" experiences, and last night's experience reminded me just how true that is.

Even those of us Bostonians who don't really follow baseball really really love the Red Sox, so a trip to watch them play, drink a beer, and be in the presence of thousands of other Boston fans (including Natalie!) is pretty great stuff.

Elizabeth and I left before the Indians started to really beat the Sox (the final score was 12-3!), but we did see Papi hit a home run. That was pretty much the best.

South Face Farm

About this time last week, I found out that I would have the whole weekend off of work. It became clear that it would be a good idea to plan an adventure. This post reminded me that despite growing up in New England and going to college in the woods in New Hampshire, I'd never been to a sugar shack, so Emma and I decided to rectify that with a trip to South Face Farm.

We couldn't decide what to get, so we ordered one of everything and split it down the middle. It was all delicious, especially covered in fresh maple syrup. I liked the waffle the best- it was thin and crispy and really flavorful, but everything was pretty amazing. Afterwards, we watched them boil sap into syrup for far longer than I would have expected it to be interesting.

It was the perfect weekend adventure.

Weekend in DC

Oh, man. What a weekend. Manoli got married on Saturday, and I met up with a bunch our buddies in DC to celebrate. I flew down early on Friday, so I got in plenty of time to explore. It was magical. There was lots of good food, beautiful sites to see, a wonderful and love-filled wedding, perfect weather, and most of my favorite people. Really, it could not possibly have been better.

Snow Day!

When I was in college, it once snowed so hard on Valentine's day that they canceled classes for the first time since 1978, when all of New England was hit with a blizzard that was so bad everyone's parents still talk about it more than thirty years later.

The best part about the 2007 Valentines' snow storm was that none of the kids from California had ever had a snow day before. They didn't know what to do with themselves!

Should you ever find yourself in that position, wondering what to do with an unexpected day off and a foot and a half of snow on the ground, I have some suggestions:

First, you must put on your tromping outfit. Preferably something very warm. Snow boots are a must. In a pinch, rain boots with warm socks will work. Don't forget your mittens!


{You can't tell, but Emma is wearing four shirts in this picture}

Next, you must find a large patch of snow. Preferably untouched, but in a pinch, pre-tromped snow will do the trick. Then you tromp away.





Sometimes it helps to have a purpose to your tromping. Emma and I tromped out words in the snow. Figure 8's are also always fun.

After you are done with your tromping, you will be cold. Hot chocolate is just the ticket to warm you back up.



Once you're done with your hot chocolate, you will be in search of some indoor entertainment. Movies are always a good choice. Because it is a snow day, nobody will mind if you take your boots off in the theater and let your socks watch the movie, too.



And that is how to spend a snow day.

Spectacle Island

On Saturday, Em, La and I decided to take advantage of the summer-like weather and travelled from our far-flung corners of Boston to meet at Long Wharf.

We got on the ferry and went to Spectacle Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands. We spent a couple of hours exploring, taking pictures, gossiping, discussing our unique way of fabricating facts (it started in high school- one of us says something that they think they heard. Another repeats it. You've now heard it from two places, so it must be true.), and of course, dipping our toes in the water.

We ended the day with a glass of wine, Tuscan olives in rosemary-infused olive oil, and matching airbrush tattoos.

I love it when we're all in the same place.

Gemma came for a visit this afternoon!

I love it when San Francisco friends come to visit me in Boston.

I miss my San Francisco friends.

Anyway, Gemma and I braved the wintry mix of rain and snow and cold cold wind to go to Bella Vita on Charles street to have some chili. It was pretty good. Then we needed to meet up with my mom for some manicures.

After all that strenuous work, of course we needed to have some hot cider. It's the best thing about fall. (Besides foliage and caramel apples and apple picking.) (And hiking.)

Now I really must go to sleep so I can wake up in four hours to take Gemma to South Station sp she can get to the airport on time.

Thanks for coming, Gemma!

(sorry I had my computer open during hot cider time.)

Oh, my.

Apple picking yesterday was so much fun. We saw beautiful foliage, gorged ourselves on apples, and then took a little break to make some room in our bellies for huge ice cream sundaes at Kimball's.

Today, I had a mommy day. My mother and I went to Concord, where we walked around Old North Bridge, visited my favorite antique shop (I got some really cool letters for a new project), and, on the way home, got the cutest little brussels sprouts at Wilson Farms. We came home and gardened, and I cooked up a storm.

All in all, I am exhausted. It's the perfect time to curl up with a cup of tea and Inspector Lewis on PBS. I have to store up my energy for tomorrow- there's a whole extra day of weekend ahead of me!

Happy Columbus Day, everyone!

I like pie.

I made a pie on Monday night, to bring to Holly's house for dinner on Tuesday.

I had never made a pie all by myself before, but I before I could find out how it tasted, I needed to do some work in Boston. So I put the pie in our handy cake carrier, and we hopped on the T.

The pie and I got off at Copley, and walked into the BPL (have I mentioned recently how much I love the BPL? Because I do.) The pie waited patiently while I did my work. Maybe it appreciated the scenery.

After I was all done with my work, I went to Holly's absolutely adorable apartment, where we ate delicious swordfish (I never think to cook swordfish, and yet I always love it when I eat it) and asparagus, and then we had peach piefor dessert. It was delicious. I think I might become addicted to peach pie. This is especially problematic since peach season is almost over! I'm not sure what I'll do.