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.

A Weekend in Vermont

Last week, I went up to Vermont for the most glorious weekend.

Chris, Betsy and I were going to run a half marathon, which we did in the 85-degree heat (it was a little messy and a lot slow), but mostly we just relaxed and enjoyed a weekend with our friends. 
 

Elizabeth likes cooking even more than I do, so we ate well. We also explored and swam in a river (it was FREEZING, and I was a little worried about getting swept away by the current). I took a million and a half pictures and read almost all of this book.

I feel like now that I've been on that trip, I'm really ready for summer to begin. I plan on swimming a lot, reading even more, and spending plenty of time on my porch.

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.

When my mom and I went on our adventure last Sunday, we stopped in at Codman Farm in Lincoln to buy some eggs and bacon (here's a tip: they have the best bacon around. It's a little bit pricey, and you have to pay with cash that you stick in a little mailbox, but it is so so worth it. And it's made from their pigs, so it's super local, too.)

Anyway, while we were there, we met a little kitten. He was darting all over the farm, sniffing everything and batting at my camera strap. It was adorable.

It took all I had not to scoop him up and take him home.

Instead, I think I'm going to have to pay him another visit asap.

Yesterday, after a morning of studying, my mom and I went on a little adventure in the country to breathe a little fresh air before the week began.

I'd kind of forgotten how beautiful New England is this time of year, and it was so refreshing to be reminded.

Happy Monday, friends!

Devereux Beach

Work has been crazy busy this summer. It's mostly a good thing; I have the best coworkers ever, and I also get to work with many adorable children every day. It does, however, mean that I somehow made it to the middle of August with only one beach trip under my belt. This past Sunday, my mom and Dewey picked me up from work and we drove to Devereax Beach in Marblehead. It was a little too cold to swim, but we got plenty of sun and I went up to the water to my knees. It was the perfect thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.

The morning after Gentlemen of the Road, Elizabeth, Emma and I went to breakfast at The Front Room in Portland's East End. It is a tiny little restaurant on the ground floor of a residential building with an open kitchen. We sat at the bar and talked with regulars while we ate some of the most delicious eggs, toast and homefries I've had in a while.

2012

Oh, you guys.

(Well, maybe just you guy. It's been a while.)

Happy New Year! I've missed you.

How was your New Year's? Mine was, basically, the best.

We went to a cabin in New Hampshire, where we spent the weekend eating good food and lighting fireworks.

I didn't take my sparkly legwarmers off, except to go in the hot tub.

I rang in the new year surrounded by many of my most favorite people in a gorgeous location.

2012 is off to a fantastic start.

Labor Day Weekend, part 1

On Saturday, Elizabeth and I went up to visit our friend Kate at her husband's family's lake house in New Hampshire.

We did all my favorite summery things: we hung out with Kate's totally adorable 14-month-old daughter, we swam, we took a boat ride, we barbecued, and we stayed up late drinking wine and playing taboo.

It was a pretty wonderful little trip.

Summer Adventures

Now that I have a new camera, I find myself wanting to go on more adventures.

Is that weird? I just want to do things I can take pictures of, you know? (And anyway, anything that encourages you to go on more adventures is a good thing.)

So Saturday, in a further attempt to cling to summer, Emily and I drove to Ipswich for a trip to Woodman's and Singing Beach.

Fried clams definitely taste better when you eat them overlooking a salt marsh.

Silly times are way more fun when you share them with a bestie.