June 11, 2009

Dear Miss Clarkson,

I had a BLAST last night!

You raised the roof,

(which, was on fire, of course)

and eveyone was hoppin' madly!

As you were singing in the rain,

we were dancing in it!

Thanks for the heart and soul, KC!

Love Ya!

jt

2nd Annual Lover's Retreat

Boston, Massachusetts USA

May 29 - June 5, 2009

At the time that we celebrated

our 10 yr. Wedding Anniversary last year,

we decided that we would make an effort

to have a little get away time, together every year.

We decided to stay in the continental US of A this time,

and we sent off for a free vacation guide

to almost any state that sounded a wee bit thrilling.

But when we got this in the mail,

we fell in love

So we saved up our credit card points for our tickets,

worked a sweet deal on a rental car,

got hooked up with our Boston accommodations,

{top floor, thanks joe!}

and we were off for a FABULOUS time!

Day 1

fly into Providence, RI

drive to Boston, MA

arrive 10PM

mid-night dinner at Vinny T's

Day 2

Boston by Foot Walking Tour- Heart of the Freedom Trail

Where we saw exciting places like Faneuil Hall,

where the likes of Samuel Adams, and others

held town meetings to discuss the growing

taxation problem,

and other historic sites and buildings,

of "America's Hometown"

that shaped the American Revolution.

{One if by Land, Two if by Sea}

Our favorite?

the sight of seeing Paul Revere

and the Old North Church-

where the lanterns were hung to

signal the coming of the British.

Everyone we met was so nice,

and we loved hearing the Boston

accent

(leave out those r's!)

and so with caw (car), caw-keys (khaki pants),

and shaks (sharks) out of the way,

we laughed when we saw that

the Corner Store, was also

{Acorn Street}

We noticed that postcards and calendars

would have beautiful pictures of a place called

Acorn Street.

We couldn't find it on the map,

but while exploring the town,

we stumbled upon the lovely lane.

{Weary Feet}

We loved going to Boston Commons,

where we would read and people watch and

rest.

Day 3

Bus tour of Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord

The ride of Paul Revere led to Lexington and Concord

home of the

"shot heard 'round the world"

where 70 minutemen stood against 700 British,

and were ordered to "fire!"

The first time they would fire

on their own people,

and begin the

American Revolution.

We had heard of Mike's Pastry

before we even left for Boston.

Serious Crowd.

Serious Good Stuff.

{Boston Commons}

Day 4

Salem, Massachusetts

Dead Horse Beach

Salem, Mass

Drive South to Plymouth, Mass

{our wonderful view was the the top floor of windows!}

By the Sea Bed and Breakfast

Day 5

Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Mayflower

year: 1620

a whole family would share one cabin,

the entire 9 weeks of voyage.

Nothing like a little family time, eh?

Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Plantation

year: 1627

Plymouth beach

Dead of Night Ghost Tours

{Do you believe in Ghosts?}

a walking ghost tour by lantern,

to the local haunted houses

and cemetery.

Spooooooky,

yet rich in history.

Day 6

Martha's Vineyard

4:30Am

Sunrise over the Mayflower,

out our bedroom window

After we drive to Cape Cod,

and ferry over to

Oaks Bluff, Martha's Vineyard

we rent one of these

All the better to see the island with,

My Pretty.

{the Gingerbread Cottages of Oaks Bluff}

En route to Edgartown

we do some of this

and find tons of

before heading to

The Edgartown Harbor Light

the first one we had

seen for real in our lives.

Then after collecting some more

seaschells for our evergrowing stash,

we sat down to enjoy the cool breeze,

the sound of the waves crashing,

and to read,

er, I mean snooze.

Then we headed back on our two-seater

to Oaks Bluff,

to catch the ferry home from

Vintage Harbor,

where we saw

The West Chop Light

Day 7

Cape Cod

LightHouse Hunting

The Sandy Neck Light

Barnstable, Mass

We did find a Light House in Hyannis,

Is that the right one?

Then to end Massachusetts time,

we decided on a whim to drive down to

Woods Hole

and try to find the

Nobska Light.

It was getting late, and we were

uncertain of really going,

but it was well worth it!

We fell in love with this Light!

Then we went home.

Well, actually,

we went back to Plymouth

for a wonderful dinner

at the intimate Sabor

Day 8

Return Home

2nd Annual Lover's Retreat

June '09

Boston, Plymouth, Cape Cod

Massachusetts

WE LOVED

our trip to

the New England/Cape Cod Coast

it was everything we had imagined,

that a summer day on the Cape would be:

One Eternally Blissful Day!

We plan to go again.

Special Thanks to:

Grandma & Grandpa P

for loving and entertaining the

kiddos

and to

Naggy Maggie

sorry for all the times we made you have to

recalculate the route,

but without you,

the lost would have remained

lost, and gotten even more lost.

Thank You.

Love You Babe.

(You, Ryan, not Naggy Maggie)

Frozen Chocolate "Souffles"

Tried these out tonight

{June 09 Family Circle}

Frozen Chocolate "Souffles"

3 cups Milk

2 pkg. (4 serving each) Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

2 cups Cool Whip

16 Oreo cookies, chopped (we smashed ours)

8 (8-9 oz.) paper cups

{strawberries or cherries to garnish}

1. Pour milk into medium bowl. Add dry pudding mix.

Beat with wire whisk 2 min.

Gently stir in whipped topping.

2. Spoon 2 Tbsp. broken cookies into each cup.

Cover with half of the pudding.

Repeat the layers.

Cover with foil.

3. Freeze 5 hours or until firm.

Remover from freezer and let stand for 15 min.

Peel away cup and plop on plate.

Garnish with cherries or strawberries.