Onset Island

This weekend we went to Onset Island. We met friends and had such a lovely day by the water. It was good to get away for the city for a little while and spend our hours talking, eating, laughing, taking walks along the shore and just enjoying the peace and quite of this tiny bit of heaven.
Here are a few photos from the weekend if you'd like to see.

^^ Our friend Jason lives on the island year round so he picked us up in his skiff and expertly navigated us across the bay. He's pretty cool!^^

^^The small island has no roads or vehicles of any kind. I loved the sea grass everywhere and the small boats that transport it's residents floating around it's permieter.^^

^^Penny feasted on shrived crab leggs. Yummy.^^

^We sat around and watched the time go by^^

^We stayed at Jason's beautiful cottage that was only a few feet from the water. So peaceful.^^

^^There are many little details of nautical life that remind you of where you are.^^

^^We walked along the tiny boardwalk that traverses the island^^

^^My girl Alyson and I both grew up in towns surrounded by water. We felt right at home.^^

^^And of course, silliness between takes!!^^

^^The sun started to set and Pat's smile says it all.^^

Watching the unset from the deck was breathtaking. We had so much fun, Jason and Alyson. Thank you for inviting us. We can't wait to go back!!

A day in Napa

We had a wonderful few days away. The weather was perfect and the wine was tasty.
Oh Napa, I heart you.

Away we go!

We are off to Napa Valley on Saturday to find some sunshine, enjoy time with friends, and of course, drink wine. The picture above is from a trip we took in 2009. For me it captures what Napa is like this time of year. The mornings start brisk and foggy and lead to days bursting with sunshine and warmth.
I hope you have some lovely plans made for your weekend. It may not be sunny in Boston but there is always a cozy restaurant to tuck into, or a morning cup of coffee to warm these lingering winter days. Enjoy the weekend!

Have a great weekend!

If you are looking to take a road trip this weekend, I have a recommendation!
Head west to North Adams, MA where you will find modern art by a great little bed and breakfast where you can rest after an inspired day. I took this trip last year and wrote about it here. But currently at MassMoCA there is a very special work by Xu Bing that should not be missed. That's a photo of it above, but trust me when I say it does not do it justice.
So get in your car and go!

VACATION PHOTOS: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

After four days on the road we were happy to arrive at what was to be home base for a week, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We quickly scouted out the local coffee shop and found an urban gem! Queen City Bakery is amazing and so we returned again and again!
I loved the space which occupies an old brick building in downtown.

And then there was snow! Lots of snow and temperatures to match. We took morning walks on an abandoned golf course. So beautiful.

Doesn't Penny looking like Super Dog in this photo? She was in heaven running around in the snow

One of my favorite days was when we visited the Butterfly House. I think it may have something to do with the balmy temperatures inside! All week it hovered around 1 degree outside!

We stopped in to buy amazing Italian Olive Oil at Olive Destination. Yummy.

And then there was family! Pat's parents and his sister and her family live in Sioux Falls. Her adorable children had the best time chasing Penny around the house. Everyone was happy.

Another favorite moment was the Goss family tradition of fondue on Christmas Eve. What could be more fun than that!

VACATION PHOTOS: Columbus, Indiana

For Christmas we packed up the truck, Penny included, and took a four day drive that led us half way across the country to the midwest.

Along the way we stopped in Columbus, Indiana to see some notable architecture. It's one thing to read about it, it's quite another to experience a great building.

A standout is the library by I.M. Pei. One of the few building we were able to go inside. It is grand and intimate at the same time. I remember feeling the light. It has presence even on a cloudy, rainy, day.

But the real stars were two amazing buildings by Eero Saarinen. The North Christian Church is like a strange and beautiful ship sent here from another world. It sits quietly surrounded by the most serene and thoughtful landscape. We couldn't go inside, and on a rainy day the pictures I took just don't do it justice.

The Miller House was the star of the trip. I had read and researched this house extensively. I was not prepared for how much more incredible it would be in person. Every detail was thought about and designed to perfection. The two thing that surprised me the most is, how intimate the spaces feel, and how utterly connected to the landscape the house is.

We couldn't take pictures inside or out, so again I borrow from a professional. I wanted so much to be able to capture this place with my own lens, but alas the museum people did not allow it.

photo: Miller House byEzra Stoller

We also found some time to just grab some food at a local spot in town. Jill's Downtown Diner is such a find! It's the kind of place where the waitress knows the name of everyone that walks in...except us of course. But we became friends in no time.

 There were also random stops along the way; sleepy little town centers full of character. Time seems to have stopped here.

But, surprisingly, it was the driving that I loved best. It's meditative in a way, sitting and watching the landscape go by changing from state to state.

I hope you enjoyed these snapshots from our trip. More to come from our stay in Sioux Falls, South Dakota!

A day in Vermont

A few weeks ago we celebrated Patrick's birthday with a trip to Vermont. We were only there for a day a half but filled it with a visit to a cheese farm, an hour long picnic, two breweries, a visit, shopping and dinner at Simon Pearce and a stay at a lovely bed and breakfast in Woodstock. It all happened under a beautiful fall blue sky and warm air that lingered from summer. In short it was perfect! Vermont is such a pretty state.  I am very much looking forward to returning for a longer stay next time. Until then, here are a few photos from our trip.

Vermont Shepherd is a cheese farm in Westminster that boasts award-winning mountain cheese. We headed there first to start the day with a picnic on their beautiful land. We arrived to a "Please Serve Yourself" sign...and they weren't kidding. Inside a tucked away little shed was a refrigerator filled with cheese. We picked out a couple, filled out the sales receipt and dropped our money into a wood collection box. It's nice to know the honor system still works in this world.

We picked a spot, opened a bottle of Larkmead Solari and settled in. There was no one around, well, except for the the sheep.

 

We tried two cheeses and loved them both. I think we agreed though that the Invierno Cheese won with a slight lead. It is rich and grassy and matched perfectly with the wine.

Longtrail Brewing Co. and The Seven Barrel Brewery were our next stops. We sipped a few of their seasonal beers and chatted with the locals.

 

Dinner that evening was at Simon Pearce's Quechee glass blowing studio and restaurant. We browsed their amazing glass collection and sat down to dinner and wine overlooking the falls.

We ended the trip with a stayed at the Applebutter Inn where we ate a lovely homemade breakfast of fresh muffins and pancakes...with a side of Applebutter, of course.