DAY DATE IN BOSTON

So Abby left Friday right after school with her youth group, to Snow Camp for the weekend up in New Hampshire and I luckily had the weekend off. So Gary and I thought we would take advantage of alone time and explore Boston some more. We have gone to the city many times since moving to Fenway, the Aquariam and for Gary, doctors appts. The traffic is crazy and usually makes him crazy when driving! lol. But now we are use to it and wanted to enjoy some of the historic sites and uniqeness of Boston. We parked at the coast guard base, which is right by the site of the Boston tea party, for free (which is a huge plus) and off we went (everything was in close walking distance). We explored the north end or known as little italy. SO many resturants with authentic italian foods and we were told you cant go wrong with any of them although we heard  one that was a favorite. It is a small place which holds maybe 30-40 people and there are always lines around the block to get in (people have waited 2 hours to get in) the service is quick, but great!! They know there is a line so it is a whirlwind that you know will be over if you blink but so worth it!! The price along with a bottle of wine is also what makes it a hotspot. I had the butternut squash ravioli and at first was hesitant, but oh my goodness, it was so yummy i cant wait to go back. We stood in line in the cold for almosr 45 min before we were let in!!! Watching all the people and traffic and chatting with folks in line was also the fun part. It was crowded and cozy and the folks right next to us, we enjoyed chatting up too!! Before dinner we stopped at Mikes pastry which is also popular due to the cannolies and all things italian!! Our first trip there was early afternoon when we first got to the north end so not really a line, by dinner the line was around the block! we headed over after dinner for take home cannolies and the line was starting again but we already knew the secret counter and got in and out quickly!!! And last but not least, the italian cafe with espressos, pastries and cordials all unique. Gary and I stopped in there prior to dinner (most places dont open until 5) to warm up and rest. I got the caffe mocha in a pretty white mug and enjoyed the atmosphere completly!! We arrived early in the day and enjoyed the city and all the history, we went to the Old north church, Paul reveres house and several other stops on the freedom trail. We went to the markets to shop and have lunch and just enjoy each other! I have to say I had an absolutley amazing day and needed it too!!! Gary is always reminding me that we live here ( I keep thinking im on vacation when in Boston) and can come back and not have to see everything in one day!! LOL. Abby is due back today (sunday night) and cant wait to hear about her adventure and to share ours!! God is Good!! So since I have know idea how to put pics up in slide show form i just added them below and describe underneath.

part of old north near Old north church

Front of Paul reveres house: went inside and the structure is 300 years old and a bit creaky!! but so neat that it has survived.

part of freedom trail

one of many resturanants in little italy

back of the Old North church

stores and food inside and all along: north market and south market on either side

place of paul reveres last home where he died: house is gone, it was next to this building

paul revere statue

back of paul reveres house

gary giving me the stop taking pictures look!!

our resturants, noticed the line forming..lol

getting ready to tour revere house

my espresso cannoli, oh my!!

Faneuil Hall

my caffe:)

part of freedom trail and back of old north church

mikes pastry, notice the line, its actually around the block

inside the old north church, so old inside:) saw where theo roosevelt sat and many from 1700s.

paul revere bell

love brick streets

old north church

old north church

Come sit with me for a little while!!

Being by the ocean has its perks, esp after a long day at work! I sometimes stop by the water to catch my breath or finish up my charting on my computer. I found this link...its my ocean with sound...so just pretend your sitting with me as you listen to the QUIET!

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-743277

My mini living room makeover

So my pottery barn couch arrived and it is a favorite at our house! Plenty of room for abby and I to stretch out!! I usually crash on it and then cant get up or dont want to!! We finally picked out the pillows and I think we had every pillow up front on the model couch in the pottery barn store to help decide!! I of course ended up with my bird pillow!! We can switch out the pillow covers for different seasons and will def get christmas pillows! They have sweater pillow covers that I already plan on getting;) I went shopping at The christmas tree shop and as Aunt Betsy says...the bird pics flew into my cart as well as a few other bird items! I love that store! Great prices for great stuff!!. Gary went back to pottery barn and surprised my with the new rug!! It all goes perfect and am thankful for my new comfy living room....except i am not allowed to drink my coffee on it...hmmmm...well he wasnt home this morning on my day off when i lounged back with a book and shhhhh a cup of coffee:) good thing all the pillows covers and slip covers come off and go in the wash!! ( Dad please click on first picture or all to enlarge so mom can see the details better...thanks!)

Waiting for some Ohio friends and family to come try it out!!

So since i was on a roll..I redecorated the mantel too! Spruced it up with my Cape cod clock and some bird friends!!

Even the dogs love the snow!!

Abby of course has plenty of dogs in the neighborhood to keep her busy. If you look in the previous pics of snow, the fifth one down, our neighbors dog holly, spotted abby in the window when i was taking a pic and barked hello! But the two dogs down the street are abbys favorite and I have to admit the black one, cooper, has become my favorite. Abby walks them daily but Cooper is so mild mannered and doesnt jump on you or lick you!! He even spent an hour asleep in front of our fire..not a bad place to nap. So when abby walks them she brings both dogs to see me! They of course were loving the snow and it was fun watching the littlest dog (who is still a puppy) bury his face in the snow and then come up to wrestle with her brother!!

First Snowfall

Woke up this morning with our first snowfall. Wanted to capture the fresh snow before the rest of the street woke up and animals ventured out! No footprints or car tracks. When I opened the door the silence was golden!! Then Abby woke up and then Hubby and the silence went away and I was snapped back to reality!! Then the busyiness of making coffee, breakfast and lunches along with starting up my work computer for my day, made me thankful for a few moments of just being still.....then in an hour every one was out the door....

Grateful

Working full time and maintaining a home can be a neverending process. I feel very blessed to finally have a life partner who shares the load with me. He never complains when a homecook meal is not made and quickly says he can find something to eat or I was a bachelor before you came along and didnt starve...lol...but I love to cook for my family and we try to sit down together for a meal which can be hard. I am trying new recipes and channeling my mother at times..hahaha. I always try to have something sweet baked too...my hubby has a sweet tooth and when the craving hits watch out..lol. The owners of the house actually had someone come into clean every two weeks and my husband and I have decided we may budget her in for us as well. I never thought I would have a cleaning person but for us its worth it...I just dont want to spend my days off scrubbing and not being with my family. It is still in the works but hoping in works out at least for a little while. My husband is never sitting still and I woke up to the laudry not only being cleaned but folded!! Small blessings for sure. So saturday my hubby let me get spoiled and I had a mini spa day. I found a wonderful place (see the link) http://www.beyondbeautycapecod.com/ and got an hour massage then a haircut and of course my eyebrows done...things we do to maintain our beauty..lol..next will be facial and pedicure with hair color but have to pace myself!! And last but not least my hubby finally approved (hahah..more allowed in the budget) our new sectional from pottery barn! I fell in love with it in the store as soon as i laid back in it! It is the pb comfort set and it is deeper and so roomy!! The way our living room is set up we needed a comfortable place for abby and I to lounge. Gary has his lazy boy!! So thankful for alot of things so far!! The couch is a beige and a bit darker than below but we bought the inserts for the couch pillows so we can change out the pillow covers for different seasons! They have some nice ones with birds that I might have to get..lol..see after the couch pictures for my choices so far...so many to choose! I love the Christmas ones too!! And of course the added touch of Cape cod!!!

Churches

I love anything old..especially old churches..since moving to MA and driving all around, I frequently pass a church and think..that is so beautiful and unique...steeples abound here on the Cape. So of course I pull over and snap a pic!

Our last trip to Gatlinburg and Cades Cove provided many great old church pictures..much to my hubbys dismay...he wonders how many different pcis do you need of a very old plain church...lol...calm quiet serene...enjoyed that trip back in time. most important...the one one I think of is..SIMPLE...just you, God and a pew:) But of course I will always have a church that is my favorite for many reasons, good memories abound when I see the church, mostly of familiy and good friends. And a wedding fit for a princess:)