Exploring

do you see it too??

June 29, 2010

So I would love to post the photos we took on our trip to DC but I will spare you our sweaty gross faces (hello, 2 record hot days!) and just show you these few…

Oh our last day in DC we went to Georgetown. Jessica, food blogger and resident of Georgetown, gave us so many suggestions for places to eat and things to check out while we were in town. One being a restaurant called The Tombs, the bar that inspired St Elmo’s Fire. Well, since I was delirious from the heat I read my map incorrectly so we ended up missing the easy way and going up this insane flight of stairs instead.

Our waiter noticed that we looked a little spent and quickly got us water. We said how the heat was made worse by this long flight of stairs we just took. “Oh the exorcist stairs!” umm escuse me? So he went to tell us about the stairs and how they are in the movie- the part when the priest flew out the window and crashed down a flight of stairs… these stairs. Spooky.

So we went back to take some photos. And this is what we got. Seriously?

of all the photos we get 2 with blurs on them. no other photo has these spots. Price tried to argue it is the sun but I don’t by it since one photo is taken looking up the stairs and the other is taking looking down. I checked to see if the spots lined up in the photos but they don’t. Just weird….

Right Now List

June 26, 2010

With the weather getting warmer I have been having a hard time sitting down at the computer to do any real blogging. Or turn on the oven to bake. Or sit inside to scrapbook. So what do you do when you are stir crazy? You go on vacation!!!

A few weeks ago I got tickets for Pricer and me to go to DC when Jet Blue was having a fare sale. It was a great way to kick off the summer and celebrate our graduation.

So here we are enjoying DC. Blogging on my phone is not as the computer so I’ll keep it short and sweet! I saw a ‘right now’ list on Amy Tangerine’s blog, I’ll take the time to fill it in for this moment in time.

listening: well watching the world cup. Go USA!

eating: plain tortila chips, left overs from last nights dinner out

drinking: bud light lime and water

wearing: orange beaded tank and white skirt from old navy

feeling: tired, happy, glad to be back in the hotel after being out all morning

weather: heatwave! High of 93 today, just 91 now!!

wanting: more time here and a pedicure

needing: a cold shower

thinking: this would be a nice place to live

enjoying: this quite time this afternoon. Can’t wait to head over to dupont circle tonight to check out the bars there.

wondering: how I will scrapbook this trip

Do your own right now list

Quiet Corner Adventures:2

April 18, 2010

“hunny let’s go to Someplace Special….”

Like a moth to a flame…. Emily and I are drawn to the Quiet Corner of CT. This got started last year when she had to renew her licence and we went to the Putnam DMV outlet. The DMV location is basically a permanent construction trailer plopped into a parking lot… so sad. We spend that wintery morning driving around Putnam and Pomfret, enjoying a good breakfast at The Vanilla Bean Cafe, doing some xmas shopping at small stores and galleries, and laughing our asses off at the DMV since they put her really old Washington DC address on the new licence… smmmart.

Well our fascination with the Quiet Corner has reached a new level. I wanted to go to Logee’s Greenhouse to get a little lime tree so that became a good enough reason to head down there. Some may think that driving an hour and fifteen minutes each way just to get a lime tree that I can order on-line is insanity but that is the type of thing that makes for our Quiet Corner Adventures.

Our first stop in the QC was Bill’s Bread and Breakfast. A breakfast place known for their muffins and english muffins. I brought Pricer back some muffins and english muffins, which really are not like english muffins but are damn good anyway. Then we headed back to Martha’s Herbary, just a town over in Pomfret. I could do some serious damage here because everything is so damn cute. I restrained myself from getting a lamp since Price would have killed me and instead got his mom her birthday present. (see you next week Elaine!)

Logee’s looked unimpressive when we pulled up. I as hoping that we did not just drive this far for no reason. Well, once inside the place opened up into several connected greenhouses. Row after row and aisle after aisle were loaded with flowering plants, ferns, cacti, and fruiting trees. I went with the goal of getting some citrus trees so I stuck with that but it was hard at times with beautiful begonias and hibiscus all over the place.

I purchased a key lime tree and a Meyer lemon tree. These guys are just little planting in 2.5″ pots. I’m hoping they will be big enough in a few years to product real fruit until then I will just enjoy them growing and producing tiny flowers.

Now one of the best moments of the day was getting ice cream for lunch from creamery I got too excited about as we passed by it. Quiet Corner Creamery is actually located in a landscaping supply store. We picked out flavors and asked about sizes. Why do we ask about sizes? We live in Boston where a small is teeny tiny and costs like $3. So the girl helpfully explained that smalls are huge and that would be more than enough. Okay great. Well, she when the total came to $4 we figured they were going to be decent smalls and to see what we get. Holy Hell. We ended up with 3/4 of a pint of ice cream. Of course this is hilarious to us. Emily lobbed off half of her ice cream in the trash while I was getting gas and I mine melted since I was driving. Still the half of a small we had was more than enough. Good ice cream at a cheap price… I sense a trip to the Quiet Corner Creamery on a hot summer day. ha

“Emily! You just threw out 75 cents of ice cream!!!”

Tired Feet: our long day in NYC

April 5, 2010

Price and I went into NYC on Saturday to see the Tim Buron exhibit at MOMA, among other things, but sometimes plans are ment to be broken. When we arrived we learned that the event was a timed admittance and sold out while we were in the crazy line to get in the museum. Well we regrouped and walked over to the International Auto Show. We saw the commercial for it the night before and Price’s eyes lit up with glee with the thought of going so it was nice that we did get to do it. I Liked it but I like the boat show more. I really liked the Nissan Cube and we liked the Jeep Liberty and Patriot. Of course we loved some crazy expensive cars but these were practical ones that we liked.

After leaving the auto show we went back east to 5th ave check out some stores by Herald Sq. We grabbed a cab at this point to head down to the East Village because we wanted to check out his restaurant down there. Sadly, in the cab ride down we checked into it and found out the place closed last year. Damn it! (If you are closed put it on your website or shut it down entirely!) But that did not stop us from enjoying the area and some good food.

My trusty Yelp app on my iphone had me pulling up places that I had previously bookmarked to visit. Of course places varied from hot dog stands to ramen and dessert bars. We chose a few places to check out, very good choices in deed. We went over to Pomme Frit on 2nd to try Poutine. I fell in love with Poutine. Makes for a stronger argument to get up to Montreal this summer/fall.

After spending time in the East Village getting food and checking out at street fair by Cooper Union we headed over to the NYU campus and then headed down West Broadway to Ground Zero. It was sad to still see a big pit in the center of all these buildings, sad after so many years. We walked all around the site and checked out the new buildings (7 WTC) and checked out the construction cranes. After looping around the site we headed North and then East to get over to the Brooklyn Bridge.

We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge just to check it out. On the way over to Brooklyn we saw newlywed’s getting their photos taken (In fact we saw them in Grand Central later that night too!) The views of the Statue of Liberty, South Street Seaport, and the Empire State Building were great.

Once we got over to Brooklyn we flipped a coin and decided to head back to Manhattan for dinner instead of eating over in Brooklyn. So back over the bridge to head into Chinatown.

The return trip over the bridge was really getting to us. It was about 7pm then and we had been in the city since 10.30 or so and had been on our feet for 95% of that time so we were getting tired. So the goal was to get over the bridge and find a place for dinner.

We walked through Chinatown and ended up in Little Italy for dinner. There were guys out there calling us in for dinners so we have plently of choices ahead of us. We picked a place that was close (tired feet), a good menu, and was fairly cheap. We kept dinner light by sharing an appetizer and entree- and a very large glass of wine!

Lastly, we ended up going to Rice to Riches in Nolita (North of Little Italy). I just saw it on The Best Thing I Ever Ate on Foodtv. While it was not the best rice pudding I ever ate it (my dad’s is the best) was still a great place to try. The store was designed beautifully and had really funny sayings applied in bright graphics.

We headed to Grand Central after dessert for the 9.37 train. The train ride back is not long but we were so tired that we fell asleep and missed our stop. We woke up once we heard Greenwich being announced. No idea how both of sleep through them announcing “Po-rt Ches-TA!” Luckily my mom could pick us up… so embarrassing! In the end we figured the passing out was justified since we were basically on our feet from 10.30- 8pm and walked over 12 miles (I figured it out using gmaps) Although our legs were jello and our feet were tired we had such a great day- great weather, great cars, great food, great photos, and now, great memories!

Magic Garden

March 24, 2010

While visiting my friend Dawn in Philly this past weekend, we went to the Magic Garden. Magic Garden is this indoor and outdoor exhibit that displays the work of Isaiah Zagard. While his work is throughout Philadelphia, this is the most concentrated area. This work and his murals use tiles, mirrors, glass bottles, bicycle pieces, glass, and other odds and ends of discarded materials.

The work was beautiful and spectacular. Shimmery reflections of tile. Unique shapes and colors. Intricate patterns and designs. It’s just as important to stand close to the tile and look at the details as it is to step back to see the overall look of the wall and how that one piece fits into everything.

Magic Garden is pretty cool but I loved how Isaiah’s work creeps out in the neighborhood. Dawn and I walked around looking at the work on buildings and in people’s yards. If you go to Philadelphia you have to check this place out. It was amazing in the day with the sun reflecting off of all the mirrors but I bet it is cool to see at dusk/night since there are strings of lights on some of the work.

Greece Scrapbook Pages- Post 1

August 31, 2009

I have finally started my Greece scrapbook!

I went to Greece this past March for an architectural preservation class. The trip was amazing, fantastic, and unbelievable. I loved it all. We had an amazing time in Athens, Olympia, Corinth, and Dephi. It was a great group of random people that clicked together to have an incredible time. I am already dying to get back.

Welcome to Greece:

I wanted a simple (meaning quick) page to show off some of the amazing/funny things that we saw/did when we got to Greece. How many people can say that during their first bus ride in Greece (airport to Syntagma Square in the city) their bus hits a car? I don’t think many! Once we got settled we went off to dinner, walked through the Plaka, and saw the Acropolis. The Acropolis at night was so beautiful.

100 Years and Still Going Strong:

Our teacher, Jaime, took is to this amazing bar in the Plaka. Brettos is a small place that has a fun atmosphere. I really enjoyed when we would go. The barrels that they served the cognak out of were so old- it gave the place a cool look. If you did not mind the dust 🙂

It looks just like Greenwich!

August 18, 2009

I went to Newport RI this past Saturday to visit my Dad and Robin. He was in town for a Total Marine Rendezvous. We ment for dinner and a sunset cruise around the harbor. Eating lobster is really the once acceptable time to use a bib past the age of 1 1/2. You must embrace every opportunity!

There is something comforting and familiar about getting a guided tour on the water of the mansions on the water. Ahh it reminds me of all the homes in Bell Haven and Indian Harbor back home.

Do you need a house that has a dining room table that seats over 120 people?

All of this reminds me of the endless time when my sister and I would sit on the front of my dad’s boat and pick our houses when we would leave the harbor. ahh to dream…

Bacon over the campfire?!?! But of course.

August 10, 2009

Price and I went to Franconia Notch State Park this past Friday-Sunday. It was our second visit to the area for camping. Price is starting to get to know the area well because he is working on hiking all of the 4,000+ foot mountains. He has done some really hard ones so he thought our little hike on Lonesome Lake trail was easy. I wanted to hurt the earty crunchy man that was sprinting up it. The hike was well worth it in the end because we ended up at this fantastic lake. We went a tiny bit off trail to get to the water and sat on some rocks to have our picnic lunch of pepperoni, cheese, crackers, and wine. Needless to say splitting a bottle of Chardonnay leads me to giggle (especially when price slipped in the mud- ‘It’s the wine laughing, not me!’) and have a better outlook when it comes to getting back to camp.

Once back at Lafayette Campgroundwe regrouped for dinner. After a quick trip a grocery store in Lincoln, NH we got our dinner of hamburgers ready. It is so much fun to cook over the campfire. I stopped off in the camp store to get a smores stick and found our that the temps would get down in the 40’s that night. What the hell?!!? It’s August!! Thankfully I always keep a blanket in my car so we had the extra one that I used to stay warm with when were were relaxing by the firs after dinner. Yes, I was sitting in front of the fire. Yes, I was still cold. Repeat: temps quickly dropping to the mid 40’s.

We survived the night. I thought I would have frozen to death but my 2 shirts, fleece, pants, and socks kept me warm enough. Another quick drive down to the grocery store (forgot a spatula) and a cafe for some coffees and we are ready for the day! What better way to start the day than cooking bacon over the fire?!?!? I wish I could cook bacon over a fire all the time. 1) so much fun 2) such a good smokey flavor.

After breakfast we headed up to Echo Lake for some Kayaking. I had not been kayaking since camp (ah I miss camp) but that does not make me forget how to kayak! Our kayak was possessed!!! We paddled on the right, assuming like a normal person that it would turn left, but it went right. We paddled on the left, and it went right, duh! We paddled evenly and it went right. So after some lovely circles in the middle of the Lake we decided that the hour was enough and went back to sit on the beach and watch others have better luck than us.

Back at the camp site we got to relax, read, and nap. I finished Spook by Mary Roach over the weekend. (I’ve read Stiff that I passed on to Price’s dad so I will read Bonk next). Taking an 2+ hour long nap always makes for a good day.

After we finally got up from our naps we did our last dinner over the camp fire, had some roasted marshmallows and watched the fire change to blue and green from this HIGHLY toxic powder I bought at the camp store. Really cool effect but your pretty much dead if you ingest it. Our plan to get up early to swim at Echo Lake was squashed when we realized how cold it was AGAIN that morning. So we drove around the area to see Indian Head and check out Harman’s Cheese, where we got Emily maple cotton candy.

All in all a great weekend. We had a great hike, fun picnic, doomed kayak, lots of good naps, great food, and lots of fun together. On the negative side…my car smells horrible since it is a lovely combo of dirty clothes, dirty shoes, dirty cooking utensils, garbage…. well, you get the idea. Febreeze is my friend.

Time flies by

July 30, 2009

I can’t believe it has been a year since our last visits to New Hampshire and Maine. I am afraid we won’t make it to Deer Isle this summer but we have our NH trip scheduled for two weeks from now. Last year’s attempts at kayaking on the Saco River were foiled by too much rain (made the river too fast) so this year we figure not to even try since we have had the wettest June on Record here and July has not been so great either. So we are sticking to kayaking on a lake in the White Mountains. It will give me the perfect chance to take some great pictures… for scrapbooking. Big surprise there.

Anyone in the White Mountains should see The Flume Gorge and go on the Kancamagus Highway. The Kanc is 32 miles of winding road through the White Mountain Natioanl Forest. A must see in the fall!

Or take a trip to Deer Isle when in Maine. Its sorta in the middle of no-where but it is just amazing. We specifically stay on Sunshine. How can you not enjoying a relaxing time on a place called Sunshine? Plus it is where Price’s mom grew up so it is fun to hear all her stories about life growing up there.

When in Deer Isle head over to Nervous Nellies Jams and Jellies. They have the best jams and jellies! Last year we stocked up and got a case. Their Hot Pepper Jellie is just fantastic! In addition to the jellies you can check out Peter Beerits‘ sculptures on the property. You have not been to Deer Isle until you have seen a dragon made out of ‘junk’.

Supplies:

‘The Flume’ Page- Stampin’ Up! Paper, felt flowers, and brads

‘1 Man’s Trash’ Page- Stampin Up! Paper, HamblyStamped Alphabet rub-ons, Halfway Cafe Diecuts from Cosmo Cricut, and Glitter Mist from Tattered Angels

Out of Africa

July 26, 2009

Yesterdays trip to the zoo was interesting. I had not been to the Franklin Park Zoo in a few years and the last time I went I was chasing after an 18 month old so I was not really take it in. Emily and I decided to go since there has been a big stink lately about the economy hitting the zoo’s state funding. The zoo director played dirty by going public and crying out about the drastic cut in budget by saying the zoo might have to close and as a result euthanize animals. Needless to say, Governor Patrick has been attacked for putting the zoo in such as hard place and the zoo has been chastised for saying it would euthanize animals. (Lineham did come back and say that he was incorrect about euthanizing the animals).

Well, we took this as an opportunity to fork over $13 each to visit the struggling zoo. I use struggling nicely. As a designer, it was really hard to embrace a place that uses laminated sheets of paper tacked up to posts telling people that the Andean Condor saying that the bird was born in the 50’s and acquired by the zoo in the early 90’s (I forgot the exact dates). A zoo is an education place that is to teach everyone about the animals. Did you know that the condor is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere? No? Well, you would not have known that about the condor going to the zoo for it was not posted on the 1 sign of info about them (I looked it up the the nifty Internet).

I know that I am being really harsh about the zoo and its appearance now, especially when it is facing budget cuts. It just makes me wonder if others even notice what the zoo is lacking or they just view it as a place for them to take their kids to kill a few hours on a Saturday morning? Thoughts?

Enough ranting…

They had quite a few zebras that were in two parts of the zoo. I love their short manes…. mohawks!

We did get to see the lion quite a bit and even hear him roar. He sounded more like the cowardly lion than the ling of the jungle. Still really cute. Check out my video.

Moving along the ill-marked paths we came across two hornbills. We watched them for awhile and one became so comfortable with us there that he? dug up a chunk of dirt and grass, walked over to the enclosure fence and put it down to give to us. Well give in the sense that we were still two feet away from it. Then it stuck its beak out of the fence as far as it could and sat there for awhile watching us.

We also saw flamingos, kangaroos, a tiger, giraffes, butterflies, and more.

Post zoo visit we walked back to my house- 5.5 miles. Sweet.

All in all I know I will go back but I just hope that they get the funding they deserve and outfit the zoo to properly house their animals and educate the public.