The Real Reason.....

I was gone a month. Out of the country, Stateside visiting friends. "Why?" people asked. Cause I needed a mental/sanity break. The weather here has turned my brain to soup. I needed my Girls!! And perhaps even more than that, I needed to be COLD!! Really cold. The kind of cold that involves Snow. Lots of snow. New England did not disappoint!. We had two really good days of full on snowing - one bringing 4" to RI and 17" to MA. Ah...I was in my element. Here, let me show you...

Winter at Iberostar Portsmouth

lovely new snow - clean and crisp!

Don't cha wanna curl up with a book?

Here's Lisa's house after the big Dump. Yes, that is a now drift on her roof. But also note that the sky is blue, and it's a gorgeous sunny, sunglasses day.

And all the cold weather brings on an appetite to keep that metabolism up!! Woo Hoo. First stop....Blount Soup, MA

And of course, there's time for Tea.  Karen took me to Hotel Viking (Newport, RI) for their Downton Abbey Tea. so yummy. Kir Royale, scones, sandwiches, mini desserts. So worth breaking my gluten free eating for (yes, I did pay for it later though).

But we like to shop too. There are all the outlets (Wrentham), TJMaxx, Marshall, Target. They all got a circle check, but big fun day was hotting the primitive stores. So much cute stuff to buy, or in my case, get ideas for fun stuff to craft later when home.

Ok, but back to the food!! THere are a few things which just say "you're home". They come from limited places, and are worth the trip. All but Taco Bell which was a must.

People often ask me "how can you stay a month/3 weeks?  What do you do?" Tricky to answer this one, cause I don't do much. I bring the books I've been trying to read a home along. I cook and clean for my host (so much easier to clean other people's stuff than your own). I borrow a car and drive to favorite places. The time just flies!!
Of course we do go out and discover new places. Or we try to. Sometime we're more successful than others, like this time. UP in Fall River (the Riv) MA, there is a cute summer only bar called the Tipsy Seagull. Recently they opened a new venue called the Tipsy Toboggan just off the pier and up the road. Wow. Is it great. See for yourself.

Hot chocolate Martinis. I have the recipe....

Just waiting for the snow to fall outside....

But old favorites are Fab too. No trip to The Chateau is ever forgotten. This one was a newer venue (rather than the original in Waltham MA). Over looking a snow lined pond, we dines on the best GF pizza I've ever had (sorry Honey). I think it's the thing where when someone else makes it, it tastes so much better (as do salads)

After going on the cruise, running hither and yon around New England (we never made it to the lake in New Hampshire) the month was almost over. None of us could believe it. It was time to fly home. My Hubby was absolutely wonderful !! He bought me an upgraded seat for the long journey (though shorter than the one coming). Oh no. I didn't go First, or Business but World traveler Plus. And it was good enough. The leg from Boston to Heathrow was very unpopulated, while the later let to Singapore was completely full. But I have to post a photo showing the emptiness, cause no one will believe it.....

Full English breakfast - GF of course

real Spanish wine is a real glass! Upgrades rock!!

I've learned enough to know how to whiz through the immigration line at Changi Airport. Hubby was there to great the weary traveler. A cab ride home, and life is back to normal: heat, humidity, work and the sameness of it all.
Thinking of the next journey then.....