Tag Archives: trees

Uncategorized

Colonial Williamsburg…. the blacksmiths, a test drive, an oak, some cows and yes, food.

February 3, 2020 Rivergirl 36 Comments

Although I hated to end our day, the time was drawing near and my phone battery was gasping it’s last breath.

Naturally the husband had to see the blacksmith’s shop with all it’s rusty tools.

And we were both surprised to learn that women worked there as well back in the day.

So after test driving a wheel barrow…

A few more natural wreaths…

Some private homes…

More wreaths…

And a massive Live Oak that is supposed to have been here when George Washington walked these streets….

We said goodbye to the cows we saw on the way in….

And went back to the car where we had to charge my cell phone long enough for Trip Advisor to point us to our first dinner in Williamsburg.

I love that app.

And I loved this restaurant.

Come on…. they had blue jellyfish lights over the bar.

How could you not?

Cocktails? Check.

Their Orange Crush was made with fresh squeezed OJ and was fabulous.

Hushpuppies and cornbread let us know we were in the south.

And may I just say? I had no idea how much I missed hushpuppies until I started eating them again.

Yeeha!

Dinner was tough to choose.

Husband started with mussels.

And moved on to perfectly pan seared sea scallops with garlic smashed red potatoes and green beans.

Me?

I was in the south, baby! Bring me those low country shrimp and cheesy grits.

Lord have mercy….. they were the best thing I’ve eaten in months.

Husband had room for a New York Style berry cheesecake….

And then we called it a day.

Day 1.

You realize that, right?

It took me 8 posts to get through Day 1 of our two week vacation.

Oh, don’t be so dramatic.

It’ll be fun!

Uncategorized

Strolling Colonial Williamsburg…. The Liberty Lounge and peacocks.

January 31, 2020 Rivergirl 17 Comments

I’m not sure you could find a more charming place to spend the day than Colonial Williamsburg.

History aside….

It’s just a perfectly lovely town.

Did you know the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality?

Learn why here.

Live Oak trees dominate the landscape, spreading their limbs for decades on end….

And I was seriously enjoying the all natural Christmas decorations.

How clever is that?

And while I was wreath gazing….

The husband spotted the entrance to a lounge reserved for veterans and their families.

To be honest I dreaded going inside. My husband has the gift of gab every day of the year, but when surrounded by other servicemen and women? I’ve spent half my married life waiting for him to conclude conversations.

Waiting-Memes-52918-aad4877

But there was free tea, coffee and hot cider…..

And thankfully, a veteran free room.

Of course he spotted the challenge coin cases which started a 45 minute long convo with the staff of volunteers….. but he added a coin of his own, which admittedly was rather nice.

An hour later? More decorations…

More wreaths…

Some cleverly trimmed shrubbery ….

And the silversmith’s shop…

We oohed and aahed and chatted with the man who ran it.

Did you know the phrase “put your money to work” dates from colonial times before the advent of paper currency? You were normally paid in silver, and instead of having bags of the stuff laying around your home…. you took it to the local silversmith who melted it down and made you a fabulous coffee urn or tea set. Your money was “put to work” and you got to flaunt your wealth to visitors. A win, win situation.

Many of his beautiful pieces were for sale in the shop next door…. but the husband wasn’t thrilled with the idea of me spending his hard earned silver to bring some home.

So we strolled.

And were amazed to learn some of these nice little homes were still privately owned.

Who in the world would want to live in the middle of a tourist attraction?

But more importantly…

Where do I find a peacock for next year’s Christmas wreath?

22ey1p

Uncategorized

Merry Christmas Eve interruption…

December 24, 2019 Rivergirl 35 Comments

As you’ve probably guessed… (Or if you hadn’t? You should have.) we’re currently off on another adventure.

And have been for the last 11 days.

Yes, our annual Christmas vacation.

No holiday stress. No decorating. No cooking. No family drama. We leave it all behind, and have since December 2015.

Why?

Because I used to be Christmas crazy.

221144-I-Christmas-Harder-Than-You

I spent a fortune, I decorated everything that stood still…. (yes, I’m ashamed to say there was even a tree on my toilet.)

I drove myself nuts finding the absolutely perfect gifts for people who didn’t appreciate it and cooked the absolutely perfect meal for family who couldn’t care less and always complained.

Maybe my mother dying was the catalyst. But in 2015 we took a trip to the Poconos…. had a blast, and never looked back.

Do I miss the beautiful live fir tree in the living room?

016

Yes.

I also miss all the crazy outside lights.

195

The well house…

The stone wall…

The funky alligator….

And reindeer who were annually buried up to their butts in white stuff.

The lights in the windows…

And on the bushes.

The sparkling balls on the table…

That caught the sun and turned our living room into a Christmas disco.

The running reindeer on the garage.

007

The ribboned garlands….

Yes, I miss it all.

But do I miss the 2 solid weeks of work it took to get everything set up (in the snow , ice and wind) and the solid week of work it took to take it all down (in sub zero temperatures with ice and wind) ?

No. I most definitely do not.

But rest assured I’m not totally Grinchy this year, I did put up a tree.

tree

This trip? Williamsburg, Virginia until Dec. 30th. Meeting old friends and getting our geek on in a marvelous area filled with American history.

Colonial settlements? Check.

Revolutionary War? Check.

Civil War? Check.

I just hope 2 weeks is enough time.

And I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess there might be a few pictures to post when we get back.

Oh, don’t be so dramatic.

I should be done by …. June.

Uncategorized

Diana’s Baths Part 5… rocks, foliage and zombie toes.

December 10, 2019 Rivergirl 37 Comments

Okay… I lied. When we discovered the cairn garden I thought we were at the top, but it turns out we weren’t.

Yes ladies and gentlemen….

There will be more rocks.

And trees.

And trees that hug rocks.

But I promise you…

This time we had found the top.

But standing there, it really does make you wonder where all the water comes from.

The pools are shallow and yet the water keeps flowing… and flowing… and flowing.

Flowing so much in fact..

You knew that was coming, right?

Add another christened outhouse to the list.

Done with the Baths, we back headed down.

Through some lovely paths…

Where sometimes you just have to look up.

And soak in the splendor of autumn.

Naturally, when you look up…. you’re apt to trip over something you would have seen if you were looking down.

Like I did.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who sees a half buried zombie toe here.

And here.

Overgrown toenails et al.

It’s enough to make a girl shiver…

And crave a fortifying alcoholic beverage.

Which I found here.

At the Black Cap Grille, one of our favorite spots in North Conway.

Happily fortified with cocktails and a yummy grilled Caesar salad (If you’ve never eaten it this way? Start now)

And some succulent crab cakes…

We called it a day.

Uncategorized

Diana’s Baths Part 3

December 6, 2019 Rivergirl 28 Comments

After a few hours of happily poking around, we were nearing the top.

A few more rocks.

A little more tip toeing through the tree roots…

And there we were.

The top.

Quiet pools…

The husband, back on the wrong side…

And some big rocks.

Did that rock just wink at me?

Cheeky things, those rocks…

We enjoyed the view and the feeling of accomplishment.

And then…

We saw something a little farther up…

That made us realize we weren’t quite finished with Diana’s Baths yet.

Cairns!

cairn-terrier-or-westie-whats-the-difference-between-the-two-breeds-59661e8f1412c

Sorry.. no.

Not that kind.

Uncategorized

White Mountains trip Day 5… Diana’s Baths

December 4, 2019 Rivergirl 27 Comments

Doing our good deed and making a donation, we entered .

Took a leisurely stroll…

Down into the woods…

Past some type of fairy installation….

And a tree who clearly loves his rock….

Across a bridge…

Alongside a stream…

And found the bottom of the Baths.

Not usually the best part of a bath but…

These are a different type of bath entirely.

Not much is left of the old sawmill.

But if you look carefully…

You can find it.

We happily spent the whole afternoon exploring this place.

Hiking the trails and climbing the rocks …

And there were plenty of rocks to climb.

The water levels in the autumn are quite low…

And it gently cascades down a section here…

And there.

But in the spring it’s dangerously high from the snow melt.

(Required selfie)

In the summer the pools fill, and it’s a favorite spot to beat the heat.

Uncategorized

Cathedral Ledge Part 2.

December 3, 2019 Rivergirl 38 Comments

Mountain views.

Valley views.

Vibrant autumn color.

And love locks… Cathedral ledge has it all.

Even lovers with a sense of humor.

It was glorious… and that was only the front half.

Walking along the sides, we made friends.

Took 100 more pictures….

And simply marveled at the beauty of nature.

Even the husband was quiet.

Honestly, there’s only so many times you can say wow.

It really was a special spot.

This way?

Beautiful.

That way?

Fabulous.

Gaze in wonder.

Take picture.

Repeat.

There were rocks!

And trees!

And they made me realize how blessed I am to live in a truly wonderful part of the world.

We made one final lap along the fence line…

And strolled a few final steps across those marvelous rocks…

I tried again…. unsuccessfully… to get a double selfie where the husband actually looks at the camera.

But no matter.

We took one last look and bid goodbye to a place I’d revisit in a heartbeat next time we’re in the area.

Uncategorized

White Mountain Trip Day 4… Step Falls

November 27, 2019 Rivergirl 31 Comments

Trees and rocks… rocks and trees ahead.

You’ve been warned.

Oh, come on.

Early morning day 4, we woke with the sun and headed out for a hike to Step Falls.

I wish I could convey the sense of peace that envelops me when I walk into a forest. The fresh air of natural places, the gentle breeze swaying the leaves. The sweet songs of the birds, the whisper of the trees. It’s pure magic.

I don’t know who’s responsible for finding these wild and beautiful places and opening them to the public… but I’ll be forever grateful.

Step Falls in Bethel, Maine. In October when we visited… gently cascading streams. In spring during snow melt season? Torrents of angry water rushing down the mountain not caring what lies in it’s path.

Many of the places we visit are free to the public, but are maintained by local volunteers who ask that you donate to help with costs. Most people never do, so we make a point of it each and every time.

And with this Cycloptic donation box…. how could you not?

The paths were wide and friendly…

Although I couldn’t help but feel I was being watched.

Into the woods…

Up the hill, where we first heard the falls.

Up some stone steps.

Up some fortuitously placed tree roots.

We see a bit more water.

No.

Not even close…

Ever onward…

And upward…

Past some weird trees growing right around the rocks.

More of the falls.

And a not very comfortable but necessary granite bench to stop and let the husband take a breath.

3e799d3d1ccc186b6087600bd2c0336a

Uncategorized

Polar caves Part 5. The finale…

November 21, 2019 Rivergirl 30 Comments

Done with the caves, we thought we were done with the park but there was still a little left to explore.

641

A nature path through the woods.

638

Leading past a sugar shack…

643

And an old tree.

Do I post fascinating stuff or what?

Stop that!

642

There was a rock set up for climbing….

635

As well as one with some munchies on top.

637

And you know what?

Still better than kale.

Funny-Quotes-About-Kale

We kept hiking.

650

Up some rocks…

652

And some stairs…

651

And oh boy! The husband’s face says it all…

More stairs.

654

To be honest there wasn’t much more to see. But we found a gazebo on our way back down… with rather questionable graffiti.

653

Okay.

I’m not sure that needed be to advertised…. but whatever floats your boat.

655

One more smooth path down…

656

And we neared the exit.

657

Where I had to stop and feed those precious European fallow deer again.

661

Such little cuties.

662

Polar Caves… the end!

Half a day experiencing it , 5 days blogging about it.

Say what you want about me… (and I’m sure you will)

You can’t say I’m not thorough.

Uncategorized

White Mountains trip Day 3…. Polar Caves.

November 17, 2019 Rivergirl 27 Comments

The Polar Caves in Rumney, NH was one of the few tourist destinations on my list. While we usually prefer natural wild places, I’d read good reviews on this multi generational family run spot and figured we should check it out.

Happily we showed up on the last day of the year that they’re open and didn’t have to fight the crowds.

492