First Warmth

Last night we ate dinner on our porch for the first time. The weather in Connecticut has been unheard of. This week we've had upper 80's!!! The sunshine and the warmth feels too good to be true but I love it so much! 

We know it's not here to stay. It's only spring and so that means we are back down to 40's all next week but I love a good dress and jean jacket teaching day too so that's ok! 

One thing this warm weather did was force all of our spring flowers out. I don't have a picture of all of the tulips popping in the front of our yard but I'll post those soon. 

This is our cherry tree and it's blooms only last hours it seems so I'm so glad I thought of getting a few pictures. This beauty of a tree was bought by my class when my Grandpa passed away and is the sweetest reminder of his love of flowers and gardening. 

Dinner on our porch feels so much more relaxing than eating inside. We love it so much. If we ever move I'll just pick up this porch and take it with me, ha! 

 

Looking foward to many many more days and evenings enjoying outdoors from his spot. 

A Little Visit to Our Favorite Town

There is a backstory to our favorite town. 

Years ago we had an adorable travel book. We picked it out in a bookstore together. I don't know if we were married, engaged, or dreaming of one day being able to travel together. The book was called, The Best Places to Kiss in New England. It was filled with the most romantic inns across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

One such place in this book as the Victoria Inn. 

So when it was our 1 year wedding anniversary (seems like yesterday but actually was 29 years ago), Scott and I booked a night or two at the Victoria Inn in a tiny little town called Chester, Vermont. 

And we loved it. We actually stayed there again just a few summers ago (that post back here)  We've actually been to Chester Vermont and stayed over with our girls (at a different place) a few times. 

One of our visits on the way home we stopped at Grafton Village and fell in love. The home, the hospitality, the inn, the restaurant, the general store... every single detail. 

And we've been back to Grafton a few times. Once last summer for our 29th anniversary (that post back here). We adore it there so when April break was coming up for us we decided to book a night in the lovely inn, go hiking, eat a delicious dinner, a country breakfast, and shop at antique stores. 

And so we did! 

Here are some pictures from the past few days:

Part 1: (no pictures of) 

We went to Chester Vermont first for antique shopping. I found a few fun pieces (mostly antique baskets) that I'm thrilled to have. 

Part 2: Grafton Vermont

We were ready for lunch and ate right at the general store overlooking Main Street. We ordered and split The Vermonter... the best sandwich ever! 

Then we were off walking in their trails through the woods. So fun! 

One place I really wanted to find was the home from Funny Farm. I've always loved that movie for the town (the town we were actually in), the inside of the home, and the beauty of the outside. Well we found it, just up the road from where we were staying. 

It was surreal to be standing on the road that lead to this charming home. 

This picture below is my favorite... it's like it's right out of the movie! I wanted the owner to open their door and invite me in a cup of tea and tour. 

After we walked back down and started getting ready for dinner. 

The inn is so charming inside with sitting rooms throughout the first floor. This was our room with a view of Main Street. Lovely lovely lovely. 

We ended up having enough time before dinner to go to church. 

Part 3: Evening in Grafton Vermont

We had the most wonderful meal and talked for two hours over a shared appetizer, dinner, and dessert. 

Breakfast in the morning was the Inn's Country Breakfast. Blueberry pancakes for me please! 

Before we checked out we had time for one more trail walk. 

We picked up some of the town's cheese to bring home and off we went. 

So grateful for this time away! 

 

Easter Sunday

It was a glorious day to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  

Our family attended 8:00 am Mass at the same parish we have been going to for our whole married life (almost 30 years). 

It was a rainy morning and a bit chilly which can be expected for early April. We had so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to that despite the unfavorable weather we were as happy as could be. 

We also had my parents coming over for Easter brunch (they are both in their 80's so I treasure treasure treasure every holiday with them) 

We have oh so many pictures outside these red doors over the years of our daughters lives. They are all so special to me. They were real troupers to walk over puddles in their 'easter best' and stand there for a quick picture (while I was also holding an umbrella!) 

The church looked magnificent that morning. And sounded even more so... 

My darling daughters now 22 and 18... 

After Mass we headed home for a family picture (of course!) 

And then Easter baskets and a really special egg hunt. 

Clues to a puzzle that took them quite some time to figure out!

And then they all helped get the last of the preparations ready for Easter brunch. 

Then it was time for dessert! Lemmon cream pie and carrot cake... yummmmm 

A glorious day indeed.