We started out this morning with breakfast at the best little restaurant directly across from our hotel.
The Rigby Yard used to be a Train Depot. I might have taken a few inspirations pictures to recreate at home.
We left just in time for a Portland Tour on a 1972 Ferrara pumper. The weather was a little chilly for us Florida people but it was really fun and an informative excursion.
We looked across the street after being let off the fire truck and knew we needed a snack from the Standard Baking Company. Fresh croissants and cookies filled the spot.
Our next stop was the Portland Ferry which took us to Peak island full of vacation homes for the rich!
Our last stop of the day was to Becky’s Diner. It would be a crime to leave Portland without honoring our very own traveling partner Becky O’Connor.
It has a been a fantastic week full of so much fun, laughter and a few surprises.
We left Bangor this morning and headed to the last leg of our adventure.
We stopped at Judy’s for breakfast. We love a good dive. Who knew people drank beer at breakfast….No judging here.
We drove into Portland Maine (which took just over 2 hours).
We stopped into our hotel to see if we could check in early. We GET TO stay at this super bougie hotel. I wonder if my traveling mates will be embarrassed when I ask the hotel desk what color the walls are painted because I MUST know.
Driving in Portland is not the funnest so we set off on foot to explore. We are close to the water and found a piece of the Berlin Wall
Some magnificent boats
While we strolled, we stopped and asked a local artist selling her art where we should eat dinner. Her name was Lisa. As we got to know her, her son called and spoke of how he was so proud of the pot roast he was making.
And so we ate here:
Dimillo’s on the water.
A large boat converted into a restaurant.
It was yummy.
Clam chowder, bacon wrapped scallops, lobster stew, lazy lobster (already cut up) fish and blueberry cobbler were some of the items we enjoyed.
A side sorry:
We had purchased a few souvenirs and wanted to return them to the hotel room prior to dinner. The men took the packages upstairs while Becky and I sat outside on a planter. As we chatted, a gentlemen down the sidewalk from us, stood up, dropped his cellphone and stumbled, almost falling into the road . He is able to gather his balance and starts to stumble again. He loses his balance over and over again and starts to stumble towards where we are sitting. I believe my eyes are very wide by this time. Becky leans over to me and says “hold onto your ………” She realized I don’t have a purse. The man almost falls onto my lap but lands immediately next to me sitting down. We can instantly smell that he has had A LOT to drink. We gather our things and go inside the hotel. Upon leaving the hotel and walking towards where the man was, he had fallen into the planter bed and was asleep. He was breathing Thank God.
When we returned from dinner, he was no longer there but left his indentions
As I sat to write my thought from today, I’m able to look outside and see the prettiest of brick buildings with Ivy growing on it.
We drove from Quechee Vermont to Mount Washington New Hampshire this morning. It was just a little over two hours.
We rode the Mount Washington Cog Railway. The Cog (train) will take us to the Mount Washington Summit, the highest peak in the Northeast.
The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world. With an average grade of 25% (some sections approach nearly 38%), it’s also the second steepest! Motive power is primarily provided by a fleet of seven powerful biodiesel locomotives, each custom designed, built and maintained on site. It was such a great day. You can read more here if you are interested in the Cog ride.
Look at the name and try not to laugh See the hiker? We packed a picnic and ate at the top of the summit This is the Observatory at the Summit of Mount Washington
We headed to Jackson NH for the evening. We are staying at the Eagle Mountain House and Golf Club.
We ate dinner at an Irish pub and ended the evening with ice cream. It’s funny how 80 degrees in NH might as well be 100 for the New Englanders.
We drove to Quechee Vermont this morning. It took us about 2 hours from Westborough, Massachusetts.
We visited the Quechee Gorge and had lunch at the Snack Bar. The weather was lovely.
We checked into our picture postcard inspired hotel the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm. It was original built in the 1700’s by Colonel Joseph and Dorothy Marsh who was also the first Lieutenant Governor.
Glenn and Becky were informed that their room could be visited by Mary, a former person (GHOST!) who lived here.
We drove into the Simon Pierce Flagship Store.
This establishment is fueled by the rushing Ottauquechee. The glass blowing studio is turbine-powered. It was fascinating to watch.
This is the water that is powering the turbine and you can see the Quechee covered bridge in the background
We then decided to visit the Sugarbush Farm. We spoke to the most charming woman who later we found out is the matriarch of the farm. We sampled cheese and maple syrup made completely on this working farm.
Glenn put Ocala on their map!
We had reservations at the restaurant in the hotel.
Strawberry rhubarb margarita.
And berry crisp topped with homemade vanilla bean ice cream
We asked if we could please be rolled to our rooms.
This morning we met in the hotel lobby to have breakfast and head to our next town.
Steve goes to the parking lot to get the car and returns…..”we have a flat tire.”
Becky proceeds to get on the phone with car rental agency and I am sitting beside her listening. Her voice changes a little with each response I hear.
“You want us to do what? That will absolutely NOT happen.”
“I don’t know if we have a spare. Isn’t that your job?”
We do not have a spare.
“I have absolutely no idea if we have an inflation kit.”
“No I will not send them back outside to look, it’s raining.”
2 1/2 hours later we have a new car and the previous one has been towed away.
We drive one hour to Mystic Connecticut and our first stop is Mystic Pizza. Its the inspired pizza joint showcased in the 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts.
The pizza was outstanding and it was fun to say we’ve now been there.
The weather was a little drizzly and cool but our plans were to visit the Mystic Seaport.
It did not disappoint.
It is the largest working wooden boat shipyard in the US and possibly the world. You can read more here: https://www.mysticseaport.org
It was fascinating.
We watched men restore wooden ships using some of the same techniques and tools used in 1800’s.
This boat is being restored from New York and it was used to rescue 300+ Jews from Denmark during WWII.
This was a church they had moved here from the 1800’s
This was a fire boat from New York.
We were able to go on the Thomas Morgan whaling ship. Obviously the crew were short people.
I however, did not have to duck at all.
Our day in Mystic ended with a snack of cookies and hot chocolate. Yes, Florida friends….hot chocolate.
We drove almost two hours to Westborough Massachusetts and met Kyle and Moshe for dinner. They live 30 away. It was fantastic to spend some time with them.
Loaded up all the suitcases and while Steve was putting down the hatch, Glenn ducked under his arm and Steve accidentally hit him in the face with his fist.
We have laughed about it all day.
“Watch out for that right hook.”
“Be careful, Steve might hit you.”
Todays was the only day we didn’t have concrete plans. We spoke to the server at our lunch place and she recommended we drive to Newport CT. It was only a 30 minute drive so we were off.
It’s a lovey town situated right on Narragansett Bay. We strolled around admiring the old houses, some dating back to the 1700’s.
We even had a Tiller Firetruck drive right by us!
Never take for granted your friends. And it’s an extra bonus when you can travel together and still like each other afterwards.37 years and still holding hands 😍
Our hotel is super cool. It looks like it’s been converted from something into a hotel. Lots of concrete (walls, ceiling and floor), exposed venting and pipes.
After dinner we went on a gondola ride along the Providence and Woonasquatucket rivers. Marciano was our gondolier. It was a cool evening on the water and it was fantastic. He spoke of the sights and he even serenaded us.
It was such a good day but as of 9:06PM, we are in for the night while Mom and Dad went to the bar.
We met in the lobby at 5:30AM to be shuttled to the Orlando airport for a 7:30AM flight to Providence Rhode Island.
It seems like so many people are in a bad mood or just getting by in the way of emotions. Good morning to the shuttle driver resulted in a grunt and “when will the rest of your party be coming?” response.
“They are on their way “ I responded with a smile and a gesture of cheers with my very welcomed coffee cup.
I’ve taken notice since we left home on Tuesday evening that our husbands are both helpers. They both are eager to help with luggage. They are both more than eager to be of assistance and while our shuttle driver wasn’t the friendliest, I assumed she would be grateful for help with putting luggage in and out of the shuttle.
Not so much……smile anyways.
We arrive at the airport, walk to the check in desk and was almost immediately greeted by the clerk with a “what are you doing?” response as we lift our luggage and hand her boarding passes and passports.
We all look at one another, wondering if this was a secret question and we didn’t know the answer.
Checking in our bags?
Going on a trip?
Trying to check in?
We proceeded to hand her our boarding passes and hope for the best.
“Have a great day!”
We smiled and hurried away, hoping she didn’t want anything else.
It’s so obvious that people are either unhappy, full of stress or going through difficult times in their lives.
Currently we are just hoping that our rental car reservation is waiting for us in Providence.
I’ve been driving around in my car and just disgusted every time I open the door.
It’s dirty. It needs to be vacuumed and washed. It doesn’t just need a $5, after gas, car wash. It needs a toothbrush in all the cracks and crevices type of wash.
I could pay big bucks and have it detailed. I have a name in my contacts that will come to my house and detail my car.
I’m just cheap.
I’m a stay a home gal and I’m more than capable of detailing my own car.
I’m not belittling anyone that pays to have their car washed/waxed/detailed. It’s your choice how to spend your money.
However I have a story to share.
When Steve and I were younger with smaller kids, we were in debt. We bought things we didn’t need. We went places we didn’t need to go. We went when we didn’t need to. We made some poor choices.
In 1998, we went in a 7 week vacation out west. Steve and my Dad we both firefighters and could maneuver many shifts off in a row by stacking vacation and Kelly days to allow for many days off. We rode in our truck behind my parents pulling a fifth wheel that we had converted to sleep all 6 of us. all we needed was gasoline, and it wasn’t $4 a gallon in 1998.
During the many days of driving, I read a book out loud to Steve (this was before Audible unless you bought a “book on tape” from Cracker Barrel.) The book I read was “The Complete Cheapskate” by Mary Hunt. It talked about her story of debt, how to create a Freedom account, savings, and so much more. It was small and powerful. And while I know there are many, Many, MANY books on budgeting and such, this book hit me between the eyes. We decided right there on the highway, we would change our lifestyle. We would save money instead of spending. We would create “Freedom Accounts.”
Fast forward to 2022.
Today, I detailed my own car because I have ZERO desire to live like the Joneses.
I don’t need fancy. And while we live in a fantastic home and it might look like we have it made……we work hard. We do most things ourselves because when we couldn’t afford it, we figured it out.
We saved until we could afford whatever it is we wanted.
We saved before we went on the big trip.
We saved until we could buy the RV.
We still have the Freedom Accounts. You know why? Because they provide FREEDOM!!!
I feel like I just ranted and maybe I did but if you don’t say things that have helped you, how will anyone else reap the benefits and the joy.
Below is the book I referenced. it might not be for you and that’s ok. As I scrubbed my car with a toothbrush I just felt the need to share.
I don’t regret today. It actually felt good to be in the sunshine and my paid for 2016 Hyundai SantaFe looks fabulous!
I’m 2019, I asked a friend to start a ladies group with me.
Back story……. I sat with some co-workers at a table talking about small groups in the church. Small groups are great when they work. However it takes time and commitment to really make a small group GOOD.
Steve and I were in small group that was fun! We ate together and played games and really REALLY enjoyed each others company. I wasn’t in charge of anything, and I wasn’t interested in leading a small group.
Does the Holy Spirit tap you? Nudge you? Poke at you like a dang little kid trying to get your attention. Does He buzz you like a mosquito? No? Just me? Evidently I’m stubborn and do not listen well.
While the co-workers talked of how to grow our small groups, the poking began.
I whispered to myself, “I don’t want to have a small group.”
Women? Really? Women are so needy and judgmental. they require so much. More than I am WILLING to give.
I DON’T HAVE TIME!!!
All the excuses I could come up with. I had them all.
The conversation at the table with the workers went something like this.
Me: “The Holy Spirit had been seriously poking at me about a women’s group that meets on my porch once a week. I DO NOT want it to be a Bible study (while there absolutely nothing wrong with those) I do not want to watch a video and talk about it, I do not want it to be a therapy session. Lots of I do not wants.
I do however want it to be about friendship. I want to dig deeper into relationships and what makes people tick. I want to laugh my butt off. I want these women to know me and I want to know them. I want to serve in our community. I want to give and receive. I wanted a lot of things and I was scared.
What if I put out an invitation and no one came?
What if it wasn’t fun?
What if it was too hard. I don’t have time for a fancy spread every dang week. I didn’t want to get up at dark thirty and make stupid muffins each and every week.
Coffee is all you get people. Coffee and cups to put the coffee in. I can handle that. And water. I can do water too.
The friend said yes to being my partner and the first “Coffee Hour” invitation was sent.
People said YES!
What an absolutely fantastic experience it has been. We meet each and every week and the things I hoped for has happened.
I have wonderful friends whom I know and know me.
We have served together multiple times. Just last weekend, most of us showed up to a citywide youth event. What an experience to walk up to the venue and see so many porch girls. Some had kids that were at the event and some were like me. Medium aged ladies just wanting to support and love on our teenagers and the adults that love them.
We have raised money for local organizations.
We have helped one another.
We are continual prayers.
We are each other’s cheerleaders and shoulders to cry on.
We are the porch girls and while I named our group “Coffee Hour” from day one, I’ve sensed a name change is required.
Our Tuesday morning gathering will now be knows as “The Porch.” And while I know many of the girls have always called it “The Porch” I’m making it official.
Just yesterday, I texted one of my sweet porch friends. I said “I am so glad you come on Tuesdays.” It’s not necessary to say much to let someone know you care.
She responded “Thank you for that! I almost text you that I have too much going on this morning but I knew I needed that! Even for just an hour…. You ladies truly bless my soul! ♥️♥️♥️”
Satan is a jerk and will tell you that you are too busy for the things that fill you.
Fill you with joy
Fill you with contentment
Fill you with love
Fill you with ___________fill in your blank.
Don’t let him steal your joy.
You deserve so much.
It doesn’t have to be my porch, but for goodness sake, start your own porch, front yard, back yard, coffee shop, living room or wherever else you can squeeze some people in.
The Downtown Farmhouse 