Day Twelve of Our US Adventure:The Big Thaw

 

Starting with last night, our host was in a baking frenzy all day ( maybe a result of being snowed in?)

and sat kneading some dinner rolls for our evening meal...

 

 

 

...they were delicious!

 

 

I don't know where she gets her energy from...in the evening she set to and made a "tea ring"...

 

 

 

...having spread the risen dough with butter, spices, fruit and nuts, it was formed into a long roll...

 

 

 

 

...joined at the ends to make a circle...then cut and little rings twisted out....

 

 

 

...once baked we tucked into it warm and gooey....mmm...with an almond flavoured icing this has got to rank as my all time favourite bakes.

 

 

 

This morning we woke to beautiful sunshine...but still plenty of snow.

However as the day as worn on, much of the snow has melted....

 

 

 

...as you can see in the background the grass is now back and there was only enough snow to make this mini snowman...

 

 

...but within minutes he departed this life...

 

 

 

...in the meantime Teen One made herself a snow castle.

 

 

 

 

For lunch we were treated to a visit to Friendly's...

 

 

 

With Teen One being a Pop Tart fan, this looked rather tempting!

 

 

Hubby tried a "fribble" for the first time, which is a sort of milk shake....very thick indeed!

 

 

 

I opted for New England Clam chowder again....with the traditional oyster crackers...something we don't get back in the UK...

 

 

 

Teen One and I shared a Reese's peanut butter cup sundae...

 

 

 

...Hubby and Teen Two chose the smallest sundae they could see on the amazing menu.

 

 

 

 

 

It was then time to visit an elderly man from the Gospel Hall we used to attend twenty years ago.

He and his wife were very kind to us when we were here, and we always like to visit him on our trips over.

His wife has sadly passed away, and he has recently had to move into assisted living...

however the place is just amazing and looks like a posh hotel!

His room was spacious and bright and we enjoyed his company for an all too short hour.

 

 

 

Before heading home, we visited a Target shop for the first time.

Just look at these amazing cake mixes! We bought the rainbow "Tie Dye" box.

 

 

 

I was really taken with this unique pom pom kit...infact I may just have to go back and buy a set!

 

 

When we arrived "home" our host was just about to put this huge fruit pie in the oven, ready for our dessert!

We are being well and truly spoilt that's for sure!

 

Tuesday April 5, 2016

Today's Proverb:
   Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5,6 / KJV
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Day Eleven Of Our US Adventure: The Winter Wonderland Continues

 

Today we woke to the wonderful white stuff again!

Funny how the locals are not so keen on it...especially in April!

Our hosts are "snow birds" having escaped the harsh New England winter....so to have snow on their return is not their idea of fun!

For us, we can enjoy the novelty of the snow, but if you are living and working with it, not so good I guess.

 

 

After a snowball fight, the Teens and Hubby set to clearing the mile long drive way of sticks.

These would be a hazard for any of us taking our cars out later on.

 

 

Hard work has probably never been such fun!

 

 

 

 

Once home it was time to warm them up with a hot drink and warm cookies...

 

 

 

 

...and time to warm up by the fire...which I had already been enjoying with some knitting!

 

 

 

It always takes me by surprise...to be over here around Easter time and yet folks still have Christmas decorations up...however you only have to see how pretty things look in the snow to realise why they make the festive season last a little longer!

 

 

Our host has been busy in the kitchen "cooking up a storm" for us to enjoy later.

I can smell rice pudding...US style....it is packed with raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg and baked in an egg custard...cant wait to try it!

There is also a "tea ring" proving in the bread maker....it sounds like a "Swedish Ring" to me...I cant wait to try that.

We are being well and truly spoilt that's for sure!

 

Monday April 4, 2016

Today's Psalm:
   Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22 / KJV
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Day Ten Of Our US Adventure: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

 

This morning we woke to a winter wonderland!

 

 

This was what we woke to at 6am...I couldn't wait for the Teens to wake up!

 

 

After breakfast, and before we headed out to church, Teen Two was out there, building a snowball almost as big as himself!

 

 

The journey to church was so beautiful...

 

 

...the typical New England churches are so pretty...

 

 

 

..and their houses are so pretty too...

 

 

...so many styles to enjoy...

 

 

 

...these guys had plenty of work on today...

 

 

...but once the sun came out...

 

 

 

...that was the end of the snow!

Teen Two is out in search of some cooler patches to get every minute out of this unexpected treat.

 

 

 

I have enjoyed a quite hour on the sofa, sneaking in a little nap after a chapter or two of my new book.

 

Sunday April 3, 2016

Today's Promise:
   He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32 / KJV
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Day Nine of Our US Adventure: Literary Giants and Little Critters!

 

This morning started with a most delicious brunch at Monet's Table, courtesy of a dear friend.

 

 

 

The hardest part of the morning was choosing which of the delectable items to choose for our late breakfast.

In the end I opted for crabcakes with  lemon hollandaise sauce, with fruit...sounds an unusual mix, but it was delicious.

Teen One went for eggs benedict with smoked salmon.

Whilst the three of us had a girlie morning, Teen Two and Hubby were in a school, watching our friends son in his Robotics Team challenge.

I understand it was great fun...very loud...and very unique for us Brits.

 

 

 

 

After brunch, our friend took us to the most amazing popcorn making place!

 

 

 

There were tasting pots for every flavour...

 

 

 

...and the flavour choices were endless!

 

 

These were the few I brought home....maple syrup and bacon, cheddar cheese, chocolate mint, jalapeno, honey, autumn spice....to name a few!

 

 

 

 

Our next port of call was a delightful independent shop called O'Live a Little.

It had all kinds of oils and vinegars, something Teen One in particular enjoys sampling.

We learnt about cooking with a salt block.

I hadn't come across this before, so was intrigued to learn about it.

No doubt they will be popular in the UK soon....unless they already are and it has by passed me!

 

 

 

After much sampling...Teen One opted for the following flavours:

Apricot, Coconut White, Pomegranate, Raspberry.

Our friend had been to a Farmers Market a while back and learnt that a small amount of flavoured vinegar in Perrier Water makes a refreshing drink...we are eager to try it!

 

 

 

This was one snack we were not eager to try!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next we visited a local chocolatier.

The store was filled with all manner of chocolate treats, I chose this "Connecticut" shaped bar for Hubby  (shh, don't tell!) and the UConn bar for Teen Two.

He loves their husky sweatshirts so will be tickled pink when he sees this!

 

 

Our final destination with our friend was to the Mark Twain Museum and House.

This Lego model of him made me wish Teen Two was with us!

As it turned out my "wish" came true!

My friend realised the school her husband and son were at was very close...so plans were made for Hubby and Teen Two to meet us when we were finished!

 

 

 

Photos were not allowed inside the house, but the talk was interesting.

I must confess to knowing very little about Mark Twain...not even knowing his real name was Samuel Clemens.

 

 

 

It was a very grand house and some of his most famous works were written there, such as Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Prince and The Pauper, An Innocence Abroad....and I must confess they were the only titles I had actually heard of!

 

 

Teen One and I had promised ourselves we would read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer before we left the UK, as we had thought it would be interesting to visit Mark Twains house...however that never happened...so today I bought a copy of both books and we have promised ourselves we will become more educated on these literary classics as soon as possible!

 

 

 

 

 

Just across the way from Mark Twain's House is the home of another Literary giant

...Harriet Beecher Stowe.

We would like to see that house sometime...but left that for another day.

 

 

 

 

Shortly after our tour finished, Teen Two and Hubby met us in the reception area....Teen Two had fun "goofing" around!

 

 

By now it was almost 4pm and Teen One and I, having skipped lunch were feeling a little peckish.

Having seen McDonalds "Chicken Sausage Sandwich" advertised throughout the week, we decided we would like to try it!

Isn't this the prettiest McDonalds you have seen!

Beautiful spring flower beds outside...

 

 

...with daffodils at their peek....

 

 

 

 

...inside the tables had spring flowers.....

 

 

 

...and spring decorations...

 

 

 

...even the light hangings were decorated with spring coloured ribbons!

 

With the late lunch over, it was time to head back to our friends house...this time...we had the great excitement of knowing our hosts would by now be home from their winter stay in Florida.

They are such good friends, so kind and generous...to have been in their lovely home for a week and not see them, was unusual to say the least!

It was with much joy we walked through their door and were greeted by them!

Not only were we delighted to be in their presence...within an hour of being home we were relieved to have their expertise to hand!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hubby came to me with my glasses and asked me to examine his tummy!

I suddenly realised ticks are a big problem over here...especially deer tick ( and did I mention we had a deer jump out in front of the car last night!)

I could see a large dark red "spot" on his tummy, the like of which I had never seen before...so we asked our friends to take a look, and straight away they knew it was a tick....firmly imbedded into poor Hubby!

The good news was, it was too big for a deer tick.

The bad news was, it was going to have to be removed...and it had already made its home rather too well into Hubbys tum!

With a hot pair of tweezers and all kinds of cleaning potions....our friend carefully extracted this unwelcome  lodger!

Of course we all started to itch and worry we might have suffered the same fate after our lovely walk in the woods yesterday!

Initial examinations would suggest we are ok....but we are all feeling a little itchy and uneasy right now!

 

(NB this is not Hubby's tum...I thought the sight of an imbedded tick might be too much for some!)

 

 

Sunday April 3, 2016

Today's Psalm:
   As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Psalm 42:1 / KJV
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