day in amherst/northampton, part 1

took a trip to massachusetts last weekend for one last summer hoorah.
it was a gorgeous, clear blue, sunny-skied afternoon in amherst
{especially nice because the town hadn't yet seen the return of
all the college students/back to school hubbub.}

at the eric carle museum,
where there was a very special illustration on exhibit!

very late lunch - pizza slices at antonio's.
then amherst books. mostly new books upstairs,
and a whole basement filled with used books for sale!









Rao's Coffee
{we can't visit another town without stopping into the local coffeehouse
for a drink and a little break time to read & relax.}

I want to go

Actually, I just want to live in this place. You can visit Beatrix Potter's home at Hill Top Farm, looking just the same as it did when she lived and wrote there.

Beatrix Potter's house, an inspiration for many of her tales, Hill Top remains as she left it. Each room contains something that appeared in her books. Beatrix valued the house and its contents highly and when she died she left Hill Top to the National Trust, to open it to the public, on the condition that the house was kept with all her belongings in place. The lovely cottage garden is a haphazard mix of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables.

Gaaaaa! I want to go!!

Spring Break!

Hello from Florida!

I'm here trying to soak up the last bit of sunshine and salty sea air before heading back to the regular everyday...it's amazing what a little sand between your toes can do to give you a bit of a recharge. From the sounds of it, the weather is every bit as beautiful back home!

I hope you're able to enjoy the sunshine and get some R&R wherever you are.

Happy Spring.
xo

Previously:
Florida, one year ago
Spring in the city
Beach Neutrals
Get Away: Salem, MA

A Weekend In August

Hello, dear readers. What did you do this weekend?

I went to visit my little brother for a few days in New York. I had brunch at this adorable little place. I highly recommend you do the same the next time you're in the city and in need of some vanilla hazelnut french toast.

I also popped into the museum, where I saw this exhibit (and much more).

Now I'm back home and the heat is almost more than I can stand. September is looking pretty good right about now...

I Want To Go

I'm hoping to take a little road trip with friends to the Catskills one upcoming weekend, cameras in tow. While we're there, I'd love to swing by Heaven for a pastry and some tea.


{seen here. thanks, mrs. french}

Happy Weekend

It's shaping up to be a pretty dreary weekend, so I thought I'd post some bright & colorful photos from my stay in New York a couple weeks ago.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Spring in the City

Sigh.

Remember the time I was hired to teach school in New York, but then ended up not moving there for various reasons?...Ah well, I can't be too sad about it, and I try not to look back. Of course it was the right decision at the time. And I'm still left with a great place to visit whenever I want!

I love New York, and never more than in Springtime.

Beach Neutrals & Happy Monday

It's funny how the sky & ocean can be different colors on different days, or at different times of day. The beach photos above were taken the afternoon after a major storm on my third day in Florida. We had torrential rains, damaging winds, tornado warnings, and afterward the sky was very gray. There was a sort of surreal quality to it.

Have a wonderful start to the week, everyone.

Coming Home

Hello Hello.

I made it home last night after a sun-filled week & a (very) long train up the east coast, including a stop in nyc where I spent the majority of the day wandering the streets, camera in tow (#24 on the list). I do so love New York in the springtime.

Over the past week I spent way too many hours in the sun, took way too many pictures, ate way too much (fried) seafood, read a heartbreakingly beautiful book by a favorite author, and got way too little sleep. While the beaches, perfectly warm temperatures, blue skies and good food were all grand, it's always nice to come back home. I realized that what I'm going to miss most about being away is the mindset that always comes with being on vacation - I do wish that I could hold onto that carefree feeling for just a bit longer. As soon as the skyline of my city came into view, all of the things that were pleasantly absent from my thoughts over the past week were suddenly present again, and I must say, I wasn't eager to have them back. It seems you really can outrun your problems, for a little while anyway, but when you come back they are inevitably there waiting for you. So while I'm happy to be home, I find myself wishing that I was still running just out of reach of my thoughts.

I hope you all had a lovely week. Things are starting to turn green & bloom around my neighborhood. I'll be posting more photos from my trip over the upcoming week, after I've regained a bit of energy.

At the Beach...

I'm leaving this cold rain (and snow!) behind for some sun & sand...and especially hoping that when I return Spring will actually have arrived in upstate NY. My packing list includes:

- 3 cameras
- film
- a few good books
- ipod
- dresses: light & airy

See you all back here in a week and a half! xo

Get Away

It's mid winter, and I'm feeling the strongest urge to get away. Take a trip somewhere. Anywhere. Even if it's only for one day. I'm already thinking about places I want to visit this spring and summer, because many of the places I want to go are really too cold to enjoy this time of year.

My whole life, I've always felt a strong pull toward the sea. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that since I was born, I've spent two weeks out of my year in Florida with family. It seems I love any place where sand touches the ocean. And while I love to hear the fronds of palm trees rustling in the warm breeze, I feel especially drawn to Northern harbors - maybe even more than tropical destinations. I adore old fishing towns; tiny streets crowded with clapboard houses winding toward the sea. Lighthouses standing against crashing waves. Mansions built by seafaring captains. Fresh seafood!

In April I'll be making my annual trek down to Florida. And sometime during February or March, I'll be heading down to Salem, Massachusetts. I was just there in October, but every time I visit I can't wait to go back.

above images of salem, massachusetts from }{enry

streeet view in salem (image here)