Home - but still going

I've clearly got more pictures from the road trip to post, and plenty of more stories.  I only wish I had more time to talk about them.  I've found blogging to be fun, but with limited feedback, it can be a little lonely and have a feeling of self-indulgence.  I figure I have three options:

1) Take full advantage of self-indulgence because really, who cares.  Although, I suppose if I ever get a background check, someone might look into my blogged thoughts, so if I write about my cat all the time, it could come back to bite me.  See, I'm already self editing.

2) Post less often - reduce the pain.  Clearly, not an option

3)  Post more interesting things.  This would be an option if I had anything to say.  Maybe, just maybe more things are coming my way, but in the meantime, the best I can do is...

Garden updates!!!

This works for options 1 & 3.

The garden survived our absence, but with the heat on, it has been suffering.  The temperatures have been soring into the 90s (F) the last several days and the cucumbers, tomatoes, squash and beans are not happy.  However, the okra seems to love it.  This was the first time I'd ever seen okra plants or their lovely flowers.  In the image above, the flower is very washed out - photo people: how to avoid this with cell phone camera? - anyhow, it is a light yellow with a morning glory like shape and striking pink center.  The okra coming from the flower a short time later has been great.

Our sunflowers also greeted us home by being open upon our return.  Sunflowers seem to be a small planet for bees.  There almost always seems to be at least two on each plant and make for great viewing.  The flowers are about the happiest thing in the world and quickly erase a long day at work from my memory.  They're kind of like a hypno-toad without the guilt (see option 1 on posting strategies).

 

Today, we also harvested our second carrot.  Really, this is two carrots.  Something about amateurs in Virginia growing carrots always seems to result in cute vegetables; it is probably the clay.  In this case, the two carrots seem have wrapped around each other for what seems to be comfort.  Shhh... don't tell them they're going to be eaten.  At least they'll go together.

Newport, RI = Ralph Lauren Ad

After our trip to New Haven, we headed straight out to Newport, Rhode Island.  The drive was very nice, especially since Emily E. did the driving  :)

When we arrived, we found some sweet parking and walked back down to the pier.  I have really fond memories of my grandparent's taking me to Rhode Island and getting me Rhode Island style clam chowder, which I remember having no cream, but being more of a clam broth.  I remember it being rather good, the beaches being beautiful and rocky, and the air being salty.  I'm sure it has romanticized in my mind, but since the location of that trip, likely Point Judith, is debated, we made for Newport.  The restaurant, the Black Pearl, won a Rhode Island chowder contest and so it seemed like a good place for Rhode Island chowder.  I was disappointed.  The place was on a pier, we could see yachts, but hardly any water.  The service was curt, but whatever.  The prices were pretty extraordinary, but the biggest disappointment, was the chowder.

Note, the action shot.  The chowder was creamy, well seasoned and plenty clammy, but not Rhode Island style that I remember.  Factor in the $4.50 tiny Sam Adams, and I think I would have not recommend this place, especially for Rhode Island chowder.  To be honest, as New England chowder, it was very good.  The rest of Newport felt like a Ralph Lauren advertisement with the styles and the street layout.  Need more explanation?  They were getting ready to celebrate the America's Cup, a yachting race, so I was pretty out of my league.  The dude with the synthesizer, singing way out range at a little harborside bar helped put me back into a great mood. Eventually, we managed to find a beautiful sunset and had a very nice time.  Next time, we'll try Providence or Point Judith.

Also, there was this store which Emily E. wanted a picture of to celebrate Rodger, her boyfriend.

Ah, sunset pictures!  Don't tell anyone, we had to trespass to get this view.

Come On Down, Sweet Virginia

We're home again.  The cat is okay - thanks to Astrid.  We're pretty exhausted and I am way behind on pictures.  I have hardly even posted about adventures in Boston!  Anyhow, I've got steady internet, my computer up and running, beverages, and by tomorrow, a solid night's rest in a familiar bed.  There's going to be some blogging, some reading and some gardening to mark the nation's independence.  1,140 miles later (plus the driving that Emily E. did through Connecticut and Boston), I think we've earned it.  Happy 4th everyone - and I'll provide more closure on our trip over the next two days, along with more pictures.

Cripes! Providence!

We actually didn't make it to Providence, but we did have a great time getting some pizza at Pepe's. The quote comes from Rodger, Emily's boyfriend, who was considering meeting us in rhode island but clearly thought better of it. Emily joined us in Hartford and drove us down to New Haven - her company clearly made the trip more enjoyable as well as allowing us to order extra pizza. We followed up New Haven by going to Newport, RI. I'll post on that part of the trip later.

Pepe's was as good as I remember and then some. Bonus was that we didn't have to wait in line. We followed up the pizza with some classic Italian cookies at Libby's down the street. Then we ate the cookies at a Yalish park while messing with some pigeons. While in New Haven, we also toured the Yale art museum and spotted Victor Wooten, who is currently on a solo tour.

I have limited internet access right now so I'll do my best to post more details later. There are plenty of additional pictures waiting to find their way to the tubes from New Haven as well. I am getting a backlog of thoughts and pictures; blogging takes way more time than I thought it would!

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Here are some additional photos from New Haven and Pepe's pizza.

Ah, Pepe's, not at all round, but sort of round.  Mostly, just pure, pizza deliciousness.  The crust has a sort of chewy crunchiness that was enjoyed by all.  The cheese tasted fresh and the sauce was balanced.  All and all a great pie.  They call it a pie so I feel vindicated for my years of referring to pizza as a pie.

Emily, eagerly awaiting Pizza - looking spectacular, as always.

Emily E. and Emily digging into the pizza.  Thanks so much to Emily for driving us down here!  This trip was so much fun with you!

Does this qualify as an art shot?  It makes me feel things, hunger, joy, etc.  I mean, two of my favorite things: Emily and great pizza.  That's a spinach and mushroom pie.

Two pies ordered, you can see Emily celebrating the damage that we did.  Pizza leftovers for days, but we were stuffed.  

After pizza, we walked down Wooster Street, which is absolutely adorable, to Libby's Pastries. It felt unchanged since the dawn of time, or at least the 50s.  They had a great selection of cookies and other pastries.  Emily is holding pizza leftovers and 18 cookies or so.  

Wooster Street, New Haven.  Beautiful and charming.  Pepe's and Libby's are at the other end of the street.

After Libby's, we went to the Yale Museum of Art, which is free and open to the public as they like to say.  Yale has a beautiful campus with a variety of old, severe buildings and great common spaces.  The museum has a great collection of old and new, with some pretty major pieces.  To those in the art world, I apologize for telling you what you already knew.  To the rest, if you're in town for pizza, it is worth checking out.  New Haven seemed really nice, I have to say worth the visit.  

After the museum and a walk around town, we stopped in a beautiful park, played with pigeons and enjoyed the spoils of our Libby's raid.  See the joy on Emily's face - that is pure.