Introducing….Thursday Q & A

I'm ready and waiting...

I love that everywhere we go, we find that people are interested in this lifestyle we have created for ourselves.  Most of the time, questions are asked in person, or via e-mail.  I would love to keep the conversation going here, where more like-minded can participate.

Do you have any questions or comments for us today (whatever day it happens to be) regarding home and pet sitting, travel, writing, or living simply?  How about working from home or the road?  Good!  We’d love to hear them…

California Girl Visits New England!

Shopping at The Spotted Cod in Sandwich, MA

 My little sister isn’t so little anymore.  Em just graduated high school and turned eighteen.  This fall, she heads to Cal Poly for her first college semester.  I am very proud of her. 

Mirror Portraiture (one of my specialties). Powder room at the Painted Lady, Sandwich, MA.

For the first time ever, we had real sister time, just the two of us (Paul was working through most of the visit).   I was almost twenty when she was born, and have lived thousands of miles away for most of her life.  However, I am confident we will make up for lost time. .  

Shopping for a dress to match the Chucks, Martha's Vineyard, MA

In some ways, we are very different (and for that you have no idea how relieved I am, Em).  In some ways, we are sooo alike!  See below for an example or two. 

Pondering & Pontification. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA.

Supporting the local market vendors in Falmouth, MA (see pretty new ring).

Working on the golden tan (hee) Onset, MA

REALLY appreciating a good meal. The Border Restaurant, Harvard Square

Feeling Groovy, Sandwich MA

Yup.  The girl is definitely my sister.   The week flew by like they tend to do.  Sigh.  I am hoping to get out to CA with Paul soon…maybe we can embarass her at college.  That would be fun!   Love you, Em.  Thank you for coming to visit.  Now, where’s that little bro of mine?

Favorite Quotes

Life on the Bay

I mentioned in a recent blog post on Martha’s Vineyard that Laura and I had a lovely time in Craftworks, a shop featuring American artisans.  I could have spent hours going through hundreds of quotes typed onto handmade paper. 

In the end, I chose a few different quote cards to tack to my bulletin board or use as bookmarks.  These were my four favorites:

♥ There is more to life than increasing its speed. Gandhi

♥ From this hour on I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines.  Walt Whitman

♥ Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.  Edwin Teale

♥ Ordinary riches can be stolen.  Real riches cannot.  In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.  Oscar Wilde

Do you have a favorite quote or two that you would like to share?  Or, an affirmation, maybe?  If so, just click on the comment link at the bottom of this post and type away.  Thanks!

A Friend in Need…

Words of encouragement work wonders...

I have made a wonderful friend here on the East Coast.  Her name is Joyce and she lives in the sweetest little cottage just feet away from the Atlantic.  She is a nurse and a writer and has the most beautiful garden, and super cute grandkids!  She is a big inspiration to me. 

Joyce just found out that she has stage 3 lung cancer.  I am asking everyone that feels so inclined to visit her blog and send some positive web energy her way.  The comments she has already received have been a huge source of encouragement for her.

The addy is http://makingsenseofitall.joycerothman.com/ .  Thank you, kind friends.

Road Trip – Destination Evergreen!

Coming Home to Evergreen, Colorado

Paul and I are headed west to Colorado in three weeks (WooooHoooo!).  Taking a completely different route this time (MA, NJ, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, etc. etc).  We are definitely spending a day or two each in Chesapeake Bay and the Outer Banks. 

Anyone have any other places en route that they just love and want to share with us?  Can’t wait to catch up with our CO friends towards mid August…Paul is sure looking forward to a pint or two with friends!

Independence Day Weekend (In Pictures)

Annual Friends of the Falmouth Library Book Sale

We're trying to get rid of books, really we are. This was just too damn irresistable.

Haven't been to Betsy's yet...but she is on the list...

Love these old motels - so much character.

My friends parents owned one similar to this when I was a kid, growing up in downtown Ventura, CA

I love Falmouth. I come here almost every day since beginning my yoga classes

Echinacea

A New England Fourth of July

Blame the blur on the Bloody Mary(s)...Quarterdeck Restaurant in Falmouth

Independance Day on the Bay

Happy 4th of July, America!

A Day on the Vineyard with Laura

Leaving Falmouth for the Vineyard via the Island Queen

Laura came to visit from Connecticut last week.  Neither of us had been to Martha’s Vineyard before and were pleasantly surprised to find that we could take the local ferry there and back for a mere $18.00 (without vehicle).  Wednesday was perfect weather-wise and off we went, leaving Paul to his day job.  I felt like quite the lady of leisure! 

Laura, enjoying a cuppa at Mocha Motts

We arrived at Oak Bluffs and enjoyed a morning of coffee and wandering from shop to shop without a man to hurry us along (hee).  My favorite shop was Craftworks, which featured handcrafted items from all over America.  I bought a handful of quotes that were typewritten on handmade paper that I will be sure to share with you in a future post.   

If I were a big spender and had some space to fill, I would have bought a Sticks piece or two for me.  Maybe a jewelry box or a perpetual calendar.  And at least one piece for Laura.   I fell in love with this Iowa company while wandering Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado a few years back.   Below is a nice patriotic piece.  

Sticks Lithograph - What We Love About America

We eventually walked out past the touristy section of Oak Bluffs and into the neighborhoods.  This is reason enough to come to the Vineyard.  The cottages (mostly Victorian and cheery or prim and proper Capes) were all a bit different and each yard boasted a profusion of flowers in bloom.  Divine.  This cottage spoke to me more than the others for some reason…

Oak Bluffs Beauty

For two dollars we boarded a bus to Edgartown (Martha’s Vineyard is a lot bigger than I thought).  A local suggested we have lunch on the deck at The Seafood Shanty.  It was a bit pricey (about $25 each with drinks) but acceptable, considering the view, the vibe, and the fresh cod sandwich.  

An afternoon on the deck - Seafood Shanty

The view from our table at the Seafood Shanty, looking out at Chappaquiddick Island

 

The Stairs at Edgartown Books

After lunch, we browsed Edgartown Books and a few other shops.  I know I have mentioned it before, but frequenting indie bookstores tends to give one a good feel for the community.  Because it was pre-July Fourth weekend, the multitudes had not yet arrived, so we had plenty of time and space to peruse.    

Henley's Needlepoint & Fibers (located behind Edgartown Books)

Laura and I were the only customers in the tiny Henley’s Needlepoint & Fibers behind the bookstore, where all the colorful canvases were hand painted.  Mr. Henley greeted us and gave us a brief history of the area and how he and Mrs. Henley ended up there.  Thank you, Mr. Henley!  

Austin-Healy 3000

This Austin-Healey 3000 was parked right off Main Street.  Paul loves Austin-Healeys.  I offered to write the owner a check right there on the spot but he declined.  Sorry, Paul.  I tried.  : ) 

Seeing as how we were on daycation, Laura and I decided to splurge once more before heading back to the mainland.  Here we are enjoying our blended lattes at MacPhail’s Corner Cafe where everyone seemed to know each other.  The weather was perfect, but I am glad I brought my cardigan as my back was getting a bit pink and the a/c was in full-force wherever we went.  

MacPhail's Corner Cafe

More MacPhail's Corner Cafe

Having played our Ladies of Leisure roles so well, we actually missed our ferry departure.   Luckily, there was one more departure that day.  This gave us some time to spend by the water.  The beaches were full and I regret not taking pictures of  the primary colored umbrellas in contrast with the sand, sea, and sky.  Next time.  We spied this magnificent sailing ship as we headed back to shore.  

Schooner sighting (taken from the Island Queen)

I am hoping to get back to Martha’s Vineyard with Paul before the end of our stay here.  We are fortunate to live somewhere so beautiful…somewhere that would cost most people a lot of money to visit.   My sister is coming to visit in a week; stay tuned for more Cape Cod adventures!  And be sure to let us know what your summer adventures are, if you haven’t already…

PS)  H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y , L A U R A!  XOX

Recent CC Contest Prize Winners

Summer

It is catch up time.  In all the summer excitement, I have allowed a few things to lapse.  Important stuff, like announcing contest winners!  So, our most recent contest winners are Catherine T of Evergreen, CO and Lee Wilmot of Littleton, CO.  Thank you, my CO peeps for keeping in touch via the blog – always love to hear from you. 

Catherine won a few Mountain Girl Organics items (they may be collectors items, at this point!)…and I am not saying what Lee won because she hasn’t received it yet.  We have been friends for twenty-five years so she will probably end up with some random stuff thrown in : ) Hope you all are enjoying your summer…it is h.o.t. here (even on the Bay) but absolutely gorgeous!