Snowy Mornings

I snapped these a few weeks ago after an overnight snow storm. I had the pleasure of working from home that morning, and as a sat at my dining room table amongst various spreadsheets, binders, and notebooks, I paused long enough to glance out the window and realize how truly beautiful this new blanket of snow made our little corner of the woods. 

That little moment changed my foggy, slightly frustrated mood into humble thankfulness that I get to live in such a gorgeous place. I truly love New England.

Spend a moment today taking in the world around you. Look for the beauty, whether it be obvious or beneath the surface.

Backroads: Newfane, Vermont

A few weeks ago, my mother and I spent a few days in gorgeous Vermont with some of my aunts, uncles and cousins. The two-ish hour drive to the mountains brings you through some of the most picturesque and quintessential New England towns. These towns are so small, sometimes you only see a few hundred feet of buildings before you are in the woods again. Newfane always takes me by surprise. The town common has four gorgeous old white churches, all with green shutters. It is just lovely driving by the snow covered green and seeing these beautiful old buildings. There is also an adorable general store that has all sorts of goodies to satisfy everyone's curiosity. One of the reasons I love living in New England so much is that you can stumble upon these beautiful villages just by taking a few hour drive. 

Can you imagine going off that ski jump?! It is much bigger in person!

Early Spring + Something Totally Awesome

{Early spring?}

I love Saturday mornings. It's the first day of the week that I get to sleep in past 5:30, eat breakfast at the table instead of at my desk, and lounge around in my PJs until whatever time I please. I can run to the coffee house and grab a creamy chai latte. I catch up on news I might have missed during the week, play with Pepper, and watch my favorite shows. 

Saturday morning are me time. Catch up time. Slow down time.

Heavenly.

This Saturday also brought Punxsutawney Phil out of his burrow to bring good news to all: He did not see he shadow, so we will have an early spring! 

Music to my ears. Winter has been wonderful, but this girl is dreaming of some sunshine and the beach.

Also on this fantastic Saturday morning, I found this fun link up with: 

Chantilly

Sabrina

Gentri

Liz

Check it out and join the fun! And and to all visiting, thanks so much for stopping by my little space!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Dear Friday

{Pepper checking out the new do}

Dear red shirt: I love your silhouette, but the amount of wrinkles that have happened between putting you on and pouring a bowl of Special K has me frustrated. I will now be known as the girl who rolled out of bed at work. All for a good cause. {Don't forget to wear RED today!} Dear Sunday snowstorm: I'm glad I can enjoy watching you out the window with a book and mug of tea in front of the fire. Dear new bangs: I'm getting rather fond of you. I'd say our two week trial relationship has blossomed into a full-fledged love affair. Dear Punxsutawney Phil: Please don't see your shadow tomorrow. An early spring would be positively lovely. 

Have a beautiful weekend!

{P.S. Stop by Ashley's blog to see all the Friday's Letters fun}

Fog and Sunflowers

While I was stumbling through Facebookland this evening, I came across pictures I took a few years ago during an impromptu drive to Mystic, CT with my Daddy. He and I like to take little adventures together, so one summer afternoon, we hopped in the car and took the backroads down to the Connecticut shore. I remember talking the whole ride, occasionally stopping to remark at how beautiful the New England country side really is. 

After an hour or so of our happy chatter, we came across a field of sunflowers. I thought it was the most perfectly unexpected part of our day. I reminded him of that drive tonight, and we made a pact to go find it again this summer. The thought of finding that happy little field again puts a silly grin on my face.

\

Dear Winter

{Because an unexpected buffalo picture can make anyone smile. Yellowstone - August 2012}

Dear subzero temperatures: You have overstayed your welcome. I'd like to go back to the 50 degrees we had last week. Please. Thank you. Dear Vermont: I can't wait to see your snow covered slopes in a few hours. It's been far too long. Dear legs: Please don't give up during our 5K snowshoe adventure tomorrow. Windchill of -12 and the fact that you haven't even walked a 5K in the last two months are not excuses for wimping out. Dear Family:  I can't wait to see you this weekend. Life seems to be too busy for all of us lately. Dear winter: You've been fun, but I'm starting to get a bug commonly referred to as spring fever. I'm sure a little mini trip to somewhere warm and exotic would be the perfect remedy :)

Happy Weekend!

Some Beachiness for a Wintry Day

I'm having some serious spring fever right now. I would do absolutely anything to be sitting on a beach right now. Not a snow covered beach, I mean a tropical paradise.

And we are only halfway through January. 

Uh oh. 

So, I thought I'd share a post I wrote early last summer but never published. I would do anything to accelerate into June so I can spend some time on my beloved Cape beaches.

_________________________________

Dennis is my favorite. 

It is the town I spent a week or two in each year growing up. It's the town in which we have a cozy Cape cottage that is now our weekend retreat. It's the town of so many childhood memories.

Growing up, my parents, brother and I would journey from Texas to the Cape and meet up with my aunts, uncles and cousins. We would take over Corporation Beach with our umbrellas, beach chairs, shovels and pales. So many happy days were spent in the sun and sand along the bayside shores. I still get that happy-go-lucky childish excitement when I go to these beaches.

I don't build as many sandcastles as I used to, and I'd probably kill myself if I tried to skimboard again. I rarely get in the chilly water (usually around 65F on a warm day) except on those scorching days of July and August. However, I love watching today's children do the things that used to give my brother, cousins and me hours of entertainment.