The Blog Tour - part 3

So where were we on that Sunday morning? Ah yes, wondering where to go next - Boston, back to Ashfield or The Berkshires even? - when the phone rang and someone answered our prayers. It was Kristin sounding really pleased that she hadn't missed us as she'd just got back the night before from New Jersey. Can you come and stay she asked? I nearly fell out of my seat. When Kristin and I had spoken about this trip we realised that we probably wouldn't get to meet as she would be away when we passed by her place and it was only because this friend in Boston couldn't have us that we were now free.You know I've spent this whole trip saying how blessed we were and it's things like this that made me say it.

Anyway, I did not need asking twice so it was off in the car and back down Tom's favourite motorway:

On route we stopped off in Grafton (what a pretty place):

and somewhere near there we stopped on the side of the road and bought lemonade and brownies off two lovely girls. We told them we'd come all the way from England for their treats and they looked suitably impressed:

Then it was another quick dip in a river somewhere (near Newfane, I think):

before arriving at Kristin's.

Oh Joy. What a beautiful house she has - the downstairs rooms are painted in soft leafy greens:

piled high with books, decorated with beautiful textiles, rich coloured cushions here and there, molas and paintings decorate some of the walls, other walls are painted like so:

Talk about eye candy. I just drifted from one room to another with my mouth wide open. It's such a lovely house in itself but the internal decoration really is quite stunning. If you want to see more there is a link to a magazine article here. Just scroll down till you get to Country Homes.

That night we had a barbeque, ate some more s'mores and all the children played board games till late whilst the adults chatted. The next day - guess what - we took Kristin and Julia to Elmers for brunch but we were too late - they'd finished serving and cleared up the kitchen. So we went over to the pizza place instead which was actually really nice. After that it was a visit to Historic Deerfield:

and a tour through one of the lovely houses which my children patiently bore but Julia loved and then back to Kristin's where the boys helped her husband to herd sheep that had gotten astray. They had a great time - my boys that is - and Rohan has gone back to his original dream of wanting to be a farmer. He got sidetracked by wanting to be a cricketer and then a rugby player in between.

Now next morning we were supposed to get up early and go to Boston but the children woke up asking if they could please go to Elmers and then to the glacial potholes before we left. So Kristin and I managed a bit of extra time together thankfully. I tell you I should have packed the others off and spent a day with K as we had so much to talk about and I wanted to see her work and her studio. As it was I managed to look through the books she's written and see some of her projects close-up. She is so talented and such an inspiring person too. I feel so lucky that I finally got to meet you Kristin and to stay with you too.

Look what she gave me as I left. A signed copy of:

and some balls of her lovely wool which is as soft as can be (it's a wool/mohair/alpaca blend). She let me pick what I wanted and I tell you it's so lovely I could have taken a ball of each colour but I didn't want to appear greedy:

So after a snatched hour to ourselves we went back to Elmers - "Hi it's us again" - and had a great brunch and a lovely chat with the owner who is from New Orleans. I didn't catch her name but I just want to say if you're reading, 'please come to England and open up an Elmers near us'. My children will love you forever and do all the advertising for you ....... and get pretty huge too, I suppose.

Well after a quick swim we really did have to leave for Boston and we did it with tears in our eyes. Thanks Kristin, Mark and Julia for being such wonderful hosts - can we come back next year please?

Three hours later we were in Boston where we got to stay in our first hotel. It really made us appreciate how amazing our trip was that we only did it once. That afternoon/evening we walked around Boston and then met Brenda and her family for supper. Brenda and I have been e-mailing each other for a while and I was so pleased that we were able to meet up. Sadly, the evening was far too short but we were well entertained by Jason, Brenda's other half who is a real character. The boys loved him as they did the two little boys - Jack and Nash. We all had a cuddle with Nash who is just six months old. To prolong the evening we went to Ben and Jerry's down the road but it really was time to go back to the hotel as we were all wilting by now. A sad goodbye was said and we went back saying what a lovely family you have Brenda and thanks so much for supper and for the lovely gifts you gave us too. We just wish we could have spent some more time together - you and I had so much to talk about.

Next morning we went to Cambridge and had another American brunch at Zoe's before we sped off down the motorway to Bridgeport to get the ferry to Long Island. In retrospect we should have spent the morning in Boston as Cambridge was far too busy and touristy but never mind.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that the fourth and final part will be coming up soon and then we can resume normal broadcast - as they used to say on the telly. Thanks so much for reading and for being interested in our trip. I wanted to share it with you to show you just how amazing this blogging community really is and also to pay tribute to all our lovely hosts and to say thank you to my wonderful (new) friends.

Comments

[sue]

Simmy~ Just catching up with you here. Very glad to see you made it home safe and sound! It was so nice to meet you guys, and so happy that the rest of your trip was so lovely! Can't wait to read 'Part 4.' Definitely have to head north one of these days soon.

XOXO

[caroline]

I am enjoying your tour of the States so much - thank you for sharing. The wonderfulness of it all comes across in your writing and photos.

[PG]

oh my God, you actually met Kristin! Lucky lucky you :) I'm not sure if I want normal service to return...

[laura]

i'm so happy you and your family had such a wonderful vacation!
i'm really enjoying reading about it and the pictures too...
:)

[Lemon Tree Tales]

Wow it looks like you and your family had a simply amazing time in America. It's so nice to know that bloggers are a great bunch of people. :-) Welcome back home!

--Tami

[lee]

I'm so pleased you loved my piece of the country so much! I get slightly embarrassed by how fond I am of Western Massachusetts and Vermont, and to have you so pleased to come and see it and frolic through it is very heartening. So glad to see you are all safely home, and (I can only assume) getting back to your regular summer lives.

[Sue]

Simmy your trip sounds marvellous, and you have made many wonderful generous friends too. It is like reading a novel when I have been reading about your trip, and seeing all the wonderful things you have seen too. The book looks quite nice too and the cushions look wonderful. How generous your friend was to give you such beautiful colored yarn too, and I am sure I would have wanted to pick a ball of every color too.

[Marie]

Oh, I am enjoying this trip with you so much Simmy! Amazing locales, amazing people, amazing experiences, just wonderful, simply wonderful! Can't wait for the next installment and sorry it will be the last ....sigh....

[Tracy]

So wonderful...It's been such a treat to be along with you on your journey to all the place you went to, and the lovely folks you visited with...Will be sad that next installment will be your last :o( I think you ought to go back soon so you can tell us more! LOL! ((HUGS))

[julie]

It really sounds like the trip of a lifetime - one that will stay with you forever, partly because of all the amazing sights but mainly because of the wonderful people you met and the fabulous memories.

[louise]

roll on part 4!!!

[Wild Rose]

It is just amazing how kind and generous this blogging community is. I think I may have written a similar comment earlier in the week, but people are just so friendly and welcoming. It makes me appreciate the wonderful friendships I am forming through my blog even more, as I know that bloggers are such special people.

Marie x

[Mary Ann/ca]

Oh please come to California next, I know lots of good yarn shops and I can entice the children with Disneyland! And I know the best brunch spot....

[Jessica]

Simmy, sounds like you all had a wonderful time! What a blessed experience. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

[pearl maple]

You have such a delightful blog here. Am enjoying all the posts of your travels. I know many of these places well but am a million miles away but your descriptions make them sound so much closer.

[sara]

Simmy, I have so enjoyed your account of your travels. I love visiting New England! You have really seen the best of the best. :)