Family Rendezvous in Portland and one last time on the East Bay Bike Path

Every few months we get together with Susan’s sister Joyce, usually somewhere up in Maine. Dick and Dorothy would drive up from Massachusetts and Joyce would come down from Bangor (OK, Hampden) and we would all rendezvous somewhere in the greater Portland area, usually for lunch. Since these infrequent but very important family outings will soon come to an an end, at least for us -- Michigan’s a bit far for a day trip to Downeast Maine -- we thought let’s make this last get-together a special one.

And so we did.

The five of us met up this past Saturday at the Inn at Park Spring in Portland’s cool west end for an overnight. It was a gorgeous day as Susie and I made our way north up I-95. Traffic was surprisingly light, even as we passed through Boston on I-93 before hooking back up with I-95 for the last push north.

Soon after we passed into Maine we stopped at the Kennebunk rest area and I found myself face-to-face with a bus carrying the Johnson & Wales men’s lacrosse team. They were out in the parking lot practicing their drills, presumably getting ready for a match that afternoon.

Rest area, in case you needed to know

my own personal navigatrix like father, like daughter

We were the first to arrive at the inn and so after we parked and checked in, the two of us strolled downtown catching sight of some of the smaller gems, like a a lawyer's unique take on self-promotion and a wedding.

living room at the Inn; "felt like home," we thought

Inn at Park Spring

We had no sooner returned to the inn than Dick and Dorothy pulled in soon followed by Joyce.

The afternoon sped by as we chatted over glasses of sparkling wine. That evening we ate at a small but tasty little place on the east side of town, the Blue Spoon Cafe. The service was friendly and entertaining but not annoying, and the food delicious.

Joybell showing off photos of Adeline

block fire drill

dinner at the Blue Spoon

After we returned to the inn the five of us walked a few blocks to the Westin Hotel, where we caught the elevator to their 15th floor bar for a nighttime view of the city over an after-dinner drink. It was then time for a leisurely stroll back to the Inn and bed.

The next morning we were joined in the lovely dining room by two other couples also staying at the inn. The breakfast started off with fruit, followed by Eggs Benedict and all the coffee and juice you could drink.

Susie and I had a grand time and sensed that everyone else did as well.

Joybell Dick and Susie

After lots of hugs and goodbyes we packed up and headed back south to Providence. The good news is, we’ll get to see Joyce again in June but in Michigan; Dick and Dorothy will also head out to the wilds of western Michigan,  probably not until August. We hope to have a new home before then but in the meantime we will be living with Susan’s mom. Her condo has plenty of room and will serve as the perfect base of operations as we continue our search for our next home.

After we returned to Providence we changed into our walking clothes and headed out to the nearby East Bay Bike Path one last time. It was a gorgeous day; windy but sunny and we didn't want to waste a minute of it.

a little excitement on the bike path: police recapturing a couple of kids who escaped form a nearby children's psychiatric center

We leave Providence with our first load of goods a week from today, staying overnight in Canada, arriving in Grand Rapids on Monday.And then the fun begins!

There’s plenty more to come, so stay tuned!

East Bay Bike Path in early autumn

One of our  favorite green spaces in the greater Providence area, a place to clear the mind and lighten the heart while taking in expansive views of the head of Narragansett Bay, the bike path is, in a word, wonderful.

And last Sunday we spent a good hour or so taking in the view and letting go of the angst.

Enjoying the last days of summer in southern New England

The past week or so here in greater Providence (or lesser Rhode Island) has brought with it early autumn weather: crisp, warm days balanced by cool, almost chilly nights. Summer, it would seem, is behind us once again.

Work has been good for me while the French Tarte is gearing up for her next baking adventure -- more of that soon, I hope.

In the meantime, such gorgeous weather has drawn us outside again and again over the past few days:  on the East Bay Bike Path just south of the city, strolling Lincoln Woods State Park (north of city) and a walk around Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

East Bay Bike Path looking west across the bay.

notice the 3-masted ship motoring up the bay toward the city

kayakers at Lincoln Woods park

contemplating the kayakers and her next move. . . 

Freeland-Davis-Thompson families just inside the entrance of Mount Auburn

The Hughes family - beneath the angel lifting a child out it's coffin the inscription reads "to my wife and child"

The Sphinx

Bigelow Chapel

The Rev.Aaron Green family

RISD Art sale, East Bay Bike Path, Scituate Art Festival and Beef Stew in Massachusetts

A week ago autumn colors here in the greater Providence area struggled to restrain themselves from rushing headlong into winter and so there was still: plenty of green/to be seen. Last Monday being "Columbus Day," an official holiday here -- although why they celebrate the arrival of Christopher Columbus here in New England escapes me -- I had the day off and the weather cooperated as well, giving us a gorgeous fall weekend!

While Susie was teaching class a week ago today, Saturday  I scooted over to downtown Providence to catch the annual art sale put on by Rhode Island School of Design. This was my first time. . . and probably my last.

A couple of blocks of Benefit Street was closed off for the event and there were indeed lots of folks out and about -- but nothing terribly exciting about the art except for the prices. . .

On Sunday, we spent a warm, sunny hour or so walking along the East Bay Bike Path in East Providence, a wonderful place to getaway just five minutes from our home. Colors were just starting to turn. . .

low tide

Low tide often reveals some of the less savory aspects of the East Bay Bike path and points us to the past when much of this area was rife with industrial:

the navel patrol. . . 

On Sunday we drove out to western Rhode Island to the Scituate Art Festival. One of the major events in RI it's always heavily attended and jam packed with lots of cool art, some kitschy crap and comfort food (think ribs and BBQ chicken) -- but it's always worth the trip. And for us, well, for two years in a row we stop and pick up some of the funkiest little handmade glasses. . . unevenly cut, hand-painted by Neal Drobnis of North Scituate.

Neal Drobnis

From Scituate we continued westward heading into northeastern Connecticut before turning north in to Massachusetts and then back east in the direction of Douglas. We ended a wonderful day at Dick and Dorothy's house where we feasted on scrumptious beef stew with fresh-picked green beans right out of Dor's garden. A great way to spend a holiday weekend!

beef stew and fresh beans out of Dor's garden!

kitchen prep

Susie not letting me take her picture