8.16.11

We're back from our lovely vacation in Massachusetts, and I have so many pics to share with you of our fun times up there!

I must add a caveat here, though, that I was sea-smitten this trip, and couldn't take enough photos of the great Atlantic and all the darling harbors & bays. As I took a walk almost every morning or afternoon along the shores of Hummarock, and we were out and about the local harbors quite a bit, you must prepare yourself for alot of watery snaps :)

With that warning firmly cemented in your minds, here are the pictures along with a little snippet of what we did with ourselves each day.

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Day 1

It gives me a little thrill to think that we've actually begun our vacation!

It seems like just yestereday I was counting the months till we were to start, and now that its upon us, I'm left looking wonderingly about me, trying to figure out where the intervening time has gone to.

A few days past, Dad sprung on me a lovely surprise by saying we would be stopping on Assateague & Chincoteauge Islands on our way to New England.

"I know that ever since you've read the Misty of Chincoteauge books, that you've been wanting to visit and see the wild ponies, so I thought we'de take a little side trip on our way through Virginia. What do you say?"

Yes, please!

Even though I've since outgrown my 8-year-old, starry-eyed adoration of horses, I'm still excited at the thought of seeing the islands...

Day 2

I'm sitting quietly here on my bed in our little chalet on Fourth Cliff. The windows are wide open, and I can hear the ocean, and smell & feel the salty breezes that are drifting through my room and giving the air a deliciously cool and pleasant feel.

Ahh, but it's good to be back in Massachusetts!

We all decided as we were making our way through the familiar streets that this really is the perfect place. It beats every place I've seen so far for quaintness & beauty, is so rich in history, the ocean is never far away, the weather - perfect, and... it's home. What more can I say to that?

We've lived in so many places, yet Scituate has always remained a constant in our nomadic lives, that we've come to look at it as home as we continue to travel back there from year to year to visit family.

And I guess, too, that it's the place we've lived the longest in. A whopping 7 years, yet still it's the longest.

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We finished the last leg of the journey today, stopping along the way in a cute town in Connecticut to browse around an antique store, and get some amazing homemade ice cream at a little deli downtown.

We got into Hingham around 5:30 p.m. and decided to stop at the Lobster Pound for a bite to eat, per the suggestion of mom. She's been talking about lobster rolls for the past few months, no joke, and finally got her fix there tonight. 

And I? I got clam strips. They were wicked good. And wicked unhealthy, but hey, I'm in New England and by the water, so I'm going to eat their killa' seafood, what d'ya expect? :) 

We went to the Hingham Harbour to relish our dinner as we sniffed the salty air. (As a side note, I think you can get high on that stuff. :) It was a gorgeous panorama to look out on - the bright blue water of the bay, the white boats bobbing contently about on the small waves that gently laped their sides, the shingled houses on the far shore, and the grey and white seagulls hopping about on the sand. Quite lovely.

When we finished unloading the car at our home away from home, I glanced outside and saw a gorgeous sunset over the water, and Mum & I couldn't resist running down to the beach to grab a few pics before the light faded away.

Spent the last few hours of the night at Gram & Gramps, and am now quite ready for bed. I hope to take a nice early morning walk along the beach, so I best hit the sack.

Day 3

It was the beginning of Heritage Days today, and consequently Gram & Gramp and the three of us betook ourselves to Cole Parkway to set up shop for Gramp's quarterboard signs that he sells down there.

I was struck how many people stopped to say hello to my grandparents and introduced themselves to us. I've really never been exposed to small town life, where almost everyone knows each other, that it was so novel to experience that. I like it, as everyone is so neighborly. I've never seen it so much as here in Scituate, and it warms the cockels of my heart. :)

We didn't sell as many signs as we expected to, but we put in a good days effort, and it was worth it.

 Our little threesome stole away for a few hours in the afternoon to visit the mossing museum before it closed. It was very fascinitating to see the artifacts, and hear the harrowing and heartwarming stories from the town. It makes Scituate dearer to me than ever as I learned a little more about its history.

I love this town.

 

Day 4

Rainy & grey today, but I took a walk this morning anyways, and later we braved the elements to visit a few of the historical sites that were opened for heritage days.

We stopped at:

1 - Scituate Light

2- Lawson's tower

3- Rebecca & Abigail Bate's house.

The latter was just recently gifted to the historical society and I was thrilled to be able to peek inside after wondering for many years what history that little yellow house held.

I've always loved the story of the American Army of Two. Such brave girls Abigail and Rebecca were! They've always been heroines in my book.

Betook our soggy selves to Gram & Gramp's for the rest of the day, and enjoyed the time thoroughly, gaining a little more info. about my ancestry. Fascinating stuff.

Day 5

Took a stroll along the shore, beach combing as I went and found a few little treasures the sea gave me. Ran errands this morning in Hingham, then went to Hummarock beach for our first swim of the year. Didn't spend too long, but it was perfect and a fun time.

Over at Gram & Gramp's - played cards.

Day 6


So I thought I got a pretty awesome tan today at the beach, but a few hours later I realized that awesome tan was really a not-so-great sunburn. Poor me :)

My uncle, aunt, cousins, and Gram met us at the quiet little beach right here at 4th Cliff. The day was sunny & the water refreshingly cool. Went exploring the beach with Christian looking for sandollars and starfish.

I've learned kids are pretty fun to hang out with. They're so much more intelligent than we give them credit for, and their imagination and enthusiasm for life remind me to appreciate it as well.

As we left the beach, the weather turned cool and breezy with clouds. It felt so nice! You never get sick of the weather here as it's always changing - even now it's raining!

Went with everyone back to Gram & Gramp's house and spent the rest of the evening there.

We're back at the chalet now, and I am exhausted! So ready for bed!



Day 7 

We picked up Mike and Ally at the airport in Boston (yay! so glad they could come!), and then drove a few hours more to Kennebunk, Maine to crash our relative's vacation. Nah, not really :) My aunt and uncle actually asked us to come up and visit them if we could make it, so we took them up on the offer and spent a lovely afternoon with them.

It was great being able to meet my newly adopted cousin, Wren, and we all couldn't admire her cuteness enough. :)

Went blueberry picking at an organic blueberry patch, and came back with about 7 quarts of berries, and our stomachs stuffed and our tongues stained purple from the big, juicy Maine blueberries.

Day 8


Mom woke me at 6 this morning, and told me to look out the window at the amazing sunrise. I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity, so I ran outside with my camera and went as quickly as I could, picking my way over the rocks scattered along the beach trying to reach the tidal pools before the beautiful light faded.

So, I had my last prowl along the beach before we pack up our things and to Grandmother's house we go (and Grandfather's too) where we'll spend the remainder of our vacation till Sunday.


Later

Spent a quite but nice day with the family, just enjoying reading, eating some of our Maine blueberries on a bench in my grandparents backyard, and walking around the soft and lush green grass, reliving again all the times I played outside in these very spots when Mike and I were little folks.

Took the opportunity in the evening to head, once more, to the Hingham lobster pound so Mike and Ally could have a taste of their yummy seafood before we left.

The sunset was beautiful over the harbor, and it give me a little heartache to think that we'll be leaving here soon. Just one more full day before we make the trek back home on Sunday.

I'll definitely miss it here - no, we'll all miss it here - but we've taken away some wonderful memories with us...