Victorian Fair at Roseland Cottage, Woodstock CT

Today marks my one month anniversary of moving to Connecticut, and I have to say, I think I spent it pretty well...  Made breakfasts for the guests (Pumpkin-spice french toast with bananas and caramel sauce, sausage, and cotton-candy grapes, mmm :) while listening to classic oldies.

I took the scenic route up to Woodstock, through some beautiful countryside. 

I arrived just in time to catch the last half of an old-fashioned baseball game.

I decided to really get into the spirit of the event and a nice lady helped me find a costume.

I met lots of interesting people, and found many opportunities to talk about the Bevin House and hand out our business cards.

Each of them just lit up the moment I started asking questions.  It's really inspiring to see people who are so passionate about what they do, and it's definitely made me more interested in Victorian history.  

From there I took leisurely stroll around the garden...

And got a personalized tour of Roseland Cottage.

There was an adorable Barbershop Quartet, and one of the first songs they sang just happened to be "Love at Home," which I'd grown up with, and which has always been a favorite of mine.

There was also a couple doing "cane & parasol self-defense," which was fun to watch.

They also have an awesome Victorian bowling alley.

I paid a visit to the fortune teller, and her reading was curiously intuitive...

She said, (and I'm paraphrasing)...  You have been on a long journey.  You travel often and you've traveled far.  You have had many experiences and already at a young age, have led a very rich and full life.  But your journey is just beginning.  You have recently started a new phrase in your life.  the old life may feel like a ruin, but it's not.  It was the foundation you needed to be strong for where you are now.  You have been strengthened by the people you've met, and in this new phase of your life, though you are facing many unfamiliar challenges, you will rise to the occasion and be triumphant.  (Yes, she actually used the word triumphant :)  

Moving forward you will have a personal relationship that requires commitment, and this relationship will greatly contribute to your future happiness and success. You will make many new friends in your travels, and these friendships will stand strong throughout the years and bring you much comfort and happiness.

Anyway, it was something like that...

Finished the day by sitting on the grass near these fine gentlemen, listening to old-timey music and learning more about what they do and some of their misadventures.

By that point I'd been there several hours, and I was eager to get out of the hot clothes and find something to eat.

Drove over to a cool little restaurant called The Vanilla Bean and had a cozy lunch.  I even treated myself to a slice of caramel apple crumb cake (yum!).

Yeah... it was a pretty great day.