More CT Exploring and Some Small Town Fun

Because I am a super nerd, I have printed this map of CT, and I'm coloring in each town as I explore.  Here's what my current map looks like...

A couple weeks I go I set again, starting with a hike at Mine Hill Preserve, in Roxbury, CT.  It's a 360 acre park with miles of trails and a 19th-century iron mine and furnace.  There's also a series of tunnels that serve as bat hibernacula.... yes, apparently that's a word.

  

Then on my way to the next town I passed this awesome/weird house for sale.  I'd seen it before and was curious, but this time I actually stopped and explored a little...

  

Later on I did a little research on the property, and it turns out the house was built almost entirely by one man on the weekends, a guy named "Cadillac Joe," who's a bit of a recluse.  I don't know if he's still around, but the house is for sale, and I'm curious to see what will become of it.  It has a really cool atmosphere about it, and a beautiful view of the surrounding woods, the only real downside is that it's very close to a busy highway...

 A few days later I ventured south, to Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth.  It's a charming little spot, and well worth a visit.

From there I headed further south to Westbrook, CT, which is right on the coast.  While there, I checked out Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Preserve.  There's a historic home on the property called the Enoch Murdock House, but it's a private residence, so you can only see it from the outside.  

The next day I drove out to explore more of Litchfield County, stopping first at Nonnewaug Falls, which has been on my list for a while.  The trail was beautiful, but it wasn't very well marked, and it was crazy hot outside.

Eventually I did find the waterfall, which looks a little like this... (not my picture).  Pretty, but not my favorite.  I still prefer Wadsworth or Enders Falls.

Meandered a bit after that, and found some other cool, random things...

That weekend at the Inn, I had a full house with a group I've been looking forward to hosting, a reunion group with some of my favorite ladies.  It was a very busy but fun weekend.  It was also the weekend of "Old Home Days," a local celebration here in East Hampton.  So one night Adam and I walked downtown to check it out.  Enjoyed some great live music, yummy snacks, and a ride on the ferris wheel.  Basically, I'm having too much fun this summer...

Coming soon... our NY & MA mini-vacation!

Fun in the Sun and Cool in the Caverns

Omg, you guys, so many fun things have happened since my last post.  

First, I went berry-picking at Lyman Orchards.  It was a cool sunny day and I was pretty much in heaven.

The strawberries were crazy small, but so cute I couldn't help but pick them anyway :)

My favorite corny joke is to just randomly text my siblings and say, "Hey, you know what time it is?"

And send them this picture (on the left).  This usually happens in the kitchen, of course, and things are pretty fancy in there sometimes...

      

Then a couple weeks ago I went to Jamaica.  Jamaica, Vermont, that is, to check out a tiny house builder called Jamaica Cottages.  It was a fun day, a beautiful drive, and I learned a lot about tiny house structures, cost, etc.  It's definitely got me more excited to build my own some day :)

I especially liked this one...

Tried authentic Indian food for the first time and freaking loved it.  Went to dinner at Tandoor with my friend Carolyn, the Broadway Baby, and to see a screening of the Broadway musical "Bandstand," which was amazing.  The acting and singing was unbelievable, the music was catchy and cool, and I just had such a nice time.

Then last Saturday Adam and I went to Howe Caverns in NY.

It was bloody hot outside, so we were very happy when it was our turn for the tour.  Got to hear a speech from this creepy cutie...

The cavern tour was incredible!  I've been in several caverns over the years, and I always have a good this time, but this is probably my favorite so far...

     

MOSTLY because at one point you get in a little boat and continue the tour that way.  I kept wanting to sing that song from Willy Wonka, "there's no knowing where we're going..."  haha...

They also had this cool Himalayan salt rock in the shape of a heart.  Standing on it is supposed to give you a year of good luck :) But I think we've been pretty lucky already...

The next day after cooking a farewell breakfast for my guests, Adam and I drove up to Easthampton, Mass to visit his family.  I've been wanting to meet them for awhile now, and to see his hometown.  Our first stop was Mount Tom, where I got a beautiful view of the valley.

The town itself was charming (this is not my pic, btw).

They also have literally the prettiest gazebo I have ever seen, ever.  I neglected to get a picture of it, but here's a picture of it at Christmastime I found online...

Dinner was delicious (though between being a bit carsick and the heat, I didn't eat much), and Adam's family was so friendly and welcoming.  I got to see Aggie's garden, Sylvia's animals, and had a nice chat with Joe about quantum physics :)  It was a great evening, and I feel so much more connected to Adam now that I've met his family and seen where he comes from.

We celebrated Independence Day on the 3rd, because Meriden was having a fireworks' show at Hubbard Park.  They had live music, yummy food, and I had such a fun time.  The fireworks were incredible, shot right from the top of the mountain where Castle Craig sits, and I got these awesome stills from a quick video I shot...

  

Isn't the world a magical place?