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Monday, August 26, 2019
Goodbye August
The last week of August. How did we get here? In a way it feels like the summer was endless but on the other end it feels like it was just the end of winter and getting nice and warm outside. And now we are on the other side of things already again. Today it definitely feels like fall is coming. It's only 52F (11C) right now and the high is going to be 73f (22C). Not bad weather of course and all in all I prefer this weather compared to the crazy humidity and heat. This makes for much better sleeping weather as well. I think my only hang up with it is that it feels bittersweet. Because while I really enjoy this weather I also know that it's only going to last for so long before it turns really cold and never ending winter takes over again.
Of course we'll probably have some more summer weather in the coming weeks. I predict at least a few more 80 degree days (27C) September usually is a pretty nice month in New England. But temps can swing quite wildly. It can feel like summer one day and fall the next day. And sometimes even in the course of a day. Oh well, we can't change the weather so will just need to make due with what we are given, right? :)
Not really all that much new otherwise. We had a pretty low key weekend all in all. Sunday we went back to Hawk Ridge Vineyard. This time we tried their food and ordered a cheese platter and the buffalo chicken dip. Plus a bottle of the "Shake Your Tail Feather". Was fun to sit outside on the deck, hanging out, people watching, for a while. Then we stopped into 121 for a bit after before going home and catching up on some recorded TV and Netflix.
Sunday was a similar day. We slept in and then went to have brunch at Gaudi. It's a tapas place in the town bordering ours and we had been meaning to try it out for a while now. It was an odd experience though. The food was good but the whole atmosphere was really strange. We were also the only 2 people in there the whole time we were there. The place gets really good reviews online so I dunno, maybe it's a different experience at dinner. But brunch was kind of strange. They had a three course prix-fix type deal but only two choices for each course. Mike didn't really like anything that much so he decided not to eat. I had a spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts for the 1st course, paella for the 2nd and creme brulee for the 3rd. The paella was really good. Anyway after that we went to Rosys and Mike was able to get his crab legs one more time (they are on the seafood fest special menu that only lasts throughout the summer) so he was happy with that. Eventually headed home and binge watched the rest of season 3 of 'Designated Survivor'. Kind of sad that the show is done now. Are they not doing a season 4? I really like what Netflix did with the show.
Letter/Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a reply to: Celia/MA.
Posted by Hanna at 07:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, August 19, 2019
Low Key Weekend
Yup it's Monday again. Kind of dragging this morning but then I guess that's about normal on a Monday. Honestly Monday is my least favorite day of the week. Also going to be really hot again today. There's a heat advisory for our area. I guess at least I'll be at work inside with air conditioning so it could be worse. It's supposed to be hot for the next few days before it cools down again. I guess all in all I shouldn't complain. Before we know it the weather will turn and it will get cold. I do look forward to fall but it's a season that just never seem to last very long. Where winter seems to last forever. Oh well. Can't do much about the weather.
Let's see, what else? Had a pretty low key weekend all in all. Saturday we went to the movies to see "Blinded by the Light" which was really good. A British independent film centered around a Pakistani teen growing up in the 80ies in Luton, England who discovers a love for the music of Bruce Springsteen. I'd definitely recommend the movie. It's inspired by a true story and was definitely a fun watch. After the movies we went for lunch in Oxford at 121. And later caught up on some TV. On Sunday we slept in which was nice and then went for lunch at Rosy's. They still have the Seafood Fest going on and Mike's a big fan of their crab leg special so we always have to go a few times every summer so he can get the crab legs. Hung out for a while and eventually left to run some errands and then to head home to catch up on more TV. We finished watching "Another Life" and then started on the latest season of "Designated Survivor". The latest season is only 10 episodes. It used to be on ABC but was cancelled and then picked up by Netflix. Sort of the same thing that happened to "Lucifer". We did already watch all the Lucifer episodes. I like the concept of Netflix and the various streaming services where you can binge watch a show after it gets released but it also makes the wait in between seasons so much longer. Oh well, is what it is I suppose.
Alright, not much else going on at the moment. Another week ahead. I have a feeling it's going to be very busy for the remaining August weeks at work. It will probably get somewhat better after Labor Day. Well, just need to hang in there and I guess it will be here before we know it.
Letter/Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a reply to: Celia/MA.
Posted by Hanna at 07:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, August 12, 2019
Boston Weekend
And it's Monday again. My standard opening for 90% of my blog posts I think. Last week dragged, was busy but otherwise uneventful. But the
weekend was a lot of fun. :)
Saturday morning we left Danbury around 8.30 am and headed up to Boston. Our hotel was in the Seaport district and was quite the unique experience. We stayed at a Yotel. Here's how they describe it on their website "Old England meets New England – and any tea parties will be of the entirely social sort! Inspired by Japan, defined by a Brit, YOTEL delivers ergonomically designed rooms, that optimize the available space, and make smart use of technology to save you time and money" The room was truly tiny but had everything we needed. The bed was super comfortable and the whole experience felt very futuristic. lol. Valet parking at the hotel would have been $50 (no thank you) so we parked at a nearby garage where they had a $5 weekend special so we paid just $10 for parking. Much better.
After dropping off our bags at the hotel we walked over the bridge to the harbor area near the aquarium. Had lunch at the Legal Seafoods there. Delicious as always. After hanging out at the Legal Seafoods we intended to go to the aquarium but there was a super long line, mostly filled with families with kids in strollers. Again, no thank you. So we decided against that idea (plus admission was $31 per person - yikes) and instead walked over to the Hard Rock Cafe near Quincy Market. Looked at some shops and then had a couple of drinks at the Hard Rock.
Afterwards we meandered our way back to the hotel via the Harborwalk which goes along the water and made for a nice walk. Stopped at the hotel for a bit to freshen up and then headed back out. The plan was to go to the Legal Seafoods in Harborside. It's a 3 story building and each floor offers a different experience. I had looked this up online and the 3rd floor looked really nice. Rooftop bar offering a limited menu with small plates and sushi. It looked like a fun place to hang out enjoying the views. Well it seemed like a good idea until we discovered they turn it into a sort of club type place with bouncers and a rope and a wait in line. We did stand in line and made our way up there but ended up not staying. Really not our scene. Too bad because the views were super pretty. Oh well. Instead we headed back downstairs and went across the street to the Legal Test Kitchen. (yes there are a bunch of Legal Seafood restaurants in Boston and the surrounding areas) Had a light dinner there and some wine before heading back to the hotel.
Sunday we slept in which was nice. Then checked out around 10.30 and brought our bags to the car in the garage. Stopped at a neat coffee shop called Caffe Nero. Apparently an UK chain that also exists here in the US, just not in our area where we live. Hung out there for a bit before having brunch at the Trillium Brewery. They also have a rooftop bar so we headed up there to start with but as they had no umbrellas or shade up there it was just too hot. We had a drink up there and then headed back downstairs to eat. Delicious. Hung out for a while before eventually having to leave to had back to CT. Traffic was annoying but then nothing much else could be expected coming back on a Sunday late afternoon I suppose. We eventually made it back a little after 6pm so really not too bad. Met up with our friend John and hung out for a while.
And well here we are. It's Monday again. Let's see what this week brings at work. Not sure I am ready for another week but ready or not it will have to be ok. Can't believe we have already made it into the middle of August. Crazy.
Letter/Mail Update: A letter is going out today to Lotte/Denmark.
Posted by Hanna at 07:29 AM in Food and Drink, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 06, 2019
Hopkins Inn, Hawk Ridge Winery and more
Alright Tuesday morning. A little behind this week it seems. I have been pretty good about writing my weekly posts on either Sunday or lately Monday
but somehow didn't happen this week so here I am, Tuesday morning, instead. Alright, let's see. Well, it's August. I know that's very cliche but it's always a turning point of sorts to me when one month changes to the next. I really don't want to be wishing summer away because there are things I truly do enjoy about the summer. I like being able to sit outside for lunch/dinner, linger outside at wineries or other places, people watch, all relaxed. Being able to go for walks, the pretty scenery, blooming flowers, etc.
What I don't like about summer is the crazy business at work. Plus the crazy heat and humidity. It hasn't been all that bad with the heat and humidity this summer. I mean we have definitely had it but I think it was worse last summer. But we still have most of August to go so who knows. Work has definitely been crazy. I do feel like this summer has been worse than the last 2 I experienced. But who knows. It could just be a combination of different factors as well.
Anyway, last weekend was nice. Saturday we went to Hawk Ridge Winery in Watertown, CT. Completely accidental Google find. They have only been open for about 2 years but seemed really busy when we were there. Beautiful deck and grounds, a full food menu (we didn't eat this time but definitely worth coming back for) and good wine. Hung out for about an hour before moving on to 121 in Oxford for lunch.
Sunday we went to the Hopkins Inn. Pretty much a yearly ritual to go there once every summer. It's always great to have a delicious leisurely lunch sitting outside overlooking the lake. They have an Austrian chef so I always end up getting Schnitzel or something along those lines. We shared escargot for the appetizer and I had the Toblerone Sundae for dessert while Mike got the mint parfait. Plus some Earl Grey tea and we shared a bottle of Gruener Veltliner. All super delicious. It's also pricey so it's a special once a year spot for us. Really amazing though.
Well, now we are back in the work week and just trying to make it through the week. This upcoming weekend we are heading to Boston (for 1 night, Saturday-Sunday) so I am looking forward to that. The one thing I can't really complain about this summer is that even though we haven't taken any real vacations we have been able to sprinkle mini getaways and fun outings in throughout the summer to keep things interesting.
Oh, I probably didn't even mention it yet. But I'll also be going back to Austria at the very end of Sept into early Oct. Just for a week to visit with my parents.
Letter/Mail Update: Owe a reply/received a letter from Lotte/Denmark.
Posted by Hanna at 07:30 AM in Food and Drink, Outdoors, Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)