All posts by Sunny Bridge

I love travel, seeing and photographing new places, meeting new people, learning languages (focusing on French, although I've recently started also learning Spanish). In the past few years, I've been discovering the joys of poetry, both reading it and writing it. You can reach me at sunnybridge@msn.com.

New Adventures

New England Part Two

27 October 2015 Sunny Bridge 2 Comments

We just got back from a whirlwind visit with Chelsea in Alexandria, Virginia, but more about that once I finish the posts for the New England trip, so stay tuned . . . .

While at Sunapee, before the boat was picked up to be winterized, we had a chance for one calm, cool booze cruise . . .↓. . . and a couple not quite so calm, including a chilly, breezy swing by the quirky Sunapee house of Stephen Tyler (of Aerosmith fame, for those who may be unfamiliar with the name, like my classical music loving dad) . . .↓ (Mr. Tyler did not appear to be home, as the Jolly Roger flag was not flying. Whether he was or not, he did not invite us ashore.)

We also had a walk in the woods, where we found the Never Give Up Tree last year. Consequently, it’s my favorite trail, but now sadly in need of TLC, with lots of trees down blocking the path, including one with a directional arrow pointing skyward. We chose to stay on the ground and appreciate the last of the season’s ferns . . .↓Another day, we drove over to the east side of the lake to walk around The Fells . . .↓. . . and discovered a magical little Fairy Village . . .↓

. . . where the young or young at heart can build houses for fairies. Lexi and I were enchanted, but David and Tom were apparently NOT feeling young at heart, so we didn’t stop long.

And on yet another day we headed up to Simon Pearce for lunch and a look at the glassblowers and their latest creations, stopping at Quechee Gorge on the way home . . . ↓

Then all too soon, it was time for Tom and Lexi to head home. We consoled ourselves by inviting the cousins, including the newest generation, down for cocktails . . . ↓

David and Eb in twin shirts – October 2015

Matt, Pola and Mason

Jenny and Vera

Vera

Mason on the Napping Couch

Skilled glassblowers and quirky musicians, curious babies and awe-inspiring nature, pristine landscaping and whimsical fairy houses. It’s all got me thinking of care and attention to the task at hand, while not losing sight of the mystery and magic of creation.

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning. ∼J.B. Priestley

Wishing you a bit of magic in your day!

(Third and final part coming soon . . .)

Coastal Cruising, New Adventures

New England Nostalgia Tour

22 October 2015 Sunny Bridge 2 Comments

There’s a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left. ∼David Guterson

Ah, home again! Just barely getting caught up after 16 days in New England. On the plus side, there are new adventures to tell you about, but way too much to share in one post, so this is Part One.

We left Colorado on October 1st, with traveling companions Tom and Lexi. The plan was to spend a few days, before heading to Sunapee, cruising up the coast from Boston, visiting various landmarks of their time living in the area.

On the tour, Tom’s seminary (see him waving?) . . . ↓

. . . and the now defunct Red Barrel, which we had visited on a previous trip. Sad to see it crumbling away into ruin.

Fortunately, since we had already experienced the Red Barrel, we had already planned to lunch at another of Tom and Lexi’s favorites, the still thriving Woodman’s in the Rough . . . ↓

. . . where a poster offers the excellent lobster-eating advice: “What gets out butter stains? Nothing. Wear a bib.”

The next day we did a bit more touring, including Rockport and Newburyport, but it was so cool and rainy, we decided to head to Sunapee a day early.

By Saturday evening, we were here . . .

Here’s Tom trying out my favorite reading spot (especially when the fire’s going).

Of course a main draw of New England in the fall is the glorious foliage . . . We generally plan a longish stay in the fall to help close down the house for the season, but also to be sure we don’t miss the peak colors. This year they didn’t really get going until around the eighth, but then they were spectacular.

Couldn’t get enough of it. One of my favorite things about walking in the woods in the fall is the way it makes me want to look up . . .

Things may be beginning to decay down below, but they’re glorious on high!

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet. ∼Thomas Merton

Wishing you minimal disappointment when revisiting old haunts and a wonderful colorful fall! Part Two coming soon . . .

Discovering Home

Celebrate!

29 September 2015 Sunny Bridge Leave a comment

Well, summer has come to a close. Time to stock up on tea lights . . .Okay, these gorgeous tea light holders ↑ are Lexi’s, not mine, but trust me, I use tealights. Bags of them. This is me just getting warmed up for the season . . .↓

But before we move on to fall, I can assure you this last bit of summer has been jam-packed. We’ve helped our daughter Brittany move into her new house. We’ve celebrated babies and weddings and even helped a bit with a rehearsal dinner. . .

Josh and Kelly practicing for the wedding reception

Here’s David confirming the quality of the wine and our friends’ new deck before the guests arrive . . .

I’ve had my turn to host both Book Club . . .

. . . and French Club (so busy concentrating on speaking French, I forgot to take pictures). We’ve been to neighborhood BBQ’s and hosted friends for dinner or wine and cheese on the deck. One night our friends Tom and Lexi agreed to be guinea pigs for a trial run of the mini-grill dinner party, like we had at Pascale and Jacky’s, and I’m happy to report, not one of us sustained any injury from inexpert tong usage.

We even had a mini-visit from our Minnesota daughter Courtney . . .

. . . who was visiting Brittany for a long weekend. So summer has not been wasted. We’ve appreciated radiant evenings, full moons, and lots of sparkling sunrises out our back door.

We’ve toasted and tasted and shared and enjoyed it all (well, maybe not mosquitoes, but most of it). So now fall is here: more plans, trips and projects, and best of all, new opportunities to celebrate life with those we love.

Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend.

Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words. ∼ Plautus

To all of you, both near and far, those we see regularly and those for whom a face-to-face takes a bit more planning, you have a place in our hearts. We celebrate you.

Discovering Home

French Connections

6 September 2015 Sunny Bridge Leave a comment

I’ve been feeling nostalgic for France lately, so have been trying to find bits of la belle France wherever I can. Our stone fireplace surround is now installed and looking fabulous and very French . . .

. . . and I had another appointment recently with my Longmont doctor (who helps me keep the skin cancer at bay). This allowed me to revisit one of my favorite shops, the very excellent Cheese Importers, where there are so many French things–books, linens, jams, shopping baskets, knives, butter and cheese (of course)–it’s all I can do to keep speaking English while I’m in there. Bonus, I found a wide selection of French butter, not Beurre aux Cristaux de Sel de Noirmoutiers, I’m sorry to report, but a couple of brands of butter with semi-noticeable sea salt crystals, so that’s a plus. Definitely taking a larger cooler next time so I can stock up!

Closer to home, here in downtown Fort Collins, there is a wonderful shop called EsScentuals with all kinds of fabulous products for body, bath and home. The whole place is a treat for the senses, even the entrance . . . ↓

EsScentuals--142 South College — EsScentuals–142 South College — Note the French watering can.

The owner, Meg DeWeese, has lived in France and is married to a Frenchman, so the French flavor of the shop is no accident. The main floor is full of oils and lotions and soaps and other temptations, but my favorite part of the shop is downstairs, called 142 Bis, where you can browse and discover all kinds of arty, beautiful French things. Love it.

Also here in Fort Collins, this weekend saw another running of the annual Tour de Fat, which has almost NO connection to France except the obvious play on words with Tour de France and the fact that bicycles are involved.

And yet, it did remind me of a few of the crazier Saturdays in La Rochelle, which you can revisit here and here and here and here. It was clearly an opportunity to celebrate the joy of friendship.

So today, I’m very grateful for our many stateside friends and family, but I’m also missing Pascale and Jacky (La Rochelle), who took us on so many adventures and opened their home (and la cave) to us for so much delectable wining and dining; Dany and Francis (Tours), who actually interrupted their vacation, returning home for a few days to take us wine-tasting in the Loire Valley; and Natacha (La Rochelle), my patient and encouraging tutor, without whom my ability to have ANY French friends would have been severely limited. Merci mille fois à tous! S’il vous plait, venez nous voir bientôt!

Let us be grateful to those who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ∼Marcel Proust

Wishing you warm connections, French or not!

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