I Heart New England

Christmas in Connecticut (Part Two)

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:48:00 +0000

Hi, again, everyone!

To jump right back into the narration of our trip, Jacob and I

had just decided to leave Mystic Seaport; it was snowing like mad outside

(that kind of snow where you can barely see your hand right in front of you!) so

we wanted to make it back to the inn before it was too difficult to drive!

Now, mind you, we're from New York, so we've been in many a'snow storms before-

it wasn't the severity of the weather we were unprepared for... it was the absolute BEAUTY

that lay before us. Friends, when I tell you that snow was made to adorn a landscape such

as New England, I am not lying. I can say first hand now- snow was meant to frost each
rickety old sleepy home, was meant to spill over the hills and paint each three hundred
year old tree... Snow was simply made for New England, and New England, it.

Just see for yourself:

The house when we arrived... say hello to the innkeeper and her dog!

Most people, when they think of being stunned by nature, they think of something

spectacular- like standing over the cliff at Niagara Falls, or seeing the pyramids with

their very own eyes... those are all wonderful sights- granted. But I don't think anything

is quite as breathtaking than witnessing a silent New England snowfall ornamenting a two-

hundred and fifty year old house that has seen hundreds- no, thousands- of these snowfalls...

and yet is never the less so complimented, never the less stunning to all so fortunate to see it.

So, after soaking in this scene before us, we retreated to our room for awhile,

but not alone! Rather accompanied by a humble little hostess...

Hobo, the cat!

... Who was quite thirsty, as a matter of fact, so we were happy oblige her

(and she was quite content in being obliged, I might add!)

Ready for dinner, and wearing the pearls Jake had given me for Christmas!

Before, we knew it, it was 7:30, and time to head out again into the gusting storm,

to have dinner at another lovely 18th-century structure: The Captain Daniel Packer Inne...

But I couldn't resist first taking this video for YOU, my friends and followers,

to give you a better sense at how enchanting and picture-perfect this evening was.

After a long ride of driving cautiously through the snow, we finally made it.

By the sight of the restaurant alone, we already knew it was worth it!

Inside the cozy restaurant


Our entree: Lobster Ravioli with Shrimp (it was incredible)

And Xango for dessert (aka fried banana cheesecake drizzled with caramel sauce... YUM.)

This meal was one of the most delicious culinary experiences I've ever had. If you are

ever in the Mystic area, I highly recommend (no- insist!) you eat here. You'll thank me!

Driving home, I had to make Jake stop by the Old Congregational Church on

Pequot Trail... I mean, can it get anymore charming, or what?

Going back in the inn, we snagged a few late night snacks.

We then popped open the champagne, and made a toast to the first of many

happy years (and many more wonderful trips!) we will share together ♥

Hobo was even there to celebrate! She preferred to toast herself by the fire.

We actually celebrated so much that THIS happened. :-)

The next morning, we sat down for the inn's exceptional breakfast...

Naturally, I had to admire my surroundings.

Something to munch on? How about some cinnamon sprinkled doughnut muffins?

Since I don't drink tea (I know! Sinful) or coffee- it was hot chocolate for me that morning!

We had an assortment of fruit for our first course, but of course, I

gobbled it all up before I remembered to take a picture!

Main Course: Eggnog French Toast (made with Portuguese

Sweet Bread), Drunken Applesauce, and bacon... Mmm...

Everything but bacon for me!

We also had peach sorbet for our final course, but- you guessed it-

I gobbled all that up before it had a chance too!

After that incredible breakfast, Jacob and I decided to go for a short walk around

the grounds and the neighborhood to soak in the "winter wonderland" outside.

I couldn't decide if it was prettier in the day or night!

The "backyard" (an active hen house is somewhere in the distance!)

The road before us...

This photo looked like a painting to me!

Our inn peeking up ahead...

Hello, Beauty!

Look who's been watching us through the door!

We think she was reminding us we had to pack- she actually followed us
both upstairs and napped on our bed while we did all the work!

Before we left, we had the innkeeper take a picture of us in front of the beautiful old

house that provided us so generously with many spectacular memories that weekend :-)

The dog even came out to say goodbye! (I think the cat was still napping.)

Before we headed home for good, I NEEDED to show Jake Mystic...

Mystic Seaport in the distance

Look! It's the famous Mystic Pizza!

Of course, we needed to become tourists and eat there... for the sake of saying so!

After lunch, we walked around the town a bit more, took a short trip to

Olde Mystick Village (an array of little local shops), and headed for New London

to catch the 5:00 ferry back to Orient Point, Long Island...

Jake and I soaking in the view...

Waving goodbye to the New London Lighthouse, and Connecticut... for now.

We'll miss you!

See you again real soon!

♥

- - - - - - - - - -

Want to see photographs from my first trip to Mystic
and very first stay at the Second Penny Inn in 2008?
Check them out here in these two links!:
http://iheartnewengland.blogspot.com/2010/02/stonington-ct.html
http://iheartnewengland.blogspot.com/2010/03/mystic-ct.html

Christmas in Connecticut (Part One)

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:55:00 +0000

So I'm a month late in saying this but- I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas!

Mine was quiet, and peaceful, and warmed by loved ones (old and new!)

Some memorable moments included being surprised by Jake with a gorgeous pearl necklace

and matching earrings, and surprising my bride-to-be cousin with a custom made cake

fork set with her fiance's last name engraved on it, as well as the date of their wedding.

Speaking of Jake- it was our one year anniversary on the 28th of December,

and in celebration of the occasion, we drove up to none other than Mystic, Connecticut

to spend the night at the impeccably beautiful Another Second Penny Inn. Did we have a good time?

No. Better! Not only was this trip lovely on its own, but it even snowed the night we stayed there,

and I officially experienced my very first New England snowfall. I don't think I've ever seen

anything quite so beautiful in my life, and I'm not sure I'll ever see something so beautiful again!

So we arrived in the town of Stonington, the neighboring town of Mystic where

our inn resided. Of course, my jaw was permanently implanted to the floor-

even though I had been there before, it was such a different experience being

there in the winter. It was seeing the town in SUCH a different light...

We stopped at Noah's for some breakfast...

... of which we enjoyed immensely

(the wild blueberry pancakes were to die for!)

Then we walked off the calories around this perfect little town.

So long, Christmas-time!

Before we knew it, it was after 12, and we were off again...

this time to our little borrowed slice of heaven tucked away in the woods of Stonington.

Another Second Penny Inn

The festive dining room

Yummy snacks laid out for the guests

The library

Welcome to our room... the "Denison" room ♥

The fire crackling

Picnic basket filled with useful goodies

The HUGE bathroom, with a sitting area, two sinks, and an antique tub.

Toiletries... my favorite!

♥

So, once we settled in a bit, we headed out for Mystic Seaport, the town's renowned

living history museum of a recreated 19th century New England coastal village,

adorned with houses, shops, ships, and shipyards all over the span of 17 acres! I had gone

with my mom during their famous Wooden Boat Show in '08, and I was excited to experience

it again- this time at a more low-key time of year with my fellow history buff boyfriend :-)

And then suddenly, like magic, it began to snow!

You think that's big? Think of the ship it was for!

After spending the day at the museum, we decided to go back to the inn.

It was coming down pretty hard at that point, so we thought it would be best

to nestle in and relax by the fire until dinnertime when we'd venture out
again into the storm to dine at the Captain Daniel Packer Inne.

When we arrived back at the Second Penny, we were truly not prepared

for the unadulterated, heart-wrenching beauty that lay before us...

You'll just have to wait for my

next post to witness it yourself!

♥

Catch Up

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Hurricane Sandy aftermath

Hi, everyone. I'm so sorry I never took the time to update you on how I fared

throughout Hurricane Sandy until now. As I'm sure you all know by following

the news on this storm, Long Island (where I live) was hit terribly, and my neighborhood

was no exception. I was out of power for seven full days, then lost it temporarily again

during the Nor'easter that hit us a few days later. My brother, who just got married

last weekend, was out until the day after his wedding! Needless to say, it has been

a stressful time. But I must express how our issues paled in comparison to the hundreds

of victims in the tri-state area who not only lost power, but their homes, and some even

their lives, as well. This storm was devastating, to say the least, and it will take much

longer than a couple of months for us to get back on our feet physically, and
especially and above all, emotionally. I can attest to that personally.

Halloween, 2012 (the darkest Halloween night ever.)

I'm sure a lot of you are wondering how my Halloween went amidst all of this!

We were still out of power during my favorite holiday, and I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed

myself this year. With the lack of lighting and heat and the surge of stress and worry,

it was very hard to get into the spirit of things in my house. Not to mention, most of

my decorations had already been taken down from the storm, and there were too

many other things going on for me to put them back up again, so I felt all my hard

work this year was for nothing. But on the bright side, we had TONS of trick or treaters.

Isn't that funny? I had bought so much candy before the hurricane in anticipation for

the many children in my neighborhood, but after Sandy hit, I was almost positive

that no one would show up on Halloween night... Wrong! I had more trick or treaters

than I think I ever had. I guess the blackout gave everybody a little cabin fever,

so what better way to alleviate that than doing a little trick or treating?!

So, all in all, even though Halloween this year was largely a disappointed for me,

I have to think positively towards the future and exclaim:

Next Halloween, I'm going ALL OUT!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, it's Thanksgiving time again!

I'll be having it here at my grandfather's, and plan on baking this for dessert:

My mouth is watering already... Thanks, SB! ♥

Here's wishing everyone a happy and
filling Turkey Day! And tell me...

What will YOU be baking this year?

Gobble, gobble!

Hurricane Sandy

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:23:00 +0000

It doesn't look like much- actually, it looks quite beautiful- but don't be fooled.

We are getting hit hard on Long Island, and the storm hasn't even REACHED us yet.

Forty mile an hour winds gust through the trees, ripping at wet leaves and branches

Noises of unseen objects hit against the houses, the electricity flickers precariously,
and the wind. Oh, the furious sound of the wind... it rattles your bones despite
your being safely out of the elements at home. Nature is in a total frenzy out here.

We haven't been doing much inside- Jake, Lola, and I have stayed huddled under the covers

for most of the afternoon, peeking out the window every so often to witness the havoc.

"Huh? There's a hurricane approaching?" Zzzz...

We're prepared with lots of water, candles, a propane stove, and food. Fortunately (and

I emphasis the word FORTUNATELY), we still have electricity, and I truly hope it stays

that way, although as I stated earlier, the storm technically hasn't even hit us yet. We won't

bear the worst of it until around 7:30 this evening. I took down most of the decorations
outside, except for the gravestones. I've had one casualty so far- Norman Bate's gravestone-
but it can be easily fixed. Yep, things are pretty crazy out here on the island. I've seen pictures
of Martha's Vineyard, and other parts of Massachusetts, and it doesn't look too pretty there either.

To all of my fellow inhabitants of the east coast, please be safe.

I hope you have stocked up on all the necessities like water, canned foods,

some alternative form of cooking device for those with electric stoves, candles...

and of course, the "other" essentials like good books, board games,

cocoa, and furry pets to cuddle up with when you get a bit nervous.

Hang in there, everyone-

My prayers are with you all.

♥

Sleepy Hollow

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:42:00 +0000

How's everyone's October going?

Mine's been going along swimmingly!

from Jack O'Lantern carving (like the one I did above!),
to decorating a new house, to a night of haunted house jumping . . .

This was scary!

. . . It's been quite a SPOOKTACULAR month!

I even went on a little day trip up to Sleepy Hollow,

New York over the weekend with my boyfriend, Jacob. . .

Jake and I standing on the "Headless Horseman Bridge" ♥

Sleepy Hollow has always been one of the most special places

in my life. I have been going there religiously every October for about seven or

eight years now. I was initially attracted to it because I felt like it had the same

Halloween appeal as the larger-scale Salem, but was much less touristy and had a

more old fashioned "home town" feel. When I first began coming here, most of their

Halloween events were geared towards the local crowd; high school haunted hayrides

that soared through the town, lantern-lit spooky walks through Phillipsburg Manor,

low-key readings of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at the Old Dutch Church

where they'd serve ginger snaps and warm apple cider over the pot belly stove.

It was simply magical, and it kept me coming back year after year...

Of course, things didn't stay the same.
I noticed the change a couple of years ago when they officially got rid of Legends Evening
at Phillipsburg Manor and replaced it with "Horseman's Hollow"- a gimmicky, circus-like
haunted house with "vampire pirates" and a gruesome Ichabod Crane. Then they changed
the high school hayride around, replacing the unique and detailed scenes we would drive by

with an overabundance of more "vampire pirates," and forgetting all about the Headless

Horseman that would appear at the end of the ride. They got rid of the original reader

of the Legend at the Old Dutch Church, a theatrical and engaging man who kept you at
the edge of your seat, to a dumb-downed and overly-kid friendly reader whose voice

was that of a five year old's, and completely obliterated the atmosphere of the tale.
The swarms of tourists continue to congest the streets more and more every year,
adorned in their "Horseman's Hollow" t-shirts and spoiling the peaceful ambiance
that I once so fondly cherished. You'd be lucky if you can find a ticket to anything
on a Friday or Saturday evening... everything is cluttered... everything is sold out.

All of these things broke my heart as the years progressed, but I kept coming back,

and did so again this year, because despite all the changes, it still remains an enchanting

and extremely beautiful place. And I wanted more than anything to share it with the man

I love, so I did! This past weekend. And guess what?... We had the best time.

Cute store in town. Howdy back!

Lovely view of the Hudson River

Jake and myself again... Isn't he so cute!

The gift shop at Phillipsburg Manor... See anything you like?

Getting ready for our walking tour of the Old Dutch Burying Ground...

The Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow!

Say cheese!... Bah! The sun was in our eyes!

Sweet little Jack O'Lantern by the door of the church.

Snapping some photos of the cemetery

Lovely!

Taking a walk to the "Headless Horseman Bridge"

(Sorry, couldn't help myself. Too ca-hute.)

Exploring the brook on the way... See the bridge in the background?

King of the Hollow!

Simply beautiful.

Taking it all in...

Lonely gravestone spotted on our walk back.

Silly faces!

I ♥ Autumn ... don't you?

So, even though Sleepy Hollow isn't exactly the Sleepy Hollow I fell in love

with anymore, the heart and soul of it remains... amidst the colorful leaves that go

shushing in the wind, behind the weathered gravestones, underneath the old wooden

bridge, between every kiss and every laugh I shared with the man who holds my heart.

Yes, I just know it's still there.

♥

It's October!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 22:19:00 +0000

Say hello to my Halloween Cat

(who's turning fourteen on the 28th!)

♥

Anyone who's anyone knows that I love-love-LOVE October...

it's my favorite month in fact. I look forward to it all year long, and

when it's finally here I barely even know what to do with myself!

I surround myself with Halloween decor as a way to cope

This year has been particularly interesting since I moved for the first time

since I was a year old- I've been so used to celebrating Halloween at my old

house, with my aunt and cousins who used to live with me... now everything

has changed. There's good and bad points, keep in mind! I truly miss sharing

this time with my extended family who now live a few towns away, and I miss

the home I grew up in, and the friends I left behind. Living at my grandfather's

has been anything but a picnic, as I've told you, and I really miss having a place

I could truly call "Home." But there have been good changes! For one, I met the

love of my life almost a year ago, and I'm so ecstatic to have someone close to spend
this season with. And another plus is my grandfather's neighborhood and property are
fantastic! There are so many children here, and his front yard is the perfect canvas for decorating.

Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself!:

Pretty cool, huh?

So, see! there are things to be thankful for.

And as an extended thanks to YOU, my followers and friends,

I'd like to spread the Halloween cheer by sending out some cards

to anyone who would like one! If you're one of them, please send me

an e-mail with your name and mailing address (erinxtreme77@aol.com)

... it'll be sure to make your day spooktacular!

- - - - - - - - -

That's all for now!

Wishing you a beautiful fall weekend full of

pumpkins, falling leaves, and maybe a few ghosts here and there!

BOO

♥

B&B Friday (9/28/12)!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:23:00 +0000

As per one follower's request, I thought the most appropriate way

to kick off my blog again is to start with a feature it was known for...

B&B Friday!

It has been so long since I've done one of these, I truly

had a ball snooping around for some gems to share with you.

Enjoy them!

The Coach Stop Inn

(Bar Harbor, ME)

"Coach Stop Inn, built c. 1804, is Bar Harbor's oldest inn, dating back to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. You'll be sure to remember Deborah's attention to detail and you will find that the food is what you will be talking about for many years. Come see why 'Down East' magazine says Coach Stop Inn is 'Where to Stay in Bar Harbor.' Chef Owned/Operated - Featured on 'Emeril Live'."

Rates: $100-165

West Dover Inn

(West Dover, VT)

"Enchanted by the summer's cool clear days, the autumn's brilliant colors and the winter’s quiet snowfall, the West Dover Inn brings to life the best of Vermont. Close to everything, yet far from anything, the inn is an ideal destination for a perfect New England vacation. Located only two miles from the base of Mount Snow, our home continues an important American tradition begun in 1846. Originally built as a stage coach stop and tavern, this inn has been lovingly restored and now provides 12 quiet, luxury accommodations as well as memorable dining in the 1846 Tavern and Restaurant."

Rates: $90-329

Amerscot House Inn

(Stow, MA)

"Built in 1734 and located in scenic Stow, MA, our traditional B&B Inn is situated on three idyllic acres. Located 27 miles from Boston, we offer four bedrooms with private baths and modern amenities.... The blend of antiques and modern comfort, wide floor boards, cable TV/DVD players, and complimentary Wi-Fi welcome our guests. We serve a full English breakfast daily using organic and local produce wherever possible. Situated in apple country, convenient to Boston, Concord, and Sturbridge, the Amerscot House Inn is ideally located for the business traveler or vacationer."

Rates: $130-175

- - - - - - - - - -

It's beginning to look a lot like . . .

HALLOWEEN!

Can you feel it in the air? Doesn't it smell a little sweeter?

The leaves... haven't they begun to curl and fade?

Have you seen any ghouls, or ghosts, or six-legged goblins?

I hope not!... At least, not yet. :-)

♥

Remembering Kary

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 01:47:00 +0000

Accompanied by the happiness of reigniting

my blog and reconnecting with old friends, I

also learned some terrible, unfortunate news:

a loyal follower of my blog, and dear friend,

Kary from My Farmhouse Kitchen

had passed away a few months back.

I was absolutely stunned upon hearing this - Kary was
such a beaming figure of the blogging world. At my most

active, she always blew me out of the water with her

lovely, vibrant, and spirited posts about her daily life,

her adorable pets, her shared love for New England,

and the Halloween season... to name only a few.

Needless to say, blogging won't be quite the same without her.

I am so regretful that I never had the chance to stay goodbye,

or keep in touch after I temporarily drifted away from blogging.

She was such a kind, warm-hearted, and creative woman- as

heartbreaking as it is to have lost her, I am so glad to say I had

the honor of knowing her, and the pleasure of calling her my friend.

With the arrival of Autumn, and Halloween so very close behind, I can't

help but think that she is looking down on all of the excitement, and smiling...

enjoying it the same way as she had done so preciously during her time on this earth.

Kary, you will truly be missed.

Her beloved dog, Teddy

♥

A New England Kind of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:12:00 +0000

"We are in for a spell of perfect weather now, every day luminous,

every night brimmed with stars. Picnics at noon, supper by the
applewood fire at night, a walk in the cool moonlight before bed."

~ Gladys Taber

It's Autumn in New England!

... Wait a minute. Have you forgotten me?

I think I may have forgotten about me in the middle of

all my distractions! I know I say it all the time, but I need to

say it again- I feel ashamed that I haven't updated this blog

in so long! July was such a long time ago! I always come back

to all of you with confidence that I'll start blogging regularly again,

but alas, life gets back in the way, and there I am... stuck in the same hole.

That thought got me to thinking...

Maybe I need to adjust the mission of this blog to accommodate the

thing that keeps getting in between it. I know one of the main reasons

I don't blog as often is because I don't have the time to think of a New

England related topic to post about. But what about my own life?

Even though I don't technically live in New England, I can say with

confidence that I try to center my life around its essence, and how
its beauty, and its homeliness, and its tradition make me feel.

... I know I'm living a

New England kind of life!

(As many other of you can attest to as well.)

So, should I blog about my daily experiences on how I'm

striving to live a "New England Kind of Life"? You tell me!

If I feel that most of you like the idea, then I will immediately
shift the gears of this blog and get to posting about new things!

What to Expect?:

Much of the same New England things I've always blogged about!
My baking
Decorating
Holiday Celebrations
Weekend country excursions

Think of it less as a total transformation, and

more like a fresh makeover for my blog!

Anyways, leave me a comment of what you think...

Don't be shy to say you hate the idea!

I'll take all opinions in consideration.

In fact, while you ponder this, I recommend you throw on
some comfy pajamies, light a few pumpkin-scented candles,
and whip up a batch of Susan Branch's deliciously soothing...

Talk to you then...♥

Blueberry Crumb Bars!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:18:00 +0000

Hello, everybody!

How's your summer going?

Anyone have any New England vacation plans,
or already have one under your belt?...

If so, please share them with us!

And for those of you who don't have anything planned,
yet still are craving a taste of our beloved region, fear no more-

The quickest way to get a taste is to find a regional recipe!

And I just so happen to have the perfect one for you ♥ . . .

Blueberry Crumb Bars!

This recipe hails from Bridgeport, Connecticut, and is

featured in Gooseberry Patch's Country Baking Cookbook.

Don't judge simply by the picture- believe me- it tasted much better

than it looked! Think of it as a buttery crusted blueberry pie, only

in bar-form, and much easier to make. Sounds like a winner to me!

Ingredients

1 c. plus 1/2 c. sugar, divided

3 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

1 c. shortening

1 egg

1/8 t. salt

1/8 t. cinnamon

4 c. blueberries

3 t. cornstarch

Instructions

Mix together one cup sugar, flour, baking powder, shortening, egg, salt and cinnamon.

Mix well with pastry cutter or fork; dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough

into a greased 13"x9" pan (I used a 9"x9" pan which worked just as well!).

Mix together blueberries, remaining sugar and cornstarch. Place mixture into

pan over dough. Crumble remaining dough over berries. Bake at 375

degrees for 45 minutes or until top is slightly brown. Makes 12-15 bars.

- - - - - - - - - -

Bon apetit!

♥

July is Blueberry Month!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:01:00 +0000

Did you know that July is

National Blueberry Month?

(and my birthday month! but that's besides the point.)

Blueberries are a New England staple. Let's face it -

they grow in abundance here! The very first successful

domestication of this fruit was achieved in none other than

Greenfield, New Hampshire! I don't think you can find a

single New England cookbook that doesn't contain at least

three blueberry recipes. And as a way to affirm this proclamation,

I've come prepared to share three of them right now!

(Tips: when acquiring blueberries for any of these recipes,

keep in mind, the tastiest blueberries are the darker, plumper kind!
Any blueberry displaying a hint of red indicates they've not quite
ripened yet. And please, stay away from any shriveled or wrinkled
looking ones- that likely means they've passed their peak.)

image courtesy of The Mess Pot

Blueberry Boy Bait

(this recipe is certified to hook a guy with one bite!)

Ingredients

    2 cups flour
    1-1/2 cups sugar [you can use as little as 1]
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    pinch of salt
    2/3 cup vegetable oil
    1 cup milk
    2 eggs
    2 to 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
    1 cup (or less) sugar [you can use as little as 2 or 3 tablespoons]
    1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl mix the first 7 ingredients with an electric mixer for 3 minutes.
Pour the mixture into a greased and floured 9x13-inch baking pan if using wild blueberries, 9x9-inch if using large blueberries.
Arrange the blueberries on top (up to 3 cups for wild berries or 2 cups for large), then mix together the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the batter.
Bake 45-50 minutes for 9x13-inch baking pan, or an hour for 9x9-inch pan. Baking times may vary, so check the cake for when it is golden in color and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Blueberry-Stuffed French Toast

(recipe courtesy of the Inn on Golden Pond

in Holderness, New Hampshire)

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese
    12 slices white bread
    1-1/2 cups frozen blueberries
    12 eggs
    2 cups milk
    1/3 cup maple syrup

Directions

Thickly spread cream cheese on 6 slices of white bread.
Place bread (cream cheese side up) on the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Evenly distribute blueberries on top of the bread.
Cube the remaining 6 slices of white bread and sprinkle over the blueberries.
Combine eggs, milk, and maple syrup and mix well. Pour this mixture over bread cubes.
Refrigerate overnight.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour (1/2 hour covered with aluminum foil, 1/2 hour uncovered).
Serve with maple syrup.

- - - - - - - - - -

Looking to pick your own wild New England blueberries?
Check out these links here:

Maine Blueberry Picking

New Hampshire Blueberry Picking

Vermont Blueberry Picking

♥

Winner of My 200+ Followers Celebration Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Happy Friday, everyone!

With the approach of this upcoming beautiful

weekend, I'm now prepared to reveal to you

the winner of my giveaway: the grand prize being a

brand new copy of Susan Branch's Recipe Keeper ♥

And the winner is . . .

Teresa Baker!

Congratulations, Teresa!

Please send me an e-mail (erinxtreme77@aol.com)

with your address, and I'll send your book on its way :-)

And as a little added bonus for the winner, and for all of my wonderful

followers, I'll now share with you a traditional New England
summer recipe to add to your collections!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Shortcake

with Whipped-Cream Biscuits

(courtesy of Yankee Magazine)

For the filling:

1 pound medium-size strawberries, hulled and quartered

3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided

    2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
    1-1/2 cups chopped fresh rhubarb (from about 2 stalks)
    Pinch table salt

Mix berries with 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons orange juice in a medium-size bowl.

Toss gently and set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine rhubarb, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring, until sugar melts and liquids are simmering nicely, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Rhubarb will soften as it sits. Add berries and stir. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400°. Grease a baking sheet, and set aside.

For the biscuits:

    Unsalted butter (for baking sheet)
    2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
    1 tablespoon baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon table salt
    2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    Freshly grated zest of 1 orange
    1 cup heavy cream, plus extra for brushing biscuits
    Coarse or granulated sugar

Meanwhile, make the biscuits: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and orange zest. In the bowl of a standing mixer, whip cream until it forms firm peaks. Fold whipped cream gently into flour mixture until dough begins to come together. (Add another tablespoon or two of unwhipped cream if needed.) Gently gather dough into a ball and turn out onto a floured surface. Press to form a disk about 3/4 inch thick. It will be slightly crumbly.

Using a 2-1/2-inch-wide biscuit cutter, cut biscuits and lay them on baking sheet. Brush with extra cream and sprinkle with coarse or granulated sugar. Bake until golden, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on racks.

For the whipped cream:

    1 cup heavy cream
    2 teaspoons granulated sugar
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Just before serving, make the whipped cream: Beat cream, sugar, and vanilla until firm peaks form.

To plate, split each biscuit horizontally. Spoon berry and rhubarb mixture on bottom half; cover with top half. Garnish with whipped cream.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

♥

200+ Followers Celebration Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Wow...

I don't know what I did or said, but somehow, almost overnight,

I gained over two-hundred followers!

Thanks, you guys!

As a way of expressing my gratitude, I'm going to be giving away

a very special recipe keeper book made by our beloved author,

Susan Branch ♥....

Keep all your favorite New England recipes in this charming

binder, decorated with Susan's artwork and glittered with

various cooking tips to help you with your culinary endeavors!

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment describing

your favorite place/area/spot in New England and why... you can

be as detailed and descriptive as you'd like. I really want to know!

I'll be announcing a winner on Friday, June 15th

so please stay tuned!

♥

xoxo

Blueberry Maple Oatmeal Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:42:00 +0000

I've been missing New England, and particularly Martha's Vineyard,

like crazy lately. Unfortunately this summer I won't be able to travel

up there as far as I'm aware of now, which makes me very sad. But that

still doesn't mean I can't have a taste of Martha's Vineyard within my

very own home... that's where these mouth-watering muffins came in!

I baked a batch of these this afternoon and they just screamed to me
walks along the shore, beach rose, cape homes, ship's sail...
New England!
The recipe, courtesy of the island's Ashley Inn, is as follows...

- - - Blueberry Maple Oatmeal Muffins - - -

Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Steps
1. Grease and flour muffin tins and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix eggs, cream, sugar, syrup, and vanilla.
3. In a second bowl, mix flour, oats, baking powder, and salt.
4. In a small bowl, add 1/2 cup of this flour mixture and toss with the blueberries.
5. Add the remaining flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir thoroughly.
6. Fold in the the blueberry mixture.
7. Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling them about 3/4 full.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

- - - - - - - - - -

If this isn't enough to satisfy your

New England cravings, guess what?...

The Ashley Inn is offering a

Memorial Day Weekend Special!

$470 for two nights in a queen-sized room with

private bath, cable tv, and WiFi. Also included in

rate are two full breakfasts... sounds good to me!

♥

Remember Me?!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:17:00 +0000

Has it really been three months since I last posted?

Wow...

How are you guys?!

Let's just say it's been a crazy few months for me.

Soon after my last post, my family and I were informed that

the two-family house we've lived in since I was a year old was to begin

to go under renovations. We thought, "Okay, well, that's not too bad...

Maybe they'll fix up our place!" Well, we thought wrong. Renovations

were hellacious; constant noise and people traipsing around our property,

ripping apart everything that I've ever known. And to top it all off,
after all my family and I endured during these two months, we receive

a notice in the mail in March stating that we were to be evicted

from our apartment in order to undergo further renovations.

Twenty-three years of living there,

ended by a single letter.

So where did we go from there?

To my grandfather's house on the south shore of the island.

We were very thankful we immediately had somewhere to go,

but when I say it has not been a picnic, I am being very kind.

Grandpa is, to put it simply, an extremely difficult and cruel person.

If I had to compare him to a single person, it would be this guy:

Yes, and I'm not talking about the enlightened Scrooge

after being visited by the three spirits- I'm talking about

the greedy, heartless, "Bah, humbug!" Scrooge who'd rather

count his money than develop a single human relationship.

It's bad.

So, we were out by the first of April, and have been living here

ever since. Like I said- it's been no picnic. This being stated, I hope you
all can understand a little bit why I've neglected this blog so terribly.

But! Now that school is over, and I have a little bit more time

on my hands, I thought I'd revive IHNE once and for all!

It's been too long since I've had a real New England fix-

What about you?

Meet Margery Mars...

an extremely talented watercolor artist from

North Monmoth, Maine.

She runs a website called Country Gingham Designs

where she sells her watercolors in the form of note cards,

bookmarks, and double-matted prints. And the best

part is: everything is New New England themed!

I discovered her work only a few months ago, and can

you believe it? I completely fell in love ♥

Her artwork is sectioned off into categories like, "Fruits,"

"Holidays," "Inspiration,"... "New England"!

I think you can guess which one is my favorite.

So if you're looking for a nice, thoughtful gift for someone

(or yourself!), Margery Mar's Country Gingham Designs

is the perfect place to search!

- - - - - - - - - -

I'd like to end this post by thanking all of you for

being so patient with me, and sticking with this blog.

I'd also like to thank those who sent me e-mails wanting to see

what was up! I'm extremely thankful, and indebted to you all.

I'll make up for my absence... I promise!

♥

Romance in New England

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Hello, everyone!

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

Hope you all have been doing well since I've

last posted... I've been- you guessed it- busy, busy, busy!

Hey, wait...

Do you smell that?

♥

♥

♥

Love is in the air!

♥

And what better place to smell that

air than in New England?

I now share with you two magical Valentine's Day

packages at two particularly beautiful inns:

Chocolate Lover's Paradise at the Another Second Penny Inn

(Stonington, CT)

A one-night package including...

Any room of your choice
5-course breakfast
Dining at Noah's or the Captain Daniel Packer Inn
Chocolate Fudge Cake for two
Gold Foil Goody Bag full of gourmet cocoa, locally made truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate-dipped madeleines.

Weekend rates are $269/couple per night

Weekday rates are $229/couple per night

♥

February is for Lovers package at the Captain Lord Mansion

(Kennebunkport, ME)

Complimentary gifts to enhance your romantic getaway include...

Bottle of Sparkling Wine
Lindt Chocolate Truffles
Dining Coupons
Discount Spa Packages
Full Breakfast each Morning
Afternoon Beverages and Snacks
... And more!

Weekend rates start at $239/couple per night

Mid-week rates start at $199/couple per night

♥

- - - - - - - - -

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥

2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:44:00 +0000

New Years Eve, Boston

Happy 2012, everyone!

... Am I too late in saying this?

Well, anyways! I'm just checking in on everyone,

letting you know I'm still here, and dreaming

of New England every single day. . .

It's also that time of year again where I start

brainstorming New England locations for my

annual summer vacation trip, and thought I'd

share with you my current top two choices:

Kennebunkport, ME

at the . . .

Captain Jefferds Inn

or...

Back to

Martha's Vineyard !

at the . . .

Victorian Inn

(... again!)

- - - - - - - - -

So, what do YOU think?

Tell me your ideas!

♥

December

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:47:00 +0000

These December evenings, where there's no need at all for electricity,

illuminate so clearly amidst the soft candlelight and patter of rain

that my cats are really angels sent down to me from heaven.

♥

How is everyone's December going so far?

Mine's been going pretty well;

wrapping up my first semester at graduate school,

keeping busy at work, and savoring every moment

I have to enjoy the season and all its magic!

Of course, looking at all these twinkling lights, and breathing

in that wonderfully tangy scent of evergreen, invariably causes

me to close my eyes and imagine I'm sitting in my own dreamy
little New England cape... but alas, I eventually reopen them

and I'm back in my New York apartment... but no fear!

I have Christmas Hope that one day I'll open my eyes,

and the vision will not change... I'll be Home, at last.

Just how I always imagined it ♥

For those of who, like myself, yearn for a taste of
New England (if not daily) particularly during this time of year,
I thought I'd share with you a couple of special events going

on in the region that are sure to quench your thirst -

that is, if you're fortunate enough to either live
in the area or have the ability to travel there!

Mystic Seaport's Lantern Light Tours

November 26th - December 27th

(Mystic, CT)

"Step back in time to Christmas Eve, 1876!"

Be guided on a theatrical tour throughout the historic village,

and get swept away by the bustle of activity and merry making

common in Victorian-era New England! Be wary of grumpy old
resident, Mr. Hyde, though- he's known to be a bit of a Scrooge!

Christmas Prelude

December 9th - 11th

(Kennebunkport, ME)

Voted the #2 Christmas Town in America by HGTV,

Kennebunkport unquestionably knows how to kick off

the Holiday season with a bang! The Christmas Prelude is

an annual event featuring various Christmas activities with
a heap of New England charm, such as: Santa's arrival on

none other than a lobster boat, craft shows, historic

tours, lobster bakes, and much, much more!

Candlelight Carols

December 17th and 19th

(Boston, MA)

Behold the true magic and meaning of Christmas at Trinity Church

with an unforgettable musical performance from the Trinity Church Choir.

Traditional hymns to be sung include, "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Candlelight Carol,"

"Carol of the Bells," in addition to 16 others, all amidst a candlelit setting within this
beautiful structure, named "one of the 10 greatest public buildings in the country."

- - - - - - - - - - -

P.S. ~
Would anyone like to receive a Christmas card in
the mail from me this month? If so, please shoot
me an e-mail with your information, and I'd be
happy to send some holiday cheer your way!
erinxtreme77@aol.com

♥

Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Wishing all my followers and friends just that!

♥

Glimpses of October and Marie's Trip to Boston!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:14:00 +0000

Afternoon, everyone!

As promised, today I'm going to share with you

some glimpses of this past October, and top it
off with the conclusion of Marie's epic New

England Excursion to Massachusetts!

But first, can you tell me...

Are these houses in New England

or New York?

... convinced they're from New England?

Guess again!

I took these photographs during a drive out east on Long Island, and

nearly drove off the road! Here on the island, we have many old

houses, but very rarely does one see such distinctive New England

architecture. It was safe to say I certainly got my NE fix that day!

------------

♥♥

My room...

Pumpkin picking...

Sleepy Hollow...

Lola's 13th Birthday...

Snow?!...

Halloween evening...

The most magical, most lovely time of year...
I miss it already ♥

------------

And now, without any further ado,
Marie's Trip to Boston!

Day Nine

"We went back to Boston the same way we came: by bus. Our hotel was now the beautiful Clarendon Square Inn, a really nice townhouse in Boston’s South End.
We pretty much just put our bags in the room and then started to explore Boston. We took a short walk to the Prudential Center where we had a late lunch/early dinner at Legal Sea Foods. Then we jumped on a Duck Tour bus as an introduction to the city. It was a really fun and informative tour."

Day 10
"We spent a full day on the Freedom Trail; it was really interesting! In the evening, we visited the Museum of Fine Arts and newly opened Art of the Americas Wing. It was a really nice connection to what we had seen during the Freedom Trail."

Day 11
"We started the day with a walk to Copley Square and visited Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library; both beautiful buildings. Later in the morning, we visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a great museum- I highly recommend it! We went back to the Paramount Restaurant in Beacon Hill for lunch; BLTs and iced tea. We then had a stroll around the shops at Charles St and went to Isabelle’s Curly Cakes for dessert. I had a Boston Cream Cupcake. Yummy!"

Day 12
"We packed our bags for the last time this trip. We then went on the T to Harvard Square and had a guided tour of Harvard Yard. We all agreed that this trip had been at least one week too short. We have lots of reasons to come back to New England, and I’m pretty sure we will!"

♥
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Well, I hope you enjoyed taking a virtual tour
of Marie's trip to Massachusetts!
I want to thank her for letting me share her experiences
with you all, and perhaps they might inspire YOU to take
a New England Excursion of your very own someday...! ♥

Marie's Trip to Cape Cod!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:44:00 +0000

Good evening, everyone... and

Happy November!

Soon, we'll all be basking in the aroma
of bubbling autumn spices emanating from
our kitchens... it's Thanksgiving-time again!

I'll try to show you guys in my next post some

of my Halloween adventures (including a short

video of my outdoor decorations on Halloween

night!) but tonight, I'd like to share with you more

of Marie's wonderful trip... this part, in Cape Cod!

Day Six

"Our time on Nantucket sadly came to an end (for this time), and we caught the morning ferry back to Hyannis. After arriving on the Cape, we took a cab to the airport and picked up our rental car. We then drove to Sandwich, to The 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center, inspired by I Heart New England! There we met my pen friend of 38 years (!) that I hadn’t seen for the last 16 years! She and her husband had driven all the way from Minnesota to spend three days with us on Cape Cod! What joy!
We had managed to get afternoon tickets to Eden Hand Arts and we just about got there in time to buy our Screwball bracelets and get them fitted. We haven’t taken them off yet!...

Back in Sandwich, we went on the Sandwich Boardwalk for a beautiful evening walk on the beach overlooking Cape Cod Bay."

Day Seven

Beach in Chatham

"The next day we drove up to Provincetown on Route 6. We visited and climbed the stairs to the top of the Pilgrim Monument from where we had a beautiful view of the land.
We then drove to Chatham where we took a walk around town and to the beautiful beach and the Chatham Light."

Day Eight

"On our last day together with our friends, we went to Plimoth Plantation to find out more about the Pilgrims. It was really interesting, both the Wampanoag Homesite, and the 17th-Century English Village."

- - - - - - - - - -

Stay tuned for the final part of Marie's trip...

Boston, here we come!

♥

Marie's Trip to Nantucket!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:38:00 +0000

Hello, everyone ♥

How's your October going?

Mine's been going pretty well, with the exception

of my trip to New Hampshire... I never ended

up going :( Due to personal reasons, it just wasn't

the best time. It's unfortunate, since this is the second

year in a row that these plans were thwarted, but the

Hancock Inn has been in operation for over 200 years,

so I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

There's always next year (...try, try again)!

In other news, I have a little Halloween treat for all of you!

I may not have any new experiences or pictures from a dreamy

New England getaway, but a very special follower and friend of
mine just so happens to, and asked me to share them with you!

Marie and her lovely family, inspired by my own trip

last year to Cape Cod and Nantucket (I was so flattered to hear that!),

traveled all the way from Gothenburg, Sweden to Boston, Massachusetts this

past July to see the city, the island of Nantucket, and Cape Cod, with their own eyes...

Day One

Acorn Street, Beacon Hill

"We arrived in Boston in the afternoon and checked in to our Back Bay Hotel. As we wanted to adjust to the time difference (6 hours) as quickly as possible, we went for a walk trying to forget that it was already late in the evening according to our inner clocks. We walked through the beautiful Public Garden with the Boston ducklings and the Swan Boats and around the pretty streets of Beacon Hill. We had dinner at The Paramount on Charles St."

Day Two

"After a good night’s sleep and breakfast at the hotel, we took a cab to South Station Bus Terminal. From there, we took the bus to Hyannis and then the Hy-Line High Speed Ferry (M/V Grey Lady) to Nantucket.

We arrived in the late afternoon and walked the few blocks to our hotel, The Union Street Inn, completely enchanted with Nantucket! We unpacked and indulged ourselves in having homemade cookies and iced tea in the garden (a treat that was repeated every afternoon). Later on, we went for a walk in town and had dinner in the The Brotherhood of Thieves' beer garden."

Day Three

"After a delicious breakfast, we went on a self-guided walk to explore the streets of Nantucket town. We climbed the tower of the First Congregational Church, and had lunch at The Even Keel Café...

In the afternoon, we went to the open house re-opening of the ‘Greater Light’ historic house, and to the interesting Whaling Museum. In the evening, we went for a lovely walk to the Brant Point Lighthouse. We had dinner at Cap’n Tobey’s Chowder House- had my first clam chowder!"

Weather vane at the Whaling Museum

Day Four

"We had breakfast in the gardenm and then went on a ‘Gail’s Tour’ in a van around the island which gave us lots of good information and a good overview of Nantucket. We had lunch, crab cakes, at Sayle’s Seafood. From there, we went on to the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum which was really interesting. Later, we went for a guided tour at ‘the oldest house’ and did some ‘Nantucket red’ clothes shopping. Dinner at The Brotherhood of Thieves again, this time indoors. Had my first lobster roll, which was delicious. Browsed at Nantucket Bookworks afterwards; I really liked that bookstore!"

Day Five

"A really hot day! We caught the shuttle bus to Siasconset. First, we walked the streets with the pretty little houses and gardens- I just loved the roses! Then we went on the Bluff Walk; through the outskirts of the gardens belonging to the big houses (mansions) at the edge to the beach...

We had a sandwich lunch at Claudette’s, and then went down to the beach. In the afternoon, we caught the shuttle bus back and the rest of the family relaxed in the hotel garden while I went to check out the shops. In the early evening, we caught the shuttle bus to Jetties Beach and had dinner at The Jetties; lobster pasta...

We walked all the way back and had our dessert at The Juice Bar.

I chose Coffee and Crantucket flavoured ice cream."

- - - - - - - -

... Enjoying Marie's New England excursion?...

Stay tuned for Part Two:

Marie's Trip to Cape Cod!

♥

October!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:13:00 +0000

October is here!

Jack O'Lanterns, woodsmoke, corn mazes, haunted

houses, pumpkin spice, rustling leaves, candlelight,

caramel apples, scary movies, bonfires, spooky
stories, flannel shirts, candy corn, ghosts and

goblins, foliage, festivals, hayrides...

Oh, my!

Easily, this is my most favorite time of year,

and in my personal opinion, the most beautiful

season in New England of all! What do you think?

I'm so looking forward to being in New Hampshire

in a couple of weeks (also, let's not forget the pit-stop

I'm determined on taking to Deerfield, Massachusetts! ♥)
Sigh...

There's nothing I love more than autumn in New England.

I'll never, ever forget the first time I experienced it up-close

in Marblehead, Massachusetts. It literally took my breath away.

See what I mean?!

It's been a couple of years since then,
and I am positively ecstatic to witness this beauty again,
this time in another wonderful New England state!

In other October news,
whoOoOo (in my best owl impersonation) would like to
receive a Halloween card in the mail from me this month?
If you do, please send me an e-mail with your address!
erinxtreme77@aol.com

- - - - - - - - -

That's all for now! I leave all you ghouls with
this charming excerpt written by Gladys Taber:

"Today I laid in a good supply of orange-and-black jelly beans and candy corn, together with small boxes of raisins and little bags of peanuts. Before we know it,
All Hallow's Eve will be here.
When our children were small, Halloween at our house was strictly a family affair. It was a time for funny masks-- nothing very scary-- and homemade costumes. The door-to-door trekking was brief, and a parent always hovered in the background as the small ghosts and pint-sized clowns made their rounds. Connie and Barbara used to argue. 'It's my turn to be the witch this year.' 'No, it's mine. You did it last year.' David quietly stuck to being a tramp. I think they dirty-face part appealed to him. We had plenty of cider, of course, and a bowl of apples to bob for and a big plate of freshly made doughnuts. And in the front window, a cheerful pumpkin face with a rather lopsided grin.
Now I am glad to see that the grandchildren are growing up in the same tradition. My own branch of the family is here this Halloween. The jack-o'-lantern is finished and Connie is drying pumpkin seeds for the bird feeder. Curt sprawls flat on the floor with a borrowed sewing machine. He learned to sew in his bachelor days and now he is stitching some strips of sheeting for Alice, who plans to be the Ghost of Stillmeadow. Small Anne is propped nearby, watching with fascination. The dogs have been shut out temporarily and they whuff curiously where it is quiet. They will all reappear later in the evening, when the children have finally been tucked in and the grown-ups have settled down in front of the fire to watch the last embers and wait for the Halloween candles to burn out softly."

♥

Autumn is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Never mind this humidity we've been having up north,

Autumn is officially here to stay!

I just finished decorating the inside of my house, had

my first cup of local apple cider of the season, and

am patiently anticipating all the wonderful activities

awaiting me in these upcoming weeks... exciting!

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite ways

to kick off the month of October is, to put it bluntly,

eating.

And I got just the recipes to share with all of you,

courtesy of the one and only, Susan Branch ♥

- - - - - - - - - -

My "Halloween cat," Lola (born on Oct. 28th, with the coloring to prove it!)

♥

Dream Home for Sale (Weston, CT)!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin @ I Heart New England) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:26:00 +0000

Where could I go to find more beauty
than in these New England Hills?
Drifting blue haze over the woods, long
light over the tawny fields...
Beauty to spare for all my needs.

~ Gladys Taber

♥

Afternoon, everyone!

I'm sure I've posted that quote here before in the

past, but I just find it so befitting to this blog, (and to

my life and dreams), that I can't help but re-post it!

So, the summertime is coming to a fading close...

Well, "fading" for the most part, if you discount the

massive hurricane that just wreaked havoc on the east coast!

In my area of New York, we were overall very blessed,

but the majority of residents on Long Island still have no

power! Aside from my little dead-end street, that is...

we were surprisingly spared (that's a first!)

Anyway, I hope all of you are recovering and well...

My heart truly goes out to the areas that were devestated--

May you all pull through as quickly as possible ♥

In other news, since I had been boarded up inside for

so long due to the snippy weather, I had lots of time

to drool over New England properties (as I tend to

do in impeccable weather, nevertheless!) for sale online.

One of them particularly caught my eye, and was immediately

added to my mental box of personal "Dream Homes"...

And I'm sure after sharing this one with all of you, it

won't only longingly be residing in mine alone!

24 Steep Hill Road, Weston, CT

($999,900)

"This charming antique farmhouse is embraced by a wraparound porch and stone patios. Sunny and bright, the home offers spacious rooms and numerous French doors. Enjoy cooking in the new gourmet kitchen...
the dining room showcases one of the 4 beautiful fireplaces.

Situated on 3 spectacular acres in the heart of town."

More information on this property ♥

- - - - - - - - - -

Do you feel it in the air?

The crickets feel it; they chatter noisily about it day and night;

My kitties feel it; they've reclaimed the most toasty spots on my bed;

The trees feel it; their leaves grow tired and more achy every day;

But above all, the breeze feels it as it gets an unexpected chill,

blows in a hurried gasp, and cries,

"Autumn is coming!"

♥