Tuesday, June 26 - Massachusetts

Good evening, intrepid followers. So much has happened the past few months! My little house is being painted inside, as you know, which has been disruptive. I do not like disruptive in my life but am handling it well :) It also has me rearranging things, which in turn led to more purging items I no longer want or need. So, good on that!

Spring - such as it was - came and left on the whisper of few days this year. Cold/warm/cold/warm, then a late storm with hail. Confused my flowers, for sure! I did not get the full effect of my tulips this year. Although they were very lovely for the few days they were in bloom.

Tulips

Tulip full bloom

Alas I was unable to capture pictures of the irises. Mine are early bloomers, and it got so hot so quickly they faded within a few days. Air conditioner ensued quickly. I had a feeling we would not get a real Spring this year and unfortunately was correct.

A few weeks ago my wonderful sister proposed a "sibling outing" for the three of us. We visited La Belle Winery in New Hampshire. What an excellent day! The weather could not have been better if ordered. It is a small-ish winery, not far, but very well run and kept. The wines are really outstanding.

We arrived in the morning, and treated ourselves to the tasting first :) Each of us chose a flight of 5 types of wine to try. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about not only the wines, but how the grapes were chosen and cultivated. I did not get a picture, unfortunately, as I was busily involved in sniffing and tasting my favored reds. I did purchase two bottles at the end, however, from the on-site shop.

Lunch was in order after that! We scored a table on the patio under an umbrella and ordered several small plates to share among us. Burger sliders and marinated chicken thighs. Perfectly right!

Burger sliders

Chicken thighs

My siblings took a short tour of the vineyard after lunch. It was quite a hill to the vines. Downhill is not an issue. The uphill is a no-go for me, unfortunately, although I got some good pictures!

Vineyard

Vineyard

Vineyard

Vineyard

Vineyard

We wound up the afternoon at my sister's, where she and her Significant Other had prepared a delicious BBQ for dinner. Pork spare ribs, baked beans and broccoli cole slaw. I do not care for baked beans - love the way they smell when they are cooking, but have never been a fan of the taste. She made the broccoli slaw for me! (And I enjoyed every bit of it I took home with me!) She made rhubarb pie for dessert :)

All of us had such a great day sharing time together doing something we all thoroughly enjoyed on such a gorgeous day.

Life really cannot get much better than that :) :)