Camping at Pachaug State Forest

Back in June we went camping at the Pachaug State Forest (I've been a bit busy in the meantime having a baby and all so I'm just posting it now). It was a campsite where you parked and had to hike into so you only brought what you could fit on your back.  Carrying everything in isn't as easy as it may sound; it's the camp fire wood and water that really make things heavy, but on the way out it's a lot lighter!

The campsite was free, we just had to register online so we knew it wasn't taken. 

I think it is no dogs allowed though.... (shhh don't tell).

The hike in was only about a mile or so and had a shelter to prop your tent up in.  We brought books and some good food to cook over the fire.  It was probably one of the most relaxing camping trips we've had together.  The state forest also has another free shelter to hike into that we would like to try out sometime.

Are any of you going camping this Fall?  I might be too soft to handle the cold.

xo 

Erin

Things I Did Last Fall

Mt. Washington
I rediscover my love for Autumn each year when it comes along.  Last year we had a few adventures during the season including my first trip to Mt. Washington (above).  We have plans to go back in a couple weeks so Ryan can do a night hike.... EEEK!

Amanda and I threw an awesome Autumn dinner party, which we are planning on doing again in the next few weeks!

We went to the Roger Williams Pumpkin Spectacular for our third year.  You bet we will be going back for our annual trip this year.

Last year I was able to fly home to my parent's house during their business season at  Nature's Select Orchard and I loved it!  Wish I could have gone this year but we plan on going at a different time this year.  

In the meantime I have to find some orchards or pumpkin patches in New England worth going to.

Stay tuned, I'll let you know what I find and the other adventures this season brings.

xo

Erin

Things to Do in June Around Connecticut

I have family coming out to visit me in June.  They have been out here several times before so we always try to find something a little different to do each time.  I put together a  list of things we may do in the CT/RI area this June.  I'll be sure to report back after the visit.

Coventry Farmer's Market

Coventry, CT

They've been cited as New England’s BEST farmers’ market by Yankeee Magazine AND selected as one of USA Today’s “Top 10 great places to shop at a farmers market!”

The Book Barn

Niantic, CT

This store is actually a barn with meandering paths to themed sheds full of books.  I especially love all the friendly cats, goats and beautiful gardens you can sit in and read.  It's no ordinary book shop!

Thimble Island Tours

Stony Creek, CT
Take a narrated boat tour of all the rocky islands and their history in the Long Island Sound.

Watch Hill

Westerly, RI (just over the CT border)
One of my favorite coastal towns with shops, restaurants and beaches.
I've posted some on my favorite beach here and here.

Point Judith, RI
A small cape with a working lighthouse, fisherman's beach and where you can buy lobsters right off the boats as they come in!

Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic, CT
A museum including a 19th century village and many old ships in seaport you can explore.
Mystic, CT is also a must see town with some great restaurants!  This one is my favorite because it is
 allergy-free!

Pick-Your-Own Strawberries

Lymann Orchards

Middlefield, CT

or

Scott's Yankee Farmer

Old Lyme, CT
June is pick-your-own strawberries season!

I can't wait for summer!
xo
Erin

P.S. Click here to see what we did when my family visited last June
P.P.S. Photos above were taken at the Watch Hill Harbor.

What I've Been Doing...

We've been out and about now that the weather is finally nice around these parts.

We took a trip up to Cold Spring, NY last week and discovered this beach along the Hudson River.  It was beautiful!  We were also able to explore the historic town (we've been there before but didn't have time to explore) and it did not disappoint.  

 Glacier has been on several swims already this year.  

We discovered his favorite ball floats.  His little heart is happy.

There is a new trail that opened up by us.  It is only about a mile or two long but it is packed with New England beauty. It has a marshy area with lots of fun birds.  Glacier went in for a dip but came out half brown.  The trail also walks past several farms, one with horses!

And of course, there has been some time on the beach over this Memorial weekend.

You can see more of where I went on Memorial weekend over at Violets & Laurel tomorrow.

Hope you had a good holiday!

xo 

Erin

I'm Back: Happy Spring!

I've taken an expected break from blogging since November.  Our lives were hit with a very sad event and a very happy event that took up a lot of my time and energy.  I'm back now and very much looking forward of what is to come for this blog and a special collaboration with AmandLouise! (More on this will surely be announced soon!).

This winter has probably been the worst one yet for me (and that says a lot because I'm from Wisconsin!) and thank God it is now Spring!  Spring really is a new beginning.

Happy Spring!

xo

Erin

Autumn Dinner Party

Amanda from Amanda Louise and I did it again; a dinner party!  I'm so thankful to have her as a friend.  We both love to throw dinner parties and even decided to continue this year with one for each season! 

This go around, we added a kids table equipped with  sparklers, fun straws, 

and markers to draw on the table top.

I mailed myself some decorative gourds from my parent's orchard when

 I was home this fall and we had a bit of an adventure getting those cattails! 

Ryan of course helped out again by cutting our slab of wood for the center piece

 and making creative cinder block heaters to keep us warm on the deck.

It was a fun night but we learned some lessons from this one that we won't repeat next time.  We decided to make a day of it and started cooking in the afternoon and figured we would slowly pull it all together in plenty of time to snap photos while the sun is still out and casually wait for our guests to arrive.  Well, we ended up frantically trying to cook everything, especially Amanda's pumpkin pie, and just felt this time crunch we weren't expecting.  We did pull it all together but with better planning (making the food the night before, or in the morning) we can enjoy the fun part much more (all the decorating and DIY's)!!

Head over to Amanda Louise to see more photos of the night

 and to find out how much we spent on the night!

Stay tuned for our winter dinner party in February!

See our Summer dinner party on the patio here.

See our DIY deck furniture here.

Check out our inspiration for the night here.

xo

Erin

A Beach Hike: Napatree Point

A few weeks ago we went to our favorite beach, Napatree Point, to hike to the end of it.  When we got there a fog rolled in.  We walked for miles with only seeing three people, also walking out, to go fishing.  I've never walked out to the end before (about two miles down) and with barely any visibility in front of me I really had no sense of distance when we were walking.

The beach hike was a total of 4 miles.  I think I would visit this beach every single day if I could.

More hikes in CT:

Lion's Head - Salisbury, CT

Bear Mountain

Bluff Point State Park

Lantern Hill

xo

Erin