Batteries Recharged

Back from the longest vacation we've taken in years, feeling fully recharged.  And, with the help of many, we're up and running at about 90% by now while still enjoying the effects of our break.

We went to Boston and Cape Cod as we try to do every couple of years to visit Ben's extended family.  It was V's first time exploring one of my favorite cities and we found a great balance of adult/kid-friendly activities, touristy/off-the-beaten path tours and sites.  Here's the very tip of the iceberg in photo summary:

Our guest house on the border of Boston's Back
Bay and South End

V at the "Make Way For Ducklings" bronze

Swan Boats

Gorgeous windowboxes on Beacon St.

Beautiful Beacon Hill brownstones

The Carousel at the Frog Pond in Boston Common.  V caught the last ride
and was filled with pure joy.

Dipping our toes at Copley Square

Historic brownstones in our neighborhood

Community garden plots everywhere

Super cool idea for a cuke trellis.

My favorite community garden (Part 1)

Community Garden (Part 2)

Cambridge bookstore

Taza Chocolate factory tour in Somerville

I highly recommend this $5 tour.

Making organic stone-ground chocolate in the traditional Mexican way

Dosa Factory for lunch and shopping

Downtown Crossing old and new architecture

Jellies at the New England Aquarium 

Already planning our next trip 

A North End classic, now with gluten-free options

Paul Revere and the North Church

Public Transit

Greenway over the Big Dig, our first time enjoying it

Lavender and Sedum

Amazing Church of Christ Scientist 

With just two days to show V the city, this was the way to go

And something for Ben to enjoy as well

On to the Cape and the Wellfleet Mass Audubon

Salt Marsh Exploration at Wellfleet Mass
Audubon, V found a horseshoe crab on her
first try

Girl in a puddle

Razor clam shell

Natural art on the beach

Skate egg case

Beautiful shells

Heaven

Juniper

Beautiful beach day at Corn Hill (bay side), Truro

Sitting in the surf

Wine Tasting

Gorgeous beach at dusk

Beautiful sunsets

Our oyster shucker in the 4th of July
parade handing out fresh Wellfleets

Free-for-all fireworks on the 4th

Provincelands Dune Tour

Fresh Stripah (the guys caught about 12 lbs. of Striped Bass to fill
the freezer for a while)

Horesehead and Harbor Seals at Monomoy Island

Cockle shells on the beach

Lawbstah, Steamahs, and fried clam strips

Longnook Beach (oceanside), Ben's favorite

One last beautiful sunset with Provincetown and Pilgrim Monument in
the distance.

I've found some time to reflect lately and am thinking about where my blog is going.  It's been a challenge finding time to enjoy life while documenting it here.  Stay tuned, but I may be posting slightly less this summer (I know, just when peak local food time begins.)