29 August 2011
Napping at The Book Barn in Niantic, CT
Sooo...I have recently turned 33. Yes, seems crazy right? Well, maybe just to me. I still feel 18 some days...or maybe 25...then again, some days I feel like I'm 80! I wholeheartedly would not want to be 18 or 25 again (but do hope to reach 80). Not that now is all smooth sailing, but since I turned 30 I've learned to not only roll with things, but also take control. All in all, I am thrilled to be 33. Such a magical number...
This year I did something different. I organized a trip to a midnight 3D movie! "Fright Night." However, other than seeing David Tennant in leather pants, it was pretty underwhelming. There is never anything underwhelming about David Tennant ;) Now, if he'd spoke with his own accent (Scottish) my birthday would have had some icing on it's cake! ;) Anyway...what was I talking about...?
Oh yeah...my birthday shenanigans...
Since we had time to kill before the movie...we contented ourselves with food and drink at St. Andrews restaurant. A favorite spot, as you can all imagine. And what luck...we were put right by the man doing a whisky tasting. Happy Birthday to me! So I had a taste of 12 and 18 year old Highland Park. Nice. And then ordered Jura "Prophecy" followed by Jura "Superstition!" A particular favorite of mine...sigh. No beer for me that night...so who's beer am I holding in this photo???
Heather and I at St. Andrews
After getting back to Queens at an ungodly 2:45 in the morning...I was blessed to have the morning to recouperate and pack for a quick weekend in CT with my family for a birthday bbq.
I had requested stuff I loved as a kid...hamburgers and hotdogs...potato salad...and my cousin was going to make dessert!!! Woohoo! What could be better?
We also took a side trip to the famous Book Barn. I never really visited when I lived there but now seem to hold the place up on high...
Cats and books are everywhere...as well as places to chill, read, play games...hang out with some goats. You know...just like Barnes & Noble...
After the Book Barn, I suggested we have lunch at Crescent Beach. It's a favorite place of mine for breakfast, but lunch is every bit as lovely...
View from the table
A local...
We weren't the only ones having lunch...
The night before I had spotted an old package of butterscotch morsels in my Mom's recipe drawer and it triggered a yen for the peanut butter/butterscotch rice crispy treats she used to amke when I was a kid (otherwise known as "Scotchies.") So we bought the fixings for them after lunch. Note: natural peanut butter does not melt like Skippy. It sort of kept getting more solid...so I had to give up the fight and mix it all together with my hands. It actually felt wonderful! Sort of like a spa treatment.
To add to the CT smorgasbord, my Mom had bought the New England delicacy that is "Brown Bread." Yes, for all of you not aware, brown bread does indeed come in a can. I know it seems strange...but trust me...it's yummy. Especially in the Fall, warmed up with a touch of butter. MMMMMMMMMM....
After gathering up all our goodies we made our way to my Sister's for the bbq! As always, the real star is the big table that my Brother-In-Law built...and now the addition of some Adirondak chairs! TADA!
There was, of course an over-abundance of food...I felt like I was going to pop...and that was even before the dessert.
Sweet E's Cupcakes!
Getting toasty (and toasted) by the fire
It was a lovely birthday...now, what do I do next year??? Hmmmm....
XO