Happy New Year! It's 2014!

 A trip north after Christmas to visit my parents and rendezvous with family...minus husband but plus two children....  the days post nest you take what you can get when you can get it!   Brendan, Sara, Chandler and I decided to make a day trip spending New Year's Eve day exploring the coast from Mass to Maine...with L.L.Bean as our ultimate stopping point.

First stop iconic Nubble Light...I've been there several times but never in winter...

Apparently Nubble Light is a great place for scuba divers...but in WINTER?!  Who knew?

This is how they do Christmas trees in Maine!

As gorgeous in frigid temps as in summertime....

Panoramic view of Cape Neddick

Is this Bean Town?

The unintentional uniform of the night... Sara and Chandler show off their brand new boots.  Can you guess which pair are 34 years old?!  They served me well on my honeymoon in Lake Placid....

Happy New Year!  Jumping to stay warm at the Old Belfry boulder in historic Lexington, MA

Historic Concord...home to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott, to name a few...

 The Old Manse, National Historic Landmark. Residence of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The Old Manse's stone boathouse on the edge of the Concord River.

The Old North Bridge

                                              We sure do love our insulated Bean boots...

January 2, 2014.  Since it's snowing we decide it's better to take the train into Boston. 

Blustery Boston!  The first snowstorm of the new year...and it's a doozie!

 Make Way for Ducklings in the snow...at the Public Garden.

One of several ice sculptures in Boston Common...

Only $14 million for this beauty on the edge of Boston Common....

 We explore the streets of Beacon Hill...lots of charming entrances and attractive seasonal decor...

 An endearing lower level residence

 The curved staircase of the Beacon Hill Friends Meeting House...

 I'm just scoping out future retirement rental residences....

 What's behind Door Number One?

A warm and cozy cappuccino break at Cafe Victoria in the North End

A sweet ending to a long and cold day...scrumptious treats from Mike's Pastries...  Everyone's favorite: the lobster tail with white cream that is to die for!  It took nearly two days to finally polish off this baby!

You don't get to do this in Jacksonville....

Household chores northern style...

A sunny but frigid afternoon (can't feel our fingers) trying out the cross country skiing trails in Carlisle.

Proof of the Polar Vortex...   Brrrrr....