I’m back. Sort of. Except for one weekend home, during which I attended our Hampton Roads Writers’ Conference (more on that later), I’ve been away from blogging for two weeks. It was actually quite liberating. A person could get used to it pretty quickly, I have to tell you. Getting back into my blogging routine, including catching up with my other bloggers, is going to take a little time, so be patient with me.
Boardwalk over the sand dune at Crane Beach
My trip took me to New England to visit my friend Linda, stopping by to see another dear friend, and ended with a weekend visit to my sons and daughter-in-law in Boston. Linda and I went to Ogunquit, Maine, for a few days of one-on-one girl time. Even though I live three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, I don’t get to see the kind of beaches Maine has to offer. Seacoast towns differ widely up and down the Atlantic coast. Our beaches here in Virginia are smooth and devoid of shells, holding little of the salty scent I grew up with in Connecticut. Linda contends it is because of the piles of seaweed, shells, and rugged rocks that retain the smell of the ocean.
On the way up to Maine, we stopped in Newburyport, Massachusetts, walked on Crane Beach and around the Crane Estate, and ate the finest fried clams at a little clam shack in Ipswich. Since I have a ton of laundry waiting for me and grocery shopping to do after two weeks away, I’m going to end this post with a few pictures from my travels.
The Crane Estate. Who knew you could make so much money from toilets?
The rocky Maine coast in the fog
Linda and the rocky Maine coast in the sun
That’s all I can manage for today. Tomorrow I’ll have more pictures and some thoughts to go along with them. I’m looking forward to seeing what you all have been up to.
Coming East 
You look right at home in front of the Crane Estate – but it is too far away!!!!! Love you, Susan!!
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to comment on my blog, Liz! Love you, too, and missing you tons! Tell BB that Rudy’s is waiting for him!
Welcome back. Your pictures make me miss New England.
Thanks, Bud. New England in the fall is wonderful.
Glad you’re back Susan. Love the photos.
It’s nice to be missed, HG.
I love your pictures! Your trip looks wonderful. Can’t wait to hear more.
It was so relaxing, Leah. Loved just vegging and not having any responsibility for awhile.
Weeh! So glad you’re back, Susan! I love the photos especially the one with the Crane estate.
After I win the lottery, Yen, I’m going to throw a party there. You’re invited.
Great photos! Looking forward to seeing more and hearing more about your trip.
Thanks, Shary. It was a great trip.
Beautiful. I was just wondering where you’d toddled off to. Glad to see you’re healthy and back from your trip. (By the way, I have a particular affinity for the smell of the South Jersey shore towns. To anyone else, it’s dead fish and sulfur. To me, it’s childhood and happiness. I’d be so disappointed if it ever went away.)
I love that smell, too, Single Cell. I was actually disappointed when we first moved here to Virginia Beach and we couldn’t smell the ocean, except on stormy days.
Nice to see pics of places near my stomping grounds on YOUR blog!! Looking forward to hearing about the writer’s conference!
I was thinking of you when I posted the pictures, Julia. I knew you would like to see someone else enjoying your neck of the woods.
We’ve missed you but glad you were having a good time while away. And that you let us come along with this pictures.
Glad to be missed, Winsomebella!
Those rocky coasts of Maine remind me of the coasts in the Pacific Northwest. Ahh…I can almost smell the ocean….
Yes, they do seem to be similar, don’t they Mama?
Great pictures. Good to know you were out having fun traveling. Something we all need from time to time. I hear you on the liberating feeling of taking a break. I think I’m on my way to one again. Have fun catching up on things!
Thanks, MM. Trouble with a few days of liberation is that it becomes addictive.
Ahhh…. I will be visiting New Hampshire in the not too distant future. Your pictures and comments provide a nice appetizer. Welcome back.
Thanks, Adela. New England is so lovely this time of year.
I love your pictures! I am looking forward to more of your writing.
Hope you hang in there with me, Jenny. I’ll get back on track in a few days.