Scenes from a Trip : Home, NY

Kim and Brian got to see it all when they visited over the weekend. On Thursday they came into the city to stay for the night. We went out to dinner near my apartment with Melissa. Somehow we all managed to fit into my tiny apartment. The more the merrier definitely applies to NYC apartment slumber parties. 

We woke up early Friday to drive out to my parents house. There's nothing like a road trip to spark some great conversation. I had to make a few pit stops along the way, and we had to dig out the driveway, but it ended up being perfect timing to catch the sun going down at the beach. I tried to rush them to one of my favorite beaches before the sun hit the water but we were blocked out by snow. I headed over to a different spot and we caught the sun just as it slipped behind the land. 

We decided to cook in and make an evening of it. Brian is excellent in the kitchen and offered to make some of his delicious potato leek soup for dinner. Kim and I spent the rest of the night celebrating being back together with champagne and hugs. It was certainly magical. 

I had big plans for Saturday, that included going for a walk, eating, and relaxing. Brian once again made us a delicious meal of poached eggs and toast to make sure we had plenty of energy for the day. I made Kim and myself some yerba mate, and we enjoyed the Orange Cranberry Scones I had made for their visit. Our morning was so relaxing that we just sat around the table talking for a long time and enjoying our warm drinks before we mustered up the motivation to brave the great outdoors. 

Sometime around mid-day we went over to the trail. No one else was there so I could let Lua run around while we walked the path. She really doesn't have any interest in running away, she wants to run. Every time she got too far I'd just call her and she'd come running back. 

At the end of the narrow trail the woods open up to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. It was so quiet out there. There's an old WWII bunker that faces out to the ocean. The view back towards the bunker in the winter is one of my absolute favorites. The sky out there always amazes me. 

By the time we were done marveling at and walking around on the trail it was time to go back to the house and get ready for the night out. One of my oldest friends (we met when we were four) had called to say she was in town. Shortly after she was at my house and being introduced to Kim and Brian. 

We all went to one of the local bars to have a few. My best girl friend from college was also in town that night so she came down to join us. For a minute it was very strange for me. I sat there as three completely different moments in my life met. One, who has been my friend my whole life, another who went on all my college escapades with me, and then Kim, who I only recently met through the bizarreness of this whole experience here. 

I took everyone to one of my favorite restaurants for a lovely seafood meal. Post dinner I attempted to learn how to play Rummy. We enjoyed more entertaining conversation, great food, and pleasant wine under the twinkling lights until it was time to say goodnight. 

Photos by Me, Kim, and Brian

I have so many more pictures to post from the weekend! Kim and I really went to town grabbing pictures at every opportunity we could. Much more to come!