Leg Three - Connecticut!

Oh Connecticut was wonderful. This time I stayed with Joan and David in their charming home in Middlebury. Joan met Gary when she volunteered at Fairfield's Connecticut Audubon Society. Our two sons, Lee and Jon, soon became best friends. Over the years we shared many cups of tea while watching our children play.

As always, the ten years since my last visit seemed to melt away as we talked and talked and talked. Our first outing was to the small cottage/cabin they inherited. I had heard about it over the years and was delighted to finally visit.

Actually, I was enchanted. It is small - one long room contains the kitchen and living room. A few steps up is a room with 2 single and 2 double beds plus a bathroom. Not big but every square inch was full of cabin charm. Wood walls, mismatched chairs tucked into corners, shelves filled to capacity with old books, and a bright red wood stove in the middle. I wanted the know the story behind each photo and painting, each dish and lamp - my eyes kept spying something else I wanted to discuss. Nothing was brand new, everything had a purpose and outdoor things were carefully stored away in nooks and crannies awaiting the warm days of next summer. I smiled when I saw the sails from a small boat hanging from the ceiling of the bedroom. Joan promised me I can spend a night during my next visit (assuming it is in warm weather). We dragged chairs out to the dock where we ate BLTs from a local store. Heavenly.

But what came next was astounding - a visit with her daughter and her triplets! Oh what a marvel - and how I honor Joan's daughter, Jackie. Do you know how hard it is to keep track of three 2-year olds? One would be on one swing, another on the other when the third decided to walk right in front of the swings. You find yourself grabbing the third while trying to stop the swings - and I only had two hands. At other times they went in three different directions. How does Jackie do it? And she looks and acts so calm. 

I, of course, could not get enough of them and their older brother, Finn.

Another day we made a trip to Hyde Park. After devouring the recent PBS series about the Roosevelts I was thrilled to get to spend almost 2 hours touring Val Kill where Eleanor lived in the later years of her life. The National Park Service ranger/guide said they were unprepared for the onslaught of visitors since the program aired. The place was hopping.

This is desert at that other CIA (Culinary Institute of America). To differentiate from
that other one, their logo is a whisk!

We had lunch at the Culinary Institute of America (yum!) and dinner at her son Jon's  (and wife Angie and 3 children) house. I loved seeing this boy who played at my house when he was young as husband and father. His children are at the tumbling age - tumbling over each other, the dog, the furniture and us. It was such fun.  

Other lovely drives through the spectacular autum leaves filled the rest of our time together. It appears that I nailed it - I was there for the height of the fall season. Magnificent trees of orange, red and yellow everywhere I looked.

Then, all too soon, it was time for my first Amtrak ride (of 6 I will be taking) out of New Haven. I must admit the quick glimpses of Yale that I spied on our way to the station made my heart clutch a bit remembering my husband's time there. On the train I sat among a group of orthodontic staff workers on their way to a conference. I stared out the train window, one ear listening to their chatter, while I watched towns that I used to know go by. My how Bridgeport, Norwalk (where I taught for 16 years) and Stamford (where Gary taught) have grown and changed. And then, before I knew it, I was at Union Station ready for my next adventure in Washington D.C.