A Day in Newburyport

I just got around to uploading pictures from my camera from the past few weeks, and was happily surprised to come across pictures from a day trip we took with our friends Cara and Gregg back on Memorial Day: Newburyport!

It was a beautiful day, and the city was crowded with people out enjoying the sunshine, the live music, and the junk food.

Of course, we were no exceptions.  A slice of brick oven pizza found it's way into my hands.

And since pizza is Italian, it seemed only natural to follow it up with some gelato.  A scoop of nutella flavor and a scoop of orange chocolate chip, to be precise.

Nell alternated between hanging out in the stroller and preferring to be worn on my back.  Both ways, she was an eager observer of the day's activities.  She even endured a diaper change on a brick-paved alleyway when desperate times called for just such desperate measures, so I'd say she was a champ.

Is there anything more handsome than a dad pushing a stroller?  {Besides maybe a dad wearing a baby in a baby carrier, of course.}

We wandered the aisles of Oldies marketplace, a fun indoor/outdoor shop filled with used items, antiques, collectibles, and sundry items.  Old vinyls!  Books!  Sewing machines!  Glass bottles!  Typewriters!  Hats!  I could spend an entire day there, I think.

And ending a day with pesto is always a good idea.

We resolved to have many more such adventures over the summer months.  This area is so rich with history and beauty and wonderful places to see and explore... we really ought to take advantage of it more often!

Northern CA Trip, Day 3

These nephews of mine love taking pictures!




Here's a cute one of Nephew #3, Josiah.


Nathan and I decided we ought to have some pictures, too.


This afternoon, I took Nephew #1, Jonathan, out for frozen yogurt.

Before we left, my Mom asked Jonathan, "Is Uncle Nathan going too, or is just Aunt Sarah taking you?" And he replied, "Just Aunt Sarah, because she is the BEST, and she always dresses the BEST!"

{I guess I've made a favorable impression! At least in the areas that really matter.}


Look at that chocolate face!

This evening, freeze tag was played:



Maggie was loved:


And a frog was caught:



In short, a very good day for three little boys.

{And a slightly tiring one for their Aunt Sarah. I guess my best freeze tag days are already behind me.}

Northern CA Trip, Day 1

Nathan and I have taken a rather last-minute trip out to California to visit my family. My sister Emily is visiting northern CA right now as well, which means I get to see my three nephews.



{Unfortunately, Nephew #2 was napping when I was taking pictures of #1 and #3 today.}

Life in the country is tiring. You might need to kick back and relax in a wheelbarrow.


Or maybe fall asleep over your dinner.

NOI, Day 24

Ahh, Sunday, a day of rest. I slept until 10:00 or so - overslept and didn't go to church - and then went on a photo excursion around campus.

First I sought out the university's Memorial Chapel. Back in 1946, my grandmother, Marie Savage, was a student here at the University of Maryland. She was one of four students (you can read about it here) who approached the school's board of regents with an official letter, complete with 1,348 signatures of students, faculty, and staff, urging that a campus chapel be built.

The chapel was completed and dedicated in 1952.


It stands not far from the dorm I'm housed in for NOI.


It's beautiful...



And it's surrounded by gardens!



I also got some photos of the campus wildlife - namely, lots and lots of squirrels. There are two main varieties, with one subcategory. First, your typical cute grey squirrel:


Subcategory: grey squirrel with a tail in bad need of a conditioning treatment and some Rogaine.


Then, there are the black squirrels.


Not so cute. Looks sort of evil, doesn't he? And a bit like a giant rat.

After I wandered the campus {intrepid explorer and family-history-seeker that I am}, I met up with Esther around noon, and we took the Metro into D.C. to see the sights for a few hours.

We ate lunch next to a guy with the cutest puppy:


Saw some important stuff:







Went through several exhibits in the Museum of American History:

{Toscanini's batons}

{Julia Child's kitchen}

{needs no explanation}


And walked a lot.

{This is unavoidable in D.C.}

Then it was back to campus to practice Brahms and Stravinsky to prepare for tomorrow's rehearsals.

One week from today I'll be on my way home!