2022-2023

I look back on this year and for the most part, I think I want to say, “Good riddance.” We had more sickness in our family this year than in other recent years. My empathy meter has been revved up, from feeling guilty this summer enjoying the Cove a bit when due to health, my Dad was unable to even to do one day at the place he loves; to problems others I know were coping with and then there were so many losses for families around me. There just seemed to be so much loss, sadness and sickness. Then I think of 2021 and 2020 with Covid. It wasn’t really so bad for us, but I remember saying, “Good riddance” to those years too. I see a pattern.

We are always glad to see a year end and look forward to the next year being better. We hope that somehow flipping a page on the calendar will magically bring better health and happier times. We have this hope every year. Hope is a good thing. I would hate to dread a new year without hope. So, I won’t think about the years that we wish away and are glad to see end. This could be one of those other years, where there are so many wonderful things coming our way.

Looking back, even though there were bad things, there were certainly good things too. Every year must have some shining spots, For us those included a new baby, money to pay bills, health issues that cleared up, and friends and family nearby. There really is so much to be thankful for. We shouldn’t be so quick to say, “good riddance”. We should say, “thanks for the memories” and hold tight to the good ones.  

Now we will enter a new year with new resolutions, plans, hopes and dreams. A flip of a page, a new year boldly printed above a new picture and blank dates that will become quickly filled in with appointments, obligations but special days too. And then there are the blank dates that we have no clue how fate will fill them in. 2023, we have expectations, but God is in control and we will see how those little calendar squares become labeled as the year goes by.

For our friends and families, may your calendar be filled with completed goals, accomplishments, blessings and special times. And may the blank days be of rest and refreshment. Happy New Year 2023!

A couple of days around Stratford, CT

It has been since 2019 since we went overnight anywhere, so long ago. We were having a hard time squeezing in another getaway with "life as it is" but we penciled in a couple of days to not go too far but to have a needed change of scenery. Since it was only going to be a couple of days, I splurged on a place right on the beach so I could hear the splashing waves from our room and my desire was to once again, see an ocean sunrise or sunset. More about that later. 

When I called the Surfside Hotel for reservations (I have learned it is sometimes cheaper to call the hotel itself than to use a 3rd party site. There was no difference in charge this time, but at least I could verify a few things), I specified a room with a good view of the ocean and preferred first floor. He asked why the 1st floor, I knew there were only stairs and told him two people with arthritis. He said the best view is 2nd floor and no problem, he would help us with our bags. Well, evidently whoever, he was, was not on duty. A girl did help one of us with a bag and we lugged the other on our 1st trip up the stairs. We do not travel lightly--a bag each (you just never know if the weatherman will be right and just in case we are forced to stay longer), CPAP machine, bag of reading material (and of course, we were both reading hardcovers), snacks, drinks, extra coat and shoes, etc. 

The room was lovely, the view great and there was a wonderful deck overlooking the beach. Big TV that promised Netflix, which I hoped to watch a particular movie later, but never got the Netflix to work. No biggie.

View from our deck

Outside view. Our deck was on the 2nd floor. 

Front view of motel. 

The weather was not what we had hoped. There were showers the first day, they held off the second day, but was foggy and then cloudy all day. The little beach we had provided me with my treasures. I found multiple pieces of sea glass. The sea gulls at this beach seemed extremely annoyed with us. I truly think their squawking was telling us to leave. They also seemed to be bigger than the seagulls we used to see at the Cape. These ones were well fed, for sure. They may not look big in the pictures, but there were some pretty big ones, trust me. 

Forever, my fascination with rocks...

Where we stayed there was also the Lordship Seawall, a nice place to walk. Our motel had bicycles and had the weather been better, I would have been very tempted to try one out, but we kept to walking with our walking sticks. These were taken on the beach by the seawall and in the little area across from it. 

A couple of pictures from some greens in Stratford.

Stratford has an amazing sports and recreation complex. Part of it is on the beach. I took this picture trying to find out what this was off of Short Beach. Haven't figure it out yet.

The next day we ventured off to the Boothe Park & Museum. The buildings and grounds were donated to the town by the Boothe family and is free to visit. You can wander the grounds anytime, but the museums were not open this time of year. I had printed up a map of the grounds with enough information to make it a very enjoyable stroll among the many buildings.

The best way I could describe this is a collection of unique buildings without any rhyme or reason, but all very fun to look at. We will probably want to venture back when they are open.

Here is the last remaining toll booth from CT from 1988.

Instead of explaining all the buildings, I'll just share the photos I took.

We also went to Silver Sands Beach and after a wrong turn, found Walnut Beach. There was a seagull convention at one. Silver Sands required a little hike on a boardwalk.

Liked watching the waves crash on this. I assume it is an old pier.

We had seen a movie where they mentioned, "love locks"--people putting padlocks on bridges to symbolize their love. 

Some gulls we met. 

We could see these from our deck. Were we watching them or were they watching us?

More views from our deck.

One thing I really wanted on this getaway was either one sunrise or one sunset on the ocean. With the rainy, cloudy weather, this was the closest I could get. 

But finding sea glass is another thing that makes an ocean day special, and I felt like God said, "you can't have a sunset or sunrise this time, but how about a heart shaped piece of sea glass?" I was very happy to find this treasure--the brown piece in the middle. These are just some of the pieces I picked up along with some rock treasures that I couldn't resist.

A few of the rocks.

We ate at the Little Pub below the hotel.

Enjoyed seeing the still pretty foliage on the way home.

It was nice to get away and we do hope to return to Walnut Beach and the Boothe Museum one day.