Last Day in New England and then Home

After leaving Mom's house, we went to check out the Blue Hills hiking trails, which we'd heard were well worth the hike.  We really enjoyed the day there before we turned our rental car in, and took the subway and shuttle to our hotel.  Early flight in the morning, so early to bed.  And then, Home!

Jeffery at the River Otter pen

The Public Restroom building was so attractive

Yellow leaf trail

Jeffery at the top of the long rock stairway

I think this is Flame Bush

Contrast in fall leaves

At the Eliot Tower

The plaque of explanation

Jeffery goes up to the overlook at the Eliot Tower

One of the views from the Tower

View of Boston from the Tower

Another view

Back in Boston, we've returned our rental car and are heading back to our hotel for tomorrow's early flight home

View from our hotel window, with the courtyard seating area at the lower, shaded part of the photo

Looking down from my room at Jeffery, who is waving.

On the flight home, the plane passed over what I must assume was the Grand Canyon

Here's a zoom of one section

Here's a zoom of what I think is the Grand Canyon

I got back to the Sacramento Airport about 40 minutes ahead of Jeffery's flight, but he was on time and now we're home in Tobin again.  What a great vacation!

Back at Mom's

Here we are, back at Mom's, having some last fun with Tom, and doing ancestral things, and just having a wonderful visit.

Jeffery and I took the canoe out while the pond was glassy smooth and the evening was balmy

Here are some colors along the edge of the pond.

View of my Mom's house and neighbors in what was once called Mayflower Grove

There's my Mom and her super dear neighbor Russ gabbing in her back yard

Brother Tom and his buddies Steve and Ron came to share dinner with us after their day doing boy things

Mother and "Childs" clear up after supper

The stable barn is only one of many buildings and houses in this beautiful beautiful farm on our way to the visit the family plot in Acushnet

The entrance to the Acushnet Cemetary

Jeffery is spraying on the solution that helps break down and remove the lichen from the grave-stones in the Leonard plot

Here is Alice Ashley's stone before we clean it again

Here it is post-brushing

On our way over to the old section of the cemetary

the Pardon and Sally T. Nye gravestones

One of our early ancestors in America

Me toothbrushing Pa Leonard's headstone.  

Jeffery and I in the old section

On our way home we spotted this brightly colored cranberry bog full of floating berries

Berries on the bog

Husband and wife; Sally Todd and Pardon Nye

My Mom; last view as we drive away.  Miss you already Ma!  Thanks for everything.

Back again soon to wind up the trip.

On the Cape with my Sister's Family

We left Tom and Mom to fend for themselves, and traveled to Cape Cod to see Lucy and Dan and Hannah and Layla.  Took some nice hikes, ate some great food, saw the wonderful houses and shops and Cape Cod-ish world, and had such a nice time in that lovely area with special loved ones, we were loathe to depart.  I miss them all already.

We went to the Cape Cod National Seashore to take a walk, and found part of the trail swamped by the high tide.  So we doffed our footwear, rolled up our pants, and hiked in the water.  This is Dan, me, and Lucy

This is the mat of broken marsh reeds that floated on the surface

Dan, Jeffery, and Lucy slogging along, while I have opted for the dry trail that's now available.

Pretty water-way through the marsh

View of where we're headed.

Poison Ivy

The cool structures at Coast Guard Beach

Lucy and Dan (and me)

Oh my gosh, these mussels at Land Ho! were so good!

Flowers at the welcoming front porch.  I looked all around while Dan did some work in his shop with Jeffery watching, and Lucy did her little putterings.

Evening at the Santos house; so pleasant

The Larch, and for my sister Sara, an eastern tamarack; are they the ones with "cornflake bark" out in our area?

Pretty red berries on the next morning's walk

The beach at the end of Lucy's road

Horse-shoe crab shell

Sisters!

Pretty garden centerpiece at Highfield Hall

stained glass panel over the front door of Highfield House in Falmouth

Elegant bathroom stall

Lucy as photographer, who seldom is captured working her craft.

Lucy taking a zen moment

very interesting mushroom

pretty reflection with ripples on the water by Layla-pup

Jeffery. Hannah, Lucy, and Layla in the Beebe Woods

Last time we saw the trees at Highfield Hall, they were wearing sweaters.  Now they look like this.

Lunch at the Pickle Jar.  Gosh it was a treat to get time with Hannah, and to be with my sweet baby sister Lucy.

Had to stop at Pairpoint Glass near the Sagamore Bridge to look for more glass candy canes

Took a stroll along the canal and saw this seagull posing for us.

Back to Mom's, which will continue in the next post.  Great weather is obvious, eh?