Day 10

Day 10 - January 9, 2009

I knew my time was winding down in the wonderful land of New England, so I tried to enjoy this day to its fullest!
I had to turn in my rental car on day 10 - so Heather and I loaded the kids into her car and headed east across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
I wanted to visit Rhode Island and Massachusetts because my dad served his mission in New England and served in both RI and Mass.

We didn't ever actually stop in R.I., but I could definitely spend a lot of time there. It is beautiful and I'm a complete sucker for bridges.


Here is one of the many bridges that we crossed during the day

Wes and Kate in New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford is a cool old whaling town. It has cobblestone streets downtown and lots of fishing boats in the harbor. We stopped at the visitor's center there and learned a little about whaling.

We were in the car for a long time, and Sophie was getting antsy. Kate sang her a song to comfort her. I captured it. Um, yes, she's picking her toes...

I was most excited to see Cape Cod

By this time, we didn't want to spend much time enjoying the view because the wind was SO cold that it felt like it was going right through you. It was pretty cool to stand on the shore and see lights of towns to the west and the east and the light from a lighthouse almost directly in front of you (on the tip of the cape).

Sunset on Cape Cod

I ventured out to get Laurel some sand (in an empty Chex Mix bag...who knows how much of it was really sand and how much was leftover Chex Mix...). She likes to get soil from different places, but I didn't get very much before I hurried back to the car because of the frigidness.

While we were on our way back home to Connecticut, I got phone call - that Imissed. Then Laurel called me and I thought maybe she knew that I'd messed up her sand with Chex Mix...

She told me that Delta had called and needed to talk to me because they were canceling my flight! Yikes! I called them back and it turns out that they were expecting a big storm during the day right when my flight was supposed to leave from JFK. So, they had to change my flight to either 9:00 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. I told them I'd need to talk to a couple of people before I knew which one would work better. After we returned to Matt and Heather's and I had to talked to those who were to take me to the train station and pick me up from the airport, I called Delta back. I told them the 9:00 a.m. flight would work better for me. The nice boy informed me that all of the seats were taken in coach and they'd have to put me in first class....um okay!

Day 9

Day 9 - January 8, 2009

The highlight of Day 9 was that I got to find out how Mr. Thornton's and Miss Hale's story turns out. (North and South). If you haven't seen it and like BBC miniseries, I asked for it for my birthday and now have a copy that I can share with EVERYONE! I lent it to Holly, though, and she lent it to someone else, so there is a waiting list...

We kind of took it easy on Day 9. I borrowed Heather's Garmin and visited a couple of quilt shops in Hartford and Wethersfield. It was fun to talk to the shop owners about our new book and to give them my business card. I felt so official. One of the shop owners had a quilt in the back that she made. She let me take a picture of it. The quilt is inspired by some lady named Jane who made very intricate, teeny weeny 4" blocks. There's a whole book about it, but I don't have the book, so I don't know the whole story. All I know is that these quilts are all the rage for super crazy quilters who have nothing better to do (I guess).

Am I ever going to make a quilt like this, you ask? Um...doubtful.

Day 8

Day 8 - January 7, 2009
Palmyra

Day 8 was probably one of my most favorite days of my trip. I took lots of pictures to share my experience with you.

We first went to the Hill Cumorah. We went to the Visitor's Center there, but did not attempt the actual hill because of the snow. There is a beautiful statue of Moroni at the top.

We then headed to see the Palmyra Temple. The gates were locked, so I didn't get a very good picture.


Palmyra Temple


Heather and Sophia
The temple is located very close to the Smith Family log cabin and home.




Matt, Wes, Kate in upstairs of Smith log home

Bonnie and Kate outside of log home (visitor's center in background)

The Smith family frame home is just up the road a little from the log home. Alvin started the construction of this home before he died (for his parents).



Matt and Heather's family in the Sacred Grove

I have to admit that the Sacred Grove was very special. It was all sorts of reverent, since nobody else was there except for us. We didn't spend a lot of time there because the kids were tired and we ended up carrying all of them.

Wes liked the barn

Kate did not

We then headed to the E.B. Grandin building where the Book of Mormon was first printed. This was one of my favorite places that we visited. Some of the original paintings that are found in the Book of Mormon were there.

Wes and Bonnie in E.B. Grandin building

Sophia pictured with E.B. Grandin because they have the same birthday

Whitmer farmhouse (where church was organized)

We didn't realize that there was so much to see in Palmyra (and surrounding sites) and arrived at the Whitmer farm after visiting hours. I definitely could have spent another day in Palmyra.

We then drove home (quite a long drive). Matt came with me and we talked about all sorts of stuff. He started talking about kissing and how many people each of those in our family had kissed. We speculated about Chavonne (because we'd never actually asked her). Matt called her and had a lengthy conversation about kissing with her. Hmm. The things we talk about...

Day 7

Day 7 - I'm on a roll and it's only 10:39

I ate more cereal with Heidi, got a tour of Horseheads and Elmira (since it was dark when I rolled in on Day 6) and got to see all of the houses that Jim and Heidi own. I bet they would be great landlords! We dropped sweet Brooke off at preschool and she let me take a picture with her. I know she missed me when I left, because I sure miss her too. Visions of the July 6 roomie reunion dance in my head...

Brooke McDermott and Me

I called Matt and Heather who hit the road early that morning and figured that if I headed north, we'd hit the junction below Rochester at about the same time. Well, we were close. I hit the freeway and sped up a little, and came up right behind them. I followed them all the way to Niagara Falls.

May I interrupt myself again and say....HOLY CRAP!

Niagara Falls is SO cool. I'm so going back again in the warm weather. I want to go out in that little boat thingy and wear that plastic poncho thingy and just have a warm experience!

Here are a few pictures from our adventures.

Matt and Sophie getting geared up to go out into the wet coldness

Matt & Heather Bailey Family

Kate and Bonnie

I was going to use this to get a better look, but couldn't figure out where to put my quarter.

This is as close as I've ever been to Canada - but they wouldn't let me get closer...

We had dinner at a buffet somewhere in Buffalo and spent the night there (not at the buffet). We were all THIS happy to get some food in our bellies.

Day 6

Oh, what the hay!

It's only 10:30...let's do another day...YaY!

Day 6

was a trip to New York with no Garmin lady to help me out. Thank goodness for Mapquest, eh?

I had the COOLEST opportunity to visit some of my bestest friends who live in NY!

I first drove to Cooperstown, NY (the home of baseball) where I saw Jenileehee and Seth Iverson. They have two beautiful daughters. Jeni gave me the grand tour of town, (which ended up being fantastic because I wouldn't have known how to get out of town otherwise.)

May I interrupt myself at this point and just tell you how beautiful New York is...even in the bleak midwinter...

Jeni and Seth are my friends from the Logan University 42nd ward where they took care of me, played volleyball with me and made sure I didn't get into too much trouble!

Jeni took a picture and promised to email it...but I'm still waiting. I'll post it when I get it.

After having a nice visit and lunch with the Iverson clan, I headed toward the NY/Pennsylvania border and stopped in Horseheads (isn't that a great name for a town?) where I stayed with Heidi and Jim McDermott and their three kids. Brooke even let me sleep in her bed. Jim was embarrassed because Heidi fed me cereal, but I was just loving life!

Heidi was one of my very first roommates at Snow College. She went to be a nanny in NJ, and we lost her forever...Just kidding, she still comes back to visit! In fact, we planned a roomie reunion while we were there!

Bonnie & Heidi

Day 4 - 5

Okay, remember how I vowed to get this done? I know, I know, you've been in suspense for a month now just wondering how my trip went...
Well, I'm starting to forget all the minute details, so these should start getting shorter...maybe just the pictures???

Day 4 led us to Boston, MA. Heather, Sophia and Bonnie took off in the very cool Jetta with Garmin lady as the navigator. Matt stayed home with the twinners.

Here are some of the highlights:

We parked under Boston Commons and saw people ice-skating at a rink there.

We visited Paul Revere's grave and somebody that was related to Mother Goose.

We saw Cheers...only I know it wasn't the real one because it wasn't in a basement. I am so smart.

We saw a random protest march in downtown as we were walking the Freedom Trail. I was too surprised to remember to take a picture.

I bought a "B" touque because I forgot my hat...I pretended like it stood for "B"onnie.

Paul Revere statue.

We went into the church where Paul Revere showed his signal (one if by land, two if by sea) I think it's just to the left of where the picture is...

We visited the USS Constitution which is nicknamed "Old Ironsides". I always thought it was because it was made of iron...not so. (Heather stayed in the Museum with the baby, so I got a very flattering self-portrait with the lifesaver behind me with the name of the ship.)

I need to spend another day in Boston when it's not so freezing cold.

We wore that cute baby clear out.

Our last stop was the Boston Temple. BEA-U-TI-FUL!

Day 5

was supremely uneventful. I took a nap, went to church (not in that order) and just did absolutely nothing. Actually, that is not true because if my memory serves me, I was introduced to North and South on Day 5. Sigh... AND I was too tired to watch all 4 hours, so I only watched two and then the suspense was killing me until Day 8!!

I did learn a life lesson in Relief Society and since it was the beginning of a new year, I made a goal for the year to speak well of others. I have flubbed up a few times already, but am determined to do better.

Okay, so this post was not very interesting...but I've got to get this written down or I'll forget that I even went to New England!!!