Apple Days Are Here Again

Opting to ring in the autumn season with something a bit traditional (despite our nearly un-traditional 80 degree weather at the moment in London), two weeks ago we ventured in search of Apple Hill, or at least the closest British equivalent we could find (as some of you may know, Apple Hill is a Northern California icon, a place dear to us both). Our search took us a bit outside of London, via train and ferry, to Yarmouth, a small seaside town on the western end of the Isle of Wight. Taken aback by our luck in weather, a sunny break during a rainy week, we hopped aboard an open-top bus, relished in the sight of an absolutely stunning, windy coastline, and spent an afternoon at Afton Park apple farm, picking 3.5 kilos worth of Discovery apples (which are actually pink on the inside), strolling through their gardens, sampling apples straight from the tree, drinking freshly pressed apple juice, indulging in a few apple pastries, and purchasing a few homemade jams and chutneys...alas, no caramel apples in sight, but a lovely sunny Saturday indeed. We spent the night in a tiny, 17th century Victorian-style guest house, formerly the town hall of Yarmouth, and bumbled around the town's streets, known for unique artisan shops selling locally-made crafts, sailing equipment, and homemade chocolates. And, in true apple harvest style, we spent over a week upon our return eating apples in some capacity - homemade apple sauce, sauteed apples with cinnamon and sugar, apple and balsamic salad, and of course, a few trusty apples with peanut butter...

Afton Park

Needles Park Coastline

Town of Yarmouth

Lymington Pier, ferry port on the UK mainland

-B&B

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad." ~Edwin Way Teale

Stockholm, Part Deux

It's been almost 2 years since we went to Stockholm for New Year's...and experienced the city in its full, white and frozen glory. To us, Stockholm will always be about wool shoe inserts, long snow-covered walks along the banks of frozen lakes, hot chocolate, good friends, and being the coldest we've ever been.

But, ever since that trip, we've been determined to return to Stockholm during the summer time, when the sun shines, the locals are out, the water-front restaurants are open for business, and people are smiling in the heat. And last weekend, we did just that, and had yet another lovely weekend with our friends Ingrid & David. We were astonished by how different the city looked, not covered in snow (obviously), and enjoyed everything that we imagined Stockholm in the summertime to be - warm, cheerful, and surrounded by calm bodies of water and everyone outside to enjoy it!

All that being said, however, to us, Stockholm will always be associated with our first memories of the city - covered in snow, and equally as stunning.

Thanks again Ingrid & David! Hope to see you two in London sometime soon :).

-B&B

" A life without love is like a year without summer." ~Swedish Proverb

A Big Thank You

Just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone that made for a wonderful, whirlwind trip home last month....from the bridesmaids dress fittings, to the reunion dinners and drinks, to the quiet couch chats, the sleepovers, the poolside reminiscing, and everything else in between...

One of my favorites, from our girls' trip to Half Moon Bay (grandma is around somewhere!)...

THANK YOU!

-Bee

"...We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." ~Albert Schweitzer