The past few days the HH has been a little under the weather {as in MAJOR head cold,} and so The Girl and I thought we’d do him a favor and hit the road for the day so he could lounge around and be miserable in peace.
And of course with any day trip we embark on, we mapped out all the places we wanted to stop on a sticky note to keep us on track. 6 stops… we thought it was pretty doable.
First stop: Beverly Bootstraps in Beverly, MA. This is by far our favorite thrift sop in New England {so far at least}. Sadly though, we didn’t go home with any treasures… although we did find this beautiful purple prom dress for $15.
On our way out of Beverly, we drove by the William Livermore House {built in 1671!} and I made The Girl turn around so I could get a photo of the icicles. Now, if you live in a place where icicles can be seen every winter, you probably think I am totally off my rocker for even taking a second look at them.
But if you live {or come from} a place where giant icicles are a bit of an oddity, well then, this picture is for you! 🙂 🙂 Seriously, how many people are impaled by a icicle each year around here? Yikes!
Another interesting thing about living in a frozen tundra 6 months out of the year… The sidewalks! They can be downright treacherous during the winter months.
And while there are these little sidewalk snow shoveling / sand dropping machines that clear the paths from time to time, it still makes you wonder what percentage of ER visits in the wintertime are slip and fall related. Broken bones I’m guessing, are a regular occurrence around here.
Singing Beach, Manchester by the Sea, Massachusetts.
But there are beaches…. ones that sing and you can visit them during the winter months without having to wade through oodles of half naked people and their aluminum lawn chairs and umbrellas.
A snow covered beach. Now that’s not something you don’t see everyday.
Pretty dreamy if you ask me.
After walking around Manchester by the Sea for a bit, we headed to one of our favorite lunch spots… The Causeway in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It’s a total working class, heavy on the locals kind of place with big portions, fast service and honestly, just sitting there makes me feel kinda giddy. Like, you know you’ve found something unique. Absolutely no fluff. Just honest hard working people sitting down to a heaping plate of fish and chips or a bowl chowda. 😉
And well, since it’s not a proper trip to Gloucester unless you’ve stopped at Virgilio’s Italian Bakery, we stopped there too to grab a St. Joseph sandwich to bring back home for the HH and a few {okay, a sack full} of their delicious almond biscotti.
The sidewalks in Gloucester.
After Gloucester, we headed to Rockport to pick up an apple strudel from Helmut’s for our sick patient at home.
It didn’t even occur to us that practically every shop in Bear Skin Neck would be closed for the winter.
In hindsight though, this totally makes sense because after the holiday shoppers go home, most of the tiny seaside villages in New England shut down for a bit of a winter break before it’s time to gear up for tourist season again.
The scenery though, you just can’t beat it.
Do you see those temps? Things are beginning to heat up around here I tell you!
Watch out for those icicles though…
Some of them are 4 footers!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend everyone, get outside and have some fun!
~Mavis
Peggy says
No, icicles are alwayscool, I’ve lived in southwest PA for life so far, and they still always pull me in! It’s also the time of year when it’s really time to be thinking spring, so I try to appreciate them til ‘next winter’. Your day trio looks like it was cold! Hope the hubby is feeling better.
Peggy says
Yikes, typos everywhere….sorry….I’m writing quickly as I’m headed out the door to pick up my daughter for spring break.
Paula says
What a fun day out!!! I have been researching visiting Copenhagen. One fact I found very interesting is that their sidewalks are heated, so no snow cover in the winter. What a great idea!
Athena says
I went to the University of Idaho for college and they have heated sidewalks around the administration building too!
Helen in Meridian says
Ah yes,,, I remember the heated sidewalks well….and the Carillon playing.
Kim says
I’m reminded of the line at the end of A Christmas Story…”those icicles can KILL people!”…Beautiful photos as always.
Beth says
Have you been to the Bridge of Flowers? My grandfather worked there when it was a rail bridge back in the early 1900’s. It has since been turned into a beautiful bridge filled with flowers. Of course, you will probably be best trying it in the Spring!
Susan says
Ooh, the Bridge of Flowers is really cool — in Shelburne Falls, MA.
Glenda Sessions says
Snow on a beach is absolute magic!! First time we ever saw it was in Washington at LaPush Beach….we go back every couple of years.
Nawm D. Gerr says
I love your photos! Fun. Feel like I am enjoying some vitamin D looking at the pretty sunshine.
Angela D. says
Anyone else notice in those last couple of photos: there are no footprints in the snow leading up to where Mavis is standing?
What did she do– drop from the rooftop????
Sue says
I noticed that too, ha!
Heather says
I noticed that too!
Erin says
I love icicles. My boys “plant” the really big ones in the snow just outside our front door. We call it our icicle garden.
Vicky says
Be careful with icicles – they can cause a lot of damage – https://www.ktvz.com/news/200-pound-bend-icicle-causes-damage-natural-gas-leak/1053534967
Truly a magical day for you two exploring during the slow season. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy says
I am the opposite with icicles. While I think they look beautiful, to me they are evidence that a house needs more insulation.
Tracy says
When daytime temps rise above freezing, snow on the roof melts…and drips. Not insulation related. It’s from the sun!
Sue says
I can see how a poorly insulated house would develop icicles more easily, but sometimes the conditions are right even with good insulation. I did a “hyper-insulation remodel” on my home a few years ago, effectively doubling the insulation in the attic, walls and crawl space under the house. But when it’s far below freezing and yet sunny, icicles still form.
JoAnn M Gorrell says
Other yummy bakeries in the area… Sandpiper Bakery in Gloucester, Honeycomb Bakery in Hamilton, A & J King in Salem
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you! 🙂
Susan from Hawaii says
One important tip about walking on potentially slick surfaces: KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR POCKETS! Major injury opportunities there. Glad you are enjoying the snow and thanks for sharing all the fun pictures!
Betsy in MN says
Love the places you visited! My HH, myself and my youngest son are traveling to the Boston area at the end of the month to visit oldest son who landed his first job out there. I lived in Vermont and Connecticut about 25 years ago and have not been back since. So excited to return to New England!
Pj says
Thanks for taking us on this trip! I’ve never seen beach with snow. You got sea glass… best find ever!
Mel says
We have a couple rivers nearby, and I have jars and jars of river glass I’ve collected from our walks. I’ve been using it for crafty gifts. I made sea glass collages one year for Christmas gifts, and I am filling pens with tiny pieces for some students I work with who are graduating. I thought it’d be neat if they could “take the river with them.”
Leah says
Have you ever worn YakTrax or another brand of snow cleats? They saved my butt (literally) when I lived in Northern Indiana. They fit over regular shoes and grip the ice to prevent or at least reduce the risk of slips and falls.
Margery Erckert says
Remember to walk like a penguin. Keeps you from slipping.
Susan says
It’s SO strange to see these photos of such familiar places — used to live in Beverly, work in Salem and Gloucester and still live on the North Shore. It’s been ages since I’ve been to Beverly Bootstraps. I’m going to have to stop by soon! (My New Year’s Resolution is to get 2 new work outfits because I basicaly alternate between my only 2 pairs of pants for work. So far, I’m failing. I hate shopping!).
Mel says
I’m not sure if you’re looking for more work pants or other items, but if you like the two pairs you have and they fit well, you may be able to find more on eBay, Poshmark, Swap, etc. And, if you’re able to find more colors, it would add variety, but you’d know they would fit. Skirts might be available in the same brand(s) as well. My office is super casual (and currently overheated), so I’m currently sewing my own lightweight work pants.
Susan says
Thanks, Mel — so thoughtful and helpful to mention that. Finding a brand that works and just sticking with it would be perfect for someone like me who easily gets overwhelmed (and worries about wasting money on something I might not like or might not end up being good quality).
Laure says
As a kid, icicles were winter lollipops! Kinda gross to think about what was in that water run off from a metal roof.
Jenny Young says
Get you some ice cleats to wear over your shoes for icy sidewalks.
I had a crazy scare last week with really weird sounds on my metal roof….it took me awhile to realize it was just the giant icicles inside the metal gutters melting…breaking off & sliding down. Crazy loud.