One of the greatest things about living in New England is that I can get on a train and be in New York in just a few hours.  It is such an amazing city with such epic and familiar sights that even your very first trip feels like a return visit.  My dear friend, Jen and her sister Wendy, decided that such trip was the perfect way for our friend Kristi to celebrate her 40th birthday.  How anyone can live in the US for 40 years and not make it to New York is just sad and it had to be remedied.  It took almost a year to coordinate our schedules ~ life is always getting the way of our fun plans ~ but this past October we made it happen.  I should say, Jen made it happen.  Her tireless efforts and fab connections scored us a great hotel room in Times Square with a sweet view, a private back stage tour of Wicked (eeek!) followed by orchestra seats the following night, yummy food, a little shopping and amazing memories.  Thanks to her pedometer we knew the reason our feet were so tired; we logged  74,600 steps in 3 days.  What a great way to spend a weekend!

As you may have heard, this past winter brought record snowfall with predictions of snow banks into July.  But, as nature would have it, the snow melted by the exact same date as last years snow and the crocus, tulips, daffodils pushed their way through the thawing earth.  Next the grass quickly turned from its sleeping yellow hue to bright green, the forsythia blossoms glow about town as if someone ran around with a yellow highlighter.  Baby lambs are hopping around our neighbor’s field, and then, the magnolia trees start their fashion show.  And so it happens… spring has sprung.