Our Trip to Lake Como

Hi Bloggy Friends,

In celebration of our three-day Fourth of July weekend, Alan, the puppies and I rented a cabin in Lake Como with our good friend Eric. Lake Como is a spiffy lake town on the northeastern border of Pennsylvania and New York. As you can see in the photos below, we spent our time grilling, swimming, reading and catching up on some much needed downtime. We totally need to do this more often.

(New) Hope Springs (Break) Eternal

Hi Bloggy Friends,

I hope you're doing well. The last time I wrote we were covered under a million inches of snow, but today most of that has melted away and we're enjoying the hell out of some springtime weather. The temperature reached well into the 50s today and the sun is shining as bright as can be. I'm loving every second of it. Could spring be arriving early this year? The Farmer's Almanac doesn't think so. It reports that we should be getting another hefty snowfall in March. It's been accurate so far, but I'm hoping this prediction is one for the garbage cans. Bring on the sunshine and the short shorts, baby.

If the beautiful weather isn't enough, I'm also reeling because my spring break has officially begun. To get the hiatus started right, Alan and I took a road trip to New Hope, PA, where we boarded the puppies and enjoyed a full day together in the cute, artsy little oasis. We crashed at the Wedgewood Inn (pictured left), a 140-year old bed and breakfast just off the main drag in New Hope. This was my favorite B&B experience to date. Usually when we squat in a place like this I feel like I'm intruding on another person's space, but here I felt comfortable, like we had ample privacy and well, kind of like a Victorian-era lady with a high-top bun on my head. We slept like cherubs in a lovely little room on the first floor that was decorated with antiques to suit the historical structure. It was a perfect experience. If you happen upon this post because you're looking for a B&B in New Hope, I'd definitely recommend this one.

When we weren't inside, we were milling around the town. We spent most of our time browsing antique shops and art galleries in Lambertville,  New Jersey, which is directly across the bridge from New Hope. I like it better there because the shops are more interesting, there are better cafes and the sidewalk traffic is refreshingly more sparse than it is in New Hope. We were on the lookout for a piece of artwork to hang on a huge empty space in our kitchen, but everything we loved was way out of our price range. I know it's worth it, but it's a damn shame art has to be so expensive. Later in the evening we had a scrumptious dinner at Caffe Galleria on Main Street. I grubbed on a fantastic grouper dish with steamed carrots and broccoli and Alan had a plate of rich lobster ravioli. It was truly blissful.

This morning we enjoyed a generous, complimentary breakfast in the dining room at the Wedgwood Inn before picking up the dogs to return home. We had a few things to take care of in Philadelphia, so we didn't want to linger too long. Now we're at home feeling nice and cozy after Salmon Sunday. I'm counting down the minutes until the Academy Awards, but I'll have to let the DVR record it for a good half hour so I can zoom past the commercials and boring speeches. Technology spoils me.

Are you going to watch the Oscars? Rooting for anyone in particular? I'm not really. I just enjoy the festivities and the sparkly, sometimes poofy ball gowns. Have a great night. I'll chat with you soon.

Love, Josh

Alan, me and two doilies in our room at Wedgwood Inn.

P.S. Here are links to my work published in Philadelphia this week:

On a Wing and a Prayer with El Wingador

My review of the Snoop Dogg show at TLA

Neighborhood Watch in Mt. Airy

Art Phag

Deshler-Morris to Tell Wider Story of Washington's Household