the green mountains: revisited

It's been a few weeks since we got back from our Green Mountain vacation, but I finally got around to sorting through the hundreds of photos I took while we were in Vermont.

Here's some of the the highlights - happy browsing!

Smitten Kitchen's Apricot Breakfast Crisp - revolutionary! And the perfect accompaniment to a cool summer morning on the deck. A fall breakfast crisp blog post is in the works... (p.s. I used the recipe from her cookbook which is slightly different than the one she posted on her blog years ago)

<3 New England

 A beautiful carriage trail hike up to Progue Pond in Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park.

Check out the height on these trees. I know they aren't sequoia size, but still!

 perfectly picturesque

In true frugalish style: BYOP (bring your own picnic and find a pretty view)

Another new favorite: Crown Point, New York - a gorgeous day for pictures! 

Always a fave: Lake Champlain!

 Such a fun place to explore! I found myself yodeling "high on a hill there's a lonely goat herd..." :)

My hair = no control. I'm pretty sure it attacked the hubster's face more than a few times that day.

 Whole wheat buttermilk blackberry pancakes with the remainder of the berries Ma and I picked earlier in the summer. So so good! Cooking Light's recipe is my one of my favorites - I haven't had it fail yet and I've added all sorts of things to the batter.

 wildlife sightings along White Rocks trail

 proof that fall is coming!

 Texas Falls - this photo doesn't quite do the deep, blueish green pools and falls justice

 Moss Glenn Falls 

 Look who we spotted sunning themselves one morning - a coyote!

I don't know who came up with the idea to add maple syrup to soft serve, but it's genius! We love maple creemies!

<3 beauty

 First attempt at crepes - filled with ricotta and topped with maple strawberry sauce. I'd say it was a success.

 We got a bit over zealous with the wild apple tree picking. A bit tart and little, but they bake up wonderfully and they were free!

The last evening we went searching for a moose at one of our top-secret moose frequented spots. Sadly, no moose, but I found some beautiful flowers.

Home again, home again. Jiggity jig. Refreshed and ready for a night out to celebrate our anniversary in style at Honey (thanks Ma and Pa)! 

frugalish day trip: Cape May

Summer's here! Got any fun day trips planned? Need a little inspiration? Looking for a day trip that won't break the budget? I've got one you'll love! Here's what you need: a picnic lunch, a full gas tank, and some spare dollars for a few tolls (bleh). Cape May, here we come!

First stop, the Cape May County Zoo! It's a donations-only zoo. Drop a couple of bucks in the bucket and you're free to roam for the day. I should mention that we were expecting a small local zoo with the standard set of animals, but this zoo is incredible! Why? 1) It's huge. Ok, not San Diego huge, but huge as in over 200 acres with lovely boardwalks through the forests between habitats. 2) Giraffes! Lion! Cheetahs! Bears! Oh my...;) Bird aviary! Reptile house! I could go on and on... 3) Got kids? There's lovely places to picnic right beside new playgrounds. 4) Did I mention free? FREE! Just go. Oh and if you have a zoom lens, don't forget to bring it...!

Now, drive twenty minutes farther south towards Cape May Point State Park. The park is free, picturesque, a birder's wonderland, and has bathrooms! Head towards the beach with picnic basket in hand. Embrace the roar of the ocean while stuffing your face with goodness. Our chosen deliciousness: Mom's "4th of July" chicken salad, pita chips, juicy watermelon, and Honest half and half tea (one day I will recreate this drink's perfectly proportioned amazingness).

No time to make a homemade picnic? Throw a few ice packs in a bag and grab some Wawa sandwiches on your way "down the shore."

Lounge, walk the shoreline, explore the birding paths, visit the lighthouse (note: the lighthouse part cost $).

What you do next is up to you, but we highly suggest you grab some take out in town and take it with you to Sunset Beach. Have another picnic while watching the sun go down over the Delaware Bay. The view truly looks like you've been transported across the states to the Pacific. Oh and by the way, this beach is made of billions of the tiniest pebbles or "Cape May diamonds." If you can't make it for sunset, visit for the fun of exploring a pebble beach.

We're a bit grainy, but it's not easy to run back and forth through tiny pebbles while trying to rig the camera's timer and focus...

Truly the perfect day getaway and you're still home by midnight. Happy Summer, friends!