May 1 peeked at us from just around the corner, beckoning us northward just as the eastern Connecticut shoreline began to thaw from the winter freeze. Gee, you would think we’d spent the winter here the way we moaned about the cold and running the portable electric heaters all the time.

Our last week was crammed full of activity; visits, errands, stocking up and packing up- at the last-minute.

Mother’s day flowers from Benj- a treat!

Benj suggested a hike so we headed for Devil’s Hopyard after a tasty lunch at Mystic Market West. We chose a long loop trail that would take us by the Devil’s Oven, a natural cave-like formation in the huge rock slab several hundred feet off the trail and quite the steep climb. Benj cam across a small deer carcass which was mostly shredded deer hair. Yes, it smelled and you could see where the predator had dragged it over to a secluded spot.

Purchased firewood for our first camp fire

we found it!

Lots of white paper to burn

I had just read in Cook’s Illustrated that heavy cream can be turned into almost-as-fluffy whipped cream by shaking it for 3-4 minutes in a small jar. An empty Talenti container worked just fine and as you can see, we had whipped cream for our chocolate ice cream treat by the fire. I had 2 ounces of heavy cream left over from baking and this was the perfectly delicious solution to use it up.

shaken heavy cream = whipped cream!

As opposed to Myrtle Beach Days where the song promises fun in the waves, fishin’ off the pier and the need to pack suntan lotion!

So, welcome back dear readers! Thanks to some technical difficulties, I’ve decided to skip the long catching up and just jump right in to a quick overview of our time in CT, before we depart for Maine in May and boat-related activities.

The KOA located a stone’s throw from I-95 in North Stonington was our base for a while. We took care of business, spent time with friends and family and watched the campground prep for warm weather campers.

Prius Perfect Plate. Right? get it?

Got a large stone hit outside of D.C. on the way to PA.

The new one goes on. Yes, that is snow.

Mr & Mrs House Finch check out the new windshield and us!

Snow! Our view of the KOA main building.

This was a bit much. The highway is just beyond the trees.

I found a talent long dormant since college days.

But Cathy shows off the best move

Made a quick trip to Vermont.

Where naturally, we had more snow!

I had plenty of spare time to make earrings. (p.s. I have five pair of earrings for sale at CA Styles in Guilford, CT  and was so excited when the pair you see on the right with the larger bottom beads sold!!) These are fun to make and fun to wear; I’m long past “serious”. 🙂

Beads and jump rings.

finally, sea glass earrings