Southampton, Day 2

Day 22, Tuesday, July 5

I've spent the past 40 years in western states: Montana, Nevada, Idaho and Texas. There, when we think of an old house or building, we're thinking 100 years old or so. It's way different in New England. As we drove around the Southampton area today, Lorna pointed out houses, churches, town halls, etc, and she was throwing out dates like 1782, 1801, 1794, 1809.....that all adds up to a LOT of history!

In Texas, lots of our houses are low and sprawling...partly because there's lots of land available and partly because the houses keep cooler that way. In New England, you see many more two and three story houses with smaller "footprints." That way there's not as much square footage to heat in the cold winters, and the heat that is produced can rise and be captured higher up.

One of the stops on our drive today was at the lovely home of an artist friend of Lorna's. Though her friend wasn't at home, we wandered through her beautiful natural garden. I love the textures and colors, and the breathtaking view. I can imagine what those hillsides look like in autumn!

We stopped for lunch at Outlook Farms, a wonderful working farm that provides beautiful produce, home raised and cut meats, and has a delightful country store and cafe where they make all their own meals, breads and desserts. It's all housed in a magnificent post and beam building added on to the original barn. What a step back in time!

These cherries were almost as big as plums!

After returning to Ross and Lorna's, Curt power-washed young Ross's boat for him before our daily swim.

Then tonight we went to one of Ross and Lorna's favorite dinner spots. The food was absolutely delicious, and so unique...from warm beet and Gorgonzola salad, to Gouda-stuffed chicken, to herb creeps...and much more. What a delight!

That was all topped off by a stunning view of the distant mountains with the sun just skimming the tops of the clouds. 

Tomorrow, more of Curt's family will begin arriving for the July 4 holiday. Some we haven't seen in 30, 35, and 40 years. These next few days are going to be so much fun!