Every once in a while I’ll see those click-bait headlines come across my social media algorithm that read something like “Legislators Pushing For a Four-Day Work-Week!” or “Politicians Debating Making All Mondays a Federal Holiday!” and although it’ll likely be something I’ll never see in my lifetime (or the next), I wish more than anything they were true on a day like today when all I want to do is rest and recuperate after taking a long weekend beginning last Friday afternoon. I got plenty of sun, ate plenty of food, and made some unexpected new friends – but I am exhausted!
On Friday, after running some errands during the early hours of a day off I’d planned from work, Dan and I headed up to Rye, New Hampshire for the grand seasonal opening of my favorite beachside bar and food stop – Kooks! The place was packed both inside and out, which always makes me happy to see, and we were fortunate enough to find a corner table by the bar where we had a couple of drinks, some tacos and street corn dip, and were able to say hello and catch up with everyone on the staff for the first time since the end of the Summer last year before they’d closed up for the Winter.
It’s always so much fun kicking off the unofficial start to beach season there – and everybody was in great spirits. It was such a wonderful night!
And I’ll be spending even more time there this coming Summer since they started a monthly Book Club I’m now a apart of!
On Saturday, I had a “Girls Day” with my mom and my cousin Paige as we headed out for lunch at The Neighborhood Tavern in Northborough, Massachusetts and grabbed some desserts to-go at the nearby Gerardo’s Bakery, but the real highlight of our afternoon together was a “Baby Goat Cuddle Session” we had signed up for at Bracken Hill Farm.
The event was exactly what it sounds like. For over an hour, we got to roam the farm and both say hello to and pet a ton of different animals that were walking around freely – including horses, donkeys, turkeys, cows, alpacas and, of course – so many goats. All of the animals are so used to being around people that they’re super relaxed and friendly.
And I fell head over heels in love with a five-day-old baby boy goat, yet to be named, who kept falling asleep in my arms when he wasn’t looking up at me and giving me little kisses or trying to chew on my hair. I don’t know what my landlord’s policy is about bringing goats into the building (he’s pretty lax about the rules when it comes to everyone else living there, evidently) but I’m tempted to ask.
The only slightly frightening moment of the day didn’t come by way of any of the animals – but by my mother when she got a little lightheaded from the intense heat and sunshine and half-fainted by one of the pens. Thankfully, everyone at the farm – including other guests! – sprang into action to get her a seat in the shade and plenty of cold water. She felt much better in the minutes after, but I’m so grateful to everyone who continued to check in on her alongside Paige and I throughout the remainder of our stay since she refused to leave without petting all the animals.
My mom is always a woman on a mission!
Amazingly enough, one of the alpacas – Todd – refused to leave my mom’s side, even after she recovered and was up and moving normally again. Todd just stayed right next to her, coming over to nudge her or nuzzle up against her on occasion. An animal’s intuition is always the sweetest, most pure thing. My mom is still astounded by it (and she’s doing 10000% better at the time I’m writing this!)
Sunday was the source of another impromptu adventure, this time in Connecticut, that I’m going to write about a little later on this week since I’m still going through all the photos I took, but I’ve already promised my mom we can go back to the farm (on a much cooler day!) so she can play with all the animals – and Todd the Alpaca – again!
See you all soon!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 