Peace out east coast!

The drive from Massachusetts to Ohio was a our second longest - a full 11 and a half hours. Needless to say, we got a little bored...















The dogs provide plenty of amusement (when they're not sleeping that is) - like poor Bijou's static charged fur!















But bugging Billy is much more fun.



Thanks Pennsylvania for the scenic sunset.















Oh, and P.S. -
for all you Office geeks, Billy insisted I took a picture of this sign:

Walking in a winter wonderland...

Duncan was a great host and made us a giant stack of warm pancakes before he took us on a nice hike through the state forest behind his house.



















It was crazy cold, but we bundled up.



















Surprisingly, the dogs didn't mind the snow at all.



















I just love that sound of the snow crunching under my feet.





















































































It was a tranquil and lasting memory of our stay in Massachusetts.

(Thanks again to Duncan and his dad!)

Field trip

So, I promised Billy when we went to Boston we'd go to the Samuel Adams Brewery, which Duncan was pretty thrilled about as well. We don't drink much, but Billy has always appreciated a good quality beer.



















After a brief tour of the brewery, we entered the tasting pub for free beer samples. I actually can't stand beer, but I figured why not get an extra Sam Adams glass for Billy.

Before:














The guys scrutinizing the samples.





































Four 7 oz samples later... (three with the tour, and one extra for hanging around and being nice to the tour guide)

After:














And here are the guys examining the new "Perfect Pint" glass, which supposedly took scientists over a year to develop. (A year, really? For a glass. I think the exchange for free beer might have had a little something to do with it...)
Regardless, they did something right, 'cause we had a lot of fun with it!





































Can't say I was as excited about the tasting as the guys were, but I did have a good time just being one of the boys.

Although it was freezing outside, and the wind coming off the harbor was bone chillingly cold, and despite spending most of the time trying to get indoors as quickly and as often as we could, Boston was good to us.

(Thank goodness for Boston's warm and toasty subway rides.)

Chowdah

On the top of our list of things to do while in Massachusetts:
Eat real New England clam chowder.

The chowder at Legal Sea Foods in Boston is supposedly the best.



















And it was.

2009 is a wicked good time!

Passing through Bridgeport, CT

2,000 Miles!

The COLD Apple

Before we left NY we wanted to make sure to visit the city, even though it wasn't the most pleasant weather to go walking around the streets of New York in.

The guys did a great job scraping some serious amounts of ice off the car so we could go.















Although, I have a feeling Billy wasn't enjoying this winter chore, and maybe even scornful of the lack of contribution from us girls. haha















Seeing the city at night was insane. The lights were so bright it hardly even felt like night!



We had a pretty chill time in the city. (Literally.)

Let it snow!

New York greeted us with our first real snow experience!















(Thanks Mom for the warm and cozy hand knit scarf!)

Billy's pretty excited about his first time in the snow.



















Watching the dogs experience snow for the first time was cute too.



















Bijou was really curious about it.















Azure was indifferent.



















Billy's attempt to smuggle the dogs in and out of Gwynne and Matt's apartment building, which Azure appreciated - her two favorite things being cuddled and being warm.



















Now this is something we don't normally see when going out to our car...



















We enjoyed staying warm inside with good friends while it snowed outside - playing video games and having fun with the Bean Boozled Jelly Belly game, where we subjected the guys to some delicious and disgusting flavors for our amusement. hehe



Thanks everyone for a great weekend!

Hop, skip and a jump

We popped over to Philly for a few hours to check out the fascinatingly educational Mutter Museum...















And meet up with a couple of old friends, Joe and Lenny, for delicious Philly cheese steaks! (Ours were veggie Phillies made with seitan, and I'd gamble that it was seriously as good as, if not better, than the real thing!)

Snow???

Technically the first time we've seen it... although, New Jersey doesn't offer very impressive amounts of snow...



















It was finally cold enough to bundle the pups up in their snow suits though. Azure's is so warm it puts her to sleep.



















(Thanks to Crystal for letting us stay at your place on such short notice!)

Sharing is caring

In Maryland, Kevin was nice enough to share his comfy couch.















And Matilda was nice enough to share her ginormous bone.



















Thanks again, Kevin!

Virginia is for lovers

...and lovely afternoon drives.

The birthplace of your Christmas tree

Ever wonder where your Christmas tree comes from? Apparently, North Carolina.

Cascade Falls

Our last hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.