Easter 2024 in New London with Lydia

Easter 2024 

We spent Easter 2024 in Connecticut with Lydia. As expected, it was a great time.

And, as expected, it was a bit of work getting there on Easter Weekend. We started off at 0800 with Spaceship packed to the moon roof, and the platform on the back carrying the cooler. I remember confidently stating that a minivan would be unnecessary as Spaceship's cargo hold would be sufficient for any future needs. At least we did not need the roof top carrier.

I also remember regaling friends with the good success we have had on trips charging the car. And then came Good Grief Friday 2024. We arrived at our charging stop to find every stall filled and 6 cars in line ahead of us. We decided to stick it out, and I headed out to find some sustenance. Thirty minutes and two salads later, I returned to find us next in line. We would spend over an hour refueling before getting back on the road.

We arrived at the Special Spot to pick up Lydia and Arwen to begin the core adventure in Stonington CT. We stayed in the nicest little first floor apartment just a few streets off the water. We were within walking distance of restaurants, shops, coffee, churches, and the water. It  was so nice to not have to drive all around. We were  just a block from the velvet velvet mill, an old manufacturing plant that was renovated and filled with eclectic shops, a farmers market, restaurants, craft beer, and coffee. It was so great. 

Saturday morning, Alli realized that he had to stand duty, so Lydia came to the rescue and drove him back to the academy. Then after chocolate and fruit pancakes, Uncle Trevor and Aunt Christine came over and spent the mid day with us. We had a leisurely wander through the velvet mill together where we saw some interesting art including the mermaid below. A few pastries followed us back the house where we sat at the kitchen table for a long chat.

For dinner, Arwen decorated the lemon tart for the first time and she did a great job and we all did a great job eating it.

The Real highlight of the weekend came that night when Tom won Rummikub twice over Lydia , Arwen, and Lynne. 

Sunday started with a trip to Calvary Episcopal Church. It was very different from our typical church experience. Tom forgot his glasses and spent the time reading over Lydia's shoulder with his phone in magnifier mode; awkward! It was a bit stressful trying to follow the service back and forth from bulletin to hymnal to book of common prayer. But in the end it was a great change of pace a great celebration of Jesus' resurrection. To cap it off, we drove to a cute little coffee shop called Indulge Coffee, and sat outside having lattes and biscotti.

Adulthood does not mean no easter baskets or easter egg hunts in Boyer World. Mike and Sandy came over and helped hide all the eggs. And Lydia, Arwen, and Alli, who were all with us last easter, rose to the challenge and found everything.

Mike and Sandy brought Italian Easter cake, blueberry pie, white bread, marbled bread, and fudge to combine with our ham, squash 'n apple, green beans 'n onions, and mashed potatoes. You should have seen how full our refrigerator was! It was a great meal with full bellies, happy palates, and great conversation. It was so fun, though we missed Haley, Isabella, and Julia who could not make it.

Sunday evening the coasties headed back to school and we began packing up. Our trip home was smooth enough with the normal traffic in Connecticut and no more charging horror stories. It was a good trade we made, time for memories with Lydia plus Arwen, Alli, Mike, Sandi, Uncle Trevor, and Aunt Christine.