the rhododendrons are in bloom!

pretty clusters, and they come in all different colors

I was in the treehouse at work and noticed all of these flowering from above.

I saw these bright ones from across a small field and just had to go over and get a look.

touring New England

I was lucky enough to have three days off from work, and what better way to spend it than exploring the neighboring New England towns with a fun friend! We began in Providence where I picked up said friend, JJ, from the bus stop. Coming from New York City, he was ecstatic to spend some time in greener pastures. We had beautiful weather and finally some warmth and spent as much time outside as possible. I love how I can drive an hour from my home and feel like I'm on vacation.

                                Providence is a beautiful city with lots of character, and good sushi, too.

I was intent on driving to the end of the Cape the next day, or "the end of the world" as JJ put it. We never did figure out how to get to the very tip with its little lighthouse, but we made it as far as Provincetown, with a few fun stops along the way.

The Highland Lighthouse was closed "for the season". Clearly, it's spring now! Hibernation ended a while ago. Still, we enjoyed the foggy view of the ocean.

Then we were off to Provincetown, where we enjoyed a walk down the main street, a wayward straggle to a beach we never found, and then a 250-ft. climb up the highest all-granite structure in the US: the Pilgrim Monument to commemorate the first pilgrims. The Mayflower landed here first and stayed for 5 weeks before heading on to Plymouth. The tower was opened in 1910.

looking out

looking down-- far, far down

 I loved being able to see out so far, where back in Sandwich the horizon is shielded by woodlands.
After enjoying my new lunchtime favorite, the Cape Cob Reuben (with fish rather than corned beef), we headed back to Sandwich to finish off a quarter section of watermelon while sitting on the bank of a pond near my house, watching people fishing in their canoes.

Day number three was a trip off-Cape to Newport, RI. We toured the enormous Breakers house, and found our way to the Cliff Walk. It was foggy but warm, and I expected the fog to clear up. Rather than that, it came rolling right back in so that we couldn't see the ocean far past the cliff after some time, but it was beautiful! It reminded me of images you see from England, rather than New England.