A cup of Assam Tea

I had been to Gillette castle many times and twice inside, but don't know why it took me a while to blog about this unique castle and the state park. Just 30 minutes from Connecticut's capital, Hartford, it sits right above a cliff overlooking the Connecticut River. This amazing stone castle's outdoors is as mesmerizing as it is indoors. It has many characters, whether intricately carved wooden doors, bars, walls, or as detailed as wooden switchboards. While visiting this castle, you admire this incredible man called William Gillette, his vision, and the creative ideas that were incorporated to build this castle. It took us back to 1912. William Gillette, an accomplished actor who portrayed Sherlock Holmes, was born in Hartford in 1853 and discovered this location on a boat trip on the Connecticut River in 1912. Since he didn't own a permanent home, he built one here. It was completed in 1919 and cost about 1 million us dollars. With an 184-acre property, this 14,000-s...

  First of all, I wish you all a very happy New Year! Staying more than 20 years in Connecticut, my home, we psyched up to visit or unfold something new every season. Today, the 1st day of 2023, we visited the Lobster tree trap in the shoreline town of Stonington. An amazing and awe-inspiring 35-foot-tall tree with more than 420 buoys and lobster traps honoring fishing culture, painted by 40 Stonington children and 100-plus other incredible artists.   It was a wonderful visit, and discovering all the hand-painted buoys was unique. There are 15 such trees in New England. Visiting this Lobster trap tree not only provides a great photo opportunity but also allows you to appreciate all the artists who created the buoys and pay homage to all the people associated with the fishing culture.  The Stonington Lobster Trap Tree is funded by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization. If you would like to get involved, there is an opportunity to make a do...

    The month of December always transports me back to my hometown, to the delightful years of growing up, holding my deuta's hand, walking around in the book fairs, and visiting different book stalls. The crisp scent of those books is still in my mind, so fresh. Reviving and reliving those winter December days, we visited RJ Julia's Bookseller, an independent bookstore. Visiting an independent bookstore is an experience, one and unique. Set on the serene shoreline of Connecticut in the charming town of Madison, RJ Julia's Bookseller offers a diverse selection of books for adults and children, catering to a wide range of interests.  Serving for more than 30 years, this two-story bookstore with its delightful and helpful staff genuinely feels blessed to have visitors. Additionally, a charming and cozy cafe offers delicious sandwiches, soups, tasty desserts, tea, coffee, and refreshing cold beverages. I had artichoke and spinach dip with tortilla chips, and hubs had Paninis...

While we are experiencing a sweltering summer in New England, at the same time, we are appreciating what summer has to offer. Many fairs and festivals have flocked by.  This weekend, we visited an indoor/outdoor upscale vintage-inspired market at Harwinton Fairgrounds in Litchfield County, Connecticut, called  Vintage Market Days .  As a vintage hoarder, I find visiting the vintage market relatively new. There are vendors from the home state of Connecticut to Massachusetts, Newyork, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina who brought a wide array of architectural Salvage, food, antique furniture, Crocks, toys, vintage clothing (different decades, from Victorian and Art Deco), linen accessories to name a few all under one roof and everything vintage inspired. It was a three-day event from August 19-21, 2022. The market is suffused with unique, one-of-a-kind antique and vintage-inspired goodies, live music, and local food vendors. If you're a home decor enthusiast seeking unique...