Christmas in Connecticut (Part One)

So I'm a month late in saying this but- I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas!

Mine was quiet, and peaceful, and warmed by loved ones (old and new!)

Some memorable moments included being surprised by Jake with a gorgeous pearl necklace 

and matching earrings, and surprising my bride-to-be cousin with a custom made cake

fork set with her fiance's last name engraved on it, as well as the date of their wedding.

Speaking of Jake- it was our one year anniversary on the 28th of December,

and in celebration of the occasion, we drove up to none other than Mystic, Connecticut

to spend the night at the impeccably beautiful Another Second Penny Inn. Did we have a good time? 

No. Better! Not only was this trip lovely on its own, but it even snowed the night we stayed there,

and I officially experienced my very  first New England snowfall. I don't think I've ever seen

anything quite so beautiful in my life, and I'm not sure I'll ever see something so beautiful again!

So we arrived in the town of Stonington, the neighboring town of Mystic where

our inn resided. Of course, my jaw was permanently implanted to the floor-

even though I had been there before, it was such a different experience being

there in the winter. It was seeing the town in SUCH a different light...

We stopped at Noah's for some breakfast...

... of which we enjoyed immensely

(the wild blueberry pancakes were to die for!)

Then we walked off the calories around this perfect little town.

So long, Christmas-time!

Before we knew it, it was after 12, and we were off again...

this time to our little borrowed slice of heaven tucked away in the woods of Stonington.

Another Second Penny Inn

The festive dining room

Yummy snacks laid out for the guests

The library

Welcome to our room... the "Denison" room ♥

The fire crackling

Picnic basket filled with useful goodies

The HUGE bathroom, with a sitting area, two sinks, and an antique tub.

Toiletries... my favorite!

♥

So, once we settled in a bit, we headed out for Mystic Seaport, the town's renowned

living history museum of a recreated 19th century New England coastal village,

adorned with houses, shops, ships, and shipyards all over the span of 17 acres! I had gone

with my mom during their famous Wooden Boat Show in '08, and I was excited to experience 

it again- this time at a more low-key time of year with my fellow history buff boyfriend :-)

And then suddenly, like magic, it began to snow!

You think that's big? Think of the ship it was for!

After spending the day at the museum, we decided to go back to the inn. 

It was coming down pretty hard at that point, so we thought it would be best 

to nestle in and relax by the fire until dinnertime when we'd venture out
again into the storm to dine at the Captain Daniel Packer Inne.

When we arrived back at the Second Penny, we were truly not prepared

for the unadulterated, heart-wrenching beauty that lay before us...

You'll just have to wait for my 

next post to witness it yourself!

♥