Gosh, I love these Favorites

Upon depositing Lisa at the train,

I took my favorite Route 1A,

and headed over to Newburyport for a long overdue 

visit with Kathy and Gene.

Along the way I stopped at a quintessential New England sight:

The plants for sale along the road,

"please put money in the box."

Gosh, I love New England.

Anyway, I arrived in time to visit with kids and grandkids,

before we headed over for wood-oven pizza

in nearby Amesbury.

I was reminded: 

The restaurants in New England are of wide variety,

from seafood to pizza to roast beef sandwiches.

And:

Gosh, I love New England food.

The following morning was Kathy's birthday,

and so she and I drove downtown to 'ye old drug store

[now converted into a restaurant]

and had a delightful celebratory/catching-up meal.

We then spent the afternoon,

lounging in the pool.

It had been a while, but:

Gosh, I love lounging in the pool.

Later that afternoon, after we'd soaked up some sun,

we made our way north to nearby Maine,

and drove around the beautiful sights.

Kennebunkport was our destination,

home of many beautiful homes, charming views of the ocean,

and the Bush family compound.

Even more specifically, 

our destination was just across the street from this view,

at this charming Inn,

for Kathy's birthday dinner.

But, because she is so generous,

the staff were told it was both of our [July] birthdays,

and hence, we were brought mango gelato treats.

We were ok with this, 

even though we were stuffed with delicious food.

For the sake of record keeping: I had a bisque made of crab, roasted corn, mushrooms and lemongrass broth, plus a hunk of monkfish set in mussel and saffron stew, the memories of which I am still reveling in.

Gosh, I loved that food.

Then we drove home, 

tired out from so much good.

The next morning dawned bright and beautiful,

and while Kathy watered flowers and Gene mowed the lawn,

I sat on the porch with coffee,

and read.

Gosh, I love sitting on the porch with coffee.

But then, Kathy's dear sister Merrily arrived,

just in time for Newburyport's Market Square Day.

Together, we wandered around,

combing the booths for treasures and treats,

before settling down for lunch.

Since Gene & Kathy are Newburyport regulars,

we ended up at one of their regular spots,

at which I had the most delicious burger

I've had in a long time.

I don't even remember what was on it;

I just remember:

Gosh, I loved that burger.

And treated, I was, for sure.

Afterward, we spent the afternoon back at the pool.

We lounged, we swam, we talked some more; 

we watched a hawk chase a snake across the yard.

After many years, theses dear people once again
opened up their lives and their home to me
and allowed me the space to dwell peacefully,

and to learn from them.

And all I could think was:

Gosh, I love being with these favorites of mine.