Hello my friends, wishing you a very happy July weekend wherever you may be. Hope you’re soaking in some rays and enjoying some rest and relax with your friends and family this summer. Filling you in today on a quick get-away Jon and I squeezed in a few weekends ago in June, celebrating our twenty-third anniversary in Portsmouth, NH.
First. Can I just say: love this city.
And second. Time: it really flies. And how can it be twenty-three years since we solemnly exchanged vows in that little white church on the village green?
And it seems to me, the older I get — the faster time flies by. And those beyond me, they say he rumbles even faster further down the rails. Yikes!
So I tentatively whisper: “Slow down Father Time.” (He pays no mind.)
That’s why it’s important to take a little breather if you can from the regular routine. Celebrate the important milestones. Because time — it just keep ticking. Whether we stop to celebrate the special moments or not.
So we escaped for a night to Portsmouth, NH just an hour away on the coast. What a quaint and beautiful old New England coastal city with character and history. I love the architecture. Can’t wait to show you the sights. So let’s go!
We stayed at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, got a fantastic deal on-line through Hotwire, in case you’re thinking of a visit. So we arrive to check in, and the desk attendant, she asks if we’re celebrating anything special. (!)
And of course we are, so we tell her our news. And she says, “Congrats, and let me upgrade you to our Club Access Level.” Gulp. And thank you!
And just like that, suddenly we’re VIP’s, on the elevator, whisked up to the restricted access top floor with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the evening, complimentary breakfast in the morning and a gorgeous harbor view to boot!
Woo hoo. I tell you: Someone is watching out for us. That I believe.
If you can’t tell, I’m fascinated by this bridge. It really was a sight to see as the sun was setting just before twilight. On other days I’ve seen it draw up to accommodate big ships, also a sight to behold.
Spent time roaming the streets. Shopping. Drinking in all the beautiful sights.
Had a lovely salmon dinner on the upper deck of River House with this stunning view of the harbor!
Love a church spire against the brilliant blue!
The trip wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at the lovely Byrnes & Carlson Chocolatier. And yes, we “sampled”. (And yes, they provide generous samples, FYI!)
Picked up a souvenir and a few birthday gifts for some very special birthday girls at Seaside Allure, a new boutique downtown. If you like Vineyard Vines and Lilly Pulitzer, this is your new dream store. 🙂 (Mine too!)
Had a delightful lunch at the famous Portsmouth Brewery downtown. Great atmosphere and food!
Just a little more meandering, and all too soon, it’s time to head for home.
Hoped to browse inside Le Roux Kitchen but ran out of time. Check out the rainbow stacks of Le Creuset!
Loved this garden tub vignette we spied through the wrought iron gate heading out of town…
One last stop on the way home at our favorite New Hampshire beach, New Castle. Just off the beaten path, minutes from Portsmouth. Deserted. Perfect.
It’s usually calm in the cove, but today the wind was up and there were actually waves and whitecaps.
Things got blurry when I stumbled on this sign posted above the drinking fountain at the bath house. I’d heard of The Kindness Project before, didn’t know what it was all about. A pile of children’s pails and shovels were underneath the fountain. Sniff. And God bless Maddi’s gracious family.
New Castle Beach was the perfect peaceful conclusion to a magical whirlwind day and night away.
And looking forward with anticipation to the next twenty-three…
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Ellen says
Happy Anniversary! What a fun trip. Lovely pictures.
Allie says
Thanks so much Ell – it was a nice little get away for a night and not too far away either.
Barbara Child says
Thanks for the beautiful glimpse of Portsmouth! So glad you had such a nice getaway!
Allie says
Thank you Barbara – it was a nice break in the middle of it all. (!)
Pauline Cannistraci says
So happy and thrilled to read about your Anniversary get -a -way and see how the Lord has blessed you both. You both look wonderful! Happy Anniversary and many more years together.
Allie says
So nice to hear from you Mrs. C – many thanks for the anniversary wishes! XO
nancy mcmahan says
Glad you got away even for a night. Is your hubby taking the selfie?
Allie says
Thank you Nan – it sure was a nice break. And you are correct, Jon took that picture. I hope you are having a good summer.
Aunt Pinkie says
What a lovely get-away for two of my favorite people! A little touch of Heaven on earth!
Allie says
Awww…thanks Aunt Pinkie. I feel very special. And dancing with you is one of my favorite wedding memories….what a fun night!
Christy Smith says
I love traveling with you…even virtually! You bring sights, sounds and tastes to life. So happy you had this getaway and you are right about time ticking away whether or not we celebrate special moments. So important to remember and celebrate! ❤️
Allie says
I have no doubt we will get some traveling in together along the way when the time is right, Christy Smith! 🙂 You are someone who remembers to celebrate special moments. xo
Tracy says
Happy Anniversary! Sounds like the perfect short get away! Love the pictures. Here’s to another 23!!!!
Allie says
Thanks my friend, I hope you get to celebrate your anniversary in style – NEXT summer. Now that would be WONDERFUL!!!
Susie Mandel says
What a beautiful trip for a beautiful occasion! And that picture of you and Jon at the end is absolutely the sweetest…well, both of them are, but you both look so good. 🙂 Love your pictures–makes me so excited for our upcoming trip and, of course, we can’t wait to see you!!
Allie says
Thank you so much Susie, you so kind. I felt so incredibly relaxed on our quick night away. And we cannot WAIT to see you. We were just talking dates at the dinner table tonight, working on it. I so hope you get to Portsmouth when you are in the area.
Barbara says
What beautiful pictures you captured, along with incredible scenery that was remarkable,”liked the decorative bath tub with gorgeous flowers behind the ironwork” and best of all that beautiful wedding picture, 23 yrs later, the same beautiful couple, as vibrant and young as years ago,.. with such love and devotion to each other, shows with God’s love the depth and beauty two lives can blend into a lovely tapestry! May both of you enjoy many more years to celebrate your love! Someone else here just loves your pictures and thinks your beautiful……. The Lily store seems intriguing!!!!!!!
Allie says
Thank you Miss Barbara – you are so sweet. Trust me — we are not as YOUNG!! Ha ha. I feel every bit of 23 years older. But thankfully I still have a lot of joy. I think I know who that “someone” might be. Tell her I think she’s beautiful too. You’re both two pretty peas in a pod. And yes, you would definitely like the Lily store.
Judy says
Celebrations — poignant, sweet
Make a lovely kind of treat!
Twenty-three is no small feat:
Two plus One makes life complete!
Congratulations and love to two love-birds….
Allie says
Hey thanks Mama – I bet you put together this fun poem in a quick minute. You’re very talented like that. And everyone loved your beautiful wedding poem last weekend. XO
Eva says
Félicitations Allie ! 23 ans de mariage, c’est tellement beau! Comme tu bien dit, plus on vieille, plus le temps passe vite, il faut vraiment profiter du moment !
Tes photos sont magnifiques et la ville est vraiment très belle. Je suis ravie que vous passé des moments magiques en amoureux!
Vous êtes tout les deux magnifiques! Vive l’amour ! xoxxo
Allie says
Cher Eva , je vous remercie de ce genre et de commentaires douce . Vous me l’avez montré tant de glipses merveilleux de Bordeaux et de la région de surroundng , je suis heureux de vous montrer un peu de mon monde . Merci pour les félicitations . Il a été une belle mais pas facile vingt-trois ans sur les chefs d’accusation peut . mais je ne changerais pour rien au monde . Mon amour pour vous mu ami, espérons que vous ahve une belle semaine !
Leslie says
Congrats on 23 beautiful years! ?
PS- I love bridges too. Chicago has some great ones downtown and in the hoods that are over 100 years old. What craftsmanship! Nothing I make will be around that long.
Thanks for sharing. Gorgeous town, gorgeous people inside and out. ?
Allie says
You sweet sweet friend Leslie! Thank you for the kind words and congrats. Twenty-three years goes so fast. (But some of the days are long just the same. I know you get it.) Yep, lots of pretty bridges in Chicago. xo
Carina says
It sounds like you spent had a wonderful 23rd anniversary! Thanks for the reminder to slow down and celebrate special mile-stones. It is true, time just keeps going whether we take that time to do so or not. I enjoyed the pictures -what a beautiful city…. and I just love the picture from your wedding day. You both look radiantly joyful! The truly great gift is that you still look so happy 23 years later. All the best, my friend. Xoxo
Allie says
Thank you so much Carina, it was (strangely) relaxing. Usually when we get away for such a short time it’s such a chore just getting out the door and getting all the kids situated wherever they’re going, that by the time we’re just feeling relaxed, it’s time to come home. HA. But I didn’t feel that way this time around. I’m not sure why, but I’m grateful. Probably it was being by the ocean. I really do love the ocean breezes, sand and salt. All of it. Thank you for the very kind words, I truly cannot believe it has been twenty-three years. Every day is not bliss, that’s the truth. But looking back collectively, I’m so grateful for our history/journey. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I hope you’re having a wonderful summer my friend, and getting a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather with your family. XO
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Many congratulations on togetherness of 23 years! Many more to come. What a beautiful and fun trip. And all these pictures are so wonderful that I so want to visit this place very soon! PS: You both look so young! 🙂 <3
Allie says
Thank you very much my friend for the kind words, I do hope you get to visit New England and Portsmouth some day. You would love it. And Adoria would too. <3
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Happy Belated Anniversary, doll!!! Time sure does fly by and I wish life had a pause button! 23 years of marriage is impressive and most enviable! I’m so glad you two had a lovely celebration! You guys always take the best vacations to the most quaint, cute, beautiful places! I’m adding Portsmouth to my list of places to visit! Cheers, Allie – to another 23 years of blissful marriage! xoxo
Allie says
Yeah Cheyanne, I wish for that pause button also. I cannot find it though. It is ELUSIVE! (I remember teaching my Charlie when he was three that word elusive. It was funny hearing him use it at three. ” The sun is elusive behind the clouds.” Ha ha.) And thank you for the kind words, it was a nice celebration and I’m so glad we went. It takes forever to get all the chilluns situated but so worth it. I love sharing New England and my favorite spots here, I hope you come for a visit some day. You and Boy will NOT be disappointed. xo
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Happy, Happy 23rd Anniversary to you and Jon, Allie! And may God continue to bless y’all and look out for y’all so there are countless more “upgrades” in every avenue of y’alls lives. Btw, I cannot agree more, for the past 3 years or so I too have felt that “the older I get — the faster time flies by” too!” So yay to celebrating ALL the milestones because this life is made up of memories right?!
<3 this post! Portsmouth NH looks like such a lovely spot. Hope you have a wonderful Monday and a wonderful week!
xoxo
Allie says
Dear Shashi – there’s something I appreciate about you. Well there are a lot of things. One: you have a great sense of humor. Two: you are genuine. Three: you have that very unusual quality of being able to be truly happy for the good fortune and blessings of others. I think the time is going faster because we’re blogging. Do you think that might be it? I know the time feels faster anyway, I’m trying to fit in all of regular life AND blog. And it’s flying by way too fast. But I am enjoying it all for sure and I know you are also snatching the joy wherever you can. Thank you for all the kindness on the journey, and have a WONDERFUL week my friend. xo
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
Congrats, Allie! Thanks for sharing your special get-away! Love all the pictures 🙂
Allie says
Thank you so much Kathy!
Carolyn Voegtlin says
Congratulations, Allie & Jon!
But Allie, I certainly hope you were able to get some DARK chocolate at Byrnes & Carlson Chocolatier.
I don’t get into bridges so much as you & Leslie but dark chocolate is another matter entirely!
Love you, your family and your blog.
Carolyn V
Allie says
Awww..thanks so much Carolyn. I got some dark chocolate. You know it! Lots of love to you and yours! xo
Mandi Korn says
Happy Anniversary, what a wonderful adventure you went on to celebrate. I love the pic of your wedding and then the pic from your trip, you two look so happy:o) I love all the images from the bridge and the town, makes me want to visit.
Kathy says
LOVE your wedding picture, Allie! You look even MORE beautiful now!! Thanks for sharing this very special part of your life!