HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY PRETTIES…..HEE HEE HEE HEE……

A few years ago we headed to Nantucket for  summer holiday.  After spending time there we headed to Sandwich Ma, then onto Plymouth ( I hadn’t been there since fourth grade… hey my bffs, do you remember that trip?????..I still have the little Plymouth booklet sitting on my desk in a basket, don’t ask why, I just do ) then after that we headed over to fabulous Boston for several days and then ended our trip in Salem.  Oh how fun it was!!

Points of interest:

1) The House of the Seven Gables- where Nathaniel Hawthorne spent a lot of time.  Have you been in the secret staircase its fabulous fun!! – The house was built in 1668 by Capt. Turner, later passed into the hands of the Ingersoll’s, who were cousins of Nathaniel Hawthorne.  The writer frequently visited the home and may have had it in mind when he named his famous novel “The House of the Seven Gables”.

2) The Pirate museum, much more fun for the boys than moi, but a good time was had by all.  Here you can re-live the adventures of Captain Kidd and Blackbeard.

3) Beautiful outdoor gardens on the water, don’t miss the one at The House of the Seven Gables.

4) Lovely little cafes, many of them on the water.

5)  The Salem Witch museum- Here you will learn about the unfair trials, witness the testimony of the hysterical girls, the suffering of the blameless victims, and the decisions of the fanatical judges who sent innocent people to their deaths.

6) The Witch House- Considered one of the oldest houses in Salem, was the home of Judge Corwin, one of the judges of the witchcraft court. It is Salem’s only home with direct ties to the Witch Trials of 1692.

and more…

visit here for more information if you are planning a trip to Salem or just interested in enhancing your Halloween fun and Spookiness.

Teddy, Sam and Moi a few years ago in the gardens at The House of the Seven Gables.  Have you read the book???

I love my boys, they look so much younger in this picture and it was only a few years ago.  Sam is now almost 16 and towers over me and they would NEVER hold hands with each other now , but they are always together    Ollie was just a baby and sleeping in his stroller off with his dad exploring the grounds.

I found the Salem Witch Museum so fascinating.  It still amazes me how one person can tell a lie and bring down so many innocent people as was the case here during the trials. Or so we were told…. So Spooky…..The dungeons were creepy.

The only house with direct ties to the Witch trials

If you are in the area stop by with your family and friends and have yourself one interesting little side trip…

{ painting by T. H. Matteson, 1855, courtesy of the Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts}

The House of the Seven Gables was the highlight for me. Just thinking about Nathaniel Hawthorne being, visiting, living and writing there fascinated me.

I love to travel to far away exotic places but also have enjoyed places closer to home just as much.  Every place I have ever been has delighted, inspired and thrilled me in some way.

I found the cutest Sailor Valentine to bring  home from the gift shop at  Hawthorne’s House.  It hangs up in our hallway with American period antiques and a gorgeous hand hooked rug.  The space is sparse the pieces are simple, straight clean lines, very simple and the Sailor Valentine looks great there. I also found a pewter tea pot that looks like Nathaniel could have poured his tea from while writing.  I think after I’m finished with my post I will make some green tea and relax for a bit.

Painting a little Halloween fun last year…I need to work on my leaves????

{ A fun little cookbook you may want to add to your collection}

Perhaps if Mr. Hawthorne joined me for dinner and drinks, I would set a table similar to the one above that I set for a very rustic Autumn party we hosted outback in our very very old stone spring house last year…There were pewter mugs and pewter plates that everyone used for appetizers.  It was a blast, many people came in costume.  I was a beer Wench..of course!!

I serve this Pumpkin Cheese ball at everything I host during the Autumn months, it is easy and delicious to make.

I hope you enjoyed a quick tour of Salem, please click onto the link at the top of the post to learn more about Salem.  Jojo and Poppy just came down for the Halloween festivities…I hope they behave themselves and stay out of trouble.

Have a wonderful Halloween, make some Bewitching memories!!

Next week I am going to a gift show at the home of  a NYC producer of one very very popular morning show…I can’t wait and hope to post about it.

PS.  I just want to thank all of you for the incredibly kind comments that were written on my previous post…it means the world to me!!

This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009.
Tags: cheese appetizers, family trips, Salem MA., Salem Witch trials, The House of the Seven Gables, travel
Posted in Fall, Family Fun, La Cuisine, La Cuisine - Appetizers, Voyage