Allison's Wonderland

All the Ladies Minus Greta :(

I love tea.  I always have.  I always will.  It's one of those things that's engrained in me.  Tea makes me feel sophisticated in the same way as drinking wine and having cheese and crackers does.  I feel more lady like, cultured and powerful.  If I'm drinking tea out of nice china and wearing a hat, I feel almost like Queen Elizabeth or even Lady Kate.  My friends and I started a reading group called, "The Finer Things Club."  It may sound stupid but in the "Finer Things Ten Commandment's" one of the rules was we had to have tea or wine present at every meeting.  Like I said before tea just makes you feel finer. 

Tea set Micah gave me

Since I've been living in New York with my Niagara Falls family, I've been having afternoon tea with my Grandmother and sometimes I go over to my Aunt Beverly's house and have afternoon tea there as we sit on the porch and discuss the happenings of the day (that's what afternoon tea is for, right?).  Afternoon tea is not fun alone, although sometimes I must admit, I do sit at the table and drink a cup or two by myself.  My friend Micah gave me a beautiful clay tea set for being in her wedding and as of late it's been my teapot of choice.  I left all of my collected tea pots from my travels back in Lynchburg, so as of now it's the only one I have in New York.  We sit and drink Vanilla Chai, Chamomile, Irish Breakfast Tea, Green Tea, etc while eating cheese and crackers and these amazing cookies that come from Scotland called Walker's Short Bread.  They are pure butter which doesn't do much for the hips and thighs, but does amazing things for the taste buds. 

Hand Made Invitations

While in Italy I would have tea every afternoon out of Simona's tea box that someone had given her from England.  One of my favorite from the box was a wood flavored tea.  It was absolutely wonderful!  I got the brilliant idea that once I was home in the States and living in NY we should have a lady's tea with all of the ladies in the family.  I called up my Grandmother and she suggested having it at a place called "The White Linen Tea Room."  I was all for it.  My Grandmother Brooks is excellent at all things crafty.  She helped me design and write out the invitations using her little calligraphy pens.  The next day I mailed them to all the ladies of the family and I must say that I was pretty proud of my handiwork.  Hey.  You would be too after spending about 5 hours cutting out little tea pots and writing fancy script all over them. 

Aunt and I in our new Hats

After all the arrangements had been made, invitations sent out, and complaints about the $25 dollar charge had come in, it was time for me to find a hat.  My Aunt Beverly and I went to the Antique Barn to find a little hat for myself.  She found a beautiful powder blue hat for $25 but I still was hatless after our 2 hour excursion.  I went out to my GMA Brooks' house that night to finish up the last touches of the invitations and low and behold I found a little black hat for $5 at the Lockport Antique Store.  Woot Woot! 

Cousin Picture!  Katie, Me and Aftonian

All the Ladies at the Table

Sunday November 4th had rolled around and I was all excited about the tea.  I love tea and I love dressing up so the nerd in me was super excited.  My cousin, Gurt, Grandma and I were all brave and wore our hats to church.  My cousin Katie sported a headband with a big flower on it as her head is too small for hats.  She just looks kinda of weird in them.  I wore the outfit that I wore to the Ascot Royale Races along with the shoes that I had bought in England.  I will admit they are ridiculously high heels, but sometimes a girl wants to look sexy once and awhile and heels are a sure way to make that happen.  A lady at church, who I never met and did not know, saw me walking in my shoes and complaining to my cousin about how they were too big for me.  She decided to make a comment and say, "In 25 years you're going to be making a visit to the Pediatrist.  I use to wear heels like that and now look at me!"  (This was all said as she waddled and limped across the floor.)  I just smiled at her.  Then she spoke up again and said, "Mark my words.  You shouldn't be wearing heels like that."  Umm....thanks lady?  I don't think I asked for comments from the peanut gallery.  Why do people feel the need to make comments to unsuspecting strangers?  It was weird and after I gave her a nice smile I turned around, rolled my eyes, and held in my anger.  I don't wear high heels every day.  Just on special occasions so I would be thankful if little gray hairs would keep their comments to
 themeselves.

Enjoying my Blue Mango Tea

Greta & her Mocha Tea

We were off to the tea party after church and I rode there with Road Rage Greta.  I thought we were going to die on the way, but thank the Lord we didn't.  We all arrived at the White Linen Tea Room and we each checked out each others outfits and oooed and awed.  The little tea place is decorated sooo stinkin cute.  We had a long table right next to the fire place.  The menu of teas seemed endless and I finally decided on a tea called "Blue Mango".  It was a

Amazing Strawberry Salad

Green Tea and I must say it was very good although I had tea envy for the people who ordered the Mocha Red Rooibos.  My cousin Katie literally got yelled at by our server who named herself the "Tea Nazi".  Katie went to put cream in her team and she was quickly scolded due to the fact that you are NEVER suppose to put cream in your tea.  Only milk.  Cream is too heavy I guess for the tea so creaming it is a BIG No No.  The service was ridiculously slow and Greta was very nervous she wasn't going to be able to eat before she had to go to work at 3.  We were all getting a little antsy for her and besides we were HUNGRY!  Our salads finally came and they were absolutely delicious.  It was this strawberry and orange salad with strawberry dressing.   So good!

Afton & I's Tier of Food

After our salads were finished my cousin Marnie arrived.  We didn't think she would be able to make it since she worked till 1:30 but low and behold she was able to come!  Our food finally came and it was so cute on these little three tiered trays.  Our choice of sandwiches were tuna, egg salad, cucumber and cream cheese, garden medley, apple walnut & cream cheese, and chicken salad.  They were all very yummy.  I loved all the little finger desserts as well.  After all the complaints about slow service and not enough food we were all completely stuffed by the end of it.  Who knew afternoon tea could be so filling?  After we were all stuffed and cultured, it was time for the bill to arrive.  We were all like "Wow!  Bazinga!"  It was a little high priced after tax and tip it ended up being about 31 bucks a person.  So yeah a little steep but again, it's not like we do this every day.  Next time it might be more like having afternoon tea at someone's house.  I enjoyed myself immensely and I hope all the ladies in the family did too.  Nothing like afternoon tea to bring a family together!  :) 

The Demster ladies and little Grandma G

Aunt Becky and Me :)

The Himes Sisters and Aunt Elaine

All the Maines Girls

What were you doing a year ago today?  I know exactly where I was and what I was doing which is not normal for me.  Most of the time I don't know what I did yesterday. But a year ago today sticks out in my mind like a sore thumb.  It's crazy to me that a year ago today I was sitting in the Raleigh International Airport headed for London Heathrow to await another airplane which would take me to Milan Linate and start my journey as an Au Pair.  Looking back I can't believe I got up the courage to fly by myself to a foreign country where I knew no one, they didn't speak my language, and let's not forget the fact I was alone.  My father always called me his "little scarity cat" who always wanted to stay at home, but I've since gotten the travel bug and get cabin fever if I'm at home too long.  Now all I want to do is travel and get away, but money always seems to get in the way of things.  Isn't it always the way?

The experiences I've taken away from being in Italy for 7 months and being in England for 3 are times I would not trade for anything else in the world.  I had the opportunity to meet people all over the globe and not one would I ever take back.  Even though some of my experiences didn't always have a fairy tale ending, like I said I wouldn't trade any of it.  Many of the people I've met overseas I still keep in contact with which is fortunate for me!  Free places to stay all over the globe! :)  I just wanted to take this time, if not anything but for myself to reminisce on some of the amazing times I had through pictures.  I can't wait to have enough money saved to go on my next adventure.  Right now I'm just working at the Orange Cat in Lewiston but that presents a new experience every day only in a little less adventurous form.  Here's some pics!

First time rolling homemade Italian Ravioli

First Moped ride around the city of Genova

New Year's Eve in the Conga with the girls.  Will NEVER forget this night!

First visit to Sestri Levante

Manaraola - Village #4 of the Cinque Terre

Absolutely amazing snow in Prato Nevoso

Snow Fever nights with the girls

All the times hanging with Mattia

Wine Tour in the Alba Countryside on St. Patrick's Day

Pirate Night at Snow Fever

Movie Moment night in Cuneo

Wisteria and Sunshine in the Italian Riviera

Megan and I visit Portofino & Via Del Amor

The Mediterranean

Skiing Mt. Cervino with Mattia and Simona

Road Trip Across the Tuscan Countryside

"White Night" in Firenze

Simona and I Tour Milano

Parigi!  One of the best trips ever

Jen comes to visit and we spend Carnevale in Venezia

Lots of good times in ITALIA! 

You know how when you go on a vacation or a road trip you have certain things the trip was all about?  Whether it is, "All we did on that trip was fight, or all we did on that trip was sleep."  Vacations just seem to have themes.  Well, my trip to Prince Edward Island with my Gram and Aunt, was all about, #1, THE FOOD, and #2, THE BATHROOM, or as they say in Canada, "The Washroom."  I guess that makes sense since when you eat . . . you know . . . there's always a reaction to every action.

Boldt Castle

Alster Tower - My Favorite building

 After the terrible situation of loosing the wallet, which ironically involved the bathroom, we girls were ready to see some sights.  We got to Alexandria Bay a little later than we had hoped, but we were still able to see the gorgeous Boldt Castle.  It's this beautiful home on Heart Island (even shaped like a heart) in the middle of the St. Lawrence river.  Unfortunately it was abandoned during construction due to the death of Louise Boldt, the wife of

The Power House

George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria, New York who was building the house for Louise.  The house fell in disrepair and has finally been reopened to the public.  The castle is gorgeous but is still unfinished and holds lots of graffitti from people who made their way to the house before falling into the New York Bridge Authority's hands.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day of 80 degrees and me, Gram and Auntie had a blast scoping out the place.

On the Ferry Boat

Once our tour was finished, we took a ferry back to our car.  After all the sight seeing and drama of the earlier morning, we were starved.  We headed into Gananoque, Canada where we were staying for the night.  On the crossing from the U.S. into Canada we had to go through customs.  We pulled up to the little booth where they ask you all these questions and all three of us fell speechless at the absolutely GORGEOUS border patrol agent.  I wanted him to write his number in my passport he was so dreamy.  Once we pulled away Grandma says, "Wow was he handsome!"  He even got a little flirty with the little 82 year old woman in the back seat.  I guess Gram still gots it.  :)

Gananoque Sunset

Gananoque was such a quaint little town.  We settled for some Irish pub fare at this place called Stonewater Pub and Irish Eatery.  I got the fish and chips but wish I would've had the Guinness Beef Stew.  My Aunt's was absolutely wonderful!  That was the beginning to our amazing adventure of food.  We stayed at this little Best Western which was quite cozy.  While my Aunt and I were scoping out the place, as we like to do, we were followed by this middle aged man.  We tried to loose him by going down random hallways and finally traipsing our way back to our room.  I wasn't that scared, but my Aunt freaked me out by the way she was acting.  We didn't want no rapists up in here!  We had a good night sleep even with the thought of a crazed-middle aged man on the loose.  Gram, me and Aunt like to live on the edge.  You know how we do. :)

After eating our continental breakfast from the hotel, a stain on the tablecloth of our trip which was all about food (yes the food sucked that badly), we headed to Quebec City.  Once we left Ontario and entered the province of Quebec everything changed.  There were absolutely NO signs in English.  Everything was in French.  The KFC was even changed to PFK for Poulet Frite Kentucky.  In French they place the adjective after the Noun.  Needless to say we were a little out of place.  Remember how I said our trip was all about the bathroom as well as food?  Well, Grandma was starting to feel breakfast making it's way to, well you know, so we had to stop.  We find this podunk gas station where there are more cows than humans.  I don't know what it is about French speaking people but they seem to hate EVERYONE.  When we stopped at this gas station I felt like I was an alien because everyone was just staring and giving the most hateful looks.  Grandma had run inside to the bathroom while Aunt B. was pumping gas.  I dilly dallied my way into the gas station only to find Grandma NOT in the restroom.  It was a single restroom so I had no idea where Grandma had gone.  I go outside and tell my Aunt B.  When we go back to try and find her we see that someone has occupied the restroom.  Aunt B says, "Mom are you in here?" only to have a very angry Quebec' woman come out and give my Aunt a dirty look.  My Aunt explains, "Oh I thought you were my mother" only to get another dirty scowl from the woman. I guess she didn't know English.  By this time my Aunt and I are getting a little worried as to where the little 82 year old could be.  It's been about 20 minutes since we last saw her.  She's not in the car, not in the restroom, and not in the gas station.  That's when the door to the men's restroom opens and out walks an older gentlemen followed by my Grandmother.  My Aunt and I started dying laughing!  I guess in my Grandmother's race for the bathroom she flew into the closest bathroom, ignored the urinal and did what she came to do.  When you gotta go, you gotta go no matter what gendered bathroom you're in. 

Road Tripping

Trip Itinerary

After all the events of England, I was thinking it was time for a vacation.  What would be better than a road trip with my Grandma G and Auntie B?  Nothing is what I say. :)  I drove the 9 1/2 hours up to New York State to leave the next day for Thousand Islands, New York.  My Aunt, GMA and I planned a trip that took us from NY to Quebec up to Prince Edward Island, down through Maine, ending with Cape Cod, and Newport, RI.  Needless to say, I was very excited.

My Grandmother is a nut in every way shape and form.  I love her to absolute death because she is sincerely one of the kindest most generous giving women I have ever known.  Her and my Aunt however, have some of the tinniest bladders known to mankind.  After an hour on the road both of them needed to stop to pee.  I guess if I'm honest, I had to go as well, but that is only due to the fact, I had a huge cup of terrible Wal-Mart coffee back at Grandma's House before we left.  It wasn't really worth the calories, but what can you do?  We stopped at a nice travel plaza just off of the I-90 at 9:30 in the morning.  Grandma made sure to bring in her wallet as they have a Tim Horton's inside where donuts and coffee could be purchased.  Mistake #1.  After we left we decided not to indulge in Tim's and to head back on the road.  Mistake #2.  After being on the road for quite sometime my Aunt Kay calls up at about 11:00 all in a panic. By this time we're about an hour 1/2 from our previous rest stop and were about to head onto I-81 North to the border of Canada and New York.  Let me just preface the situation by saying we were headed into Canada.  In order to get into Canada you need either a passport or an enhanced Driver's License.  If you are have neither one of these things you will not be allowed into the country. 

Tim Horton's at the Travel Plaza

My Aunt Beverly answers the phone call from my other frantic Aunt.  While we were gone, My Aunt Kay was suppose to be looking after my Grandma Genie's house, watering plants, making sure no burglaries happen, you know that kind of thing.  Well, the only thing my Grandma and I could decipher from their short phone conversation was something terrible had happened since my Aunt Beverly was all in a panic and said, "Oh well we have to turn around.  We have to go back.  There's no question.  Mom turn around!"  Well Grandma and I got all in a tizzy at that moment because we had no idea what was happening.  I thought someone had died back in Niagara Falls.  After my Aunt Beverly got off the phone she tells us that Grandma Genie's wallet was left in the bathroom stall on the back of the toilet an hour 1/2 away.  We all started to panic because not only did my Grandma have 1,000 dollars worth of cash in the wallet (500 Canadian, 500 American) she also had her enhanced driver's license.  If we didn't get that wallet back, our entire vacation would be ruined.  Grandma wouldn't be able to go into Canada, and even if she were able to, she'd have no money, no credit cards, and no form of identification.  It was a complete disaster! 

First thing my Grandma did was start to cry.  I was very upset so I wasn't the best comforter at the moment.  We were all on edge because like I said our entire vacation was going to be completely ruined.  My Grandma was driving at the time and her nerves were completely shot she almost took us right through a red light!  My Aunt made her switch to the passenger seat, because she was seriously unfit to drive.  Well, as we were turning around I got on my cell phone and called the lady who had Grandma's wallet.  My Aunt Kay had given us the number as Gene Hershey ( the wallet finding lady) had called the house and left a message.  My heart was pounding so hard as I called.  When she answered I told her my name and who I was.  She responded by telling me she had the wallet and once she got to Massachusetts where she was headed for a funeral she would mail it.  Oh dear dear dear!  That wouldn't work I told her.  She informed me that she did not want to leave the wallet at the travel plaza because she didn't trust the people that worked there.  I mean she is a very smart woman as the people who worked there were a tad bit sketchy looking.  They also probably only made minimum wage and what person wouldn't want a free $1000 in their pocket. 

Sad little Walletless Grandma

After speaking with her for awhile we decided to meet up at a McDonald's off of the I-90.  As we waited our nerves were raw, we were cranky, hungry and I was very annoyed.  I wanted to be really mad at Grandma, but she's just too sweet to get angry with.  So I did what any normal person would do; I ate.  I got me some McDonald's comfort food which consisted of a double cheeseburger, and a medium fry.  It was a little piece of heaven in our walletless world.  After finishing my lovely fattening meal, Gene Hershey pulls up in her chariot and halo (A red Dodge Ram, and a little hat on her head) and handed us the wallet.  She seriously was an angel!  Angels do exists and they are located on the I-90 in Western New York!  My Grandma hugged and kissed her.  When she tried to hand Mrs. Hershey a wad of money she wouldn't take it.  She just said, "I hope someone will do the same for me if I'm ever in that situation," and that was that.  We had the wallet, we had our dignity, and we had the open road ahead of us.  It was off to find the next adventure, and we had only been on the road for 3 hours.  It doesn't take long for the three of us biddies to get ourselves in trouble. :)