We have recently discovered Airbnb as an alternative to staying in traditional bed and breakfast inns and spent the entire week with Edgar and his family in their south Salem home…

We had our own 1 bedroom apartment beneath the main house with full kitchen and bath, a spacious living room and big screen TV’s in both the living room and bedroom.  We also had use of a game room complete with a standard pool table and a large hot tub just a few feet from our door.  We cannot recommend this place or our innkeeper, Edgar, highly enough.  My usually fussy Bride was at a loss to find anything more worthy of criticism than the installation of an address sign on the fence to make it easier to find.  I, of course, was the model of unbridled contentment.  HAH!  And everyone calls HER the “pleasant one”!!!
Having seen all there was that was marvelous and mysterious in Salem, we hopped aboard our Saturday afternoon flight back to Dixie…

This is about as close as we came to actually spotting anything remotely witchy in the entire town.
We decided to spend an hour one afternoon being chauffeured about town on the Salem Trolley…

We spent the next week in recovery laid back mode in preparation for today…

Well here it is September which means my annual trial by fire has ended and I have once again survived the Zook’s Birthaversary Month.  For those of you unfamiliar with this phenomenon, it is very much akin to the swallows’ annual return to Capistrano.  Each year as the month of August approaches, the Zook begins to get antsy and showing signs of a condition closely resembling molting as she longs to return to some distant place that she has never before visited.  It becomes my responsibility to find that place, arrange transportation and provide a suitable nest.  This year found us in Salem, Massachusetts…

In case you haven’t heard, today is the opening day game of the Alabama Crimson Tide football season.  They will be playing USC (University of Southern California) in Arlington, Texas.  I attempted to talk my Alabama Super fan/Norwegian War Bride into a short hop to Texas to watch the game but the olde girl just wasn’t ready for 2 exciting events so close together.  Maybe next time.

That about wraps up this edition of aimless drivel and whimsical wanderings.  We’ll be making another cross country trek to California in October to attend a baby shower for our youngest daughter who is expecting her first child or, more correctly, children.  She’s having twins.  Perhaps we’ll check in with y’all on our return.  Hugs, CC & me

These “Witch Trials” occurred from March through September of 1692 and resulted in the deaths of 20 people, 19 were hanged and 1 was “pressed.”  The man who was pressed to death, by means of having a large board placed over the length of his body upon which heavy stones were laid, took 2 days before his chest was finally crushed and his final defiant words were, “More weight!”  His name was Giles Corey and he was 81 years old!  I think that is where the phrase, “Tough old bird"  originated.  Now before you get to feeling pity for this old fart, you should also know that he accused his wife of witchcraft and subsequently testified against her.  I suppose he was looking to avoid a messy divorce and community property laws.
We were somewhat disappointed at the dearth of real witches skirting about on broomsticks after dark with talking cats and pointed black hats but, contrary to a strict “No Photography” rule, were able to smuggle a picture from The Witch Museum…


And at the end of a long day, we boarded the ferry once more for a pleasant voyage back to Salem and views of Boston after dark…

Birthaversary, Part 32

Along with my primary responsibilities, I am also expected to provide suitable entertainment and dining befitting a visiting princess.  Being in the land of an unlikely pairing of lobsters and witches required a visit to one of the local cultural highlights to gain some historical perspective on the event for which Salem is renowned…

Now, on to my favorite subject: FOOD!   Being in the middle of lobsterville afforded us abundant opportunities to indulge in those delectable crustaceans for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a few midnight snacks…

Having worn out our welcome in Salem, we took the ferry over to Boston for a day of touristy stuff including a Duck tour of the highways, byways and waterways of Bean Town…

In this manner we got a great overview of Salem which included historical and gastronomical revelations and recommendations as well as a variety of plain ol’ picture takin’ opportunities...