Day 2: Greater Boston Metropolitan Area!

After saying goodbye to Susie's family and friends, we started in the direction of Framingham, Massachusetts (which is part of the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area). Before we could exit New Hampshire, however, we came upon a tiny little hole-in-the-wall called Richmond. This had us bursting out laughing because we are from a place called Richmond (only ours is much, MUCH bigger!). We had to stop at the gas station in town just to say we've been in it! 

Richmond, NH was incorporated in 1752 and held its first town meeting on March 27, 1765. Located in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire, it borders Swanzey, NH; Troy, NH; Fitzwilliam, NH; Royalston, MA; Warwick, MA; and Winchester, NH. There is a beach, a fire station, a town hall, a gas station, a cemetery, a library, and houses. There is not much in the way of shopping! 

Once we were in Massachusetts, we stopped in Concord for lunch and a little shopping. It was here that we called a friend in the area, and since she was free, we decided to stop by her house for a quick visit! We haven't seen this friend in several years, so being able to meet up with her again was a real treat.

While the grown-ups talked, I met some of the girls who live here. This is Hazel Laura, who is actually named after my guardian:

Hazel introduced me to her good friend, Sonali:

After visiting with Hazel and Sonali for a bit, I was starting to get hungry. My new friends pointed me in the direction of the nearest ice cream parlor. After ordering a root beer float, I met Mia St. Clair, another local resident.

Mia was babysitting this darling little girl; isn't she sweet? 

Before I had to leave, I introduced myself to the ice cream parlor's owner, a girl named Mei Ling. She was just finishing up a batch of doughnuts, which I totally would've taken for the road had I not just finished a large root beer float!

After our brief visit, we continued on to Framingham, where we stopped for the night. Can you guess where I was headed next?

~Sophie

P. S. The friend we visited today runs a website called Just Magic Dolls. It's a great resource that compares American Girl dolls with other 18" (or similar) play dolls like Magic Attic Club, Just Pretend, etc. Please check it out, if you haven't already!

Fun with the Sisterhood of the Water St. girls!

Salut, mes amis! Wondering where I've been? These past few weeks I've been hanging out and just having a blast with the Sisterhood of the Water St. Girls in New Hampshire. I've also got to meet a few of the Star Valley girls, too, although I'll be officially visiting Star Valley soon enough.

Anyhow, I was quite tired when I arrived on July 23rd, so Jenn just let me sleep the day away. When I awoke, I was greeted by Elphie, and having already talked to her a bit online, I was ecstatic to finally meet her in person.

Soon enough, I met Mia, and we headed off on a road trip to the Natick AG Boutique & Bistro - quel amusement! Jenn and Missy were even kind enough to get me my own souvenir shirt. (Thank You!)

Mia and I (with Mischa and Emily of Star Valley) even had fun in the bathroom. Here we are meeting our "mirror friends" - kind of like Anne Shirley's dear window friend in Anne of Green Gables.
Bien sûr, looking at my mirror reflection made me miss my own dear twin, Juliette. I decided to go look for her in the store, but since she's still back in Paris and isn't looking to apply to school over here at this time, I knew any girls who looked like me in the store were just unrelated clones. But don't I wish that Juliette had been among them!

After leaving the mall, we stopped on the French King Bridge to admire the pretty view. Here I am with Water St.'s newest resident, Solana. Isn't she gorgeous?

On August 1st, Elphie and I decided to join Sarah and Annie of Star Valley on a visit to Ashuelot Park in Keene, NH. Here I am at the park's entrance:

We did a bit of hiking, posed with some pretty wildflowers, climbed a few trees, and found these really cool rocks to climb on. Park outings are the BEST because there are so many things you can do and so many things that stimulate the imagination. Like we found this grove of trees that looked almost magical in appearance! Elphie wanted to try some spells underneath them. Of course, I'd be all for that - except I'm not a witch. ;)

So, what's your favorite thing to do at the park on a summer day?

Ton amie,

Sophie

Adventures in Colorado!

Hi all,

As I'm heading off to my next host, I thought I'd update you on some of the fun I've been having with Kiki, Luci, and the girls in Colorado. After all, I do have a WiFi connection in my travel box!

Luci and I visited her town's little Miner's Museum, and I saw this pretty little doll! Isn't she neat? I'm not much of a doll person myself, but I like seeing antique dolls and imagining what lives they might've led with their own little girls.

Luci, Kiki, Mia, Eva, and I had our own little coal mining adventure. Kiki and Luci were the "breaker boys" and had to separate the coal from the rocks, Mia (with her funny mustache!) was their boss, I was the mule driver (with Starburst and Sombrita as the mules!), and Eva (not pictured) was the wealthy mine owner. It was a fun adventure, although I cannot imagine that real coal mining would be nearly as fun (much too dangerous).

Mia, Eva, and I also had another little adventure in the treehouse - a pirate adventure! We tied on our bandannas and pretended to load up our ship (the treehouse) for a grand ocean adventure. Did we see Captain Jack Sparrow? Don't I wish! ;)

As the days grew warmer, Luci led me outside to sit on the fence and just watch life run its natural course. That might sound a little boring to you, but I wasn't bored in the slightest! The view from Luci's backyard is breathtakingly beautiful with the mountains on the horizon line and the big, blue sky looming ahead. I can see why Nicki-Vicki love Colorado so much!

Before I had to leave, Kiki wanted to take me on a hiking adventure. As a city girl at heart, hiking was such an unusual experience for me. I felt as if I was on another planet (albeit a really gorgeous planet)! Silly me even tried to touch the cacti, but Kiki pulled my hand away just in time.

I've have such a great time in Colorado that I do hate to leave! I shall really miss Mia, Eva, Kiki, Luci, and Holly! Thank you, girls, for letting me come and visit. :)

Ton amie,

Sophie

Au Revoir, Oregon et Bonjour, Colorado!

La semaine dernière, j'ai dit "Au Revoir" à Oregon et mes nouveaux amies Marsali, Kelsyee, et Jayd. J'ai été triste, bien sûr, mais j'ai eu à partir pour une nouvelle déstination: Colorado!

Last week, I said "Goodbye" to Oregon and my new friends Marsali, Kelsyee, and Jayd. I was sad, of course, but I had to leave for a new destination: Colorado!

I spent my last day or two in Oregon outside and enjoying pretty blossoming trees like this one:

Then I packed myself up yet again and headed off to meet Mia, Eva, and Kiki from Kiki's Korner. I arrived just as the girls were heading off to meet author Jane Kurtz, but I met Kiki's sister, Luci, and kept her company. Isn't Luci adorable in her nightgown? She reminds me a bit of Inky actually. ;)

Ton amie,

Sophie

Luci, Sophie and the New Dolly