Brenda was ill today (stomach bug) and so we adjusted to a more mellow schedule.  (She’s getting better now..)

Starting out in Newport, RI again..

Picture of the house where we are staying.

Taking the dog on a morning walk.

The four of us (less Brenda) toured “The Elms” – another late 19th century summer “cottage” built for the Berwind family – he was Big Coal.

The kids like the gift shops the best.. the only things they can touch.

After that, we decided to drive up to Providence, RI on a lark.  Bella wanted to find some places to shop.  Josie wanted to see RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) where one of her friends is hoping to attend.  We parked in downtown and just wandered about.

We found a nice bookstore.  Bella bought a couple of books for her job.  Next door was a Korean place and the kids wanted to have lunch.  Providence is about 35 minutes away from Newport.

That afternoon, we toured the 3rd and final mansion open this time of year.  Brenda was feeling better and really wanted to see “Marble House” and so she joined us.  This was another Vanderbilt house – different brother or cousin or such.  It’s hard to keep track of them all.

More really fancy rooms.

It gets dark here about 4:00pm; after that it’s wine time.  We got take out pizza from a place a block away and watched “Four Christmases” on the tube.

This morning we pack up and head for Maine.
It is VERY warm this morning (53 degrees) but very windy and wet.  We’re going to miss all of the winter snow and ice just by hugging the seaboard all the way north.  The temps drop sharply over Xmas weekend, though.  We’ll hopefully be safely ensconced in our next place for the next 3 nights.