Ice Cream on the Last Night of Summer

August 30 and 31

It's the second to last evening of our collective summer tonight. I created a calendar on our wall way back in June mapping out our entire summer, and we are down to the last few starred days.  Kuba begins 4th grade Wednesday and Anders begins 7th grade on Thursday.  It's remarkable really, that we've come to the end of those 10 weeks of summer.  It went by so quickly and was so chock full of rich sunshine and all things summer that I mourn it's leaving.

Another circle of school begins - with all its different complexities - and takes it's own new shape. 
I am open, optimistic and feel the boys are ready for this new year.  They've grown so much over the past few months, Anders edging closer and closer to the end of childhood with that precipice almost upon him.  Teenager.  This is the year.  And Kuba just keeps getting taller and taller - I'm so sure he'll be quite the giant by the time he's all grown up. So, as bittersweet as it is, it's time to let go of the loveliness of the summer months and wake up tomorrow ready to tackle the uncharted territory of another school year.

 

Last Days of Summer...the Count Down Is On!

Friday night - movie in the park

Saturday morning - searching for monarch caterpillars 

Saturday afternoon - swimming and playing at the river

Saturday evening -

buying back to school sneakers 

Sunday 

Time with friends

Lemonade Stands, Comic Conventions and sleepovers

Monday and Tuesday 

Time spent with friends - swimming, gaming, playing

while Anna and I worked

Wednesday 

Sunset and ice cream at the waterfront

Back to school.

Honk the Horn

Trucks have the best horns.  In fact the bigger the truck the better the horn.   They’re loud and thundering and you can feel it in your chest.  None of this teeny tiny itty bitty beep-beep that a car makes.  No Siree, you need the loud blast that only an 80,000 pound trucking rig can offer.  Besides, summer wouldn't be summer without a hike to the whale tails.  Two giant ocean mammals, head first in the ground right next to the highway,  tail fins frozen in time.   Tons of sun warmed polished granite to lean against while you yank your bent arm up and down, up and down, even quicker now, up and down  trying to get the trucker to BLOW HIS HORN.  Just so you can cheer and start all over again...scanning the highway for the next big eighteen wheeler to come barreling past you.

Still Enchanted

Okay, maybe the word's not enchanted, but it's close to that- this life with boys.  It's been almost thirteen years now and I remain smitten, grateful, aware and in love with them. 
I was thinking just yesterday how much I enjoy the boys, and then I realized just how long I've felt this way...since they were born.  There is no exaggeration here.   Each and every day I look at them and feel such awe, such joy, such complete and utter satisfaction with them that it is something to write about.  They are beautiful children inside and out, and are sooooo easy to be with.  I had to stop and write this - because it is so easy to take for granted now that they are getting so big - that my delight in being their mom remains epically high, and my appreciation for all that they offer me is constant.   

To See the Total Eclipse of the Sun

August 21, 2017

We joined a gigantic group of eclipse gazing folks today on the lawn of our local library. 

We had pinhole camera views, views through a colander, looks through a pair of eclipse binoculars, and then all of us borrowed eclipse glasses to see the moon cast its shadow over the sun.   It was the first total eclipse in 100 years, the last one being 1918.  From our location we could see only 60-65% of the coverage, but not to worry.  In 7 years there will be another eclipse and we'll get to see the full eclipse from here.  Anders will be 19 then and Kuba 16.  Wow.  Isn't that unbelievable!  Lots to look forward to in this big life.    

Sometimes...just somtimes you get lucky.

Today was the second last Sunday before all of us return to school.  
We needed to make sure we were outside and S W I M M I N G. 
We needed to find a swimming hole somewhere.
We got lucky.  

We remembered seeing a swimming place near a river/creek we've driven by and we set off to find it.  Luckily the entrance into the woods was easy to locate.  So off we went, into the woods, towels thrown over our shoulders, spirits high, and of course the water calling.  

Instantly we were greeted with a path through a milkweed covered, wildflower studded, meadow which was charming, and then we came upon a coniferous forest with a soft pine needle floor. The trail wound its way to a sandy beach and a brilliantly gorgeous flowing creek.   

ABSOLUTELY what we wanted.  The boys loved it.  I loved it.   And swim we did.  Full of gratitude and joy for small slow currents that carry one down the creek like a graceful otter.

Off the Bucket List Part II - Jammin!

Today we set out to pick blueberries.  It was a good thing we did it today, because we happened to hit the berry picking farm on the last day of the season.  We picked until it closed.  I mean we were the last folks there picking right up until they closed shop for the season.  Closed.  Done.  Over for the summer.  The picking was tricky...lots of soft berries, many sparse bushes, and three boys who only wanted to go swimming.  But we managed to pull off a whooping seven quarts full despite the obstacles.  

This summer I've been jamming.   My whole adult life I've always wanted to make jam and have finally hurdled the big wall of insecurity that makes one afraid to try things.  Who knew jam making was so easy when it looks so complex and finicky?  This time I made blueberry-strawberry jam.   NO idea really how to combine them into freezer jam, but my preserving guru friend, Robin, said cook the blueberries first. 

Okay...so I did.  For how long?    No idea.  How hot?   No idea. 

I just jumped off the ledge of not knowing what to do into unchartered territory of how to combine cooked blueberries with thawed frozen strawberries.  I guessed at the amount of pectin I needed (based on evidence like the number of quarts of blueberries I used and an estimation of how many quarts of frozen strawberries I had).  I also ran out of sugar so put in much less than my adapted "recipe" called for.  So there you have it.  Blueberry strawberry jam in all it's bold fruited glory.  It looks like it's setting, so I think I was successful.  That's two kinds of jam in one summer.     

Next....?  

The 4 of Us - Summer 2017

Boys at the Ocean

Be Still My Heart

Cape Cod 2017

The Gift of the Sea

Creating Memories

We recently spent five days on the Cape with friends.  Five moms created the time and space for six kids from three different families to just be...well kids.  Playing, swimming, collecting, planning, bickering, laughing, eating, and just plain old enjoying each other, the summer and the sea.  Here are a few good snapshots of the vacation.   We are so looking forward to our next vacation together.  

Story Time!

Posing after performing  

Walking the Jetty 

 Body Painting

 Hairdo's of assorted designs 

My Name is Alexander Hamilton 

Building safe space as the tide rolls in 

Trying on crazy hats at Marine Specialties 

 Searching for sea creatures at Payne's Creek 

Walking the beach at Plum Island 

Summer SPLASH