Finally posting about our camping/wheeling weekend. We had such a good time! Washington NH is more or less in the middle of nowhere. There's really no large town that it's near, although the birthplace of President Franklin Pierce is one or two towns over. Really, that's the claim to fame. There are huge signs and everything.
Mostly, it's just beautiful green wooded land and farms. It would be so cool to live out there, but where would you work? We could retire there, but I expect by the time I am old and rickety the last thing I'll want to do is tear around back roads in the snow all winter or take care of ornery goats and fight off black flies all summer.
Our camp
Have homebrew, will travel
Saturday morning, more people arrive
On the trail: the view from the passenger seat
More of my view. A bog (we were on Bog Road, oddly enough), and mud on the inside.
Apparently the Class VI roads used to be main drags at one point in time. They're bordered by stone walls on each side, 25 feet apart. Also, there are blackberry bushes everywhere.
Carter Hill Road. This was probably the most challenging part of the ride for those who drove. The picture does not do it justice- there are BIG rocks everywhere. Very tricky.
Coming up the hill. We were second in the line and got up the hill without much difficulty (go Pete!), so I took lots of shots of everyone else. Pete and some friends guiding others up, the biggest pickup truck ever, our friend Aaron.
Getting unstuck (Pete in orange shirt), it's coming right for us!
I found that, a lot of the time, the camera did not keep up with me in terms of how quickly I wanted to take pictures. Still, not too bad. Practice, practice.
We headed home Saturday night once the second thunderstorm started. Camping is less fun without a fire, and the lure of showers and our own cozy bed was just too great to stick out the second night in the tent. Nothing like a warm shower and bed when you're wet, muddy and covered with bug spray.
The Lou had lots of fun with Aunt Beth, Uncle Steve and the girls. Another huge thank you to the North Berwick Nasons (especially Beth) for taking good care of our girl!
It's good to be home again, planning our next adventure. I have to say that it was very cool getting to see Pete in action: helping organize the event, assisting others in last-minute Jeep fixes and with getting through the sticky parts of the trail ride. He even planned out yummy camping meals for us. Just another reminder that my husband is a true Renaissance man and a very cool guy.
A great visit to Maine. Cocktails, yummy grilled chicken, beans and salad on the deck. Love the deck and its breeze and its green leafy view. I think I will live there.
Whoo-cold! Sassy Ella, and what/who is missing from this picture?
Beth smiles nicely. I have a cheesy cocktail-drinkin' grin.
Gardening is serious business, Ella the ham, the Lou.
Summer is off to a running start! I think everyone must be feeling it, since at work today, no one who was scheduled to come in to see us actually showed up. Hmm. Given the choice, I bet I could have found other things to do too.
As I drove home over the bridge, windows open and the radio on, the smell of the air itself just drained any stress from me. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, the traffic thinned since it was 7 pm, and I headed home to my little nest. I love this time of year- right on the cusp of the new season, where every 90 degree day is matched by one just a little too cool for shorts.
Today's menu: Salisbury steak, green beans, fruit cup, and a cookie.
Also: monkey bread is FUN!
Our trip to Rye was just awesome. We spent some time on the beach, me chatting with Mo and taking pictures of the kids, Pete and Gardner collecting wood for a fire we never ended up having (next time!). Ryan is fearless when it comes to the water- it was only about 65 or so and the water was much, much colder, and still he ran in and out of the ocean in his windpants and T-shirt, up to his chest. Charlotte ran in and out and around in circles, and then they both circled me and Mo, laughing like crazy and trying really hard to get us as wet as they were.
Back at the house, we had some snacks and enjoyed the sunshine and good company. (And just for Sri, pics of me and Pete too! Love you!)
A perfect day at Rye: sun, breeze, good friends, Gritty's Vacationland and steaks from the Meat House. MMMM.
Today: a visit to North Berwick and the attempt to extend the long weekend/mini vacation as long as possible! I am looking forward to our three day, yes, three day workweek. Oh yeah!
Enjoying the long weekend and trying to do a whole lot of nothing. Yesterday the Lou and I hit Target, then the park downtown. What a difference a year makes: last year at this time she hung back and refused to play when there were maybe two other kids on the playground. Yesterday, she waited about 10 seconds, sizing it up, and headed right over. Most of the kids were between 5 and 10, climbing up the ladders and the slides on the play structure. Before I knew it, she was climbing a ladder to a platform about 5 feet off the ground. I stood under and spotted her, amazed at how sure-footed and confident she was. Just wow. She never ceases to amaze me.
In the afternoon, we had pedis:
Lou picked the colors for each of us.
Later we played in our new turtle sprinkler, had a meltdown or two, and headed to bed. No nap and the heat yesterday contributed to cranky girl and edgy mama. Lucky for me, Dos Amigos Burritos exists. Ah, burritos. Sometimes takeout can restore your good humor, especially if it comes with pico de gallo.
Sorry no pics of the playground/sprinkler...I am packing the camera for our trip to Rye today as we speak! Hope your weekend involves chocolate and fun!
It's Tuesday....so here's Loulou enjoying a waffle (homemade, courtesy of my brand-spankin'-new waffle iron!) and a smoothie. It's the simple things in life, right?
She's just such a funny little person- such a great sense of humor. Last night, she and I made each other laugh so hard we couldn't stop. One of us would stop, then the other would still be laughing, so the other would start all over again. There aren't many people who will laugh with you at nothing- how cool is it that my daughter is one of them?
Where did this week go? Last thing I knew, I was driving up 495 on Sunday, and now it's Friday night. What a long week. Lots of exhausting stuff at work, resulting in me, in my PJs, on the couch, reading/napping/knitting/all of the above till bedtime. Yikes.
Crummy weekend coming up, weather-wise, but good things nonetheless. I got my hair cut tonight- the usual cut, but I love it. I love going- my hairdresser Trina is just wonderful. Tonight she showed me pictures of her sister's biker wedding in Oklahoma last week. She's fun, and she gives a great haircut. Plus I find it so relaxing to just sit and have someone else wash and comb and dry my hair. What a good way to end the week! Tomorrow Charlotte and I are meeting my friend Amy for lunch or coffee or something...not much time left before her baby comes, so it will be a great opportunity for a visit before then. Also on our agenda this weekend: library, finger painting, bathroom cleaning, and revisiting my knitting "project punchlist". I have certain things that I really need to move on from, mostly because I hate sewing seams with the burning fire of 1,000 suns. Okay, maybe not that much.
We had a great visit with Memere and Poppa last weekend, although we missed Pete/Daddy very much. Highlights:
Blowing bubbles
Exploring Memere and Poppa's yard:
Trying to bring all the dandelions home (Poppa's idea):
And just having some cuddle time with Memere:
We also went out to breakfast. Loulou and I love going out to breakfast. We are easily led into any place that serves breakfast, and yes, our affections can be bought for good pancakes, bacon (just the right combination of greasy and crispy is best, but I turn no bacon away), and COFFEE. But this is not news to most people.
The car is packed, the Lou is bathed. We are heading out for a sans-Daddy visit with Memere and Poppa...Happy Mother's Day!
