What happens around here when the calendar turns from July is we realize the end of summer is approaching so we have to pack everything in that we had been too lazy to do in the first weeks of the glorious weather. I hope the summer has not gotten away from you like it has up here. All this to explain why the weeks have gotten away from me and no letter written for a while.
And pack it in is precisely what has happened. We have been hosts to Maura and Elsie for a weekend, pictured below on a walk though of the gardens at Naumkeag, an historic mansion in Stockbridge; to Marj and Lew who came with us to dance at Jacob's Pillow and Dreamaway Lodge, to Jan and Peter Lochery who were here to open up their new house they bought in Richmond, to our Peace Corps friend Monette, who we took to a rained out evening at Tanglewood and a Van Gogh exhibit at the Clark among other places; to a few of Mary's high school classmates who were here for her 45th reunion this weekend.
We were also dog-sitting for D, while Margaret and Andrew were on their trip to South Africa. They returned yesterday, and I drove down to NYC to hand over our guest for the last two weeks. He was glad to see them, and it sounds like they had a spectacular and uneventful (in the negative way) trip. They looked good after just getting off the long 17 hour flight. Andrew starts a new job in September at Congressional Quarterly.
We had breakfast with Annie, who has spent the last couple of weeks apartment hunting, a joyless task in NYC when trying to work as well. But she did land one in Astoria, Queens which she's really happy about. She moves next weekend, which she's not so happy about, the physical move anyway.
And, we spoke to Joe as he was heading to the airport with Leonore for vacation in Portugal. He's been at ground zero on the China devaluation and financial situation these past two weeks as well as trying to organize his new house to move in when he returns after Labor Day.
Big news from Rochester, as Matthew came out on top of a competitive process with his company for an MBA leadership program through RIT. Sounds like their household just gets busier but this is a wonderful opportunity. Congratulations Matthew.
Out in Dundee, Claire returned from her summer camp job for a short while before she heads back to junior year at Hope. Daniel starts his final year in high school this week.
Gleaned from Facebook: looks like Melodie hurt her foot and may qualify for a Berenstein Bears book entitled "Too Much Fun;" Johanna got a cute haircut; John and Marilyn had a great visit out to Colorado.
Other stuff mostly about baseball. Drove deep into enemy territory this weekend by attending a game at Yankee Stadium, with Lew, a die-hard Yankee fan who had never been. Worth while to have some fun as the Reds may not win another game the rest of the season with their all rookie starting rotation who look like they are AA most of the time.
On the garden front, the weeds are thriving, but we are also harvesting lots of beans and a few tomatoes and zucchini and lettuce every now then. Incredibly enough, we found a groundhog hole right in the middle of the zucchini and potatoes. No wonder my carrots were getting eaten. Can I get my money back on the fence?
So, hope you all are well and enjoying the remaining days of warmth and green and sun. Love from up here.
