The Endless Summer

Just ended.  After several false starts, fall weather is finally here.  We complained last week about how hot it was, but now I'm complaining that I had to turn on the heat.  Mary's not looking back but is ready to enjoy the change of seasons.

It's quiet here.  We enjoyed Andrew's visit for several days here.  The last time he was here?  2011, for Grandma's 80th birthday party, and our house warming.  We remember that weekend, right?  Check out the photo below.  A lot has happened in all our families since 2011.  

Anyway, with Andrew here, we did a butcher and old car tour of Pittsfield, and then we went to the Norman Rockwell Museum with him, stopping at the Red Lion Inn to complete his "36 hours in the Berkshires" tour.  A couple of barbecues later, he left Friday morning to make the two-day trek back to Dundee to make sure he got home in time for Auden's birthday party.  We spent endless hours chatting, but the conversation always seemed to veer towards a certain resident of the White House.  I think we covered every possible angle of the national anthem at football games as well.

Speaking of parties, I gave birthday wishes at the end of the last letter and thought I was forgetting someone.  Thanks to Facebook, I know it was Tina's birthday this past week (sorry).  Johanna's birthday is tomorrow.  Enjoy the festivities!

Andrew had stopped in Fairport on the way out to see first-hand David and Paula's not-so-new home, as they've been in it for over a year now.  He was able to take in the local sites with David, and joined Matthew and Tina and Oliver and Donald for dinner one night.  

One morning this week, both Mary and I were awakened by a crash, from obviously somewhere in or near the house.  It sounded like some animal had tipped over the compost bucket on the back porch.  I ran (ok, cautiously edged) downstairs and saw the bucket intact.  When I went into the kitchen, I noticed that there was a cushion on the ground on the porch, and the sofa cushions had fallen on their sides.  Hmm?  A few seconds later, a big furry raccoon came out from behind the sofa, and then another one followed him (her?)  Thee screened door must have shut behind them and they couldn't make their way out so they were busy knocking over as much as they could on the porch.  I got a long pole and from the outside, pushed the door open, and this time I actually did run.  Mary saw the raccoons cautiously edge their way off the porch and back into the woods.  Too much excitement for 6 in the morning.

Another exciting story.  Yes, there were actually two this week, apart from Andrew's visit.  I had a tour to do at Shaker Village on Friday, and as usual, I secretly hope no one shows up, so I can go home.  When I walked into the ticket desk, I was told there was one person, and this woman came around the corner, and she looked familiar.  I asked her if I knew her, and she answered, maybe.  Then the woman at the ticket counter, introduced me to Natalie who would be on my tour.  I looked at the woman, and said, I love your music.  It was Natalie Merchant, and I gave her a tour, and was glad I did not go home early,  A nice, normal, classy lady.  If you don't know who she is, I suggest downloading "My Skin," among several others.  

Mary had spent last weekend with Joe and Leonor in Washington, as well as Thomas.  She sees so much growth and happiness - he's smiling and looks like he might even be laughing.  Margaret and Andrew came over for dinner one night.  I couldn't go as I had a conference on historic preservation in Lowell where I had been asked to present about our campaign last year to pass the Community Preservation Act last year.

Speaking of last year, Mary reminded me that at this time a year ago, we had returned from our tour to northern Portugal and had a day or two left before heading home.  That was one fun trip.

So, hope you all are well, healthy and happy and enjoying the new season.

Love from up here.

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Summer's back

On this first day of fall, it does feel like the middle of summer.  At least for the past week or so, since we had the heat on in the house earlier in the month.  High temps, barbecues, swimming, mowing the lawn, gardening.  

Speaking of the garden, it's been a banner year for cucumbers.  Each time I go out, it seems I bring back another 5 cukes, and say this is the end of it.  Until I go out the next day, and sure enough, five more.  We're in the middle of tomatoes and and at the tail end of green beans.  We haven't even really made a dent in the beets, which just keep getting bigger and bigger.  Not so good this year: I tried brussel sprouts but got nothing, and once again my bad luck with green peppers holds as I will never try them again.  Oh well.

But, you say, who cares about your garden?  Especially when there's so much more family news to report.  Like Tina and Matthew's cruise adventure, into the eye of the hurricane.  I gather there were some unscheduled stops and off-the-grid moments along the way, and the Facebook photos seem that Donald didn't mind.  John and Marilyn waited out the storm at home, on the eastern coast of Florida, and lucked out.  John took a picture of a leaf on his front porch and was wondering when FEMA was going to come by to clean it up.  Sounds like the Deans (Aunt Georgia, Rell, Sarah and Hope) had a bit more dramatic time closer to Miami.  Meanwhile in Houston, we see the affects of the hurricane on Dickson cousins there.  As long as we're on the disaster theme, we heard from friends in Mexico City and beyond that they had pulled through the earthquake with minor damage to homes but after a few very scary moments.  Annie was also on the periphery of the storm, as she headed to Charleston SC for a friend's wedding, but I think the only impact may have been a delayed flight.  She, by the way, is really enjoying her new home in the Bay area.  

Mary is back to work, this time at the local high school, two days a week.  It looks like she will have a whole new book of stories from the high school experience.  Worth a phone call.  Her schedule cramps our travel plans, but only a little.  She's off to DC tomorrow to check in the smiling, cooing, growing Thomas.  This past Sunday, he sat with Joe through the entire Patriots game.  I can't say for sure if he watched any of the game, but the few times we have seen him on FaceTime, his eyes are keenly following his mother and father.  That's a definite step up from his earlier fixation with the ceiling fan.

David and Paula celebrated their first anniversary in their new home, and this year were able to take part in the annual block party in their new neighborhood.   Peter went to his first Princeton football game, where he saw Sean's girlfriend Erin, working the sidelines as part of her residency, tending to a torn ACL and a broken metacarpal.  Translation??  Anyway, I hope Thomas is listening because this is not the sport for him.

Margaret has plans to visit Haiti and Dominican Republic for work later in the fall, and Andrew is back at his studies, as well as probably up to his neck right now in health care legislation.  And Daniel seems to be thriving in his new school.  The photo below is of him and his roommates, all gymnasts.

I found out a good way to lose weight.  Hike the Appalachian Trail.  For several years I had wanted to hike the Mass portion of the trail, and this year arranged with another wanna be hiker from Pittsfield who just retired to embark on this adventure.  We did this section in day hikes, over the past two months, with two overnights.  I can say this - it is hard. That about sums it up.  But, I lost ten pounds over the course of the period, and have managed not to gain it all back since I finished.  

We started work on finishing our basement, so we have another room for guests.  With a half-bath.  So you're all welcome.  

Birthday wishes to Auden and to Paula!!  Anyone else?  I'm sure I'm missing someone.  (sorry)

Love from up here.

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