Going too fast

The summer is going too fast.  The temperature this morning here was 48 degrees.

Some garden news to start off.  It's been a tough year, with the rain and pests.  Our harvest remains minimal, and we remain jealous of Andrew's and Jeffrey's tomatoes down in DC.  Our plants here are rotting, and those that have made it through are getting devoured by slugs, and we have now found we are host to the famed Asian jumping worm.  Mary pulled out a whole nest of them the other day from her flower garden.  They're enough to give you nightmares.  And I didn't even mention the deer, but Janet gave me a tip on deer repellent, which we were unable to use because of your week at the Jersey shore.

Did someone say Jersey shore?  I've been hearing about it for years, and even though we lived five years in the state as children (and Peter and Janet now for many more years), the only time I remember going there was a cold, spring vacation day when Pop had the big idea to take the family there, and Andrew stepped in dog poop. 

Nevertheless, we now know why people consider it so nice.  Long, unending beaches, manageable waves, warm water.  We rented a nice big house in Brigantine, which is on a spit of land just north of Atlantic City.  A block and half from the beach meant that we could come and go as we please and not have to coordinate rides or struggle with parking.  And we did go to the beach, as often as possible, even the day it rained.  Thomas gets the gold star for spending hours and hours in and out of the waves and the sand and then collapsing at night.  But Baby John and Simon were right there behind him, and of course parents.  Grandmother may have come in second to Thomas for time in the water.  Grandfather somehow disappeared every day shortly after lunch.

The house was full of activity, or should I say chaos?  Games and tv, toys and books, cheerios and apple slices and sippy cups.  There was a big kitchen island that was, within minutes of arrival, the repository for all things edible, drinkable and otherwise.  Leonor found a "shark park" nearby home to a ship and castle and a slew of other entertaining obstacles and swings and slides, and that became part of the daily routine, followed by smoothies and/or ice cream. 

Simon went from a couple of tenuous steps walking to a marathon of tenuous steps, and Baby John was cruising around, only to really take his first independent steps after returning to Brazil!  Other memories included Thomas' stories conflating Captain Ahab and Starbuck, with Gilligan and the millionaire and Captain Hook.  All fun.  Margaret had given Annie a surfing lesson for her birthday, and Sankar joined them.  The first day, they could barely get the hang of it; the second time they went out, they were pros, standing up and riding the waves repeatedly and endlessly.  I suspect more than one of them wants to quit working and become a surf bum.

And amidst all the chaos, sat Sankar with his headphones at the table getting his work done.  Quite an office. 

The week prior, we were happy hosts to the Brazil gang up here, that included toughing out some rainy days.  The sun finally emerged, and we were able to put out the small wading pool, and we even went swimming in the lake with fearless Thomas.  Joe and Leonor were able to get out a few times, as two grandparents, mostly Mary, were happy to hang with our homey little friends.

On Mary's birthday, everybody returned home from the shore, and Joe and Leonor have a trip to forget, I think.  But we were so glad they made the trek north.

Today, Annie and Sankar are supposed to start their trek back to the bay area, taking a month to wander through New Orleans, Austin and Santa Fe for a week of remote work at each place before moving on.

Timmy came east, and was able to stay here and attend to all of the kitty's many needs, mostly consisting of opening and closing the doors to let him in and out several thousand times a day.  He headed back shortly after our return to relocate to Montana.

Another traveler who was living the dream was Natalie, Heather's daughter, who is a college student and bought a used "retro-camper" for a trip around the country.  She stopped in Florida to see her grandparents and then on to points west, south and north.   

It looks like Tina has found yet another conveyance, as we see many pictures of her on the water in kayaks and canoes, along with Donald, who's getting so big!

Out in Dundee, Andrew and Lur helped Daniel move to a new place in the big city, as his roommate, his childhood friend Satchel, is moving to Detroit.

Birthday wishes to close out – Mary, Thomas and Everett. 

Love from up here!