Growing Season...for Plants too!

 I'm happy to report that both kids finished out the school year as honor roll students.  It was a bit of a limp to the finish line, but they managed.  Baseball and track and school out of the way and now WORK!  Ethan works on average 4 days a week from 8-4 as a camp counselor.  He works with second and third graders.  He enjoys it and his good friends work there as well...but it is exhausting entertaining little ones out in the sun for 8 hours.  Fiona works as a server at Oceanview across the street.  It is a retirement community with a few dining options.  She bounces between the formal one and the casual.  Currently she works on average 3 nights a week and is looking to pick up more hours.

I continue housekeeping for a few families and have now gone to 2 days a week taking care of an elderly woman in her home.  Those days are my absolute favorite!  The conversations I get to have with Evelyn and her husband Morton are so engrossing.  At 93, they both have a number of stories to tell.  Evelyn is a German Jew who escaped Germany during WWII, Morton is a Nobel Prize winning chemist.  Not often I sit at a table with such celebrities!

My friends Lil and Hallie are on the east coast for a few months this summer.  Hallie and her two kids and husband are visiting from their home in Italy, Lil and her two daughters and husband are visiting from their home in Flagstaff, AZ.  I'm looking forward to visiting Plum Island in a few weeks where we will ALL be together!!!  In the meantime I have been able to visit with both families on separate occasions.

Camping has already gotten underway.  We went for one night on the kids last day of school, and again for two nights a few weeks ago.  Both times in the White Mountains (our favorite getaway).  This weekend we head to Deer Isle, ME with my sister and her family to meet up with my parents at a luxurious air B&B that they rented as a Christmas gift.  I look forward to relaxing.  And now my working children understand the concept of time off!!

Fiona...putting the shot.

A good turn out for Ethan's last home game.

Hike with grandparents.

Chillin' in the yard.

We're going to make Ethan his own "field of dreams".

This is a bean sprout from a seed I carried around the country on our journey (5 years ago).

Fiona and her friends in our back yard.

Camping trip #1.

Only Fiona caught any fish.

Cool hike.

A bunch of Lunar moth wings in the trail?

These were the size of dinner plates!

Fiona and her friend before heading off to a concert.

What Fiona makes when she's home alone and bored.

Hallie's son Valerio.

My boys had as much fun as the toddlers!

Blowing bubbles for Viola.

Oreo break after playing in the hose.

Camp trip #2

We found the best watering hole.

A stop at a shop on way home.  Tetanus anyone?

Audobahn near our house.

Evelyn and I baked molasses cookies.

Lil and Paul.

We explored the mud flats at low tide.

Friends since kindergarten.

You HAVE to keep an eye on this one.

Nell taking care of Ra-Ra.

Ethan and Olive.

Static head from Fiona's bed!

Olive and Nell loved Ethan...but worshipped Fiona.

My little love, Viola.

Tons of hugs to go around at Mollie's summer camp in Maine.

Hallie, Cara, me, Mollie

Valerio

Spring at Last, Spring at Last...thank God Almighty it is Spring at Last!

 Warm weather felt like a distant dream the last time I wrote.  Always comes as a pleasant surprise when the days get longer and brighter.  Ethan is having a fabulous season.  He has been pitching and playing third base.  They have only lost one game.  They're the team to beat!  Fiona is thoroughly enjoying javelin and trying her hand at shot put.  She has also been running in the 4x400 relay (much to her chagrin).  I have no pictures of her in action (yet) because she forbade me going to a meet until she knew what she was doing.  I will go this Friday and hopefully get some decent footage!

Easter was a stunner.  The weather, food and family-time was the perfect segway into the spring season.  The cousins STILL enjoy the egg hunt...and gampy added some cash into the mix for some extra competitiveness.

My garden came to life with a little sun and rain.  All the tulips I planted back in the yucky, wet, cold end of Fall came up and were such a source of joy!  We are now watching and waiting patiently as our 27 (literally) tomato plants gain strength.  I also planted herbs, peppers, broccoli, basil (to go with the one million tomatoes), peas and swiss chard.

Mother's Day was a winner.  My family packed a picnic and we headed into the woods for a hike.  The day was delightful.  I felt spoiled and appreciated.  

The next entry will likely be about the end of the school year!!!

I kid you not.  This is the style up here.  I got this shot straight off the TV.  Gotta love Maine.

School + practice = fall down tired

Fiona and Scott before their date to see "Car Seat Headrest"

Mom brought these flowers for me.  I had a teeny-weeny surgery, and am fine.

COVID protocol.  I had to go it alone.

Side one.  Two attempts at an IV.  Failed.

Third time was a charm.  I nearly fainted and they had to get a new nurse.

A sign from one of our treacherous walks.

FINALLY!!!  I can hang out the laundry with out it freezing on the line!

Awww...it's ok Mr. Tree.  Don't look so sad.

He's my all star.

Ethan made his famous chocolate cake to bring to Easter.

Ah... Gary, you have a little something on the side of your mouth.

Waiting for "GO!"

GO!!!!!!!!!

Meagan...looking out over the hunt.

Seeing who got what.

Cousins!

Three resting dogs.  Many stinky farts.

At my friend Melissa's.  She is a dog walker.  Apparently she only walks beige dogs...

 

My tulips.

Scott and I were real grown-ups.  We went out to eat, then to a bar...and then to a concert! 

What do you see in the drop?

Mother's Day

You see Ethan in the tree...above the water.

Todays flower harvest.

Cullen in Melissa's garden.

Aaaaannnnddd...some flashbacks.  Couldn't be helped.