If only...

I found this on a website that I love. It just kind of sums up my general philosophy. So very simple, but the life for me.

I would add in things like...go to the farmers market, make a peach pie, iron my husbands shirts, plan a dinner party for my friends, bake cookies for Zach and his roommates, start a quilt, make some new curtains, have a chicken coop, take my dog for a long walk, get another dog so we could have double the cuteness, volunteer for a worthy cause, plan and plant a perennial garden, have a "real" vegetable garden, babysit, wallpaper my living room, paint my bedroom, cook a hearty creative dinner every night. I could go on and on.

It just flew by...

Back to School

Zachary went back to school yesterday. It was a totally different experience from last year. His roommate from Puerto Rico (Adrian) was allowed access to their room early, so Zach was able to move most all of his stuff in gradually over the weekend. Come the real move-in day he just had a few last minute things to bring up. He hopped in my car yesterday at 6:30am so he could get there to help his other roommates arrive and set up. We arranged it with him that we would go up in the afternoon to take him out grocery shopping and check out his apartment.
When we got there they pretty much had everything in order. Zach had purchased a ginormous big screen TV from Craigs List and a few of his friends were already playing video games when we walked in the door. They are all nice boys from families that really seem to care. One of the Mom's supplied them with all sorts of cleaning products. It's so funny and pleasantly surprising to me that these boys really do clean their space. Last year Zach told me how they would all take turns scrubbing out the shower and cleaning the toilet. I even had to replenish the supplies, so I know that it is true.
Anyway, we took Zach out for dinner and then went over to Costco to stock him up on all of the healthy food that he likes. A huge box of Quaker oats, a 12 lb bag of brown rice, a bag of tangerines, a gallon of skim milk, whole wheat bread, a big bag of Perdue chicken breasts, a spice rack with spices, cheerios, eggs. Not your typical list for a college boy...right? No Kraft easy-mac for him!
On our way back to his apt. I was preparing myself for the trek up 4 flights of stairs with all of the groceries, but when we pulled up 3 of his roommates were right there to help out. I pulled Zach into a long hug and a bunch of kisses and sent him off to his Sophomore year. It wasn't easy to say goodbye, but I am always comforted by the fact that whenever I start to miss him, he is only 1/2 hour away. That is a very good thing for this Mom who wants to hold on a little tighter to her last born. Good for him to be away and be his own person apart from Jim and I. Good for me that the break from us is a gradual one. Blessings for all of us!

Front porch shot

The last load

So happy and full of anticipation for the new school year. Love you big bunches Zachary!

19

Zach turned 19 last Monday. John and Cassie came home last weekend to help us celebrate. Even tho Sunday was overcast and a bit chilly we decided to go tubing once again. Kate could not go, but the rest of us made the trip up rte 8 to the Farmington River. It was such a fun weekend!


The waiver

Serious stuff

Cassie...ready to go.

Awww

Jim and Cassie were up for some fun this year. Last time Jim was down with a torn meniscus, and Cassie with her back injury.

The water was colder than expected.

At the top of the first set of rapids. The water was so low due to the extra dry summer that we have had.

There goes Cassie!

Jim! Thumbs up!

There they go...

Picnic lunch. They were freezing after 2 hours in the river. Poor Cassie, her lips were purple.

Back home for cake and coffee.

19 candles and 1 for good luck. Happy Birthday Zachy Doodle!

Vacation...Finally

Jim and I had not had a vacation since summer 2008. I started my new job in May 2009 and had to wait until 2010 to take a vacation. Needless to say, we were both desperate for a get away. We chose to go back to Maine, believe it or not we have been vacationing there since 1999. It is so beautiful and holds so many happy memories that it made perfect sense to go back again. None of the kids could come along, so it was just the two of us. Although I missed the kind of vacation that includes my kids...the week could not have been any more perfect. First of all the weather was awesome. Sunny warm days and cool breezy nights. The temp really never reached past 80. In fact one day we actually left the beach because we were chilly. Anyway, Jim and I were on no time schedule and there were no kids along to cater to, so we just did some serious relaxing and squeezed in some sightseeing and shopping.
I love love love Maine for a beach vacation. The air up there just seems cleaner somehow... you feel like you are doing something good for your body just by breathing.

Our very first stop was Pine Point Beach. I found my first sand dollar here over ten years ago. It is still the perfect New England beach.

Happy!

Straight from the beach to the Rising Tide restaurant for steamers and beer.

The next day was shopping and sightseeing in Freeport. Always have to stop at L.L. Bean...

and then hop over here to look for some bargains

Late one afternoon we tracked down the Portland Head Light. We had tried to find it several years ago with no luck. Thank you GPS!

The lighthouse was so tall! The grounds were so beautiful. Imagine a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds, the roar of the ocean crashing against the jagged coast, a seagull cries and you fill your lungs to bursting with clean, crisp, salty air. You look out to sea and you spy in the distance a beautiful sloop skirting across the waves, the lighthouse horn blasts, and you glance to your left and see the man that has been by your side for more than 30 years smiling down at you. I tell you, in my opinion, it does not get any better than that.

After the lighthouse we met Andrew and Kelley for dinner in Cape Elizabeth. They were vacationing in Maine the same week. Remember them...we attended their beautiful wedding last August. It was so great to spend the evening with them. Just them. Usually we are in a group setting, like bible study or family celebrations. It was so much fun to catch up with them.

They wanted to play mini golf too. So off to Old Orchard Beach and Pirates Cove.

Andrew kept score.

Andrew lost his ball on one hole.

We went back to the Portland Head Light the next morning. We wanted to get into the lighthouse and museum.

This is the Pemaquid Light. About 1.5 hours north of Portland. This lighthouse was small and more rural...but so beautiful in it's simplicity.

Jim walking toward the oil house.

This bell was sounded if a boat came to close.

Ok, I have said it before and I will say it again. Fragrant pine trees right along side of the ocean. The mixture is intoxicating.

Another beach day.

Back to The Rising Tide for our last dinner.

A 2 lb+ hard shell. Caught the same day. Oh my goodness...I have no words to express how good this was.

Our last morning. We picked up some lobsters for Kate and Zach and packed them snuggly in a cooler filled with bags of ice in the hopes that they would survive the trip to CT. (they did)

Our last light house on our way home. Cape Neddick Light or "Nubble" Light.

So close, yet so far. It was on a little island that you could swim to if it was allowed.

We asked a woman to take our picture in front of the lighthouse. She was probably in her late 80's...there with her husband. What a cute couple they were. Notice something missing? After she took the pic...she looked down at the display and just said "lovely". The lighthouse is missing, but this is my favorite picture of the whole trip. Me and Jim on our Maine adventure. Going down the roads less traveled.

I sure hope that you all have had the chance to have some summer fun too!