:(

I just had a very sad revelation. I was watching "Sex and the City" ( yup, I watch it sometimes...gasp... the cleaned up version not on HBO). Anyway, I realized that over the past few years of working full time I have let go of my girlfriends. I did not have many, but I did have the kind that I would talk to several times a week on the phone and certainly shop with a few times a month or meet for lunch or tea. Full time jobs zap alot of the fun out of life. I barely have time to keep up with my family and so things and people have fallen by the wayside. It wasn't until tonight, watching TV, that I realized how much I miss having a close girlfriend. I could cry a river.

Ramblings

Last Saturday around this time Jim and I were packing up the camper to head home to Ct. So sad that vacation is over, but it is very good to be home...in my cushy bed and showering sans mosquitoes. Very good indeed!
So, my vacation was so wonderful that for my first three days back at work I was still on a bit of an "ocean buzz". It was great! Then, each night I came home and had a nibble from the block of NestlingDuck fudge that was left over from the trip. I ate the last of it on Thursday and it seems like my vacation mood magic ended when the fudge was gone. I have tons of pictures that I will post soon.
It has begun to rain here in Ct and so I guess that hurricane Irene has officially arrived. It is a gentle soaking rain, no scary stuff yet. We are ready, thanks to Jim. He singlehandedly emptied, cleaned, and closed up the camper. He transfered some of the camping things, like the gas stove and lanterns, up to the dining room table...just in case. He shopped for the appropriate food and snacks. It feels wonderful to be so very well taken care of.
We got a phone call from Kate early this morning. Her car had broken down big time along the highway out in Cheshire. Jim popped right out of bed and set out to rescue her. No complaining that his "sleep in" day had just gone down the tubes. He had her on speaker phone as he grabbed for his shirt and shorts and I heard her say "I am so sorry Daddy that I had to wake you up" and Jim answered back "Sweety, don't be sorry, I love helping you". And he really does. Simple things that I am so grateful for.
One of Zach's friends from UNH is riding out the storm with us. The college made all of the newly arrived student go home because of the impending hurricane. Kyle is from Maine and so we are lucky to have him with us this weekend.
I will close with a picture from our vacation.

Sunset from Prouts Neck in Cape Elizabeth. Our bellies were full of Lobster and we were on our way to get some ice cream.

20

Today Zachary turns 20. TWENTY! He is in Ct and I am up here in Maine. For the first time in his life he will not get an in person birthday hug. I don't like that, but I sure that he is ok with it.
Zach, 20 years ago today it was sunny and hot. Daddy and I drove to Bridgeport hospital for a planned induction. Hard to believe but my doctor agreed to induce labor because Kate was starting kindergarten and I wanted to make sure that I was there for the first day. We had no idea...boy or girl, but we didn't care...we were so over the moon happy to be having another baby. The saying goes "the third time is the charm" and I have to say that I finally understood how to birth a baby the best way possible. Minimal drugs, relaxed body and mind. The last time and I finally "got' it.
You arrived in a calm quiet delivery room, cried a bit, and then settled down into an easy going mode and that is the kind of baby that you remained. Pure joy. My reward for going thru John's colic and Kate's stubborn streak. Your hair was so light blond that it appeared that you had none. Not even eyebrows. But as I looked close I could see soft white blond hair and that is the color that your hair stayed for many many years. Mostly what I remember about that day was that God had blessed me again with a perfect baby. I treasured every moment of that day, our first day together. Just you and me, before John and Kate claimed you for their own. You know that Daddy chose your name- Zachary and I insisted that you have Daddy's name -James as your middle name.
You came home to our little Damson Lane house and finally, our family was complete. Jimmy, Patti, John, Kate, and Zach. The first time I thought "the five of us, all under one roof" was on your very first night home and that became the thing that I thanked God for every night for many many years. I still do...on the rare occasion that it happens.
Do you know that strangers would stop me when we were out places to tell me how beautiful you were? A few told me that I should get you on TV, or in modeling. One woman told me that you would be perfect for a "Baby Gap" commercial. White blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, you were beautiful too. But apart from that, you had the sweetest demeanor. Snuggly, happy and easygoing. I soaked in every moment because I knew that you were our last. I still think that way and try to do that. I know that I hold on too tight sometimes, but it is just because I know how these moments with you are far too fleeting and poof, before you know it they are gone.
People say that you look like me Zachy. I know that must not be to pleasant for you but it makes a girl like me very happy. Never in my whole life has anyone looked like me. I still get a thrill whenever anyone says that!
You remind me in so many ways of Daddy when he was your age. Manly man, but sweet and gentle on the inside. The very best mixture for a man, in my opinion.
Happy birthday Zachy doodle. Love and miss you on this day.

It is raining in Maine. One day of rain is acceptable on a camping vacation. It looks like we will have a bit more than that. Boo.

I am typing this from my camper bed. A gentle rain is falling outside hitting the roof and making me feel very cozy where I am. I feel sorry for the tenters. We were there once and tenting in the rain is awful.

Jim is nestled in on the couch reading. We are doing nothing more than reading and talking today and that feels very good.

This year we invested in an air conditioner for our camper. We are not even feeling the humid air and when the sun comes out tomorrow afternoon it will only be in the low 80's...sweet.

I had my first taste of Maine lobster on Saturday night when the five of us went out to one of our favorite places to eat up here...The Rising Tide. So good.

If the sun was shining, I would not have even cracked open the computer. Hopefully, this will be my last post until I am back home in Ct. Missing Zachary....my baby turns 20 tomorrow. Love you Zachy doodle!

Only real campers know the hard work that goes into preparing for a camping vacation. We have done it every which way and I think we have it down pat now. In the beginning, we used to lug all of the comforts of home out to the camper and it was a real ordeal, but over the years we have purchased those things so that all we have to do is pack our clothes and food and head out. Our camper now boasts it's own set of pots and pans, microwave, coffee maker, comforters and sheets, towels, crock-pot etc. A mini home away from home.
When we first started out back in 1983, all we had was a green Coleman cabin tent, a few air mattress, a Coleman propane lantern,a Coleman stove and an adventurous spirit. It was truly roughing it. Picture outhouses...that was the level of camping that we did our first year. We were 24 and 23 respectively and had a 7 month old baby boy in tow. We were brave, naive, and maybe a little stupid...but we sure had alot of fun.
We have come a long way, but some people may consider what we do still roughing it. Our camper does not have a bathroom or a shower, but thank goodness campgrounds have ratings that consider the cleanliness of the bathrooms, showers and pools. Were we go is clean and pretty modern, but it is still camping. I have been known to share my shower with a few mosquitoes and perhaps a moth or two. It is camping after all.
So...why does anyone subject themselves to this kind of vacation? I don't know if I can put it into words very well because it is more of a feeling. There is something about setting up your campsite deep in the woods and actually being self sufficient that is quite satisfying. Or waking up to the dappled sunlight coming through the trees and into your bed and realizing that even you can feel adventurous and anything is possible ( a mountain hike, an early morning canoe ride, a day of fishing or horseback riding, or just a day of sitting by the ocean or a lake). And after a day of all of that and just breathing in outside air only, you come back to your little spot, cook your dinner, and watch the sun go down. Campfires are lit and lawn chairs are set up in the round. Your teenage son pulls out his guitar and strums quietly and then you just talk and laugh, maybe roast a marshmallow or two. When it gets late you crawl into bed, turn on your overhead lantern and try to keep your eyes open to read a few pages of the book that you picked out just for this vacation. More than likely you will drift off to the sound of crickets and the sweet smell of campfire on your skin. Like I said...it's a feeling, but it's a very good feeling.

First Fruit

I picked the first tomato from my little garden yesterday morning as the sun was coming up. It's a little tiny cherry. The rest of plants have plenty of green tomatoes with no hints of ripening. Hopefully by September I will have something. Serves me right for starting so late.
I do have bunches of parsley and basil and the rosemary is finally coming back after all of the early summer rain. I have so much basil that when I was emailed a recipe for grilled margarita pizza by Bobby Flay, I printed it out and made it for our Friday night dinner. It was yum.

easygrilledpizza

I took a picture of the FIRST tomato! So exciting! While I was snapping pictures, I took a bunch of the rest of the plants.

The star of the day. He looks so small on my windowsill

Basil and pretty flowers

Little pot of rosemary that initially died and then came back. I have a nice big plant in my little garden too.

This is my little patch. The chives on the left need to be cut way back to get some nice new growth. You can see my healthy rosemary, planted late but doing well. All that green stuff on the right is parsley. Right smack dab in the middle is one of the tomato plants with plenty of green tomatoes.

These were pelted with hail and crazy strong winds last week and survived.

I was trying to get the morning glories climbing up the front porch.

The flowers in the front walk garden are just about petered out. So sad because that means summer is dwindling down.

We had dinner guests this past weekend. Nick and Bre came by on Saturday night. It is always so great to catch up with them. We got to see their new car. We got to hear all about their summer so far. Love them.
I didn't take any pictures because honestly I think people get tired of that, so I gave that a rest for the night. I did however take a picture of my pretty table. I know that Bre appreciates pretty things and so much to Jimmy's dismay I broke out the Lenox china and my Nana's silver. It looked pretty and Bre loved it.

I was being brave and tried out two new recipes. I never do that usually, but they sounded like a perfect accompanyment to my grilled cornish game hens with apricot glaze. Corn bread flavored with ginger and orange zest and grilled corn with cilantro lime butter. Thank goodness both were good, but the cilantro lime butter stole the show. I am posting it here for you. Make it and you will not be sorry. We had grilled swordfish last night and I put a pat of it on after it came out of the oven and it was delish. Bre put it on her baked potato. I think that you could spread it on toasted corn bread and you may die from happiness. Here is the recipe...just for you.
¾ cups chopped Cilantro
1 stick Butter, Room temperature
2 teaspoons Lime Zest
juice from 1/2 lime
1 pinch Salt

Mix everything together. Plop mixture in the middle of a large piece of plastic wrap. Fold wrap over butter and with your fingers, form into a cylindrical log. twist ends of wrap and place in freezer until hard. Cut into pats and store in fridge. It won't last long.