new toy…..hee heeeeee hee heeeee

…and I just finished loading it up and strapping it down, and NO rain today, boy oh boy (I realized I complained about there being no rain on the island in Maine, but since returning to NH, it downpoured all day yesterday….and patience was hard to come by.) So off we go…lets just hope I don’t forget the paddle!!!!! hee hee

***update***

As luck would have it, it started to rain. We waited a bit but once the dark clouds come to the mountains they can stick around. And of course there is always the threat of lightening. But I did it!! Loaded, unloaded and loaded it back on….and it didn’t fly off while driving. Now isn’t that something.

Overall a beautiful week was had by all. There was a very definate drought until the last night when all the islands rain tanks were overflowing. So it is a bit of a downer when you really have to watch every drop of rainwater…no showers, washing dishes, washing hands, fire hazards….but really a fabulous week of family and memories.

::  grampa rowing us out  ::  two silly sea urchins  ::  rope swings at the Big House lawn  ::  a preppy little golfer  ::  and her preppy little brother  ::  fresh coat of paint on the Big House  ::  all my ducks in a row on the boardwalk  ::  rock climbing at Campbell  ::  my own little Popeye, the sailor man…  ::  red sky at night, sailors delight(though it be DRY)  ::  cribbage, lots of it  ::  off to the Bungalow  ::  painting with Ruth, and Kaylee, oh…and someone turned 65, could it be…..NANA?  ::  Kaylee working on her “now famous” island man  ::  lubbers  ::  annual trek to the lighthouse  ::  punch bowl  ::  hiking the island with family  ::  more rock climbing…  ::  and the beautiful sunsets  ::

Tomorrow at this time, this is where I hope to be……

….WOW….been a while and didn’t even realize how long till I went to clear the 600 pics off the camera.

I am now settled in the White Mountains, the kids are in their 3rd, THIRD, week of camp and we are definately settled into our routines. The end of the school season was crazy. George graduated from “preschool”… earlier than the girls last day of school, so we hit the beach a few times….

Maddy did indeed earn her yellow stripe in Tae Kwon Do….so proud of all of her efforts

Kaylee had a full day of partying on the last day of school and is now rekindling her summer friendships! Our special summer camp is such a blessing and a true treat. We cherish it. I seem to have become a bit more involved, going hiking with the older kids, and chaperoning the field trips….and meeting even more wonderful people!

Our annual July 4th family celebration had a great turn-out! Cousins Morgan and Riley were able to attend which made it very special.

It is nice that we can sit and see the Mount Washington fireworks from our back deck. Though my pic isn’t very clear, they really were spectacular. Just the echo alone off the mountains, though I do feel badly for all the animals that are probably scared stiff. Like this family of foxes living RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR IN THIS WALL. Actually I have never felt threatened by them at all…..just don’t get too close.

Well, with the few days that I do have some time to myself, I am excitedly working on this….don’t want to give too much away….but seriously, sometimes it is hard to even paint with how excited I feel. I have connected with another artist back at home that suggested I keep my inspirational pieces hung up, so I could literally live the character, the feel…I have this overwhelming feeling that I am piecing together a puzzle that is right in front of me.

…..and this is my makeshift studio for the summer. We tend to eat outside, at least if it is not raining, thank goodness.

…..and a sneak peek.

….rushing out the door this morning, George must have not closed the door. So I come home after 3 hours and still see our Wii Fit here so I figure everything is fine. I sit to check email and I hear this thump from upstairs, like adult size thump. I wait, and wait, and start thinking, oh sh** a skunk or raccoon, heck fox even. No just buddy, you just can’t believe how loud that thump was.

….in the hawhvad yawhd. Oh it is a Boston thing, the horrible, lazy dialect of some. But these signs are now one of those things done….and now I am itching for summer to start!!

Maddy turned 7 this past Memorial Day weekend…..she is definately not a baby anymore!

We celebrated with dinner out and lots of gifts. Then on Monday she marched in the town parade with her Brownie Troop. I made this years banner but didn’t get any photos of it…it was a tough one. Brown is sort of uuuggh, I mean, after last years Daisy banner, which was colorful and fun, I had a hard time. But I went with pink…pink and brown look good. Anyway, they marched with it and that is all that matters.

…. no, really!

This was one of those nagging chores that I guess I was finally fed up enough that I just did it! And I hung a trellis and got some clematis and really hope all goes well. Choosing the color was half the battle, and I am happy with it. The wood is sort of awful, awful looking, awful to paint, but I think this green stain worked out well. Still need to paint a trim round the window and roof….thinking maybe a deep yellow ochre or grey stain.

and 3 years ago, (a few more trees in the yard), and whallaah, and aren’t the kids cute….they grow so fast.

I know a mommy who has two sons and just delivered a third one…..so I thought I would give her a piece of pear!!

His name is Robert :o)

………..yeah, I have failed the Every(week)day in May, well at least the posting part. And with all this talk about the Orphan Works Bill…I am really nervous about posting anything. Not to say that people don’t steal work anyway, the heightened awareness of this Bill only puts that out there on a pedestal right now. It was/is always an issue. So needless to say, I am in a funk about this…….

Mother’s Day came and went and the highlight being the husband was home. Briefly but home. But he is off again, lickety split. We are getting by, or should I say I am hanging in there….

….but the day was spent at my brothers having a nice cookout and family time.

A little pic of our Brownie Troop camping trip. Maddy had fun.

And just because we gave her an early bday present….watch out, she has some strong moves.