a grass pathway through the woods

This morning we took the kids on a mini-hike through the woods. Actually, we took Jenny to our "secret place" of a few posts ago. Chaucer, true to form, dove into the river and got way too smelly. Nora started narrating and describing all of the fallen down trees, odd holes in the ground, and fauna sprouting from the forest floor. We crossed the little make-shift bridge over the river, jumping up and down on the sheet metal tossed across the two trees bridging the river.

Next to the river, there was a path that shot off parallel to the river... not the typical fishing guy's path though. It looked more like a mini road that had become over grown with grass. We followed it a while and finally came across a sign designating it as the midstate trial. It was really pretty beautiful.

I want to do a lot of hiking this summer. I was on the trustees of reservations website looking at a list of places that they own. Some of them look so tempting. Pastures and bear dens and huge granite cliffs leading to waterfalls. I have always loved exploring some place new. I think that I will be hitting a few of these places this year. If any of you want to come along (given that I actually know who you are..... and that I like who you are :) ) just Facebook me a message and come along.

db

The Vet's

We took our cats Ramses and Saul to the Vets for their annual check up and shots today. Henry and Nora love it when we go. They both get so paternal about the situation. Our cats, actually all of our pets, are amazingly gentle and kind. No scratching or biting or barking or anything really, other than licking. The cats do not like to be in the carrier however. They moan and cry the whole eight minutes to the vet in the center of town, Henry and Nora comforting them and laughing the whole time.

Henry loves to read about the ticks in the pamphlets in the waiting room. He actually knows a bit about them all. He impressed the vet assistant behind the counter when he was counting off the types of ticks he knows about... "lone star tick"? Really Henry?

When we got home, both he and Nora cornered Chaucer (his perpetually lying down form didn't mind trust me) and were pretending to be Veterinarians. Nora had her "doctor" kit out and was giving him shot after shot and Henry was taking his blood pressure. I went to take a picture and Henry bolted. I guess big boys don't give doggies blood pressure readings.

We have had such a good run with pets. Growing up, my parents were kind of hit and miss with good natured pets. Their cat now is nice enough, but over weight and moody (mean kind of moody) :) He doesn't seek to harm you... but don't cross him (or rub his belly). It makes no sense at all, but I have always attributed welcoming, warm pets, with their owners personalities. If a woman had a loving, happy dog, I always assumed that she was a loving, happy woman. I know its not true, but I still have that in my head for some reason.

All of our pets have been sweethearts.  ;)

db

Waves of summer

Summer comes in waves. I let go, little by little and a couple weeks in I feel lighter and I can start to think more clearly, relax more fully. I am starting to feel the school year drop off me a bit. My morning walks have been a bit sporadic due to the super hot weather. I haven't even planted my garden yet... don't worry, I have short season crops. I am sitting here at 10:00 listening to Bon Iver and typing a post from a couple of days ago.

That morning I walked by myself, slowly through these big fields. It was the morning after the heat broke and the rains came. This little spider was grabbing a drop of water. I don't know what he was doing with it... I imagine possibly removing it. I am going to start on my summer plans this week... building front and back steps that actually look like something better than the "construction" steps that have been on our house for the past few years. I am going to call a few landscapers and ask them about clearing the land next to me, and about replanting and leveling our front, and possibly back yards. I am going to repaint the upstairs bathroom. I might go ahead and build a shed off to the left of our driveway.  It's all like this little spider, moving things, making things better. Building. I am no construction guy. I truly have very little idea about how to do any thing like this. But I am going to try on my own, like my Dad did/does. I guess the fact that he builds everything himself is one of two chief motivations for trying to do these things myself... the other being money of course.

Still, this is my house, and I wanted these challenges.

db

Hamburgers Away

Today we went to my Mom's for a hamburger cook off. There were, I would say about thirty people there and about seven competing hamburgers. My Aunt Barbara ended up winning with her Bison Burger and homemade buns.  It was a really nice day. The weather helped and the company was great. It pretty much consisted of my extended family.... the Christmas crowd. I tried this recipe by Alton Brown... the burger of the Gods. Serious recipe, I had to grind my own hamburg! crazy. I am going to post a bunch of pictures from it. Just a nice summer day.

we eat with our hands....

It was so hot today. I wanted to go out and do things... but no way. So here is a nice picture of ..... supper.

Henry still shuns utensils... Does this ever end?? His tastes as an eater are amazing. He loves spicy food and ethnic food, really anything that isn't goopey. He hates scrambled eggs and avocado, things like that. I love what Henry eats. He is unafraid of new things and tends towards fresh, crisp, good-for-you things. But, he still eats with his hands too much..... wait a minute..... That's probably why he doesn't like goopey food, it sucks to get it all over your hands! Yes! See, writing is a perfect way to work through your thoughts!

So, tonight I decided to go ahead and make something Henry could get his hands into, a fact that he actually, outwardly celebrated. I made grilled tandoori chicken (here is the link to the recipe. I used one from that Arti girl on Food Network). Its a great recipe as long as you have a well stocked spice drawer! ( I do, even the cardamom pods!!) I grilled a bunch of other things on skewers right along side it: onions, mushrooms, red and yellow peppers, grape tomatoes, dried apricots, and dates. Then I threw some feta, olives and stacked some cucumbers and mixed greens along the side, ripped up some pita bread and made some couscous. It's actually the sauce that pulled the whole thing together, so if you make it, don't skip that step.

I am so looking forward to the cool down tonight. The windows are open. The fans are on. The breeze is sweeping through. Ahhh... now if I weren't being forced to watch "Say Yes to the Dress." Things might just be perfect. :)

db

Worcester Art Museum

Today was busy, probably too busy. It was hot so we decided to try to do things that were inside somewhere with AC. I was up for going off to Boston, but I had band practice at 7:00, so we tooled around worcester. Without making things longer than necessary, we decided to go to the art museum, then to Wooberry and then off to see Madagascar three.

I tried for "moody" shots at the museum. I am happy with a couple of them. I love the first one with Henry and Nora on the bench. I also kinda love the one that I am official entitling "Nora Reclining."

Both Henry and Nora seemed to really like the art museum. Nora's favorite part was one of the pieces that let you use a magnifying glass to look at coins. Henry didn't know exactly what to make of the nude pieces, a perfect opportunity to start to explain nudity in art and beauty to him... not really sure he got it though... lol.

Here are the pics.

Here is one of my favorite pieces... ;)

Here's one for Wooberry just for the heck of it.... original, chocolate covered ginger, and orange boba YEAH!!

small things

This morning, before it got too hot, Jonathan and Emily came over to walk with Chaucer, Henry and me. This was the first time that I have had anyone that wasn't directly in my family walk with me. I felt this odd urge to give some sort of tour of the places that I have found. Fortunately, Emily and Jonathan are used to me and my oddities and went right along with me. I love having perfectly quirky and understanding friends.

On the way in I saw this tiny bird perched at the top of a dead tree. I snapped a picture, zoomed in, and it turned out to be a tiny little hummingbird perched majestically at the top of the canopy.

On the way back to the car, we found these tiny, baby frogs hopping all along the sandy road. I love these little guys. They're so delicate and sweet. I am titling this picture, "The Hands of God" which is a subtle compliment to Jonathan whose hands these are.