We are happily ensconced in North Hatley with a few family members. On Monday Edie and her mum, Margot, arrived at Montreal Airport. I drove in to pick them up and had no difficulty with traffic or logistics at all. However, I noted that exiting the city was a mess so when we left the airport I chose to take a different, back roads route, which turned out to be perfect. We bypassed all the traffic and had a super easy trip back to North Hatley with one very excited two year old who kept asking when would we get there.
The first couple of days were full of worry as “other mom” came down with Covid. She was supposed to work in Baltimore and then work her way up here. Plans changed, she went to her parents empty house in New Hampshire and has been hanging out there for a week. Every day those here tested and all came back negative so we then felt that we could venture out to the club. Edie adapted to the schedule very quickly. Walk to the club with Lulu pushing the stroller. Story time at 10:30 and then swim lessons at 11 and then play time, ride home in the boat, have lunch and a nap and then go for another boat ride. Get up and do it over again. Pretty sweet summer days.
We have been sitting on the porch, drinking beer and catching up whenever we get a chance. Having my girls here has been such a wonderful bonus. It has been years, maybe over 20, since I have had both daughters here for any extended time. I have loved every minute of it.
Jack and Libby are off at Camp Wabun. Jack has completed his first trip as a staff and Libby has started her very long canoe trip to Hudson Bay. Pictures show they are happy and healthy. I hope that things continue to go along smoothly. After the last two and half years, having a “normal” summer is just heaven.
Margot and Hadley’s good friends Jamie and Jackie from Asheville arrived for the birthday weekend. They flew in and drove up through the White Mountains. So far the weather has been fantastic except for a sudden rain storm when out on their first boat ride with Margot, Katie and Edie. It really was a surprise and quite the down pour but they huddled under the bimini and waited it out. I don’t think Edie was impressed. We ate dinner on the porch and then went to the dock to watch the fireworks for the July 1st celebration of Canada Day. It was a very special evening and what a way to introduce them to North Hatley.
We have eaten exceptionally well. Lots of typical summer fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers as well as bar-b-q chicken and the requisite Coaticook ice cream and Beaulieu’s pies. Good thing I get to push a stroller up the hilly driveway and all the way to the club otherwise who knows. I bought Edie what I thought were small ice cream cones and they turned out to be the perfect size for a doll. However they are also perfect for Edie and not the least bit overwhelming. A mistake that turned out to be a good thing.
On Wednesday we finally got to celebrate my brother’s 70th birthday. His wife threw him a wonderful Scottish dinner at our little club on the lake complete with bagpiper on the dock. The menu was amazing with items such as a Scotch Egg, Perthshire Scottish Lamb and Lolly Sticky Pudding that had “loads of sugar.” It was such fun to get together and celebrate, finally, as his actually birthday was in January and everything was shutdown because of Covid. Despite a terrific wind and blowing rain which left the hills with a Scotch mist, the evening was terrific.
A favorite recipe for summer. Not out of a book but made up as we went along. Sliced golden beets, tomatoes, feta cheese, pecans on a bed of our own home grown red romaine drizzled with a honey, lemon, apple cider vinegar with a dash of Dijon mustard and olive oil dressing. Light and tangy but also a bit sweet. We just did everything to taste, no measurements. Doesn’t it look pretty? Enjoy!
