Anniversary Week!

We celebrated our 47th Anniversary on Tuesday this past week.  As we had planned we spent some time in Manchester, VT at our now absolute favorite Inn, The Reluctant Panther and then on to Middlebury, VT which was a new experiment.  I had one of the lightest, fluffiest, almost crepe consistency omelet filled with wonderful avocado, homemade salsa and Vermont Cheddar Cheese.  I didn’t know people could make such a wonderful thing.  I tend to like omelets because they are not usually too heavy and sometimes it’s just easier to order.  My preferred breakfast when someone else is cooking happens to be poached eggs on cooked spinach with tomatoes and some Feta cheese.  That is not something you can find everywhere but it is available occasionally.  I think it is also called Eggs Florentine.  See the recipe below from Martha Stewart, it is pretty close to perfect.

We always look around for places that serve local foods if possible.  We found good supplies of fresh produce on our travels this time and wonderful ambiance in the various spots that we visited.  Some of the salads were very creative and served with beautiful presentations.  Guess I will have to up my game now that I am home and once again cooking for myself, John and Libby.

 

Summers aren’t for Sissies

We arrived home on Wednesday afternoon to unseasonably cool weather after many glorious days of 80’s and 90’s.  The mercury plummeted to 50 degrees and there was a big fire going in the fireplace and everyone was looking for warm clothes.  I think it’s just going to be one of those summers.  Snuggled around the fire one minute and diving into the lake the next.  Margot and Hadley and their very active dog, Brewer, were here with our grandchildren who appeared to be having a ball with the “fun aunts”.  Lots of boating had taken place and various water sports.  The most fun was watching Brew try to figure out how to climb the ladder up onto the dock.  He almost did it!  He also was trying to learn how to jump into the water from the dock but he couldn’t quite bring himself to do it.  Maybe next time.  He is also an expert at finding tennis balls even if we hide them.  No need to say more.

Of course it wouldn’t be summer if the boat and the bar-b-q don’t quit at least once.  The bar-b-q was first just when Margot and Hadley had a cast of thousands here for burgers.  Who knew there was something called a regulator that could just up and quit whenever it felt like it.  A simple fix once you know what to look for and can find the part.  Using the bar-b-q is a must around here in the summer so it rose to the top of the list of things that needed to be dealt with right away.  John was the hero of the hour and found the part and fixed the grill, yay John!  Next to go was the boat.  There is always something and this time the kids got stranded up the lake after visiting a friend.  Boat wouldn’t start.  All the boat owners weighed in on the problem but ultimately they had to be towed home which is somewhat humbling.  The next day Jack and I towed the boat to the marina and Magic Steve got in, flipped a few switches and voila the boat started like a charm.  I asked what did he do and he said “Magic”.  Actually, it was the ignition connection to the engine and come unplugged but I don’t know about those anymore than I know about regulators on grills so there you have it.  All boats and grill are working once again. And it is 95 degrees.  See what I mean?

 

Grandson is off in the Wilds of Ontario

 

June 26th has become a big day in our lives as it is the day that Jack leaves to go to camp in Northern Ontario.  It is always June 26th every year and he has to be at the airport in Toronto before 11AM.  This means we drive into Montreal, spend the night either with my sister or my mother, then fight our way to the airport for him to catch a flight to Toronto.  This fellow makes me laugh.  He first went to camp three years ago at the age of 13:  a nervous young man but determined he could handle it.  This time he was so ready he was bursting.  We stayed with my mother and he decided he needed to try out her stair climber.  We were busy in the kitchen and all of a sudden we hear the stair climber going and there is Jack heading up the stairs.  I think he was disappointed that he couldn’t control the speed, but the grin on his face was priceless.  His great-grandmother told him there was a seat belt if he felt he needed it, laughing the whole time.  He just looked up at her and grinned and said “I know, I am wearing it, safety first Gran” .

We had a great evening and got up early this morning, wondering how the traffic in Montreal would be. We knew that every road in Montreal is under construction and I mean it, they all are. There were many closings this weekend so we were a little unsure of our route. Luckily for us it was Sunday and traffic was very light. We got him to the airport in plenty of time for his flight. So early in fact that we were back in North Hatley at the time his flight took off.  He didn’t want us to hang around at the airport with him.  He’s a big guy now and he was just fine on his own.  We won’t hear much from him but his mother, grandfather and I will become Facebook stalkers looking for information and photos from the camp on a daily basis until we go and pick him up in August.  I really wonder at the change in the world.  In years past you sent your child off and other than a less than descriptive note you really had no idea what was going on.  Hmm, maybe that’s a good thing?

Settling in for the rest of the Summer

So now it is John, Libby and me and, on weekends, Katie.  Margot and Hadley are off on their adventures and we will hold down the fort.  If the weather keeps up the rollercoaster of this past week this summer could be interesting.  I have, by the way, been in the lake twice in the last two days and I went to the raft for the first time in two years and it is still June.  Libby is in the kitchen cooking.  I don’t know what but it sure smells good.  I think it is called Libby Goulash.  Maybe she will share her recipe.

I have my one year checkup at Dartmouth this week.  It seems impossible but it has been 13 months actually.  Pretty sure all is good but I have lots of questions and will be interested to hear what the doctor has to say.  It would be nice to get off some of the medications that I take although I don’t take that many I guess.  We shall see.

Have new shoes that don’t hurt my foot when I walk so that has been a blessing and I have had a couple of really good long walks this week.  Still not as fast as I would like but I am getting there.  Back to golf this week too I hope.  Have a wonderful week everyone.

 

 

 

 

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