Rainy Friday

Friday afternoon was rainy here, so we decided it would be more fun to go on a little road trip than to paint the porch in the rain. First stop, with CL running through the rain, was

Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery in Richmand, MA. They're primarily an orchard, selling apples and two varieties of hard cider. They also make several wines from Long Island grapes.

I figured a large percentage of my readers (like, maybe 1 or 2) would appreciate this aspect of Hilltop Orchards.

This is just a random sign we drove by, and I kinda liked it.

Final stop was Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY. The grape vines in the background are Seyval Blanc, one of my favorites.

This is Carlo DeVito, the owner of the winery. He did the tastings, and we had a very enjoyable afternoon with him.

Welcome Angstrom

Not a trip for us, but a major arrival for Angstrom Lewis Sharrard, son of Jesse and Aurora. He was born on Tuesday, July 20, at 3 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and measured 21.75 inches long.

The first three pictures were provided by the proud parents. We hope to visit them soon, and, when we do, I'll add my own.

This fourth picture is not of Angstrom, but is another from the archives. It's Jesse at the same age. We think there's a definite resemblance.

Little Alum Pond

Our friends Molly and Al have a summer place on Little Alum Pond in Brimfield, MA. They invited us out yesterday afternoon to escape the heat. It's 10 to 15 degrees cooler there than in Springfield, and even cooler than that in the water. Here are CL and Molly and a view of the lake from their dock.

More Maggie

This, from the archives, is of Maggie's Aunt Jo taken at a slightly younger age.

And a couple Cambridge flowers.

Farmers' Market

We went to our local farmers' market today, the first time this year with a wide selection of produce. We came home with milk, hot italian sausage, kale, beets (with their greens), yellow cherry tomatoes, corn, zucchini, and kettle corn. Dinner tonight was beans and greens (kale) and corn on the cob, washed down with a relatively local wine, Ballet of Angels from Sharpe Hill Vineyard. It was a great meal.

Home

We're home. The lawn was brown, but somehow the hydrangeas did OK.

Yesterday's trip was uneventful. We filled Mr. Toad when we left home, then somehow all that plus 2 1/4 cases of wine, 1/2 case soda, 6 beers, 13 packages of coffee, 8 cans of vegetables, an umbrella stroller, a Pack & Play, a Maggie-sized beach chair, a couple Maggie indoor toys, a few Maggie beach toys, and a few books fit back into it. Rear visibility was limited, and rear suspension travel was short, but we made it home in less than 10 hours.

Outer Banks Day 13

Jeremy, Amanda, and Maggie left just after lunch; Jo, a couple hours later. Alone, and lonely, we did a little shopping and wandered through Manteo, where I spotted these kayaks.

Dinner was take-out from the Food Dudes Kitchen -- blackened tuna topped with lump crabmeat and avocado, with beans and rice. Not bad.

Outer Banks Day 12 Evening

On Friday night, we went out to the Collington Cafe again, this time with Jo, Jeremy, Amanda, and Maggie. Before dinner, since everyone was clean and dressed at the same time, I took a few pictures of Maggie and her fans.

For dinner, Maggie started out by inhaling a dinner roll, continued by grazing through a selection of foods brought from home,
and finished up by attacking Jeremy's chocolate cake with raspberry sauce.

And, finally, a few post-dinner pictures, including one of Mr. Toad, who has been feeling neglected this week.

Outer Banks Day 12 Afternoon

Jo and Maggie went for a walk; well, at least Jo walked. Then Maggie tried out the water.

When it was time to return to our base camp, she decided she'd try some walking for herself,
and when she got tired, she struck a classic bathing beauty pose.

Outer Banks Day 12 Morning

It rained early this a.m., so, for once, I was able to get to the beach before it became crowded. CL and I went for a walk, and I took a few pictures.

Outer Banks Day 11

More beach time this morning for CL and Maggie.

Today she decided she deserved a full-sized beach chair.

This afternoon was not as hot as it's been, but nowhere near as cool as this would indicate.

Maggie tried out the kiddie pool after her nap.

Jo found a recipe for a bean salad with shrimp, so I put a bunch of them on the barbie (plus one hamburg for Maggie).