War of the Paint Colors

Because it's cold in New England for much of the year, when we moved into this place, we painted our walls golden yellow throughout the house. It sort of glows, even in winter light, and the paint color is even called "summer heat."

Except in the boys room: I conceded to painting their walls lime green.

In August, however, we did a big "room swap" at our place so that the boys could each have their own rooms. Casey now has the former office, Beau has the room Britt and I used to have, and Britt and I have the boys' former room.

We weren't even done swapping furniture when the kids were asking if they could paint their rooms new colors. I'm not so keen on that, but they've kept at it -- especially Beau who wants blue walls. If he could have it his way: dark blue.

I'm not convinced. Beau, however, is not deterred. I came home one night to find him making a cardboard mock-up of what his room would look like with blue walls. (I guess he thought I couldn't picture it??)



I give him points for trying.

But for now, I've established that, except for painting the lime green walls in the room that Britt and I now have, there will be no bedroom painting before next spring. (I'm determined that by February, they'll see the beauty of the glowing, sunny yellow walls during the dark and bitter winter.)

Homemade Pasta

Last night, for something to do that was hands-on and non-screen-viewing-related, the kids and I made homemade pasta for dinner. (Well, we looked up the recipe on the Web...)

First, mix the dough:

Then, knead it and roll it:

Cut it:

Dry it while you roll and cut the rest of the dough:

Cook it:

Eat and enjoy!

Warm Welcome

Casey was glad when last week the neighbors finally got home from their summer in Maine. He left a welcome home note taped to their door:

It says:

"Welcome home Wendy, Suzanne, Apu, Gus, Finn, Doley, Oscar, Felix, and Huey."
(Wendy and Suzanne are the human neighbors; the rest are dogs and cats.)

"Treats for everyone!!!!!"
(Casey left them homemade cookies, plus some dog and cat treats.)

The last bit says:

"Dear Apu, Welcome home. I'm so glad you're home because I have a dog friend again. Your friend, Arnold."

Apu is another Australian Terrier. They're from the same kennel and are related somehow. And Arnonld is, indeed, glad that the neighbor dogs (Apu and the others) are home again.

Mountain Man

Fresh on the heels of the scout trip, on Wednesday the 7th and 8th graders at Beau's school climbed Mount Mondanock in NH. It's 3,000+ feet high and the second most frequently climbed mountain in the world (right after Mt. Fuji).

Backpacking in VT (or not)

Last weekend Britt and Beau went on a backpacking trip in Vermont with the scouts. They actually didn't make it to the wilderness site because some of the kids were struggling in the cold and wet and mud, so to be on the safe side, the group turned back and camped at a regular campground then those who were up for it did some more day hiking the next day.

It was Beau's first actual backpacking trip, that is, he carried not only his personal gear, but also sleeping gear, tent, share of food, etc.

He wasn't the trip youth leader, but he is a patrol leader, so here he is at the departure rendezvous point conferring with the adult trip leader about what needs to be done.

Group picture from Day #2.

Apparently, Beau's patrol could be called the curly-haired kid patrol.

Here's the vista from Day #2.

Hey Presto

So, it turns out, Britt has a passel of relatives in CT. In the photo above, in the back row, beginning with the woman to the far left and going all the way across to he guy in the striped shirt, Britt is related to them ALL. Plus, of course, Beau and Casey, and also to the little girl in the front row.

Back row (L-R): Bernie, Bonnie, Frances, Betheny, Allison, Britt, Bill, Dylan, Nate, Lisa, Marjorie.
Front row (L-R): Megan, Casey, Beau, Chelsea

Thanks Frances!

Apple Season

This weekend Aunt Frances was back in town. After the usual Saturday morning kid activities, we all piled into the car and drove out to the apple orchard.

And we picked a bag of apples in no time.

Sunday morning we made apple pies.

Then took the pies on an outing to Connecticut. But that's another post.

Hit the Ground Running

It wasn't enough that school started Tuesday along with the usual start-up for assorted activities such as hockey, soccer, and scouts, but Beau was also busy preparing for the first scout trip of the year and Casey was tapped to play for the West Cambridge team in the citywide All-Star baseball tournament...

So, last weekend, Beau (and Britt) climbed Mount Washington (elevation 6,288 feet).



And Casey's team won the city All-Star game.

End of Summer

So...at last report the kids were just finishing the school year. We started off the summer with a summer-solstice-weekend trip to our favorite campground at Tully Lake... and then a whole lot of other things happened and suddenly it was the end of summer and we went back to Tully Lake to mark the end of school vacation (and give us something to do besides sit at home and fret over the impending transition).

Here are the photos from our Labor Day weekend trip to TL:

The view from our lakeside campsite.

Beau and Casey with our neighbors and camping partners David and Gabe -- sitting around the campfire playing D&D.

But they didn't just play D&D. Here they are taking themselves out in the canoe.

Arnold likes camping and canoeing too!

Casey and a painted turtle.

We got home Monday early evening, unpacked, cleaned everyone up, and next morning:

Homemade Treats

Back in May Aunt Carrie sent us a package that included some homemade treats -- including homemade marshmallows. The kids were impressed that marshmallows could be made at home. Plus, they tasted pretty good.


So this year for end-of-year teacher gifts, we made batches of ... yep ... Marshmallows!

Sorry, but there are no photos of the softened gelatin or the boiling hot sugar syrup or the miraculous cloud of fluff produced when the two are whipped together. But after it's spread in a pan and allowed to cool and dry a bit overnight, the fluff becomes a lovely spongy slab of marshmallow that then has to be cut. A pizza cutter works pretty well for this.



The result is charming, yummy, irregularly shaped marshmallows.


We packaged ours with sleeves of graham crackers and several Hershey bars.


With a thank-you note stapled to the outside, Casey had teacher gifts for the last day of school.

Pampered Pooch

Though he is allowed on the furniture, Arnold generally prefers to nap on the floor.

But he insists on having a pillow.

What Did You Do Last Weekend?

I went white-water rafting with Beau and his Boy Scout Troop.

Good Dog

I don't mind having a dog. He's good company and good natured and patient and (being a terrier) doesn't shed. But ... he does smell like a dog ... So he's had to endure a few baths. He doesn't really like having a bath, but, like I said, he's good natured.

(Here he is: freshly bathed and wrapped in Beau's old baby towel.)

Spirit Week at Beau's School

This week was "Spirit Week" at Beau's school, and each day was a dress up day. Beau was an enthusiastic participant.

Monday was Dress Your Best Day:

Tuesday was Dress As Your Favorite Book Character Day:

(He's Gandolf the White.)

Wednesday was Crazy-Mixed-Up-Clothes Day:

Thursday was Crazy Hat Day:

(Beau embellished a silly foam fish cap with switches to make it light up, buzz, and spin a fan.)

Friday was School Pride Day:

He deserves an award for most-spirited family member...

SPRING!

Spring has arrived.

On Saturday it finally warmed up here, and the trees burst into bloom. Seriously. On Friday, the cherry tree had bare branches. By Sunday morning the view out our bedroom window was this:

While working in the yard this weekend, the neighbor's cat found a snake, which we rescued. Usually, we find brown snakes. This snake is a garter snake.


It actually bit Casey, so Casey prudently put on gloves when it was time to release the snake (back into the ivy where the cat probably found it again...)


Later in the weekend, the kids had their last pre-season baseball practice before the opening game on Monday (which they won).


And on Saturday, we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. I cadged a last-minute reservation, and we had dinner at a new-ish restaurant in Cambridge.