Shakedown!

At the last minute, the kids and I joined in the scouts' "shakedown" backpacking trip last week. The "shakedown" is the practice trip for the scouts going to the national camp this summer for a 10-day, 70-mile backpacking trip. Beau is a wee bit too young to attend the national camp, so he wasn't originally scheduled to do the shakedown, but because two of the four trip leaders were delayed in Europe (b/c of the volcano eruption), I went along to help out. And brought the kids along.

First order of business was to hang the "bear bags." Not only was this practice, but there are, in fact, bears in up state NY.

Dinner was re-hydrated backpacking meals.

The de-hydrated apple cobbler that Britt sent along for us was a big hit! It became the communal dessert.

Next morning it was foggy and atmospheric.

Casey and Beau were eager hikers.

Here's the group ready to hit the trail.

Setting off.

Stream crossing.

Lake-side lunch.

Kids and I hiked only one day. Here we are hiking out to head home.

It was a successful and fun outing.

Our Prospective New Pet

We haven't been actively looking for a new pet cat, but a friend reported that the city's animal control staff had rescued and was fostering a mama cat and two kittens, and that while the kittens had already found prospective homes, mama was still in need of adoption.

After first taking a look at her myself to gauge her suitability, I took the kids to meet and assess her. The boys gave her a "thumbs up," so once she's spayed, she can come home with us.

She's calico, about a year old, and was found during the March rainstorms -- dirty and rail-thin with two kittens living under a barbecue grill cover.

We're still pondering names.

April 25, 2010!

Today our marriage is old enough to vote. Happy 18th anniversay to us.

Scout Watershed Conservation Project

In March, Beau's scout troop/crew went to Cape Cod to help with a watershed conservation project. Ultimate goal is to revive a saltwater marshland and restore herring spawning grounds. Our portion of the project, however, was brush removal. We cut and piled a swath about a football field in length.

Here you see the brush and the path we cut (plus two hard-working scouts!).

Crew returning to the transportation drop at the end of the day.

During the day, we had many interpretive talks. This is the watershed expert at the mouth of the river showing us the dam that keeps most of the sea water from flowing into the marshland.

Best of all, we got to stay in an old Coast Guard station, right on the beach in Eastham.

Here's the station.

Here's the view from the front porch.

Saturday night we had a campfire on the beach. And roasted marshmallows.

Birthday Party

We had a birthday party for Casey on the Sunday after his birthday. We finally wised up and paid for a venue, in this case the bowling alley. Kept 'em busy and they all seemed to have a good time.