Skip to main content

Week 5



On Saturday morning, J and her Dad left for Maryland. The 9 to 10 hour drive would take them out of Vermont, through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey! They touched on New York so lightly, that the best photo I got was captioned "There's the Empire State Building in the back!" Four days away from the rest of us was interesting... E helped me man the house - one of our biggest challenges being keeping everyone well fed, since the Chef was away. Meanwhile, the road-trippers were checking out the local sites and tasting the local fare. We were only too happy to welcome them back on Tuesday at lunch time - which the Chef prepared, of course!


Exploring Lost Pond River

"Look Ma, Empire State Building!"


We enjoyed a visit to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) on Monday afternoon. We arrived just in time for the Predators of the Sky show, then walked through a Dinosaur Exhibit and almost literally flew past some Raptor Enclosures to get back to the car and keep tired Baby from mowing people down with her pram. The grounds are every bit the leafy reserve you would wish for the rehabilitation of rescued birds - that they offer there. The indoor and outdoor facilities make for an fun outing for all ages. I hope we get to go back again (with J) and to see some more of the centre. I won't lie, I was very glad to miss the Reptile Encounter show. Happy to wait in the car until that's over!

The famous bald eagle

Dinosaur conversations

Excavating - sand and dinosaurs - kids' dream stuff

In our quest to kill time as we waited for the travellers to return, we did our best to be ready and at the Library for 10:00 Story Hour on Tuesday. The children enjoyed 5 stories about summer and swimming, followed by games and a craft and then ...dum dum dum... a snack. A favourite phrase to use around these parts. If the stories, game and craft hadn't convinced my son to come again sometime, those choc chip cookies sure did! We met Mr Fish and his daughter as well - he sat at our table and E helped him colour in his page and handle his snack. What a gent. So proud.

Not keen on a Rice Krispie treat - thank heavens!!


Giving a helping hand

Since the weekend, we've also enjoyed cooler weather on some days and nights. And then some days, the temp is high but we've got threatening storms. Too hot to stay inside. Too dangerous to head outside! You just don't win. Last night there were thunderstorm alerts going off on the TV but nothing too close to our end. Turns out, the rain didn't even hit us last night and this morning when the heat did, we ventured down to the Gorge for a swim. Some people are still fortunate to be sleeping that outing off! 


Our cake of the week is a rainbow sprinkle vanilla cupcake, prepared for Didi and Dale's 51st wedding anniversary. Under strict instruction from the Chef, I was not to attempt the 'wedding style' celebration cake alone. So we settled for yummy cupcakes instead! I do hope Chef whips up that other creation before their 52nd! 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The week that has been...

"Life as we see it", right? My time so far at the cycle tour office is reminding me of just how demanding life in this age can be - a time seeking instant solution and gratification: We want it now! We won't wait! This is what makes a relaxing, easy going activity seem so rewarding! We've always been fortunate enough to cook with pleasure - obviously more for mine! And since returning from BA, we've also found great enjoyment from leisurely strolls in the neighbourhood or at Sea Point promenade. Take time for this! Here's what we've been a part of this past week: We were encouraged to see a group of students from Bishops come out (even in the rain) and join with the FBC team in painting a mural on the school's new diningroom and kitchen wall. For news and updates visit: http://www.fbcschool.org.za/ We joined over 15 000 walkers in a quest to feed the hungry children in the Western Cape, by participaing in the Blisters for Bread walk on Sunday. We tackl...
1 comment
Read more

Happy 4th birthday, Jorja

An extract from Jorja's journal: My dear Girl In just a few hours we will celebrate you: Your life, your voice, your faces, your feelings, your character and your childhood. We are far from home, but still find ourselves surrounded by family who love you. Your cousins, great Aunts and Uncles are getting to know you now and there's no doubt that they'll never be the same again! This year, instead of the usual party in Cape Town, by God's grace we're on a family holiday overseas. What a way to start! Whether we dress up, or go out, bake a cake or sing happy birthday to you every hour on the hour, this will be a truly memorable day. Every year at this time, I think back to the days leading up to and eventually your birthday on 5 June 2009. I'll never forget the entry you made nor the way I felt when I first realized that the little baby girl I held in my arms was real. Our gift. Each birthday comes around so quickly and by then you've grown so m...
3 comments
Read more

Week 22

In no apparent order, some of the highlights of the last week have been: Carolling around a log fire with a Yankee Swap, cookies, coffee and new friends Last Friday evening we set off for somewhere near Norwich for our Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) Christmas party. As visitors to the church, there's already an element of insecurity...now to be heading into someone's home, as Dear Husband would say, "socially awkward levels were at an all time high" - Was the gifts we brought to swap suitable? What was a Yankee Swap anyways? Could you bring something besides sugar cookies to share? Do you have to take off your shoes at the front door? Are you allowed to park people in when the alternative is further up an un-lit, ice covered hill? There were so many unknowns! But once I saw the wood burning in the fireplace I relaxed a lot . Yankee swap was fun! DH was no. 2 to pick a gift, and landed a torch  umm...flashlight, as the locals call it , and it looked as though h...
1 comment
Read more