Acadia 09

We'll be back to write more when the hiking isn't so good, or there isn't tidepooling, or bikeriding, or exploring...

In Season

Twelve pounds of future jam, pie, and sliced goodness...

... and proof that the rain has stopped at least once in the past two weeks for us to pick for a little while.

Not Scenic At All

Well, maybe just a little bit. Three weeks on the west coast of Ireland and in the Highlands of Scotland for a field geology course wraps up my international travel for the year with outstanding weather, great hiking, and fun students.

Black Cuillin, Skye

Landform, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh

Hiking up Conival, Highlands

Oystercatcher, Giant's Causeway

Summit of Slieve Commedagh, Mourne Mtns

Mother's Day

Last year, my Mother's Day gift was a new raised bed beneath the kitchen window. In the fall, we planted tulip bulbs and the girls have been eagerly awaiting the results. They're spectacular! We've been watching them for about a month now as the first shoots came up, leaves appeared, and the buds started to show. Since we ordered a mix, we had no idea which colors we had or what would come up.

They're vibrant colors, and such a pleasure to see coming up the street! We plan to put sunflowers in this bed again for the summer. Moriah is showing me her favorite (of the day) in the picture above.

Flowers are coming out all over the yard, and Bridget has been wearing as many as she can. Tucked into her hat, in chains for crowns or necklaces, and tucked into pockets as you can see on the front of her dress below. I think she has some ferns and some horsetails for good measure.

Happy Mother's Day, and happy spring!

Earth Day, belated

Above, at the top of Bauneg Beg Mtn, North Berwick on Earth Day. Below, some photos with forsythia from our spring break trip to Massachusetts.

Happy Easter

Moriah woke up extra early this morning, and this first thing we heard was "There's an Easter egg!" She managed to wait until Bridget woke up to find everything that was hidden inside, followed by happy exclamations about new socks. It's the little stuff!

We were busy dyeing our Easter eggs yesterday, and this morning some friends came over for breakfast and an extended outdoor egg hunt. Even the almost 10-year-old said it was a great hunt, so that's a success in my book.

Happy Easter!

Spring = Barefoot

Start Young

Despite a less-than-enthusiastic early response to the best winter outdoor furniture Maine has to offer, both girls now love digging their own snow seats. Top photo is winter of 2005, bottom photo is January 09. Moriah is on the left and Bridget on the right in both.

Much of the snow is gone at this point and we're busy looking for signs of spring - bulbs, mud, and more mud. All over clothes, preferably.

Can't Get Enough of Winter

It's official: these two are crazy for winter. Bridget (in the blue jacket above) is showing us her "scary" face, but she is actually pretty manic outside. Moriah can't stop grinning.

I was snowshoeing with my class last weekend, and Doug brought the girls partway up the mountain to meet us on the way down. I was surprised they had climbed up so far - almost to tree line. They gave my students a run for their money on the way down. Moriah led the pack for a while, with Bridget following behind yelling "Watch out! Get out of the way!" Doug said that the trip was in his Top 10 Parenting Experiences to Date. The girls were hilarious, they had a great time, and the students had a good time with them.

Sledding movies

Look out, Warren Miller.

Where I've Been and What I Missed

I was here (Gertrude's Saddle, overlooking Milford Sound, NZ):

I missed this (2 feet + snow in one storm):

We're taking advantage of the outstanding sledding conditions now that I'm home. Bridget (top) after a spectacular wipeout, and Moriah (bottom) going off the jump. This run in the front yard is pretty much perfect for four year-olds.

Still here!

Sledding, skiing, sliding, shoveling - we're outside as much as we can, keeping busy and staying warm. Classes have started and the girls are going to pre-K three mornings a week. They're in with a slightly older group ( just 4 and 5 year olds) and they're very excited about it.

In less than a week I'll be on a plane to New Zealand until the end of the month. I'm trying to squeeze in as much winter fun as I can before I go, in case there's a huge melt event while I'm gone. We'll put some outdoor pictures up soon! The sledding has been outrageously good; we regularly slide all the way across our front yard AND our neighbor's.

Cross-Country

Skiing has been an enormous hit with both girls this winter. Bridget and Moriah received x-c sets as a late birthday present, and they've been out on them almost every day since we got home from holiday travels. We're lucky to enjoy groomed trails right across town, orlooping through the yard if there's been fresh snow.

Bridget (top picture, purple pants) has taken off like a shot - she is definitely going for distance. Moriah (second picture, blue pants) really enjoys the hills and would be happy going up and down all afternoon. Both of them think falling down is extremely funny. I wish I felt that way - I've taken quite a few tumbles trying to help Moriah down some hills.

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year with a visit to friends and playing outside in spite of the cold (Moriah top, Bridget below). For all the fun that we've had in 2008, we are looking forward to the adventures awaiting us this year. We wish as much fun for all of you!

The girls show off their holiday spirit and decorated Christmas tree below. Our camera rested at home for our holiday tour to see family, but rest assured that this was the Best Christmas Yet. They are so lucky to spend time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Flurry of Activity

The middle of December is always busy as classes wrap up and the holiday season starts. We've had to get extra bundled up to enjoy wagon rides through town (above) and picking out this year's Christmas tree (below). The girls are literally brimming with excitement about Christmas. They wake up every morning absolutely full of energy, and keep on going through afternoons of sledding and late nights of parties. The hum is contagious!

Chester Greenwood

Even the school buses are wearing earmuffs! The annual parade celebrating one of the historic own celebrities brought us out on a brisk morning, even if we weren't sporting his invention. The girls had big smiles for nearly everyone going by, with the exception of the civil war reenactors who discharged their firearms right in front of us. The candy they collected more than made up for being briefly upset.

Think Spring

Bridget and her friend helped me plant dozens of tulip bulbs a few weeks ago, before the snow was on the ground. This raised bed faces south, and the wall behind helps it to warm up in the spring. We can't wait to see what comes up!

First Road Race

Despite chilling winds and overcast skies, the girls roared through their first road race on Saturday. They completed a one mile course, watched the start of the adult 5K, and celebrated with some hot chocolate! Both girls had a great time running. Whenever we got close to one of the university students monitoring the course, Moriah would say "I'm turning on my motor" and take off like a shot for 100 feet or so. Bridget ran a nice, steady pace throughout, and they finished together. Next year: Boston.

Leaves

Before all the rain this weekend, the girls had so much fun raking, running, throwing, and jumping in the leaves. They love to get buried, then leap out!