sweet thing(s)

{this moment}

inspired by Soulemama's 'blog-along' Friday ritual:

from Soulemama:  {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember

Vermont

our two week trip to Vermont is coming to a close.  we spent a week at a lake house with the whole extended family (mom, stepmom, dad, stepdad, sister, me, the kids, and 4 dogs)  Then a few 'city' days with my dad and a few 'country' days with my mom.

some highlights:

:: canoeing and paddleboating on the lake

:: lots of delicious food including fresh corn almost every night!

:: dogs, dogs, and more dogs

:: grandparents x 4, auntie x 1

:: lakeside deck for relaxing, eating and watching sunsets

:: popsicles, ice cream, freezies, frozen yogurt tubes

:: the best lake beach i've ever seen

:: the Shelburne Museum, especially an amazing miniatures collection

:: starting to train for another 1/2 marathon!

:: The Smurfs and Winnie The Pooh, The Help

:: back-to-school and not-back-to-school shopping

:: going through all my boxes of old momentos and photos from the first 21 years of my life

:: throwing out most of it, bringing home one meaningful box

:: an amazing Thai massage (thanks Mom!  and Carrie!!)

:: my mom's lovely country pond and acreage

:: 'camping' with Nana on said acreage

:: reading in the hammock for two blissful hours (thanks again Mom!)

:: roasting marshmallows

:: great splashes in clear blue cold water

all in all- a lovely time!  i'm exhausted...  :)

before we went away...

we're in Vermont right now visiting my folks!

BUT before we went away....

:: lots of beach time

:: my eldest went on his first solo trip!!! to visit his Indiana grandparents (here he is when we picked him up at the airport)

:: and of course lots of trips to Centreville!

next post: from vermont!

the Island: Fire Parade

every year on the Island, our community celebrates with a homecoming weekend- Gala Weekend.  (i've written about it before here and here)  A fun-filled weekend of old friends and neighbours coming together, music, beer garden, midway games, baseball, soccer and bingo!   Gala Weekend is kicked off with the Fire Parade.  Another unusual Island tradition, we meet up at dusk- sometimes there's a little show with stilt walkers or other performers- and parade with lanterns through the streets of Ward's Island to the sounds of the Island band the Arythmics.  we end up on the beach with a bonfire and more drumming.  Here are some photos from this year's Fire Parade:

{this moment}

inspired by Soulemama's 'blog-along' Friday ritual:

from Soulemama:  {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember