And we're off!

Off to PEI in about five hours - just finishing up packing.  I'll still be taking my photo a day up there, but probably won't be posting them every single day.  See you in August!

Sissas

This was taken at the tail end of our evening last night, but since it was past midnight, it totally counts.  Love my big sis.

P.S.  Yes, I know we look nothing alike.

P.P.S.  No, we aren't on vacation at the beach yet.  This was at Sunset Tiki Bar at Nashoba Valley.

Idyllic

Quilts for camp lunch in front of a 1710 house. What are YOU doing @ work right now?

Sail Away with Me

The main sail of the gundalow Piscataqua, during our trip on the river today.  Rough life, huh?

More than Halfway

OK, more than halfway through this crazy workweek!  And I got to spend almost two hours down on the Merrimack River today, taking my summer camp kids fishing.  I really wanted to post a photo of one of the little girls posing with her bass and a grin, but I felt creepy posting photos of other people's kids (that doesn't apply to the Things, of course!).

Instead, I Instagram'd this shot of the river, looking upstream and the following conversation ensued:roguestell

roguestellaWhere I was around noon today (whilst at work). :)

• (college friend)You always seem to go to such nice places whilst at work!
• roguestellaThat's very true! The perks of museum and historic site work. :)

Earned Rest

Ten hour workday, plus normal 1.5 hour round trip commute?  I was in this hammock the second I left the car (didn't even go inside first).  One more day down and "this time next week," I might still be up reading in our little front bedroom after our second day on the Island.

Week from H-E-Double Hockeysticks

So this last week before my vacation is going to be chaotic - in part because I'm getting everything ready to go on vacation and in part because I just have a lot scheduled.  I'm at the end of a 13+ hour day today and I have at least 45 more hours of work before quittin' time on Friday.

I think I can make it through to the other side - I just have to keep choosing lovely views like the one above for my infrequent breaks and I have to keep reciting the following mantra:  "this time next week."  Because, as I started my hour-long journey home from work at 9pm, with sleepy eyes and a broken phone*, I had to think of how things will be much better then.  This time next week, I'll be snoozing in the front bedroom of our summer cottage on PEI, the window thrown open to the fresh sea breeze and three weeks of vacation ahead of me.  Now, that's a carrot to get me through this week!


*which my amazing husband fixed when I got home, after we ate the quiche he made.  I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

The Life

Not a bad childhood when your summer Sunday includes pancakes for breakfast, a soak in the hot tub, a leisurely afternoon floating in the lake, and supper at a lakeside restaurant.  Not a bad adulthood, either.

Lovey

This one, man.  He's growing up so fast, but is still one of the sweetest things I've ever met.  I asked him to smile and he kinda half-assed it.  Then, I asked him to really smile for Auntie and this cuteness is what I got.

Fire!

The fire pit at our friends' house tonight.  So lovely to hang with old friends and their beaux.  Also - I've been re-reading some of the Anne of Green Gables series (in preparation for our trip to PEI) and that word (beaux) totally needs a resurrection.

Boom!

Enjoyed the local fireworks this evening.

Carnivale!

Like a couple of teenagers, we walked to the town carnival tonight and partook of fried dough, cotton candy, caramel apples, and rides.  Like a couple of old folks, we clutched our pockets, screamed, and got nauseous during the wilder rides.  And like a couple of ducks (I guess?), we waddled home in the rain.

Natural Lace

Technically, I took this photo before I went to bed last night, but since it was after midnight, it totally counts for today's image.  On our bike ride, we ran into a large clump on Queen Anne's lace and clover.  I love Queen Anne's lace (even had some in my wedding bouquet!), so we picked enough to fill my bike basket.  Put it into a collection of small vases when we got home and this one is by my bedside.

I usually pick wildflowers when I have time to, on vacation on PEI (just 11 days until we leave!).  It was really nice to be able to take the time to pick wildflowers on a weeknight at home.

Melange

A mix of images from this evening.  From left clockwise:

• the shadow of our tomato plants & cages on the foundation of our house
• a very calm evening on the reservoir down the street
• Queen Anne's lace & clover in my bike basket

Not a bad collection of images for a Monday night.

Screened

I love the view from this screen porch (any screen porch, really).  There's a lovely lake view to the left, but this angle through the top windows and up into the pine trees is timeless and wonderful.