Kira and Chapin...The are BCFF!

Chapin and Kira are two peas in a pod...They truly enjoy being around each other.  Kira is so calm with Chapin's shenanigans and has a way of grounding the little man!  We miss you Kira already!   We has fun skiing, walking, talking, reading, biking, sleeping, play watching, eating, and smiling with you. Love...Cant wait to see you next year. 

Summer Trip - Stage 1...Driving to Wisco

Beautiful Lake Michigan

Chapin's 2nd cousin Bri helping him ride her horse Beauty.

Visit to Tommy Bartlett's

Friend Danielle who I skied with 18 years back...She is back this year "livin the dream."

In the stands waiting for show to start.

Chapin loving the action...

Chapin's favorite part...The rocket ship that he thought was going to take off into space.  Truly he thought that!

Ski jumpers coming out of the shuttle.

Good Bye shuttle.

Ballet line...

Our summer vacation this year consisted of an extended trip to Wisconsin to visit my family and then from Wisconsin to Connecticut for a visit with Jon's family.  Import note...We drove!  Plans had us leaving on Friday, July 8th and then at 6pm on 7th Jon announced he would like to leave that evening.  Crazy!!  We did and Chapin and I slept a good chunk of the evening in the car.  We didn't even wake to here him get gas in the middle of the night.

Our first stop was a break for Jon and breakfast on Lake Michagin.  It was so beautiful.  The lake was pristine and the sky was so blue.   It was almost magical or maybe we were just tired!  Then off to spend the evening with my cousin Tina in Janesville, WI.  We had a great time catching up and received a well rested sleep that evening.  Next onto Wisconsin Dells for a trip down memory lane.  I was a professional water skiing there in college almost twenty years back.  FYI, That saying "twenty years back" resonates this feeling of being old.  Chapin adored the show and loved to hang out at the dock, while I caught up with old friends telling stories of years past.  Plans for a  reunion next year may be in the mix, so that should be a lot of fun.

Stay tune for a couple more updates on the rest of the trip.   

harvest...

Harvest needs to happen before we leave for our vacation to Wisconsin.  It is a good motivator, but it is just crazy around here. 

Cutting back the scape of the garlic to make pesto and then dig up the garlic...

Scape and cucumbers.  Cucumbers are coming in loads.  Wouldn't you know it, they didn't do well the last few years and now we are leaving and I will miss making pickles out of them.  Oh well, hopefully more continue on when we return.

Scapes, walnuts, olive oil and Parmesan cheese...This stuff is great!

Lavender drying...Thankfully, I was able to sell some at market with my friend Geo who is a vendor there. 

Pre-harvest...FYI, it must be done so we will see a second bloom in towards the end of summer.

Broccoli...It really is the best.  If you have never had it straight from the garden you don't know what your are missing.  Chapin says he will never eat store broccoli again.  To bad it doesn't grow all season long for Chapin ate a whole head the other day!

Little froggies...Little guitar...

Check out the little frogs Chapin found in the side flower beds.  There was three but the third hopped away!

Chapin learning a little guitar from his Daddy the other night on the front porch.  Ahhh...Summer is good!