Okay, so I have to take back everything I said about that mother robin---here's what's happening in the nest these days---she's taking wonderful care of these guys!----for all you mothers and fathers out there---doesn't this photo just kindof epitomize PARENTING?????

well, here it is August, and we have a robin laying eggs in a nest outside our kitchen window! Pete noticed her there in the hanging plant a few days ago, and she now has two eggs....we've blocked off the window from inside (with a little hole for us to peek through!) so as not to disturb her too much, but we're wondering if maybe this bird is a little challenged in the nesting/parenting department---isn't it a little late in the season for this? and she's really not all that protected from the elements here.....
we'll see what happens!

Pedro and I went for a hike in the White Mountains last Thursday. He had a specific hike in mind, that he'd taken with a friend a couple of years ago, and he particularly wanted to share the view and ambient sounds he remembered from that early morning outing....
So, we got up at 4am, and hit the road at 4:30---got to the trailhead by 6:30, and planned to hike an hour or so each way, and be home before noon.
Unfortunately, when we looked at the trailmap, Pete couldn't quite remember which trail they'd been on---as fate would have it, we guessed wrong, and six hours later, finally staggered back into the parking lot!!! it truly was a lovely hike, and we had lots of fun, but we never did find the beautiful view Pete had remembered, and BOY, WERE WE TIRED!!!! here is a photo of the mountain stream we spent most of our time hiking along....it was amazingly clear, and stunningly cold----we definitely cooled our feet in it!

Here's a shot of my deck the way I love it the most....on warm summer nights, with my paper lanterns and candles giving just enough light---one night, I got up around 2 in the morning, and just couldn't get back to sleep---I got up to get a drink, and just happened to look out at my deck--the lights were so inviting, that I just tiptoed out and sat down. The temperature was absolutely perfect, with just the tiniest breeze---crickets and treefrogs making a little bit of noise, but absolutely no mosquitoes!--I sat, and breathed in the summer night air, and listened to the noises (and wondered if ANYONE was going to happen by and wonder what I was doing on my deck in my nightie at 2am?)---and thought about life, the universe, and everything....for an hour or so, until I was sleepy enough to go back to bed!---nice memory....

While Emma was home this summer she made some lovely little paintings--I wish i could have kept all of them!--she did leave a few behind, and I keep telling myself I have to get them framed....











I really liked this process she came up with---creating a textured surface w/ gesso, and then using watercolor to complete the landscape---cool, eh? but these got given away before I could get my hands on them! Thankfully, she took some pictures--which don't do them justice, but still....I love seeing this daughter, who's been creating artwork since she could pick up a pencil, continuing to develop---I just love her stuff!---if you want to see more, go to her facebook page (I don't think you have to be a member just to look) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/ecillustration?ref=ts

Pete's been busy this summer doing stonework---this is the retaining wall he built to protect the back and corner of the house from flood erosion---he really enjoyed this project!--now every time he sees a wall built of similar concrete blocks, he says--look!--there's a wall like mine!
until now, I guess I didn't know how many concrete retaining walls were out there....

Horse Show Again

well, it's been several years since I've stood amongst the horses, trailers, kids, grownups, mud, hay,.......and watched Emma at a horse show! This afternoon Pete and I headed over to UNH to see her ride the horse she's leasing from a friend---first was the dressage (judging the control and communication a rider has with her horse)---Autumn (the horse) didn't distinguish herself here, but Emma did a good job getting her back on task when she misbehaved, and we found out later that this was the very first time Autumn has ever done this---so, it really wasn't that bad! (altho' it did land her in last place in her division.....)

a couple of hours later, Emma and Autumn did the jumping part of the competition---I guess Autumn was pretty awful during her warmups, but when she came out on the course, she did a great job---Emma did a great job, too---there were a couple of times that you could tell Autumn was considering stopping at a jump, but Emma kept her right on task!---

and when all was said and done, that part of things brought them up to second place, and they went home with the red ribbon!---you can tell Emma was really happy with the way things turned out

Spring Chicks

We've got some new additions to the Armstrong family!
33 little broiler chicks arrived on Friday night----I'm listening to them talk to one another right now....it's this constant little murmering peeeeping....I love the sound of it.
Phyllis and I got talking a couple of weeks ago, about how we were having more and more trouble using meat that's been raised and processed in ways that we just can't square with our conciences (sp?) anymore...anyway, that led to a plan---we'd grow our own---I've got them in my living room while they're chicks, and she's building a coop and yard for them when they're ready to graduate to a bigger place!----we'll see how this all works out!

Floodzone

well, it's been quite a spring---between the last week in February and the last week in March, we had three major flood events that drove me out of the house and off to stay with friends until the septic system became functional again! (Pete and Andy toughed it out for the first and the last flood, but even they gave up when it became necessary to canoe in and out of the house during flood #2......I know that there are lots of discussions out there about global warming---whether it exists, and what, if any its consequences are----for people like us, who live in marginal, vulnerable areas, there's no question anymore----something big is happening---it's not that it feels significantly warmer--but the weather patterns are certainly changing, and becoming more extreme----we've just had 3 100-yr. floods in the space of a month......

as much as I've treasured our time here on the river, I think this has finally broken my spirit---I've had it.....this past Thursday I sat down and talked with a realtor about selling.....

we'll see what happens with that...

here are a couple of pictures that I took during the first flood, in February---it's kindof hard to get a sense of what's going on---but you can see our our living room window here---usually you'd be seeing our backyard--instead it's all water!---that little stick you see poking up out of the water is actually a tiny tree that grows on what is usually the bank overlooking the river---it's about 2 feet underwater here---the next flood it was pretty much underwater all the way...

looking out the other way, toward the road, you can see where someone sloshed through the icy water, making a path out to the cars---in the next flood, the swamp on the other side of the road rose up and over---and the driveway was completely underwater---no sloshing through the water at that point, just step off the edge of the deck into the canoe, which is tied to a tree onshore, and pull it hand over hand to get to the road.....bleauhhhh

good news, tho'---the deck that Noah built for us withstood the currents really well---the stones we piled all around the supports, and underneath the deck really kept erosion to a bare minimum.....

Just wanted to note: Andy drove us to and from church today!----He's doing a great job of learning to drive and learning the ins and outs of a stickshift at the same time---it's been a little tough on my nerves, and he's doing really well at not taking it personally when I flinch, say"STOP"!!!, put my foot on my imaginary brake, and slide down in my seat while covering my eyes......I think we're going to live through this.....

Here's a picture that Pete took at a recent indoor track meet---there's Andy, our runner!--not sure if it's before the race or after, but he sure has grown up, hasn't he?---he finally let Emma give him a haircut a little while ago--so now we can see his eyes a little more often----he's a wonderful kid...














Here's an action-shot from a cross-country meet this fall---it's really amazing to us how completely Andy has embraced the running---he regularly puts in 6-8 mile runs, often riding his bike in to town (5 miles) to show up to practice, where he'll run 5 or 6 miles, and then bike home!...oh, and in case I would EVER FORGET---his coach awarded him the Most Improved Runner Award for 2009---he had taken over 6 minutes off his 5K time!---
Yay, Andy!!!

Ice in our Backyard!!

Here's the Lamprey River--the top photo is looking downstream, the bottom one is looking upstream--we're having the best skating in years.....Pedro and I were out yesterday, exploring--we can skate all the way up to the rapids, which is at least a quarter of a mile away--I think it's probably close to a half-mile trek--it's so much fun!--there are times when it's such a treat to live on the banks of a river---we just wear our slippers out to where we've put a bench out on the ice, lace up our skates, and we're good to go!---it's been so cold that the ice is plenty thick everywhere---and you can see that Sadie likes to come out on the ice, too!----here I am, skating back to the bench--there's the house---we really are skating in the backyard!!!

I took Sadie out for her walk one morning--it was early December, I think---and when I saw this view of a nearby farm from the back, I just had to go back and get my camera---I've taken this walk SO MANY times over the years, with little children, with friends, with dogs, and by myself---but I always love this view--I look forward to it, and stop and savor it every time....---on this early morning walk, the bank of clouds was just lifting itself enough to reveal a tiny strip of blue sky....over the years, I've sworn to myself that someday, I'm going to set up an easel and paint this spot, but on this morning I thought---maybe it's time I at least take a picture---who knows if I'll ever get around to painting???
....and here's Sadie herself---my early-morning-walking companion---doesn't she look heroic?