A Cool Time Keeping Cool

I sometimes think about how dorky my grandkids will one day think I am for using titles like "A Cool Time Keeping Cool", but for now G.G. can do no wrong, so I'll enjoy it while I can.

Even Vermont was sweltering last week, but we did our best to keep cool with watermelon in the shade and lots of fans blowing.  It's better today, but it is summer after all, so the next onslaught of heat is just around the corner.

Let's be clear.  I do not complain about cold and snow so I feel entitled to b*tch a bit in the summer.

Anthony and I also made a trip to the Birds of Vermont Museum where he learned about writing poetry, similes, describing nature, etc.  We do love it there and, alas, they are closed in the winter.  It was a blast, as always.

Then we visited the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington to see a wonderful project by Alfred Holden:  Beyond Legos.  Also so return a library book I found while cleaning out bookshelves in preparation for listing our house for sale.  No, I don't make my grandson read atheist treatises, he's just holding it while I take the picture.

When I told Anthony where we were going he ad a hard time conceiving of a whole town built of cardboard and balsa wood, colored by hand.

 Built with his brother over 40 years ago, Alfred's description of their project is a must-read.  It reminds me of similar efforts (on a much smaller scale, of course) from my own childhood and especially the creations of my son Anthony.  We used to say he could go to his room with a wire coat hanger, glue and construction paper and be happy for hours.  Every day!  He's the only child I can ever recall who never, in his life, said he was bored.

I highly recommend a trip to see the Beyond Legos exhibit - only one more week!

Fourth of July

We spent a wonderful afternoon with Linda and Bill Post at their pot-luck pool party yesterday.

The pool was the perfect - I MEAN really perfect temperature - cold when you get in, just nice and cool the whole time - no blue lips, no feeling like you're in a warm bath.  I guess we can thank Vermont's coolish and rainy summer weather so far!

Well, the heat is here this week, but I won't complain since most of June was lovely, if rainy.

The food was just yummy.  There was lime BBQ shrimp, BBQ chicken, no mayo herb potato salad, Greek tomato salad, home made salsa and guacamole, delish Margaritas, West African spicy eggs (you have to see it), watermelon salad and strawberry pie!  I should have taken a picture of the food, but guess I'm on vacation.

Bathing beauties Kate and Julie and their S.O.s were there along with a few other old friends.

Linda had picked up some red, white and blue cupcakes from My Little Cupcake for Sandy's birthday, so on top of the aforementioned feast, we gorged on those, too.

After everyone else had left, Bill, Linda, Ed and I had a good game of Liverpool (our favorite card game, but you need at least three to play, so finding other players is a treat.)

More adventure:  before we went to bed we let the dogs out, as usual, to water the lawn.  Well, Rufus "caught" a skunk!  So, Ed was outside at midnight giving him a Skunk-Off shampoo and he had to sleep in the entryway (Rufus, not Ed.)  What we hope to remember about July 4 is the great party, not the stinky dog!

Camp Sunshine 2011

I can't speak personally about Anthony and Lucy's visit to Camp Sunshine in Sebago Lake, Maine because I wasn't there this year.  For the first time their Dad Chris was able to go so the whole family could experience the magic of this unbelievable camp.

A & L attended Solid Transplant Week and got to see their old summer friends and meet some new ones.  Favorite counselors Ben, Katherine, Kristin & Sumeeta were on hand to play, play and play some more, while Liz and Chris got to relax, hang out with grownups, swim, kayak and take the treetop ropes challenge.

Thanks to everyone who sent home photos, since I wasn't there in June to take my own!  Here's a great shot of the final evening Wish Boat launching.  I hope this family tradition will last for many more years.