Scenes From The Weekend

We headed up to Round Pond Friday morning and both put in a solid day's worth of day job work before kicking back for Memorial Day Weekend (best remote office ever). Saturday and Sunday consisted of more projects including our first indoor paint job - a couple coats on the bathroom walls and ceiling. The paint's dinginess had been bothering Simon since we moved in two years ago so this task was long overdue. Even though we "changed" the color from white to white, the freshness made a big difference. Naturally, I took no photos.

A college friend ventured over from her family's place on Great East Lake (a large lake just a short walk away from our own) for dinner Sunday night followed by a Rangers loss to put them on the brink of playoff elimination (definitely the low point of an otherwise exceptional weekend). I took no photos of this either although I doubt anyone wants to see me pouting in my Rangers gear.

Monday brought more friends and relaxation. Despite the cloudiness, we finally put the boats on the water for a few quick paddles and some close encounters with the loons. They are enormous. Merwin-sized. Really incredible to see them up close. Delicious dinner, gaming, general laziness, ice cream and another canoe to finish off the night. Of course, I captured zero photos of these adventures. 

Instead I took yet another snapshot of the lake before we ventured south this morning. I have hundreds of these pictures and really, the lake doesn't exactly change much but I just couldn't resist trying to capture its early morning stillness and tranquility. Such a great spot.

How To Make "Birthday Signs"

If I remember correctly, "the birthday signs" originated for my mom's birthday many years ago. I would make 10-20 mini birthday posters and slap them on the walls for some cheery wishes spread throughout the house. Actually, I think she still has a few hanging in her closet from decades ago. Aww!

Now they are a bit more complicated. For starters, there are fewer and they each attempt to capture an interest or hobby of the recipient while incorporating a birthday wish. Planning and designing these things is seriously one of my favorite activities. I get to ponder the birthday boy or girl, thinking about their interests, their passions and their favorite things then figure out how to translate those onto a piece of paper. It's the closest I come to being creative and it really is a blast.

I only mention this because I really think anyone could do it! It's a fun way to honor a birthday and also a fun way to get in a little therapeutic crafting. Here's how it goes down. 

I start by making a list of things that the person likes, memories we have together, etc. For my mom, it would be tennis, bowling, flowers, her Grand-dog, and pancakes. For my friend Melissa, it was bunnies, her Siberian husky, bumblebees and owls while Simon was all about fantasy baseball, the Cardinals, the lake, Merwin and his stupid sunglasses. You get the picture.

I use regular old copy paper, construction paper, a good set of markers, and some glue. Sketch out the designs (don't hesitate to use the web to lend a hand...I'm not ashamed to trace some print outs or sometimes even incorporate the actual clip art onto the poster). Add some color and voila - birthday cheer! Might not be the most professional looking things, but I say it's the thoughtfulness that counts.

A Poem For A Tuesday

The Veil of May
W.S. Merwin

No more than a week and the leaves
have all come out on the ash trees
now they are more than half open
on the ancient walnuts standing
alone in the field reaching up
through the mute amazement of age
they have uncurled on the oaks from
hands small as the eyelids of birds
and the morning light shines through them
and waits while the hawthorn gleams white
against the green in the shadow
in a moment the river has
disappeared down in the valley
the curve of sky gliding slowly
from before not seeming to move
it will not be seen again now
a while from this place on the ridge
but over it the summer will
flow and not seem to be moving

Every change of every season for the vast majority of my adult years has taken me by surprise. You would think by now I would get how this works, but the suddenness of the shifts is always shocking. It seems like one minute my little bubble is encased in white coldness then in an instant, it's bursting at the seams with green. Winter to spring is always the most drastic and from Boston to Portsmouth then a bit farther north to the lake, it has been interesting to see the variations in when and how spring emerged. But now, everywhere and everything is ripe, green and full. I'm savoring it!

Future Gardener?

I doubt it, but last weekend we tackled our very first "gardening" project. Basically, my dad sent us some flowers he had lovingly grown from seeds and we re-potted them. I also stuck a few zinnias seeds in some soil and crossed my fingers. Hey, you have to start somewhere. I really had a fun time so maybe eventually, and against all odds, me and plants might actually begin to get along. 

We did the planting, moved everything back out onto the deck, and got the outdoors all prepped for summer. Despite the frigid water, we even took an spur of the moment dip in the lake. Heading up later today and hoping the flowers are still thriving!