Niece Cuteness

With all of us spread around the country it's rare for the three of us siblings to be in the same place at the same time. The stars aligned this past weekend and though it was a short visit for me and Simon, it was great to get some time with my bros, nieces, parents and extended family. I didn't get snaps of everyone but Claire and I took a selfie, which takes the favorite moment cake for me. Hard to believe she turns 4 tomorrow and even more difficult to believe my older brother turns 50 today. HAHAHAHA!!! Happy birthday you two!

Scenes From The Weekend

Best weekend ever! My good friend Sharon (we met in second grade) and her husband Garrett flew up from Florida to sample all NH has to offer. We relaxed at the lake for the majority of the weekend but snuck out early Sunday afternoon for a drive up the Maine coast, savoring some delicious seafood in Ogunquit, meandering along a cliffside walk, taking squinty photos at the Nubble Lighthouse, then critiquing multi-million dollar homes on a scenic ride back to Portsmouth.

While it's always hard to drag ourselves away from the lake during a sunny afternoon, jaunting off to the oceanside was a breath of fresh air. It's a unique situation to be able to enjoy lake life but also have quick access to the sea. It was nice to take advantage of both enivrons and even nicer to spend the time with these two.

A Poem For The Weekend

A Dog By The Sea
David Salner

Just after dawn, we get up,
without coffee, and let the dog lead us
through a grove of wind-stunted trees,
spiked succulents, red-berried holly,
and over the dune ridge out of the gray
of still sleeping minds. A line of pink
from the not yet risen sun
reminds me of the lilac shadows
caught in the radial grooves of shells.
I take up your hand and feel the blood
warming your fingers, as the dog bounds off
dragging her leash through wet sand.
She's after gulls and a line of waves
that repeat themselves, she seems to think,
because they want to play.
                                          A morning breeze
stirs the now turning tide, breathing over it,
sighing toward bayside. As the waves come in
whorls of light unfold on the sand. How I want
for us to repeat ourselves, on and on,
you holding the leash of a silly dog, me
feeling the beat, the blood in your hand.

The Sunsets Of Vacation

We spent last week lazing in the sun, gaming on the deck, swimming and floating, eating deliciousness and enjoying the company of great friends. I realized that I didn't leave the lake once...arrived on Friday evening and departed for Portsmouth the following Sunday, not once getting into a car. Nearly every evening included a lovely sunset display, all pretty stunning and somehow different each night. That appears to be the only time I bothered to photograph the week so here's that.