July 11 - 19, Starting to emerge from Covid

   We finally got approval from the insurance company to fix the cracked headlight in the RV.  It amazes me that to fix a crack in the plastic cover over the headlight, it will cost $2,150.  I guess they need to swap out the entire headlight, not just replace the plastic cover.  Go figure.  However, the insurance company wanted a few more photos of the RV for their files -- a photo of the VIN number, the mileage and the outside of the RV.  So Peter and I drove out to Tamara's to take the photos and visit for a bit.  It was a nice excuse to get out there and see them.

   We noticed that on Thursday evenings, in the summer, the nearby town of Auburn holds free outdoor concerts at one of its parks.  So, we decided to go.  The park was really nice and very large.  A few unfortunate things, however:  we didn't care for the music the band played, and as it had recently rained, the grass and the ground was very wet.  But, it was a nice evening, and felt good to be sitting outdoors.  

    I finally finished my knitting project -- another baby blanket to donate to the NICU premie unit at UMASS Memorial, where I used to be a volunteer cuddler.  It takes me awhile, as I only knit a few rows a day.  But, I enjoy doing it, and it is a worthy cause.  I even got some of the women in our condo association who are part of a knitting group to start knitting blankets for them too.

   July 17th was Serena's 14th birthday.  I remember when I was 8 or so, thinking that age 14 was the perfect age to be.  How perception changes as we age!  Serena and family were camping at Twin Lakes in Colorado for the weekend.  They posted a nice photo of the birthday girl on a paddleboard. 

   On Saturday evening, we decided to go out "on a date".  For the first time since the pandemic started, we went out to dinner and a movie.  We saw the new Marvel movie "Black Widow" --too much action, not enough story line.  I felt comfortable in the actual theater, as it was large, with few people, and no one sat around us.  Even in the restaurant, we didn't sit near anyone else.  I did put on my mask when we walked into the main theater area, as there were lots of unmasked people.  I guess it will still take awhile for me to feel comfortable, unmasked, with a lot of folks, even though we are both vaccinated.

   On Sunday, we had a nice afternoon visit with Anica and family.  We read stories and played games.  Fun afternoon.  

   We have been having an amazing amount of rain -- both daylong rain, as well as very intense thunder storms, with huge amounts of rain.  The ground is saturated, and since our condo is at the bottom of the hill, all the rains flows towards us.  Fortunately, when they built the condo, they put in a lot of drains around the condo, so it seems that the water flows away from the condo, and not into it (like in some of the other units).   During the last intense thunder storm, it was like a river was pouring down the hill next to us.  We have never seen so much water.  Climate change?

Our RV in storage at Tamara's photo:

Outdoor music concert in Auburn park photo:

Finished baby blanket photos:

Happy 14th birthday, Serena photo:

Our "first time out after Covid" date photos:

  

July 9 - July 10, Boston trip and Anica's family visit

 July 9 - The Margaret Fuller Society had a dinner in Boston that Peter wanted to attend.  They have been very interested in his documentary about Margaret Fuller.  They are all interested in various aspects of Margaret Fuller's life, from literature to social advocacy.  We arrived a little early, parked in the Prudential Building garage ($44 for 2 hours) and walked the Newbury Street area, enjoying the bustle of the city life.  Or, rather, Peter really enjoyed the many, many people walking the streets, the many shops with apartments above them, and all of the restaurants.  I can enjoy that for an few hours, then I get bored of the shops and tourism, amazed at how many people were eating a Friday dinner in restaurants, and kept looking for a tree or something green, instead of the concrete "jungle".  I do appreciate how Peter and I balance nature and people/cities.  We are just starting to feel comfortable eating in a restaurant, inside, again.  But, I am still putting on my mask to go into the shops.  

July 10 - Peter and Kaitlyn did a family trip to New Jersey/New York for the weekend.  So, I am left without a car.  Anica and family came to visit for the afternoon and dinner.  A delightful day.  We played indoors and outdoors.  We went for a walk to the local pond, and then on the return walk, hunted for golf balls.  The golf course is across the road from our grassy meadow area, and it's amazing how many golfers hit their golf balls across the road and into our lawn/woods.  On this walk, we found 4 golf balls.  

Boston photos:

Anica's family visit photo:

June 26 - July 8, this and that, and the 4th of July weekend

   Not much of interest happened these hot summer weeks.  Regular neighborhood walks, if it wasn't too hot and humid.  Started more Jazzercise Zoom sessions in my cool, air conditioned basement with Aimee's group, when it was too hot or raining.  

June 27 - we found a new park to hike in.  Hawden Park in nearby Auburn.  A nice trail, through the woods, following a stream and long pond.  We ended the jaunt with a stop at our local ice cream spot.  I discovered, however, that after a child's small scoop of ice cream, that my stomach wasn't too pleased.  So, I now remember why I eat non-dairy ice cream.  Too bad this place doesn't serve it.

June 28 - I FINALLY finished my last 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle that Lois sent me.  This one was quite time consuming, as there were a lot of very similar colors.  Fortunately, the shapes were all quite different.  

June 30 -- was Gabe's 44th birthday.  Wow!  And, I am so glad to say that he is improving, physically, every day.  I am still so impressed with Andrea's organizational and implementation abilities, and with Gabe's determination to improve.  It warms the heart.

July 3 -- we went to Claire and Ian's for a game day.  We played Eclipse.  A very interesting, involved board game with really neat pieces and rules.  It took Ian 2 hours just to set it up and explain to us how to play the game.  We ate lunch, and played until 7 pm.  Then, in memory of Ed Pless, who passed away 9 years ago today, we went out for ice cream (before dinner) at Cook's farm in Hadley, MA.  I passed on having any, but the rest all enjoyed it.  We stopped at the famous Antonio's pizza place in Belchertown for a quick dinner on the way home.  A good day.

July 5 -- The 4th of July we spent at home, just hanging out.  The 5th, we went to Anica's for the afternoon and dinner.  The weather was quite pleasant, and we went over to a local park with a playground for the kids.  Stopped for more ice cream on the way to their house.  This time they had chocolate coconut milk ice cream for me.  How nice.  Great company, great dinner --thanks Anica & Aaron.

Random fun photos:

Hawden Park Trail photos:

Jig saw puzzle photo:

Game day at Claire and Ian's photos:

Visit with Anica's family photos: