tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26539362694163908292024-03-19T02:01:34.580-07:00Kate TravelsKate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-24368864241550951992010-08-20T17:43:00.000-07:002010-08-20T19:50:32.947-07:00The Last Beach Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4fG7ya3OgBt6EpY_9rHVJR2HS3wz7ZlQ__5u6ZAaDwfysTSXtgOFTur5qEnAiQIR2_17GZhq4Wm7JDJZAkubY2IJh_SS9Eg7Oyo8o0dbSvvLobJqfFwAH7aHHg97s23zauQ-RPq5oJk/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4fG7ya3OgBt6EpY_9rHVJR2HS3wz7ZlQ__5u6ZAaDwfysTSXtgOFTur5qEnAiQIR2_17GZhq4Wm7JDJZAkubY2IJh_SS9Eg7Oyo8o0dbSvvLobJqfFwAH7aHHg97s23zauQ-RPq5oJk/s320/IMG_7894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507659741760355922" border="0" /></a>It was a perfect day at the beach.<br /><br />Sunny. The tide was out and the wind was down. Waves were present and predictable. I spent quite a bit of time in the water today.<br /><br />We started our day with a walk on the beach at 6:15. The water was calm, the light was beautiful, and the mosquitoes were out. There were a couple of other humans on the beach, many birds, and tons of shell litter. It was clear from the bird prints that any protein left in all the mussel shells had been picked clean by the gulls. I got Joni Mitchell's "Urge for Going" stuck in my head seriously. "I had me a man in summer time, he had summer colored skin..."<br /><br />Home to urge the girls out of bed. They didn't love my rendition of "Dear Prudence" - but the sun was out and the sky was blue, it was beautiful and (well, I'm their mother) I think they are too - So breakfast, laundry, and off to the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmauWPDwkm4zRgthN-Td2HhQoeYWjDCfn8BNIb7k_Qc6PWZ2SPvzOCLscO_SZRwUZ6qkHxPOx5Pm3TOIxxK2g7NG8sBCFCGynLyOkgEb-weSjpmNPMZk59R3QaucY76Mxj0clSpQsJTKQ/s1600/CIMG0112.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmauWPDwkm4zRgthN-Td2HhQoeYWjDCfn8BNIb7k_Qc6PWZ2SPvzOCLscO_SZRwUZ6qkHxPOx5Pm3TOIxxK2g7NG8sBCFCGynLyOkgEb-weSjpmNPMZk59R3QaucY76Mxj0clSpQsJTKQ/s320/CIMG0112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507662298224378290" border="0" /></a>Hotter today at the beach because of the lack of wind, but we stayed in the water, bobbing like corks, riding the waves, and getting boogie board rash. Ah, the beach life.<br /><br />I made it two hours before my heat-and-salt-o-meter went off, and I headed back with the girls to shower and make lunch. But I promised myself one last beach before the day was over.<br /><br />And I got it. At 3:00, I headed back to the beach all by myself. I had a chance to stand in the water and think about this summer - the water kept me afloat as I rose and fell with the rollers coming in. There is a lot to think about. I've read some excellent books and some perfectly lovely junk food reading, I've been under the tutelage of master teachers, I've met and collaborated with teachers from all over North America, I've watched my daughters grow and assume new responsibilities, I've spent time with good friends, I've learned things about my own reserves and feelings, I've come to appreciate my extended family for the care they give each other, I've enjoyed food and wine with friends, and I've changed as a teacher and as a person. This summer's experiences have changed me in so many positive ways. And as I stood at the beach, packing up to go back to the house to get ready for dinner, I was sorry to say goodbye to LBI.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjxuBQRxBXFw9sRy55nu4sfMMrSWB1WVJ4fwk5HR81IXMDu2-Kg8QIq_Jg8ZzlaCI18PslyB4gNlGfyk5nK0BmslDCZYztMCAkYeTc-UhOXukYWuyIjGwnbK-MDz92xEEUpsJYELkFbM/s1600/CIMG0114.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjxuBQRxBXFw9sRy55nu4sfMMrSWB1WVJ4fwk5HR81IXMDu2-Kg8QIq_Jg8ZzlaCI18PslyB4gNlGfyk5nK0BmslDCZYztMCAkYeTc-UhOXukYWuyIjGwnbK-MDz92xEEUpsJYELkFbM/s320/CIMG0114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507665474338554386" border="0" /></a><br />There is plenty to greet us back at home in Evanston. Sam turns 50, Emily starts YAMO rehearsal, friends from the Faire are in town from Minneapolis - and we need to buy school supplies (It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year).<br /><br />Goodbye, LBI - It's been a real pleasure. Thanks Bob and Claire (my In-Laws) for making this all possible.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-44271137993573236432010-08-17T17:36:00.000-07:002010-08-20T19:51:33.737-07:00Tuesday on the beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEQIxYErmPY5C0JTMWOxO-9nJP8M0I_SImfgdb2HChyoWQupmaSAu7aZflbmrIn0_wKUppP2GvTW1edLWM1evTZ2rD09RBy6x0FcDFkkDlx0eP-xEQT7BqOq5EwD1mtoTQ2tE4YN54C0/s1600/IMG_7830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEQIxYErmPY5C0JTMWOxO-9nJP8M0I_SImfgdb2HChyoWQupmaSAu7aZflbmrIn0_wKUppP2GvTW1edLWM1evTZ2rD09RBy6x0FcDFkkDlx0eP-xEQT7BqOq5EwD1mtoTQ2tE4YN54C0/s320/IMG_7830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506545337033287170" border="0" /></a><br />What a pleasure to wake up early but not get up. The girls were fully cashed out and Sam was in NYC, so I read my book. It was very nice to not worry about anyone. And I did enjoy City of Bones. Now I need to read the rest of the series.<br /><br />We went to the beach this morning, and we were there for over an hour. Not a ton of time, but the sun is strong and we are SPF conditioning. I want to be able to really hang there by the end of the week. The waves were great. Not so strong as yesterday, but enough to knock you over if you weren't looking.<br /><br />We were home in time for a late lunch. Bob and Claire went out to run errands and had lunch out, so we quesadillaed and the girls watched a 30 Rock marathon. I read, as you can see. It rained, I pulled all the towels in from the line, did my usual two loads of laundry, and made a big tomato-y beef soup for dinner that made Emily happy.<br /><br />I bought tasty wine. I friend of mine is enjoying a '61 Latour tonight for his 52nd birthday. I had a passable chardonnay. I pretended for just a minute that I was enjoying a glass of that wine as a part of his birthday celebration. I have a VIVID imagination.<br /><br />I'm off in a few short minutes to pick up Sam and Martha from the Manahawken Bus stop on NJ Transit. They have bussed in from NYC.<br /><br />I love the beach, even when it rains. And if I can get my new/used camera to stop giving me a CF error or error 99, I will get up bright and early and get those post dawn beach photos. The forecast calls for possible rain tomorrow and glorious weather for the rest of the week.<br /><br />Reading IS doing something.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-62263291365434588002010-08-16T17:54:00.000-07:002010-08-20T19:52:29.207-07:00Monday in Beach Haven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UAV4IYVjbe7mRs0_yjjYbB5Fe_cZ4aVJBiHlgZ4kTMi8T1uUSrGLp8rEkz0AJjfal-6q1P4k_l067vG32tpaALj0Q5dyEAFYvUC1Ti4sRYcV02Hr7KoCTZpkyr66VfHjCyzZj7ScuDM/s1600/IMG_7809.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UAV4IYVjbe7mRs0_yjjYbB5Fe_cZ4aVJBiHlgZ4kTMi8T1uUSrGLp8rEkz0AJjfal-6q1P4k_l067vG32tpaALj0Q5dyEAFYvUC1Ti4sRYcV02Hr7KoCTZpkyr66VfHjCyzZj7ScuDM/s400/IMG_7809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506179398765521890" border="0" /></a><br />How can you complain about a day that was just about perfect (with a couple of small exceptions)?<br /><br />We woke at our usual early hour but chose to not get up right away as the house was cool and still. As I could NOT keep my eyes open last night, this gave us a chance to talk through Sam's proposed trip to NYC tonight with Paul and his return on the bus to Manahawken with Martha tomorrow, late. This idea was moving forward so that Sam could finish his role of tech support (living, furnishings, computing) for his mom. We brought a used computer from the school computer sale (one of the first intel chip macs that has an integrated iSight camera) and Hannah has set up all the voice activated controls that she can for Gilda. Sam gets to show her how it works.<br /><br />We went for a walk to the Village hall to see about beach tokens, got the info we needed, met Paul who had arrived from NY, and headed back to the house and then to the beach. It was great to have Paul here, and we headed to the beach with Grandpa Bob in tow for some wave jumping and general beach merriment. We had a great couple of hours on the beach where we were in and out of the water, rebasted with sunscreen, and nourished with cheese crackers and grapes. I stayed at the beach for a bit longer than the rest and arrived home to find lunch made. Lunch DOES taste better when someone else makes it.<br /><br />I'm reading Cassie Claire's City of Bones (woefully behind, I know) and loving it, so I read some more, worked a bit on some InDesign work and napped a bit while the children went shopping with Paul and Sam. Excellent.<br /><br />Dinner was started with the one wrong note of the day, a dreadful bottle of wine that Paul brought. He says it needs more time in the bottle. I am skeptical.<br /><br />We made the Fishkin standard lemon garlic chicken with rice and three vegetables (hoping to tempt some folks to eat the vegetables). Oh, well. And in the midst of all this I washed clothes.<br /><br />Sam and Paul are off to NY and we will hold down the fort here in Beach Haven. Tough duty, but we are up to the challenge. Tomorrow I will buy more seltzer (the girls have fallen in love with elderflower syrup) and a decent bottle of wine. All will be right with the world again.<br /><br />And the sun set over the island. Cloudy, but Sophia (Sam tells me the photo is hers) got a nice image (see above).Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-74071685208921537532010-08-15T18:28:00.000-07:002010-08-15T19:01:27.038-07:00First Day at the BeachThe day started out as overcast and cool, but that never stopped us!<br />After we blasted the girls out of bed, we headed for our first day at the beach.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KwAYE2VHnVmFSGL0Q1gzvysfUuSehsp-hkiYuCJDNNPf2fTTVISF2W4Qm6SrEREy1bJrLrrsYpCXAqSp_6s4eMENkmOguMnQizr0uhOg-oX0EFmS21h3PHgBcSNOhnm12NStdIqpfas/s1600/IMG_7654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KwAYE2VHnVmFSGL0Q1gzvysfUuSehsp-hkiYuCJDNNPf2fTTVISF2W4Qm6SrEREy1bJrLrrsYpCXAqSp_6s4eMENkmOguMnQizr0uhOg-oX0EFmS21h3PHgBcSNOhnm12NStdIqpfas/s320/IMG_7654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505818817234943058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We dragged the grandparents with us, and we settled in for an hour or so of surf jumping and reading.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKfDFbH__4ZXYeFDqKEwCJTa8X7tTAfD8DqoNjY3tNB9FpyOW_gaWlYblGrIyOdjzXHXEhjbLez9Lfu7UHNvIX-EV0sPp1_9zIak8j2JDWYiTqSgVZAq1WWiNL_7F-g3cp_2ZC4hXQeM/s1600/IMG_7659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKfDFbH__4ZXYeFDqKEwCJTa8X7tTAfD8DqoNjY3tNB9FpyOW_gaWlYblGrIyOdjzXHXEhjbLez9Lfu7UHNvIX-EV0sPp1_9zIak8j2JDWYiTqSgVZAq1WWiNL_7F-g3cp_2ZC4hXQeM/s320/IMG_7659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505818549539991314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had an agenda besides the beach:<br /><ul><li>Visit friends up island at their home in Loveladies.</li><li>Make lunch</li><li>Shop for groceries</li></ul>Not in that order. I made lunch (which was delicious as far as I was concerned but was not lunch-perational to everyone at the table. Well, that's life and lunch.<br /><br />We headed north to the fabulous home of friends of Bob and Claire where Hannah and Emily swam in the pickle barrel/swimming pool with the friends' great-granddaughter. Then off to the Shop-Rite for a major shop.<br /><br />So dinner and a lovely glass or two of Grüner Veltliner, an Austrian white wine. Light and refreshing. A little spritzy. Delicious summer wine. Lovely summer day.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-39448399738460850252010-08-14T18:37:00.000-07:002010-08-14T18:52:41.150-07:00Long Beach Island - the week begins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsfakPXojEPUW738ZI2UkCWmi0p6se0uR_BbyC7shJckrtKlpHKKO-pdrRuqxdfVOzFo74ywt_JCxpl2y0kzwgkrBmS4xoJmNzb-XOmI6iZmA74qKRKJ_nZR9bb9Akaaq8vwSvxFrAqg/s1600/IMG_7620.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsfakPXojEPUW738ZI2UkCWmi0p6se0uR_BbyC7shJckrtKlpHKKO-pdrRuqxdfVOzFo74ywt_JCxpl2y0kzwgkrBmS4xoJmNzb-XOmI6iZmA74qKRKJ_nZR9bb9Akaaq8vwSvxFrAqg/s320/IMG_7620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505446937976952434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We are visiting Sam's father and his wife Claire this week. They have rented a house in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, and this house is beautiful. We are pretty far down the island, near the bird sanctuary, and the house is situated so that the breeze is amazing as well as the view.<br /><br />This is the view during the day, looking west, and we had a spectacular sunset.<br /><br />We had the usual traffic on the causeway and the Garden State Parkway today as we drove to the shore. We had lots of time, and we were in no hurry. All hurry would have done is cause heartburn, and that seemed contrary as the smell of the sea became stronger and stronger.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqS0K1LNvuISYcV4RahQL6jQ9a3lV8G0LMZpErdDAoRP2f4wNe2yLiF3x6wGJJchKv-_s0u6U0z_t2BYNIa2neUXwaz12HsFUdkIipPbCEK55AxYpNvnxd46xALld7qYq961VvoyUewE/s1600/IMG_7628.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqS0K1LNvuISYcV4RahQL6jQ9a3lV8G0LMZpErdDAoRP2f4wNe2yLiF3x6wGJJchKv-_s0u6U0z_t2BYNIa2neUXwaz12HsFUdkIipPbCEK55AxYpNvnxd46xALld7qYq961VvoyUewE/s320/IMG_7628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505448025597671138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm amazed at the house. It's well equipped and so comfortable. The view (as you can see) is broad and beautiful. And then, if all of this isn't enough, this little sliver of moon rose over the end of the Island tonight.<br /><br />More from the Island as the week unfolds. And yes, I'm using my sunblock.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-10357384476791490922010-07-22T14:20:00.000-07:002010-08-15T06:11:36.759-07:00All we do is eat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkALDTdF1aC9nGWrcO0SI8JXHTsibmsJL7KuMJEtvVOVrQ6rAJA0XpZiKvGSkGZa6wEtpbdHZ8fhDVkocGLfYOWdiCfKjY2MMJhlKqxNS764dx7QqfJ6kM3Leq9I3LDA8Pv3MMffAWocI/s1600/CIMG0156.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkALDTdF1aC9nGWrcO0SI8JXHTsibmsJL7KuMJEtvVOVrQ6rAJA0XpZiKvGSkGZa6wEtpbdHZ8fhDVkocGLfYOWdiCfKjY2MMJhlKqxNS764dx7QqfJ6kM3Leq9I3LDA8Pv3MMffAWocI/s320/CIMG0156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496848232782762098" border="0" /></a>So - meals at Mansfield College are serious business.<br /><br />Every day, breakfast is as large as you want it to be. We begin with juice, fresh toast (in little toast carriers) with jam, honey, nutella, or Marmite (shudder) while you wait for your cooked breakfast. There are also cereals (USA favorites and UK home team players like Wheatabix).<br /><br />Fruit? Yes. Cheese and smoked salmon? Yes.<br /><br />Cooked breakfast includes - eggs fried or scrambled, beans, tomato, hash browns, pork, sausage, bacon, and mushrooms. Mix and match.<br /><br />Coffee or tea - and you are ready to face the day.<br /><br />Dinner has been three or four courses depending on how you count them.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunday night:</span><br />Caprese salad, rolls and butter<br />Roast chicken with a timbale of stuffing, bacon wrapped sausage, haricort vert, roasted potatoes, and carrots.<br />Chocolate coated caramel ice cream.<br />Coffee and chocolates<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Monday:</span><br />Melon and prosciutto, rolls and butter<br />Poached chicken breast with tarragon sauce, roasted potatoes, green vegetable, and carrots<br />Strawberry Shortcake (made with shortbread).<br />Coffee and chocolates<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tuesday</span><br />Avocado and baby shrimp in a lemon vinaigrette, rolls and butter<br />Lamb cutlet with a mint sauce, roasted diced potatoes, leek gratin, and sauteed courgettes (zucchini)<br />Creme brulee<br />Coffee and chocolates<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wednesday</span><br />Butternut squash soup, rolls and butter<br />Chicken Kiev, roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, carrots<br />Fresh fruit compote with honey cream and a madeleine<br />Coffee and chocolates<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thursday</span><br />Hummus and pita<br />Poached salmon with hollandaise, boiled potatoes, Haricort vert, steamed broccoli<br />Pear tart<br />Coffee and chocolates<br /><br />I will complete this report from the front lines of overeating as meals are served. - and so...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Friday</span><br />Creepy shirred egg with spinach and cheese - way too glisten-y uncooked for me. The first "Ew, what is that?" food<br />Beefsteak with a green peppercorn sauce, zucchini, boiled potatoes, and broccoli/cauliflower medley - our first overcooked vegetables<br />Peach fool<br />Coffee and chocolates<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Saturday</span><br />The only bad meal of the entire week<br />This was a formal meal with menus on the table. We began with a sparkling wine made delicious with a splash of elderflower cordial.<br />I've forgotten the first course (probably the fault of the delicious wine and elderflower mixture. Whatever - it was not memorable.)<br />Herb encrusted lamb loin (over cooked and unassailable given the cutlery at hand), Roasted root vegetables - potatoes, parsnip, turnip, and carrot, sauteed sugar snap peas<br />Chocolate tart (with a cement tart shell)<br />Coffee and ChocolatesKate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-62301174643886826202010-07-15T13:58:00.000-07:002010-07-16T14:52:12.755-07:00Is it farther to Boston or by bus?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9qYQB-DA4J9FiNg4MM65RrBZL_K1AQtWiM4ekL_qrvbMqLqvvmF64IYuIrLn68a1WJ0bgaVnu4-cu4Ew5Wh063Yg9NMyhxPMEUADueiBy2yNhUOy9j6SchVIDzgWPVMIb28L09Wy8Jo/s1600/4796768910_2584bba9c3_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9qYQB-DA4J9FiNg4MM65RrBZL_K1AQtWiM4ekL_qrvbMqLqvvmF64IYuIrLn68a1WJ0bgaVnu4-cu4Ew5Wh063Yg9NMyhxPMEUADueiBy2yNhUOy9j6SchVIDzgWPVMIb28L09Wy8Jo/s320/4796768910_2584bba9c3_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494250265277347282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was good to not be in Manchester last night. Live American Idol tour concert 1 block from the hotel AND the Step Up 2 Dance Tour finals (Olympic Miss Dance finals) began today at the same hotel/conference center we were at. Abandon ship!<br /><br />There are some trips that I am happy to not be anywhere near the driver or navi-guesser's seat. Yesterday's trip to Boston was one of those.<br /><br />Why?<br />Traffic. Fog. Rain. Lots of course corrections. No thanks, I'm happy to let the driver drive.<br /><br />In Boston we went to Fablevision studios. Fablevision is an animation software company founded by the children's book author and illustrator Peter Reynolds. We enjoyed their hospitality and I was intrigued by the layout of the room. Desks around the periphery, facing out, with an oval table in the middle of the space. I can see how this would allow for fluid collaboration but also the ability to work by oneself if that was what was needed. The room was full of toys, and it had lots of elements of theater (a curtain), stories and storytelling, and play. They had a fabulous pink sparkly beauty-parlor hood dryer that was just - did I mention - FABULOUS. Must get one for the room.<br /><br />After Fablevision, four of us walked along the wharf to the North End. There was a powerboat there that was huge but the most impressive vessel in the channel was a schooner, tons of varnished teak, roller furlings, HUGE - my heart got all weirdly fluttery. We couldn't see her name, and she had a party on board that night, but my oh my, some serious boat there.<br /><br />We had dinner a Piccola Venezia in the North End (I could finish about half of the portion they served) and had enough time before 11:00 to walk through Haymarket, show Stephanie the Union Oyster House and the Bell in Hand and take our time through the Boston Holocast Memorial - one of the most effective and affecting pieces of public art and memorial I have every seen. Grand but intimate, personal without ignoring the enormity of the loss of life, it honored each camp separately but also was a cohesive whole. Moving. Timeless. Horrifying. Perfect.<br /><br />We wandered past Kings Chapel and Burying Ground, Park Street Church and the Old Granary Burial Ground, and the Old State House. I am always reminded of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Scarlet Letter</span> when I am in Boston - contrary to the misdirection of attention of the opening "Custom House" chapter, TSL is set in Boston. I can imagine the scaffold on the corner of Tremont and Park and unctuous Dimmesdale standing on that little iron balcony over the heads of the people.<br /><br />The bus arrived just as we did, so there was no awkward hanging out at the T station, and the drive home commenced. Traffic was dreadful and we didn't get out of the city for 30 minutes. Some members of the group still managed to talk all the way back to Manchester, even given the advanced hour (11:30 pm). Fog to drive through. Glad it wasn't me. Tired and happy, we crawled into our beds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/52355157@N00/4796768910/">Boston Riverscape</a> by jmcclurken (thanks!!)Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-40159587789570966702010-07-13T20:56:00.000-07:002010-07-14T04:30:39.592-07:00The Kate Lost FactorSo I drove around NH today. It's really lovely, and I must have detoured through Sherwood Forest because I saw a sign for Nottingham.<br /><br />I went to the seaside. That is what the highway signs called the beach, the ocean, la playa - the seaside. So I went. Getting there was a snap. Rt 3 to 101 going East. Stop before you get wet. Hampton looks like any town on the Cape and it reminded me of a cross between Marblehead, MA - at least the side streets - and whatever the town is at the causeway to Long Beach Island in NJ. Hampton State Park is probably quite nice, but by the time I got there the gate was locked and a police car was sitting there. Now to the boardwalk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg559JFrVLhm3id1AeLWuhy0WLw2WpXH7JV_6twAGOKHKrcAihPQ9cv7yL3xZWDyCYNb55Owq1CMtQNqXaHatZMNvZlgsIDqZvFWLCmOA4k5h0vlP9V6JJb6MXZGXUGUtApHQOTjigdV1k/s1600/197086373_02519b34c9_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg559JFrVLhm3id1AeLWuhy0WLw2WpXH7JV_6twAGOKHKrcAihPQ9cv7yL3xZWDyCYNb55Owq1CMtQNqXaHatZMNvZlgsIDqZvFWLCmOA4k5h0vlP9V6JJb6MXZGXUGUtApHQOTjigdV1k/s320/197086373_02519b34c9_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493610913584281442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hampton's boardwalk makes Beach Haven look like a sleepy seaside hamlet. Like the busiest, craziest block on LBI to the power of 6. Not the place I would want to stay for a vacation, and none of the local eateries looked like a place that a single woman at the shore would frequent unless she had designs on finding some company for the evening. Pass.<br /><br />So I headed back to Manchester, and here is where the Kate Lost Factor comes into play. I'm okay with the reverse course thing until I get to Manchester and get off at what I was sure was the exit where I entered the highway.<br /><br />Maybe not.<br /><br />Google Maps cannot work if there is no service.<br /><br />So I did some driving around. Got really turned around. Got straightened out. Had an "Aha, that where I am!" moment and returned to the Radission. And because I wasn't already enough of a salmon swimming upstream, I leave the parking garage as a wave of "conference boys" and "conference girls" all are heading out for the not so clandestine Ice Cream Outing. I need no convincing to join then when I hear that the place they are headed serves real food. This is what I need.<br /><br />Two hours later I am back in my room having observed but not consumed HUGE creations of ice cream. "Pudding Ice Cream." No one would tell us what flavor of pudding. Yum? (It's pinkish, so we are told.)<br /><br />Image of Hampton Beach by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/crschmidt/197086373/">crschmidt</a>Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-88871396803887771632010-07-13T05:09:00.000-07:002010-07-13T14:08:43.468-07:00New HampshireI am in Manchester for a conference of progressive educators all spending a few days learning something new. My flight here was on time, with no airline or security issues, and I followed the signs to the car rental place and only got a little lost on my way to the hotel.<br /><br />The flight itself was not that painless; I had a family behind me. I know that I used to be that family, so I'm trying not to whine about it, but the child in the seat behind me kept kicking the seat, and he half moaned, half chanted for Elmo for 30 minutes. It devolved from "My Elmo" to something that sounded vaguely Spanish (Me llamo) until he wound down like a watchworks, only to rev UP again as the plane descended through the clouds. This child had a sibling of indeterminate sex who cried most of the flight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1t8hVATyMKAAGcTLcA0iWs9NfryKI-Asmld_lsjdub1GwNqXe5LggPKomKzft8K_DxsaHmOY7KoooiWyulRzm6KK67sM43lCyhvgnFEIjGPer0OcN4fIfFjHmaoqHl3DHfnO6bcIKeA/s1600/CIMG0069.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1t8hVATyMKAAGcTLcA0iWs9NfryKI-Asmld_lsjdub1GwNqXe5LggPKomKzft8K_DxsaHmOY7KoooiWyulRzm6KK67sM43lCyhvgnFEIjGPer0OcN4fIfFjHmaoqHl3DHfnO6bcIKeA/s320/CIMG0069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493500255244213634" border="0" /></a>The hotel is a hotel, but they are lovely and helpful. There is not a ton going on here. I could get a tattoo. The police here are really tough on street folks and panhandlers. I have seen a number of folks asking for money, and the minute it seems aggressive in any way, three police cars appear out of nowhere.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC0ceg32dCCTpGlG9x8GQ0pP678J8e8voMg2Gxht_4kYJmlr7JQKVVSfpn3vFJsZCTI-_YXoRzrKADbPWGdJJFzJR4a7R3YH6niJpsy_-1gBVIPz63VUMwzH-WV_3qOWzRad9Q3tSc3Y/s1600/CIMG0068.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC0ceg32dCCTpGlG9x8GQ0pP678J8e8voMg2Gxht_4kYJmlr7JQKVVSfpn3vFJsZCTI-_YXoRzrKADbPWGdJJFzJR4a7R3YH6niJpsy_-1gBVIPz63VUMwzH-WV_3qOWzRad9Q3tSc3Y/s320/CIMG0068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493500592663948002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I do want to get out tonight after we are done and drive to the ocean, maybe check out the Merrimack River (made famous to us English teachers by Thoreau), and find some fish chowder and a lobster roll (or something equally delicious) at the shore. It could happen. Until then, I am going to program a Shakespearean Insult Generator with two characters that insult each other over and over again. We will see if I can make it work.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-32138264614415210602009-07-26T12:24:00.000-07:002009-07-26T13:10:03.099-07:00Friday: of atlatls and tomahawks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuQJjcW_DPDkgbfNHVaV562JDmijCWFoZyHXK2_8DY6FKxrPVCDzRR5KYkiExZFnOft98RIKAZvMVgeFwYspFL9JUe_91KucDXvkgOivR39l5ad5UgEqcIYlaoCLhNVU2meR-7TIjCQY/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuQJjcW_DPDkgbfNHVaV562JDmijCWFoZyHXK2_8DY6FKxrPVCDzRR5KYkiExZFnOft98RIKAZvMVgeFwYspFL9JUe_91KucDXvkgOivR39l5ad5UgEqcIYlaoCLhNVU2meR-7TIjCQY/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362853121740824514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In which we get a sense of local history<br /><br />I’ve always wanted to check out a local historic site in Jeffers, MN. The <a href="http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/jp/">Jeffers Petroglyphs</a> state historic site is about a half hour from here and as we were heading off to check out prehistoric MN a friend of my uncle’s arrived with his buckskins and old weapons, both native and settler. What an interesting morning.<br /><br />In Jeffers we met Chuck, and archeologist anthropologist and incredibly pleasant geek, who showed us the carvings and explained that they range from 1500-9000 years old and that they are carvings from many different eras and regions. Chuck would fit right in with our family. Very cool. We spent the morning there and headed back to Shetek, which we were soon to learn means Pelican in the local language.<br /><br />Herb was there to show us a bunch of really cool things and to teach us how to throw a tomahawk. As we did some atlatl assisted throwing at Jeffers, it was interesting to throw the tomahawk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W9TlUYp8L_rnTTiDeMxA779j3CPto7x5W1chPjW3DERiDFi598Q61tdbbS308-6QRTWxVcHCQP0xFLcLE4jB_vD552J_1BdDV8oVLcMYrfogRVCd4a1ot-PVy-5PcE4IhzUR_gYO9N4/s1600-h/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W9TlUYp8L_rnTTiDeMxA779j3CPto7x5W1chPjW3DERiDFi598Q61tdbbS308-6QRTWxVcHCQP0xFLcLE4jB_vD552J_1BdDV8oVLcMYrfogRVCd4a1ot-PVy-5PcE4IhzUR_gYO9N4/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362863329007239106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Highlights of Friday:<br />Herb and his buckskins<br />Ancient carvings<br />Atlatls<br />The boat taking kids “tubing”<br />The boat breaking down – and getting repaired! So disappointment turns to BIG fun.<br />Turkey and stuffing<br />Naps<br />Al talking to me about Drupal and getting me intrigued to look at it.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-73580833026356947472009-07-26T11:47:00.000-07:002009-07-26T12:02:36.428-07:00Thursday: In which Jeff and John...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4d1bU9_EKNE6Y2UF0Ew5s3N95IuaYuLrOpq1tX7fWqd4kd6QBk4B0VKWVRMFcqglkAg8neuo0HkmKMjJ3PsGMgKaN1Jq6lYJ1MWesl_fhLOtW9N_zG_eJEB-yvMjGnKBZL7hMPzKe1E/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4d1bU9_EKNE6Y2UF0Ew5s3N95IuaYuLrOpq1tX7fWqd4kd6QBk4B0VKWVRMFcqglkAg8neuo0HkmKMjJ3PsGMgKaN1Jq6lYJ1MWesl_fhLOtW9N_zG_eJEB-yvMjGnKBZL7hMPzKe1E/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362843420415846674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In which Jeff and John play a round of golf and a boat follows them home.<br /><br />John (my brother-in-law) arrived in time for dinner Wednesday, and the pop-up trailer that he pulled from Illinois blew a tire in spectacular fashion just outside the camp. Spectacular. Peeled the tread off just like an orange. So, because he and Jeff (my cousin-in-law who had spent the night in the back of a pick-up truck under a mosquito net) felt the urge to play a round of golf they went to a nearby camper supply store to drop off the wheel. They got their round of golf in, and when they picked up the wheel found a boat for rent. So they rented this little lake runabout that hadn’t been started in two years.<br /><br />Other features of Thursday:<br />Tim’s tire and bungee cord swings in the oak tree<br />An idea to repair the shower house.<br />The beginnings of the water slide<br />The arrival of the way too adorable little ones<br />Liz driving to Brookings to pick up Mom.<br />First campfire<br />Lemon garlic chicken and an invented dish of roasted turnips and mint.<br />Nick, Abby & Pirc arriving – and hitting a skunk with the car (stinky).<br />Sunset boating with the inevitable breakdown of the boat (two year old gas).Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-32999917777206302862009-07-26T11:10:00.000-07:002009-07-26T11:12:53.683-07:00In which we move into camp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd6Eonq6FblBnyK0g13v1Ay4Lxps2xn5mYyJufAhl4qfIX3b70dsb5NtpFO9s0TbSAWT4kjodPatr35igWk-oZ_nD3QlndOprpzIrczsMU9lIFpbdKPeI2tmDns9kfoh70qVZER6QCD4/s1600-h/DSC_0377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd6Eonq6FblBnyK0g13v1Ay4Lxps2xn5mYyJufAhl4qfIX3b70dsb5NtpFO9s0TbSAWT4kjodPatr35igWk-oZ_nD3QlndOprpzIrczsMU9lIFpbdKPeI2tmDns9kfoh70qVZER6QCD4/s320/DSC_0377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362833431582998706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Moving into the camp – today we moved the food and supplies to the camp. It was, as always, a major military operation requiring two vehicles and a number of sorties some anticipated, some surprises.<br /><br />Sam had packed Mom’s van with the stored supplies in her basement (dishtowels, pie irons, tents, chairs, giant coffee pots) and then reloaded the van with the food that we had purchased. We pulled out of her house and headed for Nick’s hamburgers.<br /><br />Nick’s is a youth memory. We didn’t eat there all the time because although Spartan, Nick’s burgers as a per unit price are not inexpensive, but they were the first meal that I had in Brookings in 1964. They are small burgers, cooked in fat on a flattop, served as doubles and singles in soft, delicious buns that are not the typical hamburger bun but more of a yeasty dinner roll. Getting a double with cheese and everything means that you get catsup (not ketchup), onions, mustard relish. Your burger might have a toothpick through it to hold it together. No fries, chips. And if we sat at the counter we always had a chocolate milk poured from one of those food service stainless steel dispensers into a wavy glass. To- go burgers always are presented in a white bag with the order written on the side of the bag. I had two doubles with cheese with everything. This digression took a little bit of time, but we had a great lunch and made it to Camp Shetek only 15 minutes later than our appointed time.<br /><br />The camp was in good shape with most everything essential in working order and only the shower house apparently out of commission. When we fired up the water there was a leak that caused water to come squirting out at a 90° angle to the ground. Talk about “in your face.” We did some major scrubbing of the bathrooms and the kitchen and unloaded the van full of food. Produce was still to come. So we waited.<br /><br />Phone service is spotty, but we got all got a voicemail from Al – the RV that they rented from someone on Craig’s List (who wanted to sell it for $1000 and Wendy convinced them to rent it for $200.) broke down. They were waiting for AAA to come and tow them in. Liz went off to the rescue and Sam took Mom’s van off to Marshall to pick up the rest of the stuff in storage.<br /><br />Everyone arrived at once. Liz was called off the rescue as AAA had arrived. She returned followed closely by Al and Wendy pulled by a tow truck and Tim in the troop carrier full of people and cases of produce.<br /><br />Provisions 95% here, we made pizza and salad and the party started.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-67813831842889174572009-07-26T10:53:00.000-07:002009-07-26T11:01:08.631-07:00In which we hunt and gather for the big shindig<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFocHGyXxrEpMPEIMRvfGSVZa0QAf_mNdGgoP76aURQGvyrjRQvloaLhCuKMGs5pfIOm3UBig6hqetduz1xUyjeb9BeM-oQ7tGVIikKF0JL1RYuyJaV6BfveP0qkBUxToUVVJuy2fZERA/s1600-h/CIMG0007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFocHGyXxrEpMPEIMRvfGSVZa0QAf_mNdGgoP76aURQGvyrjRQvloaLhCuKMGs5pfIOm3UBig6hqetduz1xUyjeb9BeM-oQ7tGVIikKF0JL1RYuyJaV6BfveP0qkBUxToUVVJuy2fZERA/s320/CIMG0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362829897277618466" border="0" /></a><br />My sister and I went to Sioux Falls today to provision for the family reunion. We filled two flatbeds at Sam's Club and totally entertained all the folks (both employees and shoppers) at the check out. We only purchased a small amount of produce. Highlights:<br />30#s of pork loin<br />18 loaves of bread, 8 dozen sausage rolls, 8 dozen dinner rolls<br />8#s of butter<br />The BIG olive oil (and we ran out)<br />2 cases of potato chips<br /><br />On the way home up I-29 to Brookings, I grabbed this photo from the car. A picture perfect South Dakota day.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-9231226467219005372008-08-02T19:52:00.000-07:002008-08-02T20:00:17.034-07:00This land is your land... part 1Well, we saw the redwood forests and the mountains and the valleys and the ocean!<br /><br />No internet connection where we were, so the posts about this past week will be after the fact by a bit, but I hope that my memory is only clearer and not foggy (like the weather at Sea Ridge)!<br /><br />We flew into San Francisco on the 24th. We got in close to 9:30 PM PDT (so our body clocks were NOT happy) and we navigated the crazy long walk to the bags to the monorail to the rental car. Nutty! We were on the road heading toward Rt101 in the dark going to Inverness. Liz was waiting up for us and we settled in to the Cliff House for the night. The place that we stayed was on the lee side of the mountain so it was wonderfully sunny but cool.<br /><br />The next morning I walked with the girls from #55 to #601 - Sea Ridge, my cousins' house in Inverness. 25 minutes to walk because it was mostly uphill at a serious grade. Much hugging made the climb worthwhile.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-37578602291705122882007-08-23T20:45:00.000-07:002007-08-23T17:48:02.317-07:00Sun, sun , sun, here it comes...Finalmente! Sunshine, surf, smiling children, sunburn! We finally had a beach day. We repaired to the beach at high tide for wave jumping, sunning, and general merriment. We got salty, sandy, and sleepy. The waves were challenging, especially as you were trying to keep your footing as the water ebbed out and another wave came crashing in. I got stuffed only once, but worked hard to stay on my feet.<br /><br />Tonight we had a feast for Sam - giant shrimp and a delicious steak. Corn (from the ACME in case you are curious), favorite beans, jasmine rice, roasted carrots, cake [a secret family recipe - Betty Crocker] and Edy's fudge swirl ice cream. <br /><br />Must run down and get our gifts [lite] for Sam. With many promises for cooler things when we get home, we have birthday tokens for Sam.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-64945540261301398432007-08-23T14:30:00.000-07:002007-08-23T11:43:13.528-07:00The Beach, the Wind, and the Sun's Guest AppearanceSo, by ten this morning we gamely headed to the beach. No rain, but serious overcast. Low tide today as at 9:10AM, so the waves were less intimidating and we had a chance to get in. The girls were shiver-lipped when they got out as the water was a bit warmer than the air.<br /><br />Martha and Bob joined us at the beach in a bit, and hung out with us in the wind. It was not really pleasant, although we were sure we were going to milk any enjoyment possible out of the experience. Claire does not go out in the sun, and she doesn't like the sand, so we were not able to coax her to the surf.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKChkwkqRqaS3KN8hX9Xu-8h7vwcyFdJ-mT9GquamRPBAUl59KGS_QnegGl56kdkhQYNPmGobJei10lL5OjAk8Oag5QpaLQvc7JBCShV5hlO7ai4c6QX1q9Rw7w3HI3BNBG0NaKMfb2UQ/s1600-h/102_1666.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKChkwkqRqaS3KN8hX9Xu-8h7vwcyFdJ-mT9GquamRPBAUl59KGS_QnegGl56kdkhQYNPmGobJei10lL5OjAk8Oag5QpaLQvc7JBCShV5hlO7ai4c6QX1q9Rw7w3HI3BNBG0NaKMfb2UQ/s320/102_1666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101963887249814418" /></a><br /><br />We all cheered when the sun came out for a peek, and then it got startled by the applause and went back behind the curtain of gray. The wind got progressively fresher, so Martha used the umbrella to make a beachy yurt. The little girls scoured up all the available towels and used them as rugs. The new towels that Claire bought have not been washed yet, and they leave a light lint coating on your salty skin. Hannah looked really blue until we realized that she was really blue - from the lint. This bugged her more than being blue from cold, and it rolled up as we brushed it off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jtIdZo_5xuRVAwgW4DAocV6oU37Wdk7CDcDNEv6FicnuXSo13mlBR-XbcLl3ckaxs0sXqeCTSgAIC_x5yJDxhVrkm_d1kLGimZ7pLTZCO0T2AetXwK3InbkKVnJTz-udQBphbU-25Jc/s1600-h/102_1663.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jtIdZo_5xuRVAwgW4DAocV6oU37Wdk7CDcDNEv6FicnuXSo13mlBR-XbcLl3ckaxs0sXqeCTSgAIC_x5yJDxhVrkm_d1kLGimZ7pLTZCO0T2AetXwK3InbkKVnJTz-udQBphbU-25Jc/s320/102_1663.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101963878659879794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONzA8sVWtbfCXsT8wdjMtbJADCTSwxZbAhbmn0V9sHaUgnMB9_3K_KNcYt50PnRR-MBqACyhROZ6yz_J3ezTbtvSSmZqKz09ToWrIM6d96NkYO_u0qmclfjAOBPFcwdV4lAYp3UJNwsU/s1600-h/102_1664.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONzA8sVWtbfCXsT8wdjMtbJADCTSwxZbAhbmn0V9sHaUgnMB9_3K_KNcYt50PnRR-MBqACyhROZ6yz_J3ezTbtvSSmZqKz09ToWrIM6d96NkYO_u0qmclfjAOBPFcwdV4lAYp3UJNwsU/s320/102_1664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101963882954847106" /></a><br /><br />We went back to the house for lunch, and the sun has appeared fully now along with blue sky. We will go back to the beach in a bit. High tide is at 3:30 today.<br /><br />Emily actually is here - really - here's a picture that I am sure she will hate. And yeah, I can't figure out how to rotate photos so they will stay rotated. I'm sure with photoshop...:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS5vt0R_kEooFHfrdrS7Dud_g4K0PITCXNDmLBEmWH2vjAMlzQVoHOG5gQkFH5EdAjW0AHEH8pPFqmrPttkPkYh4ZGFA18gJ0HkGHIPWJJhbAY1P16IvVDHWnP85NMIsZaH0qUUzaVEA/s1600-h/102_1667.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS5vt0R_kEooFHfrdrS7Dud_g4K0PITCXNDmLBEmWH2vjAMlzQVoHOG5gQkFH5EdAjW0AHEH8pPFqmrPttkPkYh4ZGFA18gJ0HkGHIPWJJhbAY1P16IvVDHWnP85NMIsZaH0qUUzaVEA/s320/102_1667.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101965270229283746" /></a>Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com209tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-62542635455448546282007-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:002007-08-23T05:57:42.116-07:00Sam and Sophia Make Pancakes<span style="font-weight: bold;">It's Not Raining!<br />It's Sam's Birthday!</span><br /><br />Sophia and Sam are making fabulous Krusteaz pancakes for breakfast this morning. Sophia woke up ready to cook, and she has everything ready. Butter, mix, bowl, whisk, pans, syrup, blueberries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMgAUh0sI3aChwJ9urLt2GzuxP2Xt4LDQfNOSievvUl_NzbIDCmTPRS6eP0c3HabeeWyYjTKSYxDohYw7di_l3T2cxMbN7KwWP71fZfZ6PfKYutgaH5M4vrrGAFmgv0XMsRS7Fod7h8Q/s1600-h/102_1659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMgAUh0sI3aChwJ9urLt2GzuxP2Xt4LDQfNOSievvUl_NzbIDCmTPRS6eP0c3HabeeWyYjTKSYxDohYw7di_l3T2cxMbN7KwWP71fZfZ6PfKYutgaH5M4vrrGAFmgv0XMsRS7Fod7h8Q/s320/102_1659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101877906299515714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The table is set. Plates, cutlery, and all the breakfast beverages that we could want. Sam made the coffee.<br /><br /><br />Check out the chefs in action!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK_FbycRcIyP4rTOELGckT0oCZccWOg-sJDUE1WDl2eJkgPrhWU0vev2T_0j4aukn9QhIbZ5Sekvd5lSBmtUWsHOleEQAzKpQwE3p6potbH0oAJUGl0IuswKICCVm_C5oEgqHw5BlJsQ/s1600-h/102_1657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK_FbycRcIyP4rTOELGckT0oCZccWOg-sJDUE1WDl2eJkgPrhWU0vev2T_0j4aukn9QhIbZ5Sekvd5lSBmtUWsHOleEQAzKpQwE3p6potbH0oAJUGl0IuswKICCVm_C5oEgqHw5BlJsQ/s320/102_1657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101878245601932114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvvN3pYmfX9ymwSyKdN7yna95-EOe8HGu4x3YOIHCF8WrdCfg9fc95ouUGfQvL6jFMDS8u5oXWXUJHqEsTcY5ozSbwTFHi50IX-u76lltFERXZ73rDGPjmknDChyphenhyphenKCAz4xo6vWGt_zhw/s1600-h/102_1658.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvvN3pYmfX9ymwSyKdN7yna95-EOe8HGu4x3YOIHCF8WrdCfg9fc95ouUGfQvL6jFMDS8u5oXWXUJHqEsTcY5ozSbwTFHi50IX-u76lltFERXZ73rDGPjmknDChyphenhyphenKCAz4xo6vWGt_zhw/s320/102_1658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101878249896899426" border="0" /></a>Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-69202672774834573752007-08-22T17:52:00.000-07:002007-08-23T05:46:25.290-07:00Dinner at the M - M Steam BarShore Dinner - this is the place!<br /><br />We had a a ton of delicious food. The bisque and chowder were great. Martha had a fried soft shell crab sandwich, and Emily had a shrimp basket. Sam's Mahi Mahi looked good, too. The meal to eat obviously was the lobster dinner - not what we ordered, but everyone around us was up to their elbows in melted butter. M & M is a great location, and you could probably find something new to eat everyday. They do the full shore package - raw bar, fried food, grilled, lots of yummy stuff.<br /><br />So, worth the trip I think.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-8418758766142496422007-08-22T11:43:00.000-07:002007-08-22T18:02:29.762-07:00Surrey in the Rain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2Z5ytbT7i6kLjtnohRzqVuXZwB9nmq2wRd0KM0tllRlZH6znk9rqg985umnS_zcU6belmLuy04fEs5bpfGZqrBOpVF3zpfKgfb9ULmH_BEL-YuJayi0E78m61RlpxJpNLQ_Jz7mDbws/s1600-h/102_1655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2Z5ytbT7i6kLjtnohRzqVuXZwB9nmq2wRd0KM0tllRlZH6znk9rqg985umnS_zcU6belmLuy04fEs5bpfGZqrBOpVF3zpfKgfb9ULmH_BEL-YuJayi0E78m61RlpxJpNLQ_Jz7mDbws/s320/102_1655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101599661138211602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our silly, Let's Get Soaked, excursion was to rent a bicycle surrey and pedal our legs off down to the end of the island to the wildlife refuge. We got completely soaked in the mist and rain, although it really felt like we were pedaling through a cloud and not really rain. As you can see, the cover was pro forma as we all were soaked anyway. Leaving the surrey to take photos on the beach resulted in a wet seat and a load or two of laundry. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZz9tpTc3bBxr5cOrVkqLSQ5lrfli4PNdB4g1kNjZyjjddr0hNsqlwYExkATRxgB5RQFt2l_OFpM6qAFT8AwuR6RUJNZ1-rCzowY_k82GE3sanj9QlNKxAfldEAYl6ffwbn4koxjAXnA/s1600-h/102_1656.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZz9tpTc3bBxr5cOrVkqLSQ5lrfli4PNdB4g1kNjZyjjddr0hNsqlwYExkATRxgB5RQFt2l_OFpM6qAFT8AwuR6RUJNZ1-rCzowY_k82GE3sanj9QlNKxAfldEAYl6ffwbn4koxjAXnA/s320/102_1656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101599420620043010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So much for Accuweather and the "it will be clear by noon" prognostications. We are still in the center of this stationary front or the edge of the hurricane winds. This northeaster is a bit depressing, but we vow to get to the beach in due time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgW_NCVspitJDlOu_oBHEB3PmM5HOU3Y9ig2S0PKAxduXKaBxdMjBprVz7dyKXTtWhAe0CLWX65f5tsx4YPt1xyl4n-ik8kfBm8E57QOMhCm3j3Qxpr_RvjNgrsIrpRra3omfvOsLaMI/s1600-h/102_1653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgW_NCVspitJDlOu_oBHEB3PmM5HOU3Y9ig2S0PKAxduXKaBxdMjBprVz7dyKXTtWhAe0CLWX65f5tsx4YPt1xyl4n-ik8kfBm8E57QOMhCm3j3Qxpr_RvjNgrsIrpRra3omfvOsLaMI/s320/102_1653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101599910246314786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These photos show what the beach is all about today - lots of wind and salt spray. The camera hit the ground at one point in an "out of saddle" sprint to get around a police car and the vehicle that he had stopped/ stopped for. I stuck the memory card in my back pocket to ensure that it dried out before I stuck it back in the camera.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeewmRtcN69JUuiHBUhrKmXJxchnyMkmcta7ag6M5n7EqGRJCl95i4e53dlS2tCYTn6XfhhgDWcP80q4AuzmY3z6yN2i7zlfVqBgmzcnAExik0s1UNj9JAwnwFdnGHx_Er5tNov8qAy0/s1600-h/102_1654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeewmRtcN69JUuiHBUhrKmXJxchnyMkmcta7ag6M5n7EqGRJCl95i4e53dlS2tCYTn6XfhhgDWcP80q4AuzmY3z6yN2i7zlfVqBgmzcnAExik0s1UNj9JAwnwFdnGHx_Er5tNov8qAy0/s320/102_1654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101600640390755122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We are all going to join hands on the porch and sing "Here Comes the Sun." Hope that it works.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-8856586980647482052007-08-22T05:49:00.000-07:002007-08-22T18:01:48.341-07:00Walk to Holgate (South)Went for a walk with Sam this morning when the birds and Claire were up but the rest of the household was still abed. The rain has stopped, but there is a sturdy North Easterly wind at about 12 mph (2 knots or thereabouts), and it bites at the ears when you are walking back up the island. Tide is pretty high right now, and so I hope that the wind will drop some and we can get to the beach.<br /><br />Have put aside <span style="font-style: italic;">The Amber Spyglass </span>as I discovered it was a first printing of the first American edition - that means that if I can get a first/first of<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Subtle Knife</span> I can make some $ off of them as a first/first set if they stay in fine condition. The cover of<span style="font-style: italic;"> TAS</span> is fragile with a cut out on the front, so I'll check out a copy from the library to finish the reread.<br /><br />So, I'm back to rereading <span style="font-style:italic;">Pride and Prejudice</span>. Such a hardship. Maybe I just don't like the post-modern novel (gasp! heresy in an English teacher!).<br /><br />Heard that the house sitter is doing fine and that Sky in whining. So, everything is apparently normal.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-73955672406845296352007-08-21T14:00:00.000-07:002007-08-22T18:00:34.374-07:00It's Raining, It's Pouring, But We're Not SnoringRain watch part 3-<br /><br />Yes, still raining. Yes, still waiting. Yes, still eating. Yes, Martha made it on the bus today. Yes, we shopped at Ron Jon's. Yes, we bought a new boogie board. Sure, we wish it were sunny. Indeed, I'm going to make a cocktail - because no matter what the time stamp on this entry is, it's really 5:00 pm and it's cocktail time.<br /><br />I've read <span style="font-style: italic;">Eclipse</span> - by Stephenie Meyer<br />An Iris Johannson<br />Reread <span style="font-style: italic;">The Beekeeper's Apprentice</span><br />Starting <span style="font-style: italic;">The Amber Spyglass</span><br />Still struggling with <span style="font-style: italic;">Middlesex</span> by Eugenides<br />Gilda bought me Jonathan Safran Foer's <span style="font-style: italic;">Everything is Illuminated</span><br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20044270_20044274_20050689,00.html">Stephen King's essay</a> about the real importance of Rowling's Harry Potter series:<br /><blockquote>But reading was never dead with the kids. Au contraire, right now it's probably healthier than the adult version, which has to cope with what seems like at least 400 boring and pretentious ''literary novels'' each year. While the bigheads have been predicting (and bemoaning) the postliterate society, the kids have been supplementing their Potter with the narratives of Lemony Snicket, the adventures of teenage mastermind Artemis Fowl, Philip Pullman's challenging His Dark Materials trilogy, the Alex Rider adventures, Peter Abrahams' superb Ingrid Levin-Hill mysteries, the stories of those amazing traveling blue jeans. And of course we must not forget the unsinkable (if sometimes smelly) Captain Underpants. Also, how about a tip of the old tiara to R.L. Stine, Jo Rowling's jovial John the Baptist?</blockquote><br /><br />Yes! That's me! Struggling with the boring and pretentious "literary novels" and wishing everyone told a story as well as Meyer and Rowling and Pullman.<br /><br />Well, back to the books -<br /><br />Funny shopping note. I sent Claire to get some avocados and she returned - told me that she knew nothing about avocados or when they are ripe so she only bought one - and it is a mango. I haven't had the heart to tell her yet.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-56760270926961730252007-08-20T06:57:00.001-07:002007-08-22T18:12:13.255-07:00And the rain rain rain came down down downStill raining - <br /><br />Sam is looking for an activity. Emily is safely back with us, and still sleeping. No surprise as she has been in MDT for a week. I've got the copy of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer to read, so I don't care if we leave the house.<br /><br />Bob has been eating his weight in our good cooking, although I can't seem to get people to eat vegetables beside sliced cucumbers (and I mean adult people). Last night Emily, Sam and I ate the salad by ourselves - and we ate it all, I might add.<br /><br />What shall we do on a rainy day at the beach?<br /><br />Quiz question - the post title is from? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rain_Rain_Rain_Came_Down_Down_Down">Answer</a>Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-86615525663916368732007-08-19T15:22:00.000-07:002007-08-22T18:12:46.095-07:00the rain is raining all around...And so it goes. Rain and 67° - but as I have said before, a rainy day at the beach is still a day at the beach. I love the sharp smell of the air, the mix of rain and salt water. It's a little September-y, but that is all the more reason to hunker down and read a good book. <br /><br />Tonight's dinner is Frenched rack of lamb with penne pasta served with a garlic/olive oil sauce and broccoli made a la Maison (that's the soy/garlic sautéed). No onions. Just remember. No onions. Got it?<br /><br />Sam and Emily will be here within the hour. Must get cooking!<br /><blockquote>The rain is raining all around,<br />It falls on field and tree,<br />It rains on the umbrellas here,<br />And on the ships at sea.<br /> -- R.L. Stevenson</blockquote>Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-2759671047371324512007-08-19T07:13:00.000-07:002007-08-19T07:26:33.492-07:00Sunday Mornng at the Beach HouseSam and I went for a long walk this morning. The weatherman says that there will be rain on and off this week. I suspect it is because there is a hurricane blowing in Jamaica and it's throwing weather all around. Surfers were up and in the water at 9:00 when we were walking by.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF9Wbd2fKA53BV0SpM9WRMqOkSTnzAIQwZryBb7w0ppb-o7Vlxr8YwQLDFcItLtoNYy8ETQ0me3TrKEZJJFbHCIkQ7SUvl4zY0bwBcWYy93qEP19Hp5YljyJz4Mrxk0nlD8xYaFAX0Xk/s1600-h/102_1649.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF9Wbd2fKA53BV0SpM9WRMqOkSTnzAIQwZryBb7w0ppb-o7Vlxr8YwQLDFcItLtoNYy8ETQ0me3TrKEZJJFbHCIkQ7SUvl4zY0bwBcWYy93qEP19Hp5YljyJz4Mrxk0nlD8xYaFAX0Xk/s320/102_1649.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100417209396982514" /></a><br />Looking at the ocean from the top of the house.<br /><br /><br />Emily is at the Albuquerque airport and we will pick her up today.<br /><br />We will grab our beach experiences when we can, as often as we can. I'm philosophical. A rainy day at the beach is better than a rainy day many other places.<br /><br />We made delicious chicken with garlic and lemon last night, roasted potatoes and a big salad. Tonight, lamb chops I think. With Martha eating only fish and vegetables, I'll need to think through Tuesday through Thursday dinners.Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653936269416390829.post-26428269021840678592007-08-18T17:27:00.000-07:002007-08-22T18:13:01.219-07:00The House in Beach HavenWe made it at 2:20 to the realtor's to pick up the key (on time - any time after 2:00).<br /><br />The house in on piers - I love that because we get a fab breeze. The house actually have three levels. Level one (up a flight of stairs) has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Second level has a big room with living area, dining table, and kitchen - and a half bath. There is a great balcony on this level, with chaises and table, and a circular staircase up to a final level and balcony with a chaise and chair. Great view - great breeze. <br /><br />Here is a picture from the balcony to the beach (can you see the kite?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDAXc7BLwFzY8v9YAGrXe7dOHpjxz0AR4O9YS7nzfz-GUaxYRck9Tmt5c8YX0S-2EQz7W_A2i81qFbJoAvqPW1IWpcRqvZuoEww41D6Rs2FBkuMoRr7f1AwLxt2kS5MWvldSjP7wJqXI/s1600-h/102_1646.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDAXc7BLwFzY8v9YAGrXe7dOHpjxz0AR4O9YS7nzfz-GUaxYRck9Tmt5c8YX0S-2EQz7W_A2i81qFbJoAvqPW1IWpcRqvZuoEww41D6Rs2FBkuMoRr7f1AwLxt2kS5MWvldSjP7wJqXI/s320/102_1646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100203435989758690" /></a><br /><br />It's dusk and my little camera doesn't do so well. More tomorrow!Kate Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072987975080127432noreply@blogger.com0