New England 5

July 24, 2024 - Wednesday 

If you guessed Marilyn as our nomadic visitor, you are right. Her brother and niece live in Oregon, so she calls that her home base, but she has lived/traveled on her own for the past seven years. We first crossed paths with her in Deming, NM in 2020. She was always walking with her sticks around the park and beyond. When she wasn’t walking, she was cooking in the outdoor kitchen of her teardrop camper OR she was knitting! I knew I wanted to meet her and learn more, but we were all isolating at that time due to Covid. In 2021 we had more opportunities to chat. I'll never forget her asking me if I knit and how to “turn the heel” when knitting socks. I hadn’t done socks in a few years, so turned to YouTube to get the answer. Success! I love to walk too, but couldn’t keep up with her for long. By the way, she is one year younger than me but has the energy and drive of a 50-something. She is very regimented in her daily activities and lives by her iWatch to “close the rings” in the fitness app. Her diet is mostly nuts, cran-raisins, fresh vegetables, and black lentils - meat on occasion, but not often. She also loves fish.

 

This particular journey started in Alberta, Canada and over a month of 1 to 3 night stays made her way on the Trans Canada Highway to Prince Edward Isle, New Brunswick (3,763 miles). She loved PEI as the focus was on sheep - shearing, washing, combing, dyeing, and spinning of yarn. She was able to attend workshops while there. Then she headed south to visit us. We continue to learn about each other and the many things we have in common. 

August 1, 2024 - Thursday

Went with girlfriends to see Simon and Garfunkel tribute band, the Good Acoustics. Wow! These three guys are amazing with their instruments and harmonies; the drummer has a terrific voice and manages to play those drums while singing - a rare treat. Short video clip in email…

After the show, we went to dinner at Cal’s. I had the Cioppino (seafood stew - mussels, shrimp, clams, scallops, half lobster, tomato wine broth, shaved fennel, baby Yukon potatoes, garlic toast). Yum!

August 3, 2024 - Saturday

An animal activist group was a vendor next to us. They told the story of how legislation was just passed in Massachusetts prohibiting the use of large animals in a circus. Senator Ed Markey was involved in making this happen, so the woman bought one of Rich’s elephant mattes to gift him. 

August 4, 2024 - Sunday

Pastor Marcia was in the area visiting friends and family. She lives in Australia on her daughter’s property, but had to come to the States to see all of the other folks she loves. While here in Massachusetts for nearly 2 weeks, she blessed us with her choir presence and one of her uplifting Children’s stories in church. Then she was off to Wickenberg, AZ to visit family there. Amazing how both of us have connections there!

August 8, 2024 - Thursday

Went to Chester Railroad Museum for lunch, followed by a presentation on watercolor painting by Carol. 

Museum pictures:

The Keystone Arches are a series of stone 

Arch bridges built in 1840, when the railways of eastern Massachusetts and Albany, New York were connected. 

The amazing part is that these arched bridges are made of stacked stones WITHOUT mortar. Rather, they arch toward the apex in the center and have one stone (keystone) positioned to hold everything in place! The Romans created them in the beginning of time…

We had a lesson in painting pastels and watercolor painting by Carol Larkin:

August 10, 2024 - Saturday

Very successful Church Craft Fair today! This event brings in people from all around with 40 craft vendors plus 9 farmer market vendors. It was a slow start for the first hour, but things picked up right up until the last minute at 4pm. We were packing up and a cute couple stopped by - she was gushing over the $50 Crab Shack tissue dispenser. Rich knocked 5 bucks off and they were thrilled. I always say we make really good sales with the last minute shoppers...

Look who stopped in - Vaeda.

I took a stroll around to see what other vendors had to offer and came across Kevin Flanders, an author from nearby Worcester, MA. He is a young newspaper writer and during Covid he wrote many books.  In support, I bought one of his books, Spurious. I prefer listening to books, but authors only make pennies on digital books. 

August 11, 2024 - Sunday

Church followed by Ice Cream and Meet the Cows at local Highlawn Farm.  Back row - moi, Lily and Leanna  granddaughters, Leanna and Lily. Seated in front, Melissa, Karmela and Vaeda (standing).

August 13, 2024 - Tuesday

Rich and I took a ride over to S. Glens Falls to visit Perry as he continues to upgrade his backyard and facilities. While they worked together on building a new fence and entry way, I pulled out my yarn, sat back and enjoyed the time and view. 

August 14, 2024 - Wednesday

Nights are cooling down, so pool time is getting short. Here is daughter, Shannon and school comfort dog, Macie, enjoying the moment. They return to school tomorrow. 

August 16, 2024 - Friday Happy 15th Birthday, Jacob 

Jacob has grown so much this year - physically and emotionally. He is now 6’3” with no signs of slowing down! He started working while still 14 at Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra)  directing cars to park properly. He really likes the idea of putting money in the bank. At the same time, football practice took place in the extremely hot and humid evenings. 

August 21, 2024 - Wednesday 

Finally got to meet up with Joyce for a 2-hour dinner at the Morgan House - forgot to get pictures. 

August 22, 2024 - Thursday 

And just like that, she’s gone! Marilyn pulled out today bound for the Wild West. Thank you for the enormous amount of heavy lifting you did digging the weeds out of my gardens💕 And for the inspiration to walk harder and longer without breaks😛 Much appreciated…

A few of my favorite former Big Y coworkers came to Lee for lunch - love catching up with them…Kim, Tony, Pat 💕

Still meeting up with East Coast friends before we pull out on September 17th…