Spring does finally come to New England. As we look for each and every tiny sign of a bud or leaf on the trees, we know we will soon be on the water. We fill the days with famly and friends and boat preparations. The days will get sunnier and warmer, and Kindred Spirit calls to us – “Come get me ready!”
Ceci is in Girl Scouts which means spring is COOKIE TIME! Her troop paired with a local brewery to host a “beer and cookie pairing” event. This was a new one for us. Who had ever heard of such thing. Well, a quick google proved to me that this is a very common event across the country. Who knew??
While Ceci and Kerri manned the table, Al, Ryan, Caleb and I people watched and had a drink. But not with the cookies.
On an early dismissal school day, we picked up Caleb and Ceci and visited the Peabody Museum in New Haven. The dinosaur skeletons are always amazing to see and there are many other exhibits to explore. The Peabody is free, with free parking, which I think is really special, and unusual.
On another day, the weather was nice enough to do some tree climbing in the park.
Addie asked me if she could weave something. She didn’t have to ask twice! Her goal was to make wool hearts like I had made last winter for Valentine’s Day. I gathered my red and pink wools and we began the project together on an early dismissal day. We went through each step of the process together. I left my little loom with her and she continued on her own until it was time to remove the cloth from the loom.
We warped the loom together and then began to weave.
Once off the loom it was time to wash and dry the fabric so that it would shrink and “felt” which makes it cuttable without fraying. We were visiting for the afternoon and realized that Addie had disappeared for awhile. We found her in the laundry room watching the wool fabric wash and then dry.
Throw in a little math – measure before washing and drying and then after.
I love her smile! She did such a good job. Now we have to find time to cut, stuff and sew the hearts.
In late March, Al and I enjoyed a quiet but delicious birthday celebration for him.
Al was serenaded by Addie and then by the waitstaff in the restaurant.
Getting together with friends through the spring, although I did not always take photos. St. Patrick’s Day dinner at SYC with Marcia and Dan. Dinner with Sam and Kayda when they visited us on their way home to Maine. Ice cream with George and Patrice after our Easter hike.
The family has become involved in exercising our civic rights and responsibilities by joining the protests on April 5 and 19th.
Even the kids made posters
Middletown on April 5th
Durham on April 19th.
We are still having our Easter Egg hunt and brunch together. The kids are still young enough to enjoy the hunt.
Waffles and bacon for the kids. Decorating their goodie bags before the hunt.
Searching outside, high and low for the eggs. This year I assigned colors to each. We are still befuddled by the loss of two eggs. Nowhere to be found! Who hid those?????
Finally, finally, it was time to unwrap our Kindred Spirit.
Slicing the shrinkwrap, dropping it to the ground, and then folding it for recycling.
She breathes a sigh of relief. Soon, soon, back in the water!
May 10th was an overcast and gray day but it did not damper our spirits – It was launch day! We planned to launch Kindred Spirit with Cutting Class so that we could assist each other. It is also makes the day more fun to share it and do it together.
The launch routine has not changed, although there is still a tiny little thought that runs through your mind…… please do not drop her.
Sailboats are more work to launch with whole mast issue. Al helped Dan move the mast over to lift well in preparation. Although the sun came out the winds also rose. Too windy to handle the mast so Cutting Class was left to sleep overnight in the lift.
Before we left for the day we walked down B dock to get a view of Kindred Spirit settled into her slip. The sun was shining.
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