Summer Traditions

An August summer tradition for our family is to enjoy a long weekend in Maine to enjoy the beauty of the Seacoast, lobster and baseball! We usually do this trip around the last weekend of August - just before Bryan returns to the rigors of academic life and I return to school. It's a bittersweet trip as it always signals the near end of summer.

We always combine the trip with "back to school" shopping at the outlets in Kittery as well as enjoying a lobster and steamed clam lunch at our favorite spot - Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier at Kittery Point.


Nothing like Steamers!


Bryan's 2/12 lb. lobster and Ed and I split the larger 3 1/2 lb. The ONLY way to eat lobster in Maine! Note the size of that claw....It was delicious.


Enjoying the day!


Chit chatting over roasted corn and black bean salsa and a couple of brews while we await the arrival of the feast!


Bry going at it! Steamer heaven......



A trip North to Portland to cheer on the AA Sea Dogs rounds out the weekend. You just never quite know who on that team will make it all the way to the Red Sox! On this particular trip, we watched the Sea Dogs against the Trenton Thunder - the New York Yankee AA affiliate. Great for Bryan as he was on the look out for Alfredo Aceves, a Yankee reliever on rehab duty who just happened to be pitching that night. He threw for 2 1/3 innings! What a thrill to see the major league pitcher....and they did win!

Usually on this trip to Maine we visit many photo op sites - Two Lights State Park, The Nuble Lighthouse and Perkin's Cove, however, due to chilly temps, rain, and overcast skies, we had to pass. Too bad, as we all know how much Ed and Bry just LOVE to pose for me as I take a million photos!!

It was a very fun trip and we always look forward to returning to Maine for more family memories!



Bryan and Ed ..... two intense baseball fans!


Hadlock Field, Home of the Portland Sea Dogs (The minor league AA level affiliate of the Boston Red Sox!)


Outside of the ballpark....with Slugger!

Anthony and Heather - Wedded Bliss!

On Saturday, August 14, Anthony and Heather were married! What a lovely day and the perfect summer afternoon/evening for a wedding. We celebrated with them on Friday evening at their "pre-wedding" dinner party and then again on Saturday for their wedding. It was a fun weekend of wedding festivities filled with friendship and love. This is the third child of our group of dear friends that has married in the last five years. More to come, I'm sure!! We cannot wait......



Heather and Anthony Gragg August 14, 2010



Our dear friends, Ken and Monica Gragg, Mother and Father of the groom.



The whole gang....at our best! :-) I believe that we are in the middle of singing a Christmas carol in this photo. Cherished friends.


Thoroughly enjoying the day! Congratulations to Heather and Anthony.....

Bryan's true love and pastime...(OURS TOO!!)....

Bring it on! With this time at bat, Bryan hit a single and drove in a run!

Approaching the plate


On his way to steal towards second!


A perfect weekend afternoon or even a more perfect summer evening will involve watching Bryan play baseball. When Bryan was born, and as a toddler, Bryan had access to some form of baseball bat, ball and glove. His father made sure of that! I recall Bryan learning to catch a ball as it was rolled to him as early as he could sit up by himself....which was around five months. I also recall Bryan laying on top of Ed's chest at around that age and Ed tossing a soft ball up in the air, holding Bryan's hands/arms up in the air to catch it as it came back down. The look on Bry's face, even at that young age, was so intense, as he concentrated fully on catching the ball. As Bryan got older, he played T-Ball, and Farm League, and Little League, and Babe Ruth (with his father coaching him most of the journey!) ....progressing from the the Colchester Middle School teams to the Colchester High School team, as well as the Colchester Junior Cannons to the Colchester Cannons baseball team for the summer months. During the summer breaks from Vermont, Bryan also played on the Green Mountain baseball league...a local wood bat league based in S. Burlington. Bryan has played every position, and has excelled as a pitcher, catcher, and center fielder for which he received state high school and legion honors.
Bryan chose to attend the University of Vermont, knowing full well that the University hosted a Division One, very competitive baseball team. To Bryan's credit, he tried out diligently each fall for his first two years, as a walk on for a pitcher slot. Unfortunately, the competition for the team was highly selective with most of the slots on the team recruited earlier in the year. Each year he made it to the final cut and walked away somewhat disappointed, however, elated that he put himself out there and gave it a good shot! We were very proud of him for his determination and pursuit of a goal; for his love of the game. Eventually, during Bryan's sophomore year, UVM disbanded the baseball program due to athletic/program budget cutbacks. However, the following year, UVM was able reinstate baseball as a competitive club sport. During the spring of 2010, Bryan was playing ball on Centennial Baseball Field, sporting a Vermont baseball uniform!

As he enters his senior year at Vermont, we look forward to the Fall schedule of games, as well as a full Spring schedule as well! We will be in heaven at the ball park, once again, watching Bryan play a sport he loves and grew up with! What a lesson of life to never stop pursuing your passions no matter what obstacles. We love Bryan and we love baseball!

Spotlight on Maggie!

Maggie, our sweetie pie, (most days!), Lhasa Apso has been a part of our family for 11 years. She came into our lives when Bryan was ten years old, and he begged and pleaded with us for a dog. He said and promised all of the right things that a child says when attempting to negotiate a new pet: "I PROMISE that I will feed her EVERY DAY".....I PROMISE I will walk her three times a day"....."I PROMISE to bathe her"...."I will take her to college with me"....I will.....I will......I will......!
"Please, please, please......PUHLEEEAASE"!!!
Well, we buckled, and began to research local breeders who lived in Vermont. We found a local breeder who just so happened to have a litter of new puppies "on the way". She phoned us when they were born, and in four weeks we were invited over to see them. When we first "met" Maggie, she wagged her little tail furiously at us and won us all over instantly. It was love at first sight and the rest is history!
Oh, and by the way, Bryan did not take Maggie to UVM with him-(although, in all fairness, he has asked on occasion), and Ed and I pretty much walk, bathe, and feed her. That's just the way it is.

Burlington - The Waterfront!

For the past twenty or so years, we have called Vermont HOME. Burlington is such a beautiful city with the right combination of gorgeous lake and mountain views. We love the waterfront and this view speaks to the beauty of our area. Eight months out of the year you will find us here! This photo was taken at the waterfront, near the fishing pier, right on the Burlington bike path, where we walk and bike, and often visit to watch the sunsets from the boathouse. Also, we frequently come down during the warm summer months for a lovely VT tradition..our favorite creemees! What is not to love about this view??

A summers evening at the Vermont Mozart Festival

On Friday, August 6, Ed and I had the opportunity to attend a performance of the Vermont Mozart Festival. (Thank you Jackie and Bob!) The 2010 Festival celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederic Chopin. The evening's performance was a Chopin Recital with guest pianist Rieko Aizawa. With the backdrop of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountain range of New York, at beautiful Shelburne Farms, we were treated to a truly magical evening. Prior to the evenings performance we met Jackie and Bob, Deb and Don, and John and Sue, for a picnic supper on the grounds of Shelburne Farms. True to Vermonts weather, it was a tad chilly! As you can tell from the photos - long pants, jackets, and blankets were a must.....yes, it was an August evening, however, that is summer in Vermont folks!
The music was exhilarating, the backdrop breathtaking, and the company grand!

Heather's Bridal Shower

Monica, with her lovely future daughter in law Heather, and Heather's mom, Carol Socha


Our dear friends, Ken and Moncia Gragg, will see their oldest son Anthony get married on August 14, 2010. As part of our Vermont extended family, we are thrilled for them and are so excited to attend this lovely event. More information on their wedding will take place in a future blog entry! Stay tuned.
This photo was taken at one of Heather's bridal showers, hosted by a dear friend, Marjorie Gadue. The dinner shower was on August 5th. Heather received many wonderful gifts along with written advice from each guest on how to sustain a happy marriage! It was a fun evening!!

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy birthday to Ed's mom! On Friday, August 6, she turned 86 years young. We were able to celebrate with her and Ed's father, at their favorite Chinese restaurant in Burlington. Also celebrating the day was Robert, (Ed's brother from MA), and Luz, (Ed's sister from FL along with her children, Charlie and Andrew). They are spending the summer in Shelburne, Vermont and will return to their home in St. Augustine, Florida in September.

Morning Walks

Everything is so green!



A peaceful route.


I begin each new day with a (somewhat) brisk, two mile morning walk. Some days are easier than others, however, I find that the day goes so well after it's finished! Some people are addicted to exercise - I can't say that rings true for me, however, the walks are built into my routine and I miss them whenever life's schedule gets in the way and I have to skip a day. I wanted to share some of the scenery along my walking route. It's so peaceful and serene - it's a quiet route only disrupted by rabbits hopping by, squirrels running and jumping from one tree to the next, and chirping birds. Occasionally a cat or two will be laying in the middle of the road, awaiting a quick "scratch" from me.....it truly is a great way to begin the day.

Summer's Bounty

I love, love, love summer in Vermont for so very many reasons. One that I will highlight here in this blog entry - Vermont's Summer Bounty! The veggies and fruits are so fabulous this time of year. I wish the growing season could be longer and could actually continue well into the winter months. Everything is so fresh and so delicious. I had a craving for a favorite recipe this weekend - Orzo with roasted veggies. My determined craving turned into a lovely dinner for all of us last night. After a well stocked trip to the farmstand, I went to it.....grilling summer squash, zucchini, red and yellow peppers along with roasting mushrooms, asparagus tips, and red onions. Everything was mixed with the orzo and a light dressing of freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil. It was heavenly....if I do say so myself. Thanks for indulging me and my brief turn into foodie heaven! My intention is not to turn this family blog into a foodie blog, however, I do enjoy cooking and my turn into the culinary arena just may happen again. Stay tuned!......



After all of that grilling and roasting, here is the finished platter of roasted veggies. Ready to be tossed with the orzo and the lovely lemon/oil dressing!


Dinner's ready! Come on over........