The Story of Orion and Pinocchio

On Dan's recent trip to Rome he bought a wooden Pinocchio toy for Orion, which was an instant hit.

His investigation of the toy let to a complete disregard for patient Calamity's personal space. (Orion likes to treat furry animals as armchairs.)Calamity eventually tired of this breach of protocol.

Orion really loved this toy. I say loved, because Pinocchio turned into a real, albeit miniature, boy with long nose, pointy hat, and kneeless limbs that walked off during our quick trip to Manhattan. We miss him, but hope that he enjoys his big city adventure, where he may not lead a gentler life than the one we gave him.

Orion drives the truck

Orion got to sit in the driver's seat of a repairman's truck today. It inspired his longest intelligible phrase to date: gih, gih, gih, gih GUCK! (Big, big, big, big truck!).

Strawberry Picking (mid-June)

As promised--cute pictures of Orion at Echo Lake Beach

...and from our hike later that day

Acadia Pictures!!

found it.misty, cloudy, silvery
lupines were in full bloom everywhere
Dan holding a horseshoe crab under the supervision of a young marine biologist
On a hike, Aaron, Joni and "shrimpy"

Us
see above
A group of us at the top of Cadillac "mountain" engulfed in thick fog and wind.
bad visibility in the fog--but we did it!
On Sand Beach, rainy and beautiful

more from the Flying Mountain hike
see ya later

Back from Acadia

Last week we found ourselves in Acadia Maine with Grandma Susie, Grandma Pam, Grandpa Mike, (Great-)Aunt Laurie, Uncle Rich, Ashley, Auntie Joni, Cousin Shrimpy, Uncle Aaron, Uncle Gabe, and am I missing anybody? Gabe's girlfriend visited via Skype, and we all seemed to talk to Angela (particularly during awkward busy/driving moments) as well. It was misty and moisty but we had a great time hiking wading eating biking kayaking movie-watching marshmallow-roasting baking reading talking and generally relaxing. It was green and leafy ("foliage overload" said Ashley, tho' I like it that way.) I brought work (ha!...well OK I accomplished some writing, but never as much as planned) for a "writing getaway" and Orion had babysitters galore to read"The Cat in the Hat" to him. Or play with trucks or rocks. Dan and I achieved two dates, one of them double. I for one am lobstered out (but can always eat more blueberries). Anyway, we're unpacking and looking for our camera...I hope we didn't leave it on Echo beach, because of all the cute pictures of Orion digging in sand and wading au natural...anyone know where it is?...

Reach for the Stars--and the Star-nosed Mole

I wish I could have visited Nantucket in 1900...we went on our 1st anniversary and luckily there was a cancellation and so we could afford the hotel. Anyway, it was too early in the season so the Mariah Mitchell house was closed, and she's one of my childhood heroes, so I'll just have to go back someday...maybe when we're millionaires...

Now go check out Angela's blog. Just call her Shelly Silverstein. That's MY little sister.