It's always bittersweet, the last free and easy summer days before school starts. Despite the restrictions and challenges due to Covid-19, we had a lot of fun local explorations, good adventures and some great camping trips here in Maine. Was summer what we were planning for? No. But we're living in crazy times, and just did the best we could and tried to enjoy things as much as possible. And now we are on the verge of the unknown with Sam starting middle school and jumping into hybrid schooling in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic. Cross your fingers for us!
On the Mom and Dad front, it has been so nice having them around and enjoying dinners together, and Sam has had the chance to get out with them a number of time since they've arrived for some fun, which has been really nice! And even better, they signed a contract on a new condo at the end of this week! It's all very exciting, although it is still going to be a little while until they can move in. That part remains slightly stressful, but we are so happy they've found a place that they really like and that is a good fit! 💗
Monday: A rest day with a lot of time spent at the computer and on the phone. The three of us finally got out around 4:30 pm for a walk around the block. We wanted to give Sam a chance to walk her route to school and confirm how far it would be, so we walked the roads. We stopped at the front door of the middle school to take a look in and as we were walking away, a man came running after us, asking us if we had wanted to enter the building. We told him that no, we were just checking things out as Sam was starting at the school next week and he introduced himself as the principal and asked us if we wanted to come in for a quick tour. Wow! Such a truly nice gesture, and we so appreciated it. It was really great to get inside the building and see the space and let Sam have the chance to envision herself there. Dr. Ottow was just so nice and made us all feel so welcome, and with so much uncertainly surrounding how this school year is going to start and how it is all going to go, that went a long way to easing our anxiety about things. (2.0 miles walked)
Tuesday: Up and out onto the cart paths and around the Heath in the early morning light. Really pretty sky. Saw two turkeys and a few frogs. (7.0 miles)
Cotton sedge and sunrise over the Heath 😍😍
I headed into work for the day and Sam went for a swim in the hotel pool with Mom during the afternoon. Fun! And even better, the underwater lights changed color, which seemed to be quite exciting! 🎉
Wednesday: Up early for a road run around town. Cool temps but still quite humid. Stopped to pick a few blackberries at a roadside patch as berry season is winding down and I never want to miss out on an opportunity for trailside snacks! (7.2 miles)
Thursday: Mom and Dad took Sam and Anne up to Reid State Park for a beach day complete with a stop at Fielder's Choice for ice cream before coming home. Ryan worked all day, while I worked most the day and then did the grocery shopping before coming home. I think the girls and the grandparents got the better end of the deal!
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Friday: Frosty's reopened for the first time since closing back in March, so of course I got out of the house early to stand in line for donuts! There was just no question 😃🍩😋💛 Yum!
Then it was off to Bradbury to meet up with the ladies for a run! So much fun to catch up and see everyone. I've missed our Friday miles together 💖 (7.0 miles)
Saturday: Late start this morning after being woken up around 1:00 am by Gigi puking on the bed 🙀 and not being able to go back to sleep. Gah. Beautiful morning though for a road run around town. Felt good. (9.0 miles)
Later in the day, Ryan and I finally got his car unpacked of all the summer camping stuff (nothing like procrastinating!) and cleaned out and organized the shed, while Sam spent a few hours riding and playing around the neighborhood with Emma and Abby, even getting to help release of the last monarchs that Emma's family had been raising this summer. So cool!
Sunday: Out early for the Sunday long run. Beautiful morning. Nice and cool although still humid. Ran out to Head of Tides and then finished up with a loop on the powerlines. Lots of color out there - red cardinal flowers, white turtlehead, purple aster, neon yellow spindle-shaped yellow coral fungi and a fair number of other mushrooms as well. Saw one hare, one towhee, one osprey flying over Head of Tides and a group of 5 ATV riders. (15.0 miles)
Mom and Dad came over for lunch and then we all took a walk across the street so they could see the middle school. Warm out! (1.9 miles walked)
We finished up the day with a few games and an Indian food dinner. Yum!
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