Monday, April 5, 2021

Happy Easter!

We received the final word this week that Sam is officially heading back to school 5 days a week starting next Monday!📚 It's amazing to think that it has been more than a year since these kids have been in a classroom full time. Last spring was rough all around for everyone, but I know we have been lucky this year in that Sam has thrived in the hybrid model despite the challenges. She is incredibly conscientious in completing all of her at-home school work and has enjoyed and done well the days she has been in the classroom as well. This change to full-time means moving classrooms and teachers so that the school can accommodate all the students coming back, which will no doubt bring with it its own challenges and anxieties until everyone settles in. And that includes us on the parent end too! After 13 months of having one routine, we'll be on to something new. I will miss having more time together at home, but I know that it will be good, and we are grateful for the thought that the school district has put into the entirety of schooling in this Covid era. There is no way to please everyone but they have done a good job navigating it all. So, wish us luck! It almost seems like the start of a new school year except that it's 8 months into the year and there are only a few to go 😂😉

The other excitement of the week is that the governor accelerated the vaccination plan allowing everyone 16+ to receive vaccinations as of next Wednesday, 4/7. For those of us waiting anxiously, this was welcome news. And even better, after a bit of compulsive refreshing, I happened to get onto the Midcoast site when they were adding new slots for next week and so both of us were able to secure spots for Wednesday 🎉🎉 We feel incredibly grateful and I have never looked forward to getting a shot more! 😷

It was also a busy work week for both Ryan and I, and honestly by the time I got off the computer at 7:05 pm on Thursday after a 6:00 pm conference call, I.WAS.DONE. With everything going on, my running over the weekend felt a bit flat and it was a good week for a down week!

The wind was whipping all day long on Monday with temps only in the low 40s. We decided to skip the walk. I probably should have just gone out anyway to clear my head after a long, busy day at the computer. Sigh.

Tuesday, I headed into work early and left early so that I could get in an afternoon run in the sunshine. Warmer but still quite windy. Headed over Mt. A and onto the cart paths but then decided to run down to the river and back. The trails are drying out quickly and the river was roaring. (6.0 miles)



Wednesday I headed out around 6:15 am onto the powerlines. It was already fairly light out by then, as sunrise is moving steadily earlier and earlier these days. Still managed to catch some nice color in the sky. A mild, breezy morning. The ice has melted out on the powerlines but things are pretty soft. I think I was pretty lucky things were semi-frozen, as if not, there would have been a whole lot of sinkholes to fall into! The singletrack through the woods parallel to Homeplace is completely dry. A bit tired but happy to have gotten out. (6.0 miles)




It rained through the night and into the early afternoon on Thursday. I know we need it, and Thursday was a rest day so it was ok with me! Took Sam to swim practice and decided I would get out for a short walk instead of sitting in the car (we still can't go into the Y to watch practice yet due to Covid-19 capacity constraints). The skies had cleared and it was nice to get out and move a bit. I walked a loop on the sidewalks, enjoying the crocus and snowdrops blooming in the yards, and then headed behind the Y at the end of my walk to check out the trails, where I found the first trailing arbutus patch of the season and a garter snake attempting to warm itself in a semi-sunny patch. Fun sightings for the afternoon! (1.77 miles walked)


💖🌸


Checked all the vaccine sites early on Friday morning with no luck. Everything was filled. Dropped Sam off at school and then headed out into the Cathance in an attempt to avoid the wind and enjoy the woods. It was cold - only 27 degrees - brrr! - and the ground underfoot was soft and semi-frozen. The river was roaring and I found a fair amount of needle ice. One deer and one turkey vulture seen, along with one patch of trailing arbutus in a sunny spot. (8.0 miles) 




Came home and while eating a snack, decided to check the vaccination sites again. Found that Midcoast had opened up some spots next week and both of us were able to get slots on Wednesday, the first day of eligibility for anyone over 16+! 🎉 Never has an appointment for a shot sounded been so exciting!


Did the typical Friday errands and cleaning and then enjoyed a yummy dinner of sushi with Mom and Dad to celebrate the coming vaccines! Yum 😋🍜🍚

Wasn't really feeling it on Saturday morning, so relaxed for a bit longer on the couch and headed out a bit later than normal. Cold and windy once again but the sky was bright and the sun was shining nicely. Headed out on the powerlines and looped down along the Riverside trails. A lot of needle ice on the powerlines making for some interesting footing! (8.2 miles)


After lunch the three of us headed across the street for a wander on the powerlines and Mt. A. trails. The sun was warm, the breeze cool, and the wood frogs were calling in one of the deeper pools at the edge of the woods! 💚🐸 (2.4 miles walked)

We could see all the movement of the frogs in the water! Love hearing these early spring sounds!

I had been going back and forth over whether this week should be another week with a 15-miler or a down week. In the end, I decided on the latter, so Sunday morning, I headed out a little before 8:00 for a road run. Another cool morning but bright and sunny. (8.0 miles)

Then it was home for a small easter egg hunt and key lime pie baking!


Show us how you really feel about juicing all these limes 😂



Mid-afternoon, Sam and I headed over to Mom and Dad's by car while Ryan commuted over by foot to get his run in. We were going to head out for our walk while he ran, but we dillydallied enough that he got to the house just as we were heading out the door. It was a lovely afternoon with a lot of people out walking and working in their yards. A nice loop around the Topsham Heights neighborhood. (1.8 miles walked)

Then it was onto the easter egg hunt around Mom and Dad's house! They were much more extravegant with 28 eggs hidden! Sam had fun searching for and collecting eggs, and she certainly now has enough candy to last a while 😂



2-foot candy snake! 🐍



Dinner was delish and finished off with the key lime pie, which was delicious and very nicely decorated with an easter theme! Happy Easter everyone! 😋🐣🐰






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