Start of the Week

Had to go back to reality on Monday but it was going to be another short work week so I can't complain too much! Sam joined the rest of the crew over at Mom and Dad's for  the afternoon and they walked downtown, wandering into some of the shops and got gelato of course 😋😊

Ryan and I headed over around 5:00 for dinner, which somehow devolved into a spontaneous trip out to Fielder's Choice for yet another ice cream. I mean, I won't say no 😂😆That is what vacation is for, right? Oh wait, it's not my vacation? Oh well... 😉

Kristen, Morgan and Alex flew out on Tuesday, so we said our goodbyes after we finished up our ice cream. It was so great to have them here and to be able to enjoy some summer fun with them!

Tuesday morning, I headed out for a run around Highland Green before heading into work for the day. After telling Val the other week that I had yet to see any red efts this season, I was thrilled to find two on the back dirt road, including one who was really tiny. Love these little ones 😍 (6.0 miles)

Sam headed out to the Point to hang out with Anne and family for the afternoon and then Ryan and I drove out to join them after work for dinner. It was a beautiful day, so much cooler than it has been, and it is always lovely to be right out on the ocean! We had a fun evening chatting, playing cornhole, eating, drinking and hanging around the fire, with Kristen and Phil setting off some fireworks to wrap up the night. Thanks for a fun time, guys, and as we always say, we are so lucky Sam found a best friend who has great parents!😊 

Took off Wednesday in advance of our end of the week adventure up to Baxter State Park. We've been so busy, which has been great, but there was a lot to cross off the to-do list to make sure we were ready for 3 nights of camping! Managed to sleep in ever so slightly and didn't get out of bed until 5:30, then relaxed a bit with my coffee at the computer, and finally got out the door for a run around 7:30. I had really hoped I'd be able to pull off another 50-ish mile week but a few miles into the run, I could tell a longer run was just not going to happen and therefore a shift for the week was going to be necessary. After a fun and very full week of family and friends and socializing, I was just plain wiped out. I did a short loop on the powerlines, with lots of stops for berries, and called it good. One deer, eating in one of the blueberry patches, seen. (7.0 miles)

Spent the rest of the day doing errands and crossing things off the to do list in preparation for our Baxter camping trip! We are staying at South Branch, in the northern part of the park. Super excited to be heading up to stay in the park this year, although when Mom asked Sam the other day what we were going to do up there, the first thing Sam mentioned was that there was no water, electricity or cell service 😂😂 

Got up early for a road run on Thursday morning before we headed out, and then home to get things packed up so that we could head north! (8.0 miles)

Hazy, Hot & Humid

Whew, it has been a hot week here!

Monday was a zero day and then I did not get up and run in the murky heaviness on Tuesday morning, so it turned into a very warm late afternoon family walk kind of day. Despite moving at a very mellow pace, we were all sweating at the end. (1.7 miles walked)

And so it was that I started my run week on Wednesday 😂 with an early morning road loop before sitting down at the computer for the rest of the day. So humid! (7.0 miles)

Kristen, Morgan and Morgan's boyfriend Alex arrived on Wednesday night for visit, and with Larry, Nancy, Alex, Laura, Sean, Marisa and the boys having rented a lake house on Little Sebago for the week, on Thursday we all headed over there for a fun and slightly chaotic afternoon with the Raymond clan.

But first, we had the hose on the dishwasher to fix, as it broke and started spilling water out under the sink late in the evening on Wednesday. Gah! It could have been a much worse disaster as Ryan was at least still downstairs and noticed a weird sound and we didn't end up coming downstairs in the morning to a flooded kitchen, but was still a big pain in the neck at 9:00 pm, and meant that at 7:00 am Ryan was over at Home Depot getting a part to fix things. Once again, could have been much worse, as it was a relatively easy fix, but I could have done without that stress 😜

I did at least manage to get in a run out on the powerlines. As is the theme this week, it was already way too warm and humid, which meant a very soggy run, but it did include stops for not only blueberries but raspberries and the first few blackberries of the season too. Yum! Two deer and several wood lilies seen. (7.0 miles)

After my run, I got a few errands done and then we met up with Mom, Dad, Kristen, Alex and Morgan and all headed over to Little Sebago where we spent the afternoon sweating (so humid - thankfully  much of the property was shaded, but honestly nothing could combat the stagnant air and humidity), playing in the water, chatting, eating, drinking and enjoying being together. It was so good to see everyone, even if it was slightly overwhelming, as I think there must have been 22 of us!!! And yes, everyone did take a Covid test before arriving and we spent as much time outside as possible, although a crazy storm with hard rain and strong winds and thunder and lightening went through around 4:30 which necessitated a move indoors for a while. And Alex, Morgan's boyfriend, was such a great sport and happily and easily just went along with all the craziness than inevitably ensues when all of us Raymonds get together 😂

Morgan, Alex and Sam spent a lot of time out in the water, on the floats and swimming around.

The whole clan

And on the way home, we saw multiple rainbows! 🌈

Needless to say, between the morning run, the heat and humidity, the time spent outside and 5 hours of socializing, I was BEAT by the time we got home. We ordered Japanese take-out for dinner, showered and then Sam and I were in bed by 8:00 pm 😂😴Nothing like family to tire a girl out!😉😆

Friday morning, I got out for an early morning road run. But seriously, I'll say it again, this heat and humidity. Whew! Definitely rough. I did have on new shoes, which were nice and cushiony, but why do they think I want white shoes?! (8.0 miles)

Gigi is very happy I got new shoes. She LOVES boxes! Such a silly kitty😹

After a quick shower, I headed downtown to the farmer's market, stopped to get donuts at Frosty's 🍩😋, and crossed Target shopping off my to do list. Then it was time to hit the beach!

We set up out at Half Mile Beach at Reid State Park. It was low tide and actually really lovely along the water. Quite breezy and probably about 10 degrees cooler than at home. The kids made fast work of getting in the water and then later we took a walk down to the tidal river and did some walking in the water there. Always beautiful and not even all that crowded! I did turn on my watch for our walk to the inlet and back - yes, I'm a total dork😉 (1.0 miles walked)

I like how Kristen's hair is blowing totally horizontally across Mom's face 😂💨

They really went all in!

Swimming in the inlet

Of course, we had to stop at Fielder's Choice for ice cream on the way home and then after a yummy dinner with the first fresh corn of the season at Mom and Dad's, we headed home to bed. Another full but fun day!

Saturday morning, I got up and out a little before 7:00 am. The busy week and all the heat and humidity caught up with me, I was definitely tired out. But a pretty morning to be out, even if I was trailed by deer flies most of the route. Darn those buggers!! (10.0 miles)

We decided to skip the trip into Portland in the afternoon and instead had a relaxing day at home, with a bit of cleaning and organizing completed too. Watching the temperature climb on the thermometer, I think we were all more than happy to not be out in the heat again!

And thus, the long run was relegated to Sunday! Looking at the weather, it was apparent it would be hot and humid again, and early, so I was out the door at 6:00 am. It felt "cooler" for a while, but it was still humid, and with about an hour to go, the clouds broke and the sun came out and it got hot, and I most certainly was reduced to more of a shuffle and walking some hills, that's for sure! 😩Started with a loop on Highland Green Road and then hit the powerlines, with lots of berry stops and one doe and fawn seen. The deerflies were abundant so I decided to finish up with a road loop for the final 7 miles. Definitely not a super pretty run, but got it done. And so hot and sweaty when I got home. WHEW! (20.0 miles)

 

Had a few hours to rest and then we headed back to Reid for the afternoon. The kids got right in the water and stayed there for about an hour and a half, while the rest of us stood at the edge of the surf and that was more than enough to cool us down!😆There was a cool sea fog and a strong breeze and it was very nice.

Boogie boarding in the surf

Once they got out of the water, we took a walk down the beach to the inlet (1.0 miles walked) before packing up to head to Five Islands for an early dinner. 

So many terns flitting about and diving into the water!

Love these little ones as they run along the water's edge. Sanderlings, I think

Not yet super busy at Five Islands, and beautiful as always. We had a yummy dinner of fried seafood and Alex tried his first lobster and steamers! It was a fun way to wrap up the day and the weekend 😊

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😋🦞

And in backyard animal news, we had mama raccoon visit with her two little ones (second one is hiding behind mom in the photo. So cute 😍 I love seeing all the wildlife come to visit!