Summer

Summer has definitely hit! First deer flies of the season, heat, humidity, overgrown grasses, you name it, you got it! 😜

Ryan was still away at the start of the week. Sam had her annual well-child visit on Monday in the early afternoon and then we drove down to Old Orchard Beach so she could spend the night and the next day with Lauren at the beach. Great place to be as the heat filtered in! 

Tuesday was a walk around the school block at 6:45 am in an attempt to beat the heat but it was toasty already! Had a long day of work capped off with a 5:00 pm meeting and then headed to pick up Sam. Thankfully Mel was nice enough to meet me in Yarmouth!

The heat and humidity were still hanging around on Wednesday morning when I headed out at 6:00 pm for a run on the roads. It was heavy and oppressive out with no air movement and deer flies. Yay summer 🤪🥵😝 (6.0 miles)

Thursday was another 6:00 am road run but thankfully the humidity had departed and it was a nice morning! Lovely to not have it be so stifling! (6.0 miles)  

Friday, I had to go into work in the morning for a bit and then did my errands around town, which meant a mid-afternoon run. Warm. Ran down to the river and back. The Heath is awash in rose pogonias. Never seen so many. So cool! (6.0 miles)

Sam started her lifeguard certification course on Friday night. Then it was back to the Y on Saturday morning from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. I dropped her off and did a few errands and then came home to get some work done, as it was raining and if I could wait it out, I would! Unfortunately, the rain didn't quite let us as I had hoped and when I headed out a bit after 1:30 pm, it was misty and damp and then turned to a more solid rain later in the run. Stuck to the roads and meandered around to get in the mileage. (12.0 miles)

It was back up to the Y on Sunday morning for the final day of the lifeguard certification course, and I made plans to run with Emily since I was in her neck of the woods! She met me at 9:30 and we headed out onto the Whiskeag Trail. It was misting when we started and very very humid. We had fun catching up as we ran along, although running is relative as with all the overgrown trail and slick rocks and roots, there was most definitely some walking too 😆 Many patches of partridgeberry in bloom along the trail. It took us a while to get up to Thorne Head, and Emily had lunch plans, so we came back via the road which was most definitely quicker and much smoother - ha! It was great to get in a run with a friend and to see Emily, I don't think we've run together since April, so we were definitely overdue!! (8.0 miles)

 

Ronnie 💗💔

Tuesday was an muggy afternoon walk around the school block with Ryan. (2.6 miles walked)

Wednesday morning, Ryan was up and out early for his work trip out to Jackson Hole and Seattle, and I got out for a 6:00 am run on the roads and the edge of the Heath before heading into the office. One baby red eft, six turkeys and the first rose pogonia of the season. Also, pouring! ☔️ (6.0 miles)

Thursday was a day off of work for me for Juneteenth. I headed out around 8:00 am work a run through Highland Green and along the top of Foreside Field. Muggy, foggy, humid morning. (7.0 miles)

After I got back, Sam and I headed out do run a few errands and get her some driving practice. Then, later in the day, the two of us headed to the vet with Ronnie, who had deteriorated rapidly since the weekend. 

Oh Ronnie 💗💔 Almost 22 years old and 20 years as part of our family. I remember watching you through the window at our place in Brunswick way back when, stalking turkeys in the woods, and how you curled up under the covers in bed with me after we took you in when the neighbors left you behind. You had my heart from the start  Even in your cranky yowling old man phase, you were loving and sweet and loyal. It was hard to let you go, but it was time. We are going to miss you, buddy, and the house feels quiet without your presence. But now you can have some peace and not be in pain. And may there be a whole lot of treats waiting for you over the rainbow bridge 🌈🐱

Sam and I picked up comfort noodles for dinner after the appointment and Mom and Dad came over with a bottle of wine to remember Ronnie, which was really sweet. I may have stayed up a bit too late drinking a bit too much wine and watching Ted Lasso, in an effort to cope with the sadness, but 🤷 

Frankly did not have the mental energy to get up and out early Friday morning, so ended up being an afternoon run after some errands and a haircut for Sam. Wind was blowing dirt and pollen around the whole way, ugh! One deer. seen Warm. (6.0 miles)

Saturday was a slow, low energy mid morning road and trail meander. Warm bright and breezy. Should have brought water. So thirsty. Love seeing the rose pogonia and the rose twisted stalk in bloom. (9.0 miles)

Another warm day on Sunday and another mid-morning run. Ran out on the powerlines. Crown vetch in bloom, the smell of tea roses and hay scented ferns in the air, and one little fledgling on the ground - a sparrow, I think. Had originally intended to run further but feeling the week a bit so just did what felt good. First deer fly of the season 😩🪰 (8.0 miles)

After lunch, Sam and I drove up to the Fielder's Choice in Manchester for ice cream and some driving practice, and then had a quiet afternoon finishing up the day and the week with dinner at Mom and Dad's. 

Last Week of School

Monday was an after dinner walk with Ryan to catch up after him being away all of last week. Nice and breezy. (2.7 miles walked)

Wednesday was the first day of exams for Sam, and as she had already taken the AP test for Human Geography earlier in May, she didn't have to go in until 10:30. I got some work done early and then headed out at 7:45 for a run. Nice morning but my legs were heavy and I could definitely feel the pollen in the air. (6.0 miles)

And then out back, we were greeted with this adorable baby groundhog 😍 So cute!

Thursday was an afternoon powerline and road lollypop a little before 4:00 pm. Warm, breezy and polleny, but less humid and sweaty than I thought it would be though so that was nice at least 🤪 (6.0 miles)

Last day of sophomore year for Sam on Friday! After her exams, she and Abby went to DQ and hung out for the afternoon. We stayed in and got poke bowls for dinner to celebrate 😂😋 Can't believe she is going to be a junior in the fall 😲

It was another afternoon run on Friday. Viburnum is in bloom along the powerlines and the air has that summer sweetness even if it is polleny out! (6.0 miles)

Headed out around 10:45 on Saturday for a run on the powerlines. Cool but so humid. The air was filled with the scent of hay scented ferns and we are in full on summer green mode out there. (10.0 miles)

Later in the afternoon, Sam met up with Anne and Abby and the rest of the Dostie clan for ice cream and mini golf plus pizza, while Ryan and I headed up to Baxter Brewing to meet up with Val and Rick for an early dinner. Fun was had by all!

Headed out around 9:30 on Sunday for a mix of roads and trails. Nice bright and breezy. Didn’t bring a pack so ended up stopping around mile 9 at Rusty’s for a drink. Apple Pay for the win! (12.0 miles)

Then we headed down to Five Islands for a late lunch with Mom and Dad. Delish as always and a fun way to celebrate Father's Day! 💗🦞