Mark at the beach.  I had a really nice trip to RI, with lots of beach time and plenty of visiting.  We went to the town beach but Mark has decided that Moonstone beach is the best.  He may be right--when we went there on Monday there were 2 other people there.  The water was wonderful, it was sunny and warm.  Really wonderful.  I had nice visits with my mother (who LIKES these dogs...) and she is just fine

Joe Pye Weed at the beach.  My father had a real thing for Joe Pye Weed.  Why?  I've never figured that out, it's pretty enough and nice to see but there are more spectacular wildflowers.   Anyway, my family is closely tied to Joe Pye Weed.  Mark even has it around the pond in my mother's yard.

And this is Gwen, Jenica's daughter.  She's a cutie, all right.  Now a toddler and more interested in what's happening in her world.  She liked the water at Silver Lake, which certainly pleased her mother and reassured me.  She has Jenica's dimples and our diastima (space between our front teeth--both Jenica and I have "cured" that).  A nice little girl.  Jenica and her college roommate were here for the weekend and I got to spend some really nice time with them.

Then my cousin Rob & his wife Betsy (yes, another one) were here and I had some really nice time with them.  We went paddling around the lake on a beautiful morning when the lake was glassy and you could see the bottom.  Wow it was magic.  They love my dogs, which makes both me and the dogs happy.

The pace of summer life is sort of settling down but there are people here to see, and more coming soon.  I had lunch with 2 different friends this week, nice to see both of them.  Dogs are doing well except for poor Tess who is suffering from her ragweed allergy.  "Oh, I itch, I itch so much."  I'm going to try spraying her with cider vinegar, based on different things I read.  I tried soaking her with watered-down vinegar today but all she did was lick it off.  OK, tomorrow she gets full strength.

Tomorrow I'm having coffee with friends, then at night am picking up Rush at the airport (probably).  Linda is having a campfire with friends.  I hope to see the Neels before they leave on Saturday.  Next week I have a hair appointment (which I thought was this week, until I took a closer look at the calendar).  Duncan and Sue come (can it be September already???).  I have to pick a date for my contribution to Sunday dinner.  Sunday night I host book group at the boat house, which will be very nice.  I read a wonderful book while in RI, The 100-year-old-man who climbed through the window and disappeared.  It was grand, I loved it.  Now I'm reading an old Nancy Thayer book but boy the print is small!

Weather has been good, still warm especially for August and the lake is very warm.  We could use a little rain.  I mowed some of the lawn--finally got my mower back from being repaired for 3 weeks.  Wow the lawn was long.  I tried to hit the ragweed to help Tess but didn't get it all, I'm sure.  She'll let me know when I do.

Summer can't be ending.  It's just too soon.

Pretty sights

Some scenes from the last time I stayed in the boat house (last week)

 My view from the boat house porch.  Can't be beat.

 Full moon rising on the far shore

Sunrise from the boat house dock

Cute people

Just had a great visit with the Neels, the whole family, which was really nice.  So good to see them all!  Played with their grandson and was very impressed with how cute & special he is.  It reminded me that the young children I meet these days--my great-neice, grandchildren of friends, children of friends--are very, very nice kids.  Gives you a good feeling about the future.  Were we so clever and cute? 

Spent time this week cleaning the house (or at least parts of it).  Had the Nadals come for dinner last night and that was fun.  I'm much more interested in having people come to my house since retiring, it just seems so much more doable.  We watched the Republicans for as long as we could stand it.  They left, I watched Jon Stewart and that was excellent.

Went to Plattsburgh earlier in the week, spent a lot of money on supplies and food.  I'm hosting the shoreowners' group at camp tomorrow afternoon so had to get some stuff for that, plus it turns out I haven't bought toilet paper or paper towels in a long time.

I've sort of moved home now that night's are cooler.  I don't like staying in the boat house when it's cold, it's not much fun to wake up in a cold place so I tend to stay at home when temps drop.

I went to the Keene farmers' market with Linda and that was a real treat.  So much great produce!  So many people and dogs!  It got crowded while we were there, it's an incredibly popular place.  This afternoon I'll go with Linda to pick up meat from her meat CSA.  I've ordered some stuff, moving slowly and gently into localvorism. 

Tess' ragweed allergy has arrived a bit early this year and she's already scratching so I went to Westport to pick up meds for her.  She can't take her usual prednisone because of her anti-inflammatory, so I had to spend $291 on special anti-itch pills.  Wow.  Every month seems to bring unexpected expenses.

What's up for the coming days?  Dump run tomorrow, of course.  Next week I head to RI, leaving on Thursday and returning the following Tuesday.  Beach time, I hope.  When I get home a childhood friend from Rockford is coming to visit for a couple of days.  I have things to do to get ready for that but the house is in fairly good shape.  I need to cut the grass but my mower is in the shop and has been for 2 weeks.  I have my cordless weedeater and must, must get out there and at least cut a path through the tall grass.

It's a beautiful day, but a bit cool with some clouds and sun.  True August day.  How did this happen?  How did August get here?