I wonder is you know it is the Ides of March?  The day marked by Julius Caesar’s death…made famous by the big Shakespeare guy.  Or the day in the Roman calendar dedicated to Mars.  I also think it may be Rafe’s birthday…and close to Pat R.’s birthday (he will be 21!).  I actually think Pat’s may be tomorrow.  Happy birthday to you two.    

The morning was spent at home doing the normal nondescript yet necessary stuff.  Mundane may be a better word yet I don’t view those activities as drudgery as mundane feels to me at times.  I need a better word.  I spent the morning reshaping and cultivating our living space.  That sounds more positive. 

So, I made some bread for Martha to thank her for Friday.  However the upstairs computer is doing a major repair scan right now so I may be making a few more loaves unless it cleans itself up.  I did the water softener, vacuum, and got your snow tires out of the basement.  Yucky jobs.  I cleaned up the pictures on my camera.  Okay I have had that camera almost a year and I now have decided to look at the pictures I have taken.  I am still trying to wrap my arms around this digital picture thing.  I think if I get some made up I will feel better.  I like the tactile aspect.

Last night Gabe & Trevor were too full to eat the focaccia I made so I turned it into an apple cinnamon breakfast focaccia.  I sprinkled it with raspberries and chocolate chips.  It had a brown sugar and butter glaze.  You would have liked it.

The boys headed to the mountain at about noon and I delivered bread to Martha & Joe.  Joe was the last to see you leave Vermont and he had a sense that you had a hard time walking away…almost like he could have pulled you back.  I like that he was sensitive to that.  That must be a good attribute for a TSA guy.

I then went to Jen L.’s house to take a walk and play pool.  It was another warm sunny day.  We are getting spoiled and hopefully this will help dry out some of our dirt roads.  She taught me 9 ball.  I won at 8 ball and she beat me at 9 ball…but who’s counting.  I just love their house.  It is so inviting to go there.  I saw Avery as I left.

I got Trevor, Kristin and Gabe from the mountain,  Gabe and Trevor went out to spray paint project x for pond skimming and Kristin joined Maureen & I for a dog walk.  Satori was romping as we started on the trail and Kristin had to take her back because she was limping so bad.  Once home though she was her normal bouncy self.  We continued on and had a good time.  Ruby and Chai enjoyed the quieter time.  As I was hooking Chai up I was marveling that she didn’t even skip a beat not having Satori with us.  She didn’t see Kristin go back with Satori.  For all she knew Satori just disappeared.  I know Satori would have been looking for Chai.  Chai was probably happy to have just me.

Hey…I use to think that putting pictures into the blog would turned off my spell checker but I’m wrong.  The first few paragraphs the spell checker worked and now it is off and I have not put in any pictures.  I have no clue why it turns off.  Hmmm.

A bit of sad news.  It appears that Trevor and his family will be going back to Texas at the end of the month.  I…he…we are sad.  I understand that they must do this however I am sad for Gabe to lose Trevor.  They are such good friends and have such a bond.  Gabe has seen Sam leave…Ian and now Trevor.  These are very important people in Gabe’s life.  I know Gabe will manage and grow in some aspect.  This will form who Gabe will be.  Everything that happens to us causes some evolution and growth.  Yes yes..I understand all that.  I just feel that Gabe has had more than his share.  Then again…who am I to say how much his share ought to be.  It’s not like we get a certain allotment. Oh well.  I can still be sad.  For now I want to support Trevor and help him as he prepares to leave Vermont.  I offered to have a party here for him.  We will see.

As I went up to the mountain to get the kids I was scanning the radio to avoid the fund raising (sorry NPR).  I came upon Astrias playing just like Sam played it.  I was so excited to hear this I had to call someone so I called Gabe…then the Kenneys.  I have never heard it on the radio before.  It made me happy to feel that connection.  Just as I pulled in front of the deli to get Gabe…seriously right as I stopped in front the last note was played.  Thank you Sam.

I’m off to bed.  Hey…I smell a skunk outside.  A sure sign of Spring.  I hope the smells around you are more pleasant.  I know I know…you like the smell of skunk…you would say it is sort of smells like coffee.  Whatever.  love..d

I was outside today from 9:30-5:30 (with a 1 hour drive home in between).  That is my kind of day.  Gabe dragged himself out of bed at 7:45 to eat and leave for Sugarbush.  Today was the last day of Billz For Skillz.  Gabe qualified to attend however they only did 1st place so we don’t know how well he actually did.  I thought he did great.  His age group has stiff competition.  As always he had fun.  Unfortunately Tyler took a face plant in warm ups and had to go off to the hospital for a concusion.  He could not remember anything.  We heard he was okay.  Gabe was sure that he would have taken first place.

I met up with Karen (Cole’s mom) at 9:30 and we took a snowshoe up our normal trail.  We made it up to the lift line of the lift that goes in between the mountains.  It was cool to see the line.  I guess it cuts right through the bear territory and it took quite a bit to get approval.  We had a really good time.  We would be very good friends if we lived closer.  We think the same.

Here is Gabe…   

This picture is at the end of the competition.  Cole (in light blue pants) is to the right of Gabe.  He won first place in his ski category and got $500.  He also got a new set of skis last night from Night Riders.  Not bad for a 12 year old.  His brother, who turns 16 next week, is ranked 5th in the nation for speed racing.  Something in the genes I think.  They are a great family who spends many Saturdays just like this.

I dropped Gabe at Bolton around 3:30 and then went home to walk the dogs.  They had been in all day and really enjoyed getting out.  Satori has moved on from taking my socks downstairs to taking my other clothes that she finds on the floor.  I found several pieces of clothing around.  She must miss me while I am out.

The River Shore has been an ice rink however today was passable due to the 40 degree weather.  All along the ice you could see leaves and branches melted down several inches into the ice.  The sun must warm up the brown pieces and then they melt in.  It was fun to see the different shapes.  

Char and Alex were off to take the horses for a romp.  Can you just imagine coming home and hopping on your horse for a walk?  George and Jane went to Lucinda Williams last night.  Remember they got us tickets.  We would not have been able to go anyways due to the Night Riders change.  George said the music was great.

I went home and did another scour of the yard for dog droppings.  Glad I didn’t include pictures.  Lacrosse will go better with a cleared yard.

I got Gabe & Trevor from the mountain and they are watching “The Dudesons”, eating homemade popcorn and drinking fruit smoothes.  They are sore and tired.  The Dudesons are the Finnish jackass guys.  I’m not sure how they survive.  I am convinced that they have damaged so many brain cells they have no clue how stupid they actually are.  I’ll just leave it at that.

The joke show was on Prairie Home Companion tonight.  I like the classic silly jokes the best.

Look…I am done writing with enough time to read tonight.  You have been out of communication for 2 weeks now.  I like writing to you.  I feel like we have just talked on the phone.  I can’t get too gushy with others being able to read this.  Know you are missed, loved and still a part of our days.  Love….d

I am exhausted so this will be short.  The morning started off well.  I cleaned up from last night and put the house in order.  I went to start some computer work and I noticed that my outbox did not send out all of my messages.  After a few tries I called Martha.  She helped me get a full scan going so we could make sure all the updates were in.  She told me to go away for a while because this would take some time.

I took the dogs for a sunny walk with Jen, Julie and Wilbur.  It was just what we needed.  I returned back to home and still waited while I did various tasks in the house until it was finally complete.  Martha continued to help me with all that needed to be done.  All in all about 3:00 the computer was ready to be used.  I am not sure I would have been able to say that without Martha’s help.  Thank you Martha.

After school Gabe & Mitch waxed their boards and then they headed to the mountain.  I met up with Sue…then Patti and for a bit Jen B.  It was a treat to be in that sunny weather however once the sun dipped so did the temperatures.  Here are a few pictures of Gabe.  I have a ton more of Gabe and others but they will just have to wait.   

Check out the Gordidi goggles…

Awards ceremony was nicely handled again by Zach the man.  Dylan got first in Gabe’s age group and Ryan second.  Luke got first in the 18+ group.  Ellis & John got 3rd in their categories.  Tim Farrell and Talent also did their generous giving.

The last award was for the Sam Cohn award.  This year Douglas Fay got it due to his perseverance, good attitude and great smile.  I’m sure snowboarders don’t want to be called cute but he really is.  It was good to hear Sam’s name spoken at Night Riders again.

Good night John.  I will have no trouble falling asleep tonight.  Sleep well.  love…d

I am way tired so this will be short.

The morning was filled with my 8 am yoga class followed then with my toddler class.  That is a great way to start any day.

I spent the rest of the day getting ready for my Arbonne party I was hosting for Marcie.  I also took the dogs for a walk.  I thought Satori was healed until half way through she started limping again.  Maybe we will take tomorrow off from a walk.  I’ll see.

Gabe went to the mountain for about 2 hours.  The park was closed again.  I was happy to get him home for the party.

The party more fun than I expected.  I really don’t do this kind of thing.  The only other time was for Pampered chef with Jeanne A.  I did like those pizza stones.  Anyways…we had a blast.  I had more people than expected.  I am glad that Nan came to help Marcie.  I was happy that many kids came like Morgan, Avery, Isabel, Burke, Sydney and Kristin…oh and Gabe.  We had chocolate fondue and strawberries (again!) and other munchies.  The food went…yeah…so did the wine.  The wrinkles always look better with a few glasses of wine.  It was a blast and Marcie was thrilled.

I am off to sleep.  I think I am keeping your hours now…plus I am keeping my morning hours.  A nap may be in the forecast.  Right now it is 12 degrees.  Sleep well.  Love you…d

Marcie & a gaggle of girls…

Sydney applying a mask to Isabel…

Kristin had the good idea to put cucumbers on my eyes.  The cucs were really for the garlic dip.