Waiting for the tide to change.....

And they are off.......













Every summer we stand on our dock and cheer on the canoes and kayaks participating in the Great River Race. They gather at the Norwell boat launch, just down the street from us, and paddle upstream.....a long way! This year the "Best Decorations" went to the "Hawaiian" mom and daughter team ....actually I think they were the only decorated boat!















Some are really racing, some are taking it slow, and some are just happy to be out with family on a beautiful summer day!




Only 6.9 miles to row!

Claim to Fame

One of the many (that's a joke) celebrities in our little town of Norwell is Jan Brett. She is one of the nation's foremost author and illustrators of children's books. Most of her books are tales about exotic places and unusual animals.....Scandinavia and Hedgie, the hedgehog, Finnmark and the ice bear, Botswana and the honey badger....to name a few! Travel seems to be her inspiration and I can relate to that.







BUT THIS is why I'm blogging about JB.....this is her new barn surrounded by a field of sunflowers. Every time I drive by, I smile! It is just sunshine in a field!
I wonder what exotic animals are in that beautiful new barn?

On the Coast of Maine

Maybe I just like to say it..Kennebunkport, Kennebunkport....
Maybe it's the summer cottages, the lobsterboats, sailboats, and occasional whale .....
Maybe it's the lobster, a glass of wine, and a slice of blueberry pie while watching the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.....
Maybe it's the friendly Maine-iacs who know the meaning of hospitality......










We just love Kennebunkport! This time we stayed at The Yachtman with a patio overlooking the Kennebunk River. Bikes were complimentary so we explored the back streets and rode out to see the Bush Estate but the fog was too thick.....that is it behind Rick! This year we treated ourselves to a funky wind thingy, Rick calls it "yard art"! We are going to plant it among the hostas close to the river to remind us of Maine.

New England style........

Family fun on the 4th on the river with my sister Sandi and cousin Rob was packed with summer activities...in a New England relaxing summer style! We had friends over for a Lobster boil, joined Doug's family on Weymouth Beach for a cook-out and a fabulous display of fireworks, looked for "treasures" on the Spit, took boat rides,jeep rides, and even paddled the kayak up river. We were treated with the most incredible sunset and rainbow while we dined on the porch of our favorite restaurant on Scituate Harbor - truly we could not have ordered a more perfect weekend.












We miss you already! Let's start planning Fourth of July 2011!