East or West, Home Is Best

One morning Arwen and I finally took the trip down the street we’d been talking about for a couple of months. A five-minute walk from our house, Alice Acres sits on a slope joining Military Highway and Route 12 in Gales Ferry.

During the summer this rural-feeling oasis can be counted on for an hour of fun any day. Cows and sheep dot the fields, pigs romp in the mud, a flock of chickens peck at little hands inching toward the coop, and a bunny can occasionally be found poking his nose out of his cage.

While we enjoyed renewing our animal friendships after the long winter, Arwen and I were in this trip for the flowers. Every year our neighbor Farmer Pete raises thousands of bedding plants in four mammoth greenhouses. Some year we’ll be on the ball enough to see them progress from tiny plugs in mid-February to the gorgeous array he puts out for Mother’s Day. (I think he once told me a full third of his inventory turns over on Mother’s Day weekend.)

This early spring morning we found Pete wielding the watering hose in one of the greenhouses. He was more than happy to pose for a publicity shot and welcomed us to wander as he prepared to open for business in a couple of weeks.

As I’m finally sitting down to capture the experience I realize opening day – for both Alice Acres and the notorious (at least in our house and neighborhood) Cows and Cones is this coming Friday. Get ready everyone – we’ll have a head start! Hope to see you there.

This afternoon Gavin, Arwen, and I took a tour of the neighborhood looking for signs of spring. Last March I ventured back to Seattle and was shocked by the contrast with the lingering New England winter.






Seattle was all daffodils and leaves springing from the trees, while we were still looking at bare limbs here at home.


Things are no different this year, but we’re determined to appreciate each sign of spring as it unfolds. Here’s a late-March look at what’s growing - and what’s not. If we’re good we’ll repeat the trip in a month or so and show off what more we’ve unearthed.

It's a good thing for our kids the family left Ireland several generations ago. At least here they'll eat.

Lest you think Chad and I are too busy shuttling kids around to have any of our own fun, think again. Here’s a bit of what we’re up to:

Groups Galore
I guess I’ve decided something’s only fun if merits starting a group. So I’m now part of several. Here goes:

We’ve been proud watching Gavin and Arwen develop their talents through their extracurricular activities this winter.

Gavin has learned so much about music. Upon returning home from school every afternoon, he always puts his piano practicing before any of his other responsibilities. Here he is performing his favorite piece “Chimes”.

Arwen recently performed in the closing session of her Tumblebugs class. A couple of weeks later she’s still calling out “tuck and roll!”

We’re glad they’ve had such a good time and learning so much.

During these cold months our basement has served as the stage for many adventures. One of these is Pillow World which tends to materialize every week or so. This day Gavin and Arwen donned their gymnastics outfits and put on a show.

Another frosty afternoon Chad set out to shovel the driveway (yet again) with both kids in tow. After an hour of work and play they piled inside, peeled off the layers, and sat down to sip hot cocoa and nibble snacks.

Here Arwen is snuggled up on the ottoman in a self-selected outfit 'reading' to Gavin.

And maybe she is picking up the basics of reading after all - here she's proudly showing off her ABCs. Since this recording she has mastered W, X, and Y and is working on Z.

The first grade at Gavin’s school celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a special breakfast. Upon arriving in the gym they sat enthralled in their red and white striped hats as a local actor decked out as The Cat in the Hat delivered an animated version of Green Eggs and Ham. Then they lined up for their gourmet meal: pancakes with green butter, mini ham rolls held together with toothpicks bearing Cat in the Hat stickers, and (what else?) hard-boiled eggs dyed green. Kids, teachers, and parents had a great time, and the local paper turned out to write up the event. Great idea!