Best Life

June 4, 2015.  Eleven years (!!!!) ago Kevin graduated from high school.  Now a college degree, a grown up job and even a wife!   Today's weather was perfect.  We started early and managed 6 roof panels before we stopped for lunch.  We were feeling very energetic and hopeful. After lunch the sun angle was a bit brutal despite sunglasses and the temperature rose to almost 80.  Our water breaks were more frequent and longer.  Our total for the day - 11 panels.   Only 2 1/2 panels in the front and the 1/2 panel in the back and the roof will be complete!  The end is in sight! Our original trash can from 1990.  It has the wounds from a bear attack that occurred sometime in 2003.  We came up to find our debris, including Scott's diapers, spread throughout the woods and the can smashed.  Thank you Don for helping in cleaning it up!                        ...

  Sunny and 75.  No clouds.  No rain.  No wind.  Tsetse flies seemed less but the black flies - vicious.  (Apparently they will be rampant until at least Father's Day.)  New England weather at its finest! Climbing to the top of the ladder to the roof line to help measure gave me this "bird's eye" view. We placed the final 3 panels on the back half .  The final half panel will wait until the front wall panels are complete.                     Front c orner trims were cut and eave trim installed along the top along the front wall.  Next step are roof panels. At this point we called it a day.  Covered in sweat and bug spray (and probably a fly or two tangled in my hair) - I needed a shower to stop the itchiness.  Plus the sun angle was blinding.  If we start early we can have the sun at our backs.   A late lunch, shower, nap, dinner and a movie.  All well e...

 My baby girl is having a baby girl!  Congratulations Megan and TJ!                                                                        Paul, Me and Megan                                                                           December 15, 1994 To say we are excited is an understatement.  May your daughter be as precocious as Brianna.  Healthy and happy and loving.  May she give you less grief than you gave your parents but also as much happiness.  Know that everything is temporary (the good and the challenging) so enjoy ever...

 World Reef Awareness Day.  We learned tons about reefs while in scuba diving in Grand Bahamas.  Hopefully the reefs will survive the pollution and warming temperatures that threaten them.  Research and a Coral Gene Bank are helping the prevention of extinction.  Dinosaur Day.  Always a favorite with the kids!                                                            Harry, Peter, Kevin and Alexa 2005                                                                      Scott 2005                          ...

 Exactly one year ago we planted "Stumpy" at Don and Kim's in Daytona.  He survived an Atlantic crossing to the Bahamas and back bouncing around on the boat, getting stepped on and falling over frequently.  Unfortunately he did not survive the extended periods of frost Florida experienced this winter.                                                                      Stumpy May 31, 2025                                             Stumpy with his dying leaves and blackened, squishy stalks.                                        ...

There really is no reason to check the weather forecast since again it was so wrong.  Today's original forecast - almost an inch of rain, possible flurries and high winds.  We awoke to sunny skies and feel like temp of 27.  A high of 51 and no precipitation.  The radar - nothing in the vicinity.  So after a quick trip to town to grab gas for the chainsaw and to mail Brianna a quick note, we commenced outdoor tasks.                                                            The floating docks are out and the lake was calm.                                                   Laundry on the clothesline dried quick in the wind. Paul completed the sp...