Best Life

 We have committed.  Paul has signed a contract (and sent a deposit) with a building company.  The specific plans will be "ironed" out next week with the project manager.  This will be another first for us.  We have never built a steel building.  Exciting but a bit trepidatious.  (There will be ladders involved!) We have also spoken to the construction guy about the site preparation.  Contract headed our way.  The last piece is the cement guy.  He should be calling us shortly.  (In Maine shortly has a different meaning!) Now we wrestle with the time frame.  Site work is about 4 weeks out.  Hopefully everything will fall into place this year.  Fingers crossed. Today we continued clearing what we could from the site.  Three hours and almost 6 miles later - can one even tell?                                    ...

Somehow I thought today was Niece's Day.  It is not.  But it is Just Because Day.  So I am paying tribute to my beautiful nieces just because!                                                                           Maddy - 17 and gorgeous!                                                      Layla - what made you want to sit in the lobster pot?                                                                ...

 More pictures from the wedding - thank you Peter for sharing with me!                                                                                     Mom and Kevin                                                                                     Peter and Isis                                                         ...

 For most of the day I watched Isis prepare for the wedding.  Every stage was carefully thought out including cologne for Kevin.  So many beautiful details and so many friends and family helped make it perfect!                                                                 Plate made by Isis                                                            Joe, Dan, Justin and Tim - love the smiles!                                                  Shoes by Maddie - the maid of ...

  Mr and Mrs Kevin Calitri. Great day.  Awesome ceremony and reception.  Late night.  More tomorrow.

 I was finding it hard to not smile today.  I am so excited for the kids that their day is finally arriving.  That all their hard work (okay more Isis than Kevin) is coming together and we get to celebrate their marriage!   I managed to find the iron and ironing board (last used at least two years ago) and Kevin brought me his clothes and Nick's (MOH boyfriend) and Paul's.  Glad to help. We have moved out of Emily's bedroom and into the playroom so Susan can sleep there while she sits with Brianna tomorrow.  Fenway has not received the message.  We will see who he decides to sleep with tomorrow. The kids used to have sleepovers in the playroom.  Now we have come full circle!  Sort of like camping!  Just another adventure. National Danny Day.  May the best man sleep well and have his thoughts in order tomorrow!                              ...

 Mundane.  A grocery list after creating a menu for our trip to Maine after the wedding.  Sanding the hope chest.  Laundry.  Dishes.  A little cleaning.  Animal care.  A little reading.  All filling the gorgeous day nicely.  And then... Kevin called thinking I was picking up his pants while I thought it was him. With only 5 minutes until the tailor closed for the weekend, I called and he agreed to wait for me.  Whew!   (Tailors R Us on Mendon Road - awesome service!) And then... Tallulah went missing.  Usually we are tripping over her and she is calling us to let her in the house.  After more than an hour of calling and walking up and down the road and in the woods, Paul called Megan for hints.  Take the Blueberry to search for her.  (TJs car that is blueberry in color.)  I started the car and before I could even put the car in drive - here she comes!  The specific muffler noise usually means ...

 Kevin and I spent the morning driving in circles.  I picked him up in Lincoln.  Drove to South Cumberland for coffee.  Drove back to Lincoln for shoes that could not be found.  Then to the Lincoln Mall for shoes.  First store - none.  Second store - closed (it was only 9am).   Third store - none.  We finally found shoes in South Attleboro.  Back to South Cumberland to the tailors (Hemmed pants in less than a day).  Then to the Emerald Mall for a shirt.  But the store did not open until 11am.  Ugh.  45 minutes of walking the mall - almost 3 miles at this point.  We were done by noon and successful!  Happy to be helping (and I had a sneak peek at how handsome he looks in a suit!).   I have found a new project.    I am refinishing Memere Adam's hope chest.  More than 90 years old - I hope it turns out great!  I expect it will take me a few weeks (maybe months). Meanwhile Paul...

 It's getting close.  All the planning.  All the decision making.  Tonight was the beginning of the celebration of Kevin and Isis. The venue is beautiful.     The rehearsal went well.   Isis - super focused.  Kevin and Dan - watching butterflies. Everything will go smoothly and everyone will remember where they are supposed to be and when. And we all know that only the bride is the focus unless something extraordinary occurs (Fall, fainting, vomiting).   Isis has assigned us all tasks.  Love it!  I get to be the family wrangler!!!  Perfect!  Thank you! Dinner at Avellino - supreme.  From the appetizers to the main course (best vegan dish ever!), and to the chocolate tort - everything was perfectly yummy.  The service - outstanding.  Great choice kids!   So many smiling, happy people.  Blessed.

 A rainy, lazy day.  Paul finished the electrical upgrades to Kevin's garage.  While he was completing that task, Maddie and I were doing yoga in the basement.  (I was doing yoga, she was nipping at my toes!)  Some laundry, a little cleaning, a nap and dinner with the kids followed by a card game.  Nothing big but wonderful in its simplicity.   World Mosquito Day.  Really?   Ponce Inlet, formerly known as Mosquito Inlet!   And just a mere two years ago on this date we were in Virginia looking at a boat to buy.  Only two years ago.  And now we own Quiet Time and we are "seasoned" sailors that have crossed the Gulf Stream and been to a different country with her!  Time is strange!                                                           ...

 Today turned into what is becoming a typical day.  Feed the menagerie of animals before enjoying a cup of coffee while planning the day.   The cat amused us through the day as she continues to pretend she is a house cat instead of a barn cat.                                                  Sunning herself while I mucked the field.                                                       Blending with the tree stump while stalking something.                                                          ...