recently

Tua and I experimented with a child carrier made by Topeak. It's a fine piece of equipment, but only works if your frame has drop-outs on the rear stays on which to mount the stabilizers. Mine doesn't so it won't. But after a few tries, we got it sufficiently mounted onto the bike. We took a few frames to show that we had actually done so, but after the photo- op, we made it a mile down the road only to find that the mounting mechanism created had found its way into the rear hub. And as we were only travelling at speeds no greater than five mph, no one was hurt. Tua enjoyed the walk back to the house. She has requested a bike trailer in lieu of the seat and I am inclined to agree with her.

Pippa and friend- a rabbit named bunny. She was given this today- a gift from her sister, who has been getting a bit out of sorts lately whenever Pip takes Froggy (Tua's stuffed frog blanket).

This will hopefully put the disagreement to rest, for now.

All Aboard

If the passengers had the will to pay their way, Tua would be making a fortune. This wagon makes approximately 20 passes around the house per day, fully loaded.




And occasionally, the engineer takes a turn herself....

These shots are from last night as the girls were getting ready for bed.....

Pip seems resigned to the idea, but perhaps her sister is just squeezing her too hard.

The Yoga Clinic

Pippa has prowess- more than even her lightening quick sister did at this age. Below are some shots of Pip displaying some advanced floor technique.

We found Tua begging for a handout after the show was over........

Welcome Baby Travis

We visited the hospital last night to meet our new nephew, Travis James Shaw. Lauren, Jim and baby are looking great. Travis weighed in at 7lbs.5oz and is 19" long. Tua and I have been reading the Berenstain Bears and I saw some similarities...lots of hair on that head and little claws on those fingers. A very cute cub. Tua didn't seem to take notice of that but instead tried to steal his "It's a Boy" balloon.

lookin

Tua and Pip at their best tonight before bed. Pippa was a pleasure poser....Tua, not so much. In fact, most of these shots were taken as Tua was moving- thank you, Carl Zeiss.

Of Mountains and Gastroenteritis

Last Friday, April 17 2009 is a day that will live in infamy, at least for me. This is the day that I endured one of the fiercest onslaughts of stomach flu I have ever encountered while at the same time attempting one of the best mountain tours in New England.





I had risen at 4:30 just to make sure I had time to pack and eat enough breakfast. As I tip-toed down the stairs to the kitchen, I could feel a slight tension in my stomach. I quickly ignored this and assumed that it was nothing a bowl of oatmeal wouldn;t put right. I met the rest of the party at 5:15 and we were on our way north at 5:30. An hour later put us in Wells River at the beloved P&H truck stop for a slice each of one of their famous pies. I had the Pumpkin with a heavy dollop of cream. As I downed the last bite, I knew something wasn't right. But we were over half way there and I decided to err on the side of adventure....

8:30 put us into Bretton Woods and onto the Ammonussuc trailhead. The winds were light in the valley and the sun shon brightly onto the white peaks above. And the stomach gurgled....

I'll spare the boring details but will mention that the skiing was spectacular and that the views were exceptional and that the company was rich in conversation. I made it up and rested for an hour or two at the summit while Brandon and Detlef netted a few runs off into the Southern fields off Munroe. At two oclock, the winds picked up enough to warrant our departure from the highest terrain. We made our way back to the Monroe Brook trail and descended through some of the best snow of the day.

Ascending Ammonoosuc Ravine








The barren fields just under Lake of the Clouds. Washington behind.

















Shelter and lunch at Mount Monroe











Detlef on the Southern fields











and in for landing....








on Monroe Brook

A parting shot.

We arrived back in Bridgewater by 7. I was in bed by 8 hoping for a full 12 hours rest. I think I made it to 11 or so and then I was hit full force by what I knew had been coming all day.

weekenders

Friday's post brought with it a package from Illinois. Tua has opened up enough packages in her life to know that the packages from Illinois are always filled with good things and wasted no time in tearing apart the wrappings on this one in particular. In the end, we never did find out if she liked the chocolate better than the balloons.





Pippa took a break out of her hectic schedule just long enough for us to capture this shot. Tua may have scored with the balloons and the chocolate eggs, but who got the Beatrix Potter?



Tua and Seth in the midst of tortilla wraps. Though she will tell you that her favorite kitchen tool is a spoon, she has recently spent an oddly disproportionate amount of time with a rolling pin, particularly when the task has involved flour.

The artist in her studio......

Out for a walk with "mama?-mama?-mama?".....Tua refers to Bug in the triplicate interrogative tense and has declined to comment on why she chooses to do so.

The next shots are from last night's excursion. Tua and Pippa out for dinner with their friends Edie and Harriet (also sisters). The adults tagged along for the ride and made the best of it.