It Was A Quiet Day at Lake Nockamixon

We had a relaxing day and ate lots of good food both at Stella's Cafe in Sellersville, and at The Butcher and Barkeep in Harleysville. In between, Aidan worked on his fishing skills where we spent a lazy afternoon at Lake Nockamixon which is only about a half hour drive from the house.

It's been great visiting with Betsy and have the family show her around the territory. Around this time tomorrow she'll be en-flight back to Tucson. She taught Aidan and I a card game which I'm sure will fill some sticky hot or rainy afternoons this summer. John wants to take Aidan back to the lake for more fishing. And, we have Green Lane Park Lake to investigate, too. It lies even closer to us.

Learning "Spite and Malice". 

Whenever we do something with our hen's eggs I am amazed at the brilliant yolks. These are almost ready to mix up for egg salad...

"Free range" for sure.

Sibling Rivalry Soccer & Super 8

Betsy arrived yesterday afternoon and we all partook of Harleysville Hotel hot wings before bringing her home with us. Aidan and Keoni fell into their evening routine of two-man soccer...

Somehow, some rules have evolved. I don't know what they are, but one wins and the other loses; and vice versa. Eso depende.

After this stiff competition the music started up again in honor of Betsy's arrival.

I don't know exactly how it happens, but their transition from sibling rivalry soccer to music collaborations is startling. It makes me happy though. I think you can see that it makes Betsy happy, too.

It is great having my grandmother counterpart for a visit to the family.

I'll see her again tomorrow when I return to PA.

Today Keoni and I started out early for Meadowmount School of Music where he will spend the next seven weeks. It's about 360 miles from home. I am staying the night in Ticonderoga, NY's Super 8 motel and glad for the rest before returning home in the morning. We drove through the Catskills and the Adirondacks to get to the school. It's remarkably beautiful and likely so any time of the year. I am close to Lake Champlain and Lake George. Wendy and John will make the return trip to pick up Keoni in August while Aidan and I take care of Rhapsody Ridge chores. There are staggering amounts of history and outdoor possibilities much like near our new home. One almost doesn't know where to start.

I'll miss Keoni a lot this summer, but I am just as happy to see him forge ahead with the music he's loved almost since toddlerhood. We played tons of music all the way to Meadowmount.

Nathan told Aidan he is coming over to play soccer with him some more this summer before he starts his Freshman year at University of Pennsylvania in August. All that news is making me smile.

A happy footnote: My phone GPS syncs with the car audio just fine now. Before, there was a lapse and attenuated messages. Now, using the iPhone's own updated app works great. It tells me my turns in plenty of time to make them. It's improved a lot. Oh happy day! I can play music which it mutes when it talks to me. And I can make it LOUD through the car audio.

I missed a picture that is vivid in my mind's eye. Keoni walking toward Meadowmount registration and greeted by a group bear hug from his three Interlochen quartet friends from last summer.

When I got the iPhone our of my pocket the hug was over.

A couple of days ago the neighbor was cutting his grass...

Upstate New York has the same bugs as Pennsylvania.

Soccer Then and Now

Fiddling around with the video publishing possibilities I found YouTube actually will send your video to Blogger. Haven't figured out yet how to plop them into an open blog draft. A post is made for each video. But you get the idea. Aidan is so enthusiastically into the soccer scene. It was fun trying to capture a little of his efforts. They are the two posts just before this one this evening.

We do eat late here. I am trying not to think about it since I'm getting sort of snarly. I don't mind from the standpoint of waiting until John arrives from work which usually is seven if he's early and as late as eight if there is a traffic slowdown on the turnpike; yet, it is a challenge. The man works a long day.

We had a couple of Keoni's friends stay for supper night before last. There was plenty of laughter and lots of music all afternoon and evening. They were all six or seven years older than Aidan. Reminded me of when the kids among the family and neighbors were all younger than I. Aidan and I could commiserate a little. Then, suddenly age went away; Aidan and cello joined in an impromptu quartet they put together after supper. It really came out well.

Elizabeth, Grant, Keoni and Aidan.

Yesterday, the bugs drove us back from our walk before we completed our round of the nine acres. Austin and the goats were in the run-in shed...

The rain passed on through and gave us a chilly night. Another walk this afternoon was prefaced with bug repellent and hats. Aidan was ready for honeysuckle blossom gathering so he could extract the tiny nectar droplets when we got back. Most of the vines were threaded among the considerable wild raspberries along the edge of the woods. (The neighbor on one side is turning a huge swath of his woods into firewood; ostensibly, we hear, to make a road. Aidan and I think the road will go to a cleared area we found in the woods. Perhaps there will be a house built there.)

Blossom by blossom Aidan dripped each honeysuckle flower's minuscule droplet into a glass. After he was through half the pile he drank the one little drop that had accumulated in the bottom of the glass. Makes me so glad for bees.

Speaking of bees, there are so few. There are great numbers of clover blooms everywhere and copious flowers of all types, but I've never seen so few honeybees. Now and then, one or two can be spotted. The North American bee colony collapse seems to be what has happened.

Further bug report: Lightening bugs! Fireflys! They are everywhere tonight and are charming the family who stands out on the porch/deck to watch them. Aidan reports hearing frogs again.

After a couple of falls this past week--one from my bicycle--I decided to hang up my helmet and resume walking for exercise. My beautiful bike went back to the shop where I bought it. The crew there was very considerate and refunded the majority of what I'd paid last winter. I'm sort of sad, and at the same time there is some relief in making the decision. I just don't balance as well as in youthful times; some bruises and aches, but nothing serious. Tai Chi remains on my agenda.

Time to contemplate some dust fuzzies. Goodnight.

Aidan Soccer June 2014

This is now...

Aidan Soccer August 2013

This is then...

Weather Report: Sweaty

Gosh, it's been days and days. Sorry for the delay. Got into a long novel that was a page-turner for about 1/3 of the way; then, deteriorated. One of those where you hope it'll get back to its earlier promise, but it doesn't and you keep reading it because you've already put in the time; plus, other readers you respect have read it, so you think there must be something that salvages the whole thing if you keep going. Agh. Enough.

I'm back.

Here's a first that I saw a couple of days ago...

Austin saddled!

And next...

Oh, happy day! Wendy is back in the saddle again.

Austin is doing just fine on the pasture food. She is a good weight and shiny. In the daytimes though there are weird, killer flies around. People put their livestock in the barn during the day and out at night. One fly bit me bloody through my sock.

And gnats, or "no-see-'ums" (?) abound. The stink bug season is nearly over. Strangely, and maybe this will change, the mosquitoes are as small factor as they were last summer. It is baffling since standing water from frequent rain provides wondrous habitat for them to breed. The best insects I've seen so far are the lightening bugs in the evening. 

The World Cup has thoroughly engaged Aidan and now his dad. Keoni and Aidan have a short late evening, two-man soccer match, and then go watch the day's game John records on TV.

We went to Keoni's recital held by his teacher Robert de Pasquale. It was at the church sanctuary where Keoni takes his lessons in one of the many church rooms devoted to the small music academy Mr. d runs.

UPDATE: I made a video and it took awhile to appear on YouTube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w92F_9AoJ-c&feature=em-upload_owner-smbtn

The moment I met Mr. d last year I was struck how he reminds me of Phil, my friend in Tucson. They could have been brothers or at least cousins. I think they are only a year apart in age and approximately the same stature. Both, in their way, share an artist's commonality.

Robert de Pasquale.

Betsy is due here on Saturday for several days' stay. Keoni wanted to see her, but is due to check in at Meadowmount in upstate New York on Sunday 5 p.m. I volunteered to take him so he can have at least one evening to see her, and John would have more time with his mom. I'll return on Monday and have a couple of days to visit with her, too.

Weather Report: Snow Days Are Paid Back

Let the summer begin.

After I posted this morning, Keoni's friend Nathan came over. Here's a moment from what they were doing among the many, many things they did later, including having more friends come over.

http://youtu.be/DAyqoZJx93g

(I found out how simple it is to post movies on YouTube. Who knew?)

Yesterday's school half-day was the end of the winter's snow day pay-back. A last school day Hawaiian theme will tell you where hearts are here...

Aidan holding up his egg-drop parachute.
There were left-over grass skirts. Aidan and the boys wore them.
Go figure.

Events this week for Aidan were, among many, "egg drops" from the school roof, tie-dyeing shirts, signing each other's white shirts, and a family-attended celebration at his school in a ceremony for the four fifth grades moving on to Middle Schools next year.

Each youngster had written a paragraph of what he or she learned at Salford Hills Elementary. In groups of 10 the children stepped forward and the principle read their paragraph.

Notable were the silhouettes of every fifth-grader attached to the wall around the gym. Beneath each a page written by every student thanking his/her parents. The teachers had made the silhouettes.

Aidan's teacher Mrs. Richards and the family.

Duet-ing in the empty auditorium. Never let an unattended piano remain silent. 

_______

Sadly, Great-Grandson Dimetrios in Utah is back in the hospital. Inability to eat at times and "cluster" seizures led to greater measures to stabilize him. He is sleeping a lot since the seizure meds have this side effect and he is receiving tube feeding. Sonja has related postings on Facebook. Tim text-messaged a picture and update that the doctors involved in his care are meeting today to discuss short- and long-term care for him. I await further news. In the interim I pray for our ailing youngster and all caring for him.

________

There are extraordinary shades of green everywhere I look outside. It rained an inch last night. The sedum (I learned its name finally) survived the winter in the flower bed just fine. I look forward to the shoots that it sends up.

Soccer moves are improving exponentially...

...as Aidan prepares for summer's coming soccer team he is joining.

The boys are enduring the last of winter's snow days make-up this week. Then, summer days though you couldn't say from the cool temps that keep coming back. I splurged and purchased several reads from Amazon and am enjoying them enormously on the back porch in the afternoons.

Susie sent her collapsible Adirondack chair with me on my return from Utah trip when I had a visit in St. Louis with her.

Toby joins me from his outdoor adventures...

Afternoon nap.

Hmm...something going on out in the pasture.

Toby is not the fat cat anymore. He eats food at the barn and the same amount as always on the porch; yet is trim. Life is different than at the condo. He is pretty much the dominant feline outdoors now, I suspect. The hostilities are abating as the territories are sorted. Yes, indoor Karma Kitty still patrols the window sills to hiss at him through the screens. It's nice to have him show up for a lap nap while I read though, or flake out on the table next to me.

Keoni's placement in the Tri-County competition of a week ago led to another recital on Saturday. I despair of making a good photo of these events. But for the record...

Seth Trumbore is very ably accompanying as he and Keoni perform Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor; Mvt. III, Allegro confuoco by Henryk Wieniawski.

Wendy, John and Aidan in attendance. 

Keoni had a fine compliment during the intermission from David Kim, the Concertmaster of Philadelphia Orchestra. What a lovely affirmation for our young man as he works toward his life in music.

There are still graduation parties going on and Keoni is going to still one more today. We all joined him Saturday for Nathan's party at his house before heading off to the Tri-County recitals. Nathan and family are wonderful. Just before we left I got a quick picture of Nathan and him after Keoni shed his volley ball duds for more formal wear...

Next year will be Keoni's turn.

Wendy and John finished up the pasture fence and it was amazing to see the happy goats run out there with Austen. Wendy has some pictures on Facebook that she posted. Truly, it is better seeing the goats in the pasture closest to the house. There is a bad weather run-in shed for them and Austen. The grasses in the pasture are varied. I don't know the species, but it must be a very good thing having a variety.

Other improvements need some local hired help. Wendy and John have been getting estimates on some driveway, turnaround and parking area work. Saturday, Aidan got a picture for me of the estimator's truck sign.

Lots Happening And My Feet Hurt

The mix of events over the past several days is a challenge to recall with a sense of order. I'll just enjoy the messy blur and post a little as it comes to me.

John and Wendy made a couple more forays into the city to continue the visit with their friends from Tucson. The boys and I had charge of considerable portions of Rhapsody Ridge responsibilities. All pets and livestock lived through our ministrations.

Somehow John and Wendy, when not engaged in the city, stretched fence around one of the pastures to keep the clever goats from climbing undefeated and unshocked between the existing electrified fence strands to gain front yard access and Ridge Road adventures.

Keoni got to the Senior Prom with a fresh corsage for the young lady he escorted. I know about the corsage because I picked it up from the florist. Also, there was the Saturday rehearsal and another music competition to win.

A shoutout to Keoni: Congratulations! winning Saturday's competition.

By now you are getting the picture of extreme transport planning (multi-car and rail) with nimble adjustments thanks to the family Verizon plan for the iPhones.

Keoni on his way to the Senior Prom.

Keoni and Anna.

Handsome young men and beautiful young women. More pictures on Keoni and Wendy's Facebook pages.

Aidan came home from his three days of "outdoor school" (fishing and kayaking were highlights) and fell asleep on the bare living room floor; beloved iPad silent beside him. Later we went for a walk in search of where Crooked Creek (now a few puddles) runs into a larger creek we only know exists from locals. The terrain through the woods is a challenge to my footwear and feet.
A weekend highlight for Aidan was the FedEx arrival of a soccer goal and net. Included was a "soccer trainer" affair (a net bag for a soccer ball attached with an adjustable length of cord to a belt around the waist) that Aidan is using to vastly, speedily improve his soccer moves. More on that later.

Aidan with "soccer trainer" and ball attached that he kicked the entire creek search time except when he climbed a tree to investigate a deer hunter blind.

Creative destruction.

Among the bucolic appearing vistas of Rhapsody Ridge, the season of orchestra came to a close on Sunday afternoon when Keoni played in the PYO at Kimmel Center, or Verizon Hall, as it is referred to some of the time.

The organ was part of the performances. Aidan and I especially liked Mars and Jupiter from The Planets. Keoni's friend Nathan is toward the back with his trumpet. Friend Helen during part of the concert was in back with her harp.

Between our early arrival at City Center in time for Keoni's PYO rehearsal and the later afternoon performance, I made a separate foray to the Museum of Art. Your know, the place where Rocky ran up the steps.

The view from the museum; or, what Rocky saw. Yep that's the Rocky sculpture on the right.

Aidan and I returned home on the train Sunday evening while Keoni and parents remained for other post-orchestra concert festivities. Not quite sunset, Aidan raced through the animal chores and ripped open the soccer goal box outside. Before dark he'd gotten the whole frame assembled. Who said guys don't read directions. (Grandma J did come outside for a small assist to rid an aluminum tube of a stubborn dent so assembly could continue.)

Monday morning Aidan gave a quick demo before the school bus came.

Soon after Aidan's departure I grasped a gorgeous morning on the Perk Trail and rode my bike for a bit more than an hour. The sturdy bike rack Susie passed along to me sadly doesn't work on my car. As I rode, I realized I've grown weary of thinking about better ways to haul my bike around. I'll just go with the simplest (and least expensive); load it into my pony Subaru, and go for my Perk rides whenever the weather gives me a chance. I overthought this one, for sure.

It is Tuesday, and Wendy is cutting grass. It smells wonderful. Clouds are gathering and rain is coming.  The chickens make me smile.