June 9, 2010

Earl is 62 years old today. Lots of folks get dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant and order an expensive and elegant meal. However, as part of  our tradition, we celebrate his special day with The Tacky Birthday Celebration.

The tradition started about ten years ago, when we were first dating.  I used to work second shift, Earl worked first. I took the day off from work to put together a very inexpensive dinner, complete with melamine dinner ware, plastic wine glasses, and cheap wine and perfect weather.  It was supposed to be a joke. 

What I didn't count on was the local farmers fertilizing their fields...the stink of  fresh cow manure wafted down from the hills behind us and settled in the valley where our house sits. And if that wasn't enough, huge truckloads of the stuff was being driven past the house.  No amount of citronella candles could mask the odor.  Earl couldn't stop laughing and declared it the best birthday celebration ever. 

Nowadays, we just bring the party inside but the tradition lives on.

June 8, 2010

A flower bed in Cornish, New Hampshire.  I just love gardeners with a quirky sense of humor.

June 7, 2010

We visited our favorite ice cream barn.

Cat door!

Earl enjoying his first ice cream cone of the season, Cookie Dough.

May 31, 2010

The smoke from the wildfires fires in Quebec drifted southward to us, casting a heavy gray pall. 

May 1, 2010 - Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, Maine

Left to right, Jacob, Bryce, Grampa Earl, Aiden. Grandpa Earl and Aiden are the two true train brains.

 Aiden holds onto the strap that standing passengers used when there were no seats available.  Erin, his beautiful Mom,  holds Aiden. Grandpa Earl looks on.

Bryce wants to be a strap hanger, too!

Bryce and Jacob are determined to manage the steps by themselves!

A little help from their Mom's beloved, Wayne,  is appreciated.

Jacob takes his trolley ride seriously.

Bryce is caught up in the moment.

Aiden has miles to go before he sleeps....

Forget-me-nots thriving and blossoming in old railroad ties.

I wonder what lies ahead and if these two parallel lines meet at some distant point.