Acadia Fall

John and I had a great fall weekend in Acadia (celebrating John's Bday). Gorgeous colors, great bike riding and a lot of fun. Ben and Nick's first time being home alone without adult supervision- I'm sure they had fun too!

Halloween for Hannah

Because you will miss Halloween this year and because your new Senegalese friends probably think it is a very strange holiday, we thought we would send you some photos of Halloweens past to help you explain the phenomenon to them . . .

A Tale of Two Brothers

So, it was a Thursday afternoon and Luca had his invitational race - the last one of the season. Tyler had the last regular season home game of his high school career - senior day! "No problem", says Dad....."I am sure I can see Luca start and do part of his race at least and then get to Tyler's senior thing." No problem, if Luca's race had not started late, if the soccer team had not switched the time they were giving flowers to the parent, if evil spirits had not conspired against me!! Luca's race ended up starting within 5 seconds of when Tyler was giving his roses to MOM!! Where was dad? Oh, just sprinting down to the soccer field and almost there, right by the ski hut - right as the gun went off for the start of Luca's race and right after they had called Tyler's name on the soccer field.......that is right, I managed to be almost exactly half way between the start of the race and the soccer field and managed to miss both events!! AAGH!!

A Chicken Story by Alanna

So, story time was great fun, not demeaning to my intellect in any way...(do YOU know what sound a cow makes????)

Then,

arriving home, children gleefully singing "the wheels on the bus" in the back seats, there is Lucy(fer) licking her chops like the big bad wolf over the sluggish lump of a chicken. I run from the car, kicking Lucy toward the house and off the bird, children wide-eyed stare from the windows. Chicken is suffering, struggling to breathe and still holding on, but with very little skin on its back. I curse Lucy, go back to the car, in my most giddy voice tell everyone, "Mommy/Auntie has to take care of the bock bock who doesn't feel good, be right back!" and close them in.

Enter the house, trip over Lucy. Dog is desperate to stuff nose back into the cavity of the chicken. Curse her again. Retrieve gun from cabinet. Shake head at the number of firearms available for the job. Choose 20 gauge shotgun. Give a nod to John Wayne. Exit house.

With the gun opened draping in a "v" over my elbow, I lift the poor chicken gently. It does not fuss much, seems to have resigned to its fate. Now all 6 eyes bug at me from the car; I pretend that they aren't watching and that I don't have a shotgun dangling from one arm, chicken in my hands, and two shells in my pocket. I try to console the chicken, telling her that it's all for the best, that I am sorry, that should I place her back in the chicken house the other chickens will devour her. I think she understands because I see her shut her eyes gently, as if to tell me she does not blame me. Choosing a spot based on the safety of its background elements, the chicken is placed out in the open. I may as well paint a target around her; red circle, white circle, chicken in the center. The other chickens scurry toward the edge of the pen with curiosity. They do the same thing when I come to bring them the leftover food. Idiots.

My dansko clogs do not seem the appropriate footwear to walk back 15 paces for a good shot. I have on dangling earrings and they clink against the butt of the gun tucked into my shoulder. The chicken seems in silent prayer, unmoving and eyes partially closed, beak pulsing gently with each breath. I am sure she knows what is coming. For a fleeting second I don't think myself much different from a sharpshooter; this weird emotion of knowing you're going to kill something, how easy it is. I aim slowly as I fear a shot that simply wounds her further. The shot is loud and hard against my shoulder but it doesn't register as such. The chicken flips from impact. I shoot again to be sure (which is literally overkill) and this time I hear the ringing echo. I retrieve her, and she is definitely dead which makes me feel oddly pleased. This a bizarre salvation, humane. The other chickens have lost their curiosity and replaced it with fear, hold up inside the chicken house.

Renter the house, trip on Lucy again. Wish she were less of a dog, curse her carnivorous pant. Replace gun in cabinet. Rethink my choice of chicken breast for tonight's dinner. Go back out to collect the babies.

So now I feel an embarrassing and somewhat revolting pride, like I am some super-mom who can do it all. Even kill, should the opportunity present itself. Awesome.

Quebec City!!

Hannah, Quebec City was amazing. It was like one of those fake recreation streets from Disney only real. They were so pretty, and old. The architechture was really stunning. I think it may be my favorite city. The frontinac was really cool, that was like the Cinderella castle of Quebec City, except cooler. We went up to the 17th story. You could see so much, for instance the light show on the mill. I also liked how there were horse draw carridges everywhere.
The lower city was very cool. There were great shops, I got a large piece of maple fudge to share with my friends. I also got a grey earflap hat with a maple leaf on it. The streets were very cool and narrow.
The food was also amazing. I had a great maple crepe too. The crossants from this one café was soooooo good. The French bread was also great. The food would have to be one of my favorite things about Quebec City.
Love,

Luca

It's Officially Fall!

Hi Hannah -

Here are a few photos from our trip to Acadia last weekend - we rode our bikes for miles and miles and then filled up on popovers at Jordan Pond house. Sawyer was happy to admire the view from Schoodic Head. And the foliage was amazing . . .

Love you! Ronn & Mary

Typical Day

Hi Hannie, I have no pictures, pretty or goofy, just everyday ramblings. In a day: We all went to school, then I headed to Gardiner for Ty's game. They won 6-0. Tyler did have a sweet goal, assisted by Dakota. Met John there and Nick was in for the last 5 minutes or so, very cool he's playing varsity some.Luca was at practice and was lying on the couch not well when I came home :(
I taught dance class, Dad went to Ty's senior college night (saw Peg there), I watched Glee with Luca (not very good this week). Patty called to say how much Carter and Jackson liked Ty and Luca's piano playing at group lesson. And I believe Ronn and Mary are on vacation downeast. Probably will see them Thursday at the "big" Lincoln game. Oh, and poor Lydia has been very sick all week (poor Alanna!). Everyone asks about you all the time and I get to say how wonderful I think you are. XXOO Mom

Hi Hannah,

We also took some photos from around the farm to try to capture the feel of this early October weekend. Included are some frost resistant greens and a member of the pumpkin bounty. We'll be sure to have bouquets of kale and chard for you when you get back to Maine! It was a big soccer weekend with four official games and then a couple more behind the barn.

Love from the GMcPs

Another Tyler Garden Story

Here is a nice article that Craig Hickman did for the Winthrop Advertiser about Ty's school garden.

Parallel Lives!!

Looks like the Barnes and the DeAngelis/Wicks families led parallel lives today. Here are a few pictures of the bounty from Ty's school garden.















Tyler also had his senior pictures taken today. Unfortunately, he is not quite as photogenic as his best friend. We have also posted the best of the pictures we could get of Tyler. Which one do you think should go in the yearbook, Hannah?