More Thanksgiving time

 

 

 

The large clan at Sarah and Alan's on a beach walk.

 

 

 

Welcome to Benjamin Rubin!!!  Very happy mom and grandmother.

Ornaments

 

While I'm waiting to replace the lost cable connecting my IPhone to my computer and be able to upload Thanksgiving photos,  I'll jump a little ahead into Christmas ornaments.

 Here are some things I've prepared for the Tamworth Artisans' Gallery:

 

Mice

 

 

ordered from Wysteria on-line

 

 

and jazzed up a bit.

 

 

Extras available

 

 

 

for Gwen (and Simon) to embellish at Christmas (hopefully you'll come with your parents)

 

 

 

and for Max and Maddie when we see them in Early December.

 

 

 

Also, home grown Milkweed pods made into little dazzley, hanging things.

Early Thanksgiving at Sarah and Alan's

 brought relatives from far and near.

 

Toby and Henry discussing Obamacare.

Clarice with her proud father and uncle. Great beard on Tom and Clarice looking very Michelle Obama stylish.

The circle with Alan explaining all the yummy offerings on the menu.

One of Those Days

 

Can't believe it's 4pm and I've done nothing except diddle around, try to figure out plans, procrastinate.  No painting, no yard work. Nada!  But not all's lost because I just put together this blogable image:

 

 

 

the combination of a crazy wonderful cup Rachel and David brought back from Brooklyn (by one of my favorite potters) on top of a little white and black swirly stool.  Love the way they dance.  All is good!!

End of Visit

 

Rachel and David came back from Andrew's wedding in Brooklyn on Monday and early Tuesday morning I left this sweet family--

  

Simon with his most favorite snack--bread and butter (but mostly butter),

 

 Gwen, pictured here with her good friend Isa, Graciela's granddaughter,

and Rachel and David, here discussing plans for their new house.

I loved being with them all!

I came back to a cozy, warm Chocorua home where Toby had done lots of work on the garden behind the kitchen.  It may not look impressive here, but wait until next summer.  The stone walls are rebuilt and added onto, the surrounding slope reconfigured, good soil put down, and lots of other things.  Ned did the walls, Tom helped enormously with digging out grass and oregano, and Christina, aside from creating delicious soups, moved a lot of stones!  Tulip lay on the grass and supervised.

Then the marvelous surprise of this:

OBAMA WINNING!!!!!

Sunday in Gamboa

started with early swims,

onto a little shopping trip with Gwen to the Gamboa Resort gift store,

then the playground,

followed by homemade popsicles and the rest of "The Princess and the Frog."

Good day!

Zoo Time

Got a few photos, then my battery ran out.

But here's Gwendolyn watching the leopard

and Simon waiting for popcorn.

Before that (maybe yesterday?), Mia -- Simon's best friend -- came over to play.

And last night, relaxing with a Halloween lollypop each while watching "The Princess and The Frog."

Halloween in Gamboa

started with making bat and owl cookies--Simy eating up the M&Ms as soon as Gwen and her friend Isa put them on.

Gwen trying on her toucan princess costume

 

and Simon his Tortuga. 

Then a grand party at Gwen's school--her favorite was the craft table,

followed by trick or treating with the neighborhood kids in Gamboa.

David, the Viking, stayed home to pass out the candy.

Here in Gamboa!

 

I arrived on Sunday, changing my plans to avoid Hurricane Sandy.

Immersed in sweet Gamboa life now and the Page/Bethels' everyday routines:

 

 

 

Graciela comes every weekday morning and is greeted with hugs.

 

 

 

At the local school, Simon's still too young for pre-k, so we go before class begins and call it pre-pre-k.  He loves it.

 

 

 

And the teachers love him, and I love the artwork.

 

Gwen goes to a very grown-up school called The Met.  She wears a uniform--some days a red dress, some days shorts for gym.  She's not too fond of the half-hour plus commute, but she loves the school.  Addison, her best school friend, looks on while Rachel and Gwen high-five.

 

 

 

Walking to R&D's new house, we passed this baby ocelot, gorgeous and a little fierce-looking, on a leash, all set for his day at the zoo.

 

 

 

Then in the evening, eager hands for the computer,

 

 

 

and my containment policy.  

Happy, bubbly kids--so glad to be here!!!