The Mountains

are amazing and gorgeous in Panama

 

This is the view from our room on Monday night when we left the beach 

 

 

 

 

and went to a lovely inn several hours away and up a windy, rutty road.  David is a fearless and intrepid driver!

 

 

 

The kids though preferred looking at other things.

 

Early morning hammocking on the patio outside Rachel and David's room.

 

 

 

A little shuffleboard for Si.

 

 

Tree climbing for Gwen.

 

And hiking down to see this waterfall nearby. 

It amazes me how diverse the landscapes of Panama are. And lovely.

Las Sirenas

 

 

 

 

We went to a beautiful beach,  

 several hours from Gamboa, where we spent last Sunday night.  

 

 

 

One of our cottages is in the background. 

 

 

Difficult to remove diapers in the surf.

 

 

 

 

Horseback rides for the kiddos both on one horse

 

 

 

then Gwen alone

 

 

 

and Simon with Clarice.

 

 

 Beach running

 

Big boy Simon!

 

 

 

Relaxing.

Gamboa!

 

We arrived--with huge hugs from Rachel and Gwen

 

and greetings from Clarice.  She's made a big hit here in Gamboa--so much so that the team she's working with (a sleep study with bees and bats) is almost hourly begging her to stay on for a few more weeks and to definitely come back next summer. Not to mention that Rachel, David, Gwen and Simon adore having her here.

Another sweet hug from Gwen at our cozy B&B just up the street from Rachel and David.

Simon's way of beating the heat--although truly it was hotter and muggier in Chocorua when we left than it is here.

Tour of the new house--photos of the grandparent apartment

and the outdoor kitchen next to it

plus the not-yet-finished deck.  It's all 

getting pretty wonderful.

Oh yes--the turquoise walled bathroom where some of Lou's animal tiles will go.

Dinner last night in the old quarter of Panama City

which is really very romantic.

Storytelling This Weekend

was at Gerry's near the Cape.

 

Stefan bought his fancy expresso machine from NYC and handed us a cup as soon as we emerged in the morning. Did I love that!

We dance

before we eat breakfast.

 

 Settling down to play.  Jay--leading us into the imaginative.

Saturday's a dress-up night.

The theme this time was "The Great Gatsby"

 

So lots of fancy thugs around,

and glitzy girls,

 

 a fancy meal

And a bit of exuberance.
It's a great group--21 years together!

 

Scenes from Early July

Very hot, very rainy weather

 

 

but the garden is loving it.

 

 

 

First Tiger Lily--my favorite--now there are tons.

 

 

 

First Chantarelle--found by Toby. 

 

 

 

A deer--spotted this am between the apple trees.

 

 

 

Visitors over the 4th--Sarah and Alan and the Eritreans.

 

The mountain view.

Visitor for Tulip too-Rain, Sarah and Alan's dog.

 

Very surprised to find these trunks for sale in Tamworth, all cleaned up, that we'd tossed into the dump the week before!