The Creative Monsters!

21st year of our storytelling group:

 

Chocorua is ready for them--10 of us in all--to descend once again.

First night--we're on the bus!  Jay leads us through Selma, recollections of the Civil Rights Movement, on out into the west--Rte. 66, wide open roads! 

Friday morning;  Jays' b'day present from us:  A book of Emily Dickinson's thoughts and poems

presented by the intrepid early morning swimmers.

 

Toby and Joe discussing stories about a boyhood in Hawaii and a walk down Chocorua Lake Road.

The Saturday night extravaganza:

 

dressing up,

dancing,

catered hors d'oeuvres and dinner by Myles,

elegance,

silliness,
stories,
dancing before breakfast,
being with good friends.
We love it all.

Ice Cream Shots

 

 

Max

 

 

 

Simon

 

 

 

Gwen

 

 

 

 

Maddie

Back to Panama

The Page/Bethels rented a huge car

to be able to transport MANY suitcases

and the kids and Graciela and them to Logan Airport for their trip back to Panama.

 It was very sad for Toby and me to say good-by to them but we have a laugh when we find evidence of Gwen and Simon's projects around the house:

like tangled coils of jumpled rope that they cobwebbed the barn with,

and knots in the drain cord on the sink. 

And we keep finding blue tape.

Love you guys and miss you!

July Winds Down

 

Towards the end of July, Rachel and David went to NYC for a week for a bat conference

 while Toby, Graciela, Gwen and Simon and I stayed in Chocorua--with much to do:

 

 

 

morning camp for the kids--here in front of the racing car that the camp director's brother drove over to show the kids,

 

 

 

 

rusty old tractor climbing after ice cream in North Conway,

 

 

 

 nestling in an umbrella home after the rain,

 

 

 

welcoming Aunt Christina who played UNO with Gwen on the swing, 

 

 

 

and more aunts and uncles: Sarah and Alan for Alan's 80th birthday.

 

 

 

Waving goodby to Christina. 

Then it was time for the parents to come back, a joyous reunion -- incorporating Alan Phenix in the hug.

And joyous swinging,

and joyous finishing up the "Malcolm House" project--now all clean and spiffy with David on his much-loved white sofa, too big for the little house, hoping to get another great home.

Family Wedding

 

 

 

 

A few weekends ago I went to a family wedding in Saratoga Springs--so very wonderful to be with my sibs again and some of the spouses.  

Blue Tape

Early in his visit, Simon announced that his favorite color was blue

and found an endless source of expressing this preference--

Blue Painter's Tape.

A single strip on granite,

a longer strip hanging from the table,

stools taped to the floor,

taping a tear in my pants (thanks Simon--I hadn't noticed it!),

and taping sticks with older coz's Max's help.

Then it became blue tape on blue maps (the concentrated blue area is Chocorua Lake)

and finally just blue maps--this one in our car, otherwise how would we ever know how to get to North Conway?

Fun Faces

So many photos from the Page/Bethel and Page Kender visits to Chocorua--many funny. 

Here are some:

 Simon the water spout,

Maddie peeking out from a tree,

Gwen in b'day glasses and tiara,

Max at major water play, 

Max and Sam with water pistols

the world according to Simon,

and David according to Simon,

Rachel wondering,

Sam waving,

Taisie happy,

Graciela in a rare moment relaxing.