Norton, Ma

We drove from Elske's to Essex, VT by way of many back
roads. It was a lovely drive and we had a great time, just
wandering. We stopped in Waterbury, VT at the
Green Mountain Coffee company outlet and, of course
I had to buy some coffee. We also stopped at Ben and
Jerry's and we both bought ice cream. The factory
tour was booked for the next hour so we decided we
could forego that.

We arrived in Essex later than planned and, as always it
seems, more tired than planned. For me it was partly
because I had a slight catastrophe. We were taking
a walk at our lunch stop, along a small river. Robert
as his wont hopped across from stone to stone with no
problem. I toyed with the idea of returning to the car,
since we had just started out, to get my walking stick.
I did not however and as I tried to emulate Robert I
lost my balance and fell flat on my face. I now look
like an abuse victim with a knot on my forehead and
a big bruise on my jaw. I have cuts and bruises in
all sorts of places, but thank goodness, nothing serious.
I was, of course, furious and felt stupid, but that didn't
change anything. I'm still sore today, but not bad all
things considered. I didn't break a rib nor a hip nor
an arm nor anything else and I didn't hit my head
hard enough to jolt my brain.

Before we arrived in Essex we were looking
for a place to stay that wouldn't be too far
from Renee's new place. I spotted "The Inn at
Essex." It was also the site of the New England
Culinary Institute. I knew it would be expensive
and probably outrageous, but it was within a
couple of miles of the Stapleton residence and I
was very tired. I booked us in at a cost of slightly
less than $200.00, a new high. The room was
lovely, but not 2 times more lovely than any
previous room. But the bed was VERY comfortable.

After we checked in, cleaned up a bit, we drove to
Renee's. Jonathan, the kids and Myrna were there
and Renee arrived shortly thereafter.

Their property is absolutely fantastic. They have 8
acres, about an acre of grass, I would estimate. The
rest is wooded and backs up to protected land. That
is there are two properties between them and public
land, but the two properties have no right of ways
to their land. The assumption is they'll never be
developed.

The house is lovely and, of course, they have many
plans for paint here and a change there and an addition
that has been designed for Myrna's apartment. That
will be a lovely place for her and clearly, she is imprinted
on the kids such that she is a second mom/dad.

Renee is too thin and obviously stressed from the move,
the new job and everything else, but looks wonderful.
Jon is such an interesting guy you can't help but love him.
I envy Myrna being such a part of their lives and being so
close to her grand kids.

Walker and Robert linked up immediately. We had brought
Lincoln Logs for him and he and Robert went to work. Although
after a bit Robert said he'd go a way and be surprised when
Walked finished and showed him what he had done.

Emmerson looks so much like Ryan with her curly blond hair
to start with, but everything else. I suppose Jeanne would
see that she was quite different, but not having seen a lot
of Ryan at that age I couldn't help but think they were
more alike than I had ever seen two people be, especially
considering Emmy is female and Ryan is male.

We had a great dinner with the family of grilled salmon and
fresh corn, salad, bread and strawberries and ice cream for
dessert.

Emmy does not eat meat or fish. She loves to eat, but NOT
meat or fish. Myrna said that if she has a tuna fish salad she'll
carefully spit out any tuna fish, but eat the rest!

Renee kindly did our laundry for us, but after it was done I
realized my muddy clothes from the fall in the creek were
still in the car. She agreed to wash them and we picked
them up in the morning.

After checking out of the Inn we picked up my clean slacks
and shirt and headed towards Boston. As we approached
Boston I made the wrong call and we ended up on the
large loop around Boston (I-495) which took us way, way
around Boston. Perhaps 100 miles further than needed!
Duh!

We finally arrived here, half way between the Cape
and Boston where we have checked in for two days.
It is called Extended Stay America and is a chain.
It is designed for workers assigned away from home
and needing a place for a week or a month. It's not
very cheap by the day, but not bad and we have
a kitchen!

After we checked in, and moved in we bought
enough groceries for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.
Yea...we don't have to go out tonight!

Tomorrow we'll pick up Patricia and Thomas at
Logan Airport at 2:40 PM. We've reserved them
a room here, too. That way, we only have to
have all their luggage and ours for the brief
period Monday when we drive to the Cape to
start our tour. The host here has said we
can leave stuff here on Monday after we
check out so we can do so touring before we
go to the cape. Our tour doesn't start until
5 PM on Monday, the 24th.

We hope to do some sight seeing with
Patricia and Thomas on Monday. Probably
we'll go to Leiscester where Patricia and
Robert grew up.

So, there you have it for now.

I regret not having taken pictures of the
Stapletons, but didn't.

Ludlow, Vermont

We had a really good time visiting with Elske in Lenox.
On both days we took hikes. I mentioned previously
the hike in Kennedy Park. Yesterday we walked
several miles (less than 4) in Peaceful Valley which
is an Audubon Preserve. We even saw a beaver.
We got up very late this morning. Just in time
to make 10 o'clock breakfast. Breakfast included
eggs, waffles, fruit, juice, danish, donuts, etc. I
ate half a waffle and an egg and juice. R. ate that
plus a small long john. We knew we wouldn't
need a lunch stop.

Today we drove through back woods Vermont.
Vermont is VERY hilly so we were winding
up and down and back and forth.

We stopped in Westin at the Vermont Country
Store. I bought gifts for Renee's kids while we
were there. We also bought some candy for
Robert and chips for me.

We are now in an Inn/motel in Ludlow. We
do have WIFI and I am going to warm up
my dinner from last night (quesdillas) for
our supper.

Breakfast is a "box breakfast" of fruit, juice
and danish.

Lenox, MA

We have been many a mile since I last updated this blog.

From Joy and Walt's we drove into Sturbridge and had
lunch with Joy and Walt, Nancy and Alan Stanhope,
Jack and Rosemary Robinson. They are all cousins of
Robert. We had a very pleasant chatty lunch and then
Robert and I drove to Wellfleet on the Cape. Jo Walsh
and Alf McDonnell have a lovely cottage there.

We really had a good time with Jo and Alf; Alf was in
some pain from a bicycle disaster, but was a good
sport about it. We went into town several times and
had clams and oysters and more clams and oysters
and other seafood, too. We took several walks, but
mostly ate and talked!

From the Cape we drove north through Boston to
West Newbury to the Farm where Sue and Dick
Berkenbush live. The Farm is an institution and
Robert and I had just read a book about the history
of the Farm. It was started in the early 1900s as
a religious retreat and commune. The fellow who
started it had figured he would supply the farm
and the young people would come down from
Harvard and work the farm. Well, indeed they
did come, but work was not what they had in mind.
The Farm had many hard turns, but eventually Dick's
father arrived on the farm and turned the place
around, married the farmer's daughter and kept
the place going.

It still is a gathering place for many, many people.
While we were there Dick's cousin Nancy was there;
his daughter lives in an apartment in the house and
she and her partner, Mike, live there as well as Sandy's
daughter, Erica. As we left Mike's family was due to
arrive as well as Dick's sister and her husband.
The summer had been like that all summer.
I don 't know how Sue stands it. There
is a lot of work involved with so many people all
expecting meals to appear. Assuming people pitch
in and help it's still a lot of planning and logistics.

We left there yesterday and arrived here last evening
about 5 PM. Elske greeted us with open arms and we
had a great time catching up. Robert has known Elske
and her husband, Henry, from way back. Henry died some
years ago. We visit Elske whenever we come east. She
has had quite a career. Her last posting was at the U. of
Virginia at Richmond. She was Dean of Women there.
Her field and love, however is astronomy.

This morning we took a walk in Kennedy Park. This is
a lovely park in the center of town. I don't know how
many acres it has, but many. We walked probably
two miles and made a big loop.

We'll leave here tomorrow morning and shall wander
a bit, on our own. We are both tired and need some
time to ourselves. We love visiting all of our friends,
but we do get tired.

I plan to call Renee at some point and arrange to spend
a couple of hours with her family in Essex, Vermont before
we head back to Boston.

On the 23rd we pick up Patricia and Thomas at the Boston
airport and have a day with them before our Elderhostel
tour begins in N. Falmouth, MA.