Summer So Far
by Rob
I find myself surprised that during the summer it has been more challenging to document our lives through this blog. It seems like it should be easier now than the during the rest of the year when we're so busy at home. I guess that's one of the biggest differences of this summer; we have spent barely a week living in our house. The rest of the time we have been traveling, or staying at "Chez Barnes," because of the renovations taking place at our house.
As is always the case, it's been a good summer, but it hardly has felt relaxing, at least until now. As of today, we are beginning our second week in Owls Head, on the coast of Maine. This place is so special for us. It's hard to understand how we can work at such a pace at home, since when we are here we have no problem slowing down and just hanging out. Once again, I'm not only recharging here, I feel as though I'm healing. And I'm grateful.
The weather is just like I like it; cool and clear. This evening, I walked out and stood on the rocks next to the cottage. It was a perfect evening. No humidity. Calm. Temperature in the low 70's. The sky was a constant shifting of blue, pink, and lavender. Osprey were circling and scanning the water for food. We saw several dive for fish, and others flew by, carrying their catches in their talons. It was the best show I've seen in ages; presented in surround sound and high definition clarity. Unbeatable.
I'm probably not going to go back and document the whole summer in detail at any point, so I'll do a week by week summary for the record books.
by Rob
I find myself surprised that during the summer it has been more challenging to document our lives through this blog. It seems like it should be easier now than the during the rest of the year when we're so busy at home. I guess that's one of the biggest differences of this summer; we have spent barely a week living in our house. The rest of the time we have been traveling, or staying at "Chez Barnes," because of the renovations taking place at our house.
As is always the case, it's been a good summer, but it hardly has felt relaxing, at least until now. As of today, we are beginning our second week in Owls Head, on the coast of Maine. This place is so special for us. It's hard to understand how we can work at such a pace at home, since when we are here we have no problem slowing down and just hanging out. Once again, I'm not only recharging here, I feel as though I'm healing. And I'm grateful.
The weather is just like I like it; cool and clear. This evening, I walked out and stood on the rocks next to the cottage. It was a perfect evening. No humidity. Calm. Temperature in the low 70's. The sky was a constant shifting of blue, pink, and lavender. Osprey were circling and scanning the water for food. We saw several dive for fish, and others flew by, carrying their catches in their talons. It was the best show I've seen in ages; presented in surround sound and high definition clarity. Unbeatable.
I'm probably not going to go back and document the whole summer in detail at any point, so I'll do a week by week summary for the record books.
- June 23: Right after school ended, we headed for West Virginia with 13 others from BRC for the Workcamp Mission trip. The kids went to SC and stayed with Mom and Dad for the week. Meanwhile, at home, Roger and George gutted our kitchen and the wood floors were revived.
- June 30: After the camp ended and we brought the youth group kids back to NY, Kim and I headed down to SC ourselves. While we were there, we got to see all of my siblings, and a couple of our nieces and nephews. Back at home, the kitchen work continued.
- July 10: We came home from SC and moved into the Barnes' house. By this time, the plumbing was replaced at our house, but the bathroom floor needed to come out so that the final pipes could be accessed and replaced.
- July 15: Abbie went to Camp Fowler for the week. Kim, Nate and I stayed in Schenectady, and spent a lot of time at the house. We packed and worked on the bathroom floor.
- July 22: Kim, Nate and I went up to Speculator to Camp Fowler for the week. Nate was a camper. Kim and I volunteered. Abbie was a "tag along."
- July 29: Back in Schenectady. This week was spent finishing the bathroom and getting back into the house so that we could be out of the Barnes' house for the week of Camp Bellevue. Downstairs the cabinets were being installed, the appliances arrived, and the counter top template was made.
- August 5: We were finally back in our house. Camp Bellevue began at BRC. Kim and I volunteered. Abbie was a camper. Nate was a wandering nomad. At the house, the counter tops were set and appliances hooked up. We finally had a working kitchen on August 7.
- August 12: We came to Maine. On Wednesday, Mom and Dad arrived for a week.
It won't be long 'til school starts. I'm not ready, but then again, when would I be? It would have to be a terrible summer, I suppose, for that to happen. For now, I'm grateful for all that this summer has held, and that we live lives where we can do all of this stuff... and be together so much.
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