Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
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.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Mowing
by Rob
It's a rite of passage, and today it happened. Nate helped mow the grass. I say "helped," since I did all of the trimming and the first half of the yard myself. Then we had lessons on how to stop the mower, how to start the mower, and how to follow the path. Then I stood back and watched. It was a much bigger deal for me than I expected. Watching him and thinking about how big he is was something for me to process. And it made me remember something of my own experience -- being 12 and mowing yards in our neighborhood. This all led to thinking about much more of what it's like being that age. Ready or not, Nate, here it comes.
When he was finished, he stopped the mower, turned and looked at me, raised both hands over his head and let out a "Woo-hoo!"
"Well, I mowed the grass!"
Yes, Buddy, you did, and you did a good job.
I wonder how long it will be before you can do the whole lawn. I wonder how long it will be before I can just tell you it has to get done and not even go outside to check on you. I wonder how long it will be until you think, "Oh crap, I have to mow the grass."
by Rob
It's a rite of passage, and today it happened. Nate helped mow the grass. I say "helped," since I did all of the trimming and the first half of the yard myself. Then we had lessons on how to stop the mower, how to start the mower, and how to follow the path. Then I stood back and watched. It was a much bigger deal for me than I expected. Watching him and thinking about how big he is was something for me to process. And it made me remember something of my own experience -- being 12 and mowing yards in our neighborhood. This all led to thinking about much more of what it's like being that age. Ready or not, Nate, here it comes.
When he was finished, he stopped the mower, turned and looked at me, raised both hands over his head and let out a "Woo-hoo!"
"Well, I mowed the grass!"
Yes, Buddy, you did, and you did a good job.
I wonder how long it will be before you can do the whole lawn. I wonder how long it will be before I can just tell you it has to get done and not even go outside to check on you. I wonder how long it will be until you think, "Oh crap, I have to mow the grass."
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Former Neighbors
by Rob
Yesterday was one of those days with two events that seemed especially poignant together.
In the morning, I was shopping when I ran into the son of our former neighbor, Angie. She lived downstairs from us when we lived on Shannon Street. We first moved there in 1992. At that time, Angie was 86 years old. When I spotted Joe yesterday, and we first started talking, I had difficulty figuring out the best way to ask about Angie, since I hadn't heard anything about her is several years. Well, she's 101, and doing well, although she's moved into a nursing facility. Joe says that she's happy there and enjoys being around other people. He said that he would be seeing her later this week and that he would tell her that we had asked about her. He expects that she will remember us.
In the afternoon, Nate and I went to Albany Med. to visit one of his friends, Kevin. Nate and Kevin became friends in elementary school. For about a year, Kevin, his sister Amy, and his mother Holly, lived here on Schermerhorn Road in a house that they rented from one of our neighbors. Kevin was hit by a car while he was riding his bicycle about 10 days ago. Although we knew that he was at Albany Med in ICU, we didn't know much more about his condition. Holly was there when we arrived. She met with us and talked to us, telling us about Kevin's condition. He's still unconscious. They have him heavily sedated, and although they had wakened him about 48 hours ago, he was in too much pain, and so they resumed the medicine and put him back to sleep. His right leg was severely damaged in the accident. He wasn't wearing a helmet, and he also suffered head injuries. They are not sure about the extent of his brain injuries at this point, since he hasn't been awake for any length of time since the accident. When he wakes up, they don't expect him to remember anything about what has happened. They don't know what else he'll have trouble remembering.
by Rob
Yesterday was one of those days with two events that seemed especially poignant together.
In the morning, I was shopping when I ran into the son of our former neighbor, Angie. She lived downstairs from us when we lived on Shannon Street. We first moved there in 1992. At that time, Angie was 86 years old. When I spotted Joe yesterday, and we first started talking, I had difficulty figuring out the best way to ask about Angie, since I hadn't heard anything about her is several years. Well, she's 101, and doing well, although she's moved into a nursing facility. Joe says that she's happy there and enjoys being around other people. He said that he would be seeing her later this week and that he would tell her that we had asked about her. He expects that she will remember us.
In the afternoon, Nate and I went to Albany Med. to visit one of his friends, Kevin. Nate and Kevin became friends in elementary school. For about a year, Kevin, his sister Amy, and his mother Holly, lived here on Schermerhorn Road in a house that they rented from one of our neighbors. Kevin was hit by a car while he was riding his bicycle about 10 days ago. Although we knew that he was at Albany Med in ICU, we didn't know much more about his condition. Holly was there when we arrived. She met with us and talked to us, telling us about Kevin's condition. He's still unconscious. They have him heavily sedated, and although they had wakened him about 48 hours ago, he was in too much pain, and so they resumed the medicine and put him back to sleep. His right leg was severely damaged in the accident. He wasn't wearing a helmet, and he also suffered head injuries. They are not sure about the extent of his brain injuries at this point, since he hasn't been awake for any length of time since the accident. When he wakes up, they don't expect him to remember anything about what has happened. They don't know what else he'll have trouble remembering.
Mr. Vice President Elect
by Rob
It's official. After a second school-wide vote today, Nathan Hileman is Schalmont Middle School's Vice President Elect for the 2007-2008 school year.
About two weeks ago, he came home with news that he had decided to run. He described the process of becoming a candidate; it sounded daunting to me. He was required to get the signatures of 3 faculty members and 30 students who would support his candidacy. All of the signatures on his petition had to be exclusive. I was impressed when he completed the process, but discouraged when I found out that he was in a field of 7 seventh grade students running for the position.
Last week was campaign and voting week. As is often the case around here, his fliers and speech were prepared at the last possible time. It was a late night on Tuesday, which wrapped up around 10:00 PM, when I sent him to bed and got in the car to drive to Kinkos to copy fliers. He read his speech on the announcements the next morning, and then voting took place on Friday. At the end of my day on Friday, I ran into Mr. George, Nate's English teacher. He had come to my building to pick up one of his own children. He told me that there was going to need to be a second vote. Four of the seven candidates were eliminated as a result of the first vote. The second vote was to take place this morning.
At 2:55 this afternoon, as my chorus was leaving, I got paged to the office for a phone call. It was Nate: "I won." There was a hint of "Can you believe it?" in his voice.
When I arrived home this afternoon, there was an email waiting from Mr. George. He just wanted to share the good news with me. He wrote, "woohoo!" I couldn't agree more.
by Rob
It's official. After a second school-wide vote today, Nathan Hileman is Schalmont Middle School's Vice President Elect for the 2007-2008 school year.
About two weeks ago, he came home with news that he had decided to run. He described the process of becoming a candidate; it sounded daunting to me. He was required to get the signatures of 3 faculty members and 30 students who would support his candidacy. All of the signatures on his petition had to be exclusive. I was impressed when he completed the process, but discouraged when I found out that he was in a field of 7 seventh grade students running for the position.
Last week was campaign and voting week. As is often the case around here, his fliers and speech were prepared at the last possible time. It was a late night on Tuesday, which wrapped up around 10:00 PM, when I sent him to bed and got in the car to drive to Kinkos to copy fliers. He read his speech on the announcements the next morning, and then voting took place on Friday. At the end of my day on Friday, I ran into Mr. George, Nate's English teacher. He had come to my building to pick up one of his own children. He told me that there was going to need to be a second vote. Four of the seven candidates were eliminated as a result of the first vote. The second vote was to take place this morning.
At 2:55 this afternoon, as my chorus was leaving, I got paged to the office for a phone call. It was Nate: "I won." There was a hint of "Can you believe it?" in his voice.
When I arrived home this afternoon, there was an email waiting from Mr. George. He just wanted to share the good news with me. He wrote, "woohoo!" I couldn't agree more.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mother's Dayby Rob
This day has been beautiful. The weather is perfect and the flowers are in bloom all around the house. I'm especially loving the cherry tree today. It's covered with blossoms.
This morning when she got up, Abbie was so excited about giving Kim the Mother's Day gifts that she had created. She painted a picture. She made a bracelet. She made some origami frogs. She wrote two poems.
Mom
by Abbie
When you make me steak,
I know you really care
When you play "Life" with me,
I know you love me
When you say you love me,
I know you don't lie
When you bake me cookies,
I know you know my taste buds
When you teach me what peaches to buy,
I trust you
When you take me out to dinner,
I know you don't want me to starve
Everything you do has a reason.
Happy Mother's Day, I (heart) U!
How Do Mothers Take Care of Their Children
by Abbie
How do mothers take care of their children?
Do they hug them and snuggle them in warm fuzzy mittens?
How do mothers take care of their children?
Do they love them and sing them songs at eleven?
How do mothers take care of their children?
Do they save them when they say, "S.O.S." and after dinner, "Clean your mess"?
How do mothers take care of their children?
Do they cook them dinner and say, "Don't be a sinner?"
How do mothers take care of their children?
Do they play ball and buy you clothes?
Yes, I say mothers rule!
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Kitchen Update
by Rob
As of today, May 5, we have begun to move to a more detailed stage of the planning. We have a plumber working on a bid for us. Roger and his friend, George, will do the rest of the job. We have not ordered cabinets or appliances yet, but the plans are very close to be finalized.
These images are from the kitchen planner.
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