Computer Attack

You know you have boys in the house when your computer comes under attack, not from hackers, but from a tiny green army man who has his bayonet
aggressively aimed into the USB port.



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Trains, Games and Curdling Squeals

This was a full weekend. Our company left late Saturday to head back to Mass. and by 4:30 Jim, Nolan, Atira and I were on the WWBC bus headed to Hadlock Field to watch the SeaDogs soundly whip their opponents on a beautiful summer evening. I'm glad that Mom had taken Tell up to camp with her because Atira peppered me with baseball questions the whole game. There would not have been enough "mom" for the both of them. What she lacked in knowledge, she made up in enthusiasm, making sure she cheered for "the ones in white" at every opportunity!





Returning home late from the game, I still had to wait up for Mom to drop off Tell and Jubal. Jubal had spent the day hiking with friends in the White Mountains after working at camp for a week. It's nice to have him home again. Atira especially missed her big brother and wrote him a longer letter than I did while he was at camp!
Sunday was also eventful, some expected and some not. Upon arriving at church, a chipmunk preceded the three younger kids and I into the open doors of the foyer and down the stairs where the kids were gathered for the Sunday school opening. I opened my mouth to warn them of the rodent but Maddie Hodgdon beat me to it with her blood-curdling scream! I have to laugh just thinking about her face when she saw that chipmunk. Eventually it ended up trapped in the girls' bathroom and Nolan kept it there until we set up some barricades and herded it out the back door to safety. Excitement of a nicer variety awaited about an hour later when I spied two familiar faces at those same foyer doors, two friends that we hadn't seen in ten years, Bill and Patti Sandgren. There were hugs all around and it was like they never left. I love those friendships! There was more chin-wagging after church and just like old times, we were the last ones to leave. There was one more event on my weekend agenda, however, and so we parted with the intent to see them on our next trip to MI or IN. Upon leaving the Sandgrens, Tell and I hopped in the van and headed north for A Day Out With Thomas at the Boothbay Railway Village. It was a special end to a busy weekend.





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Designer Dryer

It only took a week, but all my laundry from camp is finally done thanks to my new dryer. The old one died a few months ago and we finally ordered a new one, timing it to arrive the morning after camp. The red color that matched my washer was no longer available so I went with white and decided to create some interest by applying black vinyl paislyesque floral stickers meant for decorating walls. I found them at Christmas Tree Shop last year, intending to decorate my yet-to-be laundry room with them. Instead, I have a designer dryer for the small sum of $9.


Also enjoyed a beautiful day at Sebago Lake State Park with Robert, Jodi, Malachi and a bit of the Buxton Crowd. I start schooling the kids next week. Oh, how I hate to see my summer days drawing to a close!



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New Fair, New Season

Though I've lived next door to Topsham for 23 years, I've never set foot on the Topsham Fairgrounds until today. Robert, Jodi and little Malachi have been visiting for the week and we thought the fair might be a nice excursion for part of the day. It was the perfect size for Malachi's attention span and a good deal if you're spending a lot of time on the rides. It was a very nice afternoon but I've definitely been spoiled by the Fryeburg Fair. Here's how they compare:

Topsham: 10 minutes away
Fryeburg: 2 hours away

Topsham: no cost for parking
Fryeburg: $5 for parking

Topsham: Admission $10
(under 36 mo. Free)
Fryeburg: Admission $10
Topsham: (under 12 yrs. Free)

Topsham: ride bracelets-
included with price
Fryeburg: ride bracelets-
$20 each
(6 people= YIKES!)

Topsham: light backpack filled
with water bottles and
purse.
Fryeburg: heavy backpack filled
with water bottles and
purse and winter coats,
hats and mittens.

Topsham: 4 animal barns containing cows, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits and one llama
Fryeburg: 4 oxen barns
7 dairy cow barns
2 beef cow barns
1 goat barn
1 pig barn
1 rabbit barn
1 poultry barn
1 llama barn
2 sheep barns
2 show horse barns
2 draft horse barns

Topsham: No Italian sausage
Vendor
Fryeburg: The best Italian
sausage vendor!

I can't wait until October!
And I'm very thankful there's no more waiting for football season. The Patriots' first preseason game tonight was a huge success. GO PATS!








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Bananagrams

Thanks to Dominique Raychard, Laura Romano and Leya Leighton, I got a bit of a Scrabble fix last night, with a game of Bananagrams after taps.



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