We were still on vacation in Maine on Tuesday, August 1st. We went to visit the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in the morning, then met up with Mom and David to spend the afternoon at Pemaquid Beach, which is where Mom used to come to the beach when she was a girl. That evening we had dinner at Shaw’s Fish & Lobster Wharf, then ice cream at Harbor Ice Cream on the way back. Wednesday we drove back to Holyoke and hit a big rainstorm on the Mass Pike that had just missed Hillsdale.
Thursday morning Nina got an art lesson from Gram in the morning, then it was time to grocery shop and head over to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. We had just finished getting our tent set up when the Cannons arrived. The girls got to run around and we got to hang out and meet up with everyone – I handed out the prints and magnets I’d made of the Lego print. For dinner I made quesadillas and fajitas with my portable single burner stove, and later got to see Abbie Gardner, Joe Crookston & Jesse Terry at the Lounge Stage.
Friday we took the kids over to the craft area for play and crafts. I did make a point of seeing Heather Aubrey Lloyd at the Emerging Artist Showcase, but most of the music I saw that day was later around the campfire. The girls discovered it was fun to attack the grownups with inflatable toys, and there was an 90s themed potluck Shantyballe that evening.
Saturday Nina and Penny danced with Jill and Jess in the dance tent, I got to see several acts including Brother Sun’s final appearance, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams featuring The Kennedys, and new find Upstate Rubdown twice. Sunday we tore down and left as early as possible because Jill had to work the next day, and traffic wasn’t as bad as it usually is (actually got home before dark).
Wednesday the 9th Nina and I had a picnic dinner at Reston Town Center where she ended up running into her friend Meghana on the way to an unplanned bathroom break and they got to play together. Sunday I was pleased with the first (pitch perfect) casting announcement from the Good Omens TV series: Michael Sheen as Aziraphale and David Tennant as Crowley. The next day I wondered why “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” was stuck in my head.
Friday the 18th I was home with Nina as there was no camp, and took her to a 4 hour playdate with 2 other girls (there was much dressing up). That evening we went out for dinner at Not Your Average Joe’s where she didn’t find much she liked besides the bread and I tried the ramen (not bad). The next day Jill took her to a birthday party. Monday the 21st Jill got Nina out of school early for the eclipse while I watched from work – not as exciting as totality, we’ll try for that in 2024 (Mom’s house is in the path).
Tuesday the 22nd Jill’s sister Melissa came down with her husband and oldest daughter, who was starting her freshman year at Marymount. We all had Hunan East for dinner, then Jill helped them move in the next day. Nina was starting to get a little anxious about starting first grade in a new school, but Terraset had an open house on Thursday that did much to ease her anxiety – it helped that Jack (our neighbor) and Rose & Violet (from Daisy Scouts) were in her class. Sunday we had Lorna & Dave and Janice over for a Mid-lanty Shanty fajita dinner.
Nina was pretty excited for her first day of school on Monday the 28th. We all walked up Ridge Heights together, and she got to meet the tiger mascot.
