Pumpkin Chuckin'?!?

Ok, you know when Fall is here! The mums are out, the cider is brewing, apples are being picked and polished, pumpkins are being carved..... AND tossed. Ever hear of Pumpkin Chukin'? Me neither (so don't feel so badly). Our dear friend's husband is competing in Delaware at a national Trebuche competition. Here we are at Trombley Farm test-firing the homemade, medieval device, which I understand aims to toss a pumpkin as far as it can. The Science Channel was even here interviewing his team! Good luck to our local entrants! Now off to pumpkin PICKING.

Pounding the Pavement

Here is a picture of a motley crew before we ran the 39th Annual Falmouth Road Race (it looks like we already ran the race…!) My 20 yo son, Steve and my husband, Steve (he pulled a fast one when our son was born but that is another story!) and I pounded the pavement for 7.2 miles from Woods Hole to Falmouth on August 14, 2011. I even shaved 3 minutes off my time from last year (trust me, that is not saying much!). Every year I tell myself, “I’m done. I hate training and I don’t even like running” and then I forget the pain (sort of like child birth) and sign up again….old age memory loss!

Natalie "For the love of clean teeth!"

Cleaning my teeth has been a new (and time consuming!) experience. As time has gone by I have become better and more efficient with my cleanings (practice really does make perfect!) I love the feeling of clean teeth; I think they’re actually cleaner now than they ever were before braces! I have to confess, I did try eating popcorn- totally not worth it! Accidentally chomping down on a kernel hurts and the hulls of the corn were stuck here, there, and everywhere under my brackets and under my gums! Never again! A plus to braces, I’ve lost weight! It has to really be worth it to go through my cleaning regimen after any indulgence!

The social hierarchy of the homo studentus universitatus

I have observed that the HSU species gathers in groups and their social hierarchy is complicated. When together the alpha males are attached to video game controllers, totally focused on annihilating their cyber enemies, others are mulling around playing pool, watching the alpha males make their kill, while others are ripping open bags of chips and making popcorn…what intriguing social structure. There is also a select few, usually the females of the group that are intent on rapid communication via texting on their cellular devices. I think they may be socially stunted but who am I to comment?

Dear God....please help my kids grow up to be socially capable and productive members of society (or I will have to change my last name!!)

Raspberries of Wrath...

Berry picking in the summer is filled with lots of laughs, yummy treats, and loads of berries to boot! Gotta watch the sun though! Here's my SPF 1000 son, who loves and insists on applying his own. I know that he will never burn on his face!

My daughter, however, was more content re-enacting a scene from Steinbeck's classic - Raspberries of Wrath, no wait, that was Grapes of Wrath... Same idea.

4th of July Fun!

July 4th in Amherst!

We were lucky to share some front row seats with close friends in the Village. The kids loved the Shriner's cars, and the militia even fired in front of us! Great to be Amherst citizens living with great history and tradition. Next year, we'll enter the bike parade!

I can't believe I've been in braces almost a month!

I can’t believe it; I’ve been in braces for three weeks! The first three days after they were placed, although my teeth were sore, I thought this is a piece of cake! But oh boy, after the third day my teeth started to feel like they were set in sponges and over time it started to feel more “spongy”! I could really feel the movement!



(Getting my braces on...the point of no return!)















(This is my daughter, Charlotte. She was by my side while I got my braces on.)



I recently went to visit my son in South Carolina. I ate something that I wasn't supposed to (lesson learned) and broke a bracket! No worries, I just secured it with some wax until I as able to get back to New Hampshire and have it clipped off.

(Did I mention that wax is my new best friend?)