Just Another Day in . . .

Wow, has it really been so long. I am sorry--and not just to the handful of you who read this, but to myself. Strangely enough, this blog is good for my soul. But then again, so are a great many other things--several of which have been occupying my summer. It's been a soul-soothing summer so far. When I dubbed FairyLand FairyLand, it all just sort of made sense. Here, in this rural paradise, I'm at a loss to capture and name it. I considered Never Never Land, but Michael ruined that context for me. Originally I gravitated toward Arctic Tundra, but to experience this magic land right now, the name would not fit. Perhaps you can help. Let me roll out a typical day in my life right now, just for a glimpse into my summer.

In the morning, I get up early and work for a couple of hours. When the boys roll out of bed, we make pancakes and plan our day. Mornings are lazy--maybe a little cleaning, maybe a movie or books for the boys. Ethan was working on his airplane in the play room this morning.

As lunchtime approaches, we decide whether to bike over to the dining hall, or drive, or pack up the bikes and swim bag to go with us. Today we drove and brought Ethan's bike and Elliot's tricycle. After lunch, I sat in a rocking chair enjoying the warm breeze while the boys ran around and talked to me on the walkie-talkie. Then we strolled out to the teen-camp with Matt, Ethan darting ahead on his bike. While Matt met with a co-worker, we strolled down to the waterfront, dipped our toes in the lake and walked on the dock watching for fish. We headed out exploring a new trail, stopped for a few minutes to pick sweet, ripe mulberries from an overhanging tree before stoping in a forest clearing to let the boys play FBI for a bit (hiting trees with sticks, throwing "bomb" sticks and so one). We then strolled back, jumped in the car and headed home for a little "down-time". I took a 20 minute power nap while the boys put the finishing touches on the airplane.

In the late afternoon we threw the swim bag and an empty bucket into the bike trailer, buckled in Elliot, and biked on over to a friend's house with a more hospitable lake access (ours is all reeds and mud). I read a bit while the boys' played in the water. Then we spent an hour wading in the shallows under a low-hanging mulberry tree, filling our bucket with berries.

At the sound of the dinner-bell we loaded up the bikes, road over to the dining hall for dinner. After dinner I sat and rocked and read while the boys played in the field. After a quick good-night trip to Dad's office and a few final black raspberries, we got back on the bikes and headed for home. I watered my garden, pushed the boys on the tire swing, PJs and stories and bed. After a warm shower I find myself at the computer, a little Corinne Bailey Rae in the backgorund, ready for a little reading and my own bed.

I say it often, it is a rough life I lead . . . you should come visit.