Family and Fun in Cape Cod

Jim and I spent a number of days having fun with household, seashores, and surprising discoveries in Cape Cod final week. Granddaughter Taylor requested to spend her 18th birthday there, and despite warnings about how crowded it’s in summer season, we had a good time. To start with, Cape Cod seems, uh, precisely how I imagined. A lot of seashores, a number of homes with weathered shingles, white trim, and steep roofs (i.e., Cape Cod structure, shock), and yeah, a number of visitors on sure roads. We rented a home for the youngsters, and stayed ourselves on the Inn on the Sound in Falmouth. We had their completely worst room (late reserving), Deer Pond, a small room between the kitchen and the lounge, however nonetheless beloved the Inn. Gracious hosts, wonderful breakfasts, and nice location.

It was raining our first day there, so we went to the Whydah Pirate Museum. (So did everybody else, get tickets prematurely.) We anticipated a considerably trivial diversion, however had been all impressed at how a lot we realized, and the way glad we had been to have gone. Pirates had been most frequently both escaping political persecution, had been escaped slaves, or males “with no nation,” and nowhere to go. The spoils had been break up equally between each man, irrespective of his place. Nobody was excusing the violence, however studying the historical past of “The Golden Age of Piracy,” and the invention of shipwreck of the Whyday, had us all fascinated.

One other shock was the depressing look of lots of the oaks within the space. Total forests seemed just like the tree beneath, with the leaves of the outer branches useless and dying. It seems to be a short lived impact of the 17 yr cicadas, who injury the limbs once they lay their eggs and intrude with the tree’s circulation. Apparently the timber shall be tremendous subsequent yr.

One other tour was to Heritage Museum and Gardens, 100 acres of heaven in Sandwich, MA.

Right here’s the entire Billings household: Jim’s son Zach, accomplice Sarah, household buddy Emma, granddaughter Taylor (on her 18th birthday), granddaughter Quinne (simply turned 11), mother Rachel, and son Shane. And, in fact, my man, Jim.

MEANWHILE, again on the farm: It’s the height of flower season right here, and if you happen to don’t look too carefully, our gardens are attractive. Right here’s a sampling:

I imply it about not trying too carefully. Between household visits and journeys, rain, rain, and MORE RAIN (sure, I do know. I’m yelling), a lot of the backyard seems like a jungle. By a collection of lucky (household) and unlucky (sick, rain–a lot rain . . .) occasions, we haven’t been capable of sustain. However, nonetheless, it’s pretty. Simply don’t look too carefully.

The sheep nonetheless, are in ovine heaven, as much as their hocks in Irish inexperienced grass. We’ve by no means had a lot nice grass, and nonetheless have over 150 bales of hay within the barn.

Skip desperately wanted a shower (so mentioned my nostril–anybody else discover a powerful “doggy” scent in intact males?); can I simply say how grateful I’m that I spent a number of further hundred {dollars} to have a sizzling water line exterior?

He’s such an excellent boy. He doesn’t actually prefer it, however he’s so good about it. Discover the glass within the background–I realized to dilute the shampoo quite a bit earlier than placing it on the canine. Makes rinsing a lot simpler. (Thanks groomers!)

Jim rocks at getting the proper shake off photograph!

Skip loves the drying off half. A lot of physique rubs and massages.

Maggie and Skip each went to the vet as we speak; nice information for Maggie! Her kidneys are doing nicely. Her BUN is simply barely over regular (2.7) and her Creatine is dancing on prime of the traditional vary (1.5, down from 1.9 in March). Properly concentrated urine, so yay! Had a protracted speak with Dr Eric (Mazomanie Vet Clinic) about Skip’s coronary heart (displaced mitral valve) and excessive overheating, keep tuned.

Could some excellent news come into your life as we speak, even when it’s a flower that bloomed for the primary time as we speak, an additional yummy piece of chocolate, or that magical second when your canine will get the trick and does it each time with a smile on their face.