Is it really September already??

I owe all of my faithful blog readers an apology. Please forgive my lack of blogging over the summer. I started a part-time job as a Development Coordinator at a nonprofit company on July 2nd, and I guess that really consumed me. I spend the majority of my 24 hours/week there (it started as 20, but they love me so much they upped my hours) on the computer, and after coming home and checking email and Facebook, I just couldn't deal with the blog. We also spent a lot of time traveling back and forth to Maryland, since my mother-in-law's health was declining. We are very lucky that we got to spend some quality time with her. We had a lovely memorial service for her this past weekend, and I was again reminded of what wonderful friends we have. We do miss you all.

Summer in New England is lovely, once it finally gets here. It sure took its time this year! It didn't really get warm here until about mid-July. We have been exploring some of the numerous beaches in the Ocean State, on both the Atlantic and the Narragansett Bay, as well as the Block Island Sound. We really like Roger Wheeler State Beach and Misquamicut State Beach, which is in a bit more of a resort area (in case you couldn't tell from their website!). Both of them are about 45 minutes from our house, but if you don't leave pretty early in the morning, you'll hit traffic. If we get a late start, Goddard State Park has a really nice beach on the Bay in East Greenwich, and it's only 20 minutes away. The water temperature is a lot more tolerable in the Bay or the Sound than in the Atlantic!

We have been eating outside on our patio most evenings, and we were very happy to have air conditioning in the bedrooms on the hot, humid evenings. Ozzy has been getting used to going on walks with his Gentle Leader head collar - after the whole torn ligaments/sprained ankle thing, I refuse to walk him without it. He hates it, and rubs his head on the sidewalk and grass for the first few minutes of the walk trying to get it off. But after a block or two, he seems to settle down. It's been nice to walk around the neighborhood, and we have discovered lots of gorgeous houses we didn't even know were there. We really live in a beautiful area.

So after a few short weeks of summer, boom, it cooled down again about three days ago. I am hoping that we still have a few more beach days before Fall really hits us. But just in case, I ordered another pair of Thermasilk long underwear today.

Jess has started law school at Suffolk, and she is still looking for a part-time job in Boston, so if any of you have contacts, please let me know! Lewis started 8th grade yesterday and seems to be enjoying it so far.

I hope that brings you up to date. I will try to post more regularly again - thanks to Pam S. for encouraging me! If you feel the need to come see fall foliage in New England, we welcome visitors!