Kirsty's visit

My college friend Kirsty visited last week. Kirsty and I have been friends for almost 19 (!) years. We met as first year students at Sheffield University - we were flatmates and our rooms were right next to each other. In our second year at Uni we lived in a house with a great guy - Steve - who put up with our antics (laughing at his cooking disasters, tripping him up and taking pictures of him when he was drunk) and was chivalrous enough to walk us home at 2am after a night out. Then I came to the U.S. for my year abroad, and never went back!

We try to see one another about once a year, which is hard with Kirsty in London and me all the way over here in the U.S. But somehow we manage it, if it's me flying over for a weekend in February or her coming down to Stockbridge when we're in England visiting family. This time, Kirsty came here for 6 days and of course we packed plenty into her stay, culminating in a celebratory final day consisting of a 10K race, trip to Great Country Farms and Bluemont Vineyard, and a couple of hours at the pool before her flight back to London. Miss ya, Kirsty!

Triathlon Camp

Triathlon Camp - click to see album

On May 14 we packed up the car and headed to Lake Raystown, PA for Triathlon Camp! This 2-day camp was led by Alison's coach and included people that we're friends with through Tri Performance, Alison's triathlon training group. Many of them also brought families along so we knew the boys would have other kids to play with.

The camp consisted of early morning runs at the resort, learning to swim in open water in the lake, and biking around this very hilly (mountainous!) area. Stuart was able to come out for the 28-mile bike ride while the older girls watched the kids.

It was exhausting but a lot of fun. On Sunday we had a practice race consisting of an 800m swim, 10 mile bike, and 1.3 mile run. Alison finished 3rd overall...just got beaten by the two fastest men! :)

Time for T-Ball

T-Ball

This is Joshua's first T-Ball (baseball for little kids) season. He is doing really well and is a great hitter! Stuart is the coach which is fun and also challenging at times, but it's a great group of kids and they get on really well. (Click image to see the album.)

Much to Stuart's chagrin, his team got the Marlins, not the Yankees, but I think their uniforms are cute!

I think the most exciting moment for Joshua was getting 2 kids out at first base, although it's totally non-competitive, of course! :)

Growing Season

Growing Season

So my last post was during the winter snowstorm and now it's May and the weather is significantly different! Blue skies, sunshine, and the plants and flowers are growing like mad! (Click the image to visit the entire album of pictures.)

This year I'm growing zucchini/courgettes, beets/beetroot, red bell peppers, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, and rhubarb. Our two apple trees also have baby apples that look very promising!

The hostas are bigger than ever and my clematis has taken over the trellis already. I also have an itty bitty sunflower that I'm hoping will survive as Joshua gave it to me for Mother's Day.

I've been watering diligently and the warm temps have been helping. Have managed to keep the birds away from the plants (the bird feeder and bath are way over in the other corner of the garden, which I think helps) and, after Peter Rabbit visited the strawberry patch and was caught munching on the leaves (fortunately there were no strawberries at that point), I installed a fence and he hasn't found his way back in. We also have a very curious and friendly turtle that we need to keep out of the plants!