Birds of 2009

So, this was an interesting year for us, bird-wise. We didn't go on any spectacular birding vacations (like Arizona in 2008, Iceland in 2007 or the Rio Grande Valle in 2006) and we didn't rack up many lifers at all (only 9 for Andy and 12 for me) BUT, all in all, it wasn't a bad year. Andy's year total was 253, which ties last year, and mine was 251, only a few birds behind. Considering I can't remember doing much intentional birding at all, that seems pretty decent!






The highlight of the year was probably our January trip to Florida where we escaped from parental duties for a few days of spectacular birding in the Everglades, Corkscew Swamp Sanctuary, and Babcock-Webb Wildife Refuge. Corkscrew Swamp was where Andy snapped this image of a Yellow-Throated Warbler which ended up being chosen for publication in a National Natural Landmarks (a National Park Service Program) 2010 Calendar. Very cool.


Also, we can't forget successful local NH hunts for a Northern Hawk Owl in February and a Cerulean Warbler in June. And a gorgeous September day off Jeffrey's Ledge watching whales, seabirds, and dolphins cruise the briny blue. Looking forward to more adventures in the coming years!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas was in Vermont this year and we had all the trimmings... some fluffy new snow, a huge tree loaded with presents, christmas cookies for Santa, and of course, a seafood feast. Add to that one very excited 3-year old and you can imagine what it was like. 90% of the gifts under the tree were for Aiden, so I'd say he made out like a bandit. We are still wondering where we're going to fit all the toys he received when his closet and toy boxes are already brimming at home. Time for a little New Year's cleanse, probably...

On Christmas Eve we had a wood-fired pizza party with the Pottmeyers... the big boys braved the chill to cook pies in the outdoor oven while the rest of us chatted inside and Gerritt and Aiden watched retro Tom & Jerry cartoons and 3 Stooges re-runs.

Micah and Becky brought a cooler full of lobster, scallops, huge shrimp, and tuna steaks up north so our Christmas dinner the next day was absolutely delicious, though it may seem non-traditional to some. It's becoming a tradition for us to have seafood-fest at every holiday that involves M&B... it's nice to have relatives in the fishing capital of the northeast! Our lone contribution was our harvest of oyster mushrooms, but those went over really well too. We ended up dipping them in egg and herbed bread crumbs, and then pan frying them in butter & lemon juice. We're currently waiting for the next "flush" of shrooms to mature so we can try another recipe.

Before we all went our separate ways (us to NH, M&B to MA, and my parents down to the FL) we had to make it into Burlington to stroll under the holiday lights on Church Street and eat at A Single Pebble. After a little Mock Eel, Double Garlic Broccoli and Bejing Street Noodles, we all felt fat and happy. And a special Boxing Day surprise- my cousins Sarah & Joe had their baby girl Francesca just a few miles away at Fletcher Allen Hospital!

Christmas Shrooms

Andy got an oyster mushroom kit for an early Christmas present so we have been growing and harvesting some huge shrooms! We're saving them up to bring to VT for wood-fired pizza toppings and some kind of innovative Christmas dinner dish, so we haven't tried any yet but they look yummy. Anyone have ideas?

In other news, Aiden's school is closed for two weeks so we're enjoying a lot more family time than usual. It has been frigidly cold out the last few days but we were able to get out and do some sledding and playing in the snow last weekend. Seems like everyone south of us (Mass on down to DC and Virginia) got a HUGE dump of snow earlier this week. I can safely say I do NOT have snow envy. You can have it, for once! The foot or so we have is totally sufficient for a white Christmas and doesn't seem to be melting away any time soon. Am i turning into a grinch?!

New dinosaur exhibit at our favorite winter indoor getaway- the Montshire Museum of Science

Tis the season...

Well, it only took 3 years, but Aiden finally agreed to sit on the big jolly man's lap. He managed to squeak out that his name is Aiden, and the important facts that he would like power tools and transformers for Christmas this year. Santa chatted and chortled and bounced him a little but could not get a smile out of him... all things in good time. I know Aiden was relieved to get down and get his giant candy cane as a reward. Now to concentrate on being good for about two more weeks...

Tree is up and decorated, and we've got about a foot of fluffy white snow, so it's officially the season. Making some holiday cookies with Aiden this afternoon and maybe we will wrap a few presents to put under the tree after that. Spiced cider and fleece socks. Christmas movies and balsam wafting through the house. Could be worse.

Thanksgiving!

We have just returned from 8 action-packed days on Long Island. It's always a bit of a whirlwind adventure when we're there, since we have to fit in quality time with grandma, grandpa, great-grandmas, uncles, aunts, cousins, childhood friends, and college pals too. No matter how many days we stay for, we always leave feeling like we must have shortchanged someone and wish we could have just a little more time.

Aiden and Grandma Chris at Quogue Widlife Sanctuary

Aiden with his turkey, BellyButton, on t-giving day. Don't ask, we don't know why...

Aiden really enjoys our visits to the island since he gets doted on by his grandparents (what could be better than walks through the forest, ice cream cake, early xmas presents, and trips to the aquarium), he gets tickled into a frenzy by Crazy Uncle Dan, and he gets to play with so many other kids his age. This visit he played with eight boys and girls that were 2-4 yrs old (kids of my college friends, Andy's HS friends, and my cousins) - and he got to play with all THEIR toys, which is heaven on earth. It makes it so much easier to actually visit with friends and family (adult conversations, I mean) when the kids can entertain themselves together, so we are very grateful for all the other kiddos on L.I. Plus, it's fun to see them too!

Doggie (Aiden) and Kitty (Elizabeth)

Three cousins eating apples - William, Aiden and Emma

William and his favorite purple dinosaur on the Islip Beach

Five boys in a bouncy-house, at Lisa & Ed's place

We also celebrated Grandpa Da-Da's birthday, had a great Thanksgiving feast at Aunt Mary & Uncle Mike's house (Aiden ate his first lithuanian-style kielbasi), visited a winery and a Christmas tree farm, and Andy ran a 5K Turkey Trot. Very productive week, I'd say! I need a vacation now.

Helping Grandpa Da-Da with the candles

Aiden and Hannah on Thanksgiving


Great Grandma Guppy watches Aiden do "acrobatics"


Before the turkey trot on thanksgiving morning, in Blue Point. Aiden ran the last 100 feet with his Dadoo but lost one of his shoes about 50 ft in... whoops!

At Atlantis Marine World aquarium... the ray touch tank



Neptune?

Hot dog lunch after the aquarium w/ Grandpa Da-Da

Macari Winery - wine snobs

Picking out the Christmas tree for Crazy Uncle Dan

New Alligator Slippers- thanks Grandma Chris!

November

I can't believe November is half gone already! It's dark at 5 and the leaves are gone and I guess we're hunkering down for a long cold NH winter. That's not really a legitimate excuse for why I haven't posted anything in awhile, but it sounds good. In truth, I'm always a little depressed to kiss the warm weather goodbye at this time of year, but all three of us are ready to kick off the holiday season with a whole week on Long Island starting next Friday. Ready to spend some time with family and take a much needed break from work and our daily routine.

Aiden is thriving at his new school- he loves all the activities and has made a whole new suite of friends. Every time I pick him up at the end of the day, I have to hunt down his little troupe of friends - they're almost never in their classroom at that hour - sometimes they are in the gym playing with balls and scooters, or in the dance studio doing the toddler-boogie, or climbing at the rock wall, running on the soccer fields, or exploding into leaf piles on the college green. Once they were at the rock maze right across from our house, which was convenient for Andy, who just had to open the door and call Aiden home.

Aiden's taking swim lessons on Saturdays at the Colby-Sawyer pool.d He is VERY enthusiastic!

And we finally finished off the clubhouse part of Aiden's playgym in the back yard- hopefully years of imaginitive play are in store there.

View from the property we monitor for the Green Mountain Club on the side of Camel's Hump.

Ghouls and Guinea Pigs

Aiden had his heart set on being Lenny the Guiniea Pig for Halloween this year. For the uninitiated, Lenny is one of three "WonderPets" (the others being Tuck the turtle and Ming-Ming the duckling) who fly around in an upturned frisbee (flyboat) saving animals in trouble. Aiden also had his heart set on Dadoo dressing up as Tuck and Mamoo as Ming-Ming, but he had to settle for t-shirts in turtle green and duckling yellow on that account. Still, we braved the windy, drizzly Halloween night as a spirited WonderPets threesome and returned home with a pumpkinfull of candy.

We carved pumpkins...

And raked leaves on Halloween Day...

The best part of Halloween in New London is the Haunted Forest Trail, which leaves across the street from our house. From 5 to 6:30 it's geared for little ones, with the ghouls and spooks holding bowls of candy out instead of jumping out from behind trees wielding scepters and bloody skulls. Aiden led us (Lenny is the leader of the WonderPets, after all) through the spooky forest where we emerged on the veggie fields of Spring Ledge Farm. Tractor hay-rides transported us to the main farm building, where popcorn and hot cider awaited. From there we completed the trick-or-treat loop through a small subdivision and back to our house, just before the skies opened up and it started to pour. Halloween perfection.