A Walk in the Woods

We started off the day with a long walk: up the hill behind the barn, through the woods, across a field, and back through the woods past our hammocks. The hill was wild, with grasses up to our knees, and when we got to the top Andrew had SEVEN TICKS crawling on him. WILDLIFE. We all checked ourselves obsessively then carried on into the woods, where there was rough terrain but no more ticks. Farrah was on this walk with us as well. We did a thorough tick check when we got home but we were all fine, though Farrah's paws were stuck with lots of tiny burrs, which we spent some time pulling out.

We read a lot today, outside on chairs under a tree. The kids also played Roblox in their room (I set a "parental control" on their phones so they can only play for 1 hour per day), did Duolingo, and worked on their joint story. We played Rummikub outside. 

We ran our mile before dinner. Well, I ran my mile--the girls have upped their daily(ish) goal to 1.5 miles. Greta ran the whole way without stopping. She said she was "dead but proud." 

Andrew took a (foolhardy, inexplicable) dip in the pond after our run. I Moana'd across the pond on the dock, pulling myself along with the rope and looking for the turtle, but it did not rise today. 

Andrew made one of our favorite NH meals for dinner: a steak frites recipe we found in the New York Times several years ago and which we make every year when we're here. It's delicious. The best part is the butter with thyme and shallot that melts over everything. 

Our cousin set off fireworks tonight with his visiting family. We watched from the back field. Greta kept startling and gasping that she heard growling coming from the field. Farrah stayed inside and seemed okay. Nutmeg was furious, running around her room thumping and refusing to let me pet her. She eventually settled (after peeing on the floor). Of course that was when Andrew came up to say goodnight to the girls, and he gave me a withering look, not even TRYING to soothe Nutmeg by lying on the floor and talking softly to her, as I was.

Tomorrow will be a full day of Fourth of July activities. I don't really feel like celebrating the dumpster fire that is our current state of "independence," but on we go. 

What We're Reading

Lucia - I'll Never Tell (a YA thriller from the Books-A-Million discount area; she's hooked)

Greta - Magus Chase #3

Margo - The Likeness

Andrew - Sham Champagne: A Bottler's History of Tampered Grapes and Poisoned Corks that Threatened to Kill the King, 1732-1887)

Kidding. I made that up! He's actually reading Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune.