Saturday, June 21 (NH)

This morning we headed to Books-A-Million for our first visit of the summer. Shopping here is as much a tradition here as reading in hammocks and hanging out in the pond. I bought the kids two books each from the bargain books area. Then we went to the comic book store, where they always pick out a Funko Pop. Lucia was ecstatic to find a character from Yellowjackets, which apparently is sold out everywhere. Greta was torn between a couple of characters from Supernatural and Shadow and Bone, so she decided to wait and figure out which one she wanted most. We'll go back soon.

Then we picked up some groceries and a few things from Wal-Mart, including window fans to help us get through the next few days of ninety-plus temperatures.

We had lunch back at home and then headed to the pond. Andrew hung the rope across the pond, the final piece of our summer preparation. Then we all engaged with the pond according to our own comfort level. The kids jumped off the floating dock onto inflatables. Andrew swam. I floated around on a raft boat, enjoying the float but keeping my arms and legs safetly out of the water. It was incredibly peaceful. There has not yet been any sign of the snapping turtle.

At four, Andrew went off to meet with a cemetery sexton about his parents' burial (which will take place next week), and the kids and I installed ourselves in our hammocks for a couple of hours. We read in complete silence. It was glorious. 

Then the kids and Andrew went for a run, I went for a walk and did my ab exercises, and then we had our annual Fried Dinner. We're not sure where this tradition came from, or why we keep doing it every summer, since it involves heating two pans of oil on a marginally functional stove and deep-frying a lot of items served on plates that require counter space, which we do not have. It's chaotic and messy. But it's also delicious. This year we had zucchini, pickle slices, chicken tenders, and eggplant.

It was a very full New Hampshire day, the best kind of deep immersion into our favorite activities and family time. Tomorrow is our annual river rafting trip. 

What We're Reading

Margo: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Andrew: In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower (continuing his project of working his way through Proust each summer, a counterweight to my current extremely light romance / beach read)

Lucia: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (she is both reading this and sometimes listening to it as an audio book so she can simultaneously do diamond painting)

Greta: The Silent Unseen by Amanda McCrina (bought and read in its entirety today)