Wednesday, June 25 (NH)

I started off the day reading in my hammock while the kids slept in. Is there anything more relaxing? There is not. Greta joined me when she woke up. Unfortnately, as she began making her way down the slight rise that leads to our hammock area, she saw a snake. It slithered out of her path, but did not slither away entirely. Greta said it was small. To my surprise, neither of us freaked out and ran inside. Instead, we coexisted with the snake while we read. Lucia eventually joined us as well. We did not tell her about the snake.

Later in the afternoon, the girls and I went to Books-A-Million since they each had a punchcard to turn in. I bought Greta two bargain books and Lucia one non-bargain book, and a bargain book for myself. 

The temperature seemed to double by the time we got home, so the girls went into the pond and I sat in a chair BY the pond. They played on the dock, their usual splashy game, and there was no sign of the snapping turtle.

Once Andrew was done working, we sat outside with some cheese and crackers and looked out at Mount Ascutney. Andrew drank wine and I drank seltzer, and the girls drank Orange Dry in wine glasses. I made pasta with peppers, feta, and sausage for dinner, and then we all played three rounds of Rummikub. 

Why don't we have time to play family games at home? We're all there; it's not like we're out every night or working late hours. It's just something that seems impossible. Our stay in NH is the most vacationy vacation possible besides our beach week, which is also very vacationy. The benchmarks for me of a true vacation: lots of time outside, lots of time to read, and an immersive commitment to family time. 

What We're Reading

Margo: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (I can't follow the kids into their romantasy / fantasy reading, but I do love the Hunger Games)

Andrew: Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

Lucia: Star Bringer by Tracy Wolff

Greta: The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton