Monday, June 29: Arrival in NH

We're in NH! We drove up yesterday, a daylong drive, but we arrived by 5:30pm and had time to clean the house, unpack, inflate all the pond things, and hang the swing. We also made a late-night run to the grocery store when we realized we hadn't packed lettuce for Nutmeg. (Yes, she's here too.) The kids got into the pond as soon as their swimsuits were unpacked, venturing across the pond to pull the floating dock out of the cattails, the part of the pond they call "no man's land." The snapping turtle made his first appearance, rising up once again from the deep.

Today had a rocky start--the wifi Andrew had been assured was on was not working, and the calls and emails he'd sent last night still hadn't gotten a response. But by late morning it was in working order. 

Greta spent some of the day on geometry, her online class; and Andrew had to work. But Lucia and I spent most of today in our hammocks, reading. I read an entire book. Lucia finished the one she'd been working on. Glorious. Lucia spent a little time in the morning floating in the pond while Greta was doing geometry. Lucia and Greta also spent a lot of time in the pond together, swimming and jumping from the floating dock onto various inflatables. Andrew put up the pond rope. 

I had to do a work thing tonight (an orientation webinar, scheduled late to accommodate international students) but this is my only work obligation this week; I took all but two hours today as PTO, and the university is closed on Thursday and Friday. Much later, when it was getting dark outside and bats were beginning to swoop around, Andrew grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, which we ate along with potato salad I'd made earlier in the day. 

Farrah spent almost all day outside, exploring or lying by our hammocks or running after frisbees we threw down the hill for her to chase.

A perfect NH day. The relaxation is deeply felt, and felt only here. 

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What We're Reading (yay, it's hammock reading time!)

Margo: The Things We Never Say - Elizabeth Strout

Andrew: Thirteen Perfect Fugitives: The True Story of the Mob, Murder, and the World's Largest Art Heist - Geoffrey Kelly 

Lucia: Nothing Like the Movies - Lynn Painter

Greta: The Little Friend - Donna Tartt