In which we play and work at home, then take our show on the road for this year’s family visit.
15th ANNUAL SPRING SHAKORI HILLS GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL
A great blend of tradition and novelty. Our preparation ritual involves test tubes, frozen tequila, and Kahlua a.k.a. “Shakori Shooters.” Then off we go, prepared to witness new wonders. This year Bob saw for the first time the impromptu torching of a twenty dollar bill.
PROOF
It was a big moment for Camille when she uploaded the files to her mother’s memoir to CreateSpace, Amazon.com’s self-publishing platform. Printed proofs are now in the hands of family and being groomed for publication at the end of the year.
A WELL-WEEDED GARDEN
We worked long, bonding hours to clear the garden of weeds, inadvertently flushing a handsome tortoise out of cover. The family who weeds together stays together. We joke that we are becoming like Bob’s Uncle Hank and Aunt Dorothy, two old folks who puttered endlessly in their gardens and stayed strong and together until the end.
ROUNDABOUT COTTAGE
Bob, Joe, and I joined forces in DC for our annual family visit, beginning at Jim and Kathryn’s Lakeside house. We spent a relaxed two days in their company at: Roundabout Cottage
TARANTELLAS RISTORANTI
If you put us up, we’ll take you out. Jim chose his favorite Italian restaurant, Tarantella’s.
FUN WITH JIM AND JOE
After Joe reported the death of his watch battery, Bob and Jim helped him replace it but were unable to snap the back into place. So they brought the vise in from the garage and applied pressure.
OFF SCRIPT
What happened next was not intended.
WALKS WITH THE BROS
While at Roundabout Cottage Joe, Jim, and Camille walked to the grocery store, stopping at a thrift store along the way and picking up a basket full of plastic dinosaurs. After arriving in Shippensburg, John took Camille hiking on North Mountain. Read about these adventure and more on: Brother Stomping
BOB AND DEB’S PLACE
En route to Shippensburg, we stopped for lunch at Bob and Deb’s beautifully appointed home.
BAILEY
Bob keeps Bailey on the straight and narrow when feeding him a dog cookie.
CABAÑA
After lunch we relaxed in the back yard screened patio.
SHIPPENSBURG
Pre-reunion park pizza at the pavillion with John, Darla, and their son Brandon’s four children. After the reunion, we visited Charity and her six kids. More photos, on this page: The Youngsters
REUNION
Camille’s parents are 85 and 91, and still getting around. We spent an afternoon with them and extended family at the annual potluck. Mom reserves the community room at her apartment complex, everyone brings food, and we take turns talking about what we are grateful for, and our goals. This year, we added a music recital. Read all about it on: Family Reunion 2017
THE FRIENDLY FARMERS
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Our friends Matt and Jenn invited us to brunch and a relaxed farm tour. Check out their world on: Dickinson Farm – Matt and Jenn
A LITTLE BOY
Suddenly, Nolan is not a baby any more. Thank you, Emily and Tyler for sharing your photos and for being exceptional parents.
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THIS MONTH’S QUOTES:
“Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates. At the first gate, ask yourself, ‘Is it true?’ At the second ask, ‘Is it necessary?’ At the third gate ask ‘Is it kind?'” – Sufi saying
“You get your intuition back when you make space for it, when you stop the chattering of the rational mind. The rational mind doesn’t nourish you. You assume that it gives you the truth, because the rational mind is the golden calf that this culture worships, but this is not true. Rationality squeezes out much that is rich and juicy and fascinating.” – Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior
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