at one point we were ALL home at the same time- except Donny, in far-off Buffalo.  But we visited.  A rare treat.

more pix!

so we just hung out and cooked!
This is what goes on here:  trips to the market, discussions of food. looking up recipes, cooking, and then eating.  And cleaning up, while making a shopping list.  
I love the first world:  when rhubarb is called for, you go out and pick some.  Or, failing that, buy some.

Fun at Niagara Falls- it had to be the windiest, coldest day in August ever.  We were drenched by the time we got ON the boat.  Afterwards, instead of hiking the area, we dried off at the culinary academy conveniently located among the souvenir shops.  Andrew has a summer job at the falls as a roving naturalist, but as he works at the bottom of 348 steps, we didn't visit him at work.

Our old house on Fruit Hill Ave.  Abby and I were driving around yesterday.  We walked around her neighborhood, Federal Hill, which has turned into delightful place since I saw it last.  Hit a wonderful deli for non-Panamanian ingredients (porcini).  Sped throgh Olneyville and North Providence, the East Side and Wickenden St.  Had dinner at an Asian fusion place, and pined for desserts at a fabulous bakery.  Drank our to-go coffees at the oudoor mall on Federal Hill, to the tunes of a Frank Sinatra impersonator.  I have never seen so many guys with cigars.  Post-Sopranos Little Italy.

At Muzz's in Portsmouth.  Meg and Pippa are here, both working overtime to keep pace with the summer influx.  Meg has her gardens, and Pippa's working two retail jobs- in a gallery and Starbucks.  Elle was here yesterday, doing errands with Muzz.  And Pam and Jas took me paddling over in Tiverton- great spot.  It's so nice to be outdoors here- the sun's less intense, the colors more muted- and I can stay in the water longer!

I'm at Marty and Nancy's place in Boston, so we're running around the city.  We just got back from the MFA:  contemporary art, new video art, kid art, and post-Impressionists before we collapsed.  I noticed at least 3 restaurants, so there were frequent coffee/ dessert breaks.  The lovely rear entrance on the Fenway is flanked by giant bronze baby heads.  

Visit to Isla Tigre last week.  What a great place!  Everyone sits outside their houses sewing and gabbing.  Girls all play volleyball, boys, soccer.  There was a restaurant!  And a tourist! (Norwegian).  Also two other boats, both with kids.  We went to an early-morning ritual for a girl coming of age, sort of a debut/quinceaña with shamanistic trappings.  Would have stayed for the whole party- four days- but seas got too high in the harbor and we had to go.  We'll be back.