We almost never travel on three-day weekends. We'd rather not deal with the traffic on both ends of the weekend, and we can usually find plenty of fun stuff to do near home. We just had a great Labor Day staycation.
Friday night we watched an episode of the great public TV series "Mysteries of Matter". The whole time it was showing Audrey was playing with makeup and coming up with some weird looks. At one point she gave herself a black eye that was pretty convincing.
On Saturday we ran some errands (Carol and I both ordered new glasses - very exciting!). Then I did some yard work that I'm very proud of (mostly because it had gotten so wild that it looks fantastic by comparison after cleaning it up!). We ended the day with an impromptu dinner with our dear friends and next door neighbors, the Burtnetts. It's always lovely to spend time with them. I could do it every weekend.
On Sunday morning Carol and I took Rhodie for a long walk in the woods. Carol had never been to the nearby reservoir so I took her there. Rhodie has never really gotten the hang of fetching, but at the reservoir I started slowly throwing a stick very close to her in the water and she would retrieve it. Soon enough I was throwing the stick 25 feet out in the water and Rhodie was hooked. I think she fetched the stick 30 times. Rhodie has webbed feet and is a great swimmer.
I shot a little video and sent it to Audrey who was at home after having declined to go walking with us. She thought fetch with Rhodie looked fun and asked, "Can I come next time?" Of course! Please!
On the way home from the reservoir we walked past a bush that had some huge seed pods. We didn't notice them until after we had passed and noticed that I was covered with them - as was Rhodie.
In the afternoon we drove up to Russell Orchards in Ipswich to pick apples. It's a bumper crop this year. I knew we were a little earlier than usual, but it turns out they just opened for picking this weekend. It certainly is a bumper crop - the trees are heavily laden. We picked Macouns and Honeycrisps for pies and Galas to eat. We also bought a bag of cider donuts, which are the real reason to go apple picking.
On the way home we stopped at a newly renovated playground the girls had noticed. Very fun.
Monday I dragged Audrey out of the house to accompany Rhodie and me on another walk to the reservoir. Audrey thought ahead and wore clothes that could get wet. We had a great time playing fetch again, and Audrey enjoyed sitting in the water.
On Sunday we decided that the forecast for Monday looked like great beach weather. We didn't feel like getting up early to go. Carol suggested we go in the afternoon. Parking fills by 10am, but usually opens up around 1pm. We left home at 2:30 and arrived at Crane Beach at 3:15.
It was absolutely lovely. It was still crowded when we arrived but people were steadily leaving. The water was delightful at 72 degrees (it was over 90 outside). We swam a lot. Then the girls and I went for a long walk up the beach and Carol took a little nap.
Where we come from in Washington there is no such thing as swimming in the ocean - too cold. We still find it a real treat to be able to stay in the ocean for prolonged periods without getting hypothermia.
The tide was coming in. We saw it break through the sand bar in a few places and make new little pools that grew quickly. As the water flooded a new area we could see bubbles from clams. The girls made many attempts to catch one. No luck.
Then, when we were almost back to Carol we came across a large pool made by the incoming tide that had been heated by the hot sand it had flooded. The water was very warm. Tons of kids were having a blast in it. The girls played in it for at least half an hour. Then the sun set and it was time to go home.
We picked up a bucket of fried chicken on the way home and, eating it at the kitchen table, it seemed like the most delicious dinner ever.
Days, and weekends, like this leave me on a Dad high. I'm always trying to give my kids great memories and today was one of them.
