Story time is the best time!

Video calls undoubtedly help to keep us connected with our granddaughters, but there's no substitute for being with them. Evie models the hat she's most recently obsessed with, gleefully swings as we push her as high as possible and quickly remembers who her Pop-pop and Bubbie are.

Big sister Clara is learning French instead of Mandarin, much to her Pop-pop's chagrin. She's getting so tall that she's rapidly approaching Bubbie Karen's chin. She loves her new teacher and is flourishing!

But at the end of the day everyone shares a meal and snuggles up to read goodnight books. That alone makes a weekend trip to Eugene worthwhile!

Boating crew

We like nothing more than sharing Blue Chip with crew. Karen's family is hardly close by, so having Steve and Kathy join us from Maryland along with Crysta who, has been in Boston getting her Masters, was a super treat! Two weeks later, our Useppa friends, the Trinos, gave us an excuse to visit our mutual friends the Symonds on Cuttyhunk - the outermost of the Elizabeth islands off the coast of Massachusetts Cape Cod. Like Useppa, it's available only by boat, has no cars and folks make their own entertainment. Delightful!