I grew up in Maine, so it naturally holds a special place in my heart. I spent a lot of time sitting by the ocean when I was a teenager, and I’m charmed every time I go back to Portland and see what new restaurants and shops have opened up in the Old Port. But […]
Archive for the ‘animals’ Category
A couple days in Boston
July 30th, 2025 by pleia2
“Weren’t you just in Boston?” Indeed, I was! But this time, it was the first major stop in a road trip up through New England with our family. I’d say this was our first proper Great American Road Trip with the kids. They’d done an hour or two here and there, and three hours when […]
Parks, fairies, cars and airplanes
July 3rd, 2025 by pleia2
Last year we began spending summer vacation for the kids in Philadelphia, but I was a little sad to miss some of the California summer activities. This year we delayed our visit to Philly by a couple weeks so we could! Plus, MJ was traveling for a conference the first week of June, so it […]
A nature-full spring break in Philly
April 22nd, 2025 by pleia2
Spring break from school landed over the end of March and into April and we took the opportunity to add on a second week and spend the time in Philadelphia. We got in on a Friday night, and the next day the Churchville Nature Center happened to be having a day of activities for members. […]
A horse, a donkey, and a Cessna
September 19th, 2024 by pleia2
We have been busy lately. It’s just the time of year, there are always lots of events at the end of summer and beginning of autumn when the weather is perfect. It’s always been my favorite time of year. Last weekend we took advantage of the beautiful weather by visiting one of MJ’s colleagues up […]
Summer joy through the clouds
September 16th, 2024 by pleia2
Depression is something I feel like that even I fail to fully understand until I’m in the depths of it. I have to very carefully manage my priorities, because some days I just hit a wall and I need to make sure I get to work and that life-sustaining basics are done for myself and […]
California summer adventures with my sister and nephew
August 30th, 2024 by pleia2
A couple weeks ago my sister Annette and my 12 year old nephew flew into town for a visit. We saw them over Thanksgiving, but that was at the townhouse in Philadelphia so it had been a full five years since they last came to our place in California. So much has changed! The family […]
Concluding summer vacation in California
August 20th, 2024 by pleia2
I’m glad to be back at home in California. Spending 8 weeks over the summer in Philadelphia was an adventure, but I love our walkable town, the support network here (small as it is), and being back where all my stuff is here in California. Being home also means I’m back to healthier routines, including […]
Library fun, critters, and a final Philly train ride
August 5th, 2024 by pleia2
Over all we had a good summer in Philadelphia, but a round of COVID, canceled Florida trip, a sunburn, and a few days of MJ coping with an injury definitely made for some challenges. I joked with a friend that “we had a phenomenal Instagram summer!” because of all the activities and fun we had […]
Philly summer begins! Settling in, trains, and dinosaurs
June 10th, 2024 by pleia2
We’re in Philadelphia for 8 weeks this summer! I know it’s going to fly by. Indeed, a week has already gone. But it was a bit of a settling in week, and our au pair took the traveling opportunity to take a vacation and MJ spent the week in NYC for work, so I was […]