Dear Reader:

It is such a testimony to the human spirit how quickly we can adapt to new surroundings and daily changes. Children are the best at it…but I was telling my “Ya” friends how quickly I felt right at home in Maine…just so excited about every moment of every day…all the new possibilities awaiting the ‘Spruce and Moose” Adventure!

So when I arrived back home it took some adjustment to return to my more sedentary life style…for the first time I felt restless in it…I was ready to go see something new again…even if it was just driving around town looking at new homes  or walking a different path around the block. *(So glad Mandy called to ask me to help with the grandchildren…that always keeps one hopping 🙂

Last night I realized that there was one set of photos I forgot to include and  comment on,  in yesterday’s post. For me they were some of the most tantalizing and pictorially exciting experiences. Before we went to dinner at Becky and Dan’s home in Kennebunkport….we drove over to the Bush Compound.

On this particular day…the waves were hitting the rocks with such velocity that the spray shot up several feet in the air…I was awe-struck. Becky told us at supper that a “Northeasterner”  hit the house so hard a year before… that it broke all the front windows in the house. (I hope this latest one didn’t do damage of that intensity.)

As an avid history “geek” I loved the words engraved on a stone marker to honor our 41st President….George Herbert Bush

Anne added these two photos…”the sea was angry that day.”

A permanent monument to the president, who called his Kennebunkport home  “Anchor to Windward,” is just that – a 6,000 lb. naval anchor along the coast above Blowing Cave, the scenic spot from which tourists can view the Bush house and the sea.

*When Bush was surprised with the anchor at an unveiling ceremony with a bagpiper playing in 2009, he said, “All this tribute and I’m not even dead yet.” (Don’t we miss such a humble, dignified personality?)

As all the Ya’s get ready for next week and our fall retreat at Edisto…we know that the majority of the time will be spent on the front porch telling stories to each other….personal family stories, funny incidents, etc. Of course we all share our dreams and hopes for the future too.

We are going to celebrate each of our benchmark birthdays…finally…together as they should be spent. The week celebration is all about being together again…and gaining strength, to face what obstacles  confront us, from each other. 🙂 We will be an “anchor” for one another.

So until tomorrow…

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Happy Birthday to my sweet niece, Bekah! I hope this year brings fulfillment for all your dreams! Love, Aunt Becky

Nala was so happy to have Anne back home…she didn’t stop to smell the roses but she did pause to admire the sunflower/daisy vines. 🙂

Ding-bat Boo wants you, Susan, to know that even though this greeting is a day late Happy Birthday… it’s never too late to wish you the best of everything always!!

*Of all the 365 days in a year… it does seem almost freaky that we have so many overlaps in our families now-same day birthdays….Mollie and you, Lee and Marcia, Ben and Vikki, Jake and me……Whew! I have a sneaky suspicion  there are probably still more family double day birthdays

Seriously….I do wish you the best life has to offer Susan….these past years have brought much turmoil/sadness…this year I want everything to fall into place for you.

Happy Birthday Susan…and many many more!!!!