Top Chef

Finn of County Middlesex snuck out of his crib last week and caught his mother and I being naughty--he found us watching the finale of Top Chef!

The show had an effect on the lad, and we've signed him up for Top Chef 2025 when he'll be 18 and ready to compete.

Return of the Young Gruffalo

Belated, yes. But all present and accounted for.

We give you one Gruffalo's Halloween in Witch Country.

All materials chosen, assembled, and fitted to the Gruffalo by his mother.

Rainbow week at Somes Sound, Maine

Liam, Lucy, and Paul invited us to share a week with them in Maine. We stayed at a cottage Lucy's family's been going to for decades, so it felt like home through that connection. Somes Sound was right at the bottom of our driveway, and the property owner--a second-generation lobsterman--had "live wells" of lobster on his dock--$3.75/lb. Wow!

Liam and Finn were perfect buddies--They're so close in age and temperament so we pretty much kicked back and watched them build pillow forts, read books, push the "wheel barrow," snack, bathe, and generally hang out together. It was brilliant.

Thanks for a great week guys!

Prelude to a Gruffalo

Finn and his dad are spotted atop the highest peak on the Eastern Seaboard shortly before Halloween. They share an oxygen-deprived, euphoria-based howl together.

Nothing from Nothing at Sand Beach

Between friends, something can come from Nothing. Especially at Sand Beach, Mount Desert Island.

See for yourself!

Festina Lente

Finn visited Poppy in Newport, RI last week for an overnight on the boat, Festina Lente.

Festina is a Sabre 48 sloop, and even a big boy like Finn can get lost below decks.

We took a ride in the dinghy over to Fort Adams.

After lunch Finn took a nip-nap in the aft cabin.

When he woke up, Finn took the helm for a while and we had a sunset dinner prepared by Poppy down in the galley.

It was a day to remember and dream about for Finny-boy.

Back in the saddle

While we were at the dump this week, Finn spotted a collection of gently used bicycles which he urged me to drive by and inspect on his behalf.

We looked at them out there in the rain and he spotted one that caught his imagination, and so he further pressed me to inspect it more closely.

As I groped around the muddy pools surrounding the bicycles, Finn called, "That one, that one!" from the car.

"This one?" I asked from the downpour, pointing at a purple two-wheeler with rickety trainers and a sticker on it's side that read, "Puddin'."

"Yes, that one! Get it. Put it in the car!"

Later at home, after the rain, we worked on the bike--new trainers, new handle grips, new bell.

A little while after that, Finn learned how to ride...