hey jud

The Fourth of July weekend started out with Ollie's second birthday party on July 3rd, up at the house in VT. Meg's high school friend, Julia, came with her husband and three girls, Walter came up from Rochester, and Paul, Joanne and Kaitlin came from down the road. Presents were brought but somewhat scorned by the birthday boy, who is happiest playing outside wherever there's water, drains and rocks to throw in. On the 4th itself we missed any fireworks but did get to the Rochester parade and chicken barbecue, with a stop in between to see the renovations at historic Pierce Hall and get out of the rain. The sun finally came out on Sunday, in time for a cookout and hike to the waterfall cutoff at Mad River. Here are some pix.

When the eternal rain finally cleared, yesterday arrived just perfect with a sunny, super blue sky, but cool temperatures. I abandoned plans for our usual dinner/Red Sox combo and called Peter to go to the ICA, where I'd been wanting to see the Shepard Fairey show. The harbor was crowded with boats when I took the ferry over from Charlestown, swelled with opening night festivities for the arrival of the Tall Ships. On our walk from State Street along the waterfront to the ICA, people were everywhere, walking, strolling babies, lounging outside cafes, looking at boats and partying on boats. The crowds were just the right size, not large enough to make it difficult to get where you were going, but sizable enough to make it all exciting. There was a blues band on the water in front of Rowes Wharf and another band in front of the steps at the ICA. Fairey's show was excellent, graphic but more varied and much larger than I had expected. We stopped for a late supper at the Daily Catch in the Moakley Courthouse and then walked home past one last OBEY Giant poster on a North End billboard. Between the great weather, people watching, art, sunset, and yummy calamari, if you asked how the day was, just like Ollie, I'd say 'delicious'.

Last weekend was our first visit back to the island this summer, and as always, it makes me wonder why we ever leave. Happily we'll be going back again in August when Ollie comes to visit too.