Whale of a Tale

 When James and I were asked if we wanted to go on an all day Sunday sail, we said yes without even thinking about it. We all woke up around 6am, and made our way down to Winthrop and set off in the early morning light (with a stop at Starbucks first of course). 

 The Boston Harbor is full of lobster pods, and fisherman like this man pull them up to find lobster inside.

We sailed for four hours out into the Atlantic, the first time I'd ever really seen it (even though we've been living here for more than two years). The Atlantic Ocean is blue, and cold. We fought through some pretty big waves and almost 20k wind to get out there. James steered most of the way and did an awesome job. 

 Stellwagon Bank National Marine Sanctuary was our destination, and once we were there we kept an eye out for puffs of water. 

 We first saw backs. 

 Then realized there were more than one. 

 Then tails.

A whale watching tour was out there with us. This whale was watching the boat, getting up close, and then diving under it. 

 Suddenly Sheila and I heard "PPFFFFFFTT!!!" about 20 feet from where we were sitting on the forward starboard side of the boat. So close we jumped and I couldn't focus my camera. This whale  dove under the boat and came up right next to us. 

 Breathing in. 

They were all around us. 

The thrill of the adventure was incredible. It took us about 5 hours to sail back in light winds, spinnaker sail up, but returning home exhausted was well worth the hour we spent with Humpback whales. We touched a bit of nature. We marveled at how gigantic and gentle these creatures are, and were startled by how close they were willing to play with us. They are graceful, unpredictable, impossibly enormous, and so alive. 

At the Finish

The summer is full. Full to the brim with conversations, day trips, train rides, good dinners, crisp evenings, fun with friends, sailing adventures, corn on the cob, movies, books read, craft projects, walks, time in New Hampshire, games, french presses of coffee, days in Boston, dinners with the Hudsons, sleeping in, baked goods, flowers, Portland Maine, late nights laughing, cooking together, jokes, and learning to love one another better. 

I think I'll miss Anwen most in the morning, I love when she wakes up and the new day of thoughts and conversation commences. We share coffee and laugh together. 

Learning to sail together has by far been the best part of the summer. We looked forward to Wednesday night every week, the quality family time was truly a gift. Tonight will be our last race all together, and I plan to soak it up. 

Take the Train to Maine

In which we visit Portland, Maine for one magical adventurous day. 

"Welcome to Portland, Maine!" the conductor said. We stepped off the train and into a farmer's market. Bustling with harvest, music, and the hum of a Wednesday morning in this port city on top of the world. 

We're popping in and out of shops, bookstores, coffee cafes, and parks--wandering this tiny city and discovering its quirks, characteristics, and possibilities. 

I can smell the ocean air, floating over the old brick buildings that house new things. Seagulls cry as the summer sun sits low over the blue water. 

We just boarded the train home after a perfect meal on the water. The train speeds us down the eastern coast as we watch the golden sunlight catch the last of the world as it dips below the horizon. 

Wooo! Wooo! rings out from our train across the woods and fields, ocean inlets and neighborhoods as we whoosh along into the dusky night. Reading, writing, editing the memories of today into a magical story. A story that whisked us away for a moment in time. 

New York with the Mulligans Three

Best friends since third grade--one thing I love about James is his unfailing loyalty to good friends. Mikey and his wife Kristin are in the great category--family really. They live in New York, aspiring actors, singers, dancers, costume makers, photographers--you get it, the creative types that touch something and it turns to gold. They were lovely hosts this weekend as we toured around on

 Anwen's first trip to the city. 

We walked through Central Park (remember there was snow on the ground last time), went through Times Square, China Town, Little Italy for canolis and coffee, walked through the parks near their house, had delicious food, visited Chelsea Market, walked the High Line, watched Star Wars Episode IV and V, then ended the trip on a rooftop deck in the middle of the city with good friends. 

It was magical. 

New York used to scare me. It's so...big. Boston feels ity bity compared. The subway is ten times bigger, the city is enormous, and there are people everywhere. But a professor told me once that you don't move to New York, you move to a neighborhood in the city, and from there you begin to explore in parts. He was right. Our quick trips down to visit the Mulligans allow us to soak up small pieces each time.

 I still have a growing list of things I'd like to see. The Natural History Museum, the Strands Bookstore, Greenwich Village. Guess we'll have to visit again in the fall, maybe if we time it right we can hold a baby Mulligan. 

Picnics and Music

A few days ago Anwen and I rode the green line into the city, and wandered through Brookline on our way to Jamaica Pond. Picnic dinner in tow, we sat down for an hour long performance by the Metropolitan Wind Symphony. The sunshine, fresh air, tiny kids running around, the best kind of dinner, all accompanied by a symphony made of 50 different instruments--amazing. After we got local ice cream and went on an adventure to Trader Joe's. 

Best part? Time spent with this lady. 

Summer of Anwen

 We went to another Red Sox game! We got $10 tickets because they're losing all the time. But we took Anwen to her first professional baseball game. In Fenway! 

One day last week we wandered over to my favorite greenhouse. I've posted pictures before. I was on the hunt for some new plants for the kitchen windows and we came away successful. 

Here's another success--James made cinnamon raisin bread for the first time last week.

 It was delicious. 

A stay in Boston isn't complete without a trip to the Sam Adams Brewery. We had lunch and went on the brewery tour, which ends in the tasting room to sample a few different beers. We tried the Oyster Stout, which they actually age over real oysters (it wasn't amazing).

This is the part of the week we all eagerly anticipate. Wednesday night sailing. Last week it was too rainy and not windy enough to go out and race, but the company is still good. Two weeks ago we put up the big spinnaker sail, but we all had our hands so full no one took a picture. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the Boston view from the water. 

Red Sox Baseball

The four of us won tickets to a Red Sox game during a silent auction a few months ago. Saturday night we finally got to go! We were four rows back from first base and even though they didn't win, we had a great time. 

Tim and Alyssa are getting married in less than a month. We're more than thrilled to share life with them and can't wait for their day! 

Officially A Master

Signs I did this week at work.

My journals, tasting cards, presses and pairings. 

John, Dan, Suzie, and I after my certification.

I became a partner at Starbucks in 2011, thinking it would be a summer job. In the fall I would definitely find something more "grown up" so I could "actually apply my degree."

Had no idea I'd fall in love with coffee. No idea that eventually I would use my education every day. I absolutely would not have guessed that Starbucks would actually teach me something useful to use in my career.

For about three months I've been preparing to become a coffee master. There is coursework, books to read, videos to watch, activities to complete, and people to inspire. I completed my work, and then had to motivate my entire team in order to improve the coffee quality in our store, inspire learning, and sell coffee to help our team meet goals.

The actual certification is a meeting/presentation that takes about an hour. I led a coffee tasting of three different coffees and pairings, was taken through a 20 minute verbal test about coffee, and presented activities and ways to sell more coffee at our store in the future. Suzie, the lead coffee master for our district, was proud, and I think everyone around the table learned something. Right now I am the only Coffee Master in our district, and so a point person for others who want to complete their certification as well. I am thrilled to have the honor of wearing a black apron, something I've wanted to achieve since my first months with the company in 2011.

I did it!