Drying Herbs

My carrots are plentiful and sweet, and the herbs did famously this year. One thing I love about growing my own food is that I never really know what the harvest will hold. Volunteer tomatoes were the hardiest of all this year, although I did harvest more tomatoes than anyone in Massachusetts, I think. I've always wanted enough herbs to hang and dry. Finally!

Lachen's 8th birthday party

Aksel's latest song

Back to School

First Day of School! Every year, these are my favorite photos. The boys are all spruced up with new school shoes, tentative smiles, eagerness to see what this day will hold...I love it! Lachen rode his bike to school on the first day (with a Daddy escort), and Aksel was one of 7 children to get on at the St. Mark's stop at the top of our hill. It's a very short bus ride, but I know that I'll still drive them to school so we can have those great 10 minute car chats on the way.

The school year has started smoothly for all of us. I am teaching two classes again, and it looks like my Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons will be teh times when I'll be doing Mom Things. This week, I'm preparing for Lachen's birthday party. He's having a street hockey party this year, and I need to figure out how to make a Stanley Cup birthday cake and black puck cookies. We found other party supplies at the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto --yes, I was actually shopping for his party months in advance--stop chortling. We're looking forward to having 8 friends over for his 8th birthday.
Do you like Aksel's red shoes? What's better than new red school shoes, right? These are Kangaroos with the hidden zipper pocket on the side. I had a pair in 3rd grade. Mine were pink, purple, and yellow. They were nothing short of perfection. Aksel wanted these for months after seeing them in a little shoe store in Boston, across from Mike's Pastry. He got them for his 6th birthday. He's always had the best taste in shoes.
These are my boys! They've started taking piano lessons, and Lachen is determined to catch up with his little brother. This has only driven Aksel to play and memorize the hardest song in his book. There's no shortage of competitive spirit in our house!

Tonight, Lachen will be starting a bookclub tonight with other 2nd and 3rd graders at the library. He's ready for the 4th Percy Jackson book, so that will be my charge while he is eating pizza and talking about books with his peers. My book club is meeting next week, too, so I'd better start my book, Twilight. At least it's a light, quick read! I'm reading God's Mercy by Kerstin Ekman. She's a Swedish author whom I highly recommend. Shawn's reading Mean Spirit, a Native American novel which he read ten years ago, and now he's going to lead a student discussion about it at St. Mark's. What's everyone else reading?

For immediate release September 12, 2009

Framingham signee pays dividends in first game
Reid's four points lead the way in Flyers victory

Approaching a summer of free agency, ex-Triboro Titan Lachen Reid knew he had to end the season on a strong note to appeal to other programs. Luckily, his hot streak led to the Framingham Flyer organization bidding for his services. The Flyers’ decision to sign Reid to a one-year contract looks like they knew what to expect from the hard working player.

Saturday afternoon at North Star Rink in Westboro, the Flyers got off to a slow start against the Demons and were losing 1-0 before Reid got his team going. Playing defense for the first game of the year, Reid picked up the puck to the right of Flyer goalie Connor Angus and went around his net. Two Demon players converged on Reid but he sped up and split the players. A third Demon bit on Reid’s dipped-shouldered move and he was off to the races. As Reid sped into the Demon zone being chased by the defenseman, he let rip a shot from the left side. The rebound trickled through the crease for a Flyer teammate to punch home for a 1-1 tie going into the second period. The Demons had a strong second period as they put three past Angus.

The third period was all Framingham. After the opening face-off, Reid powered the puck into the Demon zone which led to a goal just 30 seconds into the period. Then Reid provided a highlight-reel goal of his own, his first of the year. He picked up the puck in the offensive corner, went around three total players and let another hard shot go from the top of the slot. The Demon goalie never saw it but it hit his stick, deflected off the inside of the far post and slid over the goal line to bring the Flyers within a goal. The Flyers tied it up one minute later as Connor’s twin brother Nolan threw the puck at the net and it deflected over the Demon goalie.

Midway through the final period Reid’s dazzling effort led to the winning goal. After a face off in the Flyer zone, Reid eluded a Demon and shot the puck out of the zone. Jake Despres raced after the puck, shot and put the Flyers up by a goal. Mia LaPlante finished the scoring for the Flyers for a final of 6-4.

If this game is any indication of the season to come, look for a big season from Lachen Reid for Framingham!