For Robert

Happy birthday, Robert!  Thank you for your love, patience, guidance, and understanding that you have shown me growing up and now extended to my family.  Selim's love of the outdoors, ability to swim and ski, and knowledge of birds comes directly from you.  I'm toasting my tea mug to you this morning.

Here are some pictures from last week that I think you will enjoy.  First up, the bird walk:

Getting out the binoculars

Testing, testing

About to set forth

Bird spotting

Bird identification on the ipad

Then, a canoe paddle from Kevin's dock:

What could be better than ending a day with a sunset walk?  Although, Selim didn't find it too funny when he slipped on the rocks and got wet.  We were treated to a slightly exaggerated re-enactment of the event before he took off to the cabin to put on dry clothes.

The next day you took Selim, Heather, and I out for a kayak adventure that will be remembered for Selim's lack of energy and the "swarm" of deer flies that made him hunker down in the kayak with a beach towel over his head while you towed him back to the docks.

The next morning you managed to get my hubby in a kayak with Heather and Stan.

On the windy day, you helped Selim arrange the towel to give him a new look.

On the last day, you took my pirate down to check on the kayaks.  After the wind and storm of the night before, who knows, treasure could have washed ashore.  Later, you and Heather returned the kayaks to Keven and Doug and Sue.

What a fantastic week we had.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I hope you enjoy the blueberry muffins Mom is bringing back.  Selim and I picked the berries yesterday at Emery Farm.  We managed 7 pounds in under an hour of picking.  Not bad considering how many ended up in his mouth rather than the bucket.