We celebrated Fathers twice this year. That’s seems about right. We have some pretty spectacular Dads. First, an afternoon at the park including a lovely hike with Mike, Tracy and Willa at Pound Ridge Park where we skirt a creek, find a couple of frogs and have a perfect snack break, grapes on a bridge rock. Dale and James join us for a picnic lunch and strawberry shortcake to 
celebrate the guys. Willa presented her card “Dad Rocks”. True as always, I love watching Mike and Willa together. It is beautiful. Lots of thanks and kudos to Dads Kent and James too for their roles in raising some amazing kids.
In a little lower key moment of celebration, Mike and Tracy stop by with a pan of mush (for frying). Mike has cooked it up knowing that it is one of Kent’s breakfast 
favorites, right next to fresh biscuits. Of course, we have to fry some up right then. It does not disappoint and makes for a pretty tasty lunch with a side of fresh fruit. It is a great quiet get together. Willa is with the Youngs and while we miss her it is kind of nice to be all about us and the kids for a bit.
Brian checks in from Texas and all is right with another Father’s Day. We are so blessed.
Father’s Day
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It is very cool with lots of storage pockets and a sun shade. It is light too. That is certainly a plus. We decide it is best to try a trail we are a little familiar with so head back to Pawling Preserve for a quick test run. Willa is up for the adventure and starts out on her own two feet. Fantastic. I was a little afraid that she would just want to ride since that is so much easier but we end up with a pretty good mix of walking and riding plus a brief nap (Willa of course) the last 15 minutes or so. We cover a total of just under 3 miles. The carrier is absolutely great. It is comfortable and balances the load nicely on the hips. Willa seems to be comfortable too. Still, no way that the extra 30 pounds or so doesn’t cause noticeable extra work. So worth it though, to be able to have Willa enjoy being out with us. We even got to see a deer.
catch a glimpse of a red fox shortly after we leave the trailhead. Along the way an out-cropping, Cat Rocks, provides a nice view of the valley and the rugged, rocky, and treed shoreline reflects beautifully in the 
still waters of Nuclear Lake. Rain is closing in and we are pretty tired so we save a walk around the lake for another day. Round trip totaled 6.5 miles. We are tired but content
A big slab of cake becomes a rock for the octopus to rest on. A dome and layer create the body. Oreos, lots of Oreos, are the stuff that tentacles are made of. Kent carves me halves and 2/3 cookies and we even use a few minis.
Bring in the glue, a lot of royal icing, and here it is, the framework of the great octopus cake. All that is left is what seems like a ton of purple buttercream icing. Add some googly sugar eyes and fruit loop tentacle suckers and ta-dah, one octopus. I love it.
break a big black bear lumbers out of the trees down the slope in front of us. He is chill, just passing through. When he encounters the trail, he must determine it is easier going and stays on it. In only a few moments that will bring him within 6 feet of us. We watch quietly with bear spray in hand; but, when he reaches the turn in the trail closest to us, we speak, “hey bear”. He glances our way then veers off the trail about 15 feet for long enough to stay clear of those pesky humans then returns to the trail and ambles on. Such a well-behaved guy. Love it!