It is a quiet one this year. Covid restrictions have led to many event cancellations and pop up thunder storms are wreaking havoc with any remaining activities. Looks like it will be BBQ at home and fireworks on TV. It is a lovely day for it; 80s but much lower humidity so it is nice to just lounge about.
A wooded, creekside trail in the early morning hours; my favorite kind of east coast hike. The morning fog has cleared but left a blanket of droplets in the fine hemlock boughs. The slightest disturbance from wind or canopy wildlife sends a fine shower cascading from high above our heads sparkling in brilliant shafts of sunlight that have penetrated into the quiet shade. The air is filled with the trill of thrushes and chip, chirp and chatter of forest birds rising from the understory along with the rat-a-tat of woodpecker drumming reverberating among the towering trees. A creek babbles and splashes as it tumbles across rock and forest debris. The sweet scent of wildflowers accents the damp cool smell of the lush forest floor and grey-brown stone outcroppings stand out in contrast to the green-brown growth. It is peaceful and beautiful!
We are at Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area near Patterson NY and a short drive from camp. We pick up a trail map but still manage to wander off trail. As it turns out, the preserve abuts another conservation area, Great Hollow Nature Preserve and both blaze orange, red and yellow trails. As a result, we actually spend most of our trail time today in the Great Hollow rather than Ciaiola. No worries. It was a great walk and I am looking forward to returning on another coolish morning to check out the trail we meant to explore today. Looks like it is significantly rockier and steeper. We shall see.
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.
We didn’t exactly plan to spend all summer in New York but travel is still petty messy as Covid-19 continues to disrupt so much. Campgrounds are just now opening, many still with restrictions making finding a spot a pain. Many points of interest are still closed and local festivals and carnivals are pretty much off the table this summer. Where things are opening up, covid cases are spiking. We are pretty much staying put for now. Time is split between days with Willa, Mike and Tracy, some pretty nice local trails, and quiet time in camp.
My sister has a new hip. I spent a week in PA to cheer her through the surgery and catch up with other family in the area. There was time for relaxing by the pool, playing with our grand niece, and just chilling with great company over good food. Nice.
We are hitting a trail again today but this time Willa is joining us. Today we get to try out her new carrier. 
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.
Monday, we head out to West Mountain State Forest for a trek among the trees to a quiet pond. We have a little trail finding difficulty but all ends well with a 6.13-mile walk. No bear but we do see bear tracks in the mud. The pond is lovely and as it is a weekday the trail very lightly used. Nice walk.
Tuesday it is off to Cat Rocks and on to Nuclear Lake along another section of the Appalachian Trail. This time we start at Dover Oak, the largest blazed tree on the AT. It Is a bit more challenging than other sections we have been on. There is a net elevation change of just 750 feet but we hike it as an out and back that crosses many ridges and valleys making the cumulative change closer to 1500 feet. I don’t think there was a level section! We 
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
Sunday morning and we gather all our plunder. It is our first Zoom party and it is hard to guess what it will be like. The kids are hosting the party at Pop-pop and Grammy’s so we don’t have to worry about the technical part, thank goodness. Beyond that, we are ready for whatever. Brunch is vegan baked French toast and fruit salad. Both turned out spectacularly. Willa gets a sneak preview of the cake. She is pleased. I am happy. Willa gets to open her gift from Grandpa.
She loves it. Grandpa is ecstatic. Then we hang out, just Grandpa, Nana, Grammy, Pop-pop, Mom, Dad and Willa until Zoom time when another 20+ well wishers appear on the screen. There is some entertainment by the Sunny Songsters,
a candle to blow out, and lots of smiles. We wind down with a glass of wine. Pack up the leftover cake (there is a lot), and head home. It was a fun day for everyone. Happy Second Birthday to our wonderful Willa.
It is quite the production. First, I bake the orange poppy seed cake, two batches. It is going to be a big octopus. They cool and are cut to shape then its into the refrigerator for assembly tomorrow. Kent and I both sample the trimmings and even if I do say so myself, it is going to be delicious. It is all vegan of course.
The next project is making the ocean themed serving tray. Kent cuts ¼” plywood 22”X22”. I cover it with blue tissue paper and clear cellophane (a repurpose of wrapping from my Mother’s Day flowers). There are bright colored sea animals trapped between. Looks like it is going to work out great.
OK, time to assemble this thing.
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.
Grandpa is just finishing up the fantastic push toy, a wheelie bus, that he is making for Willa’s birthday. She loves the song and cartoons and Kent’s version of the bus is so adorable. He (and I) can’t wait to watch her open it. Here is a preview.