So we have been home just more than a month now. As happens in everyone's lives, a lot happens in a month. Much of the first week was spent just processing what had happened.

KJ's parents Susan and Hugh had graciously been looking after our dogs while we were gone and had helped us out quite a bit in the week leading up to our departure. They had, of course, driven out from Illinois expecting to be here all summer, so suddenly our return upended their plans as well. After our return, they stayed a few days longer and then made their way back across the country, offering again to come out and look after the dogs when the time comes. Family is good!

KJ and I continued to look towards the good that would come of returning so soon. We could be here to get ready for the move, and in fact complete the move before our daughter arrived. KJ could begin her new job in Boothbay and get to know the people and systems there before we left. We could actually enjoy a few nights in the house we had spent all those long weeks this spring getting spruced up to sell. Okay, so maybe they start to run a little thin about there, but all in all, being home this past month has been good for us.

Before KJ began work, we took several days and went to Cape Cod to spend a few days together with most of my family, and really found it quite relaxing which is always a good thing.

So then it was time for KJ to begin work in Boothbay, but we still wouldn't take possession of our house there for a couple of weeks. What do you do? Well you get out your trusty tent and sleeping bag and take along a flashlight and the new Harry Potter of course. So there she was - doctor by day, camper by night. She loved it, finished the book, and even made time for s'mores.

Back in Lovell, I was putting some finishing touches on the house and preparing for the move. We had done so much to prepare for the move that the actual move was really quite simple. Most everything was boxed and moved to storage well before we went to Kaz, so the actual move involved renting a big truck and making several trips between Lovell and Boothbay. Between Sunday and Wed, we made three trips with the truck, and two with my car. I have since returned for one more load of my car and trailer, and apart from my larger woodworking machines, we are pretty much done.

As you can see from the photo, it was a big a truck, and I'm not too proud to say, that KJ was far more comfortable driving it than I was, and so she ended up doing about 700 miles of driving to my 3 (I drove it to the store to buy a Mountain Dew). She fearlessly drove through both small towns and highways at night and in the the rain, and I dare say, she loved it.

Boothbay is wonderful and the dogs are really taking to their new house quite well. As of last week, they now have just over 2 acres of space to roam inside their new electric dog fence. As the fence is a familiar boundary to them, getting them adjusted to it has been easy. Within a few days they were out on their own exploring the grass and woods, and thusfar we have seen no evidence that any of them have had any issue with the boundaries. So during the days, the doors to the house remain wide open and the dogs come and go as they please. It couldn't be better for them. From the house they hear the occassional car or truck, but you can't see the road, and so their distractions are very limited.

Yes we love our boys. Our house hunt was really more of a search to find the right property for the dogs, though we certainly all won with the house we ended up with here in Boothbay. The town is so full of things to do, and sitting as it's name implies, beside a bay, the water is all around us. Fresh seafood, lobster, and this time of year, blueberries, keep any self- respecting Mainer happy. It is easy to assume that you know what a blueberry tastes like, but unless you've had wild Maine blueberries, you've been fooled.

There is plenty of room here, so if you find yourself passing through - perhaps on the way to New Brunswick or Newfoundland to see family - let us know. Take Care.