On Saturday, Clif, Dee, and I headed south of the border—to Massachusetts. For many Mainers, our border is the Piscataqua river that flows between Maine and New Hampshire and the imposing eponymous bridge that spans that river. This bridge is the primary way out of Maine for points south, and it gives the state the feeling of being an island. Silly, I know, but that’s how it always seems to me when I leave or return to Maine.
Across the bridge we went, through a sliver of New Hampshire and then to Massachusetts where our daughter Shannon and her husband Mike live. Shannon’s birthday was on Friday—Earth Day—and how wonderful it was to be able celebrate her birthday in person. (For the past six years, when Shannon and Mike lived in North Carolina, birthdays were celebrated from afar.)
Saturday was a lovely warm spring day, and for the birthday celebration, we headed to a pretty park in a nearby town.
We set up our chairs and enjoyed the fine weather. Here is a picture of Shannon and Mike. In the background, you can see the fringe of spring green on the tree to the left of Shannon.
We got take-out from Bartlet Street, a nearby restaurant that caters to meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Truly, there was something for everyone.
Dee ordered a bagel with roasted chickpeas and mashed avocado. Quite a feast! I could have a bite of that right now.
As we ate and talked, people and dogs came to the park. A little boy ran in delight, touching and counting rocks and benches. Dogs on leashes sniffed and trotted across the green grass. A group of young friends, laughing and happy, brought a blanket and had a picnic. Particularly touching was when a couple came with their senior dog, a yellow lab, who was lame with arthritis. They had ramp to make it easier for the dog to get in and out of their vehicle. A much-needed example of how we humans can be kind and thoughtful.
After lunch, we saluted Shannon with cupcakes. Happy, happy birthday!
In honor of this sweet day, here is a song that no doubt many of you will remember.
Notes From the Hinterland 
It does indeed sound like a sweet day! And that bagel looks delicious, as well as being frightfully healthy. 😊
A very sweet day! And, yes, healthy as well as delicious toppings on that bagel. I’m going to try making them at home.
Yes! I was thinking the same thing – I’ve done roasted chick peas before for salads and they are delicious.
Soon!
Isn’t it glorious to be able to be with our families in person! The day seems to have been perfect for a birthday celebration.
It certainly was!
What a perfect day for a walk (and sit) in the park! Belated HB to Shannon, so glad they are now closer to you. Family is everything!
Thanks, Eliza! So true about family.
So beautifully described. Happy Birthday to Shanon.
Happy belated birthday to Shannon. It looks like a nice day for a trip south of the border. Lol. And that lunch does look rather yummy. Thanks for the fun share, Laurie. 😀
My great pleasure!
What a great way to celebrate a family birthday.
A treat for all of us.
What a wonderful way to celebrate. Happy birthday to Shannon.
PS – Now I have definitely caught that earworm!
Thanks so much! As for the earworm…yup.
What a wonderful way to celebrate Laurie and belated happy birthday to Shannon too! 🎉
Thank you, thank you!
The bagel looks fantastic. Its mix of ingredients is very creative. I could go for one right now too.
I’m thinking of replicating them at home. Wouldn’t be too hard.
Happy Birthday to your daughter — how grand, celebrating once again in person! And I love the story about the senior pup and its ramp. You’re so right, Laurie — we can be kind to one another, if we’ll just take the time to do so.
Thanks, Debbie. Such a treat. And, yes, that ramp is a lovely example of the kindness we’re capable of.
I can only imagine the joy of being able to get in the car and go visit Shannon and Mike along with Dee. It must be heavenly. I’m glad you had a lovely family celebration.
You bet! What a day.
An ideal outing.
It certainly was! We’ll be returning to that park.
How nice for you to be able to celebrate your daughter’s birthday as a family.
Such a sweet day!
Happy Birthday Shannon!!! I can’t believe that I knew every word if they lyric! Ha
Thanks, Jill! I knew most of the words, too. 😉
Ha, me too! LOVE that song.
A wonderful spring family yummy outing! Good for you!
Thanks so much!
❤
There is nothing quite like being with your family again, especially on your daughter’s birthday. The park looks lovely and such a great place to have a relaxed birthday party. Covid has certainly made us all appreciate every event in our lives, I feel that way when I’m with family and friends.
This park has such a good vibe. I expect we’ll be going there for more picnics.
That looks a wonderful day out and how fantastic to get the whole family together in glorious spring sunshine. And with a take-out picnic no-one had to prepare food or wash up. Fabulous!
What a fine day! And yes, no one had to prepare food or wash up. Yay!
What a lovely day! The food looked fabulous!
Many thanks! The food was very tasty indeed.
I’m pleased you had this lovely day
Thanks, Derrick!
What a fun trip! The sun looks lovely and so does your family 🙂
Thanks so much!
That song was playing in my mind as soon as I read your title. I wondered if you had made a conscious reference, and sure enough, you had! It looks like a wonderful day, and the food looks scrumptious. I did notice one difference between your world and mine. No one in their right mind would spread a blanket for a picnic here; the fire ants would arrive in a nanosecond and wreak their particular sort of havoc!
A wonderful day for all of us. As for fire ants…none in New England as far as I know. We are safe to have picnics on blankets. 😉
Great post, Laurie! I was singing that song to myself even before I clicked the link. What a joy to be able to visit Shannon for her birthday.
xo
Great song, isn’t it? Yes, such a joy. A wonderful, wonderful day.
xo
Yup. Saturday in the Park, but no where near the fourth of July. 😉 Glad you had a chance to visit in warm weather.
But it did feel like the Fourth of July. A real celebration. 😉
What a fabulous day with the family and Happy Birthday Shannon!🙂 Love that song and all the wonderful images you created describing the day!🙂
Many, many thanks!
Lovely day and a fantastic way to celebrate. Birthday wishes to your daughter.
Thanks, Rupali! It certainly was.
Seems like you had a lovely family day. And rounded off by cupcakes…heavenly! 🙂
As we would say in Maine, a finest kind of day.
Laurie, from your photo above I can see why Maine feels like an island. It’s so pretty there. I can feel your joy at the delights of the day. All the ingredients were there: friends, family, nature, good food, kindness, and animals. Perfection.
Thanks so much! What a wonderful Saturday in the park.
Happy Birthday Shannon!
What a lovely picnic celebration – such perfect weather for it! And that chickpea laden bagel …. yum ….
Thanks, Ju-Lyn!
What a lovely day in the park. You capture the sights, sounds and people so beautifully. And I love the image of Maine as an island. Thanks for sharing it. Happy Birthday, Shannon, and happy family time!
Many thanks!
It sounds and looks as though it was a perfect day to celebrate a birth and spring out-of-doors. Happy belated birthday to Shannon.
Thanks, Tanja! A beautiful day.
It is wonderful that Shannon is now living within an easy drive. And, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of crossing the Piscataqua bridge on the way home.
You bet. Two and a half hours seem like a dream after North Carolina. And that bridge!
I was hoping for that song, one of my favourites 🙂
It’s an oldie but goodie. 😉
Another lovely family day to remember. I could happily join you in having a roasted chickpeas and mashed avocado bagel, although it’s not a combination I’ve heard of before.
Not a combination I’d ever heard of either, but I’m tempted to make this at home sometime.
I remember that song! It sounds like you had a wonderful day, and that meal looks delicious!