Yesterday

 We spent the day on campus.  Bard College at Simon’s Rock.  Great Barrington, Massachusetts.  What a place; an early entry college. This is Tony’s dorm.  From the inside. …and inside the dorm room.  The dorm monitors. I want to go back to school at the science center.  It reminded us of the Aspen Center for Physics campus. The grounds are gorgeous.    They fed us lunch and it was Wonderful.  Not the way I remember cafeteria food. Took some family photos.    At the welcoming ceremony the Provost described the group of kids Tony is a part of.  They set some high standards.  The new students broke away from their parents to spend a couple hours in their first workshop.  The first week is spent in a class called Writing and Thinking.  Once they’ve settled on expectations and techniques, they get to their actual studies.  The families continued to mingle and explore in the meantime.  We all met up again about four and said our goodbyes by five. It wasn’t so hard for Judy and me; we’ve already settled into the routine of seeing our kids and grandkids only periodically.  Not so, of course, for Brian and Becky and the other kids.  Seems like they just sent Taylor off to college and all of a sudden Tony is gone too.  Unavoidably, when it was time to go, everyone had to just walk away.  Parents all over campus were letting go and watching their kids embark on their new lives. From there, without Tony, we all retired to our camp outside Copeck for a picnic dinner, campfire, and toasted marshmallows.  Becky, Brian and family stopped by this morning on their way to Laguardia to catch a flight back to Denver.  Judy and I remain here at Copeck for one more day. A great family visit.  What exciting times for Tony.  Good luck son. Tomorrow, we head west for Bath, New York. 

The main event

 We met up with the kids at the campus.  Tony checked in to college.  We all hung out some more.  We left.  Now it’s late.  It’s time to rub feet. Tomorrow, more.  

Poor Annie

  She doesn’t’ get her own doggie lounger.  She has to make do with a crummy people’s recliner.  Becky and family drove all day from Gettysburg to Great Barrington.  We got to meet up with them for dinner tonight. Tomorrow, the big move-in day for Tony at Bard College.  Exciting times. 

Birth Quest

 We took Annie back to her birth-kennel, Mulberry Farm outside Pleasant Valley, NY, 30 miles from where we’re camped. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201563872774147443355.0004e02f0c80f1461c0bf&msa=0&ll=42.504503,-70.85083&spn=5.466399,13.392334  It’s a pretty cool place from the mid-1800s. Annie met her half-sister, Keeper. We had trouble getting everyone to look the same direction for the photo.   There were new puppies.  These are one day old Cavapoos with their Cavalier mom.  …and cockapoo puppies.  We got a nice long visit Annie and Henry both got plenty of treats… …and a big hug from Carol.  Meanwhile, Becky and family have been in Washington, DC for several days doing monuments, memorials, buses, trains, and Smithsonians.  Today they got a car in DC and drove to Gettysburg to tour some historic sites there.  Tomorrow and Saturday, we get to meet up with them in Great Barrington, MA as Tony starts his new life at Bard College!  

Mostly Massachusetts

We drove through a little of Vermont, mostly Massachusetts, then a little bit of New York.  We’re all set up at the Copake KOA outside of Copake, NY. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201563872774147443355.0004e02f0c80f1461c0bf&msa=0&ll=43.133061,-71.51001&spn=5.411189,13.392334  We’re in a clearing.  This is the first time our satellite dish has seen the sky in a week. Now that we’re away from all the big cities, the entire Northeast seems like one big forest.  In the West, there are forests with other things in-between, but not here.  Rolling hills, winding roads, lakes and streams.  We see the signs as we criss-cross the Appalachian Trail.  We drove through, and are camped in, the Berkshires.  We’ll be here for at least 5 days. Henry joins us by the fire on his new lounger.  Tomorrow, we take Annie to meet her birth-kennel!  Mulberry Farm Kennel.   http://www.mulberryfarm.com/ We’ve kept in touch with the breeder all this time.  We send pictures, but this will be the first reunion.