Topsfield, Mass – The grandparents came to visit! We celebrated this somewhat rare occurrence by meeting our cousins at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. We had been to this Mass Audubon property years ago (nine years ago!) for maple sugar…
Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire – We may not be quite as consistent beach-goers as we were last year, with our weekly pandemic field trips. BUT this summer has been great for hitting a wide variety of New England beaches. In…
Polar Bear Dip
Saco, Maine – We just got back from Ferry Beach, our beloved family camp that we go to every year. Except last year, of course (Covid, in case you forgot). You can read about past Ferry Beach experiences here and…
Highlights from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – We only spent a few days in Pittsburgh, but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this unheralded city. There are vibrant, bustling neighborhoods, a hip and happening university district, excellent restaurants, and an authentic…
Borderland State Park
North Easton, Mass – The snow has all melted. Spring has sprung. Ski season is officially over, but we’re still hankering for a pandemic field trip (especially during April vacation week). Fortunately, some friends invited us to go hiking at…
Back to School
Somerville, Mass – We’re going back to school! A real school, in a building! I didn’t think it would happen, but these two kiddos are finishing out 5th grade IN PERSON. (Not the professor, he’s been in person the whole…
Tsarina Excerpt in the Daily Beast
An excerpt from The Tsarina’s Lost Treasure appeared in the Daily Beast! “A ghostly shipwreck, a lost masterpiece painting, a lustful tsarina, the news of the Vrouw Maria’s discovery stirred imaginations in the summer of 1999. It also sparked questions, namely:…
A Mighty Mystery
A Mighty Blaze is a cool organization, founded by writers to help writers promote their books in the age of Covid. Many thanks to Sara DiVello for featuring us on her author interview series – A Mighty Mystery! Sara’s invitation prompted…
Hiking at Breakheart Reservation
Saugus, Mass – Continuing our series of pandemic field trips to destinations within a 30-minute drive of our house, we went hiking at Breakheart Reservation, another Massachusetts state park that I did not know existed. At 652 acres, Breakheart is…
Pandemic Birthday Bike Parade
Somerville, Mass – The twins are turning 10 and here we are in the middle of a global pandemic. I know I am not the first parent to confront this dilemma. But I *might* be the first parent to come…