Mother’s Day Weekend

I suppose Friday afternoon is a bit latish for a “What I did this weekend” update, but hey. I know these are fascinating – transfixing! – and I cannot deny you your pleasures.

A while back (aka the middle of February), I talked about how desperately I needed a break, a Sabbath, a weekend off. I promptly didn’t do it for 3 months. But finally the stars aligned and I put it on the calendar, and this past weekend we did none of our accustomed things. Not even the laundry. Instead, we took our boys on adventures.

Saturday we went to Old Sturbridge Village. The forecast was for rain – thunderstorms – so I was afraid our trip might be abbreviated. We went anyway. The weather during the morning and early afternoon was superb, although it did start pouring just as we drove out of the parking lot. But because of the dire predictions, on this beautiful spring morning the historical village was nearly deserted by tourists (like us), but all the period actors were there! Best of all worlds. Thane’s favorite part of the adventure was, hands down, the water pump:

Seriously, a spring Saturday
Seriously, a spring Saturday at like noon.

I think my husband and I found the Blacksmith most fascinating:

I love how he keeps his coffee warm
I love how he keeps his coffee warm

The potter was really neat:

It was hypnotic to watch
It was hypnotic to watch

Grey’s favorite part might have been throwing rocks into the pond. He spent half his time there looking for a perfect skipping rock.

Daddy needed a Thane blanket...
Daddy needed a Thane blanket...

And there was more – the carding mill, the hydo power, the sheep, the cows, the stilts, the schoolhouse (Grey found a feather and spent 5 minutes doing his “homework” with his “quill pen”.), the hoops game, the carriage ride. And we didn’t see nearly all there was to see. It was really neat.

Sunday was more great adventures! First there was sleeping in. (My favorite part of Mother’s Day!) Then we went to the Arnold Arboretum for the Lilac Festival. Lilacs + Morris Dancers = totally made for me. The boys spent a lot of time wandering around an ancient and spreading beech tree. I sniffed many lilacs. There was fried dough. There were two (2) rubber chicken Morris dancing catapults. The weather was only so-so and the children were frankly recalcitrant but it was still awesome.

Handsome man, framed by flowers, watching his son roll down the hill.
Handsome man, framed by flowers, watching his son roll down the hill.

And that, my friends, was my Mother’s Day Weekend off. I couldn’t have asked for better!

(And here are all the pictures!)