Figuring things out
A completed patio, discovering Rash Field is not a dermatological landscape, a poopy baby spends the day with mom, and balancing questionable labor practices against a good donut.
The weather was fantastic this past week. We had almost no rain and the few days there was humidity it seemed to burn off by noon. The weekend was filled with a gorgeous sea breeze and we loved being outdoors. We are heading back to Washington DC this weekend to take the kids to the National Air & Space Museum. Who knows what else we’ll get up to?
Good Eatin’
For our Friday date, Angela and Grant met at Jake’s Grill near Grant’s office. After you drive through gorgeous and serene woods, you come across a bit of a shack with a BBQ billowing smoke. There are a few plastic tables and chairs setup outside. It looks exactly like a place to get great BBQ.
Everyone inside is fantastic. The vibes (as the kids say) were off the charts. The chef was funny and charming as he walked us through the menu. They typically give flowers to women, but he noted they “didn’t look good” so he didn’t buy any.
Pit Beef is a local Baltimore thing (shown above) that is basically very good roast beef. Angela had a tasty chicken sandwich. We also split some sausage that was quite good. It was the perfect summer, southern lunch date.
Grant also had a chance to visit the Dutch Market, which is only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Moment of Truth: The donuts in Maryland aren’t great. Or we should clarify. The Dunkin Donuts, which are every 14 feet, are pretty lousy. There just aren’t many local donut bakeries. Well, the Dutch Market has fantastic donuts. They also have an enormous pastry section with a dozen types of pie and pound cake and a phenomenal butcher. They apparently also serve delicious stuffed pretzels called “Meatzels.” Color us intrigued.
The Pennsylvania Dutch are Amish, not strictly located in Pennsylvania, and much more German than Dutch. They are also able to employ rather young children at the market, which is a little odd. Grant was willing to overlook this for the donuts and pie.
Out and About
We spent quite a bit of time at the inner harbor this week. Rash Field is at one end and it’s a great space. There are museums, a volleyball court network, a really cool children’s play area (more on that), and a great view of the city skyline and harbor.
Wesley and Grant went on a 16 mile bike ride to inner harbor and elsewhere. The image above really sells Baltimore: a Coast Guard cutter with a refurbished industrial building. The harbor also features a World War II submarine, an old fishing trawler, and the USS Constitution. Fort McHenry, famous from the War of 1812, is also guarding the Chesapeake.
We also went to the Charles Promenade, which was a festival stretched out over a few miles. A major city street was closed to traffic and instead local shops came outside to sell food, beverages, and crafts. It wasn’t the most exciting festival as it was somewhat muted (as everything was spread out). But the weather was great and it was nice to be outside.
The Trouble with Moving
We have reached the point of this cross-country endeavor where the newness is starting to wear off and we are settling into some fun new routines! However, this has allowed both of us some space to start to miss home and our friends. We missed it all from the jump, but initially we were so busy and tired and things blurred together.
Today, it is all starting to feel a lot more real. Like, we actually live in Maryland, 2400 miles away from the west coast, very real. We are actively building our lives here with new activities and are even starting to make some new friends. But, Angela had her first good cry this week thinking about all our loved ones back home, our house, old routines, and all our memories there.
We know this is completely normal and healthy part of the process. But, starting a new life so far away from everything we know is incredibly difficult. We are glad have each other and our darling children (most days) on this journey. Plus, we are visiting California in July!
House of Sisyphus
Our new back patio is finished! We cleaned the weeds, fixed the mulch, and wheeled out the grill. In a few weeks the grass that was killed by the construction should come back and as soon as we re-home some of our hydrangea everything should be back to normal. It’s about to get very hot, so we will likely put this off. But, a picnic table will be an amazing addition for the fall, late spring, and early summer.
The yard is really keeping us busy. We noticed that ants would appear inside after every rain, so we had to call an exterminator to help us. We created a new flower bed in the back and had to replant the lilies in the front. We are slowly setting up dripper hoses and sprinklers (all on timers, of course).
There are also so many damn pests! The weeds and creeper vines just never stop. We also spotted the Spotted Lanternfly, which are an invasive species. It is our duty as Marylanders to squash each one we see. Wesley will be delighted…
Kids are Cute
Things you should know about Ava:
She is a happy go lucky
A gorgeous child (we’re not biased)
She LOVES to eat.
Unfortunately for her (and us), she has a bit of a sensitive tummy. She was a little “backed up,” if you will, so we gave her a plum. She devoured it and was a happy girl.
Later that day, Angela forgot about the plum (hey, the days are lonnnnnng) and also gave her some chia pudding. The next day at daycare, she was…no longer backed up. After three loose poopies, Grant was called and had to pick her up.
This was a bummer for Ava and the daycare on Monday, but a fun Mama/Daughter Day on Tuesday. We went on a beautiful leisurely walk, made a Target run, played with magnets, and had a dance party.
Before Angela starts working again, it's been fun for her to have some special individual time with the kids. We are grateful for that opportunity.
We met another couple at Rash Field for a play date. Their son is just two months younger than Wesley and equally obsessed with trucks. The boys had a great time for two hours, shared trucks with each other, and parted with a fist bump. We’re meeting them for pizza tonight!
Wesley also started swim lessons. This is a big deal as it’s a critical life skill, but it’s also one of the first extracurricular activities without a parent involved. We are at the pool watching, but we are not in the water. This took a second for Wesley to adjust, but by the end he was having a great time and he is excited to go back. Which is good, as we booked him up for the next several weekends!
Maryland is Weird Local Facts
What would you do if you drove down the street and saw “Small males! $2!” in front of a business? You might think to call the authorities. In Maryland, you should call your Old Bay dealer, because it’s how restaurants like Captain Trey’s Crabs and Seafood advertise their product.
Note: When sharing this anecdote with his co-workers, they noted it was a “good price.”
This place is right by Grant’s office, so he drives by it often. It looks quite dilapidated, but his co-workers say it is actually quite good.
We are so busy. This past weekend we barely stayed up an hour after the kids went to bed. Warm weather, constant motion, the stress of parenting young kids, work, and weeds make for a packed curriculum. Grant’s parents are visiting in the coming week and we just booked an early fall beach trip to South Carolina, so there’s more fun on the horizon.
I definitely want to see the harbor when I come to visit! Hugs to Angela!! I know this has been a hard change for both of you.
Thanks for sharing we look forward to hearing about every new adventure!