You know, there have only been about 9 days without some form of precipitation at some point of the day around here since May 1, and many people (including myself) were beginning to behave frustratingly, crazily, and miserably, especially seeing as how a good many of those precipitation days were all-day rainy events. So, what does one do when spring and summer is only offering gray overcast days, fog and rain, dampness and gloominess, puddles and mud, droopy flowers and soggy lawns, washed-out outdoor events and altered plans? Well, I guess one could sit and complain, one could stay buried under the covers, one could scream, one could stay indoors all the time, or one could make the best of it and do whatever is possible to do. Well, that's what I have been doing since the first of May.

In spite of the weather, Edie and I took a ride to North Smithfield, RI, one late Wednesday afternoon to see the nephews. Samuel was playing in a baseball game (if it didn't get rained out) and Caleb, who's too young to play, was there with his mother to watch and looking forward to playing at the on-site playground after the game. Luckily, it didn't rain, so there was a game and we were able to visit at the park for a while afterwards.





Then, on another day, shortly after Edie got out of work, we went to a nearby area known as Island Park, which is in Portsmouth, RI.







There's a little clamshack there and we felt like having some clamcakes. So, we pulled up to the take-out-only shack and ordered a dozen of those tasty "stomach sinkers", as many Rhode Islanders call them (or by very similar names).



We were given our number, which is painted on a rock that must be turned in when your number is called. (You don't turn in the rock, you don't get your food!) It's always a bit of a long wait because things are cooked-to-order, but most people don't seem to mind because, after all, the wait includes a view of a beach across the street. I'd love to show you pictures of the beach, but our number was called, our rock was turned in, we returned to the car, and we were too busy chowing down the clamcakes. Sorry about that...maybe next time.