This weekend was absolutely packed with activity. It actually started on Friday with a trip down to Atlantic City where Michelle doubled her money and ended tonight, Sunday evening, with a Gospel music concert a few blocks up the street in the park. Of course, there was also the annual USPRO cycling race in Philadelphia, several genial Amish ladies, grape vines, lattice, and who could forget the window boxes.

We took Nana to Atlantic City on Friday. We actually began discussing the trip several months ago, a friendly "We should go down to Atlantic City sometime," mention here or there. As it turned out, this was the perfect week. Michelle was in between class sessions at the art center, the weather wasn't too hot yet, and school was still in session. So we packed up early Friday morning and took Nana to Atlantic City to do a bit of gambling.

If you've ever been to AC, you know that the general level of hospitality along the boardwalk is nothing to write home about. Well, Friday morning, it was downright chilly along the ocean, with a strong gusty wind blowing sand in everyone's faces. There was a touch of sourness to everyone's mood who we ran into along the way. Only our waitress at lunch, a messy bag lady, and a lone fellow handing out free cans of Dr. Pepper could force a smile our way. But truthfully, we were there to gamble.

So it was too bad that I got kicked off the casino floor after dropping a scant dollar into the slots. "The baby is not allowed on the casino floor, sir," I was informed by two female security guards. I was about to point out that he was, in fact, in his stroller and at least a foot off the floor. But I figured they would fail to see the humor in it all. So I smiled, told Michelle and Nana I'd be out wandering the boardwalk, and I left them to their gambling devices.

My absence must have been good luck. (I've been told that before.) Both Michelle and Nana managed to double their money in the slot machines. Of course, they were only playing with $10 each. But the point is, they doubled their money and stopped. Enough for lunch and tolls to make it a free day at the shore.

We were back home by early evening, just in time to grab a slice of pizza, put E to bed, and finish some yard work before the light drained from the sky. So I ran a few lines of metal wire down the fence and cleaned up some grape vines while Michelle rearranged a pot or two of flowers before calling it a night.

Saturday morning, I hung some lattice down the other side of the yard before Michelle disappeared for a few hours to develop a new hairstyle. E and I strolled through town and visited the new farmer's market before relaxing for a few hours of naps and TV.

Last weekend, I happened to build a pair of window boxes for the front windows. Well, they've been painted for a week now, so Michelle called me up from her cellphone on the way home and "suggested" that it would be a good idea to drive out to Lancaster Saturday afternoon and stop by this Amish greenhouse that happens to have a fine selection of healthy low priced plants. Who was I to argue?

So after a rather pleasant drive through Amish country, I found myself amusing E while Michelle did laps through the greenhouse, loading up flat after flat full of colorful plants for the window boxes. As we were checking out, the two Amish women staffing the place inquired with great smiles, "How old is he?"

"Sixteen months," Michelle answered proudly.

In unison, the two Amish women looked Michelle up and down, apparently searching for a second pregnancy, and added, "The only one?! Bet he's spoiled!" A quick awkward moment brought on by the apparent clash of cultures. But they were trying to be nice, and their big smiles quickly disarmed any defensiveness we might have begun to display.

A quick dinner on the way home, and the window boxes were hung and filled, delighting some passing neighbors with the addition of more bright color on the front of our home. "It's like a little dollhouse," was the quote of the evening.

Today was the annual USPRO Cycling Championships in Philly. I've been almost every year now, and this year makes no exception. The true joy this year, however, was simply in watching E's reaction to the crowds, the bikes, and of course the cowbell a stranger so graciously handed him.

The cowbell is obviously there to ring loudly every lap as the racers rush past. E wasn't really too interested in using the bell at the race. But once we got home, he spent a good long, seemingly longer, time running up and down our front hall ringing the bell and laughing, then ringing the bell some more. And some more. Oh that's gonna be a fun toy.

And of course, the summer concert series has begun here in Phoenixville. It's actually a few weeks old now, but since we missed the first few concerts for one reason or another, tongiht was our first. It was a gospel choir. E danced a bit and ran around the park a lot, charming everyone he passed.

By the time we got home, E barely made it through his bath without falling asleep. It's been a long weekend, and it only took a quick glance at his bed before he was down for the count. It's been a fun weekend.

And finally, I know I promised I'd make up my lack up updates with something extra special. So here, it all it's glory, is one of the window boxes that we hung Saturday night! Enjoy!