OUR LITTLE PARADISE

Pollywog College. That's the name of the summer cottage that my mom and uncle own. It was named Pollywog Cottage, but my aunt called it college as a little girl and the name stuck. My grandfather bought it when my mother was a little girl and there hasn't been a summer in my life that I haven't been up there. It's on Long Pond in Plymouth and is heaven on earth.

The deck, on the front, overlooks the pond, but there is enough shrubby stuff in front of it to keep it private.

The beach from the end of the dock. From year to year we don't know how much beach we'll have. The winter snow can sometimes take it all away. There have been summers where we've had to put the dock up right at the end of the stairs down from the cottage.

We're on a cove, protected, but we still get to see some very cool action in the sky and the sun sets directly across from our beach. Nothing like sitting on the beach with a cold drink, watching the sun go down.

The flag on the screen is covering a hole to keep the mosquitoes out.

The oar is from a row boat that is long gone, but was really cool. It was big and felt like the shallop at the Mayflower.

Irises all over the place, beautiful when they're all open.

I consider myself to be incredibly fortunate to have had this place in my life and to be able to share it with so many friends.

HAPPY 68th BIRTHDAY MAMA!

WE GONNA ROCK DOWN TO ATLANTIC AVENUE

My mother and I drove down to the cape on Saturday to see my brother and his band play at the Barnstable Fair. His band is called The Atlantic Ave Band and they do a mix of covers. Neither one of us had seen them play, so we were psyched to be going.

My sentiments exactly! And it has nothing to do with being married to a bass player.

The guitar line-up. With this many six-strings, you get a nice full sound and the bassist was giving good bottom!

The audience with Mom singing along to "It's Five O'clock Somewhere". She's a big Alan Jackson fan and digs the Jimmy Buffett a little too.

My bro, winking for the camera, and the ever popular Vinny Conga on, well, the congas!

This little guy was dancing for the whole, 1 1/2 hour set. CUTEST!

Vinny, workin' it!

The bassist, groovin' through the whole set.

"She said don't hand me no lines and keep your hands to yourself"