I’m still barely recovering from our travels. It’s pretty pathetic, really. A couple of examples: the other day, J was dancing around outside the upstairs bathroom while M showered. “Why don’t you go downstairs?” I asked. “I’m waiting for a place that’s not quite so spidery.” Sure enough, just about every corner of the bathroom was occupied by its own spider and web. J held it for two more minutes while I tossed our 8-legged friends out the window.

Then this morning, I realized that I’d forgotten my CSA pick up. I drove to the farm from a slightly different direction, and I managed to get lost! I mean, if there exists a label for directionally disabled people, I deserve a diagnosis. I had my GPS, but suddenly I couldn’t even remember which street the farm was on. I had to call my friend to talk me through it, and this isn’t some out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere place, it’s firmly nestled in suburbia.

But I made it! I managed to wash & eat a freakish amount of green vegetables today, plus I made pesto and a bean dip to use up some herbs. I even knocked things off of my non-vegetable-related “to do” list. So I might be catching up, finally.

Used these all and more (the berries were easy)!

I’m so glad to be home for the weekend, I can’t even tell you. But I don’t want you to be bored. Here are some things that I’ve found for this weekend:

All Weekend:

• The Not So Common Players are performing Cinderella each night at 7:30 pm at Clifton Commons Park (at this link it’s page 12 of 24).
• It’s the Troy Pig Out.
• There are Valleycats games each night Saturday through Wednesday.
• The New York City Ballet continues at SPAC. Keep in mind that most of these performances are GE Kids in Free.

Evening of Friday, July 15th:

• It’s Schenectady County Summer Night from 5-10 pm. The Puppet People, music, fireworks, and more.
• It’s the Howlin’ at the Moon concert at 7 pm Mabee Farm in Schenectady.
• Go on a Full Moon Hike at 8 pm at Up Yonda Farms. $5.
• At dusk, learn about Insects at Night at Thacher Park. It’s free, but call to register.

Saturday, July 16th:

• There’s a Children’s Triathlon at Grafton Lakes State Park at 9 am.
• It’s Thacher Park’s 10th Anniversary! Music, refreshments, and plenty of nature starting at 10 am.
• At Five Rivers, it’s Watchable Wildlife: Birds of Prey at 10 am.
• It’s Canalfest at Mabee Farm in Schenectady from 11 am to 4 pm.
• At Five Rivers, it’s Watchable Wildlife: Skunks at 2 pm.
• Wylder (mostly Motown) is playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.
• Go Stargazing at 9 pm at Thacher.

Sunday, July 17th:

• Take a 2-hour hike at 9 am along Red Oak Ridge at Moreau Lake State Park. Call to make a reservation. If I were you, I’d bring a swimsuit and stay a while.
• Spend the morning (starting at 9:30 am) helping to clear an invasive species at Thacher Park, and they’ll reward you with a treat in their Parsnips and Popsicles program.
• There’s an free Open House at the Saratoga Race Course from 11 am to 4 pm. Games, pony rides, music, and more.
• The Valleycats are offering a free clinic called Baseball 101 from 12-1:30 pm. Actually, they’re calling it “Baseball 101″ for Mothers and Children. Which just seems like a really stupid title. I mean, what marketer came up with that? No matter how much a mother does or doesn’t know about baseball, it sounds insulting. Of course, I did just accuse local dads of not caring about ballet, so I suppose I can’t cast stones. If you go, they’ll give you a free ticket to the evening game.
• From 12- 5 pm in it’s  GE Kids’ Day at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
• Go on a two-hour Discovery Hike at 2 pm at Albany Pine Bush. Honestly, if it’s hot, I would skip this and wait for a cooler day.
• At 2:45 pm it’s Women’s World Cup Finals, baby!
• It’s country music at the Town of North Greenbush‘s Gazebo at 6 pm.
• There’s a free concert at Central Park in Schenectady at 7 pm.
• Brian Patneaude Quartet (jazz) is playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.