KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

“Rain rain go away, come again another day” is the song most people are singing right now. We have all been pretty patient but it is starting to get the best of people. However, it was said best by one of our customers the other day that we have it better than the people in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Maria Sanchez Roa and Mathew Smith, who celebrated their day May 14; Rhanna DeOliveira and Shannon Levesque, May 16; Eliot Ferland, May 17; Madison Palmer, May 19; and to Amelia Craig, Lukas Fenske and Erin Hegarty, who all celebrate their day today, May 20.

Congratulations to Paulo and Justine DeOliveira, who are the proud parents of a baby boy, Mateo S. DeOliveira, who was born May 15, weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Best wishes to all, and we can’t wait to meet Mateo.

There are a lot of advantages to living next to the school, such as seeing the kids going and coming and seeing the events going on. This past Sunday was the pancake breakfast to benefit the fifth grade students and their Shenandoah trip. We walked over and were greeted with three smiling faces collecting our donations and then led to the kitchen to be served by four more classmates. Then we were treated to having our syrup poured on our pancakes, and after we ate, more of the class came out smiling to collect our empty plates. It was a great breakfast.

Of course the key to a great meal out is to enjoy it with other people and so it was with us. We joined Les and Judy Baynes. We chatted and they caught us up on their son, Alex, who was stationed in Japan at the time of the earthquake and tsunami. He is fine and was just in Portsmouth, N.H., for 10 days to attend a class and then flew right back to Japan. He loves his job in the service and is doing very well. Their daughter, Amy, is living and working in London, where she is very happy and is living close to Les’s father. I tease Les that he is now here and his daughter left to live in his country. It is not a bad thing, and they are all happy, which is the only thing that matters.

We were also joined by Mark and Ella Blodgett. Mark and Ella spend every Sunday morning making pancakes together, so this was a treat for them to be out and not have to make them. Mom Ellen was enjoying her time riding her pony and after breakfast Ella was joining her for a ride herself. It was a great morning to spend helping the fifth grade class and enjoying and catching up with friends.

Felix Neck this week is presenting live birds of prey as part of its Vineyard wildlife celebration at Felix Neck this Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with guided walks, live birds of prey and free admission! The guided bird walk begins at 10 a.m., at 11 a.m. the live birds of prey presentation begins, at noon it’s All About Horseshoe Crabs and 1 p.m. is the salamander search. Looking for lunch? Island-grown burgers and hot dogs available, brought to the Edgartown sanctuary by the Farm Institute.

The Edgartown Meat and Fish Market opened on Wednesday and, like most people, Ralph and I were curious and checked the place out. We were greeted with many smiling faces. What a nice job the crew did with the wooden floors all shiny, and new cases that were filled with fresh produce, fresh bagels, a deli, and of course seafood and many meats. We enjoyed for dinner their hamburgers with onions and ones with bacon and cheese. They were delicious, and we look forward to trying many more meals from there.

Have a great week, and keep the home candles burning.