Anne and I spent the day with Declan. Daycare was closed today, for a professional development day. I really think that the nice Chinese ladies who run the place, really just wanted to swill green beer. 😉 Dave had to work, even so, he took care of Wyatt, while we all went to the zoo. Stone zoo, the small private zoo that is located nearby. We got there right when it opened. Declan was the first one through the gate. Not too surprising, it being a very cold St. Pat’s Day.

Plus, there was last night. Oh, how the wind did howl! I have been sleeping on the couch in the living room, mainly because the foldout bed in the basement is not particularly comfortable to sleep in and while you cannot hear the wee one wakeup in the middle of the night down there, their couch is normally quite comfortable. But because of last night’s windstorm, I hardly slept a wink. There wasn’t much rain, but oh the wind. Even Dave commented on it in the morning.

Maren and David’s home is located atop a rocky promontory, three miles from Massachusetts Bay, with little between their house and the sea. Gale force winds were forecasted, causing all of the trees to sway wildly and some of them to brush the house. I kept expecting one to come crashing into the building. None did, but in the morning, we had to detour around a fallen tree around the corner.

The zoo was fun. A pair of flamingoes were noisily fighting, and we had to quickly move on, because they were frightening Declan. All of the big cats were out, none hiding. Even the gibbons were out, swing around. The St. Louis zoo’s gibbons would not be outside on a day like today. These New England folk are a hardy lot, none so as much as our grandson. It was hard to keep up with him, when we took him across the road from the zoo to a park with a playground.

Next up was lunch at the Melrose Diner, a real greasy spoon. Located next to a T-stop, our corner window table was perfect for entertaining Declan. Four purple commuter trains passed by while we dined. By the time the fourth one did, Declan had lined up all of the grape jelly packets at the table on the windowsill. For dinner tonight, Dave made Shepards pie to celebrate the Irish in him.