I'm a life-long New Englander, so you can't fool me with all this summer-like weather. But doesn't mean I don't love it.

Yesterday I took a car load of kids up to Leeds beach for our earliest-ever plunge. We rolled down all the windows, opened the sun roof, and headed for the beach like we were living in California or something. Winter-white legs and arms were poking out of every window as we cruised to the water. And we weren't alone. There were bunches of other like-minded families and the heartiest of souls (ie, all the kids) were swimming happily. Never mind that they're limbs were numb within seconds or they literally got brain freeze.

The beach looks less than inviting or lovely. The grass is brown, and of course the trees don't offer any shade at this point. I was a little disappointed in how it looked, but then I had to remind myself that we typically don't get up here until late in May, so hopefully it will look greener and healthier when summer actually rolls around.