Love is in the air all over New England. For the record, this hen did not seem all that interesting in this gobbler. Had he read “The Five Languages of Love,” he would know that he’d have better luck if he spent quality time with her, listened with sincere interest about her concerns over the flock, and offered her some choice berries that he had gathered just for her.

My nephew John stands on the stair below my sister Alissa and still comes up taller. His presentation at Babson today went very well and both joined us for dinner this evening. If not for the fact that he seems so happy I sometimes wish Kyle had chosen a school closer to home so we could see him more often. With John so close we see him quite frequently now and there is a good chance he will live with us during his summer internship. It is not too early to start selling Nico on the benefits of living within a reasonable car drive from the nest.

My sister Alissa is in town to visit with her son Johnie who is attending Babson. It was nice hearing about the recent exploits of our niece Rachel who shares a passion for dance with Maya. Alissa it must be said is the only one of my siblings who has carried on my parent’s tradition of ballroom dance and has become extremely accomplished in her own right.