This cake has a certain a-peel.

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We’re not cake people as a rule but I stumbled on something so ridiculous at the store the other day… it positively screamed to be baked.

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And in a high falsetto at that.

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Bite me Dolly.

The batter is the best part.

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And because I love me some nanners, I made a banana cream pie filling.

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Topped off with buttercream frosting?

It’s a cake to go ape for.

😉

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Then… and now.

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I know some people don’t like them, but I enjoy the memories that pop up on my Facebook feed showing the photos I posted on a particular day 5 or 10 years ago.

Today?

I saw this one from February 2013.

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Then –

The husband walking on the road in front of our house with a high backdrop of snow.

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This morning?

It looks a little different.

It makes me sad that real Maine winter storms seem to be a thing of the past.

😢

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I dare you to watch this without crying.

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If you’ve ever loved a dog?

Hell, even if you haven’t… please watch this video all the way though before you read my post. It’s 7 minutes of your life well spent. I promise.

Grab the tissues.

I’ll wait.

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The husband and I have been there, although it was winter and only a few four legged visitors were romping around.

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The chapel is small…

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But bursting at the seams with love.

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And when they said every square inch is filled with layers of pictures, letters, notes and expressions of grief?

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They meant it.

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I wept the entire time I was inside.

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Look around…

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How could you not?

If you’ve ever loved and lost a dog, or any animal for that matter… this quiet, unassuming, solemn place will grab your heart and tug. The outpouring of love, loss and grief is positively palpable from the moment you cross the threshold.

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I’m not a religious person… but there’s something otherworldly about this building on that little mountain in Vermont.

Something beautiful… and almost spiritual.

If you’re ever near St. Johnsbury, please go experience it for yourself. And don’t forget to bring a picture of that special someone who’s no longer walking by your side.

❤️

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Have you herd…?

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Our backyard has been pretty busy of late.

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And our resident herd of ten are showing up every night.

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They don’t usually visit when it’s still light enough to grab photos, so this was a treat.

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You can have television. I’ll happily sit and watch these beautiful creatures instead.

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The harem master.

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I’m so glad he made it through hunting season unscathed.

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In case you’re wondering why they’re called White Tailed Deer.

😉

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Because sometimes life is simply too much to bear.

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We all have those days.

The ones where we want to stay in our pajamas, crawl back into bed and turn off the world.

Apparently Lord Dudley Mountcatten has them as well.

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It’s not as if this feline has a rough life.

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Did the level on his kibble bowl run low?

Were his treats not dispensed at the proper time?

Perhaps his pillow was not properly fluffed.

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Whatever the reason, he’s clearly reached his limit.

😉

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Miscellaneous nonsense.

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In her never ending attempt to make me embrace kale, my girlfriend gave up trying to feed it to me and gifted me kale hair conditioner.

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The shampoo had matcha which is less revolting, but I’m here to report these products made my (considerable) head of hair feel like a Brillo pad. Keep kale where it belongs… in the garbage can.

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A winter morning peek out our front door.

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A winter evening peek out the same door.

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As seen in the grocery store parking lot. Is this driver extremely lazy… or blind? Those are the only two explanations I can think of to explain riding down the road with a large clump of snow on your windshield.

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Ya gotta try these!

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As I was picking up some frozen pitted cherries for my morning smoothie at the grocery store, I saw something interesting I knew I had to try.

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Tru Fru.

Individual pieces of ripe fruit… flash frozen and covered in chocolate.

Nothing more.

And nothing less than delightful.

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I don’t have a huge sweet tooth but every now and then I like s little touch of dessert after dinner and these are perfect.

I take a few out of the freezer and let them sit 15-20 minutes before eating… and am now totally addicted.

The raspberry and strawberry have the deepest flavor… but the blueberry and cherry are good as well. They make a banana which I would love, but I haven’t found that one yet.

https://trufru.com/

👍

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Maine traffic jam.

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In Maine… you never what you’ll find around the next bend in the road.

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Yesterday it was a rather large flock of wild turkeys.

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Who were in absolutely no hurry to move out of my way.

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Since the husband chases every one of their brethren who show up under our bird feeders out of the yard due to prodigious amounts of poo….

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I was happy to stop and watch them amble by.

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