Monthly Archives: June 2023

Uncategorized

A sad commentary on where we are as a nation.

41 Comments

.

I live in Maine.

Our governor is a Democrat named Janet Mills.

And this is what I saw in a restaurant parking lot the other day.

.

.

How nice.

Without getting political, let me just say two things. I dislike Donald Trump. Vehemently and absolutely, but you will never see a F*ck Trump sticker on my car or a F*ck Trump sign in my yard.

I believe in a two party system and am mature enough to embrace free spirited debate and opposing views. I can agree to disagree.

But the current climate of outright hatred and vulgarity that’s taken over our political discourse disgusts me. There’s no need of this. Children do not need to learn disrespect from the rear window of a passing car.

And speaking of vulgarity?

I received a comment on a video I posted on YouTube last week.

.

.

I have no idea who Dick is, but I’m guessing the name fits him perfectly.

Maybe I’m getting old, but common courtesy and decency seem to be in short supply these days.

.

Uncategorized

Old Fort Western

15 Comments

.

Next up on my things to do in Maine before the husband goes back to work bucket list was Old Fort Western. It’s one of those landmarks we drive by often but never take the time to explore.

.

.

Old Fort Western in Augusta is the oldest surviving wooden fort in the United States. It started life as a trading post, then a manned station during the French and Indian war, and then a store supplying early settlers.

.

.

In 1775 Benedict Arnold started his expedition to capture Quebec from this fort. Arnold’s party, which included future Vice President Aaron Burr, stayed at the fort before marching north.

.

.

For a time it was a private home and now, a historic site.

.

.

The day we visited there were a few reenactment soldiers in period dress on loan from Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts.

.

.

You know my husband enjoyed this part.

.

.

Though they wouldn’t let him fire it for safety reasons.

.

.

I love history and totally geeked out during the guided tour.

.

.

Strategically placed on the highest navigable point on the Kennebec River…

.

.

It guarded the colonists well and was never attacked.

.

.

Though I can’t imagine life here was easy.

.

.

To be continued….

.

Uncategorized

A whole lotta nothing important.

25 Comments

.

I saw something the other day while driving up Route 1 and had to try and grab a picture. Pardon the bad quality but I couldn’t stop completely.

.

.

I have no explanation for this.

Just had to share.

.

.

In true Maine fashion there is now a radio station called Whoopie featuring a lobster holding a Whoopie pie.

You can’t make this stuff up.

.

.

Epic Chinese take out menu fail.

And no, they weren’t trying to be cute.

.

.

I haven’t tried this yet but it sounds good.

.

.

Rainy days mean Scrabble tournaments in the man cave. Yours truly was getting some truly horrible letter combinations.

.

.

But managed to sweep the husband in a three game series all the same.

.

Uncategorized

Rainy day barn porch cocktails… with ducks.

21 Comments

.

When there’s a summer thunderstorm on the horizon? We head for the barn porch.

.

.

And if it’s cocktail hour?

We add an adult beverage.

.

.

This particular storm was disappointing as all the good rumbling stayed to the north…

.

.

But the gentle rain brought our old friends the ducks to the backyard and they’re always fun to watch.

.

.

I don’t know how long mallard ducks live but we’ve had this visiting pair for close to 4 years now.

.

.

When there’s rain and puddles? They plop right down and make themselves at home.

❤️

.

Uncategorized

Viles Arboretum… the finale.

21 Comments

.

Finishing the outer loop trail brought us close to the end of our walk.

.

.

Another sculpture.

.

.

That my not a fan of modern art husband had a hard time deciphering. I keep telling him you don’t have to understand art … just enjoy it.

.

.

The lilac gardens were next and though it was a small area ….

.

.

The scent was gloriously large.

.

.

Even she thought so.

.

.

Or maybe she didn’t. It’s hard to tell.

.

.

We really enjoyed the time we spent here. A true hidden oasis in the middle of our state’s capitol.

.

.

I had to laugh that my husband has the old wooden apple press shown on that sign.

.

.

So there you have it.

A full tour of Viles Arboretum.

.

.

Ending with the least expensive and smallest sculpture on offer.

.

Uncategorized

Will the real blogger please stand up.

41 Comments

.

My distaste for artificial intelligence has been well documented here. I truly believe the pursuit of the singularity will be the end of us and all that we hold dear. The good that can come from it will be quickly washed away by hackers and disreputable people who will twist and manipulate the truth until we’re completely unable to recognize it.

I admit… that future frightens me.

But now?

Right this minute?

There’s something else to fear.

.

.

Hell.

Some of my blogging friends are already phoning it in. If the bots start writing content… how will I be able to tell who’s real? I’ll have to question every word I read.

Did Mark really move to Wisconsin?

Does Dan actually have rabbits in his yard?

Is the Huntress’s office filled with crazy people?

Does the Travel Architect even travel?

What’s true?

What’s not?

How will I know!

😳

To continue following this blog please collect a DNA sample and mail proof of humanhood to:

No A.I. Blogging Slackers Inc.

642 Reality Is Subjective and the World Is Doomed Blvd.

Somewhere Up North, Maine

.

Uncategorized

Viles Arboretum… part five.

6 Comments

.

Nearing the end of our hike there was an old well.

.

.

I’m assuming it had some connection to the old piggery we’d passed.

.

.

The arboretum hosts guest lecturers and holds classes on various nature related topics throughout the year and as you would guess…

.

.

They usually take place outside.

.

.

Though this spot didn’t look like it’s seen any action in a while.

.

.

I’ve been told this is the most popular section of the park.

.

.

And is a favorite for wedding photographs, though to be honest I didn’t find it very impressive.

.

.

The lily of the valley were nice, but heck… my hostas are more impressive than anything they had.

To he continued…

.

Uncategorized

Viles Arboretum … part four.

8 Comments

.

The pond was smaller than I thought it would be.

.

.

But it had a granite bench to rest my bad knee…

.

.

And a catfish that played with flower blossoms …

.

.

So life was good.

.

.

Said catfish also attacked a snail, but the little shelled gastropod prevailed.

.

.

Moving on from the aquatic MMA….

.

.

We came upon the piggery.

.

.

So named because that’s exactly what it was at the turn of the century.

.

.

Though the sign was a little hard to read.

.

.

Not to mention extremely low to the ground.

.

.

To be continued…

.

Uncategorized

Let’s play.

40 Comments

.

It won’t hurt, I promise.

.

.

Sadly, I don’t remember a thing.

My maternal grandparents moved back to Austria before I was born and we never visited. My paternal grandfather died when my father was 10 years old, so I certainly never knew him. And though I was 3 when my paternal grandmother died, I have absolutely no memory of her either.

.

.

I’m told this is a picture of her standing in the backyard rose garden of this house….

.

.

But honestly, neither the person nor the house stir any warm fuzzies in my prefrontal cortex.

When my mother died almost a decade ago we took a trip back to my hometown in New Jersey. The state gets a bad rap, and though most of it is well deserved… there are some lovely areas scattered here and there and thankfully I grew up in one.

.

.

We walked north of town…

.

.

Along the river….

.

.

And found my grandparent’s house.

Still in the thick of early grief for my mother, I stood outside this nicely restored and clearly well loved home and cried. The new owners saw me, came outside to investigate and warmly welcomed us … complete strangers! …. inside for a full three story tour.

Don’t believe everything you hear about people from Jersey. This couple was grace personified.

We exchanged stories and histories and they were very sweet to an only child who had just lost her mom. The new owners expressed interest in my old family photos of the house and I promised to email them when we got back home.

So while I don’t have any grandparent memories of this particular house?

I do have nice new memories of the compassionate and caring young couple who live there now…. and that’s fine with me.

.