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In the middle of a snow storm?
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Deer, looking for the food we don’t put out in inclement weather because if it gets wet? It’s ruined.
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Didn’t stop the herd from lining up in position to search.
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Even the buck looked up at us through the windows as if to say, what gives?
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Sorry guys.
Come back tomorrow…
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We live in Maine.
Maine winters are long.
And though we’re having a freakishly warm day today, they’re calling for snow this weekend.
I was hoping to eek by until spring and not order oil for our furnace but the energy sucking bastard demanded more… and man. This time it hurt.
A week ago Sunday I checked the price for our area and it was $3.55 a gallon. Purchasing 400 gallons, which doesn’t fill the tanks, would have cost $1,420. But when I called Monday… thanks to the strike on Iran… the price had risen to $4.19 and because of Middle East unrest the company wouldn’t guarantee the quote for Thursday delivery.
On Thursday, the price had risen to $4.61… an increase of $1.06 a gallon in four days… with me writing a check for $1,844.
$424 more, just like that.
Ouch.
Last night I checked prices again and saw some companies are almost $5.
Damn.
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No words required.
Just enjoy the view…
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❤️
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This is the old Frank J Wood bridge that crossed the Androscoggin River and connected Brunswick to Topsham.
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A major thoroughfare for the area, but old and in dire need of major structural repair. Numerous studies and years of inspections and debates resulted in a plan for replacement.
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The new concept was wider and free standing, with unobstructed scenic views and platform bump outs for taking in the sights.
As a rule, Mainers don’t like change and a lot of people fought to save and refurbish the historic old bridge… but finally lost the legal battle.
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The new bridge opened a few months ago and personally… I like it. Easier to navigate with wider lanes and a sidewalk for strolling, I think it’s a vast improvement.
The old bridge is currently being town down, piece by cumbersome piece and its devoted fans want to pay homage. Which sounds lovely, but in reality? Not so much.
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This is an artist’s rendering of what the (extremely expensive tax payer funded) memorial would look like.
Local reaction is not favorable.
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I’m totally Team Banana.
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How about you?
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The snow is getting deeper but our lone little opossum is still visiting.
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When he gets scared or spots us in the window he runs for the woodshed.
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Climbing what must look like Mount Everest to a marsupial.
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He prefers melting snow that reveals grass and a few puddles from which to drink.
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Yes, they’re good to have around.
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And though they’re pretty humble looking creatures…
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We like Percy and wish him the best.
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We have one little opossum on our property.
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During the spring, summer and fall… we occasionally see him at night but never during daylight hours.
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Winters are tough in Maine and with thick snow cover, food is hard to find.
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So now… every once in a while in the late afternoon?
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The little fellow makes his way under our bird feeders for some fallen treats.
❤️
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Our house is well insulated and since we replaced all the windows and 3 out of 4 doors, it’s pretty air tight to the winter.
Except here…
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Right over the door to our back deck.
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Where we always have one precariously placed icicle.
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Closing the door too hard can be dangerous.
😳
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We woke up to six inches of new snow in our part of Maine this morning.
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Enough to make everything look fresh…
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Enough so the rhodendrons are wearing white hats.
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Enough so the husband had to shovel his way out to feed the birds.
(He’s started bringing the feeders inside every evening because once the deer eat all their treat, the greedy bastards turn to our feeders and break them all trying to extract the seed)
But as much as I love a fresh snow fall, it was this Facebook story that made me smile the widest.
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Chebeague is an island in Casco Bay.
I lived there for 6 marvelous years during my late adolescence.
My father died and is buried there.
I met and married my husband there when he was home on leave from the Marine Corps.
Accessible only by boat, life there can be tough. But it’s also magical.
So it doesn’t surprise me that this little snowman built near the water…
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Should break free and go on a grand adventure.
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I like to think he’s still out there somewhere ….
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On his way across the Atlantic.
❤️
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We’ve been having some pretty spectacular skies lately.
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And I’ve always thought the sunsets over snow really make the colors pop.
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This is our eastern facing backyard so the pretty pink is a reflection of the actually setting out front.
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Less dramatic, more muted.
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But still lovely.
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My day started with a sweet little flower delivery.
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With some gorgeous peach and pink roses.
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The colors were lovely.
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And they were in full bloom.
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42 Valentine’s Days together and he still sends me flowers. I must be doing something right.
❤️
There was also a box of artisan alcoholic truffles.
My husband knows me well.
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Okay, I already ate the Kahlua.
So sue me.
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We went out for a late lunch to the home of the world’s best pork chop we’ve visited before so I’ll spare you another review… other than to say my meal was superb.
PORK TENDERLOIN RISOTTO —
Maine Family Farms roasted pork tenderloin, arborio rice, onion, white wine, cream, thyme, brie, brown sugar peach sauce.
This place knows pork. Yum!
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Next door? An elephant who clearly disregards parking bans.
And finally, in honor of Valentine’s Day.
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Hearts pop up everywhere…
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And it’s just what’s needed to brighten gloomy winter spirits.
❤️
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River's world..... 