Tag Archives: maine

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What’s blooming today?

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Salvia, geraniums and New Guinea impatiens are blooming in my little stone wall garden bed, but unfortunately now and then I find a hole.

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See the empty space on the left? Thank you Mr. Woodchuck, please tip your server. 😡

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Happily my strawberry shortcake foxglove is on the list of woodchuck avoided plants.

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It’s also rhododendron time.

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And this year, they’re glorious.

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Every season I tell myself to cut them back, then they give me a riotous bloom and I cave.

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This year I planted three tick weed (coreopsis) behind the marigolds. Sadly, they must have been on the ‘favorite woodchuck snack’ list because one morning I looked out and they were munched down to nubs. Solution?

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Giant headed yellow marigolds. They’re not my favorite flower, but they’re not a woodchuck’s either … so that’s a win.

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As is this pink cosmos. Such a happy flower. I smile just looking at them.

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Our local.

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This is the interior of our local pub.

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Small, rustic and not at all fancy. But the food is fresh and tasty, the drinks are strong and cheap. What more could you want?

We’re regulars and feel good supporting a local business. Our town has never had a pub before so the owners had to fight long and hard for licensing as well as acceptance. Some of the older residents of our little hamlet thought a bar would attract a bad element, but this small establishment is just as likely to be serving lunch to a troop of Girl Scouts as they are the functioning alcoholics. Lawyers and fisherman. Bankers and construction workers. Hippies and veterans. You never who will sit on the neighboring stool.

We’ve met more locals here in the past 2 years than we have living in this town for 19. And it should come as no surprise that when we introduce ourselves and explain where we live? Everyone always says… oh, the big red barn with the nice porch. Sure!

And if you’re wondering just how rural my town can be? Take a look at who pulled up the other day…

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🤣

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I love my town

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What passes for news in my little corner of the world might seem silly to some….

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But I like to think of our Facebook page as the New York Times of happy living.

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You’ll be glad to know this crisis was averted.

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I’m not sure if this a thing in your area, but in Maine late spring means it’s time to thin and divide the perennials. Some people sell them in their front lawn, but more often than not the bounty is simply shared.

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Go home Freyr. I don’t care how tasty the tuna is down the road.

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That’s one fluffy little cock.

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Damn. No one ever drops roosters off at our house.

🥴

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Eat. Pie. Love.

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The other day we drove almost 2 hours to look at a used pool table. It was a piece of junk and we had to drive almost 2 hours back. Funny how that works. So when I saw a sign that said Pies! Pies! Pies! I knew we had to stop.

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At an adorable little store on a lovely 40 acre farm.

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Yes, a mother and her 15 year old home schooled daughter run the entire farm by themselves. Please note all work is done by horse and ox. Maine women are nothing if not capable.

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The store was filled with the fruits of their labor. Jams, jellies, relishes, honey, pies, wool, dried flowers, wreaths, maple syrup, soap… and yes. Everything was made by their own hands.

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And this wasn’t some run down ramshackle operation. It was lovely, well kept and clean.

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When my husband opened the upright freezer and saw it was packed with pot pies, quiches, turkey soup, mushroom ravioli, pesto, and minestrone he asked the girl when they found time to sleep.

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Jam came home with us. As did some soap, some soup and of course…..

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Pie.

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Which instead of a traditional crust had a marvelously buttery and flaky rolled pastry foundation.

Pie.

It’s what’s for dinner.

And maybe breakfast.

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Maine, glorious Maine… part 2.

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It’s funny, but one of the most famous tourist attractions in my state is a sign.

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Yes, those really are the names of Maine towns and I’ve visited all of them. Didn’t even need a passport.

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I admit it, I partied heartily in many a gravel pit back in the day.

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Mud season was virtually non existent this year due to the lack of heavy snow last winter. Can’t say I really missed it.

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I used to gripe constantly about the cold, but with internal menopausal heating? Now I say bring it!

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Yes, if you visit Maine you must have your picture taken with the giant boot at L.L. Beans. And to be honest…. it’s not just for tourists.

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That’s the husband and our niece a few years back.

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We took her Christmas shopping and made her pose.

😊

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Maine, glorious Maine.

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I think you all know I adore my state. It’s scenically beautiful and far enough off the beaten path for our weirdos to be considered delightfully quirky. So let me share a few other reasons Maine is a wonderful, if slightly odd, place to live.

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You’d be surprised how often these potentially fatal conversations take place.

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And yet they all try.

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If you’ve never seen a real live moose in person? Trust me…. they’re huge and will total your car when hit.

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Many people will tell you it still tastes like horrible medicine, but I love it. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Mm, mm, good.

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I personally know of 7 Hardscrabble Roads… but hey, no one said living in Maine is easy.

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Ooh la la lilac….

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In the continuing saga My Air Smells Better Than Yours, Neener Neener, I bring you…. lilacs.

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I will forever be grateful to the previous owner of our house for planting lilac bushes 40 odd years ago.

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Lilacs are slow growers and take a long time to come into maturity.

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But when you have some that reach the height of your roof?

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Life is good.

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And it smells even better.

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A scenic drive with the dead.

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Part of our leisurely drive down the coast last week included a cruise through Laurel Hill Cemetery.

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And while that might sound a little odd or off the beaten track..

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I assure you we weren’t the only ones. It’s a beautiful spot and very popular with walkers as well.

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I’ve always found cemeteries to be peaceful and serene places, and this one was simply gorgeous.

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Meticulously maintained…

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This section with perfectly trimmed hedges was especially nice.

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Did I mention the dearly departed have a water view?

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There were hundreds of fascinating old gravestones dating back to the 1700’s and a few modern memorials…. that to me, looked out of place.

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Some of the decorative iron fencing was fabulous. For when you really don’t like your neighbors… living or dead.

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Yes, if I lived closer…

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I’d be taking frequent strolls with the dearly departed.

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