Tag Archives: maine

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Birds, flowers and our dying view…

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It’s starling time again at Casa River.

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In the spring and early fall they descend…

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In very large numbers.

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And clean out our bird feeders in no time flat.

Summer may be over, but my flowers have had a miraculous resurgence.

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Everything is in full bloom and looking lovely.

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I don’t know why…

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But I’m not questioning, just enjoying.

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Even my potted hibiscus is hanging in there with the cool nights.

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Across the street… it’s all about the poles.

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More poles get jackhammered in the ground everyday.

So many poles.

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And the day I’m dreading draws ever closer.

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Two 200 foot greenhouses will dominate the view from our kitchen window any day now…

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And I am not a happy camper.

😫

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Random rambling…

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A few sunset photos for your viewing pleasure.

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No real reason for the next one, it just made me laugh.

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Fall in Maine means apples and pumpkins and above all… turning leaves.

This is our backyard, complete with deer.

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I suffered a major loss recently when I discovered my absolutely favorite cocktail bar had gone belly up. The Blind Pig… with their amazing 10 page menu of creative alcoholic delights… has morphed into an Italian restaurant. Same owners, yes.

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The decor is similar…

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But the cocktail list pales in comparison.

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The food was good…

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The atmosphere pleasant…

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But even the funky silver fish wine decanter can’t make up the loss of my beloved artisan cocktails.

😫

Speaking of food, I’m including this crab cake recipe so I don’t lose it.

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If you try it before me, let me know.

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This is what drives me crazy.

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Work on the second wall of the shed extension was underway yesterday.

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And another window was added.

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As you can tell, I keep my distance. Any suggestions from me are met with a bruised male ego and annoyance that I’m questioning his carpentry skills.

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Which, of course…

I am.

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See that last remaining spot to be sided? It’s a funky little section that required careful measuring and cutting.

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Which my husband never does.

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It’s just easier to gerry rig the section with 3 different size pieces.

Sigh…

🥴

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The whole fam damily.

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Please excuse the quality of these photographs. I was shooting through windows at night and some have annoying reflections…. but four skunks and two raccoons are too good not to share.

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We have nightly visitors like this all the time but every time I try to sneak outside for pictures they run off.

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They don’t mind me flipping on the deck lights…

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But as soon as they hear me, they’re gone.

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You’d be surprised how fast a skunk can run.

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Yes.

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I love our backyard…

💕

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Random around the house nonsense.

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It’s nearing the end of the growing season but my geraniums are in peak form. Go figure…

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Construction on the shed extension is progressing slowly.

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And look, it be fancy.

Windows.

🤣

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Lord Dudley Mountcatten finally decided the new porch wasn’t dangerous and explored.

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The stone was particularly interesting and warranted much sniffing.

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As did the new door’s glass panels.

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Please note Polly the Polyphemus moth is still cocooned … weeks past her/his hatching date. I fear we’ll have to keep it safe until next spring now.

🥴

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Poles and more poles are going up across the road.

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I can’t tell you how much I’m dreading seeing those giant greenhouses. Losing our nice view is depressing.

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Entire pitcher of sangria worths depressing.

😉

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This makes my heart smile.

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We had a surprise visitor the other day.

It was a childhood friend of my husband’s from Connecticut who had stopped by my BIL’s and wanted to drop in to say hello.

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After thoroughly checking out the husband’s new treasure, we moved into the man cave/Barn Mahal where I took a picture.

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(Husband’s brother on the left, old friend in the middle.)

If you look closely… in between my husband and his friend, you’ll see a framed photo on the wall.

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This photo, taken in Vietnam in 1968.

( Husband on the right, old friend on the left, brother next to old friend)

Three of those four men were reunited in our barn 56 years later.

That made my heart smile.

❤️

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Day 7… a farm tour and a tearful goodbye.

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Our company was leaving in the afternoon and after a big late breakfast … we had just enough time to give them a tour of the organic farm across the street.

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It’s wonderful having fresh veggies so close .

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But the flowers are a nice new addition.

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Everything was green and lush.

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And blooming profusely.

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Yes, even the kale looked healthy.

🤢

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Being a good neighbor… I didn’t pick a free berry. Though honestly, it was tempting.

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We strolled and chatted and took pictures.

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And even caught a glimpse of the man cave/ Barn Mahal in the distance.

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So much works goes into running a farm.

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Day in, day out. Something always needs to be tilled, weeded, watered or harvested.

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This is our contractor’s boat.

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He’s a friend of our neighbor and is allowed free storage.

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Not sure you can see it in this photo…

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But I thought this was a bizarre staggered bloom flower. Very tall.

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A few more pictures…

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A few more blooms…

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And we headed back across the street…

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For one more picture before we loaded up the car and took our favorite people to the airport.

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Past a lovely stone church…

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With fabulous front doors.

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And this silly sign that always makes me laugh.

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Then the airport, where I had a good cry when we had to let them leave.

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Family isn’t always defined by blood.

Sometimes you choose.

And we chose well.

💕

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Day 6… the barn, with a lobster meet and greet.

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On the last full day with our company, we honored their request. No more road trips, no more sightseeing…. just a relaxing day at home.

Or more specifically, the man cave/Barn Mahal.

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T. was like most men who cross its doorstep, instantly smitten and a wee bit jealous. I believe he mentioned wanting one, but I don’t think his wife was on board.

The day was spent playing Name That Crap..

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(Early vacuum cleaner)

Playing pool…

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With some interesting techniques…

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Shucking corn..

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And introducing our southern family to fresh Maine lobster.

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G. was a little leery at first.

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But ended up making friends.

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Never having cooked a live one before, T. was fascinated.

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And after some quality time with the bugs…

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Made his own friend.

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And then dropped him in the pot.

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Unfortunately it was at that exact moment our grill ran out of gas and things had to be moved indoors.

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Finally…

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We had a happy southerner.

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Back in the man cave, cracking instructions were given.

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And everyone enjoyed lobster.

Except me of course. I came up allergic to the succulent crustacean about 9 years ago and am unable to eat it without becoming violently ill.

Boo to that.

😫

The night ended with cocktails and a birthday cake that elicited a good bit of laughter.

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T.’s late father was a career Marine who, when done talking to his children would bark, “Dismissed!”

And since it was our company’s last night in Maine..

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It seemed an appropriate sentiment.

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Bye bye old door.

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And so it begins, the project I’ve been dreading.

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I get worried when my husband has to repair/replace something inside our home. He’s fine with rough carpentry and rustic places like the barn… but the house?

Where I have to live?

I prefer professionals.

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I was cringing the whole time he and a friend were removing the old front door…. and lost count of how many times I said be careful.

Note – he wasn’t careful. And it was the friend who put a drop cloth down on our brand new floor.

Thank you friend.

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The fact that they got it out in one piece without breaking the glass is a miracle.

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I think even the husband was surprised.

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Giant hole in the house?

Check.

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Door frame on a shrub?

Yup.

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There was even a door under the truck.

The reason for that placement was clearly above my pay grade.

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And now that we had a big hole, it was time to fill it.

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After checking to make sure there was no rotted wood underneath as was the case with the other two doors we replaced.

Thankfully all was well.

To be continued…

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