Tag Archives: maine

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A sad commentary on where we are as a nation.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Old Fort Western

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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You know my husband enjoyed this part.

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

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

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

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It guarded the colonists well and was never attacked.

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Though I can’t imagine life here was easy.

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To be continued….

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A whole lotta nothing important.

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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.

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I have no explanation for this.

Just had to share.

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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.

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Epic Chinese take out menu fail.

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

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

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

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

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Rainy day barn porch cocktails… with ducks.

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

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And if it’s cocktail hour?

We add an adult beverage.

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

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

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

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

❤️

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Viles Arboretum… the finale.

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

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Another sculpture.

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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.

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

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The scent was gloriously large.

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Even she thought so.

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

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

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

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So there you have it.

A full tour of Viles Arboretum.

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Ending with the least expensive and smallest sculpture on offer.

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Viles Arboretum… part five.

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

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

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

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They usually take place outside.

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

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

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

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

To he continued…

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Viles Arboretum … part four.

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The pond was smaller than I thought it would be.

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

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And a catfish that played with flower blossoms …

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So life was good.

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

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Moving on from the aquatic MMA….

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We came upon the piggery.

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

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Though the sign was a little hard to read.

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Not to mention extremely low to the ground.

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To be continued…

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Viles Arboretum… part three.

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An hour and a half in and we were still exploring.

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Which is where we found this mini pyramid.

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It’s basically the same kind of stone my husband used to build my garden bed last year so I suggested perhaps he could build me one of these this year.

He pretended he didn’t hear me, but my memory is long and I have patience.

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Every now and then there was a bench.

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But we were always moving and didn’t dawdle.

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Dappled shade is good for ferns. Add soil too wet to walk over and it’s damn near perfect.

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I have to say I was looking forward to the rhododendron section of the trail. A forest full of rhodies?

Bring it!

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If you’re wondering why the husband looks slightly puzzled? It’s because we were right in the middle of the supposed rhododendron section but didn’t know it.

After doing a 360, you can see why we were confused.

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One bloom does not a collection make.

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Onward. To the pond…

To be continued.

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