Tag Archives: maine

Uncategorized

Now that’s a tip.

15 Comments

.

There’s a famous restaurant in my part of the world called The Taste of Maine.

.

.

It’s been family owned and operated for 44 years and is a staple for fresh seafood on the heavily travelled coastal Route 1. Tourists love the kitschy decor and giant outdoor lobsters.

.

.

We find it a bit overpriced but go once in a while just because it’s fun.

The pandemic hit a lot of seasonal restaurants hard up here and many went under. Right now they’re struggling to find enough wait staff. So when I saw this on FB the other day? A customer tipping the amount of the bill….

.

.

I was floored.

We’ve done that at small diners and sandwich shops. $20 – $30 bill, $20 -$30 tip.

But an $800 tip?

Holy macaroni. That’s beyond awesome.

❤️

.

Uncategorized

Stone garden border project… day 2, disagreement 2.

41 Comments

.

I was helping.

.

.

In so far as the husband would let me help… with what was my idea to begin with. That’s usually how things go at Casa River. I want to do something and come up with a plan… then the husband gets involved and does it completely his way.

.

.

Granted he knows more about stone wall building… but I had a vision ya know?

.

.

I like weird looking rocks, like this bird’s head skeleton I placed in the corner ….

.

.

And these two that look like ham steaks. I wanted them prominently placed to give the border some quirk and character.

.

.

So of course the husband moved all three and buried them. When I said something? He got ticked off and told me I can let him build it or hire someone else to do exactly what I want… and believe me that’s tempting.

.

.

I love my husband. I do. He’s a wonderful man. But it would be nice if we could a work project together… in harmony, like we used to. Whether it’s male menopause, adjusting to retired life or basic old man crankiness .. lately he tests my patience to the point where I just have to walk away. Why must every difference of opinion turn into a fight? It’s exhausting.

Do you work well with your spouse/significant other. Or do you have to take a hike as well?

.

Uncategorized

The one where His Lordship takes a dirt bath, battles a peony and checks out the man cave.

18 Comments

.

I think he does it just to aggravate me.

.

.

On every walk, he will find every patch of dirt.

.

.

And roll until he and his harness are filthy. The spot underneath the bird feeders that’s mixed with empty seed husks and poo is a favorite.

.

.

And when you can’t find a woodchuck to play with? Peonies have to do.

Hard to believe in the year since we adopted his Lordship, he’s never made it out to the man cave. There’s something about the barn which always gives him pause. Oh, he’ll walk around it and try to crawl underneath it.. but it took me a good 9 months to get him comfortable sitting on the porch. Then yesterday out of nowhere he scratched on the door….

.

.

And viola!

.

.

A whole new area to explore.

.

.

I thought he’d enjoy it, but before long he was whining and pawing at the windows to get out.

He’s a strange little dude our Dudley.

.

Uncategorized

A recipe, a spoiled cat and something worse than dishwater beer.

30 Comments

.

While I’m usually not a recipe poster, my husband raved about this one after the first bite… and he’s not a man for random compliments. I’ve been cooking for him for 38 years and while I’m no Julia Child, I can hold my own in the kitchen. But when I find a quick and easy recipe? I have to share.

.

.

.

This works just as well with haddock, as long as the pieces are thick.

.

.

Spoiled cat? No. What gave you that idea…

.

.

Proof positive there is something worse than dishwater beer.

🤢

.

Uncategorized

Stone garden border project… day 1, disagreement 1.

20 Comments

.

Work began on the perennial bed stone border recently… though not without incident.

.

.

The existing bed measured 10×20… and when I first discussed the project with my husband I told him I wanted to expand it by at least 4 feet due to the apple tree that took up residence a decade ago. He heard me, but clearly didn’t care.

.

.

Because when I looked outside the other day and saw him staking off level lines at the edge of the dirt… I said something.

Big mistake.

Huge.

.

.

He heatedly explained the stone needed to be laid on flat earth and if I wanted him to do it, they would be laid inside the bed border. Period. End of discussion. Numerous hours of anger to follow.

Ladies? Never doubt the existence of male menopausal mood swings. They’re real.

.

.

His way means I lose a good foot on every side, making my garden bed 4 foot smaller instead of larger. Not what I wanted. Not what I’d planned.

.

.

But apparently what I’m getting.

.

.

It’s hard to argue when I’m clearly not the one doing the majority of work. And I’m sure it will be lovely when completed…

But it would be nice if just once, we could come to an agreement without acrimony.

.

Uncategorized

In which we discover how truly anal I am.

38 Comments

.

I have a large collection of vintage vinyl albums. It used to number close to 800, but I made the mistake of storing a large portion of them in my MIL’s attic years ago between moves and a leaky roof cut my collection in half. Today, after culling… it’s slightly over 350, and though they’ve been housed in plastic crates for the past 20 years, I recently decided they should be relocated to the man cave in vintage wooden beer or whiskey crates.

.

.

Did I mention my albums are organized alphabetically?

.

.

The Dewar’s scotch crate that I liberated from the husband’s stash (because if he’s not going to give it to the pub, he can give it to me) has A-B.

.

.

When I pick up a few replacements here and there at flea markets?

.

.

Adjustments must be made.

Pickwick Ale?

.

.

C, D, E and F.

Those were the only two alcohol related crates my husband had in his crap treasure filled cellar, so I guess I’ll have to go antique shopping for G through Z.

😉

Uncategorized

You never know who you’ll meet at a bar.

18 Comments

.

The husband and I dropped by a favorite haunt last week.

.

.

The cocktails are always stellar. Blood orange gin fizz? Yes, please.

.

.

Garlic Parmesan wings? Don’t mind if I do.

.

.

Cucumber cooler?

.

Good enough to have two, one before my meal.

.

.

And one with my fish and chips. But it was the bar patrons on either side of us who were really interesting.

On the left? A doctor of infectious diseases who worked alongside Anthony Fauci for 5 years.

On the right? A man who put a plastic top with a straw on his glass of Jameson because he has a tendency to spill after two.

You just never know.

🤣

.