Tag Archives: nature

Let’s go to the fair!

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If it’s October… it’s time for the Fryeburg Fair, Maine’s largest and last of the season.

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It’s west of us, towards the mountains and that usually means pretty fall foliage.

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Trees started turning early this year and aren’t as bright as they normally are…

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But it’s still a lovely burst of autumn color.

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Our favorite part of the fair is always the animals.

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First up were the large horses that pull the fancy wagons.

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We missed the show by 15 minutes which was a shame.

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But as we entered the barn this family was getting undressed.

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It must feel good to have all that removed.

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It weighs a ton.

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We met the family patriarch and it was clear he loves his horses.

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So you know my husband had to start up a half hour conversation.

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I tried to talk him into sitting here while I continued walking around the fair, but he wasn’t amused.

😉

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Some things are not worth waiting for….

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I realize I haven’t posted many photos of our fall foliage this year.

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The reason being it hasn’t been a very good leaf peeping season.

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Oh, there’s color…

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But by Maine standards it’s been very muted this autumn.

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Too much rain late in the summer and an early mini cold snap that forced the trees to turn too soon could be the reason.

Anyway…

After running a few errands down south, we realized we’d skipped lunch and headed to a very popular Wells restaurant for an early dinner.

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Off season, on a Thursday… and there was a line half an hour before they opened. We weren’t going to wait, but.

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It’s a steakhouse and my husband loves a good steak.

When the doors opened and the mad rush for upstairs dining was in full force, we took the road less traveled and headed for the bar on the first floor.

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This place is impossible to get in during the summer, jam packed every night so we were expecting amazing things.

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My appetizer was not one of them.

Shrimp and crab stuffed mushrooms. Dry uninteresting balls of stuffing they must have waved a crab over and called it good.

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Two overly sweetened cocktails in, my salad was basically a bowl of iceberg lettuce drenched in bottled blue cheese.

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We both ordered the filet mignons, which were decent enough… though nothing to gush over.

Places like this always make me wonder why people are willing to stand on line for basically nothing special.

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A fabulous first for me.

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Our neighbor called at 7:30 last night and screamed at us to “Go outside right now!”. From the tone of her voice I figured we were being invaded by herds of rabid moose… but when I stepped off the front porch steps ?

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Wow.

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I’m 60 years old and have never seen the Northern Lights in person..

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And there they were, right over our house.

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Again, wow.

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My photos don’t do them justice..

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But the husband and I stood out on the lawn like total weirdos snapping pictures for half an hour.

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It was a truly magical experience.

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I’m not sure I completely understand what causes the phenomenon …

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But I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same.

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❤️

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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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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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Wrapping up day 5 with ice cream.

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After a marvelous seafood lunch and cocktails in Perkins Cove, we reversed direction and walked back.

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Where the views were still amazing.

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Spending time with some of our favorite people always makes me smile.

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The gardens surrounding the resort at the end are lovely.

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And are always worth a few photos.

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Saying goodbye to Ogunquit, we headed up Route 1 for a well deserved ice cream break.

After a bit of searching, we found an amazing little place with an anything but little selection.

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In case you don’t want to count, there are 74 flavors.

And if you can’t decide?

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Why have one when you can have 6…?

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Their bathroom was fun.

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And even though I couldn’t escape the pickles…

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A good time was had by all.

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❤️

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