Tag Archives: photos

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Viles Arboretum … part one.

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The weather was perfect. The tourists were nowhere to be seen. And my husband is still retired… for now. So I stuffed him in the car and we crossed something off my endless Things To Do In Maine bucket list.

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Viles Arboretum. A 224 acre non profit botanic garden run by the state which conserves wetlands, forest and fields and offers free access to anyone wanting to enjoy miles of nature trails.

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There were sculptures scattered throughout.

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Most of which were for sale. Though for $15,000, we decided to pass.

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Most of the walking was easy and the boardwalks over the wet areas were quite welcome.

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If you know my husband, you know he has to stop and read every single word of every single plaque about every single tree.

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Scrap metal bird sculpture. Lord Dudley would be terrified.

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It was a lovely way to spend the day and we leisurely strolled through meadows that turned to marsh…

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That turned to ponds.

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That turned to wetlands…

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And back to meadows.

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To be continued….

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A scenic drive that ended with lunch at the shoe factory.

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When it’s a beautiful summer day in Maine, you grab your husband and head west.

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Not quite to the mountains, but we could see them from our windows .

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Destination? A highly recommended Italian restaurant in an old converted shoe factory.

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It was a rustic place, full of exposed beams and brick.

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No, I didn’t order that.

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I went with a fruity white Sangria instead.

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Cheesy garlic bread appetizer with homemade sauce started us off.

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It was too windy to sit outside but we did watch the umbrellas tip over a few times.

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Our meals were amazing. Decadently rich grilled chicken Alfredo for the hubs, Burgundy marinated filet tips on vegetable risotto for me.

We were stuffed and since the portions were hardy, went home with ample leftovers… but that didn’t stop us from ordering dessert to go.

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Yours truly is not leaving an Italian restaurant without Tiramisu.

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Calzolaio Pasta Co, is going on the list of River approved dining spots.

How could it not? On the way there….

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Cows!

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First baby chuck sighting.

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It was bound to happen. Momma woodchuck found a safe home under our barn and she’s going to raise all her children there from now on.

Yesterday I spotted the first baby nibbler.

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I know they eat all my flowers, but damn it. They’re so stinking cute!

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There are four children this year and they’re just starting to venture out in the open.

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As long as mom is around that is.

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My garden is doomed.

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Miscellaneous drivel.

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Remember those $50 blueberry bushes we bought at the nursery?

Turns out they had the same ones at the grocery store for $25.

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The husband couldn’t resist.

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There are days when I prefer to soak myself in alcohol, but apples and watermelons work too.

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I passed on the meatloaf mountain. Bread and potatoes? That’s a bit much.

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Here’s the Junior chuck, just chillin’ on the deck landing.

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Probably still full from all those flowers he devoured.

😖

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Foxy lady.

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Mr. Fox brought his significant other last night for a nosh.

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See the stalks by the fox on the left? Husband found some wild asparagus in the field and thought the woodchucks would eat it. Sadly, they prefer my flowers and didn’t touch it.

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We love our foxes.

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They’re such graceful, beautiful creatures.

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If only they’d develop a taste for red squirrel.

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Surely they have hungry pups who need a snack.

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😉

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The bitch has moved back in!

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The husband had to move my car, set up the ladder and climb into the garage crawl space to reach the leftover vinyl siding recently.

When he got up there? A surprise.

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There was a suspicious hole in the siding box.

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And nesting material strewn around the opening.

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See all the insulation and stuffing to the left?, in between the rungs of the ladder?

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You know what means.

🐿

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It’s planting time!

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The frost danger has probably but who the hell knows because it’s Maine passed and now it’s time to fill that beautiful raised stone bed my husband built last year.

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My first trip to the nursery made me realize another trip is in order. Such a hardship.

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But look at our little crabapple tree.

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Finally in full bloom.

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So far… this is what will be living in the garden.

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I realized I chose too much pink and purple so the next trip will be for peach, red and maybe white to round it out.

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