Just a Swangin' 05/10/2010
 Hope all of you lovely Moms had a great Mother's Day yesterday! This is the sweet presentation I got in the morning...my favorite! Apple blossoms, Araucana eggs along with homemade cards and cookies. Oh! and a beautifully fir scented soy candle, too. Ummmm....  Plus a big breakfast cooked on the barrel stove! Our warm Spring weather has seemed to go into hiding again. It's been quite chilly...and VERY windy.... Brrrrrrr....  However, this was only the beginning. I had mentioned to my hubby this past week that I struck upon a notion. A luxurious, langorous, deep 'seated' desire. And you'll NEVER guess what it was! I also told him that I really wanted to have it by sunset! But my husband, man that he is, and if you know anything about my husband, you'll know that he's not easily intimidated. He not only took my challenge... he quadrupled it! And you'll NEVER guess how!  But you can try!! Here's a hint...   And here's another one. More of it... (By the way - that view's part of it, too!)   Yeah, that view... Another case of location, location. We must get Mt. Katahdin included in the deal!  Any good guessers out there?? You should've seen us trying to get those cedar logs up in the howling wind...no less! It was literally a group effort with everyone holding their tongues just right!  Now getting ready for launching. Andrew pulled the car through the A-frame and lined 'er up...  Ropes attached... And it's launched!  Just as predicted... Ready for sunset...  My kinda ride!! Thank you so much to my dear, daring hubby... who merely snickers at my challenges! And to my wonderful chicks! We're all wrapped up in pillows and blankets Just a Swangin'...in the sunset... on a swing built for six!! : D This is the best Mother's Day gift I could've ever imagined! I love you!! Down by the Stream 04/27/2010
 So we're finally getting down to the little stream I was telling you about in our back woods...this is not a 'creek' by the way. We've been duly informed (by our friend, Joe) that you're only allowed to say 'creek' in TX...and I'll add 'crick' in Kansas for all you Midwesterners....'cause that's how all my relatives say it. However, it's a 'brook' or 'stream' up here...and best not forget that. So down by the stream (: D) we go...           The apple cups (& saucers) I found a set of recently at a thrift store....perfect for woodland excursions! And next we'll venture over to the west side of the property to see the big beaver lodge. Stay tuned! : D  High Time For an Explore 04/20/2010
 This is our 40 acres of land in rural Maine. Above is the rustic fence hubby built this winter. Waaaaaay down back there are the woods. No underbrush yet. No bugs. YET. That's where I'm going...and you're coming, too! So c'mon!  As you can see... I've been ramblin' and taking photos... and videos...and I've been left behind... Hey! Heeeeyyy!  You...yeah, you.... with the pink and green and black and red smiley papoose on your back...  Whew! Thank you! Don't tell anybody... but I already feel a blister comin' on...  And now we found the others. They've been down here awhile... And they don't care about blisters...   Just slimy stuff in their crocks. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. This is the little stream...not there yet. Sorry. Back to the Peter Rabbit Tree... Don't you fret, we're gettin' to the stream...next time! (It's all loading as we speak) To be continued! : D Into the Sunset 04/06/2010
 Nothing like riding a Babycakes... [minus the mats of mud encrusted burrs in her mane and tail. Please appreciate the voluminous flowing mane and tail. Thanks!]  Off into the sunset...  And this is where I'm gonna be most of the time from here on out. I'll try to post as I can, but there's no computer over here. I do have some gorgeous photos taken in our back woods, I'm trying to get up soon. Happy Trails! Happy Spring! : D Our Woods 04/02/2010
 Another beautiful morning! It's not raining anyway! We went for a hike down through our woods at the back of our land yesterday afternoon. It's so important for the children...for all of us as a family...to be spending time down in those woods. And right now in early Spring is perfect...no undergrowth and NO BUGS! I feel it's very important for us to be familiarizing ourselves with the nature of those wild woods...the sounds, the terrain, the land marks, where the sun rises and sets, what it looks like at different times of the year...how each season unfolds. There's much to learn and explore down there! I don't want to view it from purely a 'survival' standpoint either...although that's important. I think the 'survival only' focus can too easily miss the 'loving & living' aspect of the place. And it's the latter that makes the difference. Horses & Sleds 03/08/2010
 Yesterday dawned sunny and gorgeous! In the afternoon we headed up to Ripley for a sledding party. Most of our snow is melted and I couldn't imagine that they would still have enough for the horse-sled. But as you can see, up on the mountain and protected by trees there was still plenty!  Harlow Post brought his team of horses up and took the kiddos round and round with the sled. They can't ever get enough of that!  Tied to one side of the tractor was Bud's large ox...  And tied to the other side of the tractor were these cute little oxen calves...   Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over a BIG roaring bonfire. Even though the weather was fairly mild...especially for March...it was still nice to cozy up to the fire to warm chilly faces and hands.   Other than dodging the constant threat of snowballs flying through the air...from every direction...and one never knew when an unceremonious slush missile would find its mark...right down the back of your coat... The best part, of course, was all the horse fun...      And more sledding behind the horse...    Too much fun...and our second year to join in on what's now becoming an annual party event. Nothing like horses, sledding, and lots of toasted marshmallows to make us a bit regretful at the thought of kissing good-bye to winter! More finds for late winter fun! Mt. Desert Island 02/11/2010
 A couple of weeks ago we decided to take a 'detour' to Mt. Desert Island. It's quiet and remote and essentially uninhabited this time of year. In other words, our kind of place! We stopped at Sand Beach and climbed up a path that led to an overlook on the cliff in the background. The temp was around 8 degrees F ...no idea what the windchill was...but the view out over the ocean was worth every minute of frozen faces, feet, and hands!       My son and I decided to ford this stream by jumping it. He fared better than I did. The sand gave way just as I leaped and...well...you get the idea. My hip found the rocks...my foot found the water...but I'll take a giant purple bruise to a refreshing arctic bath any day!  Up the path to an overlook...    A woodpecker's hole in a hollowed out tree...  A gorgeous maze of granite rock...boulders... weathered smooth on the beach   Young Andrew was thrilled to be following the map into all these new locations...and especially thrilled to find so many signs and roads dedicated to bikes. His dream is to make bike routes...just like roads...with exits, and exit ramps, and signage...the whole deal!  A lovely house we passed as we wandered the roads circling the island...I adore this pale green with red and white trim...   And the beautiful old Inn overlooking the ocean in Bar Harbor... but our favorite part was wandering the frozen icicle and snow encrusted beauty of beach and cliffs.  On Hold 02/07/2010
 We're off to a sledding party this afternoon. Our neighbors assure us that they have enough snow for it! We really don't at the moment...ever since the 'big melt' we got a couple of weeks ago...just after I took these photos of perfect snow conditions. So we're on hold. The snow shoes are parked...and the XC skis are resting on the rail....waiting...   waiting...for more of this...this white stuff! Those skis in their repose are way more patient than we are. We know our winter wonderland is only for a time. And now is the time!  Road Trippin' 11/02/2009
 I thought I'd share with you a few photos from our road trip down to Portland this past week...quite Fall-ish, Autumn-ish, misty and overcast. But we're snug in the minivan...cruising...magazine in my lap...hot pumpkin spice Starbucks misto in my hand....life ain't too shab...   Once in Portland, we made our requisite stops...then headed down by the water front. The kids were ecstatic to find that a Norwegian cruise ship was parked in the harbor...   This is especially cool for us because the small power hearth units that we just got...and will be selling are about to be implemented on the Norwegian cruise ships. Yay Norway!! They'll be using the waste on the ships as fuel to supplement the ship's electricity. You Norwegians are such trend-setters!  Now we're off to Fort Allen Park to let the children run off some steam...eat some sliced turkey wraps...and let Mommy soak in the scenes overlooking the harbor. I do love these old homes that look out across the bay...     Sorry these shots are a bit blurry...rapidly losing my light of day. I just picked up a 'new' skirt at the thrift store...and finally found my long lost mary janes...that I haven't seen since we left Texas. Hi mary janes! I've missed you! : D  Maple's Good Morning 10/29/2009
 Heather brought Maple up...she felt that she wanted to wish everyone a lovely Good Morning... or Bon Jour!   "Cluck, Cluck....Brrrrrahck" For those of you who speak chicken-talk! : D  |  Spring Forth!
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