The ice is in

Oh, nuts.

Guest blogger

Hi Papa!
I'm tracking santa at the moment and he seems to have delivered 3,430,837,935 gifts already! He's flying over the Czech Republic. How are things up in Maine? I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!
Sam

Brunch

Yesterday we hosted a neighborhood brunch for people to meet the newest residents of Doubling Point Road. In the picture to the left, they represent the youth on the block.
We are fortunate in our neighbors. Everyone seems to get along pretty well (and get along in years, as well) and we have a pleasant life with a bit of socializing thrown in.
Many thanks to Hannah for food prep and hosting, and to our bartenders, Emily and Gregg.

Tack the halls...

 A trip to Big Lots and a disbursement of $22.50 (ALL XMAS DECORATIONS HALF PRICE) brought us a friendly deer family: two does and a fawn (the stag was off rutting, I believe). One of the does swivels its head. They are just awesome. Cars slow to a crawl as they pass. Drivers puke out the Together with Grandma's lit tree and the jolly lights framing our front porch, we are a sight for the neighborhood, which otherwise is as dark as the nether regions. Come on, people!

Traveling around looking at lights on Christmas Eve used to be a family tradition. That is, until two years ago, when Jonas would not even look out the car window. Think what he missed. Stubborn young man. Holy mackerel. On the other hand, I am cheered that the banner of The Grinch will be raised high long after Papa is gone. Season's Greetings, everyone.

Death to the invader

Yesterday Grandma found a dead chickadee inside the green bird feeder. :(    Sic transit gloria mundi. On the other hand, Ms. Sharpears heard a FLYING SQUIRREL in the old familiar wall cavity the other night. The trap was set, and, just at midnight, FLOP! SCRAPE! BANG! was heard. "You'll have to get that thing, or else I will have to move downstairs," was the rallying cry. So the Great White Hunter got a pail of water, pulled out trap+squirrel and immersed same, and put the bucket in the vestibule, where it remains for a time as we watch the yard fill up with snow.
By the way, if you want to see a prime enabler of gun violence, just click here. Thank you, as always, Hillaire Belloc.

The humbug season

So far, the season has started quietly. Grandma put the lights on the little--but growing-- tree at the end of the driveway, and across the porch. Used to be Papa's chore, but things do change. And now the inside tree is up and being decorated as I write. Bah.

Yesterday Grandma and Molly took the boys on the Candy Cane train from Bath to Wiscasset, which features Santa Claus, stories, and cheerleaders as the elves. Very Maine. And that reminds me, it is time for the Maine Christmas carol. You'll remember this, right?
Bob Marley's "Christmas in Maine."

The Kennebec Sea Serpent

Wow! Good thing Woonie is not with us any more. She would go WOOO WOOO WOOO all day long.
Our tides are very high with the new moon.

A novel idea
With a long winter ahead, I am thinking about resuming work on one of the two noevls I started some years ago. Not sure if this is a good idea. Please see KalkTalk.

We're not usually like this

Noting some surface rips in our living room rug this morning, we measured the rug, and the bedroom, and the loft, and decided to take some steps. Off we went to Durfee's and looked at their rugs. There was one online on their website that we liked better than the many rugs they have upstairs, and we decided to order it. The living room rug will move upstairs, and the loft rug into our bedroom. This will be a gain all around.
But who would have thought that two curmudgeons could move so swiftly... and in concert, too?
Sometimes retirement is interesting. Yes, that's the new rug on the left.

Sunday

Yesterday morning we scaled Higgins Mountain, the highest peak in the Georgetown range, on our way to a delightful brunch at the McIlvains. The souffle was memorable, and preceded a tour of the enhanced sculpture gardens.
Later, the Eagles won, holy mackerel.
At 5 we walked in the cold dark to Mrs. Ceruti's original house, now occupied by Jeff and Karen, excellent new neighbors. Our other new neighbors, Jamie and Sawyer, were there, too. We feel the neighborhood is in very good shape, and we are especially glad for some (relative) youth among us.

The dynamics of razors and blades

How irritating to pay $1.70 for a razor blade that can't cost a quarter to make. When Andrea worked for Gillette she gave us blades, but mine are about gone by now (of course, I have a Norelco to explain why they lasted so long; also, I'm cheap). Flying back from NOLA, I saw in Sky Mall that I could get two "Blade Buddies" for the cost of one -- $26. They looked like little baby skatepark ramps, and claimed to extend blade life indefinitely. Hmmm. So, there must be even a cheaper way. Off to YouTube, where I found several good ideas. I tried this yesterday on a worn-out blade, and it worked just fine: the blade was renewed. So easy.
Some will say that it takes a very small mind to be interested in razor blades. And they would be on the right track. On the other hand, there is an important general principle here, or maybe two. Aside from examining the familiar business model of cheap razor/expensive blades, which (in the case of Gillette) turns out to be, historically, a myth, we should consider how many items in our lives we can renew instead of replace.

Les bon temps

We had a wonderful trip to New Orleans and now are back in gray old Maine, where at least we missed the cold snap. It was 70 or so in NOLA and a joy to be outdoors. Last year we visited the Botanical Gardens and saw them stringing Christmas lights for a big show that started Dec. 1, after we had left. So this year we did make it to Celebration in the Oaks in City Park, and it was spectacular, just magic for kids. And we heard lots of music, and saw a parade (not a very good one, but we did catch beads), and walked and walked and walked. But the best part of New Orleans is always the food, and we did perhaps a little too much along those lines this year. But WOW was it good. Short video is forthcoming.

NOLA

Despite a 2 hour delay at Logan, we made our DFW connection and arrived on time last night. A couple of po'boys later, we passed a peaceful night and awoke to a sunny, warm day. It will be in the low 70s while we are here. Eat your hearts out, Maine, while we dine on crawfish etoufee and shrimp 'n grits.

Serenity

Ah, how peaceful to go to sleep at a reasonable hour and not be concerned about how the Eagles' game is going to come out... because we KNOW. And now that we are assured, barring insanity, that there will be a coach next season, the rest of the Sundays are now liberated, too.
Is there one of those brainwashing camps to purge people of pro football compulsions? If so, what is the menu?

Evening

A beautiful evening, calm on the river, fire in the stove, football on the TV -- what more could one wish, with winter ahead?

Do the Twist

We had the boys today, and here is part of the action. Jonas credits the Bowdoin Day Camp for his tutelage. Not sure where Grandma got those moves.
Dance lesson for all of us!

Stealth?

Bath Iron Works is building a Zumwalt Class DDG1000 "stealth" destroyer. It will be wicked expensive and wicked powerful and fast. The Navy does not want anyone to know much about it. Therefore, BIW does not release any information about the construction of this ship. However, our keen local eyes yesterday spotted the 7-story-high deck house of the ship being pulled up the river on a barge. It was majestic as it was slowly towed up by the Winslow tugs. It came from Mississippi, and just possibly others have seen it, too. I sent the pic to the Times-Record, but I'm sure their security is tight.

Four Quartets

Having very briefly touched upon T.S. Eliot's long poem "Four Quartets" in my Midcoast Senior College course, five of us from the course, which ended last week, attended a recital from memory of the poem at the Skidompha (gotta love it) Library in Damariscotta last night. There are about 1000 lines in this poem, and the actor who had memorized them was perfect. He is a nice fella and the display was awesome. He is coming to Philadelphia soon (http://quintessencetheatre.org/?p=906) if folks there would like to check him out. You'd better look at the poem first, as it is not to all tastes.
So much for literature until next fall.

Radon

Having heard about Nancy's house  being flooded with radon gas, we tested our basement with a First Alert kit. The results, 2.7 pCi/L, were OK, but bear watching, and so today I foamed shut the drain in the floor, which has never been used, except by chipmunks (R.I.P.) and will test again. Apparently, radon is worse in Maine than in other places, and it does not, after all, emanate from granite always, as I had thought. Good idea to read this  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/rad/radon/documents/2011%20tipsheet%201.pdf and to test your house.

Andover

This weekend we went to Andover, where I am now on the Alumni Council. It was an excellent experience, highlighted by talks by Peter Sellars and the new school head, John Palfrey. At the general meeting of the council I found myself at the next-to-oldest buzzard table!
The whole gang stayed in Carlisle and assembled on Saturday for the football game with Exeter, at Andover. It was a beautiful day, and in the 3rd quarter a hugely underdog Andover team led 9-6, but as you can see from the long faces of the faithful spectators to the right, the lead did not hold, and Exeter squeaked out a 35-9 victory. Oh, well.

A new dawn

Angus had a large, enthusiastic party at the Hilton in Freeport. Just the way I like it, the race was called for Angus at 8:18, and he came in to speak about 8:45. Even in my poor cell phone snap to the right, you can see how happy he is. Me, too. Apparently I made a cameo on the Channel 6 newscast, seen by Em and Moll.

It was a grand night, after all.

Election Day

A cold election day, with a large turnout expected in Maine. I will not be at the polls, having voted "absentee" quite a while ago. Apparently lots of people are doing this, although at least in Arrowsic, it makes extra work for the clerks. But since Toby said it was all right, I did it. Grandma is tending the polls at the Town Hall, as always.
Previously, I had thought of leaving the country for election day, but gradually I realized that was a bit extreme. And where to go? One would have to go very far to be out of reach of the media. Newspapers all around the world have sections on the American election, and interest is high. Most of what I read from abroad are expressions of amazement and dismay about the American electorate, so benighted as to give a liar without portfolio a decent shot at becoming president. That, I understand.
So I will take Angus up on his offer and celebrate what what seems a sure win in Freeport.

Beach

A clear early November day, and we had a brisk walk at Reid State Park with the Quattlebaums. Then Molly sprinted the length of the mile beach to find us. Lovely day!
Marnie drove down to Connecticut to help Julie sort out Maryett Cale's possessions. Maryett passed away just two days short of her 100th birthday.
Today Ed, Ruth, and I toured the Farnsworth Museum and lunched well in Rockland.

Arrogance

One of the participants in my Senior College course said to me, "I know this is arrogant, but how can people with any intelligence, or who need government help vote Republican?" No answer from me. I do wonder. I do not know personally anyone except Bruce Poliquin who would support the policies espoused by the present-day "Republican" party. Those policies are mean. Pull up the drawbridge: I've got mine. The really sad thing in this state is to see the racist comments on the side of garages. Well, we get what we are. And, if we don't do something, we deserve it. I can't blame it on Fox News or the pudgy pill-popper on radio. People have to learn to think. That's so hard, isn't it? So what we get is the spineless excrescence to the left. Barf.

Happy Halloween

The storm, such as it was, is past. We didn't have any damage here at the Crotch. Apparently, setting up the generator and pitchers of water sent the wind away to lash and bash elsewhere.
It is remarkable how this weather event is apparently able to outplay two billion dollars of ad money in the election. Whether or not it will really make any difference, who knows? But it is a lovely distraction.
For some time I have dreaded election night, and have thought of departing for foreign climes. However, having received an invitation to watch election returns at Angus King HQ in Freeport, I am thinking, why not go with a winner? Then come home and go to sleep.
Yes, that's my jack o'lantern to the right. My real hope was to put an LED candle into the mouth of Jonas... now there would be a REAL jack o'lantern! Anyway, I have baked the seeds. They're not as good as Molly's or Bart's, but they are pretty tasty nonetheless.

Here Comes the Storm

Maybe. There have been so many false alarms that it is hard to fear catastrophe. Indeed, we have been very fortunate not to be in the vortex of any of the bad weather... for quite a while. Perhaps it is our turn. Anyway, we have gas for the generator, all batteries and computers are charged up, and we are battened down. Even now, Grandma is picking the tomatoes that have not yet ripened, and putting them into a paper bag.
It is Sunday, and the Eagles are getting trashed. This pleases me somewhat, as it makes it much more likely that the coaching will change. On the other hand, if the fat fella with the bristly mustache remains, Sundays will be liberated for more productive activities. All good, right?

Sea Smoke

Another beautiful morning, almost freezing but not quite. Our volunteer tomatoes, prolific this summer, are still producing. Next year I will plant only compost.
Yesterday we went with the McIlvains and orange-clad Dodger to Hermit Island for a walk. It was gorgeous and almost deserted. Only after we returned did we find, online, a map that would have been helpful in navigating the island beyond the campground. However, Betsy's used John iPhone to help us orient somewhat. Great spot.

Autumn

The maple leaves are down, and the oaks are coming at their usual slow pace. But the colors, though not as vivid as in some years, were very long-lasting. Seasons seem stretched out this year. I hope that winter will be an exception, although forecasts say it will be a cold one.
We raked up most of the pine needles last week, and today I will use the power mower to mulch and collect the leaves that are down. The final stage won't happen for a couple of weeks, when we rake up the remaining leaves and dump them on Ben's logs. Ah, fall.

Last Boothbay trip

With our boats solidly on land and covered by tarps, we took a final trip to Boothbay Harbor with the McIlvains in Ardea. Most of the restaurants are closed now, but there was a tour group in town and the stores were doing some business. We lunched at the Ebb Tide, which had the feel of an old diner, very cozy and with good food. Although I thought we hadn't boated much this summer, we did a lot more than John and Betsy, and actually, we got around pretty well, although we never went to Bowdoinham or Casco Bay. Next year for that.

BOOM

We had an earthquake! First since 1940 in Maine. I see, however, that Alaska had SIX quakes yesterday (and you can see Russia from there!). Anyway, Grandma heard the runup to it, and then we heard and felt the BOOM. I went outside to see what had fallen, but of course nothing had. Word got out soon thereafter.
Also BOOM was OBOOMa in the second debate last night. He felt the power. Watching the debate, something I normally hate, was a lot more fun than watching the Eagles or Patriots.

Contempt

Part of the American myth is the belief that our heroes can always rise to the challenge. We expect so much. If those whom we hold dear fall short through lack of effort or commitment, what we feel is not disappointment, but contempt... because, after all, they are not worthy. Hence the vituperation that befalls the Eagles and the Patriots, who could not hold onto normally safe leads on Sunday.

Hence also the problem for Barack Obama. By giving a lot less than we thought was his best in the first debate with a punching bag Romney, he earned not disappointment, but contempt. Although the press had ballyhooed the importance of the debate, Obama apparently thought otherwise. Thus many turned away from him, and made themselves see in his flyweight opponent something of value: conviction. Romney is convinced that he will and should win the election, and he believes that it is a good thing to lie if that helps. Not to call Romney on his immorality may cost Obama the White House because he did not rise to the challenge.

Let There be Light

We now have new lights in the pantry and bathroom. The old ones were more attractive, but attraction is not the central function of flush ceiling lights, and the old ones had the old-style florescent tubes + ballast system that was very balky in the cold weather and hard to replace. The other changes are happening outside. Strong winds have pulled down most of the brown pine needles, and thus we are in the first stage of clean-up. It has been a pretty fall, but tonight comes the first frost. Brrrrr ahead.

Belgrade

On Columbus Day we drove via back roads to Belgrade Lakes. Although the leaves were just a bit past peak, it was a beautiful day, just cool enough so we could hike The Mountain, picnic on Blueberry Hill, and then get some spectacular views from French's Mountain. We stayed at the Village Inn, where we dined on duck. It was an excellent meal, and we were not quite the only diners. We were, however, the only overnighters after a very busy weekend at the inn. Our picnic came from Day's Store, which is a gem. A fine trip at just the right time. Here's a video.

Football

Yesterday we watched the Polar Bears of Bowdoin hand Tufts their 18th straight loss. Both teams used the modern execrable offense called the "pistol" or "pissant" offense. It seemed, on the Bowdoin side, like a bad waste of talent.
And speaking of that, today, having watched Mike Vick cough the ball up four times, we saw Peyton Manning perform, for a rotten team, his magic. Now, he could have played for the Eagles. He could have. But no. Andy Reid, the mustachioed bozo who gets a lot of breaks but not enough to overcome his coaching (should be hyphens there but whatever) invested his whole fat heart in Michael Vick's redemption. The media often refers to the walrus look-alike as "stubborn." That isn't it. Stubborn really means stupid. Yet, I'm not sure that's it. He is, more properly put, slow-witted. Very slow-witted. Slower than molasses. Slower than erosion. Slower than me running the 100. Go away, mustache.

A beach day

The promised sunny day never arrived, but we took Nancy to Reid anyway. I can't remember when weather forecasts have been so consistently wrong here in Maine. On the other hand, it was a lovely summer, so no complaints. As I write this on an early Saturday, the sun is out, and the fall colors are beautiful.

Fungus among us

Well, there's no drought here. We have mushrooms all over the lawn facing the river. There are more each morning. They are all the same kind; as Grandma says, "No penis mushrooms this year!" It would be nice to know if they are edible, but we are not taking any chances.
Thanks to Andrea and Bart, we had a lovely dinner last night at BLUE, in Grey Havens. However, the chowder, so excellent in the summer, was pasty and tasteless. All else excellent, though, and it is a wonderful spot.

Boats hauled

We pulled the Whaler today, in the rain. Yesterday we tooted downriver, but we had fuel line problems (for the first time all summer) and limped home. Thus pulling it today was palatable, especially with some more rain coming up. It was not a bad boating summer: we got to Boothbay several times, up to Richmond, and out to Damariscove. However, I do think these last few summers have featured rougher seas than we saw in previous years.
Let's see what a weak El Nino does to our winter.

Pluvius - whovious?

It rained all weekend, but our social life whirled. On Saturday we traveled to Cape Elizabeth to dine in the new condo of Al and Linda Carville, and with Gregg and Em, who were late coming off the water. Then on Sunday we were expecting our friends Dave and Dana Hirth to come to lunch from Cliff Island, but their doggie was ill. So we hosted the McGraths and Anita instead, and then invited our new neighbors (well, four houses down) for a bit of wine. Both of them are lawyers.
And news, holy mackerel! the Post Cards have offered the keeper's house next door to the Range Light Keepers. We had gotten used to the property sitting empty, but now perhaps something will become of it. Stay tuned.
And if you have not been following the Quattleblog, please note where much of the material is coming from!

Flat again

Where and when will we have the third flat tire? This morning Grandma was driving to town when a nail intruded into her left rear tire. AAA was more helpful to her than to me, and she had the flat repaired at Skip Cahill's in Bath. How odd the coincidence.
I pulled the mooring this morning with no trouble. Although the chain had wrapped around the anchor shank a bit, the 3/8" chain came loose easily. Lacking the extra 20 feet of 1/4" chain turned out to be a good thing, as the mooring weathered 40 MPH winds without moving. Good placement by Em and Gregg.
A gloomy weekend is on the way, but the leaves are turning at last and we might enjoy glory next week.

Pfui

So says Nero Wolfe, and so say I. We hauled Autumn yesterday from the south Bath boat launch...after splicing the trailer lights. On Route 1 just before Brunswick, I felt a bump and saw the right side of the trailer bounding a bit. When I pulled off into the  deserted Pancho Villa parking lot, I noticed the right trailer tire was ripped and deflating. Lucky to get that far. Anyway, a better spot than the Interstate where Bart and I suffered a trailer flat transporting the catboat to Essington on a Sunday. A friendly service manager at Bodwells lent me a lug wrench and jack and soon the spare was on and we were off to Strout's. More adventures on the way home, perhaps, as the lights aren't working right still. We shall see. Pfui.

Hannah was here

When Hannah was here in July, she planted some seeds behind the bunkhouse and in front of the outhouse. Although she thought they might not bloom until next year, as you can see, they have done better than that. We are grateful for her green thumb. And summer still rolls along, defying my previous post.

Summer's end

At last the trees are starting to show some color, much later than in any other year I can remember. The mornings are crisper: today we had out first fire in the woodstove. Autumn's last voyage will be either today or Sunday afternoon before she is hauled on Monday morning.
What a long and pleasant summer this has been. In the true GOP spirit of I got mine and screw the rest of youse, we welcome Climate Change.

Miss Movietime returns

 Musing on the paucity of information in our local paper, the Times-Record, I recalled my summer as a copyboy for the Camden Courier-Post, which I see is still in business, remarkably. I guess we have Cherry Hill to thank for that.

There were three of us copyboys. I was 16 that summer, and Brian was a couple of years older. His sister was in my class, he lived in the sticks toward Mt. Laurel, and was a stolid, unimaginative fellow. At the other extreme was Bob, who was 20, an Italian fellow with a lot to say and a great spirit of adventure. Bob liked to pull pranks on Brian, and some of them were excellent without being especially harmful, as Brian was a bit slow to figure things out.
Bob was generous with his car and fairly often we went out after work to see what was happening around the Delaware Valley. There were not many serious bones in Bob's body, but I always remembered one thing he told me about girls. "Look at her mother," he advised. "That's what she's gonna look like in 30 years." I retained this sound advice, and applied it. So, apparently, did my sons-in-law.

If you don't remember Miss Movietime, let her rest in peace.

Anniversary

This is Bart and Andrea's 16th wedding anniversary. We can always remember the number, because they are 30 years behind us and will not catch up soon. Memories from the wedding are fresh and enjoyable, like Ema and Aba in the limo and Pete dancing up a storm. So much has changes, so many passages. Happy Anniversary, and many many more.

Here at the Crotch we have been poking around and enjoying the best weather of the year. On Wednesday we rode across lumpy but pleasant seas to Damariscove, then in to Boothbay for lunch. The town was crowded with lunchers, waits at all eateries. Eventually we saw why: six large tourist coaches lining the street. Lotsa retired folks. Ah, that's us, too.

Relaxation

The days are finally becoming fall-like and the languid hours of summer seem to be slipping away. However,the leaves have not yet turned, although by now they are usually brightly colored. What a long summer we have had! We hope to do more boating in between the fall chores, and stretch it out while we can.
A great deal of time on the composting toilet may bring good results. The drain was not working, but seems to be, now. Also, it is always helpful to review the directions.

Pickled

About ten days ago I started making kefir. In the old USSR in 1985 the kefir was horribly sour and bitter, but powerful against digestive problems.  At the other extreme is the sugary stuff you can buy at the store. But the real stuff I have made is pleasant tasting as well as potent. I have also begun pickling our garden produce and the Maqoit cucumbers. All of this is simple, cheap, and very healthy. And just a bit Aba, might you say?

End of an Era

Not really an era, I guess, but today the final Arleigh Burke class destroyer, the Michael Murphy, headed down the Kennebec and out to sea. Many were on hand to see it, and we took Malcolm and two of his guests on Autumn.
BIW is now building superstealth destroyers. Probably they will be wearing disguises as they cruise silently to the sea.
It's always a thrill to see a BIG SHIP!

Autumn is here

Fog this morning and a bit of a chill... but then out came the sun and summer was back.

Em, Gregg, and I put in a mooring on the other side of Koofis Isle and Autumn is now on it. How long it will last, who knows.

We had a small, select Labor Day party. Oh, so quiet!

Into the Woods

With the families from Carlisle and Brunswick doing some heavy hauling, we added lots of dead wood to Ben's logs. The back 9 is much clearer than before, and, although there is much left to be done, "Porcupine Paath" looks much better than it did two days ago.
Things went well for a while, too, on the water, as Toby, Sam, and Suzanne tubed behind the Whaler. Bart and I used an underwater video camera to see that the mooring was caught on a huge rock. But I guess the mooring felt its privacy had been invaded, as this morning it cut Autumn loose, and she is now tied to Andrea Hansen's dock, while the two chains and steel mooring mushroom remain forever on the bottom.

Wildlife

Recently we have had quite a bit of nocturnal activity. The folks in the bunkhouse were serenaded at close range the other night by a barred owl (who cooks for yoooou), and we have heard coyote yips and howls. Andrea Hansen has seen a healthy pair of coyotes between her house and the water, as well as on the road. Andrea also reports fox whelps being raised in her yard. The turkey fleet has diminished to a single bird. Red squirrels are not plentiful anymore (whoops...might be another reason for that). We have seen very few deer this summer, despite the mild winter. Perhaps the coyotes have been at work on the herd.

Chaika

Chaika spent the week sharing the mooring with Autumn, but she was very active, as indicated in an earlier post. Today, she headed downriver, loaded with her family, who cruised Casco Bay and brought her to her home off Maquoit Drive in Freeport. There she will be available to the Carlisle clan, as well as to Em and Gregg, who will be responsible for her winter well-being. Seems like a very good deal for everyone.
Her new 150 HP E-Tec engine is very quiet!

KinderWhatever

Sometimes, with many weasels in a small space, it is not so easy to carry on life as usual. Perhaps this is a good thing. In any case, we have gone back to school here at the Crotch, and our former dining room table is just fine for crafts and games.
This weekend, while Bart and Andrea are in Camden, hootin' and hollerin', we have split up the grandkids with Em and thus are being conquered more slowly.
We love it.

Fort Popham

Sam digs while Jonas thinks deep thoughts

Our Carlisle family is spending two weeks with us in Maine. Yesterday we drove two cars down to Popham, and the kids played in the water and on the beach. Lunch at a picnic table; Papa under a beach umbrella; exploration of rocks.
The weather has been excellent. Bart and his family have made good use of Chaika, including trips to Five Islands, Boothbay Harbor, and a circumnavigation on Arrowsic Island. Today they boat up to the library in Bath for some cerebration.

Off to the Cape

Looking out from the Pilgrim Monument

On Sunday we drove to visit the Quattlebaums in Eastham on Cape Cod. The occasion was our joint 46th anniversary, which we celebrated on Monday with a superb dinner at The Mews in Provincetown. We had a most pleasant visit and learned that if you drive at the right time, there is no problem driving to the Cape. It took just under four hours. Of course, on Massachusetts roads, anything can happen. Today we came back to Maine and a full house. Kim was home with Jonas and Maggie, and shortly Chaika pulled in with the rest of the Carlisle gang. Bye bye adult time!

The Old Goat

Finally a fine, sunny day, and we took Autumn uprivah for the first time all summer. Anita, Molly, and the two McGrath utes came along up to Richmond. We lunched at The Old Goat, a great favorite of ours, and found that Scott serves great pizza as well as the traditional paninis. We also found the Goat occupied by a young man, alone at a table, making merry and trying to pick up chicks.

Turnover

When an Arrowsician proposed a town propane co-op, we jumped on board. Our former supplier had consistently charged us at least 10% above the state average and, when queried, said, "Well, we're a full-service company!" Yuh. So we now pay 38% less than before and have a gleaming new tank.
Too bad for the pachysandra, but they will recover. After all, each winter they have tons of snow piled on them.

Living on the river

Here at Fiddler's Crotch, we see some wonderful sights on the Kennebec. Destroyers, built just upriver at the Bath Iron Works, seem to fill the river as they return from sea trials. And every once in a while, we get a real treat, like today's sighting of the Pride of Baltimore, heading down to the sea.

Creativity

Papa and Grandma are grateful to have grandchildren with active and whimsical minds, whose parents have encouraged their creativity as well as limited the passive activities that consume many kiddies today.  The inventiveness and originality that bubbles out of these six children is a very great delight.
An example to the left: Jonas at work with MSPaint on Papa's computer -- another part of his Space Odyssey, I believe.
Jonas loves to climb on rocks and is very fond of "karens." When I asked him to design and create a cairn on a stump by our newly-planted viburnum bush, he produced (in about 90 seconds) this:

Son of FCJ

We have had many thrilling, even hair-raising adventures in Maine, as typified in the image to the right. We have decided to chronicle these, in brief form, in another blog. Any comments and suggestions are welcome, as are new destinations to which we might direct our high-energy attention.
The blog is just begun, and available to discerning viewers at http://maineonenighters.blogspot.com/.
More to come, perhaps.

A couple of Utes

While their parents boogied the night away in Portland, Jonas and Owen came to visit. We went to Bath in the Boston Whaler and made full use of the beautiful new city park, and then -- guess what! Brackett's Market just happened to have the very same ice pops as those Warriner brought to Molly's beach party!

Beforehand, there were some vicious high jinks around the capacious Olympic swimming pool.

Heat and light

It has been a hot summer, but oppressive only on a few days. One of those was yesterday. However, we dealt the heat a blow by boating to Boothbay Harbor with Emily. Once again the fish sandwich at Andrew's Harborside was a winner. After dinner the sky turned yellow. This phenomenon is fairly rare, but it is spectacular.
This is one of the busiest summers we can remember, with people coming and going and lots to do, always. We had Betsy Henderson, her husband David Wofford, and children Cole and Ian here for Wednesday night, but missed connecting with the VanHooks, who had travel delays. All Hendersons are meeting at the Pressmans' in Sargentville. Quite the zoo, I imagine!

North Haven

On Monday we took the ferry to North Haven Island and checked into Nebo Lodge. It was a perfect day, gentle breeze, no clouds. However, we put it to the test by cycling all over the place, with only one fall and no blood. We especially enjoyed the climb to and view from Ames Knob -- a panorama of the Fox Islands and the Thoroughfare. Dinner at Nebo Lodge was very good, though not worth raving about, as others have done on Trip Advisor. But it is a lovely place, and we enjoyed it very much.
On the way home we found a neat harborside eatery in Thomaston, called the Slipway. Fabulous.

The Olympics are here

Whoopee! And what a dynamic start they had! The first gold medal went to a Chinese air rifle markswoman. Why isn't our USA BB gun team up to it? Probably bad training. After all, it takes years and years of workouts to be able to pull that trigger. Do the "athletes" have to cock the gun, too? Or does someone do it for them? But we won a gold medal, too! Kim Rhode shot the lights out of clay pigeons! What a performance! See how fit she is!
Unfortunately, wimpy sports like lacrosse are not fit for the Olympics. The IOC defends the faith, and politics play no part in their drive to keep the Games free of new non-trashsport offerings. Here is a list of sports that have been tried and rejected:

* croquet
* motor boating
* polo
* tug-of-war
* plunge for distance
* underwater swimming
* obstacle race for swimming
* cricket
* lacrosse
* jeu de paume
* racquets

OK: "jeu de palme" is handball without a wall. And lacrosse was rejected because it has a French name... wait, don't all the public utterances of the IOC come in French and English? Must be that lacrosse is too sissy. No one can shoot a lacrosse ball as fast as a BB.
Yes, I despise the Olympics. No... wait: I love the Olympics! See my link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzQxfr1VOWk

Bye bye Hannah

Hannah leaves today, after brightening our lives for almost two weeks. Owen will be devastated. The gardens may shrivel back to their former selves. The bunkhouse will languish, unloved.
However, while she was here, Hannah did put a dent in Maine's seafood supply. Her Last Supper was at Gurnet Trading Company, some really great fried clams, and a disappointing (compared to their winter variety) seafood chowder.
It has been a great summer for eating lobster, though not so good for those who trap them.

The power boater's delight

Chaika was launched with her new E-Tec engine on Saturday. When Bart turned the key, she fired immediately. Ah, bliss!

And the band played on

On Saturday, Hannah had a "surprise" party at the Crotch. Not too many surprises, but a good time was had by all, as friends from Hannah's past (and present) gathered with family to eat, drink, and play games, not necessarily in that order.

The weather was perfect and the company starred. The hit of the day was a RAP put on by Suzanne and her siblings, with Sam as beatboxer. The fans howled in appreciation.

Happy Birthday!

Hannah's birthday came yesterday, a milestone but underplayed. Except that we had a grand lobsterfest at Five Islands, where Dave, Connie, and Abby, up from Philadelphia by train and car, arrived just after we did. The lobsters took a beating.

Hannah has been here since Monday. Our grounds and good spirits are much the better for her visit. And lately, the weather has been superb.