I Smell a Rat

I Smell a Rat

This morning the kitties were intently focused on something out the window. Upon closer inspection I found the source of their fascination. Letting the kitties outside could be the answer to our rat problem. (Do you see the rat standing against the porch post?) Truth...
Roo’s Amazing Meatball Subs

Roo’s Amazing Meatball Subs

This is vacation week and sadly, we’ve all been a bit under the weather. Hannah and Paul have “The Crud” for the second time around and I’ve finally succumbed. Needless to say we haven’t been doing a lot of fun vacationy kinds of things...
Another Weekend, Another Blizzard

Another Weekend, Another Blizzard

If it’s the weekend, it must be snowing – at least that’s what it seems like lately. Although the ducks didn’t mind and protested as darkness loomed and it was time to head in for the night.
What are the Odds?

What are the Odds?

Paul and I shopped separately for our Valentine’s gifts for Hannah. What are the odds we both end up giving her the same card? Purchased in another town? Hope you spend Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart!
Silhouette of Purfessor Snape

Silhouette of Purfessor Snape

Purfessor Snape in silhouette on a snowy day studying the goings on outside. Once a feral kitten, I hope he’s thinking how lucky he is to be on the inside looking out during this blizzard and how fortunate he is to have us as his humans. In all reality...
Frosty Morning on the Machias River

Frosty Morning on the Machias River

This view of the Machias River in Whitneyville, Maine is responsible for me being late to work today. It was simply stunning. I all but stopped on the bridge to look at the view. I continued on, then I stopped and turned around and went back. I parked the car in the...
Snow and Shadow

Snow and Shadow

A walk through virgin snow. Click on the thumbnails for a larger view. Shadow of faded flowers. Shadow of summer chairs. Critter tracks and tunnel. Forgotten rosemary. The shadows of Silver Maples. Snow covered moss. Frosty seed pods. Barren potato basket. Faded...
Nemo and the Aftermath

Nemo and the Aftermath

We survived Blizzard Nemo. It snowed and the wind howled for the better part of 24 hours. As a result of the high winds it’s hard to tell how much snow fell. In some areas it’s up to your hips, in others your knees. I cannot remember such a ferocious storm...
Where in Nemo is Downeast Thunder Farm?

Where in Nemo is Downeast Thunder Farm?

There’s no way you could have missed the talk of the Nor’easter named Nemo heading toward the Northeast. It seems like every time I turn the news on, the projected snowfall has risen by an inch. Here’s a snapshot to show where we are in this mess. We...
Clever Use for Modern Technology

Clever Use for Modern Technology

Hannah, age 13, has an email account. It’s rarely used. In my ongoing effort to watch over her and keep her safe online, incoming messages are copied to my email box. Midday, I saw a message allegedly from her arrive in her inbox and took a peak. The message was...
Uninvited Guests

Uninvited Guests

Feeding the birds this winter has resulted in some uninvited guests. I’m careful about putting out suet before the bears hibernate. From time to time our neighbors’ feeders are raided by black bears. We’ve yet to have the pleasure. I like to think it’s the Ginger...
Winding Down

Winding Down

Tonight was bittersweet. Junior High basketball season (dubbed the craziest season of all) is all but over. The girls played (and won) their last regular season game at home tonight. The eighth-grade players (all three of them) presented their mothers with flowers. A...
Skating is Not Like Riding a Bike

Skating is Not Like Riding a Bike

The last time I went ice skating I was a freshman in high school in Fairfax, Virginia. On Friday nights our parents would carpool the group of us girls to the rink where we’d make the circuit, gossiping and scoping out the boys. I did pretty good on the skates...
Groundhog Day and Reminiscing

Groundhog Day and Reminiscing

It’s a little known fact that I was born in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania, home to my paternal grandparents and where my father was raised. Growing up the daughter of an Army officer, we moved every 1-3 years for much of my childhood. Most vacations were spent...
A Wild and Windy Day

A Wild and Windy Day

Some weird weather blew through today. Heavy winds with gusts up to 60 mph sounded like a non-stop freight train. The wind seemed to come at the house from all directions rattling soffits and windows, downing trees, and redistributing anything not nailed down. Work...