On The Road with Tom and Christine

A Valentine For My Love And Company From The Frozen Tundra

2012-02-05T11:08:00.001-06:00

Our daughter comes up with great holiday decorating ideas and shares them with me. This year for Valentines Day we made chair envelopes to collect our love notes for family members. So simple to make and so darn cute!

Thursday evening we got a call from our next door neighbors in Wisconsin saying that they had had enough of the snow and they had pointed the car in our direction. Saturday they showed up and we had a great visit with them. Welcome to sunshine and blue skies. Chuck and Mary are loving it.

Today (Sunday) I am working at the Farm Museum quilt show in Dade City and tonight we are hosting a Super Bowl party. We'll be sporting green and gold in honor of our Packers who should be there this year. I made a new recipe from Jacque Pepin called Puerto Rican Pork and Beans. It's served our rice and it is making our house smell delicious!

Busch Gardens

2012-02-05T10:54:00.001-06:00

We bought a fun pass for Busch gardens so we could get to the music concerts they feature for ten weeks running. This weeks entertainer was Tony Orlando. He put on a great show that was as much about his band as it was about himself. We thoroughly enjoyed it and even had time to play a little in the park.

I've always loved Giraffes. They are such graceful creatures!

Hooking Fun

2012-02-01T19:45:00.001-06:00

Last winter I found the nicest group of rug hookers here in Zephyrhills. These ladies are so sweet and so helpful. I wish my friend Mary from Spruce Road were here too because she would enjoy the group as well. No dues, no officers, no by-laws and no duties. Just hook and have fun.

These are two rugs that one of the ladies brought to show.

Here's a photo of the rug I am hooking and some of the gals hard at work.

Busy Days Abound

2012-02-01T07:27:00.000-06:00

Things have been hopping around here. Several weeks ago I blogged about Amiya's quilt that she was working on for the Kumquat Festival in Dade City. Last year at the show one of the guild (Glenda) told Amiya that if kids entered any items she would make them a ribbon. She who never forgets (Amiya) decided that she would take that offer. When we arrived here in early November, Amiya immediately started planning her entry. She sketched out her design and then we went shopping for fat quarters of fabric in orange tones. Her design was quite complicated and after much planning discussion we managed to simplify it and make it something that she could realistically create herself. Then we broke it down into steps that we could complete once a week because with school a priority she didn't have huge blocks of sewing time.

I showed her how to use a "Yo-Yo" maker and then she made her flowers and her kumquats in the evenings at home. The Kumquat yo-yo's were stuffed with a cotton ball to give them dimension. When it came time to squaring up the piece I did the rotary squaring. I wasn't comfortable with her using a rotary cutter yet. She quilted the background with straight lines of sewing before she added the tree and then the details. She learned how to join binding and put it on the quilt, as well as turning the corners with it. I think her least favorite part was hand sewing the binding down and I was actually pretty pleased with how it turned out. I had started her on it and then left her to get it finished on her own. When my daughter dropped it off later in the week I was pleasantly surprised as it turned out better than the work of some adult quilters I have seen.

So Amiya earned her ribbon for participating in the show and another from the judges acknowledging her efforts. She is quite pleased and of course Grandma is quite proud of her.

Her quilt and all of the other entries will be on display at the Dade City Pioneer Museum Days this weekend.

Tea With The Ladies

2012-01-24T21:34:00.001-06:00

The twelve ladies in all of our Habitat finery (hats and t-shirts) went out to the Angel Fire Tea Room in Dade City for lunch today. The fellows gave us a hard time about taking a longer lunch but none of them wanted to come with us. We had a lovely time.

Biking

2012-01-24T21:26:00.000-06:00

On Saturday a group of us went biking on the Withalacoochee bike trail. Some of us did a nice comfortable 16 mile ride, some did 26 and some 30. The day was beautiful and we enjoyed the ride.

Later that evening we had a pot luck by the campfire and then our dear Therese led the group in songs and dance.

I will not tell you how many years young this great lady is but I will tell you that she has more energy than all of the group put together.

Therese, you are one of my heroes!

Habitat For Humanity

2012-01-21T06:15:00.002-06:00

Each winter we like to do some volunteer building for Habitat For Humanity. The last few years it has been right here in Dade City, Florida. It is so great to come back to the same location and see how well the homes are kept that we built in past years. This HFH chapter really has their act together and we always have plenty to do. It doesn't matter what your skill level is because there are plenty of jobs available. The majority of the volunteers are senior citizens and they work hard. Seven couples have been getting together for seven years. Occasionally, someone misses a year but for the most part we try to work together. Many of our HFH friends will leave this area to travel for the winter and they will do other builds around the country. We work hard together and we laugh and joke together as well. I feel a little sorry for the couples in our group that are new to working with us although we all try really hard to not be an exclusive group. Remembering what we are trying to accomplish keeps us focused.

The Dade City chapter is planning on building it's 100th house this spring. There are at least five right now in various stages of construction. It will be quite the accomplishment to get it done.

Tom worked on framing out and sheathing a house the last few days. I worked on getting another house covered with the Tyvek and then building interior walls.

Today is an off day so we will be biking as a group a little north of Dade City. Some will do ten to fifteen miles and some will do three times that many or more. We'll all meet for a Pot Luck dinner at the campground later today. We work hard together and we play hard together, As Martha would say, it's a good thing.

A Really Big Week-End!

2012-01-16T05:52:00.001-06:00

We started Friday with the greater Tampa area schools Math Bowl competition. Our granddaughter was on the fourth grade team from Clark Elementary. While they ended up not placing in the top three we are so proud of them all for getting to this tough competition.

Saturday morning I met two girlfriends in Lakeland and walked a 5K Susan B Komen breast cancer walk. The weather was cold but the sun was shining and it felt good. Of course I noticed the quilt that was presented to a forty two year survivor.

My friend is a survivor as well and we look forward to her anniversary parties.

Saturday evening Amiya and I focused on her quilt entry for the Kumquat Festival in Dade City later this month.

We finished up except for the hand stitching on the binding. That will get done on Monday.

Sunday, daughter Christy, friend Teri and I had a shopping day in Orlando and Winter Park and then Sunday afternoon was the Packer game. A sad finish to a really great weekend and an even sadder finish for a team that had such a great season prior. Next year!

Hooking

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

My good friend Mary first introduced me to the art of hooking. Hooking rugs that is. Last year in Florida I found a hooking group near us and was lucky enough to be accepted into the group. This delightful bunch of ladies are sharing techniques with me and I have started my first project. I'll keep you posted as I progress along.

Yesterdays Projects

2012-01-11T07:48:00.001-06:00

My grandson, Kev, is crazy about animals. I found this little half yard somewhere with the intention of turning it into a pillowcase for him. I finally finished it.

This little outfit is for an American Girl doll. I found it as a pre printed panel at a quilt shop in Bangor, Maine last summer. I stitched it up and it is on it's way to my granddaughter.

Some Good Reads

2012-01-09T15:47:00.001-06:00

I've been doing lots of reading since the start of the year. I had read this book several years ago and picked it up again from the library. It was a good read then and I enjoyed it just as much the second time around.

I also finished the book Shangai Girls this week. Both books are about sisters and the relationships that shift and change as they live their lives. Excellent reads!

Wisconsin Badgers And The Rose Bowl

2012-01-05T07:37:00.002-06:00

Monday night found us at Wild, Wild Wings with two other couples ready to cheer the Badgers to victory. We had a great set up with a large screen TV on the wall in front of us and another one on the wall behind us. We could watch the game no matter where we were sitting. We had a great waitress, the beer was cold and the wings hot. We cheered, we groaned and the Badgers didn't end up winning but we had a good time. There's always next year and thanks to the Badgers for another season of great football. Go Bucky!

Sleepover At Grandma's

2012-01-01T19:19:00.002-06:00

Christmas vacation means a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpas house. It means good treats to eat, movies to watch and new crafts to learn.

Amiya is learning to make Yo-Yo's for her first quilt show entry.

Kev is chillin with his DSI.

Teeny, Tiny Aprons

2011-12-28T10:31:00.001-06:00

My sister Gen found this great Simplicity pattern last year and I fell in love with it. Thirties fabric I have plenty of and so I cut out some of these cute little aprons. I finished the first one last night and I am thinking that when we have a house again I might do a little tree in the kitchen and use these little aprons as ornaments.

They are adorable!

Christmas Day

2011-12-27T06:14:00.000-06:00

Christmas morning found us back over at the kids for Santa gifts and breakfast.

Kev got all the things baseball and he is so happy.

Amiya got a trumpet and trumpet lessons. Let the noise begin.

The last two pictures are from Christmas Eve. Christy had some props so the kids and their friends could model at an earlier party. We thought we'd try them out as well. Dennis and Teri first and then Tom and I.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-27T06:08:00.000-06:00

On Christmas Eve we headed over to the kids for games and dinner. This year we had a small group as none of the other kids were able to join us. Our friends, Dennis and Teri from Arbor Vitae, are here for the winter and so they joined in and helped us make merry. We played Christmas Bingo and some Farkel and enjoyed a nice Christmas Eve dinner. I'm thinking that Dennis and Teri were a tad less lonely this year because the kids kept them Not quite the same as your own personal grand kids but they'll try hard.

After dinner we had some nice conversation, a way too rich dessert and then later before bed time gift opening. A very nice evening.

Shawls, Shawls, Three More Shawls

2011-12-23T17:43:00.000-06:00

This shawl was for sister Genevieve Theresa.

This shawl is for sister Odilia Marie.

This shawl is for sister Lucille Ann.

There are so many prayers knit into them. As I knit each one I prayed for that sister although I must admit I also prayed to understand the patterns as well!

A Shawl For Sister Margaret Mary

2011-12-23T07:48:00.000-06:00

I have been a busy girl here sewing and knitting and getting things done but I couldn't post pictures until the gifts had been mailed, received and opened. My sister Margaret Mary received hers yesterday so I can post the picture. I made her a shawl in her favorite green color with a pattern I found on Ravelry. The yarn is a beautiful wool that I found in Maine last summer. The borders have leaves knit into them. I also sewed a quilted and monogrammed satin case for her to keep it in.

My sisters have been incredible this past year as they are every year. This year they ended up moving my parents from northern Wisconsin to southern so they would be nearer to the daughters. It makes life a whole lot easier for all parties. My sisters made all the arrangements, did all the sorting and packing and moved them. A huge job and one I was no help with because we worked in Maine this past summer. All the things (banking, church membership, doctors, meds, etc.) that go along with a move they handled.

I have been blessed with four incredibly caring and giving sisters. Thank you so much Margaret Mary!

I'll show what I made for the others as they receive them.

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies!

2011-12-23T07:22:00.002-06:00

Two weeks ago I spent an afternoon with my daughter. We were both golf widows that day. My oven in the rig is tiny and will hold only one cookie sheet at a time. It takes forever to bake a batch of cookies. At Christy's I have a whole kitchen and a big oven to work with. Plus I have the enjoyment of her and the grands while I bake.

So I baked about twelve dozen cut out cookies and brought them home along with a bowl of royal icing for decorating. Yesterday I finally sat down and made myself decorate them. Mine are bare bones decorating and nothing to compare with the ones my daughter sells for $3.00 each as food pantry fund raisers. It took me about six hours to get them all done. They're cute and they'll be a hit at our Christmas dinner in the park but I probably won't be doing decorator cookies again any time soon.

My apron is off to all of you who do create these beautiful works of art.

On a side note.... Tom sat in his recliner last night and looked around at the cookies drying on every available surface. Then he counted how many dozen I had decorated and then he looked at our own Cookie Jar which was empty. Poor guy he had to eat leftover Spice Cake.

Aprons, Aprons, Aprons!

2011-12-19T12:13:00.000-06:00

A couple of years ago Christy started a book club for Amiya and some of her friends. There are twelve girls in the club and they get together each month to discuss the book that they have read. Some books involve activities from the book. This month the group read "Little House In The Big Woods" and the activities associated with it were baking bread, churning butter and cooking strawberry jam. My daughter asked if I would make aprons for the girls and they needed to be simple as if they were from that era. Done!

Aren't they the cutest girls! Amiya is front row far left.

Loving This Season Of Song

2011-12-15T17:45:00.000-06:00

Tuesday night was the Clark school Christmas concert. Our Amiya (front row-first on the left) was in the concert. It was short and sweet with only five or six songs. Tom and I laughed and reminisced about all those two hour programs we sat through while our kids were in grade school. They were nice too.

I love the sounds of the holidays!

A Finished Quilt

2011-12-15T17:37:00.001-06:00

This summer in Maine one of my coworkers showed me the squares that she had started in a quilt class. She was having trouble figuring out how to put them together as they had sewed up to different sizes. I squared them up for her and put them together. There weren't enough squares to make the queen size quilt that she wanted and not enough fabric to make more squares like the originals. So I used the fabric that was left and mixed in some from a stash to create more squares on a smaller scale. Those were turned on point and worked in on both sides to make the quilt work.

I wanted it to look like the borders were planned and not an afterthought. The setting triangles on the sides are in black fabric, picking up on the background of her darker fabrics. I thought that using more purple would be overwhelming.

Using my Pfaff Creative Vision I meandered the middle, put waves in the narrow borders and custom quilted all of the black setting triangles. I have a long way to go before my machine quilting

wins any awards but I am having fun practicing.

I sewed the binding on the edges but my friend will need to do the turning and hand sewing. Now I need to get moving on some Christmas projects. I'm running out of time pretty quickly.

Math Bowl

2011-12-10T09:57:00.001-06:00

See that little peanut in the middle? She's our granddaughter and she is a smart one. Each year the schools hold a Math Bowl and children compete to get into each schools team. Amiya found out several weeks ago that she made the fourth grade team at her school. Sectionals are held and then semi finalist teams are chosen. Yesterday we attended the sectionals and watched as sixteen schools competed for three spots at the finals in January. There were seven such sectional competitions and three teams are selected from each. Twenty one teams from the Tampa area will compete in January and you can bet that Grandpa and I will be there offering moral support.

What Is It About Monster Trucks!?

2011-12-03T15:46:00.001-06:00

Last night we attended the Dade City Christmas Parade. A fun night out for us and the kids. I made home made Pasties and we enjoyed them while waiting for the parade to start.

I do not understand the appeal of monster trucks. The parade had more of them in it than floats, marching bands or any other entries. They are loud and smelly and what is this about????

Give me floats, give me music, give me all the sites and sounds of the holidays...

just spare me the trucks. Even with a string of lights dangling from your undersides you still don't appeal to moi.

An Elf On A Shelf

2011-12-03T15:40:00.001-06:00

Thursday I made a big batch of lasagna and I knew my daughter was having a busy day so I called and offered to bring dinner. She accepted and we arrived to find out that a guest had showed up during the day.

Evidently this little "magic" elf is here to be sure we are all being good. It seems as if he was playing with wrapping paper and the tape and got himself caught in the process. I'll keep you posted on the elf and his antics.

Catching Up With My Brothers Family

2011-11-27T14:01:00.001-06:00

We called my brother on Thanksgiving Day and found out that he was visiting friends only a little over an hour away. So we cut short our visit with friends in Okeechobee and headed home. Saturday morning found us up and on the road early to go see them for a short visit.

Max's youngest boy reminds me so much of my brothers when they were little.

His youngest daughter has the same eyes that my sister Lucille has. All of the children were a pleasure to visit with this trip.

I'm glad we made the effort and got to see them. The next few days have nothing much scheduled and I am looking forward to chilling out.

Another Thanksgiving With Friends

2011-11-26T05:41:00.001-06:00

We were so lucky this past summer to make some wonderful new friends while we worked in Maine. One of these couples is working at the KOA in Okeechowbee and another couple has a home there. A third couple is working in Naples this winter. Yesterday we drove over to Okeechowbee and enjoyed another Thanksgiving dinner.

Sitting before dinner and visiting.

Barbie and Lou, our hostess, wrapping up leftovers from a very delicious meal.

Barbie, Ruth and Tom chatting and watching the alligators.

TJ and Larry telling stories.

Annie, Trial's sweet little dog that Tom keeps trying to buy from Barb.

Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-26T05:33:00.001-06:00

Starting and finishing a puzzle while the turkey roasts.

Watching the Packers beat the Lions.

Using the crochet tablecloth that Mary Hounsell made for Christy to set a pretty table.

All of these things were part of our Thanksgiving day.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:47:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving Day is a great "step on the breaks day" for me. This time of the year when we are being bombarded by ads for Christmas it's easy to get lost in the craziness of it all. For the first forty years of our married life we would drive to Green Bay and spend the day with Tom's extended family. The kids would play the deer hunter game in the car in hopes of winning a few quarters. They would search the woods and fields for a hunter in blaze orange and call out when they saw one. That person controlled the quarter(s) until another spotted a hunter. Sometimes imaginary sightings needed verification. We still laugh about the year our youngest had to give up the money to one of the others and he cried. We gathered around the pool at the Midway and caught up on family news while the kids laughed and splashed in the pool. Later in the afternoon we enjoyed a big turkey dinner that none of us had to cook.

Circumstances change and so has the way that we spend Thanksgiving. These days we spend our winters in the Tampa area so we celebrate with family here. Last year the Florida family along with us spent a few days in Washington DC. Our Thanksgiving dinner was at a Chinese restaurant. A real Chinese restaurant where none of the dishes resembled turkey and stuffing. This year our family is scattered all over, Alaska, Milwaukee, DC and Tampa. The fact that we won't see all of them doesn't change the fact that they are loved and we are so glad that they are a part of our lives.

Where ever you are and no matter what you are cooking take a moment and appreciate all that you have. My cup runneth over and I hope you recognize that yours does as well.

Old Friends And Cold Beer

2011-11-19T06:59:00.001-06:00

My sewing machine has been misbehaving and as I told you on the last post I am sitting in the middle of a project with more lined up behind it. So I called the area Pfaff dealer and made arrangements to drop it off for a repair call. About half way there we realized that the dealer was very near some dear old friends from our Oak Creek days. We called and asked if they were doing anything and could they meet us spur of the moment for beer and a sandwich. They could and we did. It was a really nice visit and it reminds me yet again how important those lifetime friends are!

Biking Flatwoods

2011-11-18T14:27:00.001-06:00

We biked Flatwoods today. The weather was perfect. Blue skies and cool temperatures with just enough of a breeze to keep us from over heating. We did a little over eight miles which I know is nothing to our biking friends but it was a very nice ride for us. Tonight we are off to our daughters to play with the grands and have a few games of cards with the grown ups. Until then I am sewing on a friends quilt.

My friend Barb assembled the Log Cabin blocks in a class and then stopped short of assembling the quilt top. So I squared up the blocks and put them together. It's too small for a queen size top so the challenge was to make it big enough without making it look as if borders were added as an afterthought. There wasn't enough of the original fabrics to make more blocks. So I cut what was there into narrower strips, added about ten more fabrics from my mom's scrap pile and created an "on point" border that (hopefully) will look like it was designed that way from the start. I'll keep you posted.

Keeping Busy

2011-11-17T18:08:00.001-06:00

We have been settling in here for the winter. The camper is parked and the screens are up. The bikes are off the truck and ready to roll. We have had several nice evenings with family. I have been doing some sewing (quite a bit actually) and some knitting. I can't show any pictures as most are for Christmas gifts. Are you enjoying where you are and what you are doing? If not it may be time to reevaluate your life. It doesn't last forever.

The Wee Ones

2011-11-14T11:18:00.001-06:00

On Sunday we drove over to Disney to visit with my sister, her daughter and their families. Christy had a bug so she stayed home but Vinay and the grands went with us.

Little Olivia took to Amiya immediately and they were so cute together.

All the little ones were fascinated at Lego Land in Downtown Disney. We had a great picnic lunch and then headed for home. A very nice day for all.

Monday is laundry day and camper cleaning day. The outside of the rig is a mess and we need to really give it a good cleaning and waxing.

So Happy!

2011-11-13T06:09:00.001-06:00

We arrived in Florida early Saturday morning and the family came over to say hello.

Do you think this little boy is happy to see his Grandpa?

Deer Run Campground-Crossville, TN

2011-11-13T05:58:00.001-06:00

We stayed at the Deer Run Campground in Crossville, TN.

This is a beautiful campground with many amenities. The owner is incredibly friendly and helpful. The rates are really reasonable.

You really want to stay here!

Enjoying Tennessee

2011-11-11T06:20:00.001-06:00

We have been in Tennessee for the last two days. What a beautiful state! The land that we own and planned to build on is near Monterey, Tennessee. Just off of I-40 in the area called the Cumberland Plateau. The vistas are incredible in this area.

Hills (mountains) and valleys provide the views. We missed the peak of fall color but they are still pretty colorful.

These last two pictures are from an area near our land. We looked at a spec house that a realtor in the area was building. The house itself had beautiful materials in it but wasn't really to our liking. Wasted space floor plans...you wonder what the architect was thinking, The views from this lot and this street will all be like these last two pictures. This section of this development is all built on this incredible peninsula of land in the sky.

Imagine doing dishes while looking at this view!

The land that we have doesn't have a view like this although it is rolling and beautiful. Tennessee is an incredibly beautiful stste. If only they could stop people from throwing trash out of the car windows and garbage out their back doors. Mind you, most people do not throw trash in their yards. Unfortunately the ones that do leave a very bad impression on people going through. For that reason we bought land in a development with some covenants. The people in the area are very friendly unlike some areas of the country and we like that. We are told that the climate and the location here make it a great retirement stop for seniors. You can golf almost year round here. Because their are so many retirees from the north the Yankee-Rebel thing is not as prominent as in some areas of the south.

Bye Bye Wisconsin

2011-11-09T05:53:00.001-06:00

We left Wisconsin Tuesday morning after our dental appointments. The weather was cold and rainy and stayed that way through Illinois and into Indiana. We did 300 miles and stopped before dark. Not bad for a late start day. We'll be heading out from Indianapolis after breakfast and hope to be in Tennessee this evening.

Thanks to our families for treating us so well this past month. We should be into Zephyrhills Friday night if all goes well.

Some People Really Know How To Make You Feel Welcome

2011-11-07T13:29:00.000-06:00

Some people have a knack for opening their homes and their hearts and making you feel welcome. We have been here in Oak Creek for a month visiting family and friends and it has been so nice. My sisters are masters of the welcoming home and coming to visit any of them is always special. My mother taught us well. Many times when you are visiting people you end up going out for a bite to eat and that's where you do your visiting. Restaurants aren't always the best for visiting. They want you in and out, the food isn't anything like homemade and the prices are usually high. Sitting around someones table will always be my choice. When you cook for someone it tells them that you care enough about them to put out some effort. I love, love, love to cook for company and I really love it when someone cooks for me! So thanks to all the people who made us so welcome this past month.

Some Sewing....

2011-11-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

I have been doing some sewing with my Mom. I quilted two quilts for her on her Grand Quilter. One a queen size Pinwheel and this small quilt that will go to a future boy grandbaby. When my grandmother passed away my mother and aunt found quilts enough for all of the grandchildren as they married.

My Mom has decided she is going to do the same thing and so she is turning out quilts left and right. Dad bought her this Grand Quilter by Pfaff and it is a great little set up unfortunately my moms eyes have gotten so bad that she can't see to thread it. So she has sold the set up but before it left I did a couple of quilts for her.

This is the quilt that her mother (my grandmother) made for Tom and I forty two plus years ago. It's on our bed and I think of her every day when I look at that quilt. Originally it was tied and had a wool batting. That batting long ago became wadded and unusable. I took the top off the batting and backing and just displayed the top on my quilt stand for several years. Then I decided to put it on a new batting and backing. I quilted the daylight out of it to reinforce the weak areas and now we enjoy it again. Grandma would be so pleased!

Tom's Family

2011-11-02T08:48:00.001-05:00

Tom's brother Dan and his wife very graciously hosted a get together. We were able to visit with his brothers as well as their families. We were entertained by two great nieces and played catch up on family news.

We are so thankful that Dan and Jane host these get togethers when we come to town.

Tom has a very small family and so these opportunities to see them are so very precious to him. We miss his parents and love sharing so many happy memories as a family. Dan is the keeper of all the family slides and so a slide show was a definate. What fun to see so many of our happy get togethers from days gone by.

My Uncles And Aunties

2011-11-02T08:37:00.003-05:00

My mothers younger brother and his wife came into town for a visit from Montana. They were here for several days and we had many opportunities to visit with them as well as cousins that live in the area.

Leonard and Bonnie filled us in on news about their families as well other cousins we don't see very often.

Some of my favorite family members are getting older and quite frail. Having the opportunity to see them and visit with them is so appreciated. These visits provide the bases for all the memories of a lifetime. Each relative teaches us life lessons. We are who we are because we are shaped from these people. As life progresses we can choose what we are becoming. I'm so greatful that I have had strong women in my family. Women who are gracious, generous and hard working. My sisters will attest to these traits and live them as well. Do you have strong women in your life? Tell them how much you admire them before it is too late.

Playing A Little Catch-up....

2011-11-02T08:24:00.004-05:00

Our daughter flew into Milwaukee to meet her new niece. We had her here for four days and loved every minute of it. We also found time to visit with Grandma and Grandpa as well as many of her aunties, uncles and cousins.

Max, Auntie Christy and the new baby. Things get a little confusing because we have daughter Christy and Andy's girlfriend, Christy. It's even more confusing for little Max but we shall sort it all out.

We got together with Tom's family as well while Christy was here. Everyone dressed for Wisconsin and we watched the game against Michigan State. The first loss of the season for Wisconsin. We still had a great visit.

Baby Cuddling

2011-10-17T15:03:00.001-05:00

We ran over to Andy's this morning to get in a little extra baby cuddling time.

She is growing so fast already. We took care of the diaper and the bottle and then she just settled into my arms for a nice little cuddle.

Leon's Ice Cream- That's What I'm Talking About!

2011-10-17T14:59:00.001-05:00

In Milwaukee, which is famous for so many good foods, is Leon's Custard Stand. It's been at 27th and Oklahoma for as long as I can remember and that's pretty far back. You get two flavors all the time, chocolate or vanilla. Other flavors vary by day and Butter Pecan has been our flavor favorite for years. This is custard, not ice cream, and it is loaded with toasted pecans. No matter where we wander there is nothing to compare with Milwaukee frozen custards.

A double scoop is $1.79 which is so inexpensive for the quality and a real bargain after paying close to $3.00 for a single scoop of ice cream in Maine.

Baby Veda

2011-10-16T08:04:00.001-05:00

We have had a few visits with our new granddaughter and we fight over holding her. Tom won out on this one. I love these pictures!

Back To The North Woods

2011-10-16T07:59:00.001-05:00

On Monday morning we headed to the north country. We still see the eye doctor there and Tom has some health things to handle at the VA Clinic in Iron Mountain. We also had the opportunity to catch up with our neighbors while we were there. We stayed with our gracious friends Dennis and Teri and had a great time catching up on news from the Spruce Road group. Two of our ladies from the group have just been diagnosed with cancer issues and so it was a bitter sweet visit. Both are determined fighters and both are in really good shape physically so we are betting that early detection was a blessing. Unfortunately, I was so busy catching up on the news that I didn't get pictures.

We had hoped to get over to Winter to visit more family but instead headed back to Oak Creek for an unexpected funeral.

Racing Around Wisconsin

2011-10-16T07:51:00.000-05:00

We have been back in Wisconsin for about ten days and we haven't stopped running. The first Friday night that we were here wwe met some friends for a fish fry. Some kids will always be kids! The two ladies in the middle of the lower picture are my sisters. The rest of this gang are friends from our Oak Creek years. The "bunny ears" man was our next door neighbor for 20 plus years. So many happy memories....

This Feels Like Home

2011-10-07T08:56:00.001-05:00

We arrived a day early to Oak Creek and surprised my parents, sisters and other assorted family members. Driving around the city as we came in feels like coming home. We lived here most of our lives and raised our family here. It feels natural to be back. Our son Andy lives here, He and his partner, another Christy in the family, have just welcomed our newest granddaughter. Veda Lynn and I met for the first time Wednesday night.

My cup runneth over!

We are catching up on news with my sisters and their families. Plans are being made to see Oak Creek friends as well.

Erie, PA

2011-10-07T08:48:00.000-05:00

We stayed in Ithaca, NY for two days and caught up on the news with some of our Habitat friends. We drove on and stopped in Erie, Pa for two nights. We had not visited this city before.

We drove out to the Peninsula State Park and visited the William Perry Memorial. I nice town and nice people living and working here.

Family Visits

2011-10-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

Tom's cousin and her husband joined us for a visit this year. We did some hiking, some golfing, lots of site seeing and way too much eating. In short, it was a really nice visit.

The flowers below are from the flower beds at Roosevelt Campobello International Park.

Dahlias and Hollyhocks. Beautiful aren't they!

Seeing Maine In The Rear View Mirror

2011-10-01T09:48:00.002-05:00

We left Mt.Desert Island on Thursday morning after an amazing summer. We finished closing down the Woodlands on Tuesday afternoon. It was a sad feeling to empty the flower pots and cover the computers.

The Morning Glories I had planted were just beginning to bloom and would have been really pretty in another month.

We said good bye to the friends that we had made and worked with over the summer. We took a last run through the park and finished the puzzle that we had been working on during the quiet times.

The water lines were blown out, pool furniture packed away and the cover on. Store emptied out coolers and freezers shut down. Time to move on again. We plan on being back next year to the same area unless we get an amazing offer to go elsewhere. The next few posts will touch more on Maine.

Veda Lynn Hounsell

2011-09-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

Is there any greater joy than to watch your children holding their children!

My cup runneth over!

We'll be there in less than two weeks Veda. Christy's Mom better get her hugging in because I am not letting go once I get my hands on her.

A New Granddaughter!

2011-09-20T20:24:00.002-05:00

We are blessed! Veda Lynn Hounsell was born today to Andy and Christy. All is well and we are dancing with joy!

Eating From The Ocean And Other Adventures

2011-09-08T11:10:00.000-05:00

Mike and Melody were here a week ago and we had such a great visit. We packed their days with site seeing and activities. We all ate way too much and we enjoyed campfires every night. One morning we went mussel collecting along the shore when the tide was out. Melody was definitely the luckiest of our bunch. Within an hour we had over a gallon of mussels. We added cornmeal to the bucket of mussels and ocean water and headed out to buy lobsters. The cornmeal is ingested by the mussels and they excrete out the muck and sand that is already in their system.

I also found this little guy hiding under some of the seaweed. I took his picture and then covered him up again.

We explored a bit of the island, found a dock to buy some lobsters and headed home for a dinner of fresh mussels and lobster. A nice side salad and it was a meal fit for our special guests.

We loved having the family here!

Family

2011-09-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

Mike and Melody came up to Maine for a visit and we had a wonderful time with them. We did some mussel picking and cooking. We hiked two days and enjoyed lobster and seafood every chance we could.

It was a great visit!

Pictures From Acadia National Park-Schoodic Point

2011-09-04T11:00:00.000-05:00

The day after Irene we traveled to Schoodic Point to watch the waves crashing.

2011-09-03T06:57:00.001-05:00

Good Night Irene

2011-08-29T06:21:00.000-05:00

We have been fortunate here in that Irene has passed us by. We have lost land line phone service but the electric has stayed on. Most of our guests had left early and the campground was pretty empty. We took down the awning and packed up chairs and things. The wind hit some pretty significant speeds but we are fine. Today we'll be putting trash cans back out and cleaning up branches. We'll be driving up to Schoodic Point after work to get a look at the waves crashing against the rocks. Pictures will be added later.

What You Are Missing

2011-08-29T06:13:00.000-05:00

We thought when we came to Maine for the summer that we would have lots of company coming to visit. It was not to be and we thought we would share a few pictures of what you are missing. Last week on our off day we hiked the Beech Hill road. It starts as a gently sloping graveled path leading into the woods. It is so very peaceful.

Shortly after you get out of the woods this vista opens up to you. That's the ocean in the distance and the view is stunning.

Looking the other direction you see two of the many "ponds" here on Mount Dessert Island. The walk was amazing and as our time here in Maine winds down we are more and more reluctant to leave this place.

Sea, sun, lush forests, and huge rock formations. Such is Maine.

Sorry you missed it.

Thanking The Soldiers

2011-08-21T10:28:00.000-05:00

We have been trying to catch one of the incoming troop planes in Bangor for the last two months. All planes coming from the middle East stop here first. We just always seemed to get the call on a work day instead of our off days. Yesterday we got a call at 6:30am that a troop plane was due in at 12:30. We did some quick hour switching with coworkers and headed out to Bangor to welcome home some soldiers.

When a plane comes in everyone forms two lines and the soldiers walk through the middle. People hold banners and flags, hands are shaken and hopefully these soldiers arrive back from their tour of duty knowing that their service and sacrifices are appreciated.

It is very emotional for the soldiers and for the well wishers.

My thanks go out to all of the Vietnam era soldiers who attend every incoming flight. Perhaps that was one lesson that was learned from Vietnam. Appreciate the sacrifices that these men and women in uniform have made so that we can come and go as we please.

Light House Cruise

2011-08-21T10:10:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was our day off this week and we started it by getting up at 4:30 and heading up to the top of Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise.

After baking a batch of Almond Scones we headed into Bar Harbor for the day. We decided to take a lighthouse cruise through Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company and it was delightful. We saw Acadia National Park from an entirely different perspective and it was beautiful.

The waves crashing against the rocky shorelines.

Martha Stewart's Mount Dessert Island home way up on the hillside. I still haven't received a dinner invitation. What's up with that!

Isn't this a pretty picture....the sky, the water and this sailboat.

We saw six different lighthouses and learned quite a bit about them.

The birds nesting on their own private island. We saw several eagles and are reminded how unique they are. Because we lived next door to an eagles nest for ten years and watched them raise chicks each year we have become a bit used to them. We tend to forget that there are people who have never seen an eagle in the wild.

We finished the day meeting up with friends and having dinner on the Bar Harbor pier. A great day.

A Light House Cruise

2011-08-21T06:42:00.001-05:00

Busy Knitting And More

2011-08-15T18:19:00.000-05:00

I've been finishing up a few projects and starting some new ones.

These socks are finally done. I just couldn't seem to get the oomph to finish them and they hung out on my needles for months. They are a simple pattern and perhaps that's why it took so long. They were boring to knit. Cables and patterns always keep you interested and motivated because you can see the progress being made.

I bought one very pricey skein of this lovely hand spun and hand dyed wool yarn at a spinners studio in Maine and have started this shawl. I shall knit until I run out of yarn and it will always remind me of Maine and the ocean.

This little crocheted dinosaur hat was done as a surprise for my little dinosaur loving grandson. We are going to Skype when the package arrives so I can see his face when he opens the box.

Late Start Today For Work

2011-08-07T11:20:00.000-05:00

Today we work the later shift so I did a little baking in anticipation of our next Employee get together. Our theme for the next get together will be "Breakfast At Dinner" so I baked a big batch of orange rolls for my offering. We'll be cooking omelets in a bag and I thought these would make a nice side.

I have beans cooking on the stove for a pot of navy bean soup and enough for a pot of baked beans as well. Last night I baked a batch of Maple Walnut cookies to take over to the nephew (and family) of our good friends from Ithaca, New York. They have been here visiting and camping at our park. It was so nice to meet them and have a chance to visit. They told us many stories about Uncle Larry and Aunt Arlene.

Lobster Fest In Rockport, Maine

2011-08-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was our day off and we headed south on Maine Coastal Highway 1. We were told that there was a huge (the biggest in Maine) lobster festival in Rockport. It's about a two hour trip and along the way we saw some beautiful homes and gardens that we had to stop to photograph.

This state is amazing with the flowers and gardens that they produce. Everywhere you look there are big gardens that are a riot of blooms and greens. My sisters would go crazy out here!

The coastline is full of pretty little towns and harbors full of boats. Blue skies, the water and bobbing boats..... lush gardens and flower beds, winding roads and rocky coastlines.... white churches with towering steeples, picket fences and rock walls..... all of these will forever come to mind when I think of Maine.

I love, love, love this house!

Lobsters Galore!

2011-08-07T11:01:00.000-05:00

Lobsters are in abundance here and the prices have come down considerably. I had looked into mailing lobsters to my parents and the price of the lobsters was reasonable but the shipping costs were crazy high. Right now you can buy new shell lobsters for about $4.50/pound. This past week at our employee get together we had a lobster boil. We bought the lobsters but Tom and two other men went out along the shore when the tide was out and collected mussels. We started with fresh mussels as an appetizer..... delicious!

Next we cooked the lobsters over an open fire and served them with butter and lemon. A fresh salad and homemade rolls rounded off the meal. We also had lime cupcakes for dessert. Sounds yummy don't you think!

One of our workers had her granddaughter here for a few days and she enjoyed the lobster too!

Above are TJ, the granddaughter, Rosie and Lou. Tom, Guy, Joyce, Kathy and Bob below.

Wish you were here to share the fun....

Busy Days And Not Much Blogging

2011-08-01T05:37:00.000-05:00

We are keeping busy with work but nothing horrendous. We have had a lot of news from the family lately. I'll give you some tidbits and then the next few blogs will elaborate. My youngest brother is engaged to be married. Yahoo! My Mom had knee replacement surgery and is doing just fine. Mom and Dad have left the little log home in the woods and moved back to the Milwaukee area where they are closer to three of my sisters and the help they can give them. Andy and Christy's baby is growing and due mid September. My brother Max and his gang visited Wisconsin this summer again so I have a report on that. Martha Stewart's Maine home is a few miles away from where we are staying on Mount Dessert Island but I have not yet received my invitation to dinner. I just took a pan of banana pecan muffins out of the oven and it's time to get ready for the day. More later.....

Toes, Rhubarb Pie And Embroidery Projects

2011-07-21T06:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was our day off and we needed it. It has been getting busier and busier in the park. Tom went off to town to take care of some business that needed doing and I headed to the kitchen. We finally found some rhubarb here at the local grocery store so I baked a rhubarb pie. We have been craving it. The recipe is the same that my grandmothers always baked and so it brought back many happy comfort memories. We each had a slice after dinner and then cut it into slices and gave the rest away. It's just too tempting to have it in the house. I also made a batch of mixed berry jam and some cut out cookies that I am going to try to decorate for a party we are attending next week. We'll be having a Lobster Boil with all of our co-workers here at the campground.

I and another gal found a place to get a pedicure and so that was on yesterdays list as well. Then I set up the embroidery machine and finished a project that I had started back in Florida. We have a couple of gals here that also carry there sewing machines ans we have been inspiring each other. Rosie stitched out this cute little fishing vest for me.

How cute is that!

Baxter State Park_Our 350 Mile Day Off Adventure

2011-07-15T08:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we hopped in the car with a picnic lunch and headed north to Baxter State Park. We have been told by many people that it is a "Must See" while in Maine. It is in the heart of the state and the area around it is gorgeous! The Appalachian Trails northern most USA section winds through here.

We stopped at the entrance and paid our $14.00 registration and headed into the park. There is one road through the park and it is forty miles long. It is gravel and rock, barely two car widths wide and mostly overgrown with dense forest on both sides of the roads. The speed limit is 20MPH and in many places that isn't possible. There are many campgrounds and all are extremely primitive. No campers, no pop ups and no pets allowed. The idea is to keep it as natural as possible.

The tree above was interesting in the way it had adapted its root system to the environment and the big rock it sprouted on.

Driving through the park and right along side the road was this cross and grave. No explanation....

Once and a while along this forty miles of forest road we would get a glimpse of water or the mountains.

We came around a corner and found this area where people were picnicking and tubing. We saw about twenty people here and that was the most we saw at any time in the park.

We are both glad we did this trip as it was on our life to do list but I wouldn't go back and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to you. The road is poor condition and you can't see anything except trees on both sides of you the whole trip. I would recommend a trip up to the Shin Lake area of Maine as the views of the mountains and lakes from that area are breath taking. Love Maine but BSP...not so much.

Hiking

2011-07-14T06:28:00.000-05:00

Last week we headed out for a nice hike on our day off. Tom let me choose the hike so I chose a four miler. It was a beautiful hike and not too bad until we got to the last half mile. By then we were really dragging and ready to be done. These hikes aren't like going out for a walk around the block or climbing on your treadmill. These hikes are for the adventuresome (or the really dumb). The scenery was spectacular and I'm glad we went.

The first two pictures were taken in Somesville, Maine. This is a beautiful little town along the way to Acadia.

One of the bridges along the carraige roads in the park.

The path we hiked....the road less traveled.

I'm Still Around...

2011-07-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

...just been keeping busy!

Forty years ago my brother Mike found a Queen Anne style chair that someone had thrown out. I loved it. It fit me to a T and I recovered it. It has been recovered twice more over the years and I have it in the camper. It really needed another recover or slip cover as it was getting pretty shabby again. So I stripped off the old and redid it again. I love how it turned out and the fabric was on sale so for about $50.00 I have my favorite chair looking all fresh and new again.

Isn't it pretty!

Flowers Everywhere!

2011-06-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

The Lupine are blooming like crazy here in Maine. I have taken a dozen photos and none of then can really capture how beautiful they are.

Everything is in bloom here. We have had a cool and wet spring and while we are complaining the plants certainly aren't! Wild roses grow everywhere here and the bushes are covered with blooms.

Here are two more "blooming beauties"!

Fun With Family

2011-06-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

This past week we managed to get two days off so we hopped in the truck and headed for New Hampshire. Christy's family is in the Boston - New York area for a summer vacation. We met them in Exeter, NH and surprised the grands. We had told them that we could not get off of work and so wouldn't see them until November. Vinay put in a fake pizza order and twenty minutes later Tom and I showed up at their hotel room with pizza. The kids opened the door and they were speechless. We ate pizza, caught up on news and headed for the pool where the grands had a great game of splash Grandma. We played Trouble and another word game and had a lot of laughs. We gave the kids our king bed room and stayed with the grands in the other. Tom and I each had our own cuddly bed partner for the night and after many stories and giggles we had a good nights sleep. These grands love to hear stories about when Grandma and Grandpa were young and they love a series of stories that their Mom started. These stories are loosely based on their three uncles who are affectionately called "The Three Dopey Dragons." They get into all kinds of mischief with out meaning too and they always end up saving Princess Amiya and Prince Kev from serious trouble.

The next morning found us out exploring the area. We found an apple orchard with fresh cider doughnuts.

Next we went to a Marine Learning Center geared to kids and had a neat experience learning about sea life. We are holding starfish.

It was a bit of a gray day but we did manage to get down to the tide pool to look for critters before the rain started.

Our next stop was the Beach Plum for lunch. We are so lucky because these two grands get along so well. They don't argue with each other. They aren't jealous if the other gets more attention. They look out for things that the other might like and they share with each other. We are really quite pleased with how they are growing up as best friends.

After lunch we headed over to a huge kitchen store to just have a quick peek and then we said our good byes until November.

Nine hours of driving and diesel over $4.00 per gallon.....an expensive hotel room.......a day with the family. As they say on TV....priceless!

Busy Days

2011-06-20T09:29:00.000-05:00

We are having a great summer here in Maine. One night this past week we did a lobster boil with friends. They headed to the docks and bought the lobsters and then we cooked them outside.

Delicious!

I spend most of my time in or near the office so I take care of the flower beds. They are looking pretty good considering it has been a cold and rainy spring here.

I finished another knit sweater for my friends new granddaughter. It looks just like the one I showed you last month. I also finished a basket for our bathroom trash can.

It isn't the greatest basket I have made. I ran out of saw grass and had to make do with a short piece around the top. It works and it will serve it's function.

I've been working on UFO quilt projects as well and am almost ready to take a picture of a new table topper. I had basket squares left over from a quilt class I taught so I put them together and they will work great for this. We are off for a few days and heading to New Hampshire to see the kids and grands. Ssshhh... the grands don't know. I'll finish the quilting this weekend and get a picture on.

We had ten new cabins come in this year and so the curtains that were bought didn't fit. I cut them to size and finished all of them. We had enough fabric to do some extras in case we need to change them out.

Tom has been in his element doing carpentry work. They have him building steps and decks and you know that is what he enjoys doing.

Eleanor Roosevelt and New Brunswick, Canada

2011-06-12T07:12:00.001-05:00

On our third day off we headed out early with our passports and a picnic lunch for New Brunswick, Canada. Our destination was Roosevelt Campobello International Park. This is the only National Park maintained jointly by two countries and I added it to my National Parks Passport Book. In the above picture you can see that the tide was out and the boats were waiting for it to return.

After crossing the border at Lubeck, Maine and stopping at Canadian Customs we headed for the New Brunswick Visitors Center. We mapped out our visit to the island with some help from the friendly staff. Our next stop was the Roosevelt Visitors Center and the film presentation about how the family came to use this island as their summer home. We were there early enough to score tickets for Eleanor's Tea. More about that later on.

We drove the island roads from end to end... about twelve miles. At the farthest northern point is East Quoddy Lighthouse. We picnicked here on cold chicken and Slovenian potato salad enjoying the incredible views in every direction. Usually in the summer you can watch the whales here in the ocean but it was still a little early as they usually arrive in late June. We had been told that if the tide is out we would have an opportunity to walk over to the lighthouse and see it.

The lighthouse itself is connected to Campobello Island only while the tide is out. In between these two islands there is another. Getting to the lighthouse involves four metal staircases and crossing the seaweed covered ocean floor. It was pretty cool walking out there knowing that in a few hours it would all be 24 feet deep in water again. Warning signs tell you to be aware of tide schedules because of the danger. The waters raise 5 feet per hour when the tide turns and swimming in the icy cold water is not an option. So down we went on the first staircase and across the rocky shore. Up the next staircase to the middle island which is also not inhabited. It was covered in wild berry plants and roses. Everything was blooming and it was a breathtaking sight with the water and sky around us.

We got to the end of the middle island path and realized there was yet another to get to in order to see the lighthouse. More ladders up and down and more boulders to hike through. It was worth it.

After our hike we headed back to tour the Roosevelt summer home. It is a big house but it was also a very comfortable house. The living room would have been a comfortable place to relax and read or knit. Eleanor was a prolific knitter and always had several projects going. Eleanor even carried her knitting with her when she served as a delegate to the United Nations. Her handiwork was on display in several rooms.

In the park they serve tea each afternoon as Eleanor did when she lived here. Each day they give out twenty tickets for tea. The room is decorated with framed prints of her "My Day" column. Tea and cookies are served as two hostesses tell stories about her and the family.

This showcase has a pair of her knitting needles and some mittens she made. It also has some of her favorite tea cups and a piece of her china service from the White House. It was a lovely presentation and I know that my granddaughter would have loved it as she is all about Eleanor. In a time when so many young girls are Hannah Montana Wannabees, Amiya has chosen Eleanor as her role model. We are so proud of her!

The Middle Off Day

2011-06-12T06:24:00.000-05:00

Tom headed out golfing and I went into Ellsworth to explore some of the stores. This area reminds Tom and I both of the summers that we spent in Alaska. The geography is similar with the same wild beauty to the mountains and the ocean. Wild flowers are blooming everywhere. We used to think that the Lupine in the upper peninsula of Michigan put on an amazing show and they do. But you have not seen fields of Lupine until you have seen it here. It is everywhere!

Tom had a great time golfing and I had an afternoon to wander through this great kitchen store. That night we had some friends over for dinner and a campfire.

Ollie's Trolley

2011-06-12T06:17:00.000-05:00

We had three days off in a row this week and headed out to do some site seeing. Ollie's Trolley is a local tour that takes you all over Bar harbor and through Acadia National Park. We recommend this tour to our guests so we thought we ought to take it so we know what we are talking about. This first picture is taken from the dock in Bar Harbor and is of a sailing ship. That is another excursion for our next day off.

We stopped at the wild gardens in the park and found an entire bed of Lady Slippers in bloom. My mom would have loved seeing these!

Just a pretty picture of a bench in the garden. It would make a lovely place to sit and rest.

We stopped for lunch after the tour and finished our meal with Maine wild blueberry pie.

An Irish Pub

2011-06-08T06:49:00.000-05:00

Tom decided that he didn't want the Salmon that I had thawed for dinner last night. So we headed to Elsworth to find the Irish pub that our friend recommended. We found Finn's and it is the cutest place. Can you call an Irish pub cute? What wasn't cute was the bartender! Well actually Megan was a cute gal but what a surly personality. We sat down at the bar and she asked us what we wanted. Tom ordered an ale and I asked for a whiskey Manhattan on the rocks. She brought Tom his beer and then went to the other end of the bar and made drinks for a dozen other customers. She made my drink and poured it in a martini glass. I told her that I had asked for it on the rocks. "Well what kind of a glass do you want?" Whew. Just a plain old cocktail glass would be fine. She dumped it into a juice glass and set it in front of me. OK then. What happened to smiling? Or a friendly greeting when you walk into a place. We sat with menus open ready to order and after a while she came over and asked if we wanted to order. Tom told her yes but we were moving to a table. We were hoping that a waitress would be a little more pleasant. After walking back and forth past us ten times without making eye contact she asked if we were ready. Anyway, the Bangers and Mash were good and the Pork Medallions were incredible! We stopped Megan and asked her for her name, told her ours and let her know we were going to be here all summer and that we would be back. I told her that a good Manhattan for me is two parts whiskey, one part sweet vermouth and a dribble of cherry juice poured over ice. Easy peasy. She said she'd remember...we'll see. Maybe she'll even smile. Maybe.

Jordan Pond (Part Two)

2011-06-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

The aroma of Cedar was everywhere along this walk. They used it to create this little footbridge along the path.

Here some busy beavers are working on taking this tree down. They already felled the one next to it.

The opposite side of the lake was a little more challenging as we had to hike through some boulder strewn pathways. A little farther on and it turned pretty boggy so a good portion of it was on a boardwalk.

Boulders everywhere!

Doesn't it just look like it would be a beautiful hike!

I'm betting you wish that you were here right now. This 3.1 mile hike was a beauty!

The Hike Around Jordan Pond

2011-06-02T06:36:00.000-05:00

On our days off we try to do a nice hike somewhere on the island. Last week the weather was cold and rainy so we toured but didn't walk. Tuesday was a beautiful day so we headed to an area called Jordan Pond for a little better than a 3 mile walk. It was beautiful.

The water is so clear and beautiful you could drink it. The water in Jordan Pond is the primary water source for our island so swimming and wading are not allowed and we do drink it.

The wild azaleas are in bloom along the shoreline and they put on quite a show.

One side of the lake had a dirt path that meandered along near the shoreline.

Jordan Pond was formed by a glacier and the rocks that it dropped as it receded are everywhere. Many streams feed the pond.

In the early part of the twentieth century these walking paths were created by using granite blocks to even out the path and to allow the streams to continue to the pond.

Massive blocks of granite really put us, as creatures on this planet, into perspective.

This little patch of Bluets were tucked in between some granite boulders.

Amazing example of the little guy hanging on and putting down roots. It would be great to come back in ten years and see if the roots from this tree actually force this block of granite to break away.

Exploring Acadia Natioal Park

2011-05-27T06:27:00.000-05:00

After we both had naps and finished our laundry we headed out to explore the area. Acadia National Park is immense! It covers a good portion of Mount Desert Island on which Bar Harbor and several other small towns are located. Additionally it is comprised of other islands and areas of land surrounding the Ellsworth, Maine area. We chose a day trip route out of town that would take us up into an area called Schoodic Point.

These pictures are all from along our ride and reflect different views of the area. The day started out

sunny and warm but as we moved north the temperature dropped and the fog started rolling in.

Do you see the color variations in the rock? The geology is predominately granite here. (More about that in another post) When the area was forming, fissures developed in the granite and molten lava was forced up through those fissures forming wide bands of black rock called Dykes. As you explore you see these rock bands everywhere. They are so striking and then you combine them with the sky and the water and the trees and it is knock your socks off gorgeous.

If you haven't visited here then what are you waiting for?

I'm not sure if you can see them in any of the pictures but there are buoys marking the lobster pots.

The fog comes rolling in...

Waterfalls add charm to the drive.

Wildlife is abundant. We saw two Tom turkeys today.

Also a porcupine crossed the road in front of us. I jumped out of the truck and ran after him with the camera. He refused to stop and be photographed. I tried to get a better shot but quickly realized that I was following the business end of this guy. I know better than to push my luck on that score.

We finished our day with shrimp dinners and a stop at the grocery store. Fiddle head ferns are in abundance right now and you see them everywhere from roadside stands to huge displays in the grocery stores. Our oldest son, Jon the chef, cooked fiddle heads for us the year we were in Alaska. They were delicious. I haven't bought any as I am not sure what to do with them but I think I may need to find a recipe and try them as part of the Maine experience.

Today we are off to explore the Bar Harbor area. I saw a quilt store yesterday as we drove through town. Will I be able to stop and just look? Time will tell.

Good Day Sunshine!

2011-05-26T12:16:00.000-05:00

The plan for our day off was to get up early (3:30 am) and head into Acadia National Park to see the sun rise from Cadillac Mountain. I set the coffee pot up the night before and laid out my clothes so I could stumble out the door without too much thinking. The alarm went off and so did we with warm clothes and a thermos of coffee.

Why the big deal? This is the first place in the continental USA to see the sun each day. It breaks here before any of the rest of you get to enjoy it. Plus very honestly I don't often pay attention to the sunrise. It's something that I take for granted. This morning we wanted to make it an event and it was.

We arrived at the top of the mountain about 4am and were the first ones there. Within a half an hour there were at least a hundred people there. If you have ever seen the movie "City of Angels" you would appreciate the beauty of all these people standing still and facing the horizon.

Facing east and the horizon is starting to glow.

It's getting brighter and now you can make out many of the islands that make up Acadia National Park.

The sky was awash in pastel glowing colors.

The sun is just starting to pop through the clouds and fog.

Here it comes!

Good day Sunshine!

PS. I was back in bed by 7:30 and slept three more hours.

The Camp

2011-05-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures for those of you who have been wondering what things are like around here.

This is the main building at the campground. It includes the office, store and recreation room. I spend the majority of my working time here. I have these lovely flower beds in the front that I can play with any time I like.

Looking out the office window I can see our rig. So you can tell that the commute to work each day is a dream.

The swimming pool (heated) is right across from the office as well. I'm thinking this is going to be pretty nice on hot summer nights. Right now the weather has been so cold that the steam floats off of the pool water in the mornings.

All in all we are thinking that we have a pretty great summer job situation here. Our acting general manager is a very upbeat and positive person. We get paid for the hours that we work unlike Glacier Bay Country Inn a few years ago. Tom is outside doing the kind of things that he likes and I am inside organizing the store, making reservations and helping people. We love it!

Update On My Window Bird Feeder

2011-05-24T11:28:00.000-05:00

Squirrels! Awk!

The squirrels found my seed feeder and have figured out how to get up on the roof, over the awning and onto the feeder. We are afraid that they will claw up the rubber gaskets around the window and so we have had to take the feeder down. We were having such a great view of all the birds feeding at it and are still trying to think how we could thwart the squirrels... it may be back.

We've Been Busy Settling In

2011-05-23T06:18:00.001-05:00

We have not worked at a campground before and so are learning all that there is to know....and that's a lot! They have cabins here that get rented out. They were moved in from another location and so need some fixing up. Skirting goes around the bottom outside and new steps needed to be constructed. Tom and I have been building steps. It was a great day of working together as a team and brings back our Habitat For Humanity memories.

This huge rock is across from our campsite. It's so big and impressive and is pretty typical of the terrain around here.

It's been pretty rainy here this spring and we haven't had many

campfires but the other night the temperature was perfect and the rain had stopped. We fired up the campfire ring and had a great relaxing evening talking about other camping trips and other fires.

Saturday night we had a pot luck dinner with all the rest of the work camper couples. Good food and interesting stories abounded. We have a good crew of people working here although we just lost a couple due to family issues. Our boss is a super people person and quite lovely to work for so if you have been thinking about trying work camping here is an opportunity for you to spend a few months here in Maine with us. Give us a call and we'll tell you who to contact.

For The Birds

2011-05-16T12:22:00.000-05:00

I found a little bird feeder that sticks right to the window by our kitchen table. The really cool thing is that the birds can not see us watching them. I know.... I'm easily amused. It's a nice way to be.

Bar Harbor, Maine

2011-05-15T06:02:00.000-05:00

We have been here a bit over a week now and have been pretty busy learning our jobs. We haven't done any real exploring yet but did catch these views on the way home from grocery shopping one evening.

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are on an island.

This old cemetery is in the woods near us.

Saturday morning I baked cinnamon rolls. It's been so busy here that I haven;t been doing any baking. I frosted them with my mom's Browned Butter Icing. They were delicious!

Saturday was an off day for us so Tom set up the fire ring and fired it up. I have two little flower beds on this site. One is filled with strawberries and the other I planted some chard's, lettuce and spinach. I hung a cherry tomato plant up in the topsy turvy planter. I'm hoping that I can have a nice little salad garden this summer.

All and all things are looking good here for us. We are enjoying the people we are working with. It has been very busy trying to get the park ready for opening. There are actually two campgrounds here. One is on the water and the other is more wooded with out the ocean view. We are set up at the wooded campground and will spend most of our working time over here.

Our Little Spot For The Next Six Months

2011-05-08T19:58:00.000-05:00

We will be work campers until mid October at a KOA Campground in Bar Harbor, Maine. This KOA has two campgrounds that are about a mile apart. One is Oceanside and the other is Woodlands. Some work campers live at each site but work duties vary between the sites. We will be at the Woodlands site and are looking forward to it. The Woodlands camp area won't open until Memorial Day so we are temporarily at the other camp. Flowers are starting to bloom here and spring has definitely arrived.

This will be our site when we do move. The trees will fill out and our picture window will face the woods. Not a bad view at all.

The gals that had this site last year left me some little planting beds on the side so I'll be sowing some lettuces and Swiss chard this next week. We have met many of our co-workers and they seem a nice lot. They are retirees like us and so we think we will make a cohesive team. We start work in the morning. Tom will be doing maintenance and outdoor work primarily. I will be in the office and housekeeping. There are many trees down at the other campsite and they will need to be cut up and moved to the firewood area. Tom will get to use the chainsaw. He thinks he has died and gone to heaven.

Pumpkin Patch RV Park Bangor, Maine

2011-05-08T19:22:00.000-05:00

We stayed two nights at the Pumpkin Patch RV Park outside of Bangor, Maine this past week. This park is clean, the sites are nice and the owners are as cordial a couple as you would ever like to meet. I have included their information on the last photo of this post. For all of our RV friends mark them in your atlas.

While closing up and getting ready to move on I glanced down and looked right at a Four Leaf Clover. I have found five or six of these in my life times and it is not because I am looking. They just seem to pop out at me.

I took a picture of the back as well lest you think I am playing tricks.

Did I buy a lottery ticket? No, but we did find the Pumpkin Patch and that was a very lucky find.

Diets And Banana Muffins

2011-05-07T06:59:00.000-05:00

We have been dieting and trying to lose a little weight the last month or so. I am down about twelve pounds and Tom is down about twenty five since his surgery in December. We are both feeling better and will continue our efforts. BUT....

sometimes a girl just has to bake something. I love to bake....from scratch.... with really good ingredients....and I love to eat these goodies as well. Yesterday after we got home from shopping I found a package of frozen ripe bananas in the freezer and I needed that space in the freezer so I baked a dozen banana muffins. They must be good as a mouse ate three of them with a glass of milk during the night.

Something Pink

2011-05-06T07:19:00.000-05:00

How sweet is this!

I found this cute cotton yarn at the yarn shop in Beaufort, SC. The pattern was a simple knit in one piece from the neck down. I finished it as we were driving from Washington DC to Maine. It's a twelve month size and knitted up so nicely that I think I am going to do another in a newborn size. What's a Grandma to do when there are so many options?!

Traveling North To New England

2011-05-05T06:21:00.000-05:00

We left Washington DC on Tuesday morning and headed towards Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. That was a nice place to take a break and have a little walk about. We have been here several times before but have not been here since they built the new visitors center. It is very nice indeed. Trees are blooming and everything is greening up.

We drove as far as Port Jarvis, Pennsylvania that night and found a campground so that I could catch Dancing With The Stars. No TV channels here and no Internet either although they claimed to have WI FI. The place was right next to the interstate and it was a very noisy night. For our RVing friends a full hook up means only electric and water and it costs $35.00 at Tri State RV Park. Avoid it at all costs.

This is a Welcome Center in Vermont. This little state really knows how to say hello. We stayed at the Quechee Gorge KOA Wednesday night. We have stayed here before and really like the owners here. In fact we have been offered summer jobs here at this location. We are already headed to Bar Harbor having committed to them for this season but will certainly keep this in mind for next year.

While we are in the area I went back to my favorite baking store. King Arthur Flour has a kitchen and a retail store here. I bought a new cooky sheet that fits the camper oven and a few other goodies. Tom bought a lemon bar and it was delicious. The weather here has gotten colder and we ran the heaters last night. Today we are heading north on I 91 until we hit US 2. From there we will head east towards Maine.

I started knitting a little pink sweater for our new granddaughter due early this fall and have almost completed it. A picture will be posted when I finish it.

The scenery here in Vermont and east is wild and rugged. The Green Mountains give us hills and valleys in every direction. The vistas are gorgeous in all their shades of spring greens. I am seeing "Moose Crossing" signs and I have the camera ready in case we actually see one. We plan on arriving in Bar Harbor by Saturday so we have some time to relax and enjoy the views. We also plan on a stock up trip to BJ's Wholesale Club and a shopping stop at LL Bean.

Washington DC

2011-05-03T07:08:00.000-05:00

We arrived here Sunday early afternoon and got together with our son and daughter in love. We had a really nice day catching up on all of our news and filling them in on family happenings. Monday morning Tom wanted to head into DC and see what was going on in light of the news events of the previous night.

Mike packed us a picnic lunch and we sat in the park and fed ourselves and this pair of ducks.

Posing in front of the White House. I did notice that the White House vegetable garden looks great and it makes me miss having the opportunity to garden.

We walked over to the World War II Memorial and they were having a presentation with a group of veterans. Imagine our surprise to find out that they were from the Park Falls, Wisconsin area. Thank you to all of our veterans who gave up so much so that we can enjoy all that we have today.

Moving North Through The Carolinas

2011-05-03T06:51:00.001-05:00

Before I move on with this post I will leave you with a final picture of a neat old tree in Beaufort.

We left Beaufort Friday afternoon and headed north. We put in a few hours driving and ended up stopping in Fayetteville, North Carolina Friday night. We were both pretty tired and needed a long nights sleep. If you haven't had a chance to drive through the Carolina's at this time of the year you are missing a pretty spectacular wild flower display along the I-95 corridor. I did not take any pictures and I could kick myself. Trust me when I say that they were breathtaking!

We spent Saturday night with our Habitat Care A Vanner friends in Louisa, Virginia. Larry and Mem are always such gracious hosts. We caught up on news of our families and mutual friends and then played games with their granddaughter and her friend. It was a great visit and after breakfast in the morning we turned north again to visit Mike and Melody.

Happy Days

2011-05-03T06:40:00.000-05:00

We had a lovely week in South Carolina. Our time with family was precious and filled with laughter. We were reacquainted with that old game "Rock, Paper, Scissors". Relentlessly.

Dinosaur Dreams

2011-05-02T05:49:00.001-05:00

I finished this Dinosaur quilt for my grandson last week. Kev loves it and that makes my Grandma heart very happy. I used machine applique to place the dinosaurs. I also used my Pfaff Creative Vision to embroider the name of each dinosaur onto it. Some portions of the dinosaurs...feet heads are backed and three dimensional. I also used rick rack in a couple of places for extra dimension. I machine quilted the piece myself.

I have not bought any fabric this past month. In fact, the only fabric I have bought this year was the 5 yards bought specifically for this quilt. I am using what I have and working on cleaning out the portion of my stash that came along with us in the RV. I have also been trying to finish up some of the UFO kits that I have accumulated in past years. We head north to Maine this week and I expect to be set up in our summer site by this time next week. I should be able to do some serious sewing at that point.

Fabric In This Week: 0 yards

Fabric Out This Week : 12.5 yards

Fabric In This Year: 5 yards

Fabric Out This Year: 34.5 yards

Alligator In Camp

2011-04-29T19:15:00.000-05:00

We had a little alligator wander through the camp ground while we were there. The ranger caught him and then let him go again in a wetlands area. This picture is taken looking down into the trash can they had put him in.

More Fun At The Campfire

2011-04-29T18:53:00.001-05:00

In an earlier post I talked about how tame the deer are in this park. Our daughter got a great photo of our brother in law as one of the deer wandered behind his chair. The grands had been feeding them carrots and apples previously. When the feeding stopped the deer came right up around the campfire. The kids loved it!

Note the Boo Boo on John's finger. He went out on the bike for a work out and did a header over the bike handles. We are grateful that a cut up finger was the extent of his injuries.

Charleston And Fort Sumter

2011-04-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

Amiya is studying American History and Fort Sumter in particular so when the family arrived we headed to Charleston for the day. Amiya loved seeing the Fort that she has been learning so much about. Kev loved the playground that we found and Christy thought she found a Trader Joe's. It turned out to be nothing like the Trader Joe's that she was looking for.

On the way home we found Carolina Cider Company and had a nice stop where we found some REALLY GOOD peach cider. If you are ever in the area you must try this cider. It's worth a trip off the Interstate to get some.

Soft Shell Crab Festival

2011-04-28T09:38:00.000-05:00

On Saturday morning we headed to Port Royal for the soft shell crab festival. When the crabs shed their shells as they grow they are soft until the new shells develop. They clean out the insides and dip them in an egg wash. Then they dredge them in seasoning and drop them in hot oil. They are delicious.

Also during this festival there was an antique car show going on. When I first met Tom he had a canary yellow Mustang Mach 1. This Mach 1 brought back many memories. We traded it in when we were expecting our first son. We were more concerned about him than a fancy sports car and still feel that way today.