Late Summer Camping

This summer was ridiculously busy, and at the same time, sort of uneventful. Out first camping trip got rained out, but we were lucky enough to squeeze one in before school started. The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny and warm, but not to warm, cool nights, and no rain! We didn't do a whole lot- a quick trip to Eastport, a short hike, walks in the campground, and dinner at Helen's in Machias was all we needed for a super trip to Cobscook Bay State Park. Now for the photos!

campsite visitor #1

our site

Campsite visitor #2- this guy slept in the tree above our tent all night.

Sunrise

Oops, I wore sandals, no socks and shorts. Only 2 of the little buggers got me though!

Shackford Head

Aquaculture in Eastport

November Rain....or Snow....

 

Hurricane Sandy mostly left us alone- we got some heavy rain, and A beautiful rainbow in the backyard in the middle of it all.

 

 

 

 

The first real snow fell yesterday, thank you nor'easter- we got about an inch and a half. It couldn't be enjoyed though, because for the rest of the day is just rained this awful cold, windswept rain.  Someone said there is an old saying about this- something along the lines of "when the first snow is melted by rain all the rest will be the same..." Let's hope this is not true!

The Cabin

We did finally make it up to Monson. We stayed a night in the cabin, drove around through Bodfish Valley, Shirley, Blanchard and Abbot, Visited John and Donna, and ate breakfast in Greenville at Kelly's Landing.  It was a good visit. We say a few through hikers in Bodfish Valley- just off of Barren Mountain- I wouldn't like to be on the AT at this time of year.....

Barren Mountain

Japanese Larch Plantation- Bob Young Road-(plum creek owned)



Shirley Pond, Shirley, Maine



Moosehead Lake



Monson, Maine

Monster egg! It was a double yoker.

 

My Photos On Display

     For the past year or so I have been trying to get my act together to local display some of my photography. Well, I finally got it together! My work will be on display at Lisa's Legit Burritos in Downtown Gardiner. I thought I would share some of the work I plan on showing....

 

The Nasty Grub And One More Trip Down East

       I posted a photo of one of my damaged potatoes- which was minimal compared to others, but I did not post a photo of the culprit- well here it is! If anyone has suggestions about how to rid my plot of these buggers please let me know!

We made one more trip to Cobscook Bay earlier this week. We had nice weather while we were there and stayed in another great site. Good thing something was nice, because the old Subaru almost didn't make it- it was majorly overheating and we stopped to have someone check it out and they said we have serious head gasket problems. Armed with the jug of coolant and blasting the heat in the car though, we made it home without a tow.

Along the "outlaw" shortcut- somewhere near Cherryfield.

I told Joe I'd get him some clams. I failed!

Joe, on the other hand, was very successful!

Best way to start the day- view from the campsite.

Butter and English Muffins

     

     For some time now I have wanted to make my own butter- It's an easy process, and it just seemed like a good idea. The only thing that was holding me up was the idea that if I made butter, I better have something damn good to put it on! I decided on english muffins. First off, they also looked easy, and secondly, I love english muffins! 

    Other than the fact that I had to completely start the english muffins over ( because I used yeast that was a year and a month old, not just a month!) everything went very smooth, and I will most definitely do it again.

   I was on a bit of a baking spree this week and also made granola and some blueberry-raspberry cream cheese pastries.

Chaco hates the horseflies.

   The garden is also going pretty well right now. I have caught up on all of the weeding- I had a pretty huge crop of crab grass this year! My potatoes look pretty sorry due to the bug damage, but the tubers themselves are looking great. The chickens are also getting along just fine!

Speckle

  

Gerda

Peaches

Penny

Florence