#23 Birthday Woes

#23 Birthday Woes

Hannah’s birthday was on Friday (Happy 23!). Given that she’s adulting and had to work both Friday and the better part of Saturday, we planned to celebrate Saturday evening. Unexpectedly, our 18-year-old oven stopped working on Friday. An early Saturday...
Evening Dragonfly

Evening Dragonfly

Dragonflies – fascinating little flying machines that bring such delight. This one likes the volunteer cattails that sprouted in the pond this year.
Twenty-five Years With This Man

Twenty-five Years With This Man

Twenty-five years.A quarter of a century.The best years of my life have been with this man.Thank you, Paul, for your love, your patience, the adventures, the quiet times, the crazy times, and a wonderful child who is more like you every day.I love you! Other...
Long-awaited Disappointment

Long-awaited Disappointment

When I was young, my maternal grandparents lived in Montgomery, Ohio. From my earliest visits to their home, I have snapshots of memories; no great detail but hazy pictures. My grandpa’s radio. Going to school with my grandmother. The Hadley potter plates she...
Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today we celebrate my dad’s 86th birthday. It’s been a rough year for my family, with mom in the hospital twice. I’ve made four trips to Pennsylvania so far to visit with mom and dad, and I’ve treasured every one of them. The older I get, the...
Magical Moments

Magical Moments

Early this morning, I was enjoying my coffee on the porch. A rustle in the woods put Gidget on alert. No barking, yet she was standing at attention at the edge of her fence. I looked up and caught the hint of a White-tail doe. And then a tiny “bleat”...
A Busy Day in the Garden

A Busy Day in the Garden

If you don’t look too closely at my garden, you won’t notice that the grass is as tall as my milkweed. While I love flowers, I’m not such a great gardener. Weeds and grass grow exponentially to the time I have to tend the garden. Thankfully, the...
Moments of Joy

Moments of Joy

Hannah worked Saturday and ended up with today off. So, I worked a half-day and then lured her to the beach. Believe it or not, it’s our first beach chair, toes in the water beach day of the season. I think Hannah’s finding that adulting and working...
What I Didn’t Miss

What I Didn’t Miss

The Broad-winged Hawk has been a frequent visitor to our yard all season long. This morning my work day started from home. Working from the porch, I heard the bird’s loud, high-pitched call. It took a few moments before I spotted him perched in a tree. I hustled...
Downeast Thunder Farm Owl Sign

Downeast Thunder Farm Owl Sign

Some time ago, Paul asked me to convert my Downeast Thunder Farm logo owls into an image file he could use with his X-Carve machine. His first test run with that simplified design was on the garden trug he made for me a couple of weeks ago. Last week he started...
The Lure of Chives

The Lure of Chives

The chive blossoms were the most popular flower in my yard this weekend. The lure of these dainty purple flowers is strong. ‘Tis pollinator...
My New Garden Trug

My New Garden Trug

Each year, Women for Healthy Rural Living has a raffle auction – except for the last two COVID summers. I’ve often been able to talk Paul into making and donating an item. In the past, he’s built a rowing dinghy and a child’s pedal Bugatti car,...
Goslings

Goslings

Every year about this time, Hannah and I venture out in search of goslings. Tonight we enjoyed watching two Canada Goose families noodling about the shore on Beals Island. A lovely evening with my girl.
May in Bloom

May in Bloom

As May comes to a close, I thought I’d share how Maine has come to life this last month. Although my gardens are just emerging, the wild blooms have nourished the pollinators and my soul. Ferns are emerging. Ash tree (maybe?) in bloom. Wild violets. Buttercups....