7/28/08 Garden Party

MRM had another Garden Party like she did when my parents were here last September. Rodney, MRM, RBF and I sat outside next to her garden in the cool summer evening and ate peas and green beans from her garden. We had potato salad in honor of her potatoes that will soon be ready for harvest and we had a salad with green peppers and tomatoes to encourage her green peppers and tomatoes to hurry along in their growing. We also got a tour of her gardens which was very fun. Good food and good friends . . . God provides many blessings.

7/25/08 Schmooses Pub and Grill in Jackman

After all that touring, we headed back into Jackman and ate a nice dinner at this cute pub. Good burgers and we watched the first couple of innings of the Red Sox game. We listened to the rest of the game on the way home. The drive home was at dusk with the sunset behind us. It was just as beautiful, though very different on the way back. I can't wait to make this drive in the autumn. I know it'd be beautiful in the winter but I'm not sure I'm the one to do the driving on that trip!

7/25/08 Moose River Outpost

Marcus is Rodney's nephew that runs this camp called Moose River Outpost. He gave us a tour (in that little Renegade Jeep) of the camp, but not of all 7,000 acres. Here's Marcus, Jenn's mom (Jenn is Rodney's sister-in-law), and Rodney. Jenn and her mom had been in Quebec and stopped at camp on their way DOWN from Canada. [Notice that in this sentence, the word "camp" is used to describe an organized facility for camping and not the traditional Maine "camp."]

Here is one of the camping areas at the camp. There are 25 wooden platforms with tents on them and some nice amenities.

This lake is only 186 of their 7,000 acres but it's all theirs.

7/25/08 The Photographer and his Assistant

Here's Rodney taking photos (imagine that) with his big camera (not the iPhone) and a little help from "Little H".

7/25/08 Attean Lake Scenic Overlook

We passed up several rest stops and scenic overlooks but Rodney kept saying the best one is coming. Here it is at Attean Lake and it turns out, he wasn't kidding.

7/25/08 Celebration Tour #4

We're off! It's time for Celebration Tour #4! We headed north this time instead of the coast. We had an added bonus of an extra passenger, Rodney's niece, whom we'll just call "Little H". She was such a great traveler. :-) She'd been visiting Grandma and Grandpa for a week and they were planning to take her home that day, so we saved them a trip since we were on our way to visit mom and dad at the camp outside of Jackman.

Here's "The Forks" section of the Kennebec River where it meets up with the Dead River. A lot of white water rafters go through here. We saw a lot of gorgeous scenery on the way, but this was our first stop. My favorite sign before we got here was the green mileage sign that said, "Canadian Border 65 miles."

This is the rest stop at The Forks. See the buses in the background? Those are used for carrying white water rafters. Those are empty but in our 5 minutes at this stop, we saw at least 3 full buses go by.

7/25/08 Beautiful Flowers at the Farm

I don't know what kind of flower these are but they're big and beautiful and these pictures don't do them justice. Rodney and his "Mum" planted them right outside the porch window where she could see them and enjoy them.

7/25/08 Strawberry Festival "Arts in the Park"

Today I drove through town and drove by a lot of activity in the park. Then I remembered that it was Strawberry Festival time. Now when you say "Strawberry Festival" in this town, the most common reply is, "That used to be called Moonlight Madness but they changed it up because they wanted to be more artsy and because there were so many hoodlums ruining the night time events." I think next year's posters should just go ahead and proclaim, "Formerly Known As Moonlight Madness."

I never did see any strawberries, but I also didn't stay too long. I was on my way out of town but took the time to stop at the "Arts in the Park" exhibits and eat a lobster roll lunch.

St. Luke's Episcopal knows how to work these events. They offered a $9.95 Lobster Roll Sack Lunch. It included a lobster roll, chips, drink, and cookie. In my case, they had one bottle of water left, so I lucked out on that. And my cookie was really a brownie which was okay by me because there are a lot of cookies that I don't care that much about but a brownie, anyway you make it, is always delicious. Their lobster roll had a lobster salad in it that was quite delicous. They had the tiniest bit of mayonnaise and a touch of celery in it, but the lobster meat was sweet and tender and obviously very fresh. YUM!!

As I walked up to the St. Luke's sign to figure out how to frame my photograph, I hear someone say, "Theresa?" I looked up and there's Amity, one of my graduate students from last spring! (That's her in the photo.) While I was paying for my lunch, Erin--another graduate student--walked up to Amity and then spotted me and we said hello. As we were talking, Andrea from church came down the sidewalk towards us so we, too, said hello. I didn't see the sheriff yet, but I expect him any minute.

7/24/08 Farewell Reception

Melvin was on the Leadership Institute Planning Committee with me this past spring. Thank goodness we did that together or I never would've met him. And now he's leaving! Today they held a reception for him. His boss asked him what he wanted served at the reception and he said, "Nothing healthy." So that's what she did. We had a choice of Whoopie Pies or cookies. Now this is my kind of party! His boss, Kirsten, was also on the Leadership Institute Planning Committee so I got to know her as well. She gave a fabulous presentation to honor him at the reception. The attendee list was a who's who of UMF folks, which is especially impressive in the middle of the summer when so many people are on vacation. I was impressed.

7/23/08 Great Representation

Last month I received a newsletter from my local representative, Janet Mills. I actually took the time to glance through it and read some of the pertinent articles. One of the notifications was that residents could be eligible for property tax and rent refunds for 2007. It further said to contact her office to get on the list to be sent the application once it became available. It was late on Sunday night when I read this, so I just sent an email to the address in the newsletter with my request. About 5 minutes later, I received an email reply that I was on the list and it would probably be August 1 before the paperwork would be available. I wrote back and asked . . . sure enough, it was Janet Mills herself, answering her own email on a Sunday night. Impressive. Today (8 days before August 1), I received an envelope in the mail, hand-addressed, that contained the requested paperwork. I can't tell for sure, but the handwriting on the envelope looks very similar to the official "Janet Mills" signature on the pre-printed note inside. Wow. That's taking your civic obligations seriously! I'm impressed with my representative.

7/23/08 ANOTHER Python in Maine

What?! Not just "a python" in Maine, but "another" python in Maine? And this is happening in Wilton which is just down the road from Farmington! In fact, this incident took place in the parking lot of Shelly's Market which is the landmark for when to take a right to get to Rodney's family's farm.

Here's the article from the AP:

LEWISTON (AP) -- A Wilton man is having trouble sleeping since he found a python snake about 9 feet long under the engine of his pickup truck.

Harley Burgess's shocking discovery Saturday is the second of its kind in less than a week in Maine. Last Wednesday, a Gorham woman found a snake -- also identified as a reticulated python -- in the washing machine. In Wilton, Burgess says he's still shaking when he thinks of the python found under his truck. He's had nightmares about the snake getting his grandson, who was with him the day the python was discovered.

Burgess has been searching for clues as to how the snake got loose in his truck. Reticulated pythons are illegal in Maine without a permit.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

retrieved 7/25/08 from: http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=90581

If you do a Google search on it, you can see the story has been picked up in a lot of cities 'cuz this is news! Here's the original story from my favorite source, The Sun Journal:

9-foot snake in pickup shakes up Wilton man

By Donna M. Perry , Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

PHOTO GALLERY

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WILTON - Harley Burgess hasn't slept well since he discovered an 8- to 9-foot reticulated python under the engine of his pickup truck Saturday morning.

"I'm still shaking about it," Burgess said. "I hate snakes!"

Burgess, who lives on Weld Road, said he and his 9-year-old grandson had stopped at a store in East Wilton to get something to eat before they headed to Chesterville.

A friend came into the store minutes later to tell him he wouldn't believe what had just crawled out from under the engine compartment of Burgess' truck.

The friend thought it was a muffler pipe hanging down at first, until he looked closer.

"It was a huge snake," Burgess said. "It was unbelievable. I parked over a mud puddle and that's when it came down. The clerk at the store thought I was going to have a heart attack, I was shaking so much."

Burgess, a hunter and fisherman, said he has had nightmares that the snake could have gotten his grandson.

"This bothered me a lot," he said.

Burgess said he has been searching for clues to find out who had the snake and how it got loose to get in his truck.

The reticulated python is illegal in Maine unless permits are obtained, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The only pythons that are legal in Maine are the ball, jungle carpet and children's python.

Wayne Atwood, Wilton's animal control officer, was called in to catch the snake.

Atwood said when he arrived he saw the snake lying under the vehicle.

He thought it was a boa constrictor but learned later it was a reticulated python.

He used snake tongs to pick it up, and the snake wrapped itself around the pole. He put the snake into a pet carrier and brought it to Sue Metzger, a state humane agent, in Livermore Falls.

It was the first reticulated python he has come across in 19 years, Atwood, of Jay, said.

It is the second python of its species to be found in Maine in less than a week. A Gorham woman found a reticulated python in a washing machine on Wednesday.

Metzger said when she received the snake she contacted Rick Teele, who is familiar with snakes, and brought it to his home in Fayette.

He identified the reptile as a reticulated python.

The snake had injuries on its upper jaw from being dragged.

Metzger said she contacted Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and then a rehabilitator.

Teele told her the snake would be better off traveling in a pillowcase, so he put it in one and tied it off and then put it back in the carrier. This species of snake can grow to nearly 33 feet, Metzger said.

She brought someone with her and the two drove the python to Lewiston to a rehabilitator, Jen Lewis, of Mis-Fit Rehabilitation.

"This is one reason people should read up on what they're buying, not that it would have made this one legal," Metzger said.

When people have to move or no longer know what to do with snakes as they get larger they will let them go out in the woods.

"This is when there can be problems," Metzger said. "People need to educate themselves to make the right decision, if a snake is going to be the right pet for them. If they do have a snake and no longer want it, they should call a rehabilitator, or (Maine Inland Fisheries) to find other options than to just let it loose."

retrieved 7/25/08 from http://www.sunjournal.com/story/275325-3/Franklin/9foot_snake_in_pickup_shakes_up_Wilton_man/

7/23/08 Internet on the verandah

I did it. I broke down and got Internet access at the house. It's very expensive compared to Dallas and wasn't sure I could justify it, but I was going crazy without it. I figure since I don't have a TV here and am not spending money or wasting time on that, then I can justify getting Internet. The cheapest provider right now is Beeline Cable. I'm paying extra because I don't subscribe to their cable television. But at least they'll still provide the service to me! I bought the wireless router and was ready when the installer came "between 8am and noon" today (it was actually close to 9:30). He only installs the cable and the cable modem . . . the wireless is up to me, though he did give me a telephone number for support. But I didn't need any support and got it hooked up on the second try.

One nice thing about Beeline is that I don't have to sign a contract, so in two months, I can choose to not have their Internet service anymore and there's no penalties. Since I don't have a landline telephone, DSL is not an option for me (though the pricing on that seems pretty comparable to the cable prices). There is a startup satellite company and if the rumor is true that the man down the road from me is in on that, I will at least pursue learning more about it. Until then, this will have to do. So far so good!!

7/22/08 Picnic Dinner and Dutch Treat

Tonight Rodney and I had a mini-celebration tour. We met at Hannaford's, made ourselves a salad at the salad bar, drove to the gazebo by Wilson Lake in Wilton, and picnicked on our salads. Not too far into the meal, he said, "My cousins, live near here and I want you to meet them 'cuz they work at UMF." He called them and Terry said she would meet us at Dutch Treat for dessert. We went and I met her and we had a blast. I loved hearing all the family stories and getting the dirt that Rodney won't tell on himself. ;-)

I had the black raspberry soft serve ice cream mostly because I loved the story that went with it. Apparently, they don't always have the black raspberry soft serve ice cream, but you can get on the list of folks who want to be notified and when they make it, the folks at Dutch Treat will personally call you to tell you that they have it.

7/21/08 A Unique Lobster in Farmington

What's up with lobsters everywhere?? This is the display case in the window of the jewelry store in downtown Farmington. It's solid brass on the head and pincers and feet and a beautiful orange glass for the body. All for only $89.99.

7/20/08 Outside Waldoboro Maine . . . The Icing (Ice Cream) on the Cake

Whether you call it dusk or sunset, by now, it's dark. We leave Recycle Art/Blueberries and continue north on 32 to Waldoboro. It really shouldn't take this long to get from Pemaquid to Waldoboro unless you're really celebrating Maine, life, and life in Maine like we are. We finally get to an intersection with a sign that says Waldoboro is to the right. And that road is closed! Oh well, it was too dark to see Waldoboro anyway. As we continue north (and a little east), we see a small building aglow with icicle lights. It's an ice cream stand that features Giffords ice cream. Should we see if they have Grape Nuts? I think so! And we add yet another U-turn to our trip and meet a delightful couple who runs "Jefferson Scoop". Turns out we are in the community of Jefferson. Rodney not only got his Grape Nuts, he got a hot fudge sundae with Grape Nuts ice cream. I got a "blue on blue" sundae: blueberry ice cream with blueberry sauce. We both got the whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. I, however, got walnuts instead of peanuts at the recommendation of our delightful hostess. I didn't know I had the option, but once she recommended it, I said, "Yes!"

Dr. Mari, did you notice the cow-patterned contact paper on the counter in the back?

I know I said it's dark and this photo doesn't look like it. The iPhone has this amazing capability to take pictures in the dark. There's no flash on it, but somehow if you can see it with the human eye, the iPhone camera can capture it.