Gone Fishin'~ sort of!

~Comfy Flip-Flops for wet areas~

All packed with my fishin' essentials.

~L.L. BEAN bag~

For water, sun-screen, hat, snacks, tools.

~My pail for the haul~

~Trowel for digging~

~Wooden spoon for light scraping~


I'll see you back here on Tuesday with photos and stories of Deb's big end-of-summer adventure!

Jewels of the Sea~Part Deux

~Mimi Gregoire Carpenter~

~The beautiful work of Maine artist Mimi Gregoire Carpenter~

I have long been a fan of Mimi Gregoire Carpenter's work. To me, her work exemplifies the treasures of the Maine coastline.

From her sea urchins, sand dollars, mussel shells, small pieces of driftwood and softly tumbled sea glass- Mimi captures the Jewels of the Sea perfectly.

Mimi has also authored the book, What the Sea Left Behind. I sweet story of the treasures a little girl finds while walking the beaches.

~ Perfect examples of Sea Glass~

~Beautiful blues and that citrus green~

~A bounty of sea glass~rarely seen quite like this~



I have just been invited on a marvelous adventure! Thursday morning I leave bright and very early for the shores of Maryland...Sea-glassing. For me, this is the perfect way to spend a few days. I'm traveling with my life-long friend. Her Dad the town physician, brought me into the world and she and I have been best friends since nursery school. So our twelve hour journey is just another good excuse to chat it up. Most of the year my friend lives in Florida, but she still has a summer home here in Maine. Sea-Glassing is a passion we share. She knows of some {secret} places where the treasures abound!

~*~

I'll be back here early next week~ so please come back and see what jewels I have unearthed.

Weekend in pictures and a Prayer~

~Sunday swells from hurricane Bill~

~Carved Garden Statue~

~Beautiful Rustic Gate~

~Stone wall~

~Our Gorgeous view~

~Evenings were spent right here~
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Thoughts and prayers are going out to the family who lost their little girl on Sunday afternoon.

Although the remnants of hurricane Bill gave some of us some big, gorgeous waves, the ocean is powerful and can be very dangerous. In Maine's Acadia National park, a seven year old girl was swept away from a look-out along with several other on-lookers. They were watching the show that "Bill" had provided. While the others were safely rescued, this little girl

could not be resuscitated.

~*~
~Prayers out to this family~

Coastal Weekend Review~

~The Frenzy Ocean Kayak~

This little Frenzy Ocean Kayak was just perfect for me. It's lightweight, very solid and stable, and best of all... no hidden spaces for eight-legged critters to hide. I loved it!

~Fresh Crab Rolls~

This was Saturday lunch.

~Boiled Lobster~

This was Saturday dinner.

~Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc~

While visiting this sweet wine shop- I found this wine and had to add it to my collection of great labels {don't we all sometimes choose wines just for the label?}

Our friends supplied me with my very own chemical toilet. No outhouse and not one spider sighting.

I was surprised that so many of you also fear the eight-legged critters. I know that they are good for ridding us of other nasty bugs... but I still don't like them and was so happy that all of those guys kept their distance.

Hurricane Bill supplied us with some huge swells Sunday afternoon. I will post a few photos when I get them sorted out. Considering the forecast was for high winds and rain- we lucked out and had sunny, very warm and humid days.

It was a great weekend. I hope that your weekend was as nice as this one in the northeast.

Uninvited Guests~

~ Outdoor facilities~

We are spending the weekend at the coast. It's a gorgeous spot, right on the shore, beautiful view, great accommodations {with one minor exception} with our dear, dear friends. The down side of this... I will have to use one of these! It is a sweet building-and you know how I adore a cute out-building. And this one- is very clean and well-appointed {if you can use those two words when describing an outhouse}. I really don't mind using it. I make very quick work of it and bolt out of there. WHY?

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! THESE !

I have a real fear of spiders! We're not talking- eeewww...a spider! We are talking occasional nightmares, melt-downs and refusing to get into a kayak. A huge water spider once presented himself to me in the middle of the lake. He'd been hiding somewhere in the kayak and decided to expose himself to me. I was out of that kayak and into the water in a flash.
My husband frequently has to turn over our chairs outside just to 'check'. I won't carry wood in for the fireplace until after the first hard frost! I have had dozens of hair-raising experiences with these eight-legged creatures.
You have no idea how difficult it was for me to look at all of the spider images, while trying to choose the perfect specimen for this post!
So... there we are. I need to use an outhouse this weekend and who knows what's lurking in there, down there???
~*~
Comments Please!

Last of the summer weekends~

~Rocky Maine Coastline~

Friday we are planning a little trip to the coast with good friends. I heard this morning that hurricane Bill may be traveling up the eastern seaboard. This could result in huge waves, and lots of wind and rain. We will be staying right on the shoreline.

Unless the predictions are hazardous we are proceeding with our plans.
We're planning to cook lobsters, corn and steam some clams. A nighttime fire mean S'mores will likely be dessert.

I'm thinking that there may be some special jewels of the sea just waiting for me.

As summer closes in on us we all try to squeeze in those last special outtings.

Do you have special plans for these last few summer weekends?

Are You Kidding?

~Michelle Obama in shorts~

I was shocked as I read this on MSNBC this afternoon!

The article said- "How Much Skin is Really in"?

You have got to be kidding! Do we not have more important matters to focus on? How many of us really care that she is baring her legs...or too much skin? It surprises me when the media focuses in on such things.

I think that Michelle Obama exudes real style and grace. She's an attractive woman, she works hard at keeping herself in good shape and why shouldn't she dress comfortably while on vacation?

~*~

Remember a couple of months ago when there was a fuss over Ms. Obama wearing sleeveless dresses? Really? She has great arms and why shouldn't she wear the styles that suit her toned body.

~ Michelle Obama~

In a sleeveless Dress...

Not since Jackie have we had such a stylish and refreshing First Lady. I for one, am all for dressing to suit the occasion and always being age appropriate. I cannot wait to read the headlines on what she may be wearing next week while vacationing on Martha's Vineyard.

~*~
Are you kidding?

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

Cookies for 'The Boys"

~I heart these guys~

Last week my scooter acted up and I couldn't get him started! The guys from my local repair shop came by, picked him up and away they went.

Not only did they repair whatever he needed~ but they drained out the old and added new fuel, polished him up and got him back to me, with a ridiculously low bill.

These guys are all so friendly, funny and they take very good care of my scooter and my vehicle.

~*~

So, I'm thinking a big batch of cookies would be just the perfect little 'Thank~You'.

~Not Meringues... too fussy for these guys-and way to humid to make~

~There will be CHOCOLATE...lots of chocolate~

~Fresh from the oven~

~Chocolate and marshmallow~


I follow the recipe on the Quaker Oatmeal box (Old Fashioned).

I'll add lots of coconut, chopped pecans, dried cherries, lots of Ghirardelli 60% Bittersweet chips and a few mini marshmallows.
Add one extra egg per recipe and that's it. Except I will need to make a double batch for these swell guys...which means I'll be baking all morning.

A good, hearty, manly cookie for a few good men.

What's Your Favorite?

~Onion Soup~

What is your favorite time of year? Mine is autumn. It always has been. My intention is not to rush what's left of our summer. There are still a few more summer weekends to savor. But when I start hearing the crickets outside, I know that fall is just around the corner. Even as a young schoolgirl I loved autumn. It did mean having to say 'good-bye' to the carefree days of summer, and get back into a routine. Then as I got older and started working during the summer, I would look forward to reconnecting with friends and start going to football games. But now, at this time of my life, I do adore those first crisp days of autumn. It brings a tranquility~a time of nesting~gathering in the nuts for winter. This is when I really love to cook. When there is time to prepare a hearty, thick soup or stew and let simmer away all afternoon. I like to bake with fall apples and fill the freezer with some special treats for unexpected guests.

~The Perfect Fall Sweater~

GORSUCH

{I don't have this sweater, but I wouldn't mind adding it to my collection...}

We can start wearing our soft, warm sweaters during walks and even when the house turns a little cooler during the day.

At days end, we can sip a glass of wine in front of the fire.

Listening to the crisp leaves beneath your feet. You may catch the scent of a neighbor burning leaves. Bring home a few special reminders and press them between the pages of a well-loved book.

~*~

What is your favorite season? What are the things that make it special?

Last night of vacation

~Roasting Marshmallows~

~S'Mores on Saturday night~

On Saturday evening we sat by the new stone fire pit my husband built and roasted marshmallows. The S'mores were yummy, the fire big and beautiful... the mosquitoes were very hungry.

I know we'll be spending many evenings in front of this fireplace- even on the coldest winter nights.

It was the last day of my families vacation here in Maine.

What a great way to end another lazy day.

A Virtual Holiday

~Bramasole- To yearn for the sun~

Bramasole is the name of the villa in Frances Mayes' book UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN.

I'm sure you have either seen the movie or read the book-or both.

I love the movie and watch it frequently. It takes me away to a place I love. I like the story too. Not too deep, not tragic and with a happy ending. I think I like the movie so much more than the book because it portrays Frances as a somewhat more hip women than the Frances in the book.

Personally, I'd love to meet this Frances. I'd like to go live with her for a few months. I'd like to eat ice-cream cones in the village piazza, and wish passers-by "Buon Natale" at Christmas.

I would like to cook in her ancient kitchen and have a team of strong men to do all of the chores for me. I would sketch interesting doors and entry-ways all day long and sip cold pinot grigio as the sun sets.

~ Tuscan Window~

~Sunflowers at sunset~

I'm trying to get my painting groove back- and I needed this little virtual holiday-if only for a few minutes. I hope your weekend is filled with all of the things that you love most. If you're having trouble kick-starting, try a virtual holiday of a favorite spot or one that you dream about.

See you back here on Monday.

Ice Cream and Paper Chains

~Ice-Cream Cones~

~People Chains~

~Numerous Paper Chains~

~And even more ice-cream cones~

This week, while our darling grandchildren are in Maine- we are making lots of paper chains... enough to adorn a huge Christmas tree!

And... did I mention that there were ice-cream cones???

Isn't that what summer is all about?

Summer~at it's best.

~ Maine Lobster~

~Garden fresh, juicy tomatoes~

~Just-picked corn-on-the-cob~

Do you eat to live? Or do you live to eat?

Most of the time, I try to eat to live. I fill up on as much fresh produce as possible, eat a bit of turkey, no red meat and I try to be careful with carbs and sugar.

That being said... this time of year I definitely live to eat! Maine meals at their summer best that is. Who can resist fresh tomatoes, corn-on-the-cob {with real butter}, and Maine lobster...ahem-also with real butter. A chilled glass of pinot grigio and you have a fabulous Maine meal.

So, tell me- do you eat to live or live to eat? And what is your favorite summer indulgence?

L O V E a thunderstorm~

~Reading by candlelight~

~L O V E Cloud ~

I love a summer thunderstorm. They don't seem to bother the pups and I'm so thankful for that. We once had a sweet dog-GUS, he was terrified by a pending storm and could sense one coming for an hour.
It seems the perfect opportunity to take a break, stay off the computer and phone, light a fat candle and pick up a good book.

Do you enjoy a good thunderstorm? Or perhaps you head straight for your vehicle and park in a vacant lot {in school, they use to say that was the best and safest place to wait out a thunderstorm}

Images via GOOGLE search

S-u-m-m-e-r...

~Cooling breeze~

~Cooling Swim~

~Maine's Lake Region~

It is high-summer-season in Maine. Hot, hazy, and humid.

I start my day with the windows wide open- with the hopes of a bit of a cooling breeze. Later, I'm shutting all of the windows and doors and giving in to air conditioning.

I like to stay busy during the day-with sketching, puttering around the house and preparing dishes for dinner. I admit to having a low tolerance for the humidity.

The weather has changed considerably in two days? On Saturday it was dry..... very dry, cool and breezy. Almost fall-like.

I know what is ahead for us here in the northeast- so I will enjoy the hot weather, get my work done in the early morning hours and later in the day hop on my scooter, maybe take a swim and start the a.c...

I hope that your days are warm, sunny and not too humid.

~*~

What do you do to combat the, hot, hazy and humid weather?