The Coffee Cure-all

I just love coffee to jump start my production in the morning, or anytime of the day, really. I'm convinced that it is purely psychological and not the caffeine because I can consume a cup o'Joe prior to hitting the hay and enjoy a good night's sleep. Knowing my love of the bitter brew, my thoughtful husband returned home early this morning with a black, blueberry Dunkin' Donuts in hand as I was loading up the washer. Was it just a random, kind gesture? or perhaps he thought I might need a cup after his dream last night, in which I was apparently enjoying some brews and laughing it up with fat, old men at the local pub after a hard day at work.......

Departures and Arrivals

While Jubal was working with Jim on Monday, the three youngest kids and I took an unplanned trip to Fort Popham to see the latest Bath Iron Works built Navy ship pass by on its way out to sea trials . On the beach adjacent to the fort, I met up with my friend Cara Fuller and her kids. Cara's husband, Chad and our mutual friend Don Fisher were both on board the USS Jason Dunham, traveling down the Kennebec River toward our viewing point. The kids enjoyed wading into the chilly water and playing in the sand while we waited for the ship's arrival. The seals were numerous and active just offshore and helped pass the time until we saw the Coast guard escort, followed by the mast of the ship above the fort as it passed through the channeyl and continued past the beach, through the multitude of seals and out to the Atlantic for a few days. Before heading home, the kids had great fun exploring the fort and we ended the outing with some Giffords ice cream at Percy's.

Tuesday, I decided to head up to the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder to see the running of the alewives. As it turns out, we caught them near the beginning of the run. They were not very thick and I should have waited a week or so. I posted one photo. Though it's difficult to distinguish any individual fish, the blackness of the resting pool are all the fish crowded together. There is an ongoing restoration project for the ladder itself and it looks like it will be quite nice when it's complete. In the past, only a small portion of the series of pools leading to the pond above has been visible, but with this year's visit I could see that they are building pathways to allow visitors to view much more of the alewives journey. I look forward to next year's run.

Fledgling

Yesterday morning, before I was even out of bed, Jim found a young robin in front of the garage and brought it in to me. In a wheel, in the rafters of our garage, one of our resident Robins has built a nest, so I was quite sure that it was a fledgling from that nest. I temporarily put it in a cardboard box and researched online to determine how old it was and if it needed my care. I found that if the young bird is able to grasp your finger then it is old enough to have left the nest. Apparently, Robin fledglings leave the nest unable to fly and spend a few days on the ground, being fed by their parents and earning flight status. Sure enough, when I placed the bird under my Burning Bush, it began chirping and within five minutes, Mom arrived with a tasty worm. We've all enjoyed keeping an eye on the little one's progress during these two days. Atira has been particularly vigilant. It must be the mothering instinct. She saw him take several short little flights across the lawn today.The fledgling is not nervous when we approach it and seems to even like our company. This being the case, I chose to take the bird inside for the Saturday night to keep it from becoming a midnight snack for some marauding mammal. The parents feed their young until late in the evening and then begin again just before sunrise, so I brought it into the house around 8:40 and made sure I had placed the fledgling outside again by 4:30 am. All went well so I have brought him in again tonight. He settled down almost immediately and I haven't heard from him since. Now it's time for bed. Morning will arrive early!

Something To Chew On

After our Awana informational meeting this evening, I was reminded by Nicole, who obviously needs some higher form of entertainment, that I have been slacking in my blog entries. My apologies for the long delay; It has not been for lack of material but simply lack of time.

Just a short entry tonight to thank my friend Greg for his surprise contribution to my nasty gum-chewing habit. A box of 400 brightly colored gumballs should keep me in supply for a few weeks.

Wii, Wii, Madam

Upon returning to the house after picking up Nolan, Jim trudged up the stairs. Something in the sound of his walk caused me to look up from my paperwork and instantly I knew something was up. Jim would make a terrible poker player. His face tells everything. "What did you do?" I asked. He came closer and said, "Some husbands buy their wives diamond rings." (Some do....not mine) "Jim, what did you buy?" I was told to close my eyes and brought to the top of the stairs. When I looked down, I saw the Wii Fit Plus that I have wanted since before Christmas! I was quite happy but haven't been able to properly try it out yet. I had a Paris cafe themed women's event at the church tonight and didn't want to arrive smelly. (We don't want to be TOO authentic in our French theme....)