Turkey Trails

I encountered a flock of plump wild turkeys this morning. They were hanging out at an intersection between Alna and Wiscasset on this crisp Fall morning. This reminded me that I hadn't seen our local brood of turkeys lately. Wouldn't you know it, a couple of hours later....there they were! Atira was the first to glimpse them, bellowing, "The turkeys are back!" as she sprinted to the window.



They seem to be creatures of habit and have a travel trail that they always follow. It incorporates the dirt road behind our house, crosses a small wooded area to just to our right and then takes them straight down our driveway and back into the woods again. They looked much larger than the small chicks we first encountered this spring. They've filled out nicely and I wonder how many will make it through Turkey Season........


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Bug-Mania

Our usual schedule was modified this morning and instead of needing to be out the door at 6:00 with only Jubal, I had to have all four ready to leave as the sun rose. This way I could head straight to Wiscasset after dropping the sophomore off in Alna and avoid backtracking. The Maine State Museum was hosting Bug-Mania and Nicole Viele had signed us up to be there around 9:00 to avoid the rush of school kids that would surely descend by mid-morning. There were exhibits from many groups, businesses and individuals.They included spiders, beetles, a scorpion, butterflies,



moths, walking sticks, bees (not my favorite), water bugs, bug-consuming birds and animals, jewelry and art pieces made from bugs (a common housefly!), and even an opportunity to write with a feather pen using ink created with insect gall. (I smell an art/science project). Once the hordes arrived via bus, the exhibits became too crowded, the museum became too warm, and Tell became too crabby. It was time to leave. We stopped at the playground in Wiscasset to eat our lunches, then arrived back at the Viele's to find the box of Dunkin' Donuts that Greg Hodgdon had left in the garage for the kids. I know the young ones enjoyed their field trip; I hope they learned some new information about the insect world. What I learned today is that my vehicle is not safe from Greg anywhere in the MidCoast region.


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CGN Family Camp 2011

We've had a long, full day here at Camp Good News' 2nd Annual Family Camp........ Catching up with people I've not seen in a while, enjoying the company of those I love, beautiful bluegrass music by the LaClaires, listening to Dad share from God's word, eating food I didn't have to cook, playing pool with Tell and Atira, watching Nolan win a game of Ga-Ga while Julia Pendleton shimmied her way to the top of the tether ball pole.


working with Heather to steer a canoe through the winding waterway toward the lake with Tell and Julia in tow, an evening bonfire........


and ending the evening with a rousing game of Rhythm, dominated by Annah Brunk in the #1seat. Roger Labbe joined in with some of the young crowd for their first game ever. By the end, Atira, Nolan, Kayla Raymond and even Roger were old pros. The heavy breathing and snores coming from the bunks above are testimony of a well-spent day.


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Is It Potato or Plantain?

Have you ever walked by a fruit or vegetable in the grocery store and wondered, "What does that taste like and how would I prepare it?". Plantains are one of those foods for me. I always thought it was just another version of the banana until I brought the green tough-skinned fruit home. The kids and I researched it and found out that it can be prepared at all stages of ripeness, from green to black, but is always cooked. The fruit sweetens as it ripens so using it to prepare desserts is reserved for the yellow and black stages.






Our plantains were about as green as they come, full of starch, which is perfect for a recipe that mimics mashed potatoes. After peeling, I sliced the plantains in half and boiled them until soft, about 45 minutes. Then I simply mashed them, adding some milk and a large spoonful of cream cheese. If I hadn't prepared them myself, I would have thought they were potatoes. Atira is excited to get a few more, let them ripen and try a dessert recipe next time. I'm sure you'll hear about that attempt when it happens.


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.....And We're Off!

As I sit watching Atira's soccer practice, I'm about 3/4 of the way through the first crazy school day. I started schooling the younger kids a couple weeks ago but it's been sporadic and the rest of the world was still in summer mode. Today was Jubal's first day of school so I was out of the house by 6:25 with Atira, who had awoken early, to pick up Nate Fisher and bring them to Liz Brown's for the commute up to Coastal. Arriving home at 7:30 I found Nolan awake with breakfast eaten and his bed made, ready for schoolwork. (This was discussed last night) I feel so organized at the moment. We had a great school day, Atira's practice has ended and I'm off to pick up Jubal from the Fishers. Thanks to Don, who picked him up from Coastal's soccer practice. Don has a coffee waiting for me and then it's back home to the roast that Nolan is monitoring. Here we go!



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Ending A Superb Summer

The end of summer should smell of freshly grilled food and bring to your ears the laughter of great friends. The last two weekends have done just that. The cookout with the Buxton Crowd last Friday night was conveniently within one day of my birthday. Being both a fabulous host and best friend, she presented me with a whoopie pie cake ablaze with curvy candles and I enjoyed hearing a hearty rendition of "Happy Birthday". I quickly joined in, singing "Happy Birthday to Me", which is much less embarrassing than having people stare and sing at you. The only thing wrong with the evening was the absence of Nicki and Jeremy Redlon who were celebrating Brandon's birthday.




Today's cookout, in good Maine fashion, involved lobster, (I opted for steak), corn on the cob, some blueberry cake and of course, ended with S'mores. The Hodgdon's hosted and the diverse crowd came. There were the quiet and the loud.....(actually a lot of us are loud), the witty and sarcastic, the listeners and the talkers (guess which one Jim is), the observers and the entertainers, those that are kind-hearted and those that fling water and shoot lobster claw bands (you know who you are)....and I love that I ended my summer with all of them.












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Prep and Progress

With a lull in his work this week and materials stockpiled, Jim began work on our shower.



I have been patiently waiting for more than three years, even using pipe instead of a proper shower head.....



but you know, the tiler's wife is always the last to get her custom shower......


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