Pick of the Week

A famous meteorological term which means...find something to do outside, its gonna be a great weather day, so we had no choice but to take advantage of it.  But, what to do on this "pick of the week" day?  If we had been planning ahead, we would have gone to the Botanical Gardens, or maybe a ride on the ferry to Peaks Island, but we didn't, sooooo...bike ride, day at the beach, what to do, what to do.  

We decided to pack our books, beach chairs and beverages and drive, rather than ride, to Bug Light Park.  We arrived around noon and found the park very quiet and kind of windy.

We selected a nice spot near the top of the hill so we could see out into the bay, as well as the river and Portland Harbor.  

There was a lot of action on the water...ferries back and forth, sailboats keeling severely thanks to the wind, an oil tanker unloading and The Cat arrived.

It was so nice to have the option of just sitting and watching all the activity with no agenda, then doing some reading and "resting our eyes".  

We packed up our things about 2:15 and drove to the nearest cafe/sandwich shop...The 158 Picket Street Cafe.

photo from their Facebook page

Well...they closed at 2:00!  CRAP!  We really had no idea where else in the area to grab a sandwich but after driving around for several minutes, we came across Dipietro's Market where we got a salami and provolone italian and some chips.

Our plan was to walk from the 158 to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse so we drove back and parked across the street, where we had parked the first time.  It was a short walk, maybe 5 minutes to the lighthouse park.  We didn't find any picnic tables, so we sat at the top of the steps leading down to the beach and ate our lunch while we tried to keep everything from blowing away in a very stiff wind!!!

It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I pictured lunch at Spring Point light but the view was beautiful, just waaaay too windy.  At one point, it blew Bill's hat off, blew over the bottle of soda and bag of chips and blew the napkins down to the beach, which Bill aptly collected before they blew out to sea.  

From there we walked out to the light, which was kind of precarious because my hair was in my face every step I took and basically, the walk is a granite jetty so it's rock to rock, some are close, some are far apart.

We walked around to the far side, just because we could.

Looking out toward Portland Head Light

Looking out toward one of the Casco Bay islands

We walked along the path, past the remains of Fort Preble

and onto Willard Beach.

rocky shore

We came cross these interesting rocks...

These colors would make a nice quilt

We continued walking as far as the lifeguard chair, then returned.  We found the house we want

and the house we can afford

Actually, we probably can't afford either of these either.  

Thought this peace symbol was appropriate, considering the state of the country and the world right now.

What next...ice cream or a good cup of coffee?  Siri found us a coffee shop on Commercial Street, so we headed that way.  The problem with Siri is that she isn't always current on her suggestions and the coffee shop was empty and being remodeled. No worries, we had no agenda so we parked and took a walk; we haven't been to the Old Port in years.

Thankfully we walked far enough to discover the Bam Bam Bakery and figured they sell pastries, they must sell coffee.  Not only did we each get a very good latte, we each had a wonderful macaroon and got to use the restroom!  The trifecta ;o)

It was a great day all the way around!

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

Gym Hookey

Decided on the spur of the moment to skip the gym later and spend the afternoon at Two Lights State Park.  The fact that it was around 90* and humid helped us make a quick decision.

Perfect day to sit, nap, read and listen to the music of the sea...

It was pretty close to high tide when we arrived

and not so high tide when we left, maybe three hours later.

We'll catch the gym another day, today we stopped to smell the roses.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

I'm such a Slob

Picked a ton of strawberries today.

Brought a stool with me to save my back!

Couldn't manage to save my shirt though.  Good Grief!

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Spring Point Light

We recently discovered that this lighthouse isn't very far from our favorite Bug Light park.  Today being Father's Day, Bill decided he would enjoy a bike ride and it seemed like the perfect day.  Wendy and Dan even joined us.  

Although it was 81* in Sanford when we left around noon, it was only 71* when we left Wainwright Fields and the wind was blowing at a good clip...12 mph.  Good Grief!

It was by far the most eventful ride Bill and I have ever had to Bug Light.  First of all, he was nearly run over by a jerk on a motorbike, who came charging out of the brush by Easy Day.  Motorized bikes aren't even allowed on the Eastern Trail!  Thankfully, Bill saw him coming and was able to stop before being crashed into.  Next, as we crossed Waterman Drive, we were nearly run over by a car turning right on a red light.  Wendy told them we have the right of way and the passenger said we didn't because only pedestrians have the right of way and we were on our bikes.  Seriously???  You are in such a big hurry that you would run over us because we aren't walking our bikes.  Another jerk!  Must be the full moon.

Bug Light park was very busy since it was the weekend and there were lots of boats in the harbor.  Fun to watch.  We sat for ten minutes or so and had a snack, then proceeded to find our way to Spring Point Light.  Turned out to be not as easy as we thought.

We traveled through part of the SMTC campus overlooking Willard Beach and Casco Bay.  We ended up on a path above Fort Prebble and the lighthouse.

We never actually found our way down to the area on the water but I think everyone was ready to head back to the car.  Bill and I will drive over one of these days to explore the park and I'm sure we will eventually find the right way from one park to the other on our bikes.

Unfortunately, Wendy and Dan didn't really enjoy the ride after discovering it was so urban, traveling through neighborhoods and along major roadways.  Lesson learned.  We'll invite them again when we go to the marsh.  They both said they prefer to ride through the woods and we always stop for ice cream when we travel that section of the trail.  Everyone likes ice cream!

The ride back was against a 15 mph headwind, not the best ride we have ever had.  Oh well, they can't all be "the best ride ever" but we enjoyed having Wendy and Dan along on this Father's Day.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

Beach Time

I can't remember the last time I was at Drakes Island, although a visit there with Wendy in the past couple of years nibbles at the corners of my mind.

This is the reason I don't go to the beach in Southern Maine during the summer and love being at the beach in Port Charlotte during the winter...

Because the parking fees are outrageous and I refuse to pay $16 to spend a couple of hours  at the beach!!!

Wells:  $16 any time before noon.  What do you get for your $16?  Lifeguards and bathrooms

Port Charlotte:  75 cents/hour.  What do you get?  Bathrooms, fishing pier, kayak rentals available, horseshoe pits, bocce ball, playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic tables under cover and a swimming pool.  The pool has lifeguards, the beach does not.  

Today, however, since it's before Memorial Day, the parking was free, so I took advantage of it and the beautiful weather.  Bill was in the clinic so I headed there alone.

The tide was out...way out when I arrived around 11:00.

By the time I left, around 1:00, the tide was coming in, along with the people and their dogs.

The soft sand was surprisingly full of rocks.  I literally could not take a step without rocks under my feet.

I'm wondering if the town will come through with some sort of raking machine and scoop up all the rocks before the holiday.

It was really a perfect beach day and I'm glad I took the time to enjoy it for a couple of hours.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o) 

Mother's Day 2016

Although I'm not Bill's mother, he always treats me like a Queen and Mother's Day is no exception.  He surprised me with a beautiful card and bouquet.

Thank you!

For the past several years, I have enjoyed celebrating Mother's Day by going to brunch with Bill, Wendy and Dan.  We have tried a few different places but my favorite was Varano's Italian Restaurant, although they are no longer offering a special Mother's Day brunch.

This year was different because both Wendy and Greg had made plans to visit their dad in Vermont, which didn't upset me in any way.  It just meant making other plans.  At some point, Paula called with "an idea".  It's funny, but for as long as most of us can remember, those words from Paula brought moans and groans, although her ideas were usually good ones.  This time was no exception.  Her idea...if I didn't have plans, would I like to go to her house, then go to visit Grandma Bee.  What a great idea.

Bill and I headed out early enough to stop by Wendy and Dan's, where I picked up a beautiful fuchsia plant and wonderful card from Wendy.  

Now, if I can just keep it alive.

Greg's nice card had arrived a couple of days earlier.  In fact, all of the cards I received this year expressed very touching sentiments.  

As it turned out, we left way too early, so we drove around Gorham for awhile, checking out new developments and recent structure fires.  We arrived about 2:15 and the four of us, Bill and I, David and Paula, left for the nursing home where Bee has resided for the past several years.  It was the first time I have visited her there and it was difficult to see her to small and frail.  She is 95 after all.

She seemed happy to see us and Paula felt she was quite lucid.  I brought along some flowers and a card, which David read to her.  

We took pictures.

Paula brought along a ribbon that Mom had made 31 years ago for The Ribbon Project, which you can read about if you choose.  There are many other links to choose from.

We took more pictures and Paula reminded Mom about the ribbon she had made so many years ago.  

She not only made the ribbon, which was all hand appliquéd but she and Dad attended the ceremony on August 4, 1985 in Washington D.C., taking with them her ribbon as well as the one I had made.  (I'm still looking for it, it's here somewhere...)  Mom and Paula read the names of the six grandchildren, symbolized by the apples on the tree. 

At some point, we realized there was writing on the back, which David and Paula read out loud.

"For us, the apple tree symbolizes the "Tree of Life".  These apples have the names of our grandchildren, all of whom are most precious to us.  May this beautiful world be kept safe for them - and all living creatures!"  Love - and Peace   Bee

This last picture is my favorite because of the look on Mom's face...priceless!

Thank you Bill for being our photographer.

To be honest, I missed having brunch with Wendy & Dan but it turned out to be a wonderful Mother's Day.  Bee became my "second" Mom when I married her son, Bob, in 1969 and has been my only Mom since my own mother passed away in 1978 and I'm so grateful for her presence in my life.  

The only regret Paula and I had was that we didn't get a picture of the three Wehmeyer women but we plan to go back in a couple of weeks to remedy that oversight.  

From here, we returned to David and Paula's for a marvelous dinner (as always), then home.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

UGH!

About a month ago, while still in FL, I was playing with Titan and noticed an area behind his upper front teeth that didn't look quite right.  We agreed to have it checked out when we got home and that's what we did today.

Dogs like Titan tend to have an abundance of gum tissue and that's what we were hoping the issue would be; however, the vet seems to feel it is a tumor that needs to be removed.

Next week didn't work for our schedules, so he will go in on May 11th for anesthesia, x-rays and a biopsy.  If she feels it hasn't progressed too far, she will remove it, along with some of his upper teeth.  If she feels it's more than she can handle, we will have to take him to a specialist.

I'm so bummed.  I know either way, it will be painful for him and I'm hoping that it isn't anything super serious and if it is, I hope I noticed it early enough!

Wish us luck and send some positive energy our way.  We are planning to have this handsome man around for a long time!

Ahhhhhh, Floor-i-duh sunshine

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)