Best Life

  Today was perfection.  A bright, warm sun with a gentle to moderate breeze and a high of 69.  The forecast this morning came with a special weather statement.  This statement was sent out to warn folks that although the high temperatures would tempt people to swim, the water temperature remains in the 40s and the risk of hypothermia is high.  Also because of high wind gusts, tipping a canoe or kayak could be detrimental.  I was not even close to being tempted.  I might swim in August! Fenway enjoyed hours outside on his blanket in the sun where he could watch me hang laundry (3 loads!) and stack another half cord of wood.  And intermittently read in the sun.   And he could even see Paul working on the garage.  Today he completed the framing for the garage door and the man door.  Only one large beam had to be lifted to the top and bolted.   My pantry is now super organized.  Amazon delivered my new spice rack and our...

Despite the continued rain we managed to be productive.       - a check of our PO box - junk plus a couple local newspapers (4 pages each).  And I cannot even remember anything I actually read about - it was that mundane.     - a trip to the dump to get rid of stinky trash and recycles (we were the only ones there),     - a peruse of the bargain barn where I found a couple DVDs and a couple books,     - began spring cleaning the bathroom closet. And when the sun finally made an appearance:     - removed the last cord of old wood from the shed to make room for the new wood,     - stacked the first 1/2 cord (total 3 cords coming),     - Paul hung my clothesline in preparation for the coming warm weather. Today's holiday - Relive Your Past By Listening to The First Music You Ever Bought No Matter What It Was. Mine (as best as I can recall):   Da Doo Ron Ron by Shaun Cassidy and Kung Foo by Carl D...

 Tonight's drive to Trail's End Steakhouse and Tavern in Eustis provided us with amazing scenery and wildlife.  Thursday is Two 'fer.  Two for the price of one.  Introduced to us many, many years ago by Cousin Edgar, it has persevered.  Our choice tonight- sea scallops - yummy!                                             A moose and her yearling on Route 16.                                                                 Flagstaff Lake                                                      ...

                                                           Fenway continues to enjoy his time here in Maine.   Today we started early since the weather was predicted to turn rainy by mid afternoon.  While Paul continued to frame the pieces for the garage, I reapplied our "oil paint" to the top surface of the back deck.  I figured another coat before I pulled the furniture and grill out for the season wouldn't hurt.  It is a fast job and the wood always seems to need more oil.  Temperatures in the 70s is promised for the end of the week.  (Fingers not crossed!)   Of course the weatherman was wrong again!  The rain started just before 1pm.  Thankfully I was done and Paul was at a good  point to stop for the day.  (And it forced us to act retired.) Sitting in...

  While Paul worked on the garage I puttered.  He changed out bolts that were installed incorrectly while I made croutons.  He drilled holes in the top beam of the garage door frame while I walked our path through the backyard.  He installed the left trim piece while I doodled and practiced with watercolors. He went up and down the ladder while I kept the fire going (high of 41 today).  He read the detailed building plans while I read John Grisham.                                                The path was quite wet with lots of evidence of deer activity. We both enjoyed the jacuzzi immensely followed by towels kept warm in our towel warmer.  Dinner (tacos) and a movie (The Family) completes another day in Rangeley.  Hopefully productivity will increase as the temperature increases! Word of the day - bosky....

  We arrived in Rangeley by noon.  Temperature - 46 with a feel like of 40.  Yup - we started a fire while Fenway curled up in his blanket.  (Keeping an eye on us to make sure we are really staying and not leaving!) Though departing Lincoln at 5am was a bit painful (cold, dark), there was minimal traffic making the ride super quick.  Our stop in Farmington to pick up groceries - fairly painless.  And look what we saw parked at Walmart! Their groceries were lined up in the bed while they sat on metal folding chairs that were hopefully secured somehow! We unpacked, started a fire, ate a simple lunch and promptly fell asleep (huddled under a couple blankets).  Dinner and a movie while the jacuzzi was filling completed our day.  No hurry to start our To Do list until tomorrow!                                             My ...