Maine Part 2

14:13 No Comments

Writing about Maine makes me wish I had never left. How can a week go by that fast?
Isn't that just wrong?
Oh, well, at my age, it seems like the years go by faster and faster. I don't understand why that should be so.
I promised you a boat ride, but it isn't going to happen. Simply put, it's out of order. We didn't go for a boat ride next, we went to Acadia.

From Loving Maine

It was a two hour drive from our rental, but we wanted to get up there at least for one day.
First stop was the Oceanarium. The kids were very excited to go here.

From Loving Maine

The lady who did the 'hands on' educational session was very nice, and very knowledgeable.
This is a sea cucumber, or echinoderm
It has no brain, and can eviscerate itself if attacked. Go figure.

From Loving Maine

Did you know that the star fish can grow a leg back if something tears one off?

From Loving Maine

That's my girl.

From Loving Maine

We learned a lot about lobster fishing.

From Loving Maine

I was surprised to find that they raise lobsters there, and release at least 40,000 of them into the ocean each year. Here's the link.
We also went on a guided tour through the sea marsh. But it was brutally hot, and we skipped out.
Guilty.
I love this little girl, and I love to take pictures of her, even the back of her head. I always wanted curly hair. And of course, she wants straight hair.

From Loving Maine

Instead we went to Cadillac Mt for the view.

From Loving Maine

It was hot, some people didn't mind it all that much.

From Loving Maine

Can my daughter have a 12 almost 13 year old???

From Loving Maine

Wow, I'm old.

From Loving Maine

From Loving Maine

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From Loving Maine

Then we went to Jordan Pond.
I wanted to have the popovers with jam. Noone shared my passion.

From Loving Maine

So we kayaked instead.
Hey guys, ya' want to stay together out there???

From Loving Maine

Lest you think we are a perfect little family........ha!
Attitudes popped up.
Oh, yeah.

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Even cranky, he's a handsome boy!

From Loving Maine

Thank goodness, we didn't do it all at once.

From Loving Maine

And it was so beautiful there, that some of us just wanted to soak it up.

From Loving Maine

Then I realized something. I went the wrong way on the Park Loop. So after we left Jordan Pond, I suddenly found myself on the highway again.

From Loving Maine

But the kids were hot, and cranky, so this actually turned out well.
We found ourselves here, at Seal Harbor.

From Loving Maine

We stayed here until almost dark, and it was lovely. The kids played, we sat and talked, and laughed.

From Loving Maine

I won't tell you that it was all smooth and wonderful trying to coordinate outings, and keep all 8 of us happy.
But I will tell you this.
Whatever it took, it was SO worth it.
Being together, being away from day to day worries, was worth every bit of effort.

From Loving Maine

Can we do the boat ride tomorrow??
See you then.

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Maine Part I

16:09 No Comments

Our first night in Maine found us pretty tired.
Well, at least some of us.

From Loving Maine

We did some lounging around.
The house was lovely. There was a big living room, but we kind of gravitated to the sun room.
By morning, we were ready to explore.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed?

From Loving Maine

Nothing like a little aerobic exercise to get us in the mood, right Aunt Momo???

From Loving Maine

The house I found, and rented for the week, is in the town of Tenant's Harbor, just south of Rockland. Just down the road in the other direction was the lovely little village of Port Clyde.
We found the local beach, called the Drift Inn Beach. It was perfect.

From Loving Maine

Plenty of rocks, but also enough sand to satisfy even the pickiest beach goer.

From Loving Maine

From Loving Maine

And the water was actually warm enough to swim in.
Everyone seemed to have these boards that they paddled around on.

From Loving Maine

I could look at this all day.

From Loving Maine

There is a small light house right down the road.

From Loving Maine

You really didn't have to worry about entertaining the kids. As long as there was water, rocks, and sand....in any combination, they were happy.

From Loving Maine

There was very little traffic. No street lights. Minimal places to eat and shop. Just enough.
It was incredibly quiet.
And even though it was hotter than usual there, the breeze off the water was sweet.

While I was there, I didn't worry about home. I didn't worry about the studio, my dog, or my four cats. I never contemplated the orders waiting for me, or the work I need to do. I didn't think about bills, or commitments.
Now usually I have trouble with this. It used to take me a week to get past those thoughts.
But this vacation I was blessed with instant forgetfulness. And it lasted until I was on my way home.
When I'm in Maine, I have trouble expressing how I feel about it. I know that it is special to me in some unfathomable way, but putting it into words is difficult.
I don't know this little girl, but when I saw this picture I took of her, it said to me what I could not.

From Loving Maine

And tomorrow, friends, a boat ride!

From Loving Maine

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Loving Maine

20:07 No Comments

Hello, again.
I apologize for my week long absence.
And I know you are going to find this hard to believe, but I've been on VACAY.
No lie.
I took my laptop, and I planned to blog while I was away, you know, at the end of the day, to keep you posted.
But you know what they say about plans, right?
So where did I go????
Ahhhh.......I went to Maine!

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I lived in Maine, once, for a year, and had friends that I visited in Maine for several years, and I have always loved it.
My husband and I go to Wells Beach every year, but to be honest, I have been longing for the Maine that resonates with me, where life is a bit slower.
I have been wanting to rent a house, take my daughters, and their children, for a week's vacation. One of those "wants" that you talk about, and talk about, and somehow don't get around to.
Until now.
I have a boat load of pictures that I took, and believe me I will be sharing them, but tonight, my butt is fairly dragging.
Surprise, surprise, I am not as young as I sometimes think/hope that I am.
Just one thought before I say hello to my lovely bed.
As I looked through my pictures, I realized, that as usual, there are no pictures of moi. I am the one behind the camera, taking picture after picture of my kids, and my grandkids.
It doesn't hurt that they are so photogenic.

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And I realized to me that someday someone will look at these albums, and wonder why I am not in them.
Then it occurred to me.
While my physical self is not present in these shots. I am there. In every one. Because when you look at these faces, look into these eyes, you will see me. My reflection. My whole life.
It's just that simple.

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Later, friends.

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