What's happening ... a sample

Here's a sampling from the Events Calendar for this coming Saturday as listed in today's new Free Press, our weekly local paper, which I think is a fair example of typical local events:

* Liberty Library Pie Sale, 10 a.m.-noon, 59 Main St. Last sale of the summer.
* Fiber Arts Demonstration, 10 a.m.-noon, Georgetown Historical Society, 20 Bay Point Rd. Rosemary Hentz shows rug embroidery techniques and Juliana Cliffe demonstrates hand quilting. Free.
* Hike Up Hogback Mountain, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Buck O'Herin leads the five-mile hike up the Montville mountain, offering views to Penobscot Bay. Bring water and snacks. Registration required by Thurs., Aug. 15: www.swlamaine.org or 589-3230.
* Ikebana Class,Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. Betty McCarthy offers a demonstration on the Japanese art of flower arranging from 9:30-11:30 a.m. ($42/$35 members) and a hands-on workshop from 1-4 p.m. ($95/$80). Sign-up: 633-4333 or www.mainegardens.org.
* Chain Saw Artists in Action, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Maine Wildlife Park, Gray. Watch Ron Carlson, Tim Pickett and Dan Burns carve wildlife images. Bring your camera. And your earplugs. FMI: 657-4977 or www.mainewildlifepark.com.
* Pekingese Rescue Group Visits, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., The Animal House in Damariscotta hosts the Little Paws Big Hearts Pekingese Rescue.

Pretty much something for (almost) everyone, right?  I particularly like the contrast between the Ikebana Class in Japanese flower arranging followed immediately by Chain Saw Artists in Action.  Who knew?

Meanwhile, we are enjoying cucumbers from our "garden" on a regular basis now, and the first almost-red tomato is further ripening on the window sill.  I see at least 2 others turning red, probably soon to be following by many many more.

Both David's car and mine are now running again - after about $1000 in work.  Oh well, my truck is the "youngster" and it's 14 years old.

Looking forward to the weekend - kayaking with Pemaquid Paddlers group, if the weather is good.  

Watching Little League World Series and remembering Sam's little league days.  That boy could sure catch, pitch and play short stop!

Some "weightier" ruminations to come, when I can find time to sort through my own thoughts AND get them down here.

Meanwhile ...

Peace.

Summer in our yard

Summer in our yard.  Coleus ...  

Zinnias in the raised bed ...

White and red purslane.  Here's part of what Wikipedia has to say about purslane:

"Although purslane is considered a weed in the United States, it may be eaten as a leaf vegetable. It has a slightly sour and salty taste and is eaten throughout much of Europe, the middle east, Asia and Mexico. The stems, leaves and flower buds are all edible. Purslane may be used fresh as a salad, stir-fried or cooked as spinich is, and because of its mucilaginous quality it also is suitable for soups and stews.  Australian Aborigines use the seeds to make seedcakes.  Greeks, who call it andrakla (αντράκλα) or glystrida (γλυστρίδα), fry the leaves and the stems with feta cheese, tomato, onion, garlic, oregano, and olive oil, add it in salads, boil it or add to casseroled chicken. .... "

Who knew?  A weed?  I bought two 4 inch plants from a local garden store.  Soups, stews, fried with feta cheese?  Hmmm…. All I know is, once released from the 4 inch pots, both purslane plants have burst out and grown by leaps and bounds, actually rather "like a weed"!

And, of course, our Adirondack chairs. These are one of what seem to be the four requisites for living in Maine, the others being:  1 - a Subaru (we lose out there), 2 - a boat (got that one covered), and 3 - yard art (often a faux well - we're not going there).  These chairs came as kits and happened to be mis-priced so we paid about 1/2 price for them.  David put them together and I brushed them with Teak Oil.  We're going to buy a couple more small ones, boy-sized, for C & C when they come visit.

I'm missing my kids and grandsons.  It's beautiful here and I wish all the people I love were here to share it with me.  I'm thinking about and missing Aunt Maro, Carol and Debi.  I want a cut throat game of Hearts with brother John and the cousins, with Marianne cooking up dinner and laughing at our antics.

I am very glad and grateful to be alive and healthy and living in a beautiful place.  Today I intend to write a note to Bradley Manning to apologize to him for not doing more on his behalf sooner.  I wonder if he gets to see the sun.

Peace.