This and that

Two items of personal news:  First, I just passed my 1 year anniversary of retiring.  Although I was aware it was approaching, the actual date would have passed unnoticed but for a call from a former colleague, checking to see how I am doing.  That was nice. (I am doing fine!  Have learned some interesting things about myself, but more on that another time/post.)  Second, I just made a "flying" (actually, driving - 6 hours each way) trip back to Connecticut for a joint birthday celebration with my friends Helen and Susan F. (as all 3 of us have birthdays in July), and we were joined for dinner by Karen and Jerry.  It was a lovely evening, and reminded me how much I miss these good friends.  

On to local happenings...   Fair Days have started.  No, I don't mean weather-wise; I mean ... fairs ... like agriculture--cows, goats, sheep, chickens, pies, oxen and tractor pulls, etc.  The first two I'm aware of (which we won't make):

Northern Maine Fair, July 29-Aug. 6, Presque Isle. FMI: NorthernMaineFairgrounds.com.

Bangor State Fair, July 29-Aug. 7, Bass Park/Cross Insurance Center. FMI: BangorStateFair.com.

But we will be looking to attend a couple in August and September, maybe Topsam and certainly Common Ground Fair.

In a small sample of other local "events": 

• “Drone Aircraft,” 7 p.m., Boothbay Railway Village, Route 27. Illustrated talk by retired industrial engineer Larry Stevenson. $5 suggested donation. 
• Annual Port Clyde Fisherman Doll Fair, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Port Clyde Baptist Church. Traditional fishermen, mermaids, King Neptunes and other dolls. Craft table, flea market, baked goods including blueberry pies. 
• Maritime-Themed Spelling Bee, Union Hall, Searsport, 6-8 p.m. Carver Memorial Library hosts the lead-up to Heritage Weekend. Teams of 3-5 can register ($25) at 548-2303. Benefits library. 
• Author of “Lessons in Censorship” to Speak at Left Bank Books, Belfast, Fri., Aug. 5, 7 p.m. Free, public talk by Catherine Ross on her new book that defines speech rights in public schools. Save your seat: 338-9009. 
• August 6 Deadline to Apply for 2016 Maine Wild Blueberry Queen Contest, set for Fri., Aug. 26, at Union Fair. FMI: UnionFair.org. 
• Aquatic Bug Wade in Camden, 11 a.m.-noon. Biologist Paul Leeper points out whirligig beetles and voracious dragonflies at Bog Bridge boat ramp. Details: megunticook.org. 
• Hope Haitian Choir to Perform, 6:30 p.m., Celebration Life Family Church, 3 Cross St., Rockport. Choir of 15 kids and 5 accompanying adults from Haiti perform original songs and other pieces. Free-will donations taken. FMI: HopeHaitian.com. 

Mid coast Maine really does have something for everyone!

On the personal front - we have been kayaking several times, most recently off Pemaquid Point.  David is back to building his strip-plank kayak - it's going to be beautiful. Photos to follow at some point.  Also, we finished updating the guest room.  Here are "before," "during" and "after" photos:

Room as it looked during showing before we purchased house.

During wallpaper stripping & before carpet removal.

After

After

Now some wonderful personal news - my new custom-built Mya-Moe ukulele is finished and on its way to me via UPS, due to arrive on Friday.  I am very (!) excited, and determined to live up to such a beautiful instrument and to deserve it every day:

Finally, our changeable weather has brought us periodic thunderstorms much to Ella's consternation.  She often seeks comfort and safety in what I call "the slot" - a 12 x 30 inch space between the radiator and David's tool box (used as an end table).  Here she is (she's so skinny, you don't really get a sense from this photo of how narrow the "slot" is):

As Bugs Bunny would say, that's all folks.

Peace.  

Goat sitting

Since returning from our trip down south, we've been getting back into day-to-day life hereabouts.

First, there's the work on the guest room.  I stripped wallpaper.  David repaired plaster.  We painted.  David removed the carpet.  Now he's updating the built-in dresser top and then will come sanding and refinishing the floor.  Here are some "before" and "during" pics.  "Afters" to come ... after.

Guest room before work

Guest room mid-wallpaper stripping

Our garden seems to be thriving.  We finally got some needed rain and both the lawn and the vegetables spurted growth.  Our neighbor, Melissa, has been donating perennial flowers to us.  Our own carrots, tomatoes, basil, thyme, oregano, cucumbers and collards are doing well.

Cucumbers, thyme, oregano, basil and collards.

Tomatoes

I've started back in ukulele class; my new Mya-Moe ukulele is (finally--after 18 months on the waiting list and 7 months after paying a deposit) in progress, due to be delivered on August 8.

David and I went kayaking this week.  We launched at the beach at Birch Point State Park, and paddled up the coast.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  We saw ducks, loons, gulls and a bald eagle.

Lobster trap buoy

Bald eagle perched atop dead tree

Well, that's the news from our house.  In the wider mid coast, the news of note is in the ever expanding job market:

Pay + goat milk - what a deal!  Interested?

Peace, peace, far and near.