And here comes June, damply

Rain, rain and more rain for days on end, since returning from away.  Thankfully both my drive to CT and back were uneventful - although the trip provided plenty of stress.

I made all my medical appointments and received a good report from my annual CT scan.  Work amounted to meeting following meeting.  But more important was the news that our dear friend, Danny, passed away on Tuesday evening.  He'd been in hospice only since Sunday.  Thankfully his family was all around him, including the 2 of his 4 daughters who live in Israel, who arrived on Monday morning and had time with him.  Danny had been suffering for so long with acute pancreatitis - 10 years total but most especially the last 2 years.  Helen and I drove to NY on Wednesday to attend the funeral that afternoon - which was incredibly moving.  I'm not sure I've ever attended a funeral where the deceased person's presence felt so ... present.  This was mostly because Danny's son-in-law and daughter both spoke from the heart at length about Danny, in Jeff's case actually conveying Danny's own final thoughts and wishes discussed at his bedside only hours earlier.  We cried, we laughed, and we cried some more.  A tribute to a kind, smart, curious, learned, funny man so beloved by family and friends.

Then we came back to CT and I came home on Thursday morning.

All in all, while so grateful for my own good medical news, and thankful for the easy drives down and back, as well as to NY and back, and so good to see Helen and spend time with her, and of course also grateful to be able to drive with Helen to NY to be with Danny's family - it was a very sad few days.

I came home and the heavens above us here in midcoast Maine seemed to mourn Danny along with us down below.  Rain and more rain.  Finally yesterday the sun came out, blue skies, white clouds, brisk breeze.  And again today.

Yesterday I mowed the back yard grass, trimmed the weeds the mower missed, cut out some honeysuckle vine from where it threatened to go exploring (and apparently to take over), washed a bird feeder, hung more suet, filled the other feeder - you get the idea.  David came home with a little charcoal grill and grilled our dinner last night.

Today I'm taking a day off of work after the Memorial Day holiday - for 4 day weekend, it still just flies by.  I aim to do more yard work, hoping to plant the rest of our seedlings, not too worse for the days and days of rain I hope.  I also need to vacuum and generally clean house.  We'll see.  Perhaps I'll sit and vegetate, planting myself and sowing my thoughts rather than cucumber seedlings and carrot seeds.

How do we get up each day with the knowledge of loss, suffering and death?  We try to think of the promise of life - I recall the Black Eyed Susan seed balls we planted and hope that today perhaps they'll sprout.  I think of all those I love - and hope today for each of them will be a day to grow, learn something new, be found among friends and family and feel joy.

I breathe and keep on living. 

Peace.

Preparation ... for gardens and annual check-ups

It has continued to be mostly beautiful lately.  I try to find a few minutes during the day - my "break" from work - to sit on our little back "deck" in the sun, watching the birds feed at one of our feeders hanging off of the garage.

On Mother's Day we planned to work in our "garden" - consisting of a raised bed made by David and another long, thin bed next to the house which David also prepped (digging up the grass, turning the soil, adding top soil and some organic compost) as he did the raised bed.

Here's the raised bed - sweet:

But it rained, if not cats and dogs, at least mice and squirrels.  So we ventured down Route 1 and found a great organic garden center in Waldeboro where we purchased some tomato, pepper and cucumber seedlings (having delayed past the date where seed planting seems to be timely), some flowers - zinnias and some unusual marigolds - a neat thistle plant, some herbs (wonderful basil and thyme),  and several beautiful coleus.

We got around to planting the tomatoes and peppers, the thistle, the coleus and some Black Eyed Susan seed thingys I purchased locally some weeks ago.  We still have more to plant.  But the "garden" takes shape.  Start small this year, maybe more next year.  Here's the beautiful thistle and the coleus.

 Here's half of the long thin bed next to the house, with some of the tomatoes and the peppers.

We also heard form the farm in which we purchased a 1/2 CSA share; they'll be at a local farmer's market this weekend.  I hope to stop by.

Then Sunday I'm driving down to CT again.  I have a tight schedule - a lot of work-related events to attend AND each morning a medical-related event - blood work on one day, a CT scan on the next day, and seeing my doctor on the third day.  All for a routine annual checkup, but it is amazing to me how the knowledge of those tests, procedures and appointments follows me around day and night, over my head like a (albeit small) black cloud of anxiety.  Mostly I ignore it, but I "feel" its presence, dogging my days (but so far, leaving me alone at night).  I do believe all will be well.

Furthermore, I have other people much more firmly in my thoughts and prayers, including a dear friend in the hospital bearing so much pain and now scheduled to go into hospice on Sunday.  What's an annual checkup after all, except a reminder of how very lucky and privileged I am.

Meanwhile Midcoast Maine prepares for summer and tourists.  A beautiful 3-masted schooner I saw this morning across the harbor:

Peace.

May arrives ...

It's been a beautiful few days.  Cool nights, clear skies, bright moon, cerulean mornings, warm sun by midday.  Last weekend David had to work and I cleaned up the yard.  We'd heard that the city of Rockland would be picking up leaves and other yard debris this week so we wanted to get ours out there.  With Ella on a long lead, lolling around the yard, I raked up old leaves and debris, cut down dead branches, piled all up and dragged out front for pickup.  Here's the result of my Saturday work:

Down at Ulmer's Point more of the schooners are being pulled out of the water and prepped for launching.  

The biggest and most beautiful is now hauled out.  Here she is:






More signs of spring everywhere we look, including daffodils: 

And the pale yellow leaflets feathering the willows:













Of course, the ubiquitous Rockland gulls - a pair from our morning walk yesterday:

After work yesterday, late afternoon, I sat with a glass of wine in the cooling sun of our backyard with Ella while white gulls wheeled overhead, but low down.  The sky had paled, and the gulls swooped and dove, always crying, crying, just yards above us.  Beautiful.

Spring also brings routine checkups.  I'm due to drive back to Connecticut in three weeks for blood work, a CT scan and visit with Dr. M.  I have no reason not to believe all is well.  In fact I've never felt better.  But it's amazing how just making an appointment causes the odd twinge - probably from so much raking and pruning - to seem ominous.  

Meanwhile, it's good to be alive.

Peace.

April is Poetry Month

Poetry month is a big deal in Rockland.  Some of the happenings around town have included local businesses posting poems in their store windows, local inns and hotels putting a poem on the pillow of the bed in their rooms, screening of "Louder Than a Bomb," a documentary about Chicago high school students competing in a poetry slam, and lots of readings by poets from around the state.

And... the Rockland Public Library held a poetry contest.  The theme was "landscapes".  There were 3 categories:  children, teens and adult.  I decided to enter the adult category and sent in a poem just a day or two before the deadline.  And, lo and behold, about a week ago they called and told me I had placed 2nd in the "adult" category.

So last night, I screwed up my courage, and with David's support, I went down and joined in what the library calls a "Poetry Swarm."  All the winners - about 5-6 kids in the children's category, 4 or 5 in the teen category, and 4 in the adult category -  were invited to - and most did - participate by reading the poem they had entered.  Plus - there were 3 other groups of readers, all local poets from the general area of Midcoast Maine, including the current and former Poet Laurette of Rockland (who knew?) and of Belfast.

Most of the poems were good, some were funny, and a few were very good.  I received nice compliments on my poem.  The best was from a man, one of the non-contestant readers, who came up to me after I read the poem and told me how much he really enjoyed it, and he mentioned to me that he was one of the contest judges.

So at the risk of ... well, not sure what ... but I'm going to post the poem I submitted here.  The poem:
.

      Subjunctive Mood

If it were not so early I would get out of bed and
I'd go down to the salt marsh for the day.

First I'd walk the chalky path that winds
between tall rows of spiked Spartina.

Next I'd amble on to where the heron stands
in slowly swirling water, stalking breakfast in the bay.

I might delay, stay to see long lovely limbs untangle,
dangle down beneath him in his leap from sea to sky.

Then I'd ramble on and on, pausing only long enough
to watch light wrung from day like juice from fruit,

to leave behind a slice of moon and stars like seeds
to shine beneath the milky membrane of pale clouds.

If I lingered yet then I might hear the turning tide's sigh
as it rose to ride the sea breeze on cicadas' wings.

Yes, I am sure if it had not been quite so early
I'd have spent the whole day in the salt marsh by the sea.


* * * * *

Peace.

What we're up to up here

We had a great albeit short visit with Sam and Cachao.  A long (long!) way for Sam to drive for a short visit - all power to him.  Here's a few pics:

 We took the ferry from Rockland to Vinalhaven, an island about 10 miles off shore here.  We passed the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and I took this photo.  Later that afternoon we walked out the breakwater itself to the lighthouse.

 On Vinalhaven, we stopped to watch a channel running to the harbor where the water flowed fast!

About 1200 people live on Vinalhaven, a good number of them fish.  The lobster boats are on the water at Vinalhaven.

Now Sam and Cach are safe back home, and we're getting ready for spring here.  The weather has been beautiful - hitting around 50 during the day and bright and sunny, and not falling below freezing at night.  Come on up and visit us.  

If you're looking for a reason to get away from away and come on up to Maine?  How about one of these jobs recently listed on craigslist.com?  (I'm actually posting these as they give a flavor of what's going on around here - the business of life in midcoast Maine!)

Assistant Dockmaster (Rockland) - Rockland Landings Marina is in need of a WEEKEND DOCKMASTER to work from mid-June through mid-October. Job entails working independently, assisting sail and power boaters with all their needs dockside, selling gas, diesel, ice, some supplies, tending mooring, Taking reservations and coordinating boat slip assignments and all other duties involving marina operations. We do not provide repair service, haul-outs but can help arrange those functions with all our connections with orher technicians in the area. Additional hours and flexibility is a must. Experience and strong customer service and small boat handling skills very helpfull.  Compensation: $9.00 + OVERTIME!!!!!

Experienced Deckhand Needed (Harpswell) - Looking for an experienced deckhand on my lobster boat. Must have a drivers license, reliable transportation, and be on time everyday if not early.  Please email the following information:  Name; Age; Past Work; Location; Contact Information; Height and Weight.  If you get sea sick or car sick, this is not the job for you.

LOBSTER FACILITY LABORER (KENNEBUNK) - Maine Shellfish Lobster Division in Kennebunk is looking for self motivated, hard working individuals to join our team.  Opening on first and second shifts available.  Must be able to work weekends.  Experience with handeling of lobsters is perferred, but not neccessary.  Valid drivers license is a MUST!

Sternman for Lobster Boat in Harpswell - Sternman wanted for lobster boat in South Harpswell. Must be a non-smoking, responsible hard worker with driver's license and vehicle for 4 day work week. Please respond with ALL of the following information: Name, contact phone number, age, location, past job experience, and available start date. Must be able to lift 50+ lbs. Please do not respond if you do not live within 30 minutes of South Harpswell, don't meet the requirements listed or are not providing ALL of the above requested info in your response.  Compensation: Pay is share based.

* * * * *

What do you say?  Do you get sea sick?  I don't...

Peace.

My guys drive 1000+ miles to visit

More soon.

And here comes April...

Spring is doing it best to spring, but this morning - April 7th - it's in the 20's here.  It will warm up more during the day, I'm sure.  You can tell people are ready for Spring.  In the low 40's, with a wind making it feel colder, you see young people (and some not so young) out in t-shirts.  Brrr.

This will be a short post.  I'm looking forward to a visit from my son and older grandson, who are on their way, driving up from Atlanta.  They should arrive late this afternoon or early evening, and I have some cleaning up to do.

Yesterday I refilled the bird feeders.  Hungry little suckers.  Saw a Northern Cardinal singing high up on a bare tree branch this morning on the walk with Ella.

Another sign of spring - they have taken the tarp off the schooner they pulled up on dry dock down at Ulmer's point.  I guess they're fitting her out.  Shouldn't be long until she's on the water.  Three more schooners at the docks await their turns.

A couple photos:

Peace.