Our annual summers in Maine are always spent sharing as much time as possible with friends, whether they are locals or "from away". We are a little of each... This post is selfishly for the intent of recalling friends old and new, years from now and the fun we had creating these memories. The picnics we enjoy on an uninhabited island usually on a Sunday are something we look forward to all summer long. The lobsters, crab claws, clams, corn and too many appetizers and sides to mention are the usual fare. I swear the two or three seagulls near "our" island wait for us each week to show up with special treats for them. They look for the discarded lobster shells and corn we toss their way and do a great job of cleaning up after us. They have become less skittish and have, on occasion, attempted to sneak up and grab a whole cooked lobster.
Boat rides around the islands are a constant if the weather permits. We have taken "Little Bit" to various places for lunch and dinner. Camden, North Haven and Belfast are the most often visited.
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| Dean and Cris joined us on this trip |
This year we had a dozen ducks waddle their way up to our garden looking for a bite to eat. Blue jays, goldfinches, nuthatches, cardinals and chickadees are the most likely visitors, along with hummingbirds, bees, red and gray squirrels and an occasional raccoon, skunk, fox or deer. The wildlife keeps us entertained daily.
Our first road trip in September was to attend a surprise party for our friends Jack and Carol who had just been to our cottage for a short visit. So off we went to Newburyport, MA to share in the birthday fun. Everyone waited patiently and quietly for the birthday duo to come to the backyard but they went in through the front door.. Still a surprise, but the cameras were all aimed at the outdoor arbor.
After a wonderful birthday celebration we hit the road again and drove to Willsboro, NY on Lake Champlain. Our friends John and Cherre invited us to join them at their friends Velma and Pete's house for a few days. What great hosts! We got to meet Cindy and Kent there as well and we all became fast friends. Good thing, because they were going to head to Stonington to visit with us the next week!
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| Pete, Kent, Jeff and John |
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| Cindy, Velma, Cherre and me |
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| A marina across the lake from the house |
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| Toys, toys and more toys! |
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| Our hosts |
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| A perfect day for a jet ski race! |
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| Jeff, taking the sunfish for a sail |
We all took a drive to Lake Placid to see where the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics were held, walked the village, shopped a little and had a great lunch.
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| Time for us to head out! |
A week later, the whole gang got to experience our neck of the woods. We hopped aboard Kevin's lobster boat and showed them what hauling our traps is all about, took Kent and John clamming, then gathered up all the fresh catch the next day to take to our picnic beach.
One last day for a picnic/boat ride with friends Blaine and Sharon on their boat Pipe Dream. What a beautiful day it turned out to be. We were bundled up for the ride, then tucked in the lee of Bear Island and it felt like spring. Saw the first pair of loons this year that day!
There's a chill in the air and it's nearing time to have the boat hauled out for the winter, close the cottage and head back to Florida and EXILE, "where the weather suits our clothes"... to borrow a well known lyric. The leaves were showing their true colors when we left Maine on Oct. 10th. We are now back in Florida and hope to enjoy several months here before our next adventure. Happy Fall!
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