FEED YOUR GARDEN

     So, I read somewhere that coffee grounds and egg shells were good for the garden.  This is not such a difficult chore and I decided to try it.
     I dry the egg shells and save them in a bag.  When I have enough to cover one raised garden bed I crunch them up and sprinkle them over the ground.
     Coffee grounds just go directly from the pot to the garden.  I believe all these little enhancements really work as we always have great success with our planting.

FOOD FROM NATURE

     I am so happy it is now chantrelle season and the local foragers are working hard and very early.  I got a message on my Facebook that touted their seccess and offered me some of the bounty.  Of course, I said "Yes!"
     That night we feasted on angel hair pasta with a sauce of chantrelles, shallots, white wine, butter, and a bit of cream.  Truly an epicurean delight.
     The next morning brought a lighter fare - chantrelles quickly sauteed in butter and served with local organic scrambled eggs.  Oh, could it get any better?     

A GARDEN BY THE SEA

     I had just finished mowing the back lawn when I went out on the balcony and looked down on my three beautiful raised garden beds.  If I raise my eyes just a bit I am looking at the sea and at our neighbor islands and the scent of salt is on the air. 
     This particular garden looked so lush to me that I had to capture it on camera.  Too bad I can't capture the feeling of looking down on all this healthy splendor or the scent of the sea. 

END OF ELECTION DAY

      I live in a small town on a small island off the coast of Maine.  The year round population is a little over or a little under 2,000.  It's nice and I love it.  Most everyone knows each other.  Our polling place is the local high school gym.  This is what it looked like near the end of our last election day.  As you can see there is no standing in line and waiting and no reason to produce 4 or five items of identification.  When I walk in the volunteer on duty just says "Hi Thom" and hands me a ballot slip which I patriotically mark with a pencil.  What's a voting machine?

 

ROOM WITH A VIEW.
     Actually our combination studio/guest room is a room with many views depending upon where you look.
     This was one impressive view a few days ago.  Not only could I sea the sea and the next island; I also was able to catch the sight of a large working cargo ship and a unique sardine boat re-purposed  as a whale watching pleasure boat.  This one is a really big hit with the tourists.
     Sometimes I  find myself just standing on the studio balcony being submerged in the wondrous sites and I completely lose track of time.  I feel like it is one of those Zen moments where I am actually experiencing only the now!      

PAINT THAT FENCE.
     Well, another cloudy and very wet day and we are not amused.  But - so far, there has been no rain.  Perhaps I can get the new lily bulbs planted today.  I would really appreciate some good strong sun so I could get the inside of the fence painted before the growth of the white garden makes it impossible.

SPRING AWAKENS OUR LILIES.
     Finally it has warmed up enough for Spring to make her annual appearance.  It the southwest corner of our front yard She manifests herself as beautiful white Casa Blanca Lilies. 
     The top photograph was take this morning and the bottom photo was taken last summer by a charming neighbor as she passed by to admire the scent and beauty of the white garden.  She was kind enough to give us a copy of the picture.  I can almost smell the heavenly blossoms now.  When it full bloom, the lilies can be nasally detected over a block away.  At night when the windows are open it presents the perfect scent conducive to comforting slumber.     

BIRD ON A WIRE?
     It has always fascinated me how these large crows we have here are able to sit upon the highest and tiniest branches.  Most of our crows are as big as your head and one would think they might have a bit of weight to them.  Yet, here they sit at the top of the tree calmly supervising their territory with no apparent effort.  Observing them with binoculars I can really see how tiny and fragile the perch seems to be. 

BEAUTIFUL BUT WET DAY.

     Again I am amazed that I have neglected my blog for such a long time.  Sometimes I just drift about and feel so lazy.  But - when I motivate myself and accomplish something I am so happy and satisfied.
  The past several days I have been enjoying the love-labor of gardening.  It is something I can kind of "Zen" out on and just be in the moment.  It is very peaceful and relaxing; although at the end of the day my tired older muscles are a bit stiff and sore.  I have convinced myself to accept and live with this minor discomfort as I am not giving up my gardening and there is still much to do. 
     This lovely nourishing rain will now awaken my little seeds and the next sunny day will call them to the surface.  Now I understand why the Hawaiians call this type of rain a "Female Rain" - because it is gentle and nourishing.

MORE SNOW.
     
     Of course it snowed again and again.  Here's one of the beautiful snow pictures of the front of the house before the landscape got all soiled and dirty
     It is always such a special feeling when the first snowfall of the season arrives. Things look so bright and clean.  All the world seems hushed.  The air is so dry the snow squeaks underfoot.  The air tastes different - good, healthy and feels so invigorating!    
     The sad thing is that it all must pass, turn to water, mud and perhaps dangerous ice.
     To me it is comforting to know that winter is not over yet and there will be another beautiful and awe-inspiring snowfall to come.

First Snow

 FIRST SNOW - 2013
     Yes, we had an insignificant amount of snow today.  Not much accumulated, but it was white, clean and beautiful.  I think the first snowfall of the season always has a peaceful and calming effect on people.
     Dylan Thomas, on the other hand, was very invigorated and animated.  He rushed out onto the back deck prancing and barking at the snow.  He was fired up and ready to run.  So, we took him out to the Dawg Park where he could be loose and let him go.  He had a fine time playing ball.  He kicked up a nice powder of snow behind him as he ran after the grounders and demonstrated some pretty impressive Air-time as he leaped for those high bouncers. We are always amazed how he can get his 76 pounds that high off the ground.  The three of us enjoyed our first snow.  It is still coming down a bit and perhaps by morning it will have become significant!
    

Thanksgiving

       THANKSGIVING - 2013
     This was the Thanksgiving Turkey.  We were traditional and simple this year.  We enjoyed a great meal with not much work and a minimal amount of left-overs.  Turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, David's home-made cranberry sauce, carrots and Cheri's home-made pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.  It was just me, David, Cheri and Dylan Thomas.  Oh yes, Dylan has his share of Thanksgiving dinner too.
     I think we all realized just how much we had to be thankful for, even Dylan.  
 

A NEW FESTIVAL FOR OUR LITTLE TOWN.

     This year some of the business owners got together and set up a little festival for Halloween called Witches of Eastport. Although starting small and being overshadowed by chilly weather with the threat of rain, it went very well.  There were pumpkin carving and decorating contests along with a pumpkin cook-off.  The smells downtown were delicious.  Later there was a pumpkin derby where contestants raced their home-made wheeled pumpkins.  That was a lot of fun and everybody enjoyed it.  Just before we got a little rain the parade organized at the post office and wound it's way through town.  Great fun and we had a slew of witches.  There was also a ghost dinner with a real ghost hunter (some of our houses in town are sworn to be haunted).  The Waco put on a "by reservation" Ghost Dinner.  Although this has started out small, we all remember the first Pirate Festival a few years ago and it wasn't too awfully impressive.  Now The Pirate Festival is almost as full blown as the Fourth of July.

     

  

SCENE FROM A WONDERFUL SUMMER.

     David and Martha on the ferry to Lubec.  It was a perfect day for a boat ride.  We ambled along the streets of Lubec and had a nice lunch at a restaurant down by the water.  Perfect!  It was the kind of day that made you take notice and feel appreciation for where you live.  I feel I am lucky to live in one of the nicest little corners of the world.

THE LIGHT.

     Sometimes you are lucky enough to turn your head at just the right time to catch a particularly interesting display of light.  You know it is only going to last moments as the sun continues to move, but again luck is with you.  Your camera is sitting on the table within reach.      

     
    


 

Another Eastport Fourth of July

      It seems like another Fourth of July came upon us in the blink of an eye.  This year it was especially nice as my niece, Nicole, was visiting us and it presented us with almost too much to do.  The weather was perfect and I think Nicole really enjoyed herself.

     She stayed long enough to see the two faces of our city.  There are thousands crowding our streets for the holiday.  But the fireworks at Fish Pier on the 4th ends it all, and in the morning of the fifth we once again become that quiet little town out at the edge of the world.
     
 

 BACK TO THE EARTH
      I just can't seem to get gardening out of my system.  Perhaps I was a farmer in another life.  Or - maybe I secretly want to be a farmer.  I am so blown away by the entire process.  Those tiny little seeds which are so difficult to handle can produce so much food with just a little care and love. 
     Here's a photo of the two raised gardens and in the right background my straw bale gardens, a new attempt for me inspired by my Master Gardener neighbor. 
     In the future there will be one more raised garden in front of the one in the foreground.

     I had previously mentioned how intense gardening can be in a raised bed and the second picture gives you a clear view of that.
     I am so involved with growing food maybe I need 40 acres and a tractor in the near future.

ANOTHER GLORIOUS FOURTH OF JULY
     Here in Eastport, Maine the Fourth of July is also celebrated as Old Home Week and the festivities last Throughout a very long weekend.
     Residents who have had to move away due to lack of jobs or because of personal choices return to visit family, to celebrate Independence Day, and to attend High School Class Reunions.
     Most Americans don't know that Eastport was under English rule for four years.  Yes for a brief period of time we were a conquered city.  I imagine for that particular reason citizens of Eastport celebrate the Fourth of July like nowhere else in our country.  Watching the elaborate fireworks display (none better anywhere) as the long holiday draws to a close, raises a small lump in your throat and makes you proud to be a member of the Eastport community - whether by birth or by choice.  I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could.

 ADDING GARDENING SPACE
     About three years ago David drew up the plans for three raised garden beds to be used for growing vegetables.  The first one was completed that year and has been producing ever since.  Having a raised bed encourages intense gardening and we are amazed at the amount of produce we harvest.
     This year it was decided we should have, at least, another bed constructed.  So we called our local Man-of-all-jobs and another bed appeared exactly like the first one although they were constructed by two different contractors. 
     The day it was completed I called our friend and winter snow removal expert (another Man-of-many-talents) and the next afternoon Ricky arrived with the soil to fill the bed.  It was a beautiful sight to see the second bed completed.  We are so happy with the look of the gardening area that we are contemplating having the third bed added next Spring.
     There are two positive outcomes from this project - more room to grow food and less lawn to mow.

 WILD INVASIVE LUPINES!
     Although some people are put off by lupines saying they are invasive, I think they are magnificent.  They bloom all over the island in Spring.  Mostly they are a purplish-blue, but I have seen them in other colors.  I prefer the blue and the white.  It's hypnotic to drive by an empty field or a pasture filled with lupine and watching them rippling in the breeze.  I guess it's a bit like the waving fields of grain. 
     I find my self going for a drive or a walk just to check out the progress of the lupine blossoms.  It's definitely a Spring Thing up here - watching for the lupines to bloom.