Bindings

Carol here ~

How can it be the last week of August?  Summer sure has flown by.  I'm not complaining, September and October are my favorite months.  I've even caught a glimpse of a red leaf here and there so fall is coming!

I finished the bindings on two quilts ~ 2025 35 & 36.  Here they are....

2025-35

The quilting pattern shows up well on this one, it is a digitized pattern called MARMALADE.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday again. The summer is rapidly leaving us. I have absolutely no idea where the year is going. It seems like it is in a hell of a hurry to get over with and move on to next year. Maybe next year will make more sense.

The planters are dwindling down and are about ready to be cut down and made ready for something for fall. Fall, that is a crazy thought. It seems like I just took off the blower from last winter. The seasons do their own thing without our input. That may change before too much longer, hopefully I’ll be gone before that can happen, although our time change ritual may change soon. I don’t know how I will like that either. I guess we can always find something to complain about.

Busy!

Carol here! 

It's been a busy month, so far.  Lots of this going on...

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday once again. The weather roller coaster ride still continues. Today was not undoable, not terribly hot and not too windy. There was the fact that it poured in sheets a few times, but hey, it’s Maine, if you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes.

The flowers are beginning to look the worse for wear. They have not been impressed with the weather roller coaster. We noticed sun burning of the blossoms and I have had to dead the Sun-Patiens that we use along the front of the house. I seldom need to do that. I think it has been too hot. Some of them are also getting very leggy and hang way out over the edge of the planters. 

A Good Day

Carol here ~ 

Thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday  Vanessa, Kailey, Jakob and Erin came over to enjoy the beautiful summer day and celebrate with me.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening, it is a chilly and windy evening. Needless to say, I am in the studio. Actually sitting here attempting to think of something to ramble about. I suppose if I think too long it defeats the idea of rambling. I have found though, that if too little thought is applied, it is unknown which station the train of thought might choose to stop at and discharge a few tidbits of knowledge. If I were to be totally honest though, much of what I pass along is not very valuable knowledge.

No real sunset tonight because of all the clouds. Here is the photo I took when I went to check. 

July

Carol here ~

It's hard to believe that July will be over in just a couple more days.  Where did the time go?

We headed up to Rangeley on Sunday to attend the musical comedy presented by Rangeley Friends of the Arts.  Daughter Erin was the choreographer and also a member of the cast.  A fun time with talented participants.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening. I was out by the fire but came in to write this. We continue to ride on the roller coaster of the weather. Today it never got above the mid 70’s and it was windy most of the day as well. Carol and I went to the ‘Falls and picked blueberries this morning. The picking was great and we both hated to quit. Had a fruit cobbler of sorts for dessert tonight. Dessert is a seldom thing in this house and it was quite tasty.

My Lillies have begun their annual display of sights and smells. The sights I can share, the smells you are out of luck. 

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening, it has been way too windy for a fire. Way too windy for a skinny old man out there. There was a stretch today when I was turning my flowers sideways to the wind so they wouldn’t blow over that I had to bend over double to keep from blowing over myself. I’ll wait until tomorrow to rotate them back to where they belong. Here is my view of them for tonight.

Blueberries

Carol here ~

Dan and I headed out to Goss Berry Farm yesterday morning to pick some blueberries.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

You guessed it, it’s Thursday.  I hope you are all surviving the heat, cause damn it’s been hot. I do not like the heat. If I have something that needs to get done, I’ll do it, but I’ll not like it and these days I notice I crash hard when the project is complete. Never used to be like that. There must be less oxygen in the air today than there used to be or something.

I did manage to see this as I was moving wood with my eyes open. My phone called it Prince’s pine. 

The Weekend

Carol here ~

It sure was a gorgeous weekend, both ponds had plenty of people taking advantage of the great weather ~ swimming, kayaking, canoeing, sunbathing, etc.  The 4th ended with a spectacular fireworks display over Mud/Mirror Pond presented by up the pond neighbor Ron.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday, I’m still not sure how it gets here so fast every week. There is only one word needed for the weather, HOT. That about sums it up. I’m not a real lover of the heat. That said I spent yesterday morning moving about a cord of wood from my yard and stacking it in the neighbors woodshed. I’m going to need some more as he has purchased most of what I had stacked up on the hill. I’m sure I can find some more to make a new pile but probably not until it cools off a little bit. This stretch can’t last too long. I could not even imagine why anyone would live where it was this warm all the time. Another reason why you can keep Florida. I couldn’t imagine shoveling snow in the weather.

The flowers etc. are trying to stay ahead of the hot weather and the wind and are doing ok. I see no new flowers on this tomato but if these ever ripen there will be a couple salad’s worth here.

July!

Carol here ~

Happy July Everyone!  Wowser, it's coming in HOT!  Be careful out there ~ make sure you stay hydrated!

It was a busy weekend on our end of the pond this past weekend, lots of pond action ~ swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding etc.

Here is my cousin Lindy trying out my kayak as he has the same issues we had in getting in and out of our old kayaks.  My new kayak is a little heavier than my old one so he thought it might be a problem for him loading and unloading in and out of his truck.  Since we don't take ours anywhere but here on the pond that is not an issue for us.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday has arrived. We had company today, Vanessa and her kids came for a visit. The kids went for rides in the old kayaks, I’m pretty sure that neither one fell in. After a nice chance to sit and enjoy the beautiful day we were glad to be under the awning as the sky opened up and it poured. It rained for quite a while. Then it cleared off and was lovely again. I think tomorrow is supposed to rain. I will probably go to Portland to pick up my new glasses. I am in hopes they will make a big difference. I have never thought my current pair fit and therefore can never seem to see what I want to. Time will tell.

My planters are doing as well as can be expected. It has been hard to tell what needs to get a drink what with all the rain. Almost all my planters have to deal with the wind that is usually blowing down one pond or the other as well. Here’s a couple photos of their progress.

New Kayaks

Carol here ~

We decided we needed new kayaks as ours were sit in and it was getting harder for us to get in and out plus the seat is very uncomfortable and was hurting my back. In other words, we got old. So, we ended up getting these which are more of a sit on top kayak.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening. It has been a cold, wet, rainy day. However, right now it is beautiful out and I am waiting to see what (if anything) we get for color in tonight’s sunset. The last two nights have been phenomenal. Time will tell. Here is two nights ago  

6/16

Upta Rangeley

Carol here ~

We headed to Rangeley on Saturday morning, what a beautiful morning it was!

Height of Land

Height of Land, one of my favorite scenic spots in the Rangeley area.  You can't go by it without stopping to take a picture.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday, finally the last couple of days I have been able to complain about the heat. The weather changes very fast from one extreme to another. I’m in the studio as it is too hot outside. Nothing I really have to do outside, I still have a couple 4-packs of wave petunias to plant up, but that is about it. I may get a few more short flowers to fill in some holes. Who knows, time will tell.

I told you last time about working on the neighbor’s woodpile. When I picked up a piece of wood I saw what looked to be a twig sticking out the end. Closer observation showed it to be a stick worm, I thought it was rather cool and was glad I had my eyes open. 

On the Pond

Carol here ~

We have a Momma Duck with six babies that has been traveling back and forth out front.  She is very protective, all I have to do is come up to the window and she ushers them out and away.