Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening up in the studio. Tonight’s too is it’s too chilly and damp so no fire. It seems that it is always the calmest on those nights. It is just as well, as I have not rebuilt much of the woodpile yet. I have been working on the driveway as energy allows the last few days. I redid some of the ditches and cleaned out the sediment that has washed in. I was awful glad I had not put stone in last time, as it would have been a pain to clean out now. Twelve yards of crushed gravel has arrived and I have started building the driveway up to get it to slope over to the ditch again and not run down the road as much. We’ll see how this goes. It worked well last time and with a larger budget last time I honestly don’t think I would be redoing it now. Hopefully this is the last major attack I will ever need to make doing it.

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 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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday. Weather today was a lot cooler than yesterday that was for sure. Yesterday I moved about a cord of firewood from my yard to the neighbors woodshed. It was wicked hot. Today I took about a cord of wood out of his wood shed and split it finer and started re-stacking it back into his wood shed. I’ll finish up tomorrow. Carol was happy, that meant that much time was not spent sewing.

As we move around the area spring is showing its bounty. The Canada Mayflower is starting to open. 

Kayaking

Carol here ~

We finally got a warm day with not much wind so took advantage of it and got out on the pond in the kayaks.

The water is still pretty cold so I'm wearing my boots as I need to get in the water to get into the kayak.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

The wind finally calmed down, I suppose I could have a fire but I’ve been cold all day. The weather sure did change fast. I takes me a while to get accustomed to the cold and I ain’t there yet. I had almost as many clothes on as in late November as I relocated more of my woodpile and removed leaves and pine needles from the beach.

I do admit, the first thing I do this time of year when I get up I go to see how covered the beach and shore is with leaves. A couple days ago I awoke to this. 

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening. Had a fire tonight as it was a pleasant evening sitting out by the fire. Tonight's sunset was not overly great but I do think it tried. 

Many of you know by now I prefer the shot after sunset better. I don’t really know why.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening. Not much happening here on the pond. Hot heavy daytime weather kept me in the studio most of the day. Having no interest in the water and with no projects that can’t wait until cooler temps, that seemed like a nice cool place to be. Carol has been under the weather this week so we both have been laying low. I’ve been bunking in the studio so hopefully we share less germs. The weather is supposed to get hotter over the weekend, I don’t believe there is any real rain in sight,. You got it time will tell.

The lily has finished it’s display for another season. 

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

It’s Thursday evening. Today was another day of weather ups and downs. Yesterday was incapacitating it was so hot. Today it was cool and raining. I was content to stay in the studio most of the day. More from the studio later.

As Carol told you the other day, we went to Rangeley last Saturday. What she didn’t think to mention was the very cool sight we saw on the way home. Until we arrived on the camp road I had only seen one critter, it was a small kitty scooting across the road. On the camp road we saw a huge owl barely more than windshield height, come swooping into view and disappear into the woods. I thought it was rather cool. I often hear the Barred owls calling in the evening and late at night. Sometimes there are three or four calling and answering back as they go about their owl business.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday, a rather hot one today. I guess it is summer it might as well be hot now. 

I picked blueberries this morning, now that was a hot endeavor. I was pleased to see the bucket full.

I enjoy picking them but it could have been a little cooler. I’m up in the studio now trying to cool off and enjoy the quiet.

Maine Quilts

Carol here ~    

It's time for the annual Maine Quilt Show at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta!

There will be lots of quilts on display and plenty of vendors for shopping.  We are planning on attending on Friday, anyone else?

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening, too windy with threats of severe weather for a fire. 

I’ll see what I can write then go back to sewing. It doesn’t seem like much has happened around here this week. Neighbor had a tree cut down. That was about all the excitement for that day. 

 

With Evan’s assistance we managed to get the display case removed from storage and relocated to the shed here. 

 

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening, inside, still a little breezy. It was not a bad day, I managed to get most of the plants into something. Either the ground, a planter or a pot. Now they just need to grow. Time will tell. This dragon fly was just waiting for me to get them planted. 

Sunshine!

Carol here ~

Finally we have sunshine and warmth!

Sister Terri had grands Annie and Alex and neighbor Jeff had a gang in on Sunday.  The kids had a ball playing on the beach and swimming.  Too cold for me but they didn't seem to mind.

Dan and I have gotten a couple kayak rides in.  The black flies are relentless ~ pesky wee buggars.

Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening. You can be sure of one thing, I’m inside where it is warm. This weather is insane.

Carol thought I better go get my SunPatiens before they sell out. Those are the flowers I plant in our window boxes along the retaining wall in front of the house. I did go get them and put them in the plastic storage building on the hill. Hopefully the mice don’t eat them before I can get them planted. We are supposed to get rain and extreme winds over the next couple days. 

I’m just glad I’m not responsible for a hundred plus camps and summer homes like in my past. Rangeley is calling for 4+ inches of snow out of the upcoming storm. I hope it warms up after this is over. I’m ready to be warmer.