tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79981815374739556082024-03-14T04:50:18.864-07:00Wicked CozyBeautiful living, Maine styleLori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-19938438686349262172023-06-03T04:29:00.004-07:002023-06-03T04:29:35.475-07:00Alewife Run, China Lake Stream, Vassalboro<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzXBJsx4TZ6zVWuyfP3y7s3_gpUFokzJImbTKX20Hl8NTiD7OGJ1JW1ugYCbuHGfHlYjEzpQS2j6E_vOy8Btg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>For more than 200 years, alewives were prevented by dams from reaching China Lake. No more! Thanks to the efforts of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - especially biologist Nate Gray - this historic run has been restored. <br />It's an amazing phenomenon, an unbelievable abundance. Check it out! <p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-63003923018214026062023-05-21T16:11:00.003-07:002023-05-21T16:11:15.467-07:00Sprague Pond Trail, Phippsburg<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JWHlCvjwd9VKAeG94Ug6G4-38rSZa0YzBJyk9bDsJQFYuzI4ktznOeKkdUCaDpZ6W7hBBJz7WumEWVrfWZundtzam5anQDc9JflXEpmCHq2DfCVU4ZlVmmyEECm76oi1quR0usavIwq9nBCJ-zSnkp0UwIlCuSEEfzOLqDTe55IT1gktR6uDUo_TCw/s4032/IMG_4312.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JWHlCvjwd9VKAeG94Ug6G4-38rSZa0YzBJyk9bDsJQFYuzI4ktznOeKkdUCaDpZ6W7hBBJz7WumEWVrfWZundtzam5anQDc9JflXEpmCHq2DfCVU4ZlVmmyEECm76oi1quR0usavIwq9nBCJ-zSnkp0UwIlCuSEEfzOLqDTe55IT1gktR6uDUo_TCw/s320/IMG_4312.HEIC" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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I'd use Google maps; the iphone navigation was wrong by about a quarter mile. This trail starts as a quiet walk through the woods but opens onto a surprise gorge & waterfall! Fiddleheads were up - although we left them undisturbed - and polliwogs were swimming. This was a fabulous spring hike. <p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-58492716718121123702022-02-23T11:13:00.001-08:002022-02-23T11:13:33.261-08:00First Crocus!<p><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kJ-deE-Wuko0T2Px4JW8O5pmzJQXoXbA" width="300" height="300" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"></p><p>I’ve been watching for the green types of the first crocus every year since 2006. This is the earliest one yet!</p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-37669584960189353142022-01-03T16:45:00.001-08:002022-01-03T16:45:00.174-08:00Snowshoeing: Jamie's Pond, Hallowell<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn6sZz6Qv8Bt7lYMsc8e90z-YsFW-zhZSS9GLKQKCSk3UMb-4-N9K2XAd-v9esOBjUZo4mK6_O4zOZwvwn0WVXxXjbDq_ad9E_hZQOmqrCWOJ-Wu-smR9rjUJZemqfJ_1LgcZ-Hh4gWfI/s4608/DSCN6213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn6sZz6Qv8Bt7lYMsc8e90z-YsFW-zhZSS9GLKQKCSk3UMb-4-N9K2XAd-v9esOBjUZo4mK6_O4zOZwvwn0WVXxXjbDq_ad9E_hZQOmqrCWOJ-Wu-smR9rjUJZemqfJ_1LgcZ-Hh4gWfI/w400-h300/DSCN6213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFvzEYfBVbmDtXQGm_3uYoCDW0lCbyRXfTbmp8u4O1CIPWLeszmlKPutoYlKLw5hwrKtYazZ5Ffq3YL6byv9XjelAj3yy-Zss7bVVKImLgVpCiwxoXAAksxw3raQY7Hw7le5eNJxMGe1p/s4608/DSCN6200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFvzEYfBVbmDtXQGm_3uYoCDW0lCbyRXfTbmp8u4O1CIPWLeszmlKPutoYlKLw5hwrKtYazZ5Ffq3YL6byv9XjelAj3yy-Zss7bVVKImLgVpCiwxoXAAksxw3raQY7Hw7le5eNJxMGe1p/w400-h300/DSCN6200.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUXMcXkv5sAPcoQv4lO6Oq8lVIdgOVNodwWoN01Ht7MvXm2xvocn_FDRLlj7VquCo8cRPtEjEievzxHKIR9swasAdEDtbD9nFGJtjlBxUuLJwYhK4WU8y7pm7nrPOaEkqfrkj1dtJu2Pd/s4608/DSCN6195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUXMcXkv5sAPcoQv4lO6Oq8lVIdgOVNodwWoN01Ht7MvXm2xvocn_FDRLlj7VquCo8cRPtEjEievzxHKIR9swasAdEDtbD9nFGJtjlBxUuLJwYhK4WU8y7pm7nrPOaEkqfrkj1dtJu2Pd/w400-h300/DSCN6195.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-19642521207012705122021-12-18T07:49:00.002-08:002021-12-18T07:49:37.423-08:00Christmas Cookies 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFz5CBbICZj9RmUq_XP5xicgNlho9EQrq-z86Hi9hEHjWngg5dbinxO64Fmujis9OkmNlA9XSNx9CBJVSkIb_T2Wy4IU-C9iCLPkY48DkcLWvfzxgBF_kKpGg4HTzUDpUoV8tD4ltRwzt-iu7YH4Dg9hCtXBxWNRlkve4MUPgNKp7qgVlzMd3jufQrCg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFz5CBbICZj9RmUq_XP5xicgNlho9EQrq-z86Hi9hEHjWngg5dbinxO64Fmujis9OkmNlA9XSNx9CBJVSkIb_T2Wy4IU-C9iCLPkY48DkcLWvfzxgBF_kKpGg4HTzUDpUoV8tD4ltRwzt-iu7YH4Dg9hCtXBxWNRlkve4MUPgNKp7qgVlzMd3jufQrCg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqnI1XMmT94IyFgzFl6Z3Bzh5z7aXCYrMoa7Wt3c0OfsJjWlKpCNxZ2nRSq-VCkF9ID013x8-wUzUMV-LM9vHRYUdNz9VMT_7nJxQAN47b_vyNS_-D9rM9OpKNHbaszCJ45-_HW5ciVXI-gd5EqvkXIPz4FJnuiog6uzt9jx6d_thERu9yi2mjJXrDpw=s1350" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqnI1XMmT94IyFgzFl6Z3Bzh5z7aXCYrMoa7Wt3c0OfsJjWlKpCNxZ2nRSq-VCkF9ID013x8-wUzUMV-LM9vHRYUdNz9VMT_7nJxQAN47b_vyNS_-D9rM9OpKNHbaszCJ45-_HW5ciVXI-gd5EqvkXIPz4FJnuiog6uzt9jx6d_thERu9yi2mjJXrDpw=s320" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhooktxDH_ACDVtR4RWdMOGZHq1ULBfY6nFmNh1e2Fe1EgOun05KawtbRl03UhhlJTlVwwF61P4Pf8Dz7S4mK7MHogkuIDbO3Ii3wiLfS6iewzZ5w6FHuyIbFHIGZSn1F5nN9TfLi0KnycXEVAke7Z4KVc4bYxwM5_sK8pybnacKJCCl7Eeufpo3vcn0g=s3365" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3365" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhooktxDH_ACDVtR4RWdMOGZHq1ULBfY6nFmNh1e2Fe1EgOun05KawtbRl03UhhlJTlVwwF61P4Pf8Dz7S4mK7MHogkuIDbO3Ii3wiLfS6iewzZ5w6FHuyIbFHIGZSn1F5nN9TfLi0KnycXEVAke7Z4KVc4bYxwM5_sK8pybnacKJCCl7Eeufpo3vcn0g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCbzsWUZArm4-QBAPd3Yfnqam8D0N2nhOixjIiUb56y0JSjp7Xl36Lpc5PV46SjuZpzRBbXBO_rj7WqfC8RyjTqfGUrgWEIRORzreHI8YvRDOqJpPWHCwPAL4iEkRSBYce7Kga0PBvSYecUwtRnVMrj3zoUHvOqI4s0TJ4XlbDcU387AV6tlWlmbVlIA=s4032" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCbzsWUZArm4-QBAPd3Yfnqam8D0N2nhOixjIiUb56y0JSjp7Xl36Lpc5PV46SjuZpzRBbXBO_rj7WqfC8RyjTqfGUrgWEIRORzreHI8YvRDOqJpPWHCwPAL4iEkRSBYce7Kga0PBvSYecUwtRnVMrj3zoUHvOqI4s0TJ4XlbDcU387AV6tlWlmbVlIA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> A tradition was born last year! One of my pandemic self-soothing activities is watching cookie decorating videos. You can only watch so many cookie decorating videos before you want to try it yourself! Last Christmas I finally did, and really enjoyed it. There are only 2 of us, tho, and Doug isn't much for sweets, so I decorate way more cookies than we want or need. Solution? Well, I gift some of them, but many will go to the Bread of Life, the soup kitchen near my house. I get the joy of decorating & they get some holiday cheer; I love a win-win. Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-52300216776229781332021-10-21T05:46:00.000-07:002021-10-21T05:46:01.854-07:00Shed Pond, Readfield<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdVkfPoc85yrDqtXlW6N7uo2TjIf2nPf-MsW-X6BmPcU0v7eI3nIooJGJ2kKdRjTou3QpX6yB8vS_ySoKtNx3Lel88dHj-ds8FNAqllFViehtnK0fCHhNvrbBkrRwR-6Ijf05P00mFU41/s2048/IMG_1481.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdVkfPoc85yrDqtXlW6N7uo2TjIf2nPf-MsW-X6BmPcU0v7eI3nIooJGJ2kKdRjTou3QpX6yB8vS_ySoKtNx3Lel88dHj-ds8FNAqllFViehtnK0fCHhNvrbBkrRwR-6Ijf05P00mFU41/s320/IMG_1481.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSxIqKHo6oTkHLsRzfOXARv9W3fHUrdMMD9jDasdNNfPjxHTt9uKggA8Az_TQAMgIoxZSV3BQdzWneeWLzAft4z4XPADZLf5_xj-a5fCDLBPbChhZmPr-d2-gflZa3xt-_kaRgYXZ8J2v/s2048/IMG_1459.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSxIqKHo6oTkHLsRzfOXARv9W3fHUrdMMD9jDasdNNfPjxHTt9uKggA8Az_TQAMgIoxZSV3BQdzWneeWLzAft4z4XPADZLf5_xj-a5fCDLBPbChhZmPr-d2-gflZa3xt-_kaRgYXZ8J2v/s320/IMG_1459.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The autumn colors were subdued but nevertheless beautiful on our Sunday hike to Shed Pond. </div><br /><p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-8761240760979352322021-10-17T14:41:00.001-07:002021-10-17T14:41:50.602-07:00Porcupine, Gannett Woods, Readfield<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxcOg7CR_C5kmHZkxYSsrpPx-jkZK74-ZsCRKL2QBDQ_kehyDj8hGlxZwBDQ5STnDEOwj7C2lw1tHsGtHUMmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-53997213018554626782021-09-26T14:58:00.001-07:002021-09-26T14:58:59.643-07:00A Bright September Afternoon in Maine <div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11yHF2W0jB9yUtX-v0nbfgeZq4IQLu0xE" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11yHF2W0jB9yUtX-v0nbfgeZq4IQLu0xE" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">China, Maine </div>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-85702810773414099022021-06-21T04:27:00.004-07:002021-06-21T04:27:27.603-07:00A Daisy A Day<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj8ZG1vOEbjMopdedt96DluHQmpBbN6gEx8Mo_JYIMCAfZ6ZtEl6hnXw4zVENzdRg1zrOA-NLBkPUl5eHmZdYCJ7vcj31AtkEjwGA1HsMqKJ__cxejMqjUCtWMfJ7vNgZW06UGq2wYOou/s1080/Daisies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj8ZG1vOEbjMopdedt96DluHQmpBbN6gEx8Mo_JYIMCAfZ6ZtEl6hnXw4zVENzdRg1zrOA-NLBkPUl5eHmZdYCJ7vcj31AtkEjwGA1HsMqKJ__cxejMqjUCtWMfJ7vNgZW06UGq2wYOou/s320/Daisies.jpg" /></a></div>The daisies currently booming up a storm in my garden made me think of this.<br />Maine singer/songwriter released<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8G0SFmJ1g&ab_channel=lee57"> A Daisy A Day</a> in 1973. Strunk, who was born in New York, adopted Maine & wrote many songs about his new home. <br />Jud Strunk was 45 when he passed away in a plane crash. </div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;">I often heard my grandmother humming this song, when I was a child. <br /><span jsname="YS01Ge"><br /></span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><b>Daisy A Day</b></span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">He remembers the first time he met ‘er</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">He remembers the first thing she said</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">He remembers the first time he held her</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And the night that she came to his bed</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">He remembers her sweet way of singin'</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Honey has somethin' gone wrong</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">He remembers the fun and the teasin'</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And the reason he wrote ‘er this song</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll give you a daisy a day</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll give you a daisy a day</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll love you until the rivers run still</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And the four winds we know blow away</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">They would walk down the street in the evenin'</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And for years I would see them go by</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And their love that was more than the clothes that they wore</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Could be seen in the gleam of their eye</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">As a kid they would take me for candy</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I loved to go taggin' along</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">We'd hold hands while we walked to the corner</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And the old man would sing ‘er his song</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll give you a daisy a day</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll give you a daisy a day</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll love you until the rivers run still</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And the four winds we know blow away</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Now he walks down the street in the evenin'</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And he stops by the old candy store</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I somehow believe he's believin'</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">He's holdin' ‘er hand like before</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">For he feels all her love walkin' with him</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And he smiles at the things she might say</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Then the old man walks up to the hilltop</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And gives her a daisy a day</span></div><div class="ujudUb WRZytc" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll give you a daisy a day</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll give you a daisy a day</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'll love you until the rivers run still</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And the four winds we know blow away</span></div>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-17330993665021148852021-06-05T07:12:00.002-07:002021-06-05T09:17:41.025-07:00Canada Geese & Goslings at Togus Pond<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx-cXTcMyIZ34nm07MJcUA44hKsuuQtEJusSOTxsPJNBZGnySgZ8m_cyAE_IAlHf6VOkRJlqlPs_sko35dQAA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> There was a lot of activity at Togus Pond this morning! We pulled over for a snapping turtle, intending to move her across the road, but then realized she was already in the process of laying her eggs in the sand & gravel at the side to the road, so Doug watched over her until she finished, and had buried the nest, and then he helped her back to the water. <br />I heard loons & saw red-winged blackbirds, saw ducks & frogs & finches - but the best was this family of Canada geese. <p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-89721996022665884912021-04-22T04:17:00.005-07:002021-04-22T04:17:45.691-07:00Sometimes It Snows In April<p> Like today, for instance. <br />There's even a song about it. </p><p><br /></p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ikZgBhSMSUM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-68219317534931745992021-03-25T07:52:00.000-07:002021-03-25T07:52:33.205-07:00Get Ready for the Maine Pottery Tour! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6kyjfLehLBE2v5Kp1kHMgOksDg-9i_I7OymiY_erumBVO9OG7Ibh0i9ifCcNZ9phEcXR5weYBiSW-aQDUlgCK0cpzzPIRvohWFYh7kbsZSW9ujNS6zii6bWbX0ezWrUen5On2l2TfRuy/s500/2021PostcardSmaller.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6kyjfLehLBE2v5Kp1kHMgOksDg-9i_I7OymiY_erumBVO9OG7Ibh0i9ifCcNZ9phEcXR5weYBiSW-aQDUlgCK0cpzzPIRvohWFYh7kbsZSW9ujNS6zii6bWbX0ezWrUen5On2l2TfRuy/w400-h268/2021PostcardSmaller.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the Maine Pottery Tour is back! It's happening this year on May 1st & 2nd with 43 studios participating. <p></p><div>The pottery tour is an opportunity to meet local potters & ceramic artists, see their working spaces, and shop for handmade pottery & other fine handmade goods. It's like Maple Sugar Sunday, only for pottery! </div><div>For a list of participating studios, check out the <a href="https://mainepotterytour.org/">Maine Pottery Tour website</a>. For a google map you can load into your phone, click here: <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9489129,-71.2854808,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!6m1!1s1rGOOjdwHY01lzWp-p8XcS_qjNHGFMjZO">https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9489129,-71.2854808,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!6m1!1s1rGOOjdwHY01lzWp-p8XcS_qjNHGFMjZO</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Let me just toss in a plug for my studio,<a href="http://www.finemesspottery.com/"> Fine Mess Pottery</a>, where I will be unloading a kiln Saturday morning! </div>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-18082206726004119002020-12-27T06:29:00.005-08:002020-12-27T06:31:35.135-08:00The Seed Order<p> It's always a bright moment in my Maine winter, the day I place the order for the seeds <a href="https://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/">from Fedco</a> that will become next year's garden. Usually I prefer to wait until mid-January, when winter is deepest and seems like it will never end, to give me that pinpoint of hope, but I'm told waiting might result in not getting the seeds I want this year, and I do want the varieties I've chosen for good reasons. </p><p><br />I only have so much space, so every year I am torn between my favorites & trying something new. Here are this year's choices:<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnFIPBuzE5iXiPdGMndHz29IiTtX988ODoJ6LDyEhM2iOwkiYFCSaQt5l_xFD_BtoKM4dvsfJaSUg1Rivr7QR9glT7mUddC5-upIk99b36mQhjELqk_xdp8V6aOnjwAHertUnjyZY8DlU/s352/SunGold.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="290" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnFIPBuzE5iXiPdGMndHz29IiTtX988ODoJ6LDyEhM2iOwkiYFCSaQt5l_xFD_BtoKM4dvsfJaSUg1Rivr7QR9glT7mUddC5-upIk99b36mQhjELqk_xdp8V6aOnjwAHertUnjyZY8DlU/w165-h200/SunGold.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>Sun Golds - These will always be on my list. They are just The Best: best flavor, most fruit, both earliest & latest tomatoes, and utterly reliable. They are a cherry variety; otherwise I'd be tempted to just fill the garden with them. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPHnyheblEWVqS-2JHzxbDAKtNphCys3AEVKbFBX6bjtJ_v9Lz5Dj1W0HOB6zuPlxaUAxBjKf1lqlD_ShY3yHl6dEjQNXtB17cZxC_g8-HuiAzRr2aZdQrW1-W82zzmBVIKdtMWBQOUjS/s387/GardenPeach.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="387" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPHnyheblEWVqS-2JHzxbDAKtNphCys3AEVKbFBX6bjtJ_v9Lz5Dj1W0HOB6zuPlxaUAxBjKf1lqlD_ShY3yHl6dEjQNXtB17cZxC_g8-HuiAzRr2aZdQrW1-W82zzmBVIKdtMWBQOUjS/w200-h150/GardenPeach.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Garden Peaches - Also an early tomato; in Maine the growing season is fairly short, so I've learned not to waste it on 90-day germinators, no matter how amazing they sound. These are yellow, 2-inch tomatoes, very flavorful & pretty in salsa. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGgqZ2wWlmhJYL8-gfRXbAWxvOt8ZCZ8QqeHBzNM-x5DH1Szm-pFLTZnyjbDUGX0lPn5Ub4QoDbwzwp-csINx9A8Qc_CseB4K8Q-CXtU2r1EDffKH_1K0hsKC5Qb9gIdmE36OvwPcCbn2/s370/Oregon+Spring.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="370" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGgqZ2wWlmhJYL8-gfRXbAWxvOt8ZCZ8QqeHBzNM-x5DH1Szm-pFLTZnyjbDUGX0lPn5Ub4QoDbwzwp-csINx9A8Qc_CseB4K8Q-CXtU2r1EDffKH_1K0hsKC5Qb9gIdmE36OvwPcCbn2/w200-h150/Oregon+Spring.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Oregon Spring - New to me this year, and said to be a hedge against a cool summer. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhX0X2hsVyLdWZrroSGVNrsJfEKOjsuXgf9XRsaIWhC_ZXxYbYOIRk9qyW_uiagKujmsaPZxFYqxLN4l4iwX417E3YPmhpPFepZgrRPWbNK5g4NaPGczzPMJuGQCjx5EwNwVXUh4BhJi_/s387/Pruden%2527s+Purple.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="387" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhX0X2hsVyLdWZrroSGVNrsJfEKOjsuXgf9XRsaIWhC_ZXxYbYOIRk9qyW_uiagKujmsaPZxFYqxLN4l4iwX417E3YPmhpPFepZgrRPWbNK5g4NaPGczzPMJuGQCjx5EwNwVXUh4BhJi_/w200-h150/Pruden%2527s+Purple.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Pruden's Purple - I think I had these in the garden several years ago, so not entirely new. They are a full size tomato - a whole pound per fruit - with a mere 72-day germination. We shall see whether that rings true. <p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-13675450732209805372020-12-22T07:33:00.008-08:002020-12-22T07:33:59.861-08:00The House Smells Amazing: How to Roast Garlic<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTfLbcXDPnxnr5rML8NYnNP-Jjx2PyH5ExHHpC3uN7PpqEOjiMxXd9aKXuI3QrgeJqegEKCeDTkYvl7MdsqE6kCZOnm-hdDWR8zxBLBCtWtM1nS2AoGaPIMSuU2U8waJeaM8L-Yy8Wr28/s4608/DSCN6168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTfLbcXDPnxnr5rML8NYnNP-Jjx2PyH5ExHHpC3uN7PpqEOjiMxXd9aKXuI3QrgeJqegEKCeDTkYvl7MdsqE6kCZOnm-hdDWR8zxBLBCtWtM1nS2AoGaPIMSuU2U8waJeaM8L-Yy8Wr28/s320/DSCN6168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Roast garlic is milder and sweeter than raw garlic, with a nutty flavor and none of the burn. It's ever so easy to do! You don't need a garlic roaster, but if you have one you can cook & serve in the same dish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Roast Garlic</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>You'll need:<br /><div style="text-align: left;">A head of garlic</div><div style="text-align: left;">A teaspoon of water</div><div style="text-align: left;">A tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil</div><div style="text-align: left;">A <i>tiny</i> pinch salt</div><p style="text-align: left;">Aluminum foil or a garlic roaster</p><p style="text-align: left;">If using foil, lay flat a square large enough to completely wrap around the garlic head. Bend up the sides to make a bowl shape.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Remove as much of the paper skin as you can without taking apart the head</p><p style="text-align: left;">Cut off the tips - not the root end! - of the cloves</p><p style="text-align: left;">Put a teaspoon of water in the roaster (or foil bowl.)</p><p style="text-align: left;">Place the head root end down in the water.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Drizzle oil over head. Sprinkle the tiny bit of salt. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Place in cold oven; turn up to 400°. Roast for 45 minutes</p><p style="text-align: left;">Remove from oven. Scoop soft cloves out with tip of knife to spread on bread, or use in dressings or sauces. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-66755397996226866302020-12-06T11:55:00.003-08:002020-12-06T13:11:33.733-08:00Sugar Cookies for Christmas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0CWedoJ07GVbH70UKVrcH15QEAjvtv-MV4KxiEkR_P0Z7J_hRfarRzhp85F9RaXf1Zo43gUu-WrTfTPLYxn57obR49aYnCq5N6VnjP7Dj1c-0YkwFlYBuuRmpVbSgX6sSCXb1emTgcbw/s4608/Cookieswithpaint+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0CWedoJ07GVbH70UKVrcH15QEAjvtv-MV4KxiEkR_P0Z7J_hRfarRzhp85F9RaXf1Zo43gUu-WrTfTPLYxn57obR49aYnCq5N6VnjP7Dj1c-0YkwFlYBuuRmpVbSgX6sSCXb1emTgcbw/s320/Cookieswithpaint+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I'm not much a baker. I do love sweets but honestly the world conspires to put cakes and brownies in my path; I don't need to go to all the effort of baking them. Anyway who has time for stuff like that? But I'm a potter, and the pandemic has fucked with my livelihood most truly - all my holiday events have been cancelled. The lemonade from those lemons? This year I have the time. <br />I have fond memories of making sugar cookies with my sister, as a child. Here's the thing about most sugar cookies: they exist to be beautiful. For the fun of decorating them, for the pleasure in admiring their icing. As a general rule they taste...fine. <p></p><p>If you are using buttercream frosting, they are a vehicle for getting that to your mouth in the prettiest way possible. If you are using royal icing, well, that hasn't got an amazing flavor usually, either. </p><p>In my usual fashion, I am leaping right in with alterations before I have even tried the standard way, because I want to make cookies that taste great <i>and</i> look amazing. I really want the experience of decorating them - that's the fun of it - but that's not a satisfying experience if the cookies are only ok. </p><p>2 things are wrong with sugar cookies: too dry, and insipid flavor. I added a little more butter, and some almond extract which also serves to add some moisture. They taste like those almond horseshoes that fancy-schmancy bakeries sometimes have. </p><p><u>Almond Sugar Cookies</u></p><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature<br />1 cup sugar<br />1 egg</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 tablespoon vanilla</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 teaspoon almond extract</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 cups flour (plus a little for the rolling board)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 teaspoon baking powder</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You'll need a rolling pin, a smooth surface to roll on, some parchment paper, some cooking spray, and a cookie sheet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cut the butter into 1/2 inch slices & put in a bowl with sugar. Mash together with a mixing spoon or potato masher until well combined. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Blend together well. A stand mixer is super helpful at this point. Add the baking powder to the flour & stir it in. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture and mix thoroughly. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Divide the dough in half.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Spread a <i>very</i> little flour on your rolling surface, and roll out one of the halves of your dough to a quarter inch thick. Flip it frequently while rolling. Place the rolled sheet of dough on a piece of parchment paper. <br />Do the same for the other half. </div><div style="text-align: left;">With a sheet of parchment paper between them, put your rolled sheets of dough in the refrigerator to chill for 1/2 an hour. Preheat the oven to 375<span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px;">° f. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the dough has chilled, bring it out and cut your cookie shapes from it. Spray some cooking spray onto the cookie sheet & place the cut shapes onto the cookie sheet. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bake for about 12-14 minutes. Cool on rack. Tops will be pale, bottoms will be lightly browned. Makes about 20 3-inch cookies. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cookies are only half the battle! Here is the recipe for Better Royal Icing. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Better Royal Icing</u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6 tablespoon pasteurized egg whites </b>(The eggs you get at the grocery store are already pasteurized, or you can get a carton of just egg white.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4 cups confectioners sugar</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>1/4 teaspoon almond extract</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Paste food coloring. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">This will make a lot, so you can make several colors, and have some of each at the <a href="https://www.butfirstcookies.com/home/tutorials/foolproof-royal-icing-flooding/" target="_blank">runnier flood consistency</a> & some at piping consistency. Once it's mixed, separate into smaller bowls & make your colors. The ones you plan to "flood" just need to be thin enough that they will smooth out, so you will add egg white to those a tiny bit - like a 1/4 teaspoon - at a time, until it flows off the mixing spoon. <br /><br />I'm not gonna try to teach you how to flood cookies or pipe decoration; I am an absolute amateur at this & you'd be better off to watch videos from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcw2q3zKhSMany45FpN5OuQ" target="_blank">My Little Bakery</a> or S<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/SweetAmbsCookies" target="_blank">weet Amb's</a>. <br /><br />Here are some of my steps in the process: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98N9lcfdDxSJK1gPHNoSYnamplZT_lqwtdL-H4Hy7jLS8c7wSkJpeS1gy8B0RmrNuSLKH1C8B84ASxrhZq4HidsiSbHcR7fMrWhI7l0w0ulrHZC8dSRk_jQwmXC_ndtuyCruHfe_Od9Qz/s4608/Cookies1stStep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98N9lcfdDxSJK1gPHNoSYnamplZT_lqwtdL-H4Hy7jLS8c7wSkJpeS1gy8B0RmrNuSLKH1C8B84ASxrhZq4HidsiSbHcR7fMrWhI7l0w0ulrHZC8dSRk_jQwmXC_ndtuyCruHfe_Od9Qz/s320/Cookies1stStep.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr6SJwMgU_726T95iZ-PXSnw-2Z4cVDf3RAKaNSj0Mo2pKprz5672iV-kw7P9XaeYeydIs_IdS-G67LRhV8eGIwkT8Pr5rp24lQ1j29ukei-dKb4uUf-OrvSvMNkli-INyn2FDj9cX6Dp/s4608/Cookies2ndStep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr6SJwMgU_726T95iZ-PXSnw-2Z4cVDf3RAKaNSj0Mo2pKprz5672iV-kw7P9XaeYeydIs_IdS-G67LRhV8eGIwkT8Pr5rp24lQ1j29ukei-dKb4uUf-OrvSvMNkli-INyn2FDj9cX6Dp/s320/Cookies2ndStep.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZqS6Gy5kIUHoO2Rl3Vyqv7lK32bPMeJ0RikvIbVq9XiO0ZcJP80WQL0-XxB3G88VPzshSAkIRVfLrfZYhis9o69CbMQWjavmA8AyZXr8j6GQsfglIrhz6oEX6aOo3E02oN4tQEVgk00a/s4608/Cookies+Step3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZqS6Gy5kIUHoO2Rl3Vyqv7lK32bPMeJ0RikvIbVq9XiO0ZcJP80WQL0-XxB3G88VPzshSAkIRVfLrfZYhis9o69CbMQWjavmA8AyZXr8j6GQsfglIrhz6oEX6aOo3E02oN4tQEVgk00a/s320/Cookies+Step3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The piping was actually the hard part! The trees came out pretty much<br />as I envisioned; the little churches, not so much. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzTtMlUa9RPTsI6DhaQ5maTDeKiKghzHoUcIHHSnzkeTrFexJDcn0r9zYW93UaMKH_7WYUx04uhdZblXznRFOCMdyHuAQeBdYqfKCuO5zwL3DrzZqOiMY52juKOVeag-FpVKnNwioAWVB/s4608/CookiesSrep4+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzTtMlUa9RPTsI6DhaQ5maTDeKiKghzHoUcIHHSnzkeTrFexJDcn0r9zYW93UaMKH_7WYUx04uhdZblXznRFOCMdyHuAQeBdYqfKCuO5zwL3DrzZqOiMY52juKOVeag-FpVKnNwioAWVB/s320/CookiesSrep4+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegCrKd-eNwidHrKECKRsw2tJU1G44VkOZzHEyFYRZLzBTEp0nmSdTtaoRO04-OefkOlbxHGn0L8P4OC1njGRtp14iArnlp6sia4xd34-qeZf_gRS-KlNUeIYSeKvppsGslwv_P0plb-ES/s4608/DSCN6155.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegCrKd-eNwidHrKECKRsw2tJU1G44VkOZzHEyFYRZLzBTEp0nmSdTtaoRO04-OefkOlbxHGn0L8P4OC1njGRtp14iArnlp6sia4xd34-qeZf_gRS-KlNUeIYSeKvppsGslwv_P0plb-ES/s320/DSCN6155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last step: cake paint. Might skip this step next time. Also, gotta work on those little churches. <br />Those are kinda janky. </div><br />Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-14000556765057287772020-11-25T15:42:00.001-08:002020-11-25T15:42:23.873-08:00My First Pie! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6qsV0xZPPCLWb6DjiVUSKQPpH_YjrW5yAM86pJdVm93nB8kpDGk1i8GXlOb9GsjVUz48wCIv7W4_kunrMVEbMKaRZiYdpR8bqsBa84tmmT4D2VD1LC607RXLN34T-5mHdUTQvCbhBqS8/s1080/Pie+Ingredient.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6qsV0xZPPCLWb6DjiVUSKQPpH_YjrW5yAM86pJdVm93nB8kpDGk1i8GXlOb9GsjVUz48wCIv7W4_kunrMVEbMKaRZiYdpR8bqsBa84tmmT4D2VD1LC607RXLN34T-5mHdUTQvCbhBqS8/s320/Pie+Ingredient.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>2020: a year like none other. If this were a normal year I would be preparing to host my family right now: cleaning, moving furniture around, chopping vegetables. It's not a normal year, and we decided to atomize our Thanksgiving this year: each household celebrating separately. Normally I make the hearty foods, my sister & brother-in-law bring the salad, and my sister-in-law makes pies. <br /><br />Well, I'm skipping salad; I love it but Doug has no interest, and it's really only good the first day, so there would be a ton of waste. It's not like I could freeze it! We're having a turkey (it's 12.5 lbs, and it actually a bit comical to look at; it's like a miniature), stuffing, potatoes, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/30/773457637/from-culinary-dud-to-stud-how-dutch-plant-breeders-built-our-brussels-sprouts-bo">brussels sprouts.</a>..and pumpkin pie. <p></p><p>I've never made a pie of any kind before. People keep telling me it's easy, but then there are all these confusing things like, you have to bake it 3 different ways? But it just didn't seem like Thanksgiving without it, so I decided to give pie a chance. </p><p>I decided store-bought crust would have to do, because pastry is notoriously tricky to get right. I bought a box of pre-rolled rounds. That actually turned out to be the troublesome part - I didn't know it would shrink! So after I had partially baked the crust I noticed it was now too small for the pan & tried to slap on some patches. Good thing this pie will not be entering any beauty contests! </p><p>Here'd the filling recipe, from my sister-in-law, the reigning queen of pies in our family: <br /><br /><u></u></p><blockquote><u>Aces High Farm Pumpkin Pie Filling</u><br />1 can (1 lb.) pumpkin (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076DX66BG?pf_rd_r=034FZB4J2F70PR2B0AV5&pf_rd_p=40eb7df6-3345-4945-93b1-96c5bd9a116d">One Pie</a> is best, from just up the road in Fairfield, Maine)<br />3/4 cup sugar <br />2 eggs <br />1/2 tsp. salt <br />1/2 tsp. ginger <br />1/4 tsp. cloves<br />1 tsp. cinnamon<br />2/3 c. evaporated milk or light cream <br /><br /><br />Preheat oven to 425F. Prepare pastry. Beat eggs slightly, then beat in remaining ingredients. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes. *Then, reduce heat to 350F and bake 45 minutes more or until a toothpick inserted into the filling comes out clean. Serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream on top if desired. <br /><br />Important notes: <br /><br />*It's a good idea after the first 15 minutes of baking to cover the <br /> pie crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning.</blockquote><p></p>
So, it's out! Boy is this an ugly pie. Smells good, though! I'll report back tomorrow on the important bit: how it tastes. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8w7V9jbN1d24hOe_cRmHPBSO4n8YyCDB251h8tUGSUvnhALIKy4hcBo3kKZAI0DOD1F1MNOdADQROpeXwPXUBvuzPovUb_Z5dj5Opv-d-aC2A3Gw-zPqWnq8Hcgou1jWIA0ipo-0TfVE/s1308/UglyPie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8w7V9jbN1d24hOe_cRmHPBSO4n8YyCDB251h8tUGSUvnhALIKy4hcBo3kKZAI0DOD1F1MNOdADQROpeXwPXUBvuzPovUb_Z5dj5Opv-d-aC2A3Gw-zPqWnq8Hcgou1jWIA0ipo-0TfVE/s320/UglyPie+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-43460535556101536382020-10-04T16:43:00.001-07:002020-10-04T16:43:04.713-07:00Oven's Mouth, Boothbay, Maine, October 2020<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThHNyQVpNd8" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>We are blessed to live in Maine during these Covid times, where there are lots of things to do outdoors, and for free. The Oven's Mouth Preserve in Boothbay is one such thing. I wish this video could be scratch & sniff! The piney woods, the briny rivers; you can just feel the tension leaving your body at the scent. </div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite thing about Oven's Mouth, though, is the incredible teal color of the water of the Back & Cross rivers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy! </div>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-80093957092124098962020-09-27T07:05:00.000-07:002020-09-27T07:05:07.888-07:00An Embarrassment of Spuds<p> When you think fall in Maine, you might think of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=pick+your+own+apples+maine&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS914US914&oq=pick+your+own+apples+maine&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.4149j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">apple picking</a>. (And you wouldn't be wrong! It is a fun fall activity and fresh-fresh-fresh apples are just incredible.) Another fall harvest is just as plentiful, though. The French name translates to "apples of the earth:" potatoes.<br /><br />There are no pick-your-own potato farms that I know of, it being a messier and less picturesque activity, but farm stands are full of native potatoes, and in the grocery store the prices can't be beat. </p><p>How to take advantage of all this bounty, when the two of us can only eat so many potatoes? (Especially when the apples are beckoning, as well!) In the past when I have tried to freeze stews or soups that contain potatoes, the results have been...not great. The potato chunks have a weird spongy texture. Trying to freeze raw potatoes has not gone any better - those were somehow both grainy <i>and</i> mushy. <br /><br />I knew I must be doing something wrong, because frozen french fries and hash browns are a thing. I can't flash-freeze, but I can blanche, which, it turns out, is the secret to home freezing potatoes. Here's how:<br /><br />Cut the potatoes into wedges. It doesn't have to be exactly this size and shape, but you don't want your chunks too small, because you don't want them to get too thoroughly cooked before freezing. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiM34lttrcuovjQ_8DT8F85Y63jlA7NbMnV2NeUCL8xKoImc_or_v8I6C2ehbQcfqotGhckUv92jcXt1S3cvSuKgpHabkBdN28QnX896pe9L74cNeF2jLo9G6-_szVJve6uehGVM7U6Tif/s4608/DSCN4296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiM34lttrcuovjQ_8DT8F85Y63jlA7NbMnV2NeUCL8xKoImc_or_v8I6C2ehbQcfqotGhckUv92jcXt1S3cvSuKgpHabkBdN28QnX896pe9L74cNeF2jLo9G6-_szVJve6uehGVM7U6Tif/s320/DSCN4296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Put a big pot of water on the stove on high. Set a timer for 2 minutes. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQq6bkglq6nbHRSQUrxCcHtO8O5bksRmnEW-9xWpWL97tgIN7BY3tCqruCPvabJrB3j9Qy_C8OsofwFyXTTla3my4enWN5I1pe9vQPP-t9Zrs4H1xQj-1PBpZH0xedr9ZZ_6R8VJq648my/s4608/DSCN4298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQq6bkglq6nbHRSQUrxCcHtO8O5bksRmnEW-9xWpWL97tgIN7BY3tCqruCPvabJrB3j9Qy_C8OsofwFyXTTla3my4enWN5I1pe9vQPP-t9Zrs4H1xQj-1PBpZH0xedr9ZZ_6R8VJq648my/s320/DSCN4298.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p>While waiting for the water to boil, fill a bigger pot with cold water & ice cubes. This is the ice bath to stop the potatoes from continuing to cook after you drain them. </p><p>Once the water on the stove boils, put in the potatoes and start the timer. </p><p>When the timer goes off, drain hte potatoes in a colander and put them immediately into the ice bath. Leave them in the ice bath for a few minutes, them scoop them back into the colander with a slotted spoon. Let them drain completely, then divide them into freezer bags and pop them into the freezer. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtO6hczcRC9JZ3lj0wqMiEVS-xCU7DYecUgDK6g7HZAgUgjbE6XVrYWsE9GhEWuCtMSsP-kt20ukQPtRC-j7Ex46S2E_1gsL0RyGRMdrWsVTcxpy5q5K6Mu_EvvYoRE8flLD90HIiFeig/s4608/DSCN4299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtO6hczcRC9JZ3lj0wqMiEVS-xCU7DYecUgDK6g7HZAgUgjbE6XVrYWsE9GhEWuCtMSsP-kt20ukQPtRC-j7Ex46S2E_1gsL0RyGRMdrWsVTcxpy5q5K6Mu_EvvYoRE8flLD90HIiFeig/s320/DSCN4299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Frozen potatoes will stay good for about a year - not that I need to worry about that, I expect we will eat these sometime in the bleak midwinter. That's the point of buying lots while they are cheap - then you save on shopping when you have less money. </p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-73620394925304148262020-09-24T10:34:00.001-07:002020-09-24T10:34:06.800-07:00This Much I Can Do<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTwT0fjOZBSFL2hLo1_d5Rfr1LSQpNxbp8fItC0X3etKMW7TjJgXaeBSVE1ij94q2YOoBrIMMuEFy7j10QzhqLyef0vy_2Hlu4Bsoh1Oo2iR5Da8fHO9iP1PwB4UJycJndIxe0ZpSJfKP/s1080/Flu+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTwT0fjOZBSFL2hLo1_d5Rfr1LSQpNxbp8fItC0X3etKMW7TjJgXaeBSVE1ij94q2YOoBrIMMuEFy7j10QzhqLyef0vy_2Hlu4Bsoh1Oo2iR5Da8fHO9iP1PwB4UJycJndIxe0ZpSJfKP/s320/Flu+Shot.jpg" /></a></div>There's so much awful in the world that we are powerless to help, it feels good to do one thing - even a tiny thing - to make things better. Or, more accurately, to help mitigate how bad they can get. <br /><br />In the past I've been spotty about my annual flu vaccination. For most of my adult life I haven't had health insurance, so this is a relatively new habit for me; I think I am *finally* associating the turning of the leaves with "get a flu shot," in addition to "bring in the hose," "get sandbags for the truck," and "put away the hammock." <p></p><p>This year, of course, it's doubly important: the overlap of the coronavirus pandemic with the normal flu season is likely to be a bitch. The symptoms are very similar, and the last thing our healthcare system needs is twice as many coughing people running out to get tested, and the last thing <i>anybody</i> needs is to get both viruses at once. </p><p>More than 200,000 Americans are dead. There is nothing we can do for them, and honestly there is very little we as individuals can do to prevent the next 200,000 deaths. (The government could do a LOT, but they probably won't, not before January, anyway.) But this is one thing - one tiny thing - that could save lives. </p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-29707271598445815402020-09-07T07:00:00.001-07:002020-09-07T07:00:04.637-07:00Banded Killifish, Witch Hole Pond, Acadia<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOowIUAmPHUzpIqA8Oh8467QQFbPphID3WEnoN_F6eJ2dJDFrKnZ_MoHzjfncPhNCdlEoFyQd9KP0TKRe3iA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXsg2MSwWPwbh-MEJPyMjI7Elm8AMw_voZfaGdkI0yyrrP42vzHwDjrdtiS4dHViNhOkAz3BjLh_iy45EoqUaaAqGkiGu3ShSPBx8uYX_SEbx4P-f_RMPOyrPrVH-IDtWyc0XdbIZa3h6/s1014/BandedKillifish.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="1014" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXsg2MSwWPwbh-MEJPyMjI7Elm8AMw_voZfaGdkI0yyrrP42vzHwDjrdtiS4dHViNhOkAz3BjLh_iy45EoqUaaAqGkiGu3ShSPBx8uYX_SEbx4P-f_RMPOyrPrVH-IDtWyc0XdbIZa3h6/s320/BandedKillifish.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>Captured these little Witch Hole denizens on a recent trip to Acadia. Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-89518232091080087142020-09-06T04:30:00.001-07:002020-09-06T04:30:01.871-07:00You Can Pickle Anything! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs1oCccoV3w9Nmctljlqyb77lLTzmBKhVy78zysDrpWeHPWr1y_uYDR2kA0_wFXZsm9T0QDmLOvZnMVvlbAd-KAwLKLSSmI64R2CdGzIZTgdvJBQKYBwCOBWQASMnRpwZvlo9HQNGZCM6/s1080/PickedCherryTomatoes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1080" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs1oCccoV3w9Nmctljlqyb77lLTzmBKhVy78zysDrpWeHPWr1y_uYDR2kA0_wFXZsm9T0QDmLOvZnMVvlbAd-KAwLKLSSmI64R2CdGzIZTgdvJBQKYBwCOBWQASMnRpwZvlo9HQNGZCM6/w500-h406/PickedCherryTomatoes.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>It wasn't a great year for gardening - too dry - but the trusty <a href="https://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/sun-gold-small-fruited-tomato-4250">Sun Golds</a> did come through in a big way. They are extra-sweet cherry tomatoes that produce continuously from early August right up until frost. <p></p><div>I recently learned that you can pickle pretty much any vegetable. (Probably other stuff, too but ew.) I decided to give it a try. These are refrigerator pickles - I didn't get in the whole boil-the-jars-like-our-ancestors-did stuff. <br /><br /></div><div><b>Pickled Sun Gold Tomatoes </b></div><div><br /></div><div>About 20 Sun Gold or other sweet variety cherry tomatoes</div><div>1 cup red wine vinegar</div><div>2 Tablespoons sugar</div><div>1/4 teaspoon salt</div><div>1 teaspoon tarragon</div><div>2 cloves garlic, peeled</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Fill Mason jar with cherry tomatoes. Fill jar with a 1/2 inch to an inch of space. Mix vinegar, sugar, tarragon and salt in a saucepan; bring to light boil. Boil for 1 minute. Let cool about 10 minutes; pour over tomatoes. Push garlic cloves under the surface of the vinegar. Screw on lid & let sit in refrigerator for a week before using. </div>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-78495857741739743352020-09-05T14:38:00.003-07:002020-09-05T16:24:36.929-07:00Bike Acadia!<p>Somehow I grew up in Maine without knowing about the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/acad/learn/historyculture/historiccarriageroads.htm">Acadia Carriage Trails</a>. I love biking so this was</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhHWjJDIPTh74yGyPORPyFy2rE-ty1lj0B8W-YPIgiC8BwGEgqxTdtwqbdQmVhPIhZtF4qW5brwQ_R05wNtCcJTFWiXhgDvI87-nnOdo0B1R2G-DHLTpHymK-2Z82FaLLTzfh3dDApxz8/s1467/acadia-mdi-1200px.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhHWjJDIPTh74yGyPORPyFy2rE-ty1lj0B8W-YPIgiC8BwGEgqxTdtwqbdQmVhPIhZtF4qW5brwQ_R05wNtCcJTFWiXhgDvI87-nnOdo0B1R2G-DHLTpHymK-2Z82FaLLTzfh3dDApxz8/s320/acadia-mdi-1200px.png" /></a></div><br /> an oversight of some significance! My husband mentioned them to me on our way home from a visit Downeast. I looked into it and it turns out they are a well-known hiking and especially biking destination. They are on the National Register if Historic Places, having been built by John Rockefeller in conjunction with the National Park Service, in the early to mid 20th century. 57 miles of packed crushed gravel roads wind between the ponds and mountains.<p></p><p>Acadia is not a compact park. It consists of several separate areas, and even the main area is an irregular lobed shape that winds in and out of the settled areas of Mount Desert Island. The town of Otter Creek is completely surrounded by parkland, for example. We entered the park at the Hull Cove Visitors Center. </p><p>We took the Witch Hole Pond Loop, and the Eagle Lake Loop on purpose...and the Paradise Hill Loop by accident. I don't know which of the ponds was Witch Hole! But they were all beautiful. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQkCvfpHLIx81A6uPC5ije-RAGeS5xHUZDcpFRxkrHXmS9k5sp-2idVUVRuYEtERq3fNxwBNU_dNINt4KSYQwpgYa7tubhRasgzZpNnLmCSrQvhuLxC2u5wjSfdimOhOu1RoDWhKSas7D/s4608/DSCN4069.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQkCvfpHLIx81A6uPC5ije-RAGeS5xHUZDcpFRxkrHXmS9k5sp-2idVUVRuYEtERq3fNxwBNU_dNINt4KSYQwpgYa7tubhRasgzZpNnLmCSrQvhuLxC2u5wjSfdimOhOu1RoDWhKSas7D/s320/DSCN4069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4CckW20XwxEEJF3cycwFmXKXBn1_53GxkyC13KZ7Di-mnoKyTZzi0WWNtoOMA0HJi6E6Y9NoRrOcSXiTja73TSjOCxQg5CvXGbTyWk2LOJmq9UuVHztsKfgTukkwoWWEDlFvR-_WI6tl/s4608/DSCN4063.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4CckW20XwxEEJF3cycwFmXKXBn1_53GxkyC13KZ7Di-mnoKyTZzi0WWNtoOMA0HJi6E6Y9NoRrOcSXiTja73TSjOCxQg5CvXGbTyWk2LOJmq9UuVHztsKfgTukkwoWWEDlFvR-_WI6tl/s320/DSCN4063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My bike (on the left) is at least 25 years old. I bought it used in 1994 for $200 - it seemed like an extravagant amount at the time but has earned its cost many times over. Doug's bike is also secondhand. One of the reasons I love biking is, you don't need fancy gear or special shoes or dedicated clothes. Any bike, any shoes, (almost) any clothes, and you are in business. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjQAhZTM95Khbnuy1umCk88Y2m2rzajUW9iCFstekBfKiSjaB8iYrTT8qOUt2JC9S-aHQ-miWi_X6jqEr4zKxyWrYcPtVqDz6BJCXtrtA_gVngZ7747xFZgO0rU6cs0BeSi19dOhGLnql/s4608/DSCN4067.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjQAhZTM95Khbnuy1umCk88Y2m2rzajUW9iCFstekBfKiSjaB8iYrTT8qOUt2JC9S-aHQ-miWi_X6jqEr4zKxyWrYcPtVqDz6BJCXtrtA_gVngZ7747xFZgO0rU6cs0BeSi19dOhGLnql/s320/DSCN4067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHvpJcw6fJJcVub8Otu_cGvG6-8SVIgYN6vuDha3O-2JWlqZG4Zscq1uMYKfJvoVr7eDuYPcRY2IyCkqfPWiD_OIpQRTgFJxyOap7R6zvV6r8nL1fTquJUss_NojwZXYSXg_inaccVrwI/s4608/DSCN4081.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHvpJcw6fJJcVub8Otu_cGvG6-8SVIgYN6vuDha3O-2JWlqZG4Zscq1uMYKfJvoVr7eDuYPcRY2IyCkqfPWiD_OIpQRTgFJxyOap7R6zvV6r8nL1fTquJUss_NojwZXYSXg_inaccVrwI/s320/DSCN4081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We saw these two turtles basking together. They are Painted Turtles - the larger on about as big as those get, in Maine, the small one the smallest I've ever seen in the wild. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOLhiu8kVkdqVzY8BpgmN7ME_xjTkS99WCtlXjyCLZ39UY0BhsNsln8s0nU5uuN9btarjX26esdhLNsNiRSOPn4w7vuMMy7lxHRu4hZSJ5RSQMx6yQdQzcwI-IUc-Ctxh2XcAB24RDTVh/s4608/DSCN4084.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOLhiu8kVkdqVzY8BpgmN7ME_xjTkS99WCtlXjyCLZ39UY0BhsNsln8s0nU5uuN9btarjX26esdhLNsNiRSOPn4w7vuMMy7lxHRu4hZSJ5RSQMx6yQdQzcwI-IUc-Ctxh2XcAB24RDTVh/s320/DSCN4084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibswU_DTXLLlhBaU9_qK6NTqLSlMg00L7vBmv5VxNmxtBJvqfqe0SIu9jioOWhN8PnsserRHk08N47XM5X0-S_voCci5R4ai9RY9cfI3OYPX22kG-3a6oiUsJrmosq98sNIE8ugM9Hlfga/s4608/DSCN4086.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibswU_DTXLLlhBaU9_qK6NTqLSlMg00L7vBmv5VxNmxtBJvqfqe0SIu9jioOWhN8PnsserRHk08N47XM5X0-S_voCci5R4ai9RY9cfI3OYPX22kG-3a6oiUsJrmosq98sNIE8ugM9Hlfga/s320/DSCN4086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wmFsSAlUsGixAQSIn9Ygn6d5_We7QuNAcQz0ttm1GP-2OmBYvak8CA6BrNtGIt364tJxX6ZL-frb_BMpKTPA-Kic-RTZXfubfnCeSAfXFFwslBxANxnCzbqyfV7S-bPlnZFOGO5wVWh0/s4608/DSCN4087.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wmFsSAlUsGixAQSIn9Ygn6d5_We7QuNAcQz0ttm1GP-2OmBYvak8CA6BrNtGIt364tJxX6ZL-frb_BMpKTPA-Kic-RTZXfubfnCeSAfXFFwslBxANxnCzbqyfV7S-bPlnZFOGO5wVWh0/s320/DSCN4087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGKjcmldouPs-0xGMCiLR_57TRrqly5DcAc5-sSYIrAkFI5u2La6cB87rzDGwoUxmc-9WWViCq_nMD2qtpvCzSA-skEyq97OocS48mGtKGjal1gv-rGhn3PpBSdYTdyuQUhNAfUTOKt1M/s4608/DSCN4113.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGKjcmldouPs-0xGMCiLR_57TRrqly5DcAc5-sSYIrAkFI5u2La6cB87rzDGwoUxmc-9WWViCq_nMD2qtpvCzSA-skEyq97OocS48mGtKGjal1gv-rGhn3PpBSdYTdyuQUhNAfUTOKt1M/s320/DSCN4113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5hCLBnxjeWhZ-JHSUGuC2ayAnWP5x-9hbIQSGHLm-FSS6Y3sNjAkX8f_77PdAeuM3VjzR820mXLH9QGWAoae-V7dQeRK0es8lbIKnPyuIUM9nM24cpuTLw4eWRXUTkmvfYaKNGa8wpIl/s4608/DSCN4115.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5hCLBnxjeWhZ-JHSUGuC2ayAnWP5x-9hbIQSGHLm-FSS6Y3sNjAkX8f_77PdAeuM3VjzR820mXLH9QGWAoae-V7dQeRK0es8lbIKnPyuIUM9nM24cpuTLw4eWRXUTkmvfYaKNGa8wpIl/s320/DSCN4115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitmlVT6ZLK_pp-nn1FoZ-s3FBmjvVXErT677EbhSEUPPc5eWa7y2Em0EPovsngCKJzOeTGgP9sOSd8LVTdWQdBRJmeQ0Sk7rVLauMOnsC7xDneor0GsW5_b5RKQIzduUnNJC5SiXUGMDi/s4608/DSCN4122.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitmlVT6ZLK_pp-nn1FoZ-s3FBmjvVXErT677EbhSEUPPc5eWa7y2Em0EPovsngCKJzOeTGgP9sOSd8LVTdWQdBRJmeQ0Sk7rVLauMOnsC7xDneor0GsW5_b5RKQIzduUnNJC5SiXUGMDi/s320/DSCN4122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />When we found ourselves at the Duck Brook Bridge we declared ourselves officially lost. This was a little alarming - you can get pretty lost in 57 miles of road, and it was getting late in the day. Luckily there was a map kiosk at the bridge, that showed us where we went wrong. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's still so much of Acadia to see! Next time I will print a map, though. :)</div><p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-21755125140057043452020-08-29T08:28:00.003-07:002020-08-29T08:28:54.561-07:00Maine is...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iY4lMpTPL9oKdqmo2k4RYfvtv6tYaSh8RuRHn1q9TIqyG80na1wumg0HhpwR5Zw9M240HDpp9pv8yq1NNyHs8GtBuLHh1-ZrXoOlMLenD0XUZig3ftsVLIvlEYSrOVv9u6QOSdY8KOn5/s4608/DSCN3883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iY4lMpTPL9oKdqmo2k4RYfvtv6tYaSh8RuRHn1q9TIqyG80na1wumg0HhpwR5Zw9M240HDpp9pv8yq1NNyHs8GtBuLHh1-ZrXoOlMLenD0XUZig3ftsVLIvlEYSrOVv9u6QOSdY8KOn5/w410-h307/DSCN3883.JPG" width="410" /></a></div>Maine is rivers, and mountains. Maine is ocean and lakes, farmland, apple orchards, fishing boats, blueberry barrens. Maine is small cities with cute little shops and restaurants. I love that I can find it all right here, without leaving the state, because it's a terrible time to travel. <p></p><p>In fact, it's a terrible time for America, and my heart goes out to those in harder-hit areas. I feel deeply lucky to have a governor who listens to the science & bases policy on that advice. As a result, Maine has very few cases of Covid, despite being a summer destination - we aren't called Vacationland for nothing. Our businesses are mostly open, our schools will have in-person classes - at least a couple days a week. Science <i>works,</i> and leaders should have the humility to listen to people who know more than them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPj1PmyQrot0WUQL1rSWDNPW43Kq0CU2A_g6pDK38MUn6UKj4tUrBXK1St2rU05qdkgeftNwbGPtqmvbJvvhrTFPDnCzcJWukghZqyeYTekh2RWbR8J7s-xW4KGhnvgpHcq2I9VNHi5UI/s4608/DSCN4029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPj1PmyQrot0WUQL1rSWDNPW43Kq0CU2A_g6pDK38MUn6UKj4tUrBXK1St2rU05qdkgeftNwbGPtqmvbJvvhrTFPDnCzcJWukghZqyeYTekh2RWbR8J7s-xW4KGhnvgpHcq2I9VNHi5UI/w410-h307/DSCN4029.JPG" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the bridge from the town of Lubec to Campobello Island, Canada. I can't cross that bridge, with or without passport, because the US government has handled the coronavirus pandemic so badly that there is a travel ban against Americans in most western countries, including Canada. Why has it been so much worse in the US than other countries? See the above paragraph. Science works, and leaders should have the humility to listen to scientists. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We won't be able to truly beat back the virus until we have new leadership. <br />Vote for Biden. He's our only hope. </div><br /><p><br /></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-18322375352004427732020-08-16T13:15:00.005-07:002020-08-16T13:15:57.620-07:00Upper Falls at The Cataracts, Andover, Maine<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8zkVagDGVTGvVUFCsxnc3Lwt6-g-FF7zvU5iVZFr1bc7bLjvX-PRV43B6J5W9LVYm9oJMVPpppZHbAYTJHg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite Maine hikes are always chasing waterfalls. Today I went with the always-fun <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn-UdMot0idQsX1dz1d4DPA" target="_blank">Bionic Yowie</a>, We've been friends since high school (and that is a loooong time ago!) but only recently started hiking together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are two trailheads close together on East B Hill Road in Andover. We did Dunn Falls a couple of weeks ago; today was The Cataracts Trail. The Cataracts is the easier of the two. <br />It was a perfect day for hiking, sunny but not too warm. I almost wished it had been warmer, though, because this trails includes several swimming holes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all a beautiful trail on a beautiful day. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n1af2YBCWca0xKE5EcjvrDA3WTvhVlMw6NzQxi6N__ZNoBoyoMas7fHEJf3VzUpbd9CbU3saS6OJV-Qe6qiIZtjaR1ku7m-rWwvtPML2o8CQeGbrBap3caVRx5J9AP835Uyx6YUuYBw8/s4608/DSCN3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n1af2YBCWca0xKE5EcjvrDA3WTvhVlMw6NzQxi6N__ZNoBoyoMas7fHEJf3VzUpbd9CbU3saS6OJV-Qe6qiIZtjaR1ku7m-rWwvtPML2o8CQeGbrBap3caVRx5J9AP835Uyx6YUuYBw8/s640/DSCN3863.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNIauFOOlsVNtVN8gbXt7WF2drHEqJiQslBXHI3Roy03duKnqAZJ-8CQ27JC15zo5JU4lp2eODa2hWcokj_bAyQ52WiVGi71ErIBHgHDeSPyFZuOWihfYGn8D6f_RNEp0mhu6fWDS-_hn/s4608/DSCN3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNSKPxtGyRwT5Riht2b9WBp8N0Aq_Nje70XA3Q8PJeru8RkAQ4_JI3CNKndLCK1Fq2TlKIUB7KLKYvi2PfC-UK-l-5qYaip3QcTVbLi4t5qws-atA5ejcwWSYfTM635kxqEnw3teXKumh/s4608/DSCN3833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNSKPxtGyRwT5Riht2b9WBp8N0Aq_Nje70XA3Q8PJeru8RkAQ4_JI3CNKndLCK1Fq2TlKIUB7KLKYvi2PfC-UK-l-5qYaip3QcTVbLi4t5qws-atA5ejcwWSYfTM635kxqEnw3teXKumh/s640/DSCN3833.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM0h4KlnD2DT0-u6nBra6KiMOOwwI0blSS3pWIBXUE1PAl0wPvRcVI9-vLaj6EKfkow7YOgW3mgBcoR_umjDFI5YP0Iq_nLlJIKRFzQoYB-H70VFgoyqAKnsCAYgYmGxd_deRCndEcTvu/s4608/DSCN3828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM0h4KlnD2DT0-u6nBra6KiMOOwwI0blSS3pWIBXUE1PAl0wPvRcVI9-vLaj6EKfkow7YOgW3mgBcoR_umjDFI5YP0Iq_nLlJIKRFzQoYB-H70VFgoyqAKnsCAYgYmGxd_deRCndEcTvu/s640/DSCN3828.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9W032izXrDo38sNiKkkpcfhIaKD8NlzNK_VgZLZ7begtd7pa-1kdHENc2nc5QLTB1Ui-K-YxgF7HeBo_d7N_J6wCJFg9Mwp2LF9T0Xut0QaaN9xuZ2F_BspQ-NHogNy__Ul6b2f6-jdL/s4608/DSCN3823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9W032izXrDo38sNiKkkpcfhIaKD8NlzNK_VgZLZ7begtd7pa-1kdHENc2nc5QLTB1Ui-K-YxgF7HeBo_d7N_J6wCJFg9Mwp2LF9T0Xut0QaaN9xuZ2F_BspQ-NHogNy__Ul6b2f6-jdL/s640/DSCN3823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_Phd60HhKyO3DrC74BWcEt6Z-bOFW1wFji7LtjLJ2GzJtsQyRxQYijY4lWfBP8OMBHSXTqfzfRQWDUD4O_LMIwQBx5_NGo87kzPMPz7KLs-ZCtptiafFZoeAxnEe_97YUXo95pOk3y4R/s4608/DSCN3818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_Phd60HhKyO3DrC74BWcEt6Z-bOFW1wFji7LtjLJ2GzJtsQyRxQYijY4lWfBP8OMBHSXTqfzfRQWDUD4O_LMIwQBx5_NGo87kzPMPz7KLs-ZCtptiafFZoeAxnEe_97YUXo95pOk3y4R/s640/DSCN3818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAANnT3UgaHz2DYuS5W9HIGZ5XrQRIBdUPMztqjFENiwbkyBIPYcqXOT4pXk6GqRf33V_3F7IAwkDV8w2yOPaIyKD835RrUK7_jnNGUh68LgFaa3ZA00c1cYaxWU2g3bbK1AXPne1uSRC/s4608/DSCN3818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAANnT3UgaHz2DYuS5W9HIGZ5XrQRIBdUPMztqjFENiwbkyBIPYcqXOT4pXk6GqRf33V_3F7IAwkDV8w2yOPaIyKD835RrUK7_jnNGUh68LgFaa3ZA00c1cYaxWU2g3bbK1AXPne1uSRC/s640/DSCN3818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998181537473955608.post-3744570049467778102020-08-07T17:00:00.001-07:002020-08-07T17:00:06.111-07:00Snow's Falls, West Paris, Maine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZyv44SxWWGf5V7mhQ8tLX4K65o7aBVZXPVmxKmAaK1nmXB0BIRdFGNzL7AzZIU6fHBFUjksYBTL1AIIFhfA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> As beautiful as this is, it isn't even, like, a hiking destination; this is just a rest area in West Paris, Maine. <p></p>Lori Wattshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08636118097692465116noreply@blogger.com0