In or out?

Some people back in to parking spaces, most don't.
Or is it half and half?
Photo: Kasey Crabtree blog

  When I park I drive in to the parking space.  On a separate subject: I drive in to the space, not into the space, there's a difference.
  Anyway, why do some people back in every time, every season and, I suppose, every day of the week.  Is it because they always have a weak battery and need a jump to get started every time?  Is it because they used to it, because they are truck drivers?  Or, is it just because some people, me included, like to be a little different?
  I have no answers, only questions.  If you have the answer why people park the way they do, please leave a comment.  There are three photos today, the last one is :)

Never use the corner spot in a parking garage, never.
www.dudelol.com photo

www.omaha.com Jeff Koterba editorial

Out looking around

A historic house in Carmel, Maine decorated for Christmas 2012-click to enlarge
Photo by Linda Grant

  Funny that after I wrote yesterday upon leaving to drive into Bangor shortly after there was a snow flurry.
  We took a ride down to Belfast in the late morning from Levant it's a great ride, lots of the "Dixmont Hills" and the Coastal Range make for great viewing.  When we arrived we stopped in at Reny's (the Maine Adventure) Store.  Then on to the Goodwill Store looking for a bargain.  We bought 3 CD's one of them with music by Pat Boone.  It reminds me of a story on the radio within the last few weeks. A guest is a professor of Political Science in the advanced classes.  Of a class of 29 only 3 of the students had ever even hear of Pat Boone, none of them knew what he did.  Showing my age there am I not?
  It was on the way home that Linda stopped to take photos of the historic home in Carmel, always decorated for each season, and always tastefully done in my opinion.

Q  Where does the King put his armies?

A  In his sleevies.

Our daughter is working on decorations down in Florida
Photo by Rhonda Grant Langley

It's just an idea

Where we live, near the center (up) the two buildings
this is an old satellite photo (1999) there are 8 buildings
now, we live in the first one. - click to enlarge
www.google.com maps

  Just an idea is right, nobody lives in a place that's not seen from space, and more often than since 1999 has this place been overflown by spacecraft.  A lot of these fly overs in rural areas like this one were done for the Department of Agriculture on the federal level.  If you were to go to Google maps and pull the little man down you can get a more current view of our surroundings.
  I really don't have any idea of what to write about any more - not a clue.  I'm picking up new glasses today maybe that will help.
  I could write a political review (highly possible in this State), but it would tick some people off, while others laugh.  I don't want to tick anyone off.
  But I do have an announcement.  I walked over five miles yesterday for the first time since October 15th (one whole month), a long recovery for a geezer I think.  The walking is really good for me, it's cold outside but I've got warm double-knit wool mittens that work really well.

The rocks in Rangely Plantation, you can see them from space too,
I misplaced the photo tho.  - click to enlarge
An original geezer pic

First Snow

Geese in Bangor - click to enlarge
Photo by Linda O'Kresik/Bangor Daily News

  We had a little snow but I've already forgotten when, about a week ago I think.  So the first snow always gets written up in the paper; mainly because people forget how to drive.
  After that a few days later we had a couple of days in the sixties and now we are back to 'normal'.  It's in the twenties in the mornings and up to about 40 in the afternoon, once the sun kicks in.  But I'm still walking in the early morning so it's a bit chilly - had to get my mittens out yesterday.
  That's about it, an eventful time if ever that was one, 72.3 percent of all registered voters in Levant voted on election day; that's a good turnout.  Now, next election won't be a Presidential year so the turnout won't be as much, maybe 45 percent.

Eddington man. - click
Photo Gabor Degre/Bangor Daily News

It was here Thursday

Mount Washington NH, seen from brother-in-laws new addition in
Shapleigh Maine. - click to enlarge
Photo Brad Hoffman

  Yep, that photo was taken way down in southern Maine, Shapleigh was my mothers hometown.  There are several places from which Mount Washington can be seen but the new addition he built provides a good one.  There's snow on the mountain, and probably very cold, the highest wind ever recorded in the contiguous United States (that's the lower 48, I just wanted to use more words) was up there, 134mph.
  Anyhow after Thursday snowy day this morning is a balmy 31 degrees, the wind is shifting to SSW to show the warming is starting.  It, the warming, will only last through the weekend - - then, we get to pay for it.  That's how that stuff always works:  couple of days of nice weather followed by "pay days" of misery.  Welcome to Maine, and a whole lot of others places too.

This is "the how" of seasonal change.

Say goodbye to fall

Winterberries in Carmel Maine
looks like very early fall
Photo by Linda Grant

  That was an early fall photo, the leaves were green and the winterberry bush still had leaves too.  I don't remember what year it was either.  I really have to stretch my imagination sometimes to remember what I ate for supper the day before (like 10 hours ago), how in the name of anything could I possibly remember which year we saw what, unless we date it when it's done.
  Anyway, getting back on track, winter weather arrived yesterday, about 2 heavy wet inches worth.  The rain started when the snow stopped and most of the snow is history.  It was a cold and windy day, I didn't go out until afternoon and did my walking indoors, I even drove to the post office.
  I always enjoy fall.  Fall is my favorite season and I still believe that each season should last 3 months (only).  Ain't going to happen.

Ward Hill Road in Troy, Maine 2007
Photo by Linda Grant, or maybe the geezer.

Yow!

Bangor Maine Waterfront Park - click to enlarge
Photo by Linda Grant

  Looks like the tide is at work in that photo, it's pretty visual on the river going in or out.  The big building far center is Hollywood Casino, pretty soon the walkway will extend the whole distance.
Some years ago, 25, when we first moved here this whole area was kind of one big dump; nothing was cleaned up, there were a lot of unused train tracks and junk.  The water was shiny in some places and chunks of "tar" would float around - residue from the former Bangor Gas Works where gasafication of coal made gas for the lights and stoves.  I like it much better like this.
  It's getting cooler day by day, we know what's coming and personally I don't care much for the icy stuff.  You'd be able to see why so much ice was shipped to Boston, New York and Philadelphia when the river freezes.  Only one ice company left, Getchell Brothers Ice in Brewer, it's an old, old outfit.  The ice doesn't come from the river any more it's made by machine.

Not sure what this represents, trains maybe, or the night all hell broke loose.  I just don't know - click
Photo by Linda Grant

I'll get over it. Won't I?

Three Sisters.  New Sculpture at Bangor Waterfront
Photo by Linda Grant

  Each year for the past several years sculptors from a large number of countries, including the USA, have worked the summer creating art from Maine stone, mostly granite.
  Each year the art is given to a Maine town or city.  I showed a photo a while back of The Cleat, in Gouldsboro (Winter Harbor) from last years work.
  This year the above shown work and several small pieces were given to the City of Bangor for installation, I'll show one more at the end today.
  Dadblasted Daylight Savings Time/Standard Time switches.  Make up our collective minds to do away with this stuff I can only describe as "bullshit"!  If you have a sleep dis-order you know what I'm talking about, it's hard enough to sleep without waking up in a whole 'nother time zone! Stop!
  Well, got that out of the way for this year, or until next spring, it made sense when the government started the crap but they shouldn't have continued it.  But then again I'm not a farmer or a schoolchild.
  Have a nice day everyone.  This is post number 1251, if you're keeping track.

One of the smaller sculptures, I call them "sheep".  The discoloration is rain.
Photo by Linda Grant

Happy Halloween

A frame "house" lit up with several thousand jack-o-lanterns
to raise money for Camp Sunshine-click
www.mainetoday.com
 

  Well there you are, one of several of these pumpkin events held each year in Maine.  Camp Sunshine is a summer camp for seriously ill children.  In Bangor lanterns are lit to raise funds for United Cerebral Palsy, others take place in a couple of other towns.
  Maine still has several thousand homes without power (22,000) but we got off easy compared to states to our south.  Yes, we had flooding, high winds and coastal damage but in the grand scheme of things 'easy' is the word that fits.

York, Maine during Sandy - click to enlarge
www.mainetoday.com

On a roll

Good morning sunshine

  The trip out for coffee yesterday worked out fine, it was foggy though.  Oh well, I'm a geezer and drive slow anyway.  So..I'll try it again today and go to Walmart too.
  My back is slowly improving, and I walked to the post office yesterday too, about a half mile total.  I watched the baseball game until I went to sleep some time during the second inning, woke up during the seventh and next time it was over, so I switched over to the MLB Network to find the final score.  A win for the Giants, now they lead 3-0 in a best of 7 series, so one more win and they're the Champs.  We have our fingers crossed, Wilbur and I, or we would if it wasn't painful :).

All those critters

Stream Road, Winterport, Maine - click to enlarge
Photo by Linda Grant or the geezer

  When Hollie lived on the Stream Road in Winterport I always used to see the critters in the fields.  The photo at the top is a Spring of 2011 photo of sheep, adult and lamb, and one llama.  This farm has quite a number of sheep, the one llama (that I'm aware of), a couple of head of beef.  Whether food or fiber these are important animals.  They're good for photo subjects too.
  The next photo of cattle on a family farm on the Newburgh Road in Hermon.  This farm has a herd of Angus cattle for one year ,most of the time.  The Ayrshire bull is a family pet to the best of my limited knowledge, he's a beautiful animal.  In this photo there are a couple of beef that aren't Angus.


The 'big guy' is in charge of this herd. - click to enlarge
Photo by Linda Grant

A visitor to Bar Harbor and visitors to a corn field

The Yacht Rising Sun shown in Germany where it was built - click to enlarge
www.wikipedia.org photo

  Mr. David Geffen, a Hollywood bigwig has his yacht moored in the waters of Bar Harbor.  The 453 foot long traveler has a crew of 43 and can host 16 guests plus the owner and his family.
  Some people just come to Bar Harbor in a Ford or Chevy; and some people like to show off.

  I am continuing to do better, walking without implements around the house, still need a cane to get out of the chair.  I am hoping for some freedom tomorrow so I can have coffee with the guys.  I have coffee mornings with the guys in Bangor at McDonald's.  They might miss me.

Turkeys in the cornfield.  Kelly Road, Glenburn, Maine - click to enlarge
Photo by Linda Grant

I'm back (back being the operative word)

Bright in Brewer
Photo by Linda Grant

  The crew finished the floor work yesterday just before noon, my car came out of the shop Wednesday at noon.
  While we were moving stuff back in to the proper place I did a lot of bending over, I am paying for it dearly; my back is killing me, literally almost.
  I hurt my back about 1982 helping to move a grand piano and ever since work that involves bending over is a killer.  I can lift without a problem, but I can't life too much either.
  Any way I'm here, alive and back online.

Reach for the sky
Photo by Linda Grant

Nobody told me

From Lincolnville beach, the ferry is coming in
from Isleboro, it's the farthest one out - click

  The water was placid in Lincolnville when we went by, I just stopped to take a look, the main reason for the trip was anxious in the back seat.
  You have to carefully chose where to go along the coast just to make sure you get to see the water, I guess people like to drive in straight lines.
  I'm somewhat surprised to be online today, I mis-understood  the directions, it's tomorrow and a few days after that we may get unhooked (is that a real word?).
  So, my guess is that you should check every day to make sure I'm an honest man.

Hollie in the small park adjacent to
the Rockland Breakwater - click
It was Uncle Lysles' birthday so she wore
a Muppet shirt in his honor. :)

No planning for this trip

Mount Battie and part of Camden Harbor - click to enlarge

  It's a Hollie day, I'll be taking her to Rockland via Belfast and Camden.  It will be a short trip; snack, Wal-mart, laminate at Staples, walk-around, lunch and home.  Oh, not always in that order but we'll keep it close to that.  I fully expect to enjoy the trip, and maybe, just maybe, there will be a new photo for tomorrow.
  On the baseball side of things Baltimore and Washington both lost.  So, Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants.  I couldn't care less about the American League series now, but I'll guess the same old, same old Yankees will win.  On the National League side I'll root for San Francisco but those two teams are fairly even so who knows the outcome, not me.

The Bog walk in fall

On the way in - click to enlarge

  My wife took time to visit the Orono Bog Walk/Bangor City Forest the other day to see how it looked at this time of year.  As luck would have it shoe brought some photos home on the camera, just for me to use here.  Very nice of her, don't you think?
  The leaves are falling fast, almost gone now are the beautiful autumn vistas, and all of the red, yellow and gold with them.  I have always thought it would be nice to have each season actually, really, really to last three months.  Of course farmers and people with common sense wouldn't be too happy about it.  Oh, well.  It's only an idea whose time has not come.
  New subject tomorrow.

The Boardwalk has a new carpet, leaves. - click to enlarge

Nice color, little shaky

A short Sunday drive

Looking at the western mountains from Corinna - click to enlarge

  We took a short drive yesterday through Levant, Exeter, Corinna and Saint Albans - a lot of farm land with some silage corn cut and other fields waiting to be chopped up.  A lot of potato fields were plowed and planted with oats or other grains for the winter.
  We traveled about 80 miles, I guess, and it was an enjoyable ride except for the bright sun on the way home - we should have stayed out longer perhaps.  But, there's work to do right here at home.
  It's Monday morning, light rain blah, blah, blah.  The rain will stop about 4:00AM and I'm in great hopes of getting a little walking in.

We went down this road to St. Albans - click to enlarge

At the river when the sun came out

Sebasticook River looking west - click to enlarge

  On our way home from the orchard we went to Newport for a snack.  We left Newport on Route 7 and turned toward home on the County Woods Road.  This particular road has access to the Sebasticook River and the Newport/Dover Railtrail. 
  It's a small country road, but there is a parking area at the bridge across the river.  It had been a cloudy day but the sun was breaking out in spots.  The photos were taken minutes apart but one is cloudy while the others show some sunlight.

Looking west again with the sun out - click to enlarge

Look east without full sun - click to enlarge

We needed some apples

The Stand at Mainely Apples - click to enlarge

  We needed some apples, good ones, and a check at www.mainelyapples.com, the web site for out favorite orchard revealed that Spencer's were ready for sale.  Quick! Get in the car!
  We drove over the "regular way", you know...the Wing Road, Annis Road, Klatt Road, Newburgh Road, North County Road, Kennebec Road, Hog Hill Road, Garland Road, Western Avenue and finally Maine route 7.  By then we were all tired out.  It takes about 20 minutes.
  Indeed the Spencer's were in, we got a peck and a half-peck and a half-peck of Fuji's too.  Ummmm.
That orchard is owned and operated by the Olsen family, wonderful people who work hard all year long so we can have the best apples available anywhere.  They continually grow different varieties I think the Fuji and Cox Orange Pippen are new this year.  The orchard is large, by Maine standards, and includes the store, a cider mill (300 gallons last weekend), and a pick your own section.  There is also a one-mile walk through the woods and fields that surround the orchard.  A fun day for families with children (like me).
Continued tomorrow:

The geezer hisself is acting strange! Yessuh! - click

I named this "Linda is on the right". - Click to enlarge

 

Wrap up

Rangeley Lake - click to enlarge
You have seen this one before I cropped it

  Harry and I really enjoyed the trip and I got to see some things that had gone un-noticed before.  The large greenhouses of Backyard Farms and the Field of Rocks.
  Checking the satellite imagery on Google Maps I can even spot that Field of Rocks from space!  I'm thinking maybe a lake bed before the glaciers went through, or just trailings from those glaciers.  Anybody got a geologist?
  New topic:  The Boston Red Sox have finally settled in last place - where, in my mind, they wanted to be.  The players don't like the manager so....the way to rid themselves of him was to totally embarrass themselves.
  New topic:  Rain.  I don't care much for the stuff, but I do realize the importance of it.  'Nuff said.

A closer view of the Field of Rocks - click to enlarge