Happy Halloween!

Me & my sister, 1953! ( I'm the cat)

Unexpected Color

I think this pink color is rather unusual for fall foliage. , but I've noticed it in alot of places ( in the woods) in the last week or so. The one spot that had a large amount, I couldn't figure out a way to get a picture without endangering my life--on a sharp curve, on a hill.....

Have you seen this where you live? I've never noticed it around here before....but I'm sure I just missed it.

Nova Scotia Tattoo

I went on a bus trip with my Mom a few years ago to Nova Scotia ( what a long ride!) The highlight of the trip was the Nova Scotia Tattoo- from their website---
Featuring over 2,000 world-class Canadian and international military and civilian performers, the Tattoo continues to live up to its reputation as one of the world's premiere cultural and entertainment events.
The Tattoo strikes a unique balance, featuring pipes and drums, military and civilian bands, historic re-enactments, dancers, acrobats, choirs, military displays and competitions, drama and comedy in a number of innovative acts, in a fast-paced two and a half hour family show. The Tattoo is held annually at the Halifax Metro Centre during the first week of July.

The precision of the bands is amazing--I saw a few videos on YouTube, but didn't link any--have a look at some. We went to the Citadel & the cemetary where some Titanic victims are buried--Halifax was interesting.

My maternal Grandmother was from Halifax & my Dad spent summers there when he was growing up; this was my 1st trip there. We took "the Cat" back to Bar Harbor, but still a very long bus ride. I'd love to go back, but by a different mode of transportation!

" Nubble" Light

After Mom & I had lunch I saw a sign that said scenic viewpoint 1 mile, so we said "let's go". And it turned out to be Nubble Light. the formal name is Cape Neddick Lighthouse--it was built & 1st lit in 1879.

The usual way of getting to and from the Nubble was by boat. For a time, the keepers used a bucket suspended on a line across the channel to transport supplies.
Around 1967, Coast Guard keeper David Winchester put his two children in the bucket each morning to send them on their way to school.
A photographer snapped a picture of seven-year-old Ricky Winchester in the bucket, and the photo appeared widely in newspapers. A woman also painted a scene of the boy in the bucket, and it won the York Harbor Art Show.
The district commander saw the photo in a Boston paper. An arrangement was made for the child to board on the mainland during the week. Soon after that, it became policy that families with school-age children were not sent to the Nubble.

The light was automated in 1987 and the last Coast Guard keeper, Russell Ahlgren, was removed. A crowd of more than 300 spectators witnessed the automation ceremonies on July 13 in dense fog.

Only in New England!

Over the past few weeks we have had a killing frost , a couple of inches of snow and a deluge of rain--but one of my rosebushes has new buds! I decided to try out the site that Becky had recommended--Picnik--has a bunch of great features--even in the free app. the above photo was done using the Lomo feature and the bottom one is the Polaroid feature--lots more to try! Don't think I would go to the premium( i.e. paid) option but the free stuff is fun!

Ebeneezer in the leaves

Just sorting through some old photos and came across this one--It's one of those right place, right time photos....--I can't get either of the cats we have now to play in the leaves--it's way beneath them!

Soaking up some rays!

Looking for a spot in the sunshine--Squeak will follow the sunbeams to bask in them!

Winter Storage Day

On Saturday I was up & out by 7:15--had to stop and pick up someone & then off to the fairgrounds for winter storage day. It's a great way to make a little money & use space that would be empty & unused for the winter otherwise. We rent out the space in 4 or 5 of our buildings for storage of cars, boats and campers. It's on a 1st come, 1st served basis, so people start lining up about 6 am. Of course we try to put in as many as possible so there's alot jockeying around done. Fortunately, many of the same people come every year, so they work together to get it done. ( I'm up there to get contracts filled out & collect payments)

During the summer, this table is where we can sit & take a break--didn't get to very often this summer because of the crappy weather!

A view of the farm behind the fairgrounds

No more snow til later!!

Hard to believe from looking at these photos that it's not the middle of winter--it's only the middle of October! All were taken on Fri the 16th! this batch has now melted, but it just started up again! big flakes and it's not sticking so far!

later today we will be going to Norfolk, CT--called the icebox of CT--there probably will be a foot of snow on the ground there!

looking down the driveway.......

Towards the barn

Stormville Flea Market

I spent a fun Saturday with a few of my friends at the Stormville Airport ( NY) Flea market. It's a fun day to wander around & a day out with friends. A few photos of stuff....carved walking sticks...
Lots of bins to pick through--T-shirts, sweats & jackets. I can only look so much--not one to paw thru boxes too much.....

but my friends are.......

Can get some good deals at the $1 bins...and I like the farmers market there...great veggies & herbs.

And they wouldn't win the spelling bee! As I type this, it has started snowing again!

Long Sands Beach, York Maine

We drove a little further north on Rte. 1A to Long Sands Beach--not many people around here at this point --we went back by a few hours later & there was a surfer in the water & a few folks out walking on the beach. My Mom commented on how the seagulls were sitting in the water & then getting out when the waves came....

We went for a great lunch at a place right on the water--their patio area was enclosed with those heavy clear plastic curtains, so we could sit out there & enjoy the great weather & the view!

Next : on to Nubble Light

Some Surprises in the Garden

I went out to rake leaves this afternoon & uncovered some surprises--flowers & veggies just growing in the yard! This ancho pepper is the 1st one that has grown on the plant all summer long! And the toad lilies have started to bloom......

And it was quite a surprise to see a new flower on the clematis--the plant has grown twice as large as in the past & there are several flowers waiting to bloom--hope they do before a hard frost.

This one fully opened today!

The Coast of Maine

A little background....I went to visit my Mom last week and one of the things she wanted to do is go to Maine; to the coast and to the Stonewall Kitchens store. The store is in York--about 45 minutes from her house. We decided to go on Tues. since they were predicting nice weather--it was beautiful! Went & got the shopping out of the way ( & I met a friend I hadn't seen in 25 years!) and then went to York Harbor.

There was a new Cliff Walk starting out at Short Sands Beach--these shots were all taken there. I walked a little way on the walk while Mom sat on a bench in the sun. Lots of the stacks of rocks like you can see in this photo. I'd never been to this particular small beach before--I'm sure it's very crowded in the summer--need to have a town permit to park there.

There were quite a few people sitting along the beach; reading, painting or just enjoying the day!

Only " person" brave enough( or stupid) to go in the water was this Golden Retriever--he was having a grand time! The water was very cold, but then it is even in the height of summer!

More to come!

The long drive home...

The drive from my Mom's ususally takes me about 3 hours, not counting pit stops or stopping for food or gas. Of course, this trip that wasn't to be! I got on the highway & after a song finished on the radio I heard" there's an accident at exit 37 that should be pulled off to the side of the road shortly" and I'm just passing exit 41 and the traffic stopped dead on the road! So we inch along for awhile & it turns out the stoppage isn't because of the accident--they're doing construction--usually any construction is done at night because this is a busy road--I'm thinking because it's the beginning of Columbus Day weekend, they decided to work during the day.

Finally got through the construction & accident sites & moved along for a bit. Came up to a rest stop on the Mass. Pike & I think I will go in & get some tea & a snack. Luck is still eluding me---two tour buses had just let off all their passengers when I pulled in! Every food place had long lines, so I used the facilities & got back on the road.....Another 20 miles down the road it started raining!Just so you know I took all these photos when we were sitting still in traffic--once the traffic was moving, many people were trying to make up for lost time & going pretty fast!

After a few stops close to home for some groceries & to see Alan, I finally made it home about 5 hours later!

Turkeys--out the bedroom window!

Last week I heard an awful racket outside the bedroom window & looked out to see a group of wild turkeys making their way across the yard in to trees.

they are loud and raucous and very territorial--I will keep watching them & will try & catch a photo of one of them flying. They roost in our tall pines--keeps them away from the predators.

A sneak peek!

having a tought time getting on to a computer to add photos to my blog--decide to wait til I get home on Fri. for most of the pictures I took, but here's a few to hold you over!