Another lazy Sunday - seems to be our style. Overcast but nice and warm today. Think I'll just stitch for a while. 
Today we decided to hike up the Great Meadows loop from Bar Harbor to the Wild Gardens of Acadia. Very nice little walk from town to the Gardens, but, alas, no pets allowed in the Gardens. So, we went up Kurt Deiderich’s Climb to find the most beautiful view of Frenchman’s Bay and really a nice hike – straight up granite steps. Better than lunges and boy will my butt be feeling it tomorrow. From there it was Schiff Path to Homans Path, back to Jessup Path and the Great Meadows loop back into Bar Harbor.
Had a moment of horror when Mavri seemed to be lame for about 5 minutes but that passed, thank god or my mother would have killed me as Mavri is her favorite granddog, even though we don't mention that to Aspri. Admired the boardwalk that someone built over the Jessup or Hemlock (not sure which one we were on) Path. Keeps you out of the swamp.
All in all, it was about 3.5 to 4 miles, nice walk, and beautiful views especially coming back down, all open vistas of the Bay. And the weather was GLORIOUS!!! Think it’s going to rain tonight into the morning, so we’ll snug down and cross-stitch, read, and, in my case, drink some nice Maine beer.
Walked the short but very pretty Wonderland Trail near Seawall, then it began to rain. Rode down to Bass Harbor Lighthouse, automated and still working. The keeper’s house is occupied by a Coast Guard Commander and his family. Would love to live in such a desolately gorgeous stark place. Rocks and sea. Who could ask for more?
Though I know I'll never lose affection for people and things that went before, I know I'll often stop and think about them, ....
Thanks, John Lennon.
I do still think often and with love of the people and places from an earlier time in my life, some with much more affection, and some with a good deal less, and perhaps I always will. But this post is for Marian, who most likely will never read it. You're the lyric in the title. It's all you, all the time.
We took advantage of the cool but not yet rainy weather yesterday and hiked along Echo Lake Ledges down along the river and around to the beach, then back by the road. Nice little walk, about 1½ hours. There were two ducks hoping for food on the beach side of the lake and they weren’t afraid of the dogs – guess their desire to be fed by humans has tamped down their natural fear somewhat. That, and it seems they know they can swim faster than the dogs, then fly away.
Raining today off and on, but the view out on the Sound is great – misty, foggy, rolling clouds. Perfect day for a fire, stitching and napping.
On the vegan note, all is well. But as for wine, well, let’s just say I fought the wine and the wine won. So, it’s vacation after all, and maybe I’ll wait until I get home to say farewell my friends.
Of course, it probably won’t be ready until Christmas, but I gave her one of mine to hold until then – framed and all. This is her pick, the Noah’s Ark Sampler from Words of Praise in Richmond, VA. She bought the pattern, fabric and yarn a while ago and never worked on it, so she asked me to do it for her.
It’s quite large and a lot of filler stitching (grass and ark) but I’m starting to think it will be impressive when complete. Annie does have excellent taste, after all!
Up early today as usual – old age or maybe Lanahan syndrome. Once my eyes are open it’s pretty much all over. Not quite as cold last night but still very, very chilly here – love it.
Day 8 of Vegan Kick Start (which I see I wrote as Quick Start before). Except for minor incidents, one of which was accidental, when I had puttanesca sauce at Pesto in Philadelphia and found bacon in it, and the other of which involved peanut butter cups (my lips are sealed) I’ve done very well. I feel different eating a totally plant-based diet, and now that I’ve bid farewell to my liquid friend I should see blood sugar and triglyceride results in about a month. We’ll see.
On a side note, who puts bacon, or maybe it was ham, in puttanesca sauce? I guess it’s a personal recipe, but I thought the most animal-like thing in it was anchovies. I’ve made it many times and never used meat. And I was disappointed in Pesto – no marinara sauce on the menu, which was why I was willing to eat anchovies. Excellent roasted veggie appetizer, though. And it was a fun night out with the “girls”. Looking forward to next time.
Red, white, dry, sweet, farewell to you all, forever. Ok, maybe not forever, but for a while. You see, I love you, but my triglycerides don’t. It’s been swill, I mean swell, while it lasted. Adieu.
(Thanks to the Scottish Terrier News for finding this product. Wine cooler by Zeppa available at Amazon.com.)
Partly cloudy, partly sunny, nice and breezy, a little chilly. Lazy, lazy day. First day of vacation it’s permitted to do nothing, right? Napping, stitching, looking at the Sound. I guess it’s OK to be like Aspri today. I’ll think about actually doing something tomorrow.
