Giving thanks

So now I feel guilty for not being more grateful for all the people in my life and all the advantages and riches I have.  Thank you friends, family, Maniek, I love you all.

Thanksgiving week eats

A record of what we cooked and ate this week, just because I feel like it.

Saturday - got in around 4:15, unpacked, ordered takeout pizza, which wasn't too bad.

Sunday - LOs for lunch, chicken, potatoes, carrots, onions for dinner - M's spices.

Monday - Asian style noodles for lunch (pasta, onions, garlic snow peas, broccoli, red peppers - next time fresh ginger) from Vegetarian Times, LOs for dinner

Tuesday - brussels sprouts and mushrooms soup from FatFree Vegan Kitchen- really really good, thanks Susan.  Tonight is seafood pasta - we have tiny clams, shrimps, bay scallops and lots of wine, lemon, garlic.  Yummy.

Wednesday we'll do leftovers and maybe takeout, then Thanksgiving!!!

Ocean City, MD, Thanksgiving Vacation

Random photos:

Just arrived

Moon rise

Sucking it in!!

Sunrise Sunday morning

Cuddling

Soccer dogs

Monday September 20, 2010

Today was a good, good day.  Started with me doing laundry while M ran into Lucerne to pick up meds for Aspri.  Then we went over to Bar Harbor, walked across the bar to Bar Island and hiked around there.  I have to find out who owned the home/mansion there that is now in ruins – it must have been magnificent at one time. 

One of the Princess cruise line ships was in the harbor – it looked as big as a city.

Back across the bar and into town to the store Walk the Dog for goodies for the Scotties, then on to dinner at Lompoc Café for goodies for the humans. Gave the dogs their bully sticks (yuck but they love them).

We started with the plate of pickles appetizer and pitas with hummus and harissa.  There were pickled onions, green beans and peppers which were made at the café – delicious!  Then Maniek had the chicken and rice noodle bowl, I had bahn mi with marinated tofu and the best wild greens salad ever. Great dinner, perfect weather, wonderful day. 

In Hall Quarry, on the way back to the cabin, we saw a beautiful little fox standing in the middle of the road.  It’s the first time I’ve ever seen one that close – he was gorgeous.  We weren't fast enough to get a good picture of him, but then we had a beautiful full moon to end our day.

Sunday September 20,2010

Another lazy Sunday - seems to be our style.  Overcast but nice and warm today.  Think I'll just stitch for a while.

Oh, these are the socks my very good sister knitted for me.  They have been keeping me warm up here!

Saturday September 18, 2010

Gorgeous today – sunny and warm, but with a nice breeze. Rained and was SO chilly Thursday night into Friday morning, so we just hung out and relaxed. But today we went out walking. Unfortunately we choose a trail that wasn’t quite what we were looking for but still breathtaking in its own way.

Drove down Route 3 to the Thuya Gardens Path (Curtis Memorial) then up Eliot Mountain, down around Jordan Pond path and back up Asticou to the Gardens again. Except for walking up the steps at the beginning of the Garden trail, we were in swampy forest the whole 3 hours. But~! The view over Northeast Harbor and out to sea from the Garden path was magnificent. Harbor full of sailboats, sunny, like someone planned a postcard perfect view for us.

So, good exercise – walked about 4 miles and up some nice steep steps. And there were little mysterious pockets in the swampy forest that were beautiful in their own way. Plus a bonus – it was cool and shady most of the time. There were some really swampy, muddy bits, but that goes with the territory I suppose.

Tomorrow we’re going to try Cadillac Mountain North trail – all accounts say it’s moderate but I can’t help remembering the “moderate” climb up the Bubbles last year. So we’ll see.

Thursday September 16, 2010 Bah Hahbah as seen from above

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.