Friday, September 24, 2010

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 19, 2010

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

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

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.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

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?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

In my life, I've loved you 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.


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Nothing much to do


Short hike along the shoreline

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.

His best girl

Monday, September 13, 2010

Annie's Birthday Present 2010

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!

4:54 AM Monday 9/13/10 MDI Maine

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.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Goodbye, wine!

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.)

Quarryedge Cabin, MDI, Maine 9/12/10

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.



My food's all gone ....

... I tried eating part of the holder, guess I'll just take a little nap.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Deja Vegan all over again

So, I started the 21 day PCRM vegan quick-start program today. Love the idea of being vegan again, not just for the animals but for my health.

Today was good - started with oatmeal with raisins made with soy milk, and coffee with soy milk. Lunch was the program's Couscous Confetti Salad which (with a little extra lemon juice, vinegar and pepper) absolutely rocked. But the best part of lunch was a recipe I found on the related nutrition md website. I had eggplants so I looked for something legal to use them up and found barbecued eggplant steaks (or slices or something) and they were superb. It helps that I love eggplant and barbecue sauce!

Just finished dinner - again improvising from the program and again with the nutrition md website - vegetable stew which is basically a potato stew with tomatoes, and had a side of steamed broccoli and carrots with that. Very nice!

Looking forward to the week but even more to the weekend because we're off to Maine in the early hours of this coming Saturday. I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT TO GET AWAY FROM HERE!

Thanks again, Mom!

21-Day Vegan Kickstart / a Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) site

21-Day Vegan Kickstart / a Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) site