The greatest gift one can give is thanksgiving. In giving gifts, we give what we can spare, but in giving thanks we give ourselves. BR. DAVID STEINDL-RAST
I give thanks consistently for our family and for the times we get to spend together; for the craziness that ensues; and for our camp where there is space for it all to play out!
A week sped by spending as much time as possible with our Dutch family and their friends Bert and Jantina. They all stayed out in Liberty experiencing “that camp life” and we got together either there or here in Belfast.
Luckily the beautiful Autumn colors were prolonged due to warm, dry weather and they were able to see Stevens Pond and the surrounding countryside in a full blaze of oranges, reds, purples, and yellows. Some canoe paddling was achieved – even a dunking!!! Wood was cut and split and Agnita and I took a lovely hike on Haystack Mountain.
We picked delicious Empire and Macoun apples at Hope Apple Orchard and several pies ensued.
Views from Mount Battie and visit to the Farnsworth in Rockland.
We joined Bert and Jantina for lobster at Young’s on a raining Wednesday evening, but even indoors the ambiance and lobster was great! Likewise at 3Tides. Pizza in the pergola was a perfect evening!
And then the week was over …… much too quickly!
Our little “Pondering” took to the water on Steven’s Pond for her first jaunt.
Meanwhile activities never ever end at camp when the fearsome foursome are there!
Memorial Day weekend spent with the kids – lots of fun and high energy! A huge shoutout to Kat, Ian, Zach and Grandpa for laying the decking on the 12×30′ frame in 5 HOURS! while GG had fun with Colby and Lincoln; and Peter and Greyson spent time with their Aunt McKayla.
McKayla doing what she loves the most.
Fun times and birthday celebrations at camp.
We spent four days doing the “camp thing” and enjoying our new fireplace….
Winter will be over by the time we return, so had to post a few reminders of Winter 2017.
We enjoyed the serenity and beauty of Stevens Pond in early December.
Some very frigid days in December – unusually early for those temps.
The downtown area is always so festive looking with wreaths and lights strung across the streets.
The Annual Polar Dip downtown at the boat launch was relatively balmy – especially for one who didn’t touch the water!! Always fun to watch my crazy friends!
We get out for walks no matter what the conditions! After all, Lucy is a Mainer-girl!
January was pretty uneventful with very little snow. And then … the day before Valentine’s Day Blizzard!
Our first family gathering – at Thanksgiving – at camp! Plenty of space for the kids to run around, roaring fire, board games, building forts and splitting wood outside, and delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
Having fun with Snapchat!!!
We accomplished much with both of us putting in a solid 12-hours of work. The place is now much less like a construction site, but had its first proper cleaning and a major tidying up. Fireplace was installed last week – thanks to friends – and it was oh so pleasant spending the evening with a roaring fire.