An impromptu invitation from my impulsive friend led to a day on the scenic by-ways from Mid-Coast Maine to the Western Mountains. The day couldn’t have been more beautiful and we were met at the end – Sugarloaf ski resort – with a lovely arts and crafts fair AND these delicious mini-donuts glazed with apple cider!!
Spending a week with these guys and checking out their new home and neighborhood.
The playground and lake is just around the corner.
Feeding peas to the ducks, especially the “pretty ones” is lots of fun😍
Downtown Redmond.
Peter had football practice and didn’t come along for the splashy fun!
Lake Sammamish fun!
We spent the morning downtown visiting Pike’s market, riding on the ferris wheel, and lunching at Post Alley Pizza.
Beautiful fresh flowers, fabulous salmon, juicy apples and tasty cider were abundant at the market.
It was the perfect day to ride on the wheel.
The pizzas prepared by Andrew were delicious. It was great to see both Ruel and Andrew and wish them every success.
We went, for the first time, to a concert at Darling’s pavilion in Bangor. A hot and steamy affair on a very calm and close August evening – trying to pick up some breezes along with 15,000 or so others.
Anyway – the show was terrific. Keith Urban wowed us all with his guitar playing, tweaking unimaginable and incredible sounds from the instrument; switching to acoustical guitar for more tender songs. He and his fabulous band played for more than two hours straight!
The crowd at the back of the arena went wild when he traipsed his way, singing, to jump onto a small stage and entertain from there.
Maine has some terrific state parks – many of them on the water – so we decided on a little two-night jaunt to Lamoine State Park which is in Downeast, Maine.
The term “down east” is such a typical juxtaposition for Maine! Especially when one considers that the area called Downeast (Washington and Hancock counties) are north! However, dating back to the 1820’s, the term referred to the direction in which the ships sailed from Boston. During the summer the prevailing winds on the Maine coast are from the southwest, so ships headed DOWNwind as they sailed EAST (north). Hence the term. Another anomaly – as ships sailed UPwind to Boston, Mainers refer to going “up to Boston” even though it is south of Maine!
Beautiful sunsets and nice long walks with the water always in sight.
We’ve missed having a camper for short excursions around our beautiful state – a couple of weeks ago I found this cutie of a vintage camper on Craigslist and we snapped her up!
We just returned from an overnight at Springy Pond – friends’ lakeside, wooded property. So beautiful – warm pond water and the scent of pine in the air.
We’re spending two nights at the lovely H Hilton hotel at LAX. Very comfortable, convenient and great views of the runway!
Yesterday evening enjoyed a walk under the flight path and a delicious dinner in a small Greek taverna (Aliki’s) with a glass of retsina – taverna decked out in traditional blue and white and great Greek music for added atmosphere.
Today a bus ride to Venice and a walk through the downtown and to the beach. Lots of street art to enjoy and lots of activity on the beach for a Tuesday morning.
We rounded off the day with well deserved 😫 fresh tamales and margarita at el Cholo’s on Wilshire in Santa Monica.
Enjoying spending 5 days with family in Arizona. Fun on the quads and walking the high desert around Tonto Basin.
Roosevelt Lake -water is low. No rain here since September.
Our plan was to explore the old, Portuguese influenced, area of Panjim; however, our driver spoke just a smattering of English and didn’t know the way! Iwas able to direct him to Se cathedral and the basilica (16c) using google maps!!!
Our sight seeing of the old architecture in town was less successful, and when we finally found the market, discovered that it was not nearly as nice as the one in Vasco de Gama. The ride to and from Panjim along the waterfront was interesting, especially the roaming cows, dogs sleeping wherever -to include in the road, and the brightly decorated homes (for Christmas).
We were able to attend 2nd grade concert and pre-k parties along with lots of projects, snuggles, romping, and good eating!