Getting the tractor stuck and other stuff.

Just so you don't think it is all glamorous (snicker, snort!) here on the Range I will show you what I have been doing today.  The scent of diesel fuel was wafting through the air as I was out bush hogging the area where we are having some work done in the next couple of weeks on a new road.

I love being outside no matter what I am doing but I didn't enjoy getting stuck and having to walk a couple of miles back to the house!  I went down in a ditch and didn't have the tractor in four wheel drive so was just setting there spinning my wheels!  The Hubs went out and immediately got it out by pushing the four wheel drive button.......DUH!


I continued on and Son came along in his Rhino and asked me if I wanted to take a ride around the loop so I hopped off one machine onto another and off we went.  We saw several deer that were just beautiful in their coppery summer coats.  Didn't see any fawns this time but it was fun seeing the adults.  The ride was really bumpy but we made it through all of the mud and water.  We stopped to look at the huge beaver house that is along the way.  It's huge!  Didn't see the beaver but could hear the big bull frogs making their deep har-rump sound.  The kids like to go out there and catch them but of course let them go!  :o)





Mr. D was here this morning with me.  He likes to play on my computer and had company this time.  Notice he still has his helmet on from the bike ride over!  Noodles loves to lay on the computer table when someone is using it.

Friday night we celebrated The Hubs birthday with the kids.  I had steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, tossed salad, yeast rolls and of course cake and ice cream.  I bought just a small cake at the store as we are all trying to cut down on sweets and I didn't want any leftover.  There was just enough with the last piece going next door to FIL.  :o)  


Now the Hubs and I are the same age.  I am from April to August older then he is.  I am the older woman for six months.  We are now both 59, when did that happen?  He was 19 and I was 20 when we got married 39 years ago, when I think of kids now getting married that young I can't imagine it!  His mother had to sign for him to get married as he wasn't yet 20, isn't that a hoot!   We remind him of that occasionally!  :o)


Son came along five years later much to our delight but there were to be no more babies for us unfortunately.  I always thought I would have a big family but sometimes it just isn't meant to be and you have to be content and happy with what you have and we were.  Now with two grands to spoil I make up for lost time!   Son weighed 10 lbs. 5 oz. when he was born!  Yikes! He looked two months old in that baby nursery with the other 6 and 7 pounders!  A teenager in baby world.


In those days when you had a C section you stayed in the hospital ten days.  That was the longest ten days of my life, I just wanted to go home with my great big baby who couldn't fit into his newborn clothes! He was such a good baby and started eating rice cereal at two weeks as I just couldn't fill him up.  He started sleeping through the night soon after starting on cereal too.  Now they say don't give it to them that young.  What did we know back then?  All I know is he was a happy, healthy baby!


We're headed to the lake tomorrow after church.  The summer is going by so quickly I don't want to miss a weekend being there at least one of the days.  It was a bit cool today but supposed to be warmer tomorrow. I loved the weather today though, just perfect for working outside, cool, breezy, no bugs, no humidity. P.E.R.F.E.C.T. Just right for doing some good ole' bush hogging!

Summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime!

Oh my, has it been a week since I last posted anything?  I honestly don't know where the time goes in the summer.  It seems like each and every minute there is something to do or somewhere to go.  We spent this weekend at the lake again and it was just glorious there! Well, a minor situation occurred but it didn't really bother us too much.  More about that later. Rant coming on.  Prepare yourselves.


The Hubs and I left home and took a bunch of stuff to the lake including more plants for my garden that goes along the edge of the driveway by the retaining wall.  I am hoping that they really grow some nice long roots before cold weather as this is a bit late to be putting them in.  I tried very hard to get 'deer resistant' plants as they ate 17 of my hostas one year!  Now that is what I call biting the hand that feeds you..........


Anyhow, I digress.......  We decided to take a side trip to the Jordon Pond House before the grands arrived at the lake for the weekend with us.  As I have written about before, the Pond House is famous for their popovers and strawberry jam, both things that rate high on my list of favorite things.    We had yummy salads with greens, pecans, cranberries, feta cheese and a zesty citrus dressing along with the popovers.  The salad was a meal in itself and the popovers were as good as a dessert!  I bought a couple packages of their mix to have at the lake and made them today and they were so good, not as good as the Pond House but good!  The directions said to make the batter the night before which I did but I didn't have a popover pan so had to make them in a cupcake pan.  I WILL buy the real pan for next time as they weren't as tall as they should have been but there was not a crumb left so no one was complaining!

We drove down through Bar Harbor on our way home and it was packed with tourists.  We have many cruise ships that come there and the store keepers love that!  I was looking for the store that sells Fresh Produce Sportswear but couldn't remember exactly where it was so we kept going.  Should have things on sale now with summer going by so quickly.  


Met up with the kids and Miss T and D came back to the lake with us.  Of course the first thing they wanted to do was to go fishing so out we went.  The kids were pulling them in hand over fist but no big bass this time.

We came in and had dinner and then played Pictionary until dark.  We had picked up some sparklers for the kids while in Bar Harbor and they were itching to use them.  They were so pretty, we lit them out on the end of the dock, wish I could've gotten a picture but I didn't think it would come out.  After that we all went to bed but not for long as there were some loud booms that sounded just like gunfire!!!  Actually it was some people renting a cottage two down from us and they had come to party!  They forget about the many people that live there in the summer and have to get up and go to work.  They set off firecrackers at 9 PM, 2 AM and 4 AM!!!!  YIKES!  I felt badly for my BIL and SIL who are right beside them.  She said it woke them up every time. I hope this doesn't go on all week, maybe they used up all of their fireworks that first night. Guess I'd better stop ranting about it but you must admit it's pretty inconsiderate.


The next day the kids had friends come down plus cousin K.  It's always fun to have a houseful although they didn't spend much time inside.  Once again they wanted to go fishing so The Hubs and Son took them out while I made some chocolate cookies to be ready for them when they came in.  Next they wanted to go tubing.  I passed on that one this time, the ole' bladder just can't take the bumps........ahem.......  (note to self, get some Depends before going on that tube again,,,,,)

Again the kids wanted to go to the rock slide so we loaded everyone in and off we went.  It's about three miles down a bumpy dirt road but worth the trip as it is something so different.  I guess I have posted about it before but it just intrigues me to see the formation of the biggest rock and the way the water has come down over it for so many years that it is smooth.

We are back home again.  I would like to have stayed a few more nights at the lake.  As I said before summer is fast fleeting.  FYI it was 38* in northern Maine one morning last week!!!!!


The boys are fine, Dad and Funsize take care of them for me while I am gone.  Oh, here's a nice picture of Funsize in the boat today.  She had to leave early as she was playing the piano in the evening service at our church tonight.

Well I guess I should fold the load of towels that I brought home from the lake today to wash.  I have a washer and dryer there but never leave the dryer going when we aren't there so brought them home as the kiddos used them right to the end.  I didn't even get in the water this weekend but sure had fun with everything else that we did.  There's nothing like family time is there?  Just before we left my niece and her son Nick drove in and they live two hours away!  They had been up this way visiting my parents so took a chance that we were still at the lake!  We got in a quick visit and they got to see the new digs.  Love those kind of surprises!!!

Do I have a fish tale for you!

We spent the weekend at the lake and it was just gorgeous down there.  It was much cooler then in town with a lovely breeze to keep any lingering bugs away.  Most of the black flies are gone by how but there are other creatures flitting around that can give you a nasty bite.  Poor Son got stung twice on Friday at a golf tournament once INSIDE the nose and once on his big TOE!  His toe is a mess, it's twice the size that it should be.  I think he should go to Walk In Care but I am just the overly protective mother of her 34 year old only child!  :o)


The grands and an extra came down to stay with us which makes for a lively time.  Grampie took them out fishing just a little over from our place in front of BIL's place and they were bringing in the sunfish left and right.  In all the caught about 30-35!  Today they wanted to go again so out they went in the boat to that nice fishing spot and before long we could hear yelling and hollering, I thought someone had got a hook in their finger!!!  I ran out and Mr. D was pulling in a big one with all his might with Son holding onto his pants to make sure he didn't fall in!


They came to shore to show us the big bass that he caught and then released it back into the lake.  If you aren't going to eat them, release them!


Now is that a proud look or what?!!  He caught it on a little hook that he had been catching sunfish on a few minutes before!

I think that is one proud Papa too!  :o)

We had a great time, there was way too much to eat, something about eating outside at the picnic table at the lake makes things taste soooooooo good!  Ribs, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, veggies, chips, coleslaw, potato salad etc etc  For brunch I made a double batch of cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting and those didn't last long...........


Of course it isn't the lake without going for a few rides in the boat.  Nothing like a Personal Flotation Device to make one look styling! :o)

We packed up and came home and my sister and BIL have moved in for the week.  I hope they get good weather like we had.  It's looking like it trying to rain today, I sure hope we get a good dousing! 


We didn't go near Bar Harbor while the Obama's were here over the weekend.  Roads were closed and there were enough Secret Service guys around to keep an eye on everyone.  Cars were lined up for miles as people were trying to get a glimpse of the First Family,  First Dog included.  The merchants in downtown were happy as their cash registers were ringing from all of the tourists in for the day.  I don't know of anyone around here that went down.  It's just too hard to get around with so many people and half the roads being closed off.  I love going to Bar Harbor and look through the shops plus have a popover at The Jordan Pond House, the later being more important then the former!!


Must get out and mow the grass before it starts raining I guess.  I can hear Dad mowing my FIL's lawn next door and the yard man is over there trimming the shrubs,  Summer is more then half over for us here in the north east.  Sigh.......

Ear problems, cats, flowers and camp~

Goodness gracious me, it is just plain unbelievably HOT!  I think it is the hottest it has been in a long, long time!  My friend Needled Mom is out there on the west coast in COLD weather and we are here in the northeast just about melting.  Go figure!

The horses go out really early in the morning when Funsize comes to do the barn or if I wake up early and go out and put them out.  They can come in and out of the barn whenever they want and I find them many afternoons standing under the big fans keeping cool.  A friend told me to hose down the barn floor which is concrete except where the stalls and isle are and that is wood, and it helps keep the barn cooler.  It works, I have been doing that and also closing the back south side door to keep the sun out so the barn is really quite comfortable. 

They have their supper around four and then like to go back out again during the evening which is much cooler.  My guys aren't spoiled much are they?  They don't like to come back in for the night but due to the coyotes, bear and other wildlife I make them come in where they are safe.


Lil' Bud has had a mysterious issue in one of his ears.  These pictures aren't for the faint of heart but I want to show them to see if any of you in Texas or nearby have dealt with this before as my vet says the only place he has seen bites like this is in Texas where he worked for a while.  These are like someone took a tiny cookie cutter and cut these circles out of the inside of Lil' Bud's ear.  I had the vet come look at it and he cleaned each and every one of them out as it looked like something had laid eggs in them.

It was very itchy and only in this one ear plus the other two horses didn't get it.  The vet gave me some cream to put in twice a day after scrubbing the ear out with some medical soap and it actually felt good to Bud as I could hold my hand with the washcloth still and he would rub his ear back and forth.

It 's much better now after a week of the cleaning and medicating and is drying up and flaking off.  Still don't know what did it and hope it doesn't happen again.  Noodles likes to watch all the goings on in the barn.  He  is not one bit afraid of the horses which probably isn't the best thing for his well being!  Don't ask me why Bud is in Kipper's stall as his own is three times the size, must have been a couple blades of hay in there to find!

                         Now where did my teeth go?????

Noodles on the fence hoping that a lame mouse will walk by so that he can grab him without having to exert himself too much!

                    How's this for the balance beam?

The flowers have sure loved this hot muggy weather that we have been having.  Also the raspberries are yielding more this year then any year since we've had them.

                                        Cleome

I puttered around at the lake all day today.  I set out some plants in my new garden that my yard man put in for me.  It's rather shady so I picked up some things that like the shade.  I just hope the deer don't eat all of them, I put out lots of impatiens and they LOVE those so will take my hot pepper with me next time.  It seems to be working here at the house keeping them at bay.


I found some flatware this past week for the lake house and I just love it.  It is so campy!  I hope you can see the designs.  It's a camp, a canoe, a fir tree, a bear and a moose!  Best of all it was one of Kolh's sales and you buy one service for four and get one free.  I got enough for 16!  Yah!  Nothing beats a good sale especially when it's something you just love!!

July 4th

What a great weekend we had for the 4th of July holiday!  It was hot so the perfect place to be was at the lake which was a bit cooler then in town.  It was hotter then usual there but when you can jump into the cool lake you don't seem to mind it as much.


We had a crowd in for the 4th and there was so much food I could hardly fit it all in the refrigerator.  Everyone brought things plus I made stuff to serve too.  Everything tastes so much better at the lake,  I did try to be good but a few things called my name...........  My DIL's mother makes brownies with chocolate/peanut butter frosting that is to die for and my DIL makes a spicy chicken dip that has lots of good stuff in it, the main ingredient besides the chicken is cream cheese!  I have never met a food that I didn't like with cream cheese on it or in it! :o)


I broke a long tradition of mine this weekend.  Many years ago I went out on a tube and was thrashed all over the lake by the driver of the boat, that person would have been the Hubs, and swore I would never get on one again........  Well, never say never plus the tubes are much improved now and you can sit in them instead of laying on the top of them so with the Grands urging I hopped in.  Well 'hopped' isn't quite the right term, it wasn't graceful as we were out in the middle of the lake but I did manage to get in.  Getting out was another whole story in itself but  you will lose sleep over it if I go into detail so I will spare you!  :o)


Notice at this point I am smiling.  We haven't moved yet....

NOT SMILING!  Kids think it is hilarious!

Getting brave again.

How do you like the hair do?!!

The kids were much better at this then me and kept wanting to go faster but Grampy kept it at a safe speed. When they have their thumbs up they want to go faster,  you will not see my thumbs up in any pictures!

Now it wouldn't be the 4th without some ribs.

And ribs are meant to be eaten with your fingers.

Love this picture of Funsize!  Hi B!

Cousin K.

Miss T.

One place the kids like to go is the rock slide.  It is a place a couple miles up in the woods on an old dirt road mostly used now for snowmobiles and ATV's but you can get up there with 4 wheel drive.  The rocks are very smooth, probably from so many years of little be-hineys going down over them........  It is a beautiful spot and rather unique for our neck of the woods.

You land is this shallow pool of water.

We had a wonderful weekend to say the least but our thoughts and prayers were with a family close by that had just lost their son in the war a few days before.  We had the flag at half mast as the Governor instructed, it was the least we could do.   God bless those that give the ultimate sacrifice for their country!