The black one.

The black one and her meowing is missing from our house. The song will have to change. The cow-cat wonders where she is and meows to fill the silence. Where is the black one who annoyed us to no end. I will look and call and wonder where she went. She is back again and up to her antics: knocking pieces of jewelry off the dresser at 5 a.m., getting under foot at every turn I take, incessantly grooming herself shaking the entire bed. Good to have the black one back.

88 degrees and swimming at the Mill

The Mill is a big hit in summertime. It is a gathering place for all the neighbors and friends to strut their stuff and drink a beer and have some smokes, oh and to swim! One day last summer while baby-sitting for a friend who lives near the Mill I was graced with a show of a 30+ year old man wagging his penis and trying to pee on a friend(?). I hurriedly brought the little girl inside to avoid having to explain what was going on...I didn't really understand myself. Today the usual crowd gathered, I wanted to get a closer photo but thought it would be better to be far away. On the edge of the watering hole just above the raging water, where the Mill creates its energy, a baby sat in its stroller. Mom and Dad did cannon balls off of the bridge. I admit it is fun doing cannonballs off the bridge. My son and I do them frequently when the Mill is not so busy. It is a treat to ride our bikes to the Mill with towels around our necks and splash into the cool water.

Oh did I mention...

Did I mention that the abandoned house had an array of what I think is Iranian magazines strewn about the room. Hmm? 1990, abandoned house...what does it mean, who were they and why did they leave?

Early morning and long noisy night!

It was a hot day yesterday so I opened our bedroom windows all the way. I was awakened by a sneeze, my son's allergies are raging right now, and then closed my eyes to hear a "HOOT!", then another "HOOT!" and then another "HOOT!", then I lay awake awaiting the next owl call, but it did not come. I did however hear an ensemble of loons from the lake nearby, cows bellowing on the farm down the road and then, and then...my cat! She knew I was awake and the crazy desire to be rubbed-fest began. Wide awake tossing and turning I couldn't wait for the first Cock-a-doodle-do!

Old Abandoned House

Something that has always fascinated and intrigued me is abandoned, run down houses. On a bike ride yesterday I rode by a house I have driven by many times. I noticed a broken window and a curtain flapping outside the window. I rode past it and then turned around dropped my bike and bushwhacked my way to the window. Oh my god! The house was abandoned, there was a "fainting" couch, a desk, an upright piano and papers all over the floors. Right below the window was a magazine from 1990 in Persian. I walked around the house hoping to see more: the bathroom: broken tub, and one pink foam curler on the floor, the bedroom: two beds, mattress on spring frame, and one of the beds was up on the end and papers and clothes all over the floor. I tried to get around further but I heard a noise and the bushes were so tall I couldn't get around. Next time I will bring my clippers. More bike rides to come and hopefully more houses to wonder about why the people left all their items and where they are now.

More uplifting and beautiful

The days are definitely longer and start really early up here in Maine. The sun or daylight emerges full force at 5 am along with the White Throated Sparrow and a plethora of other bird songs. We have begun using our "white noise" to help mask the early morning songs from waking us prematurely. There are green leaves and flowers and the Poppies are about to burst wide open!

Hoarding!

The differences between piling and hoarding:
Piling: starts as a stack then turns to a pile because you worked on your house and don't want to go to the dump to get rid of the debris, Hoarding: starts as a stack and you fall in love and emotionally engaged to that stack and feed the stack with more, more, more.