So, I've noticed a super creepy phenomenon lately and at first I thought it was just in my yard but then I noticed it up the street a ways too. Squirrels and chipmunks acting weird. Yup. Furry little mental cases. Now, I immediately felt guilty because I do have some rodent traps around my house and I thought ah jeez, am I poisoning them and their little brains are rotting from the inside out? What a thought. (Did I mention I couldn't sleep last night?)
Anyhoo, yesterday there was a witness because a workman was here and he said, look at that - I've never seen anything like it. And I thought AHA! Not my imagination. The chipmunk in question had stuffed his mouth and cheeks with what looked like dirt and bark. I mean, he had so much stuffed in there, it was hanging out of his mouth. And, he wasn't scared of us. Walked toward us, not away.
And, that's not the first time. The other day a cute little squirrel saw me coming out to my studio, stood his ground and looked me in the eye and would not move even when I was practically stepping on him. I naturally turned around and walked at a brisk but dignified pace back to the house. zoiks!
Today, I was coming down my road and a squirrel was in the middle of the road just sitting there. I had to come to a full stop and blow the horn to get him to move out of the way and even then, he just sauntered off the road and into the woods.
The stuff of nightmares.

up all night

Spent a sleepless night last night - no sleeping pills. Made me realize that I'm not ready to be without that crutch. Easy enough to be mindful during the day, controlling all of those unwelcome thoughts that try to filter in but at night? Fuggedaboudit. I slipslide back into thoughts of my old life and my husband, and although I wish for murderous thoughts of rage at what he did to us, it is pretty much just sadness now. ugh  I will call the doc at 8:30 this morning and beg for a new prescription.

In other news, I found zippers on Ebay and they showed up the other day so I felt I had to put them to use. Getting ready for the Blueberry Festival so I whipped up some inventory to sell there.

Ebay zippers

Little experiment

Cosmetic cases

 Also, put together some placemats - thanks to Stacy for the suggestion and thanks to Yo Mama's Home for the funky oilcloth!

Had the day off yesterday and we had a lovely one. Went out to breakfast across the Lake.

Gloria poses on the other side of the Lake from my cottage

Did a little yard sailing and bought this cute little picnic table in anticipation off the little ones visiting next summer.

I'm thinking yellow paint!

Did some swimming and sunning and headed over to Beth's Farmstand, where we found the first corn of the season.

Sophie loves her some corn on the cob!

 Had a sunset swim.

That serpent in the lake is none other than Gloria!

All in all, a perfect summer day.

Gloria and I spent the day creatively, she writing and drawing, me sewing! And, what a lovely day it was. Here are the little card cases I'm making. I think I will sell them for $5 each, which means I've got to cut my time, although I enjoyed every minute. Well, ok, maybe not when I had to rip some seams, but otherwise enjoyable.

It was a beautiful day, cool and comfortable and Gloria was on the dock when a storm rolled in and she had to run for it.

Another joy of living on the Lake...and the leak. A storm like this comes in most of my windows.

Gratitude

My sister sent me a lovely video. Please take a few minutes to watch it. A wonderful way to start the day. It's all about GRATITUDE  (made me cry :)

sunset last night

Uupdate: Gloria managed to fish my ipod out of the Lake and here is what it looked like. sob

 Here is where it is living for a few days. Hey - you never know!!

So happy to have Gloria here for a visit this week. 

Mercury makes a grand exit

We've had a hot sticky patch of weather - just miserable - and yesterday I did my usual stint at the botanical gardens, parboiling in 90+ degrees behind the huge bubble of a windshield in my shuttle. ghastly. I was the only shuttle on so was busy driving to and fro and I've always wanted to say to and fro plus I didn't want to stop moving and getting a little breeze in and so the only picture I took was of the whale rock.

Couldn't wait to get home and jump in the Lake with the girls. Which is exactly what I did when that trickster Mercury tormented me once again on his last day in retrograde. (And let's all breathe a sigh of relief today as the planets are back to normal, right?) I carefully put my ipod in the slot in the arm of my little chair on the dock and attached my watch to the other arm and dove in. The water was choppy with a hot wind coming across the Lake and it felt fabulous. A bigger gust of wind hit the dock and it was like slow motion as I watched my chair tip backwards and plunge into the water. Nooooooooo
Went swimming after it, grabbed the back of the chair and watched the ipod with earbuds attached spiral down out of sight. I got the chair up on the dock as fast as I could because my watch is water resistant and saw the minute hand moving. Yes! Went back in after the ipod and couldn't find it. The water was too choppy and visibility-not.
The good news is, that gust of wind signaled a cold front moving in and oh, what a relief it is to be in the 60's this morning. The bad news? I can't listen to my ipod on my walk this morning. Or ever.
A little eulogy: my sister-friend Sarah advised me to get the ipod touch soon after my husband left, when I was getting ready to go to Ireland. I have loved that thing ever since, used it every day and night, so I got my money's worth. Going to get a new one asap.

miss sophie

In other news, my affirmation for today says, My inner child is a joyous, intelligent, highly creative, and inventive being who enriches my life. And, that is because Gloria is coming to visit today! Yay for art and creativity! And, good riddance to Mercury in Retrograde!

Stacy and I went to Portland yesterday and made a beeline for Soakology where I chose the Healing Rose and Lavender soak "for the ultimate relaxation experience" and Stacy chose the Refreshing Aromatherapy for "enhanced circulation."  Now, I would like everyone who knows me (ok, and those who don't) that a gift card to Soakology would be a wonderful gift for yours truly. Just saying.

Stacy waits to be called.

the tea room

Soakology is a Foot Sanctuary Spa and Tea House and really, can you think of a better combo? You are led downstairs and put your shoes on a rack and don slippers, then to  big plush comfy armchairs up on a platform. Then the copper bowls (and they are really beautiful, locally made) are rolled in with your special preparation of herbs and essential oils. Someone comes in and takes your tea order - they also have little dark chocolate feet to go with. 

After a soak, Tia came in and placed a board over half the tub and I put one of my legs up on it and she gave me the most fabulous massage. After ten minutes, that foot went back in the tub and she moved the board to the other side. Then both feet are back in the soup for 20 minutes while Stacy had her turn (with her own tub-duh!) 

I wanted to share this little decoration that was up in their windows. So clever really - it is a string of lights with cupcake liners cut in flower shapes around each light. So cute. And, while I'm on the clever and cute subject, did you know I am on Pinterest? I am new to it and don't quite get all the ins and outs and it is a total time suck but wow, there are so many amazing and creative people in this world. All sorts of good ideas. I am going to try to figure out how to pin this little picture and put a link to my Pinterest to the right. 

So, after Soakology, I dropped Stacy at the airport and came home to find . . . . drum roll please . . . . my new George on the doorstep!! He's not pink but red will do just fine. 

Welcome, George!

So, on my way back from dropping Ryder at camp, I swung by the Portland Jetport and picked up my BFF Stacy. We've had a whirlwind few days, spending an afternoon in Bath, a day in Damariscotta, yesterday in Belfast and Rockland. First though, I am celebrating my lillies.

 and just wait 'til you see my hydrangeas!

 Belfast is a sweet little town - here you have it and you can see Miss LaToya parked down the street. Below, I just loved this little sink on the street planted with herbs. The lady with the pie is incidental.

 A winged trike? Not sure why . . . but why not?

Belfast harbor

 We swung through Bayville, a charming little summer community of gingerbread perched on the ocean.

You can see what beautiful days we are having but it is hotter than hades. Maine is not supposed to be like this and once again, we are anticipating a cold front coming down from Canada, bless her. Stacy and I are off to Portland today so stay tuned . . .

I drove Ryder to camp yesterday and I won't see her again 'til November. 

At the Gardiner rest stop

Reunited with her BFFs - all got the same cabin-woohoo!

Good-bye old friend

Well, George cooked his last meal last night. His teflon coating has been receding and the food has been sticking. So sad to lose my pink George Forman grill. He has cooked me a lot of fabulous meals. I got him at Walmart for $4.00 on clearance several years ago and I've never seen another pink one. sigh

Filet mignon for Ryder and me one last time

Feeling grateful for so much this morning.

I love my porch! 

A view of the gorgeous LaToya from my door.

My beautiful niece, Ryder

Becky and Ryder are here for a few days. Becky leaves for France tonight and I whisk Ryder off to camp on Monday. 

reading room

So, the other day after work, I went to Hannaford for groceries and I was in a hurry, wanting to get home and not paying much attention to anything at all, when the checkout guy asked me for my i.d. (I had a bottle of wine). I scramble in my bag and produce my license. He looks at it and then takes it to his supervisor for verification and they thank me. So, I ask how old do I have to look to be carded. He says under 40. Well, I'm liking that pretty good. Then I take a look at the checkout guy. Glasses like coke bottle bottoms, I swear I am not making this up. Talk about bursting my bubble!

In other sort of related news, I've been working on a little card case - something to hold just your license, and maybe a credit card and a few bucks. My mom has something like that and it will be a cute way to use scraps. Here is my version in oilcloth. My Office Depot card is where the license would go, behind clear plastic. Cute, right?

Went to Portland yesterday with my friend, Sue, to do a little shopping. Discovered this fabu fabric line by Shell Rummel for Blend. I know! I never heard of her either! But, I am loving the colors, the design. yummy We both bought some.

And, I wanted to share this picture of my little Lulu, aging gracefully. She is waiting patiently for her walk this morning.

Shout out to Canada!

I would like to thank our friends to the north for sending this lovely cool air our way. In the 70's today with low humidity. Maine is back to the way life SHOULD be!

Summertime and the livin' is sweaty

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT ?????

Hey, if I wanted to live in freaking 90 degree humid weather, I would have stayed in freaking Florida, right?  Oh, it is so wicked hot here in Maine right now, the way life should so NOT be.

So, I have made me a hillbilly cooler.  Yayah!

Supplies: styro cooler, small fan, plastic plumbing elbow pipe thingy

Trace and cut holes in top of cooler to fit pipe and fan

Fill cooler with everything you've got frozen in your freezer (thank you, Annie, for forgetting your cold packs!)

And, Voila!

Position in front of chair and turn on fan.

I swear I am not making this up, but it works! I've spent a lovely evening with a book in front of my "AC."