My Corner of Maine

Moving to a New Locale...

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 19:59:00 +0000

Since I've sorely neglected this blog for far too long, I've decided to make a move to a new home.

Please accompany me over to my new residence at:

Paulla Estes

Original name, don't you think?

That's where I'll be for the time being.

Hope to see you over there!

Copyright © 2017 - Paulla Estes

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 19:22:00 +0000

Summer has arrived in the woods around our home. And I don’t mean that the leaves are back on the trees, the skunks and porcupines have come out of hibernation, or the migrating birds have returned. I don’t even mean the bugs and the humidity and the heat.

I have spent more time on the miles of nearby woodland paths in the past seven months than I did over the last eighteen years combined. When the kids were little (and yes, we had other dogs but rarely took them in the woods… ticks, you know) exploring the mile walk to the ponds or riding our bikes on the forest trails was a special occasion. I mean, only during fair weather seasons, we might have done it a couple of times each month. But I think it’s safe to say I never ventured into the woods during the wintertime until this year.

Dinah changed everything and we walk in those woods at least three or four times each week. Sometimes every day. And while the woods LOOK and FEEL far different in the summer than they did all winter, the biggest difference to me is the people.

Usually I could let Dinah off leash and walk her three or four miles without seeing anyone. Once in a great while we’d meet another adventuresome dog walker, but the earlier we went out, the smaller chance of it. We had the woods to ourselves which meant I could leave her off leash for all but the roads. It was quiet, peaceful, serene. It was good.

But now? The kids are out of school and of course everyone likes the mild weather. Early mornings often mean at least a handful of others out on the trails with their dogs, plus the joggers, bikers, and rare early ATV riders (usually an older couple traveling slowly). But after 10 a.m. the kids are out in force, swimming in the pond, racing their ATVs and dirt bikes, playing hide and seek, and I’ve even seen ambitious high-schoolers running in anticipation of the upcoming cross-country season.

In some ways the bustle of summer in the woods is refreshing. It’s great to see people out, away from their televisions and computers, especially the kids. I’m glad to know kids still like to play in the woods, even on cloudy days. But I’m also selfish. I have to keep Dinah on leash the better part of the time or she’ll chase anything on wheels. She’ll also chase anything that runs. Or walks. Or stands still. She wants to befriend everyone, but not everyone understands that her barks and lunges don’t mean that she wants to eat them. Imagine that?

Copyright © 2016 - Paulla Estes

Where did that year go?

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 18:41:00 +0000

A year is a long time. Long enough to finish a term of school, get established in a new job, or birth a baby. I suppose in some ways, I've done all three.

I'm climbing back on the horse after an insanely busy and distracting year, but before I do, here's what's been going on in my world...

First, I left my last post a year ago with my youngest daughter having just discovered skydiving. Well, she's still doing it. By the end of last summer she had enough jumps to become a licensed skydiver. Then, after the fall semester of her senior year at Syracuse, she did her Spring semester online and traveled out west to skydive up and down the California coast. It was a dream come true. Now she's back in Maine doing coaching at Skydive New England.

My other daughter had enough of the Maine winters and moved to Phoenix in March. She's working out there and somehow enjoys the temps that are well into the 100s right now. It's a dry heat!

The third piece of big news is that we got a puppy.

And fourth, we got a puppy.

Fifth...

I think you probably get the idea.

Our beloved Roxanne died at Christmas 2007, and although we've always wanted another German Shepherd, I just couldn't bring myself to do it again. It was partly the timing - our kids were getting older and I wanted to be able to visit them without a dog tying me down. It was also partly the work involved. Mostly I just didn't want to set myself up for heartbreak like that again.

I guess 8 years was enough to get over it because Dinah came into our lives at 8-weeks of age in mid-November last year. Here she is just after she was born in September...

Don't be fooled by how tiny and cute she was. She was and is MUCH more dog than we bargained for. (That's her below on the left, giving me a kiss at 4 weeks.)

How cute was she???

Our old shepherd, Roxanne, was gentle and quiet and docile - all the things you want in a big dog. She was even like that as a puppy. Sure, she was playful, but she was also mellow. She grew up to be nearly 100 pounds and she was like a big, black rug in our home. Our gentle giant.

Silly me, I thought we were getting another one like her. NOT HARDLY. See how she's running at 6 weeks? SHE'S ALWAYS RUNNING.

Aside from being another solid black German Shepherd, Dinah is NOTHING like Roxanne. During the weeks leading up to her arrival, I read all kinds of puppy and dog training books to re-familiarize myself with having a puppy. I had everything planned out as to how it would be.

Let me tell you, Dinah laughed in the face of my plans.

Dinah came into our home in November like a race horse out of the starting gate - at a sprint. Here are a couple of the only photos we have of her that weren't blurred from constant movement...

We had the whole family here at Christmas, and by then her ears were outgrowing the rest of her body.

We had a fun winter walking every day in the snow, meeting new friends, and even graduating from obedience school.

She didn't slow down until we had her spayed in April. And I should add that really, she only slowed down for a day. By the next day, you'd never know she had major surgery. Although we kept her drugged for two weeks to slow her down, I practically had to sit on her to keep her from running and jumping and doing the "explosive" behavior the vet warned us about.

Suffice it to say, Dinah has changed our lives. Now, at going on 10-months of age, she's definitely becoming the adult dog she's going to be. She's super friendly and enthusiastic about EVERYTHING. No, I mean EVERYTHING. Walks, of course (we go 3 miles each day off leash in the woods to get her jitters out), our three cats, getting in the car, anyone visiting, going outside, coming inside, chasing the butterflies and bees. You get the idea.

She is an all-or-nothing dog. She's either going, going, going, or passed out cold on the floor at my feet.

I have to admit, for the first few overwhelming months, I said more than a few times that THIS IS NOT THE DOG I WANTED. I told her she'd never be like Roxanne. I cried and moaned and even entertained the idea of giving her back.

Yes, really.

But now she's crawled into my heart and curled up and made her home there. I adore this dog.

She's going to break my heart one day - I know that, and it kills me already (yes, I'm pathetic and think about things like that). But I'm living in the moment. I'm getting exponentially more exercise than I've had since I trained for a marathon several years ago. I'm spending time out in nature, rain, snow, or shine, and I feel younger and stronger.

And now I'm coming up for air. Time to get back on the horse and bring this blog back to life.

More soon! :)

OH! And P.S. - Biggest news of all...

The Broncos won the Superbowl! :) :) :)

Yikes!

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:29:00 +0000

Our youngest daughter has become a bit of a thrill-seeker after spending a semester in South America last year. Plus, she's the youngest child, so you can do with that what you will.

Anyway, as she's between her junior and senior year in college, she needed an internship to add to her resume. We found a few for the summer, including a very low-key but educational internship at MY work place, but instead, she decided to go with one she was offered at Sky Dive New England.

Yeah.

So you can guess what happened next. Although she's working in marketing and customer service, with her intern hours she earns free opportunities to sky dive. I think I covered my ears the first time she told me this.

Then last week I got a phone call. Her voice was higher and faster than I'd ever heard it, other than when she'd sucked helium out of a balloon. She'd just made her first jump.

Good God.

Thankfully, it is a safe, reputable place, and of course her first jump was a tandem jump. Secretly I hoped that if she tried it once, she'd hate it.

I'm not sure, but something here tells me she didn't. What do you think?

Then last night I got this text:

"My 8 hour sky-diving course on Thursday is being led by a new friend I have here from Brazil, and he is familiar with everywhere I visited in Chile! :)"

I'm afraid she's hooked.

God help me.

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Oriole!

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sun, 10 May 2015 13:07:00 +0000

Last year we bought an oriole feeder and we learned all about how the orioles migrate and how to attract them.

We put the feeder out last Spring and Fall, hoping that one day the little orange guys would spy our feeder and pay us a visit.

Well, last week "one day" arrived.

Such Fragile Little Lives

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 21:50:00 +0000

Last summer we were treated to two downy woodpecker chicks that were not long out of the nest. They followed their mama to our bird feeders and we laughed as they struggled to land, to hang onto the slippery metal pole, and to take off again. They had all the basic techniques, but nothing was graceful yet.

Over the fall and winter, these two babies matured and became flying experts - to no one's surprise. After that, they sort of blended in and found their place with all the other little birdies that come to our yard to feast at our feeders.

Like the chickadees, the cardinals, and several other types of birds here near the coast of Maine, the woodpeckers stayed all winter. We kept the feeders full and they showed up many times throughout the course of each day.

Now that Spring has arrived, and with it some of the migratory birds that left us in the fall, our feeders have been busier than ever. Just this morning I spotted FIVE bright yellow goldfinches all on one set of bird feeders, dining together.

After a rainy morning, the sun began to come out this afternoon. Not enough to dry things out, but it brightened up the yard and the birds were active as always. I sat at the kitchen table writing, ironically, about lost pets, when something slammed against the kitchen window, startling me and the cats. I'm surprised the window didn't break - it sounded like someone threw a baseball at the glass.

I figured what must have happened. I opened the window and leaned out, and there on the wet grass was one of our little woodpecker babies. And no, they're no longer babies, but they're OUR babies from last summer. I ran outside to see if it was ok. It wasn't. It was the little female - the one without the red spot on the back of her head.

I knew the drill. She looked dead but she might just be stunned, so I picked her up in a towel, put her little body in a box, closed it up (with air holes) and brought her inside to keep her warm. I hoped she would wake up, blink, and fly off with her brother within the hour.

But when I picked her up, her head flopped to one side. I'm pretty sure her neck was broken and she was killed instantly, which is a little comforting. Still, I brought the box in, hoping for a miracle.

While I waited, I glanced out the window and saw the male on a low tree branch nearby. It broke my heart that he was out there looking, waiting for her.

An hour later, not only was she not awake, she was beginning to stiffen, so I knew.

Sadly, my daughter and I took her outside and put her body below the same tree, so the male might see her and know to stop looking. I don't know if birds are aware of such things, but we felt like it was the right thing to do.

Now it's getting dark and I can't help but think of that tiny body out there, that black and white, feathery body that, just hours ago, was swooping around our yard. Sure, there are bigger, sadder, more tragic things in life, but I will miss that tiny girl. I'm just glad she didn't suffer.

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Finishing Winter Out West, Part TWO

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:20:00 +0000

This was the first time I had the chance to visit my son and his wife as a married couple. They have this fantastic house on the northwest side of the gigantic city of Phoenix. Their development sits, literally, just on the edge of the desert, although the desert around them is being developed and soon their area will be swallowed up by what is the greater Phoenix area.

That first evening when I got in, we headed to Scottsdale and the famous Barrio Queen Restaurant (or rather, as you can see from the sign, Tequileria). YES. My friend Sue went there recently while on vacation and she gave me strict orders to visit the Barrio Queen, to have a specific meal (pictured below) and to bring her back a t-shirt. Go there, and you will see why. The food - oh God, to DIE FOR.

The next morning we went on a nearby hike. It was a relatively easy hike, but I had shin splints from walking the hills near my dad's house in San Diego, so I was a bit slow. PLUS, it was like 85 degrees. Yes, 85 in Phoenix is sort of like 72 in Maine - it's very pleasant - but San Diego had been a bit chilly, and heck, I was still slightly frozen from this crazy winter we had in Maine. So to me, it was HOT. But I could have stayed out there all day. :)

Horseback riding was the next activity. We planned our ride for early in the morning, to avoid the heat, and it was lovely.

BUT. Or should I say, BUTT. Yes, it was a two-hour ride, which, for me, was about an hour and a half too long. I hadn't been on a horse in years and when I got off, I really was walking like John Wayne.

This was, by far, my favorite thing to do. Sit by a pool and eat blueberries. I mean, really - what else is there in life that compares?

And check this out, the pool even had a covered playground. I'm telling you, IT GETS HOT THERE.

We spent much of the week eating at favorite restaurants (several more than once) and just hanging out together. And on the last day, we went back to Scottsdale and back to the Barrio Queen. IT'S THAT GOOD.

Honestly, I was sad to come home. I always am. And I'm never really sure if it's the weather I'm sad to leave, or my kids. Definitely the latter, but the former is a huge factor.

But the really great thing is, the snow in Maine is melting. We're WAY down to only about a foot of snow on our yard now...

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Finishing Winter Out West, Part ONE

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:41:00 +0000

I have the good fortune of having family members out west, so if I can swing a flight to San Diego or Phoenix (or Portland OR, though it's not as warm there) then I have a place to stay and family to see.

So in early March, I flew west to spend the last of our official winter thawing out.

San Diego is lovely at this time of the year. Let's face it, San Diego is lovely at pretty much ANY time of year.

I went to visit my dad and step-mom, and not only was it great to spend time with them, the Southern California weather was, for the most part, very cooperative.

We spent the first day downtown, eating great Mexican food (because that's the only kind of Mexican food they have out there) and walking around downtown along the shore.

My dad's house in the hills is delightful because of the huge lemon tree out front and that amazing view out back.

The next day, Dad and I went to Mission Beach to walk the boardwalk and see the sights. And people-watch. If you've never people-watched on the California beaches, you haven't lived.

The next day I visited my friend, Connie, who lives in Pacific Beach with her cool husband and very well-trained dog, and new puppy that is trying to run the show. Connie lives a block from the beach. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT. So although it was a cool, cloudy day (reality check, once in a while the sun doesn't shine down on Southern California) we walked to the beach, the PB pier, and had fish tacos (of course).

On the last day, which is always bittersweet, the sun came out again and we basked in the sunshine on their hilltop back yard.

Then we went out to lunch and drove downtown along the bay once more. And near the airport, I remembered the one thing I do NOT like about SoCal. That traffic.

Next stop - Phoenix...

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Snowfall at the Seashore

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 02:45:00 +0000

I have good news.

(Imagine that you're reading the next phrase in a guarded whisper...)

The whole every-three-days snowstorm plan seems to be winding down.

If you hold me to that, I'll deny ever saying it. I own this blog and I can delete if I so choose.

Seriously, though, this week has been downright delightful. We actually got above freezing one day - only a couple of degrees above freezing, and only for an hour or two, but hey, I'LL TAKE IT.

To celebrate, yesterday I took a morning trip to the beach with a friend right after a light 3-4 inch snowfall (oh my how our standards have changed).

After stomping through virgin snow out onto the empty beach, we unleashed her dogs (don't tell the park service guys) and let them run their brains out.

And we walked and talked and marveled at the beauty.

You see, I really do love the winter. And in spite of the hard work caused by all the snow this year, no one can deny that the snow makes everything beautiful and magical.

You know how the sides of the streets become dirty and gross and everything looks like it's old and tired? A new snowfall every couple of days keeps it crisp and clean looking. Who doesn't like that?

So... the beach. Here you go.

Check out all that snow...

And the wide open beach, with only a dog or two to break the scene...

The washed up kelp never looked prettier.

After the beach, we drove over to Five Islands and to my friend's home for tea.

The views out her kitchen windows kept me spellbound.

See? A no-complaint post about winter. AND YOU SAID I COULDN'T DO IT.

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Overwhelmed

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:10:00 +0000

So we're still on the 3-day pattern with the snowstorms.

STILL.

We dodged a bullet this past Sunday when the oh-so-accurate weather guys forecasted an 18-24 inch blizzard, but all we got was an inch and some wind.

THANK YOU, GOD.

It snowed again yesterday, as expected, and again we were spared with only about 6 inches.

We've got another one coming this Sunday and they're saying it will be a lot, but it might be partly ice/partly freezing rain.

Oh joy.

In case you hadn't figured it out, my sarcasm meter pretty much tops out around this time of the year.

**********

On another note, this is the Lenten season and I realize now, three days into Lent, that what I really should have given up was complaining about the snow. But then, it's not good to set oneself up for failure during Lent.

I gave up Facebook, I've pulled way back from Twitter, and I'm reading more about what Lent means and what it signifies. I'm realizing that Lent isn't so much about giving things up, but rather, giving to others and finding joy.

I so need that at this time of the year - the timing couldn't be better.

Taking and deep breath and thanking God for the snow... and feeling joyful that the first day of Spring is only about a month away...

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Ok, Who's the Wise-Guy that's been singing "Let it Snow?"

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 22:38:00 +0000

Yes, this is Maine and yes, we get lots of snow in the wintertime. Especially January and February.

But this is overkill.

I've been hearing even the most hearty, winter-loving Mainers exclaim about how much we've been getting.

It's THAT excessive.

It all began on January 24th, a Saturday. We had a middle-of-the-road, every-day type of snow. It fell most of Saturday and finished up sometime overnight. I think we got 5 inches, at most.

Not a big deal. We hadn't had much snow so far this winter, so this was a welcome and lovely sight.

THREE days later, Tuesday, January 27th. If you didn't hear about this storm, then you might just live in a bucket. Winter storm Juno descended on the area and when all was said and done, we had over 20 inches at our house not far from the coast.

But it was fun! School was canceled for two days, the streets and driveways became canyons, and oh, the beauty of it all!

We also thought, "Whew, that was a big one. Hopefully we'll just have small ones from now on."

Oh no - no such luck.

THREE MORE days later, Friday, January 30th. We got 10 more inches on top of all the other snow, of course. Because in Maine, the snow just keeps piling up and won't melt until sometime in April.

Hopefully.

Oh, and school was canceled again.

My husband likes to write snow totals on our calendar and as I looked at them I saw a pattern. Three days, anyone?

So as we were digging out on Saturday morning, I checked the weather app on my phone and saw that another storm was coming on Monday, February 2nd.

THREE DAYS LATER.

WELL OF COURSE!

That Monday, we got another 9 inches, I think (by now, who cares?) and schools were canceled. Again.

I joked that this meant we'd get another storm on Thursday.

Geez, I hate being right.

That brought us to THREE MORE DAYS later. Yesterday. Thursday. Another storm and this time, only 3-6 inches were predicted. Well, we got 6.

Somehow 6 inches of snow doesn't seem like much when you have 4 feet of snow on your yard. And 6-8 feet piles where it's pushed at the street corners and driveways.

But 6 inches was a mess. A MESS. The parking lot where I work was not plowed all day, so I had to park a block away. And that's not so bad except that it was cold, single digits, blowing snow. And the sidewalks hadn't been plowed either.

It was pretty miserable.

Then I got home and the snow blower was on the fritz, meaning only one wheel was turning. I did all the right things to put it back to normal, but to no avail. It just wanted to spin in circles. I wrestled it around for awhile and then finally gave up in cursing and tears.

I promptly phoned my husband and picked a fight about the fact that when he wanted to buy a new snow blower a few years ago, I voted for hiring a plow guy. He came home a couple of hours later, figured out what was wrong with the snow blower, and finished the driveway and paths.

Secretly I feel like he deserves to do it all by himself all the time since I lost the vote. But marriage doesn't really work like that. Or shouldn't.

So last night after THAT storm was over, the temperature dropped to about 10 below zero and the wind picked up.

Oh joy! Because hoards of snow isn't enough - let's have wind and frozen faces too!

Early this morning before he left, my husband said something about a longer storm coming next week.

"Oh psh," I said. "You mark my word, WE WILL GET ANOTHER BIG SNOW IN THREE DAYS - ON SUNDAY."

I guess I'll never learn.

The forecast now says it will be a Sunday/Monday storm that will bring 9 inches or more.

I won't even tell you what I saw on the long-range forecast.

But I will say this. I'm so ready to go to Arizona or Florida until about mid-April.

Who's with me?

Copyright © 2015 - Paulla Estes

Critters

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:53:00 +0000

So we've gotten a little crazy with the bird feeders.

But hey, wintertime in Maine is long and cold, so you do what you have to do to stay entertained. Nothing like staying indoors where it's warm and still being able to see nature in action.

Yes, the cardinals are our favorites, but it's really fun to see all the little winter birdies.

And as you'll see, my husband and I aren't the only ones who enjoy the show...

Turning 21

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:13:00 +0000

Our youngest is now 21, which means all my kids are full-on adults.

Yet, when we went our dear daughter out with her boyfriend to pick out a birthday cake, she had something written on it that in all likelihood, we wouldn't have chosen.

Still... why not? :)

Of course, the dance number was the best part of the evening.

Frigid Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:03:00 +0000

Yesterday we decided to go to Popham Beach at low tide. Sure, it was cold, but we dressed warmly. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, so how bad could it be, right?

We invited some friends to meet us there with their dogs, and we all took a walk down to the water line.

Looking at the photos, can you guess which pair is from Arizona and thought they were going to die from the cold? I'll give you a hint - yellow jacket...

Afterward we went to The Cabin in Bath for pizza. YUM.

Apres Noel

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 16:52:00 +0000

After Christmas we went to Newport, Rhode Island to spend some time with extended family.

While there, we took an evening walk down the road to see a house decked out with Christmas décor. Then we took the obligatory but scenic stroll along Cliff Walk the next day.

Cold, but fun!

A Peek at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 16:44:00 +0000

We had the whole family home this year. Both our daughters and our son with his new bride.

I'm aware that these holidays with everyone home are precious things and in all likelihood, they're becoming rare.

So once again, I'm savoring.

Merry Christmas!

Copyright © 2014 - Paulla Estes

Coastal Maine

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 16:36:00 +0000

We took a drive up the coast around Thanksgiving and I never got around to posting the photos. Until now.

We'd just had a big snow, so the views of Acadia, Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, Belfast, and other parts of Coastal Route One were so pretty.

Savoring

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:53:00 +0000

This year, I'm trying to savor the season.

Shopping is nearly done, meals planned, tree up. Usually it's a frenzy until the 11th hour.

This year I want to hear the music, see the grace, enjoy the moments.

Every year I say that I wish we could do away with the whole gift-giving part of Christmas and just sprinkle gifts randomly throughout the year, instead.

But I don't make the rules.

So instead, I'm finally starting to get organized, if you want to call it that, and I'm scheduling the savoring. If not, the frenzy will simply take over.

Not this year.

Copyright © 2014 - Paulla Estes

The Green

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:32:00 +0000

The green is mostly gone.

The green is what I grieved when I left the West Coast many years ago and came to Maine in the fall.

It was lovely, magical, colorful. But also fleeting.

Soon, all was brown. Brown, grey, white, and dismal. It stayed that way for what seemed like such a long time.

The green was a distant memory and I hated it here.

I wanted to go back to my home of sunshine, blue skies, and green all year.

But then, unexpectedly, the green returned in snippets.

Soon it filled the landscape, blotting out all the other colors.

A few months later, it was gone again. And dismal.

Rejoice, mourn, rejoice, mourn; those are the seasons for me here.

But ah, how I appreciate the green now, more than I ever did when I had it all the time, all those years ago.

Copyright © 2014 - Paulla Estes

Bowdoin College Bicycles

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 15:38:00 +0000

On a rainy day. Isn't this pretty?

Freeport, ME

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 15:34:00 +0000

My husband is on the lookout for a new winter coat. The one he's had, from L.L. Bean, is about fifteen years old and just isn't cutting it anymore - especially for keeping out the rain, ice, and snow.

So we went shopping today and while he looked at jackets in the NorthFace Outlet, I took photos out the second floor window with my phone.

Gettin Chilly

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 15:30:00 +0000

We were out working in the yard and saw several bumble bees, yellow jackets, and other assorted bees (that I can't name) all over this plant.

They were barely moving, and at first I thought they were all dead.

Surprisingly, we still haven't had our first freeze, but it's been cold at night - in the low 30s.

I blew on this guy to see what he would do, and he barely lifted a leg. But lift, he did.

You gotta hand it to them - toughing it out to the very end of the nice weather.

Fall Beach Day

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 01:52:00 +0000

My favorite time of year to be at the beaches in Maine.

Chile - Day Five - Cerro San Lucia

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:21:00 +0000

After the long day in Valparaiso, lovely as it was, I swore off hills. FOR GOOD.

So the very next morning, Molly took me to the pretty park just a block away from our hotel. Cerro San Lucia. Understand that CERRO is the Spanish word for HILL.

My biggest problem at this point was shin splints, so going UP the hill (sore as my feet and muscles might be) wasn't really the issue. But I didn't think of that as we were going up, because, I mean... JUST LOOK...

It was sort of like some type of medieval castle built into the hill. And STAIRS EVERYWHERE. So much UP!

But this too - - - LOVE. <3

It was so odd being right smack in the middle of downtown Santiago, with the large buildings, traffic and noises, but at the same time somehow transported back through time into an oasis of beauty and mystery.

Finally, we reached the summit.

And lo and behold, another stray dog. He was quite the trooper to come ALL the way up here!

For my sweet husband back home...

Looking back up toward the summit, we stopped in an area with statues and fountains, and there was even a snack stand, where we bought some Chilean Cheetos. Somehow they were different from American Cheetos. The bag looked the same but the Cheetos were more yellow than orange and tasted - less salty, perhaps. Just different.

We sat on a bench to rest with our water and Cheetos. As we chatted, we heard a low, guttural meow. Yes, we're cat lovers, but this was weird. And a little scary. Looking up, we saw a cat heading our way, trotting right toward our bench, meowing in that strange way. It jumped right up on the bench and began demanding Cheetos.

So we gave it some. We didn't really like them anyway.

After the Cheetos, Molly poured some water into a small indentation on the bench, and our friendly cat had a drink. And yes, it WAS very friendly. Not just a beggar, but an entertainer, as well.

After a while, we said good-bye to our new feline friend and headed down the long DOWNHILL path to the park entrance.

That view!

And this is where our photos end. After the park, we got pizza and went to the big fish market across the river.

Our last day.

It was bittersweet as we packed up to leave. Molly won't be back home in Maine until Christmastime. But what a privilege it was to see this place and to spend it all with her.

Saying it was unforgettable is an understatement. It changed me. I'm reeling from the things I learned and saw, only a fraction of which is in these photos and pages.

I imagine it will take months to unpack the information and sights swirling around in my head. And the time will be well spent.

Good-bye Molly and Good-bye Chile. I will miss you both.

Copyright © 2014 - Paulla Estes

Chile - Day Four - Valparaiso

noreply@blogger.com (Paulla) — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 22:19:00 +0000

About 70 miles northwest of Santiago is the coastal city and major sea port, Valparaiso.

The bus ride took us through foothills, farmland, and villages as we headed west to the shores of the Southern Pacific.

When we arrived, we stopped at the first public restroom we found. And yes, you're seeing it correctly. You have to pay before you go.

Also, the Chileans (and Peruvians, for that matter) have a thing about throwing toilet paper into the toilet. There are signs everywhere telling patrons NOT to flush the paper. Instead, each stall has a small waste basket for used paper. Hmmm. Yes.

The city of Valparaiso is, in a word, enchanting. Colorful buildings huddled all along a steep hillside jutting up from the harbor.

A cab dropped us off at the harbor, and then Molly led us into a non-descript alley that had stairs off to one side. She headed up those stairs and we followed.

Up we went. And up some more. Lots of UP.

Along the way, Molly made friends with yet another Chilean cat.

And we loved the idea these folks had about where to safely store their bicycles.

Up a few more flights of stairs and I thought I would die. But then we rounded a corner and were greeted with beautiful views of the colorful hills and harbor.

And yet another sweet stray dog.

I thought, wow, wasn't that a lovely hike?

Oh but no, it was FAR from over. The next thing I knew, we were heading up again. Up streets, up sidewalks, up staircases, up alleyways.

To ease the burden of always going up (uphill, both ways!) we were treated to street art on nearly every other building. Such magnificent colors!

Ah, which way to go..... UP of course!

You can see from the photos, it was a bright, sunny day. The sky was blue, the sun shone brightly, and each house was painted brightly, even flamboyantly. It was a feast for the eyes!

This was a hilarious shot, as a garbage truck arrived when we first started shooting photos... and never left.

UP some more!

Do you believe those colors?!

I told my girls that when I get back to Maine, I want to paint our garage door JUST like this one. Somehow, I don't think it would go over very well in our low-key, rather conservative Maine neighborhood. But why not, right?

One of the city's many parks, all of which overlook the harbor.

At one point when I couldn't hold back the complaints any longer, Molly cheerfully told me that our destination was at the top of THOSE steps. Thankfully, it was a joke. Not everyone laughed. I won't say who.

We finally headed downhill - hurray! Now I could REALLY enjoy the sights without huffy and puffing and trying not to die.

Oh wait.

Well, something about them being piano stairs just made them seem a little easier to take. :)

It was a spectacular day that for me, I will remember as my favorite day in Chile. The charming and colorful homes nestled on that steep hill, with winding roads and stairs everywhere... it was magical.

Copyright © 2014 - Paulla Estes