All of our fears for field and forest fires have been taken off the page. We are getting a soaking that will fill the vernal pools, bring the earth worms to the top of the lawn, and dilute the salt marshes. It will also dampen the spirits of the school kids who have to wait for buses or walk to school.
The dog didn't want to leave the patio, which actually had standing water on it. He hates wet grass, but he "had to go" and eventually accomplished his duty. Good dog!
I imagine my farm family will not appreciate the mud this day will produce. The horses will be muddy to their knees and their dogs, like mine, will be wet and smelly when they come in. Cats on the other hand, will just sit in the window and when neccessary, go with stately pride to their litter box. On days like this I am grateful for my attached garage and the drive through drug store.
WHen the rain stops and the sun comes out we will marvel at the rate the grass grows, but mourn a little bit that the forsythia, magnolia, and azalea blooms have been beaten off their branches and lie soggy and faded on the ground.
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hello Spring
Spring came early to Maine. It actually came too soon, and winter wasn't much to begin with. Maple trees greedily kept their sap making the syrup harvest light. Snow left the mountains before skiers had had the last run and retailers were left with shovels, snow blowers,ice melt and winter clothing still on the floors. Now, April 18, the patio furniture is out, the rakes, hoses and garden implements are on display while the help is still finding storage room for the unsold goods. Bulb plants which usually appear about now are gone, and the late blooming ones are open. I have a lovely crop of yellow mustard plants coming up all over the small plots I am allowed to plant in. Condo living, with one floor units, does offer a little leeway in the rear, and conservatively in the front. The "old guard" never wanted any thing out front, every house should look exactly like its neighbor. I was told "That's what condo living is all about. We don't want every body doing their own thing." But in the end, according to the "green book" we do have a little space to display our individualism. No pink flamingos or little girls bent over with their panties showing, though.
I went to Yarmouth today. The rocks along the way, which do change with the seasons and the humidity, are pale and dry. Greenery is coming up on the roadside. Last year's cattails and red berry bushes are falling down to fertilize this year's crop. But everything is critically dry because we didn't get snow on the mountains to bring the spring run-off. The "peepers" have found their vernal pools are deep enough to sustain them, and tonight as the last few nights they are singing their wooing songs. The cardinals are out every morning calling to each other. One near me and one further off to the east. I don't know if they are marking their territory or attracting a mate. I try to imitate thier whistle and sometimes it is near enough to confuse them. I know that because they send me mixed signals in reply. Yesterday as I stood out back a huge black bird went over my head. His huge wings were flapping laboriously. He let out several raucous calls. I think he is a goose of some variety and I remember seeing one last year about this time. I know he (she?) is not a Canada Goose and I know it wasn't a wader. No long legs. Out of sight in a flash. Even the dog looked up. Dog walkers, baby carriage pushers, marathoners, bicyclists - welcome Spring. Maine's a great place to be this time of year.
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
I went to Yarmouth today. The rocks along the way, which do change with the seasons and the humidity, are pale and dry. Greenery is coming up on the roadside. Last year's cattails and red berry bushes are falling down to fertilize this year's crop. But everything is critically dry because we didn't get snow on the mountains to bring the spring run-off. The "peepers" have found their vernal pools are deep enough to sustain them, and tonight as the last few nights they are singing their wooing songs. The cardinals are out every morning calling to each other. One near me and one further off to the east. I don't know if they are marking their territory or attracting a mate. I try to imitate thier whistle and sometimes it is near enough to confuse them. I know that because they send me mixed signals in reply. Yesterday as I stood out back a huge black bird went over my head. His huge wings were flapping laboriously. He let out several raucous calls. I think he is a goose of some variety and I remember seeing one last year about this time. I know he (she?) is not a Canada Goose and I know it wasn't a wader. No long legs. Out of sight in a flash. Even the dog looked up. Dog walkers, baby carriage pushers, marathoners, bicyclists - welcome Spring. Maine's a great place to be this time of year.
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
Monday, March 19, 2012
Good bye, Winter
In the wee hours of Tuesday a.m. (tomorrow, Eastern Daylight Time) Winter will pack it in, making way for Spring to officially begin. We will hardly notice the difference as we are having unusually warm weather as I write this, and Winter was as easy as I remember in my lifetime. Today I noticed the little white croci are in bloom in the front garden plot.
I have heard and seen robins for the last couple of weeks and the cardinal which hangs around all winter is staking a claim on the topmost bare branches of the oak tree next door. He sits up there whistling and warning, and another across the street answers. Fun to imagine what they may be saying to one another.
WHen I put Nick out this morning I could hear the hen turkeys chirping across the street between #s 28 & 29. I have not seen or heard the Tom this spring. Could it be that he doesn't realize his ladies are waiting for him? I think there are six or eight hens in the resident "rafter."
I would be headed for the beach about three miles away to take walk with Nick, but my printer is down and I am waiting to hear from the repair man to call me back.
For some reason, practically in the middle of a job, it will not print what I write. I love this equipment when it works, but when it is "fritzy" I wonder if there is any way I can manage without it. A great nuisance when it is down.
AH, 75 degrees on the patio. I out of here. Happy Spring!
I have heard and seen robins for the last couple of weeks and the cardinal which hangs around all winter is staking a claim on the topmost bare branches of the oak tree next door. He sits up there whistling and warning, and another across the street answers. Fun to imagine what they may be saying to one another.
WHen I put Nick out this morning I could hear the hen turkeys chirping across the street between #s 28 & 29. I have not seen or heard the Tom this spring. Could it be that he doesn't realize his ladies are waiting for him? I think there are six or eight hens in the resident "rafter."
I would be headed for the beach about three miles away to take walk with Nick, but my printer is down and I am waiting to hear from the repair man to call me back.
For some reason, practically in the middle of a job, it will not print what I write. I love this equipment when it works, but when it is "fritzy" I wonder if there is any way I can manage without it. A great nuisance when it is down.
AH, 75 degrees on the patio. I out of here. Happy Spring!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
LEO ROARS
March first brought the third snow of the whole winter season in this area. And it came by the shovelfull. About a foot landed on patio over the course of 24 hours. My thoughtful neighbor shoveled about half of it, making huge hills which my "wonderful Wheaton" played "King of the Hill " of for a little while this afternoon. Not a lot of fun in that game without a challenger, but he enjoyed himself . I could not leave him out there very long because yesterday he went to get his spring shearing.
Now the wind howls and the plows are beeping as they clean out the driveways. It is early Tuesday a.m. so the shovelers will be around before long to make short work of the clean up. Rain is due on Saturday which might take care of it anyway.
In like a lion and out like a lamb, we can hope by April Fools' Day we will see the bare ground, which was bare until today, and the spring flowers will begin to come up again - for the second time if we are lucky. I am not sure what a snowless winter does to them. Some were already up quite a bit, crocuses (croci?) were blooming, the robins have been returning, and I heard the cardinals calling across the tree tops to one another.
The nice thing is the sun is higher inthe sky so all will be right again soon, and come 90 degree weather in July and August we will be wishing we had some of this snow again. RIght now, we are wishing "hurry summer."
Heating oil is over $4.50 a gallon; gas for the car is $3.80, closing in on $4 a gallon. Watch out, south of the Mason Dixon, we're all comin' just like you asked us to.
Now the wind howls and the plows are beeping as they clean out the driveways. It is early Tuesday a.m. so the shovelers will be around before long to make short work of the clean up. Rain is due on Saturday which might take care of it anyway.
In like a lion and out like a lamb, we can hope by April Fools' Day we will see the bare ground, which was bare until today, and the spring flowers will begin to come up again - for the second time if we are lucky. I am not sure what a snowless winter does to them. Some were already up quite a bit, crocuses (croci?) were blooming, the robins have been returning, and I heard the cardinals calling across the tree tops to one another.
The nice thing is the sun is higher inthe sky so all will be right again soon, and come 90 degree weather in July and August we will be wishing we had some of this snow again. RIght now, we are wishing "hurry summer."
Heating oil is over $4.50 a gallon; gas for the car is $3.80, closing in on $4 a gallon. Watch out, south of the Mason Dixon, we're all comin' just like you asked us to.
Friday, January 20, 2012
It's a white world -----
BRRR-
White everywhere. Trees cloaked in white robes; street, patio, dog run all buried in another four to five inches. Small annoying storms that make it hard to keep up with the cleaning up.
Ground crew came beeping around early; shovelers arrived a little later to do door ways and hydrants. Of course, they followed up with buckets of sand liberally mixed with a brand of rock salt that came straight from Siberia and never made it through the grinding process. Chunks as big as the Hope Diamond.
Jenny the next door collie came to visit. Nick, eager to play, did some fancy footwork and scared her off. Then he barked to get her back but she was having none of his nonsense. She is a B-I-G dog. Her keeper tells me she has lost 40 pounds since she came just before the holidays. The dog, that is, not the keeper.
Prediction: more snow Saturday during the day. Not quite ready to call foul yet, but I would be happier with one good storm which everyone expects to deal with, then these pesky every-other-day showers.
Don't blame the weatherman. He just lives in his little cubby hole reading his isobars and dreaming of a really spectacular event. Go, Joe Cupo!
White everywhere. Trees cloaked in white robes; street, patio, dog run all buried in another four to five inches. Small annoying storms that make it hard to keep up with the cleaning up.
Ground crew came beeping around early; shovelers arrived a little later to do door ways and hydrants. Of course, they followed up with buckets of sand liberally mixed with a brand of rock salt that came straight from Siberia and never made it through the grinding process. Chunks as big as the Hope Diamond.
Jenny the next door collie came to visit. Nick, eager to play, did some fancy footwork and scared her off. Then he barked to get her back but she was having none of his nonsense. She is a B-I-G dog. Her keeper tells me she has lost 40 pounds since she came just before the holidays. The dog, that is, not the keeper.
Prediction: more snow Saturday during the day. Not quite ready to call foul yet, but I would be happier with one good storm which everyone expects to deal with, then these pesky every-other-day showers.
Don't blame the weatherman. He just lives in his little cubby hole reading his isobars and dreaming of a really spectacular event. Go, Joe Cupo!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Winrter has come
We are midway through January 2012 and winter has come to Maine at last.
In the form of snow and various outher precips depending on where you are, and deep cold descended from across the country. Although, as we are really about as far north as you can go in the contiguous states, I suppose it didn't descend, simply pushed.
Today the sun rose brightly, sparkling over the ocean which was gloriously blue, making blue shadows on the snow as it crossed from east to west and went down with a lovely warm red.
But the temperatures, in spite of the sun, did not get out of the low teens in the Scarborough area. I made a short trip to the Maine Veterans' Home, as I do every Sunday, and then to the grocery store for a fresh salad, and dog food, and it was bitterly cold just going from my car to the buildings and back to the car. I put on a coat. Now you might think that an odd note, but I do not wear a coat much of the time. I carry one in my car - just in case I have to get out - but seldom wear it. Today I got out my heavy wool topcoat and was glad for it. Tomorrow I may hunt up a scarf if the temperature stays low.
There is a pond - I have been told it is an acre in size - which is part of our community property. All winter it has been open and frequently there have been ducks and geese resting in it. Today it is frozen solid for the first time. Because of insurance issues, no one uses it , but it looks like it would be a perfect place for a leisurely skate; no hockey allowed!
I heard a crow this morning which was hoarse. His gravelly caw had me looking to see if I could see him; I could not. But he sounded really distressed. Poor crow.
As I looked out tonight I saw that the snow has a hard glistening crust. When I was young my mother and I used to walk to my grandmothers across a pasture land which had such a hard deep crust, we could walk on it without sinking in. Good thing, that, because there was at least 18 inches of snow under the crust. The area beside my bedroom looks like it is covered with boiled frosting. Ummmm.
Maine is deep in winter. The turkeys are deep in the woods. The foxes are in their dens. Not even the squirrels came out today.
Tomorrow will be another day for most of us.
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
In the form of snow and various outher precips depending on where you are, and deep cold descended from across the country. Although, as we are really about as far north as you can go in the contiguous states, I suppose it didn't descend, simply pushed.
Today the sun rose brightly, sparkling over the ocean which was gloriously blue, making blue shadows on the snow as it crossed from east to west and went down with a lovely warm red.
But the temperatures, in spite of the sun, did not get out of the low teens in the Scarborough area. I made a short trip to the Maine Veterans' Home, as I do every Sunday, and then to the grocery store for a fresh salad, and dog food, and it was bitterly cold just going from my car to the buildings and back to the car. I put on a coat. Now you might think that an odd note, but I do not wear a coat much of the time. I carry one in my car - just in case I have to get out - but seldom wear it. Today I got out my heavy wool topcoat and was glad for it. Tomorrow I may hunt up a scarf if the temperature stays low.
There is a pond - I have been told it is an acre in size - which is part of our community property. All winter it has been open and frequently there have been ducks and geese resting in it. Today it is frozen solid for the first time. Because of insurance issues, no one uses it , but it looks like it would be a perfect place for a leisurely skate; no hockey allowed!
I heard a crow this morning which was hoarse. His gravelly caw had me looking to see if I could see him; I could not. But he sounded really distressed. Poor crow.
As I looked out tonight I saw that the snow has a hard glistening crust. When I was young my mother and I used to walk to my grandmothers across a pasture land which had such a hard deep crust, we could walk on it without sinking in. Good thing, that, because there was at least 18 inches of snow under the crust. The area beside my bedroom looks like it is covered with boiled frosting. Ummmm.
Maine is deep in winter. The turkeys are deep in the woods. The foxes are in their dens. Not even the squirrels came out today.
Tomorrow will be another day for most of us.
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Advent, Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year
Maine usually has "winter" by now, but here we are in the last throes of December, but here we are in Scarborough with no snow; green grass, and bare roads. Of course, it's not the first time, but it's not the norm.
ADVENT, the days leading up to Christmas can be anywhere from 22 to 28 days depending on the calendar. I have an Advent Calendar which has only 24 places to count down the days. Someone didn't do their homework. Advent is the preparation for Christ's birth. Variously a time of fasting, penance, self-reflection, and for churches to baptize and welcome members into the church.
It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, which is the Feast of St. Andrew, and of course, the eve of Christ's birthday ends the period. Our churches in Maine honor the Advent Season with special services and musical presentations.
The Portland Symphony does a wonderful Pre-Christmas Concert - "The Magic of Christmas" - featuring Handel's Halleluia Chorus and many other traditional and lesser known pieces.
WINTER SOLSTICE is the shortest day and longest night of the year. To me it is an astronomical event which heralds the lengthening of daylight. It is the day that the sun is the nearest in it's orbit to earth, and actual "solstice" lasts only a moment in time. To some cultures, such as Wiccans, it is a significant day in their religion. It is not recognized as a "holy day" or holiday in this country.
As I write this, Christmas has already come and gone. But Christmas is universally accepted as the time of Christ's birth and whether you are Christian by faith or not, I think you would have to agree, Christ was the most influential being ever to walk the earth. I heard an atheist speak today who would disagree that the influence was all good, but I believe in Christ's goodness and beneficience. Christmas is a joyous and beautiful Holy Day.
NEW YEAR - YES, January 1, 2012 begins a new year. We all know what has gone in 2011, but we don't know what is in store for 2012. SO what can I write? I can refer you to my other blog, MUSICLIFE, which is about Auld Lang Syne and New Years celebrations. I can tell you I wish you a very happy, healthy and peaceful year, which is traditional. I can also wish you great prosperity. Not in the financial sense, although that would be good, too, but in the literal definition, which is to bloom, grow, luxuriate; to flourish and become successful. I guess that is the best I can do regarding 2012. So from Maine -
ADVENT, the days leading up to Christmas can be anywhere from 22 to 28 days depending on the calendar. I have an Advent Calendar which has only 24 places to count down the days. Someone didn't do their homework. Advent is the preparation for Christ's birth. Variously a time of fasting, penance, self-reflection, and for churches to baptize and welcome members into the church.
It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, which is the Feast of St. Andrew, and of course, the eve of Christ's birthday ends the period. Our churches in Maine honor the Advent Season with special services and musical presentations.
The Portland Symphony does a wonderful Pre-Christmas Concert - "The Magic of Christmas" - featuring Handel's Halleluia Chorus and many other traditional and lesser known pieces.
WINTER SOLSTICE is the shortest day and longest night of the year. To me it is an astronomical event which heralds the lengthening of daylight. It is the day that the sun is the nearest in it's orbit to earth, and actual "solstice" lasts only a moment in time. To some cultures, such as Wiccans, it is a significant day in their religion. It is not recognized as a "holy day" or holiday in this country.
As I write this, Christmas has already come and gone. But Christmas is universally accepted as the time of Christ's birth and whether you are Christian by faith or not, I think you would have to agree, Christ was the most influential being ever to walk the earth. I heard an atheist speak today who would disagree that the influence was all good, but I believe in Christ's goodness and beneficience. Christmas is a joyous and beautiful Holy Day.
NEW YEAR - YES, January 1, 2012 begins a new year. We all know what has gone in 2011, but we don't know what is in store for 2012. SO what can I write? I can refer you to my other blog, MUSICLIFE, which is about Auld Lang Syne and New Years celebrations. I can tell you I wish you a very happy, healthy and peaceful year, which is traditional. I can also wish you great prosperity. Not in the financial sense, although that would be good, too, but in the literal definition, which is to bloom, grow, luxuriate; to flourish and become successful. I guess that is the best I can do regarding 2012. So from Maine -
PEACE, GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS, and PROSPERITY TO YOU IN 2012.
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