 What one will do to watch the COWBOY'S game when it isn't shown locally! Leon has a plan. Use a VPN connection on a computer to hook up the local station in Dallas. Then hook the computer up to the TV with HDMI cable. Sound complicated??? I have NO IDEA what is happening here.  Then later I walked into the den and found this set up. Stools and table to relax on while the game is playing. Living in Dallas for 30 years, we certainly are loyal COWBOY fans! Leon is a master at figuring things out.
0 Comments
 The day begins to seep through the windows as we pick a place for breakfast. I must say our meals were out of this world and inexpensive. The pancakes sitting there, taking up the whole plate!  The girls headed for the bookstore, filled with fabulous reads and such a wonderful conversation and recommendations from the gal working there. This is her constant companion - one beautiful cat!  Oh, and I couldn't resist buying our next puzzle as there were many sitting around in that store. Perfect day!  Went to another store and found small bags I could use for cash. Only $5! Think I got a bargain.  Our dinner this time happened to be at an Italian restaurant where we sat with much conversation and a great meal.  Breakfast this morning was in Mechanic Falls as the car got parked and ready for the ride home. We parked next to this great looking RED TRUCK!  Made it home and guess who appeared, jumping on the bed watching us. Think he missed us?  Leon, it was one great adventurous trip. Thanks for planning it and arranging the events that took place...  with a great few days along with wonderful friends.
Loved every minute!  Buddies are off our 5th Maine traveling adventure to a place we haven't been to together. This time heading west to the Highland Lake Resort in Bridgton. Where's Rick?  Oh, there he is, wandering around checking the place out. Then Jon joins him to advertise Dave's Diner where we feasted on breakfast.  When arriving at Bridgton, the backyard resort introduced us to wealth of outdoor activities to dive into. Let's see! Helen is playing corn h0le, a game of throwing bags, trying to get them through that hole.  While Bill and Rick enjoyed a game of badminton on the grounds with a painted wall beyond. Then the group got involved in the game of PicWits,  where Bill became the all time champion, winning the game! While Michelle was walking Spencer back at the house, we chowed down on her freshly baked cookies over lunch on the porch. They were delicious and just hit the spot. Thanks, Michelle!  With dinner time nearing we all enjoyed the local pizza place nearby the lodge...  and sat around the fire toasting marshmellows for dessert. It was a pack-filled day of the older folks taking delight in acting a little younger and loving the way we were all healthy and being together. Life moves by quickly so don't miss out on a minute of enjoyment. I wonder what tomorrow will bring in this place we have never been to in Maine.
 Meet Charlie, in the green sweatshirt. He is a friend of ours and has more motorcycles than I could count. A competitor of motocross racing he won the National Championship several times and two gold medals for the USA in the ISDT races! He is the only competitor at one time to have won all his qualifying races and the championship.  His cycling buddies came from England, California, Montana and up down the east coast and met at Charlie's farm to celebrate 50 years of riding those bikes in ISDT motocross competition! Charlie started riding these motorcycles when he was 18 years old, acquiring many during his lifetime.  Here were over 100 trophies acquired. There are many more which Charlie gave away to inspire kids to take up this skill. Hundreds of magazine articles, posters galore, photos taken and t-shirts made celebrated the events! The 50th anniversary was for the "International Six Day Trials", where Charlie was fully sponsored by both Triumph and OSSA. The ISDT is considered the Olympics of motorcycle racing which is held yearly where 45 countries are represented. One races for 6 days, 200 miles a day, in the most grueling terrain. There are time checks where you have to be ON TIME, not too early or late, ON TIME!  WOW! Knees are almost touching the ground during a race that Charlie participated in. How exciting is that?  Congratulations, Charlie! It happened to be one very interesting day for those who ride and those who don't!
 The lovely flowers at the Samoset Resort took my breath away when we dined there on Thursday.  I had the most delicious chicken sandwich with scrumptious fries. I need to get over to the Samoset more often as those fries were to die for.  Here sit the lovely ladies enjoying time together with laughter and smiles. Debbie (second from the left) got this all arranged and we were thankful to see them since they moved to New Hampshire.  Mike was the only guy I got a photo of. He looks just as young as he was the last time I saw him. It happened to be a wonderful evening dining out with treasured friends. Never stay home as time moves by so quickly!
 Jared Grant from Stonewalls, Etc spoke to garden club members about the value of adding hardscape to your landscaping. She informed us that flowers should be planted close together - 8" to 10" apart, making the stems reach for light! And that ragweed causes allergies, golden rod does not. That surprised me!   A couple of great gardening books were mentioned, offering good information. Did you know that you should not cut flowers during the heat of the day? That clippers and buckets should washed with clean water? And that flowers should be cut above the leaf right before its prime to put in vase? Of course, we can't have Garden Club meetings without tasting a bite to eat. Always a treat!  The gorgeous vase along with lovely red flowers made the appetizer table come alive.  You never know what learning takes place during these meetings.
I love always coming home with great gardening information.  Next meal: "Vibrant Cheese Ravioli with Tomatoes, Asparagus and Basil. Looks delicious!  I'm getting the pans ready and the burners lit up. Hope this is going to be good.  My, so many ingredients. Where did "simple" go?  Here is the end product. Doesn't quite look like the photo but was absolutely the greatest tasting ravioli I've had in a long time! Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes. (Doesn't mention clean up time anywhere) Makes 4 portions.  This will become a dinner party feast.
My cooking skills are getting there - slowly but surely!  Cannot go in a store and see those watermelons without purchasing one. They offer a heavenly taste and are low in calories. Just what I love about them.  Some interesting facts about that delectable fruit: 1) They have been cultivated in Egypt more than 5,000 years ago where they were depicted in drawings on the walls of tombs. 2) They are native to Africa needing hot and sunny conditions to thrive. 3) They spread from Africa to China in the 10th century where watermelon is grown more than any other country. 4) Watermelon is a vegetable as they are related to pumpkins, cucumbers and squash. 5) Watermelon is 40 calories per cup and is high in vitamin C! 6) American watermelon producers grow more than 4 billion pounds a year.  Here sits a freshly cut watermelon just purchased today. Sweet and wonderful! Mark Twain called it the "food of angels."
This is my interesting find for today!  The Camden Windjammer Festival takes place this Labor Day weekend, launching its 29th annual maritime celebration. It features the largest gathering of windjammers in the northeast.  Among the windjammers you will find luxurious yachts that motored in for this festive weekend.  The festival offers two days of family-friendly events, spirited competition and nautical activities - a night sail being one of them.  The evening tops off with a fireworks display over Camden Harbor. The summer ends as September arrives and visitors head home. The locals wait for the leaf turning to begin and luscious FALL to make an appearance.
Boy, a week speeds by when the kids visit and we have places to go! Which car will we take?  First stop on Saturday is Megan's for a tasty bite of sweetness and a cup of coffee. Her yard is filled with magic!  Marty is the chef this evening. Great tasting spaghetti is on the menu and it was delicious!  Sunday: Brunch at Jon and Helen's where quiche and other goodies appeared. Helen made three kinds and were they ever scrumptious... along with the flowers that appeared all around. Sunday evening: Janis and Jim came over for dinner.  Leon took over the chef's position, making his outstanding pizza once again. All were happily eating!  Then it came time to head back to Dallas. The week went by so fast as it's such a pleasure having the kids arrive. New places to go and people to enjoy it with on their next visit!
|
