As I'm reading through a local magazine, The Wave, I run across this half-page article by Chris Wolf about the best method to reheating pizza.   "To get the most amazing crust you've ever had in your life grab your frying pan".   Put it on medium heat, lying the slices in the pan.   When heated 8/10ths of the way, turn the heat off, cover with a lid for around 45 seconds, which melts in the cheese.   You will discover the greatest crust.    Serving suggestion:   cut the pizza into thirds making long slices and place in a small basket.     A great way to use up leftover pizza.

***The first commercial pizza and pizzeria has been traced
to the 19th century in Naples, Italy***

"Above the reach, low clouds sleepwalk across the February sky.   Today they are fibrous, striated, like flesh being slowly torn from the bone.   It's four in the afternoon and already night has stared chewing away the edges of the day."
There are paragraphs like this that a classroom teacher can tear apart when students are working on their polished papers.   This piece contains personification which is sometimes difficult to get across to kids and their writing.​

This story takes place in the northern part of Wellbridge, Maine with the Moody clan and the dirty farming Edgecombs.   It spans from 1907 to 2017 with the characters related through blood or marriage.    The changeable and volatile weather plays a big part in this story.
Edith's husband and two sons went fishing and only one came home.   "This fate epitomizes the Northern Reach's trajectory.   Through marriage and unplanned pregnancies four separate families begin intertwining their lives in the 1900's.   Lawsons marry into Moodys marring into Martins marry into Baines and back again."     There are stories from each generation.
The timeline when beginning each chapter helps keep track of the story.
Often the writing  can be very dark in nature.   Other times are more light-hearted.

As one of the reviewers wrote:  "Winslow is using words as they're meant to be used.   Tossing them together without scrambling, off-handedly dropping them on the page for maximum impact."
I loved this book, marking pages that will improve my writing, while also putting words together that make the scene so vivid it's as you are standing right there.  
​It's a great debut novel.
"This is winter's waking death:  half-light, refracted by grey water and dirty snow, begging the voracious dark to end its misery."

After searching all over Camden and Rockland looking for a place to dine on a Tuesday morning for breakfast we found NOTHING open.    So we hit McDonald's AGAIN.    It happened to be a quiet place where we could talk while enjoying that
​great cup of coffee.

Then I met Doris for a pizza lunch at the Samoset.    No supper for me tonight!    

While Penobscot Bay offered us a fabulous water view lunch there came upon
​us some golf carts...

a whole lot of them!    Those carts with a lovely backdrop and green grasses growing in the front explains what spring/summer is like in Maine ​in 70 degree weather.  

On the way home I drove around Clam Cove, our old neighborhood, and caught a picture of the iris's growing in Robin's yard.   When living there we shared a bunch of flowers with our friend across the street.   It's really spectacular how a little bit of color adds so much to the whole picture.   The day was filled with delicious food, surprise settings and wonderful plantings all around.    I love days like this!

I didn't wake up on this Sunday morning til around 8:00, which is a rare occurrence.   I was hearing some noise in the kitchen and discovered this "mess".

A smiling face greeted me as this guy and his dog friend arose from bed at 5:00 a.m. and began making biscuits for breakfast!    Spencer comes back to bed but Leon stays up after getting jobs done around the house. 

Those biscuits came out of the oven smelling delicious.

The frittata, baked to perfection, landed in the oven after the biscuits.   It happened to be a restaurant type breakfast tasting absolutely wonderful.   We are working on a plan for Leon to teach me how to cook.   Nothing quite as difficult as this meal, but something easier to start my cooking journey.

Met a new friend today who loves RED glasses, as do I!    After chatting for a long time we found out he's from Iowa territory, born in Nebraska!    

Found this red flower painting at the entrance while waiting to make our choice of those delicious sweets.    Encouraged me to come home and get some brushes out to
​design a red flower masterpiece!

Also decided to get close ups of that coffee cup tree.   So original!

While sitting there with a cup of coffee, Megan comes out of the bakery
​and brings this.    My very favorite!

Look at these mouthwatering and tasteful pieces of wonderful.   The peanut butter cup with chocolate and nuts and everything I love in one cookie.

As we were leaving I looked through the mass of cookbooks in the Little Free Library that Leon made for Megan.   I love to capture some of the pictures of great baked goods.    The morning was just perfect, as it always is when visiting Megan and THE ROSE COTTAGE BAKERY!

As the flower garden begins to take shape I love snapping closeups.  

There are constant changes each day and more flowers appear or
​disappear as the days move on by.

The Dogwood tree is bursting with those white flowers.   They are somewhat magical in appearance.   As the garden plants grow together there will be more photos and the attempt at creative endeavors show up!

With Kristi and Mary's visit comes a vacation for Leon and I.  Throughout the week Kristi made the meals that were downright  pleasing to the taste...
​that is every single meal.

Mary, my garden buddy, planted a couple of gardens and constantly pulled weeds all week long.    Such a treasure as the rain comes into the Bausch yard tomorrow and Thursday.    We go out each day and flowers have appeared
slowly opening from the day before.

As we say "good-bye", a great big THANK YOU goes with it!    We treasure the time you spend in Maine with our family.   I always learn something new about my computer or my iPhone or learning about new books.    It's more than fun, it's getting to know what you've guys have been up to and what's making Iowa life as good as ever.     Give my love to all the friends and family back home.     

P.S.  Spencer, too, is going to miss you guys.   He loved getting 
​some special attention.

The girls took a walk along the rocky path to the Rockland Lighthouse early this morning.   This photo, with Marjorie joining them, was a great way
​to start an adventurous Sunday.

In the afternoon we took off for a late lunch at McCloon's, you know our special outdoor seafood place where we dine during the summer.    
Guess what was waiting for us!

We met the Fossum family and dug into a fabulous afternoon meal.   Lobster and chowder and crab sandwiches were just a few of our choices.    The best part was getting everybody dining together.

The after lunch plates were piled and tossed into the trash.   What a great experience this day happened to be.    One more day with family visiting and then they head back to Iowa.   The time has gone by so fast.   

The morning was spent at Rose Cottage Bakery 2 where the welcome sign is always waiting for guests to arrive.

Hooray for this fun-filled Saturday where the temperature happened to be in the 60's and the sun shining brightly.  We met the Bells for our weekly treats!

Megan made sure Leon spent time at the picnic table with a warm blanket wrapped around him.    I KNOW smiling Leon loved it!

Then a ride took place out to Vassalboro visiting the Fieldstone Gardens once again.   It's been one month since we have been there and were totally surprised to take in all the lupins along the way.

Boy, this trip spoke volumes compared to the last time we were here a month ago.

I had to get a shot at that lovely tree among the plantings below it.
It screamed grace and style all throughout the garden.

There again the family posed among beauty we see every single visit.    
​This stop was once again totally worth the drive today.   

The evening meal took place at The Hills in Rockland.   I know these photos are messy, but I had to show you what a delicious dinner we experienced.   From lobster to fish to fried clams to a haddock sandwich!    The day has ended and we are full.   Time to relax and talk about what a wonderful day we spent together.

Let's celebrate DONUTS today!    So we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and picked out one from a wide selection of choices.     

We browsed and checked the flavors out before
​chowing down our donut for the day.

Then we headed off to see TOP GUN.   Here are just a few teasers that appeared in that movie.   IT WAS WONDERFUL!   I would take ear plugs if I saw it again.     Kristi is fixing meat loaf for dinner with a Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper star) Buttermilk Blueberry Puff dessert.   Can't wait to taste the evening meal.