Change of season

Maine is trying really hard to find her Spring this year. It's crazy, we'll have a 60 degree day followed by a 35 degree day. I think we all prefer the former at this point. Today started out rainy and gray, and then turned quite lovely. I went for a walk on Mackworth Island with my friend Shayna, who is coming with me to Mexico this summer. The air smelled fresh and when the wind wasn't blowing it felt almost there. That said I'm still looking forward to being in LA where it's supposed to be in the 60s every day this week. Will I get to the beach? Not sure, but you can bet I'll be wearing my sandals!

Gearing up

I recently busted out my trusty old Nikon to take some pics. I've gotten lazy with having this little point-and-shoot on me all the time, but it just doesn't really compare. That said, the pics below were taken on it. Nevertheless, I'm starting to get reacquainted with my travel camera as I am planning some upcoming travels! I'll be heading out to LA this month (that's Los Angeles, not Lewiston-Auburn for the Mainers reading this). Going to visit a not-so-old but very dear friend and catching up with another at the same time. It will be nice to get a change of scene as I've pretty much been in Maine for about a year now. Yikes. Time does fly.

Summer will bring with it a trip to Mexico, my first ever if you don't count Tijuana and Cozumel, which I don't. And the Fall, if I'm lucky, will take me to Africa. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, I've been getting my own vicarious travel fix through the blog of a friend of a friend, who frequently travels to Tibet: http://evdecleyre.wordpress.com/

Another friend recently returned from India and a brief stopover in Lebanon. Her blog was also fabulous: http://newarktomumbainonstop.blogspot.com/.

So here are a few recent pics from the great state of Maine... great despite the fact that we have an unfortunate choice of governor in office now.

This reminded me of my blogger friend Elspeth, who takes tons of pictures of hearts in nature. Here is her blog: http://www.nowiswowtoo.blogspot.com/.

Gabe, my parents' dog.

Paris needs no introduction.

Holy Mackworth

Today was yet another beautiful day. I went for a hike with my friend Danielle, on Mackworth Island and then at Gilsland Farm. The sun was shining and the air was crisp and smelled of the ocean. It doesn't get much better than that. We both decided that Maine is beautiful... and if we could trade in three months of winter for three months of this kind of weather, it would be perfect. But then, what would happen to our reputation as "hardy Mainers"?


There was a decent crowd of fishermen on one of the jetties, apparently fishing for striper.


Trees galore.


The last of the season's sunflowers. Not far from these were enormous ones with heads the size of mixing bowls, so heavy they had fallen over and could only be seen from underneath.

Upta Camp

If you're from Maine, you'll know this is a Bob Marley reference (as in the comedian, not the musician). I visited a friend and former teaching colleague yesterday at his camp on Thompson Lake. It was a beautiful day, a bit on the chilly side actually; the water was warmer than the air. Paris didn't seem to mind. She got plenty of swimming in and even a boat ride. Owning a camp in Maine is the way to go.


Chewing on a stick looking out at the water.


Looking regal on the boat.

The Urban Landscape

So I'm back in Maine! Transitioning once again, so the blog takes a back seat for a bit. Holy humidity is all I have to say. I never understood the difference between dry heat and humid heat so much as I do now. Despite the heat, Maine is a pretty cool place to spend the summer/early fall. I've been spending some time in Portland, wandering, drinking smoothies, and snapping a few shots. This permanent vacation thing is actually a little hard to get used to, but I'm getting there. :)


Outside one of the area's most popular restaurants before rush hour.


Ah, The Movies... a gone but not forgotten landmark with uncomfortable chairs, unreliable sound, but some of the best films around.


Random self-portrait in a boutique window. (One of the few boutiques that hasn't succumbed to the ailing economy.)

Flowers, flowers, and more flowers

Following my visit to the cemetery, I stopped at the local nursery, not to buy anything as I no longer have a garden, but just to take pics. Rows and rows of plants and flowers. Winter in Maine is such a hard season to get through, but then suddenly spring arrives and makes you forget all about that dreadful season that just ended. (Don't get me wrong, snow is beautiful, but winter in Maine is just really long.) So it's very exciting to see the promise of a new season all laid out before you.