Halloween 2009

Ethan and his buddy Adam as Mad Scientist and lab assistant Igor (note the abnormal brain in the jar) for Halloween this year. They scored lots of candy. Too much candy. If you need a fix, come on by.

Granite Water Sky Family

Year number four at our rental just north of Ellsworth. We go each year with another family just to play, swim, eat lobster and relax. The rental is a converted workhouse where the hydraulics were kept for hauling and cutting the stone from the quarry. The quarry is now flooded and is wonderful for lounging, bird watching, swimming and critter sightings: frogs, turtles, dragonflies, and of course fish. Some highlights...


The quarry with loungers, swimmers and Jim's daily canoe ride around the pond.


Isabella and our friend Caitlin at the peak of Schoodic Mountain. Just a few miles from our rental. Gorgeous view and a good hike. I highly recommend the dip into Donnel pond on the way down! Gorgeous clear blue water, sand beach and a loon or two.


Maura, Caity, Isabella and Ethan show off their new tie dye shirts.


The quarry, a restful moment.


Jim and Ethan attempting a kite launch on the lawn.

Rockin with moe. at the Ballroom

I took the kids to see moe. at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach last night. I worked for the band for several years and our kids have grown up together and become good friends. About once a year, Ethan and Isabella enjoy backstage passes and live like rock star's kids. Late night, rocking out, dancing, free candy. I have a pretty good time myself.


Come into the light, the music is fine.


Isabella at the end of the show.


Ethan and Eddie taking a break from rockin' out, getting some fresh air at the venue.


Ethan and Eddie dancing.


Backstage with family and friends of moe. Good times, good folks.
(excuse the blurriness, no flash...)

Moody's Diner

Thursday I picked up Isabella at the Rockland Ferry Terminal. She came off the last boat smiling and with hair in dreadlocks. She said taking care of a 10 month old doesn't give you a lot of time to bathe. On the way home we stopped at Maine's most famous route one diner. We had to wait in line, but we got a cozy booth and had a nice chance to catch up on the past view weeks. I am so happy to have her home!

On North Haven

Ethan and Gideon


Blowing bubbles. I think the big kids are having more fun than the little one.


Climbing Ames Knob. Highest point on North Haven.



Isaebella overlooks.


Ethan catches up on some reading on the crossing.

Ethan and I took the ferry over to the Island to visit with Isabella and her charge, Gideon. Island life seems to agree with Isabella. We stayed at The Nebo Lodge and Restaurant, where Gideon's mom and dad are caretakers extraordinaire. The room was lovely, the food was delicious and the service was friendly and professional (Thank you, Andrew!). You can get to the island by ferry (or lobster boat) out of Rockland. 350 people live there year round while the population swells to 1000+ during the summer months. If you go, drop in to Nebo and say hello to Jane, Joe, Gideon and Andrew!

Rock Hopping, Tidal Pooling at Two Lights

It was such a lovely night, we did some rock hopping last night out in Cape Elizabeth.

Jim, Ethan and Sara far off in the sunset.


Jim and Ethan checking out the tide pools.


Me and Ethan.


Lichen. My favorite fungi.


Each tide pool has its own colors and life. I couldn't help but take pictures of these tiny ecosystems.


The light was just perfect to catch the underwater landscapes.


As an aside we were wondering why we found so many listless and dead crabs among the pools. Jim did some research and found that Casco Bay's salinity level had dropped and the immense amounts of runoff due to the heavy rains are adding chemicals and other unwanteds to the waters of the bay. This makes me incredibly sad and more than a bit worried about the ecosystem I have loved and depended on all my life. My pitch for the planet (and these sweet little tide pools): Reduse, reuse, recycle, buy organic and think before you put stuff in your lawn or body or car.

Isabella Boards the Ferry

This is my last view of Isabella as she boards the ferry out to her island adventure on North Haven for the next few weeks. Have fun Isabella! We look forward to seeing you on Jane's family & photo journal. Often, I hope, because the house without Isabella is like a meal without cheese or a day without sunshine.

The Back Door Yard, First day of summer

My experiment continues. Here is the back yard just three months (+two weeks) later. If you recall, I took a picture back in march: the back door yard, the first day of spring. Spring was a long time coming and in March I thought summer would never arrive. It did, in a rather soggy way, but still, what a difference! As you can see on the swingset (don't worry, the kids never use it anymore), we have become the guardians of a nucleus beehive for the summer and hoping the hive survives the winter to become a honey producing hive for next summer. The sand circle is our attempt at luring aliens for Ethan to play with.

Up a Tree

Ethan and friends having some fourth of July fun in the neighbor's treehouse.

Camping in the Rain

Jim and the kids figuring out how to pop up a pop-up tent trailer.

Sebago lake is a beautiful lake and the state park is a great family campground. This year we knew is was going to rain all week so we borrowed a friend's pop up (Becca and Rob saved our soggy butts!) and left the tent at home. Here are some highlights:


A gray lake.


Popcorn experiments just for fun: Jiffy Pop is good if you can hold it over the fire long enough; Microwave popcorn does NOT work at all over a campfire; stove top method is most reliable and most delicious!


Isabella and Ethan around the fire, keeping warm and dry-ish.


Campsite visitors...


A sad and soggy fire. I cheated and brought Duralogs.

June goes bi-polar. But I still love Maine.

One reason I stay. Summer vacation views.

This one is personal. I love living in Maine and usually the month of June is as close to climate perfection as a European descendant can imagine. The trees have leafed out, peonies, irises, strawberries, window boxes, grasses and oh! the roses are all in show-off mode. June normally gets a bounce effect from wet, cold May and many Mainer's still harbor a grudge against winter. June is the sweet reminder of why we stay put. Weekends find every park decorated with posing brides and their matching entourage. It's also pre-tourist season so the state is ours to enjoy until visitors arrive next month. June is usually... delightful.

Reason two. View of Portland from SoPo.

This June has been replaced by her evil twin. She's as cold and weepy as they come. I don't like her.

Are we blaming this unusual pattern on mother nature's reaction to the shrinking ozone layer? Latest research says most likely, and the droughts in Australia and China too.

Another one. The most scenic place to spend a winter afternoon.

What's to be done? Move? There is no place that is safe from a global shift in weather patterns. So, we accept our bi-polor June and muddle through with friends, chocolate and whatever else can appease our need for sunshine.

And one more reason. Maine woods are quiet, full of magic and smell wonderful.

The weather report is not very promising for the tail end of June, so I'll keep these pictures close to hand and hope for sunnier days in July. And eat more chocolate.

"Beauty is a Beast"

Isabella played the kind hearted sister in her school's play "Beauty is a Beast." Her character's name was Honor and she rocked the part.

Plimoth Plantation/April Vacation

April vacation found the Frednardis close to home this year. We did manage to cross the border into exotic Massachusetts for a day to visit the Plimoth Plantation, The Mayflower II and Plymoth Rock. I'm kind of a history geek... not so much on the facts and dates—Jim is my go-to guy for those. I like to imagine what life was like.


The Wampanog settlement and the live characters were a wealth of information about the native people of the area and the landscape when the colonists first arrived. For instance: There are no tree species currently in the area that existed back then. The really big specimens (3+feet in diameter) were sent back to England, the smaller ones were cut down to build settlements. Now the native people get there wood from Home Depot.

The Colonial characters (we hung out with Miles Standish for awhile) were equally as absorbing, but not nearly as much fun. I highly recommend you make the trip some time. Our history isn't always pretty, but it is impressive and valuable as to how we face the future.

Um. This is Plymoth Rock. Really, pretty dull and sadly all caged in under a marble portico. It's right next door to the Mayflower II so if your're there, you might as well go see the rock.

Friday and the flu

Hello everyone of the world! It's the weekend! We made it! And we are not all going to die of the swine flu, or "H1N1 virus". Never have, never will. It's just a FLU. Well, have a fun and rainy weekend.

Bella

A Riddle

Q. What happens twice a year and is accompanied by the most gawd-awful noises and ugly facial expressions?

A. See above pictures for the answer.

p.s. Thank you grammy for your scissor talents!