Ice Fishing

I won't lie, this isn't one of my favorite posts. I know very little about ice fishing except that they use Sea Worms to catch Sea Smelts which are only about 7"-9" long. Apparently the Smelts (I want to say Schmelts) are running the river right now, heading upstream to spawn. Why anyone wants to go sit in one of these little huts, for hours on end though, is beyond me.

Look at this girl. Isn't she sweet? She and her friend came down to visit the boys. Awww ... that's love.

(looking left)

As you can see some of the photo's were taken on different days. I went to this spot at least 4 times trying to see some freshly caught Sea Smelts. Each time I went, no Smelts.

"If you come back tomorrow morning around 7:30 am when the tide is high the guys should have some Smelts" so I was told by an elderly man the last time I showed up. Eh, I don't think so.

(looking right)

I was also told to be careful where I walked because the ice was a little thin in places and I could go through. Oh great! Why did no one tell me this before I went out walking around on the ice the last time I was here?

The creme da la creme of New England Bob Houses. ha haa!

You can see what the flow of the river does to the walkway after a week or so compared to the top photo. The next time I went down someone had straightened it back out.

This guy even has a little woodstove in his hut! lol! I got there just as the Amtrack Downeaster train was going through headed south towards Boston. My friend Nancy always takes this train when she visits me : )

I thought this gentleman really personified a true New Englander. "Excuse me sir, what's in your bucket?" No smelts? Dang!




Here is a view from the distance. I think there were around 70 Bob Houses altogether when I counted them. I will say one thing, they are all quite unique! And you'll never catch me inside one!

Getting all domestic on you with a lamp re-do!

Yeah, I'm shaking things up a bit. Lately I've been feeling domestic and like my house needs a little 'something'. It's been neglected for too long. Of course this lamp isn't going to change everything, but it's a start : )

Originally I had seen this lamp over on Donna's blog, An Enchanted Cottage (great blog Donna!). It comes in 2 different colors, green and blue and costs only $9.99!!! Her daughter purchased the Green lamp while Donna chose Blue.

I have nothing like this in my house and as you know I love birds, so I rushed out to the Christmas Tree Shop and searched like a mad woman. Nothing. Finally, there on a table all by it's lonesome sat one lamp, in blue. Not the color I was looking for but, oh well, I'd find someplace to put it. Then I spoke a sales associate and he said they had more way up on the tip top shelf so he hauled out his huge ladder and plucked a green lamp out for me. Perfect! My kitchen has plenty of burgandy and green so I knew this would work.

Isn't it precious? I know, it's needs SOMETHING, right? But what? Joanns fabrics here I come!

I instantly found the trim but couldn't pick a fabric. That's when Hubby came to the rescue. He has a great domestic side and found something within a few minutes. I lucked out with that one ; )



Here are the results:

I like it! Actually I love it! (even though the roping may be a big on the large side) My husband made the lamp pattern for me (you can find a tutorial right on youtube), and it's all just hot glued on! Easy as pie!

Bonus: everything was 50% off!




There's only one problem, I made an oopsie. My plan was to whitewash the entire base of the lamp, but then after I painted one bird and started wiping it off I decided I didn't like it. Guess what? That paint isn't coming off without taking the finish with it! Arggghhhh. So the only thing to do at this point is to add a little more white wash to the rest of the base, which I'll probably do today, to pull it together. I'm sure it will be fine in the end.




And in case you were wondering what the needlepoint looks like that sit's on the wall behind my lamp, this is it. My mother in-law stiched it for us several years ago. Isn't it beautiful? I only wish I could change out the frame as it's a bit simple for my taste, but it will do for now.

I'm thinking I should go back to the Christmas Tree Shop and see if they have any blue lamps left to put in the bathroom I'm painting . . .

I could get used to this

For part of December and January I had the good fortune of working in a beach house I've worked in several times before. It's quiet, no one is there, and it just feels good to go to work in the morning. A few days I even brought my laptop with me to check email while I ate my lunch. What you see above was my view.

The sunsets were to die for. The way the light reflects off the water with so many soft colors of pinks, blues, oranges and yellows. It's something I really could get used too.



While I was there I knew I had to take some pictures to share with you. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I have a couple more but I'll post those later on.

And this was my work: stripping wallpaper, cleaning walls down, repainting the ceiling, woodwork and walls in a more mature theme.

It's not the most pleasant job sometimes, but I'm used to it. And as I say, the view is really nice. Plus I enjoy working by myself. Last week I started painting 2 bathrooms just a couple houses away from this house, so I'm back on the beach again! Hopfully it will be a trickle effect! Anything to keep working!

Still feeling, and Smelling the Love

It's been a week since Valentines Day and I'm still enjoying the bouquet my hubby brought home for me!

Truth be told, the flowers are fading fast this week-end

But I made sure to take a few shots to remember then by, and share. Don't you enjoy seeing flowers on blogs lately? I know I do!

He loves me, he loves me not . . .

He loves me

York Harbor, Maine

I've had the good fortune of working on and off at an Inn in York Harbor, Maine. Usually I'm painting one of the guest rooms but the last time I worked there I worked in the owners apartment. There are large windows looking over the harbor and it's hard to concentrate on painting when all I want to do is sit down and stare out at the water. Of course it's a tiny harbor, but charming nonetheless.

*All pictures were taken last winter (2007-2008) with my older Fujifilm s700 camera

This first picture was taken through a picture window so you may notice some glare or reflection

I can only imagine sitting in that little gazebo over there with a glass of lemonade on a warm day watching the boats come and go. Sweet serenity.

Close by is a nice little inlet I've enjoyed going to on a Summer evening. For some reason I had never really paid attention to this sign before.


If I had, I would have taken this stroll . . .



The Cliff Path winds along the rocks in front of these beautiful homes. Of course I said I would take that walk last Summer, but somehow there never seems to be enough time to do it all.




Thought you might like a view of the fancy, New England style restrooms, you know ... just in case ; )

Swimming in these temperatures you may risk quite a bit! Unless you like taking the Polar Bear plunge!

The end of another beautiful day on the water

Look At ME!

Hey you! Yeah, you! Look at ME! I am the man! The big cheese! King of the Peanut Feeder, and don't you forget it!

How dare you take pictures of me with lines across my face. It's rude and unprofessional. And you call yourself a member of the Bird Stalkarazzi? Hah!

You see this nut? I worked hard to get this nut. Again, the least you could do is take a decent picture of me! This is a prize winning nut!

Everyone! Look at my nut!!! This is the best nut in the whole bunch and it's mine! All MINE!!!



Lookie here you ... you see this nut? Get one centimeter closer and I'll bump you right off this railing. Don't think I won't do it because I will! If I splay my wings out you better head for the hills! And don't be taking all the nuts from the feeder while I'm gone either!



And you think I'M crazy!!!

Up North with the Family

As you may remember a few weeks ago we took the girls up north for the day. I have a few pictures that I didn't post so I thought I would do that now.

We took Route 16 north which brings you up to the well known vacation area of Conway and North Conway. Most of the way it's fairly boring, until you reach this point ...

Yes, you better watch out for Moose! Though we have seldom seen them ourselves, there have been many collisions and deaths from people hitting a Moose with their cars. Usually at night though.

Suddenly after driving for an hour or so you realize that you are almost there! I have always loved this view. Look at all those telephone poles! Holy Cow!

We were all hungry so we stopped at the Yankee Smokehouse first thing, just like Brent and I did last fall, thinking the girls might like it as much as we did. Boy were we wrong! It was a lot of guys in flannel and snowmobile suits. At the time Andria still had multi-colored hair so she looked rather out of place. Everyone was staring. She put her hood on and refused to take it off until after we left. Elise didn't mind it so much but she was hoping we would go to McDonalds across the street instead. lol!

There were snowmobiles everywhere! At the restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, and running down the sides of the roads. I grew up riding snowmobiles and we actually had one until last year, but due to a hectic life there was no time to use it anymore so we sold it. These days the girls would rather go shopping or to a friends house anyway when they have free time.

A beautiful old barn we saw on a back road. High snowbanks made it quite difficult to take pictures of most anything.

Including scenery . . .

On our way home we made a quick stop at Mt. Chocoroa. These pictures were taken from a little park and bridge at the end of Chocoroa lake. A place that would be nice to have a picnic on a warm summer day at one of the many picnic tables. On this day all I did was roll down the window because of the 16 degree temp outside.

At 3,490 ft, it's a bit of a hike, but almost 20 years ago I did just that with a friend and my dog, Norton (what a name, huh?).

It was a hike I wasn't prepared for, neither was Norton. Both of us were exhausted and pretty lame for the next few days. One thing I remember is that there were quite a few dogs at the top. I also remember the view being very scary. Wish I had more pictures to show you because in some places you could look down and it was a straight drop for hundreds of feet. Somehow I doubt I'll ever make that climb again.

Norton passed away in July of '93 at the age of 11 from Cancer. He was a great, great dog and it was a tough loss for our family, but we were so fortunate to have him as long as we did. Looking at these pictures helps me remember his gentle soul and loving nature.