Hard Cider

I was looking through Yankee magazine and was reading an article on a hard cider brewery in New Hampshire when I decided that I just had to get me some. I looked online at Farnum Hill Orchards but couldn't find any local retailers. Sure, I could order some from a place in upstate New York or from New Jersey, but I decided to look a little more local. Blacksmiths vineyard is just up the road a bit in Casco. I have always wanted to check them out but never got around to it. One of my interns this month is from Casco and gave their Rhubarb wine a great review for a novice wine drinker. I went to their website and, sure enough they have a hard cider that they brew. They sell at all the local supermarkets but also at The Good Life Market up in Raymond. This market is an upscale sandwich shop, local food mart, and wine retailer. Mel and I went in for sandwiches and I came out with a bottle of Blacksmiths Rough Cut Cider. This stuff is good. Sweet, and clean and still very much a wine. Not dry or tart like many wines can be or overly fruity like many fruit wines make themselves into. I will definitely be looking for more local hard ciders.

October swim

I had planned on doing this as early in the month as possible. No such luck. October 11th is not too bad I guess. So I thought. It was sunny, with a mild breeze. Just jump in, swim out to the float and come back. Really it had been such a hot summer, I am sure the water was still pretty warm. After all I have seen the mist drifting up from the lake on the cooler mornings so I knew that the lake was warmer than the air. First it was just me, then Jaren said he wanted to go also, then his friend Nick. Strider and Dean decided to put on their suits as well.

Jumping in was breathtaking, it was hard not to climb back out and say thats it, good enough. I forced myself to swim to the float, short shallow breaths. The ladder on the float was slipper from non-use and the top was covered with duck poop. Jaren and Nick were right behind me and I helped them up on the float. Reese was in the kayak paddling back and forth in front of us. I actually thought of getting in the kayak and riding back in with him. I knew I couldn't do that. Now the hardest part was jumping back into the water. It was cold up on the float but memories of the water was not good. Nick and Jar went first and I waited until they were most of the way in before diving into the water. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I guess I had got used to it, it was still cold but I casually made my way out of the water and high fived Dean and Strider as they splashed around in the shallow end.

Morning Ride

Stars fade from existence as the light eases away the darkness.

Angel clouds dance across the sky as it grows from black to pink.

Mist swirls up from the water, apparitions gliding twelve feet tall.

A fish jumps, no, not a fish, as it still sails through the air,

Swooping, darting, lightning fast, how many are there?

Bats fly all around me, as I stop to watch.

Six, ten, hard to tell, dive for water bugs or a drink from the lake.

Uncomfortably close they come as I dodge their manic movements.

Small bodies with leathery wings avoided as I continue to paddle on.

There beautiful ugliness left behind as I disappear into the fog.

On a roll today

I think this is my fifth post today. Not to brag but I just needed to put this down.

After kayaking, then finishing the snow bars, I ordered tickets to see "39 Steps" at The Portland Stage Company in October. I am quite intrigued. The website says there are 150 characters played by 4 actors. Should be some interesting quick changes. I bought 5 tickets, for Mel, Reese, Jaren, Dean, and I. Hope it is as funny as they say it is.

I also installed a light socket in the back corner of the basement where we keep the camping and holiday gear as well as the food racks. It was a little tricky because there was no light in the dark basement once the power is cut and all of the flashlights were dying. I encountered no problems and just the one light makes a big difference.

Peak Organic Beer

After cashing in my returnables last month I looked around in the package store to find something to whet my appetite. I came across this Peak Organic and one of the salesman said he had lots of customers ask for it but no one had bought it since he ordered it. The bottles were a little dusty but there was a four pack of espresso amber ale. I just had to try this remembering the Drew Carey Show and his "Buzz Beer".

The espresso was not that great. Pretty bitter and usually had to force myself to finish the bottle. Luckily I also picked up a nut brown ale which was very good and easy to drink. Not a light summer time ale, it was hoppy and nutty that is a good all around beer. Smooth and refreshing and delicious all in one bottle.

snow bars are done

Finally finished putting up the snow bars that we started ordering last September. We did order in two stages but it still took a long time. It was nice to finish when it was warm out, unlike doing them in snow pants and a winter coat last November.
I actually thought this was on my 1o1 things list, so I was a little disappointed when I finished and found out that they weren't. Darn, I thought I could cross something off again today.

lake death cycle

countless deaths in the darkness
unsuspecting victims.
decay layering the depths
with animal and plant alike.

minding your own business
when life is snatched away.
fulfilling an others hunger
until a bigger predator
repays the favor.

the blackness devours the crime
as the prey itself is devoured.
surviving to take lives
just another necessity.

time moves on
death litters the floor.
eaten by worms and bugs
breaking down the layers
returning life to earth.

Kayaking around Brown Cove

Set out this morning just to do my usual morning exercise of kayaking. I actually hit the snooze a couple times so was up and out later than I planned. 47 degrees by the thermometer and 6:35am by the clock as I was dipping my paddle into the cool misty lake water. Quiet, serene, silent.

Kyle, the falcon flew over head as I passed the middle of our small cove. He perched in a tall pine tree and surveyed Brown Cove. I continued paddling and was enjoying the calm waters and the swirls my paddles were making into the darkness.

I was feeling good and decided to head up to the small inlet connecting Brown Cove with the rest of Little Sebago Lake. I kept close to the shore line and went in and out of each cove. I was starting to think that maybe today should be the day that I went around the entire Brown Cove as it is on my 101 things to do list.

The depths of the lake came to me as I floated on top. Grasses and rocks appeared below me sometimes brushing the bottom of my kayak. The mist drifted by. Loons moved warily away as I coasted past. Dip, pull, swirl, repeat.

Shoulders came into existence as I noticed them starting to ache. Am I half way? How far does this sub-cove go in. A great blue heron is a statue standing in the marsh waiting to grab breakfast. Into new territory I row exploring areas never seen by my eyes. Beautiful old homes and camps once the height of style now run down and in need of repair and paint. Fish come from below to grab the unsuspecting water bugs that are so plentiful on the surface.

Sun is blinding as I head toward it while it is just breaching the trees. Shade and shadows return my sights as I twist and turn around the shorelines. How long have I been cruising? Paddle faster I tell myself, enjoy the soothing calm I tell myself.

Around the final point as I know there is only one more small inlet to explore before I am homeward bound. Faster, pushing, forcing myself to keep pace. Into the final cove I hear the small waterfall emptying our lake into Mill Pond next door. The soothing falls usher me onward as I head home tired, sweaty, content.

working at work

So busy lately, trying to get everything under control for becoming an immunization pharmacist and trying to coordinate with 2 schools on being a preceptor and staying up to date. I never wanted that job that continued when you came home from work and after 16 years, it seems like I have one now. I has made work a lot more interesting, and exciting. I just hope I am doing everything correctly.

cleaning circuits

Mel came up with the idea this morning to do cleaning circuits. We spent 5 minutes in each room on the first floor cleaning, seeing how much we could get done in just 5 minutes. Then we would reset the timer and move to the next room. I know that this is not a new concept but it worked really well this morning. It got us up and moving and on a good pace for the day. We have made several plans for the rest of the day. Now, lets keep moving and continue on this trend!

Books for the boys

Last night I finished reading The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson to the boys. They really liked it. The story was fun and exciting and they liked getting to revisit the Magic Kingdom in Disney World in their heads. It was just a year ago that we were there and it was great to be able to picture where the kids in the story were and jealous not to be there with them.
My dilemma is what to read next. I was going to read How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell because the movie is coming out, but Jaren started to read it at school for a book report. That is okay because I have so many others to read.
I also want to read to them The Rookie by Scott Sigler. It is a sci-fi football/action book based in the future where different alien races are mixed together to play football. It is a great story.
I could also read Peter and the Secret of Rundoon by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. I have read the first two books in the series to them and they are lots of fun.
However I think I am going to slip in a bit of classic literature to them and read them Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. It is short and interesting and definitely shocking at the end.

Shipyard Brewer's Brown Ale

Now this is a good beer. I am sad that it is gone. I feel like I just opened it, and now my bottle is empty. Nice nutty/hoppy taste but not overpowering. Leaves you with a sweet aftertaste and the desire for another Brewer's Brown Ale. Maybe I am biased because Shipyard is a local brewer, maybe it is just because everything Shipyard puts out is great, or maybe it is just because I feel like I needed this beer tonight. You know what I mean. Grab one for yourself and see if I'm not right.

Irma Vep

Mel and I went out on a date Tuesday night. I bought tickets to see a play that I had seen advertised in the Portland Phoenix. The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Portland Stage Company seemed like it was going to be an interesting play but you just never know. We have seen many plays on Broadway and I wasn't sure if seeing something local could ever live up to past performances. The website said it was funny and promised a good time, but of course they weren't going to say that the play sucked and we should come watch it anyway. I took a chance and was able to get tickets in the second row.

It was snowing like crazy when we left Windham so we left early and planned on hitting Starbucks in Portland if time permitted. We were supposed to get up to 6 inches of snow and the way it was coming down it was possible to get more. The snow stopped by the time we hit Portland and we were able to spend a few minutes relaxing in Starbucks drinking our Java Chip Frapachinos. It is about the only thing I get at Starbucks because I love them so much.

The Portland Stage Company was a nice theater. Small and comfortable, and a lot better than a big auditorium. It was great having the hand panted floor and scenery. The play was a riot. There was only 2 actors performing all the characters in the play. They played the men and the women and if someone told me it was directed by Mel Brooks I would have believed it. It was so campy and corny and filled with pregnant pauses and stares. I think we laughed nonstop. It was deserving of the standing ovation and then some

just push forward

Only 8 more hours, it is really not a big deal, then the mind starts to rationalize...

why are you doing this? Its not like you are trying to be completely healthy during this. Is one cookie really going to be noticed? You proved you could do this for 40 hours, do you really need to do it for 8 more? Come on, you and Mel are going on a date tonight, shouldn't you be allowed to go out for some food first? Are you really going to spend your time off from work not enjoying yourself?

There is something about setting a goal and finishing it. Whether it is for a reason or not. Set a goal, accomplish something, start to finish, don't cut corners, do it right.

plasma donation on a liquid diet

Keeping with our liquid diet we had only a smoothie for breakfast before heading out to donate plasma. Thinking that if we got there early we could just get in and get out, we left before the kids woke up. The place was packed. Long wait with some loud people. It took almost 3 hours before we got back home and I was definitely hungry and tired. I made us some corn soup and some coffee.

Was getting grumpy and cranky, not sure if it is do to missing my meds yesterday and today, being on this diet thing or maybe I am just cranky and grumpy.

Only 8 more hours on liquid diet to go.

my favorite new smoothie

Maybe it was because I was hungry, or maybe because all I have had lately are spinach smoothies or maybe because I made it myself (don't get me wrong, I like my spinach smoothies, especially with strawberries or blueberries), but I just made a smoothie with pineapple juice, coconut milk, yogurt, and frozen bananas and it was the best. Yeah, I know, it's almost a pina colada, but I made it, so I crowned it king smoothie for the day!!

It was also dinner for my 48 hour liquid nutrition. I think I'll go make some tea now to round out the evening.

48 hours of liquid nutrion only

Technically I started this at 8:30 last night with Mel. I have, after all, done 4 days and 4 nights with nothing to eat. Of course I was not expending too much energy at that time either, just praying and meditating for guidance. This is different because I expect myself to keep doing things and not just sit around.

Breakfast was coffee and a green smoothie. (spinach, strawberries, and maybe bananas.)

By 10:30 this morning I was pretty hungry. I knew this would happen because your body is wanting its routine meal, I had a cup of juice and Mel and I went out to get supplies to survive the next 40 hours.

The grocery store was very difficult, just looking at the food made my stomach rumble. We got some assorted juices and some veggies, along with some Bolthouse Farms- Perfectly Protein all natural liquid drink stuff.

Had a red-pepper soup for lunch along with a cup of Bolthouse.

It is 2 now. I am still hungry.

sebago Frye's Leap IPA

I am not sure why I picked up a six of Sebago's IPA. Maybe it was because of the Frye's Leap reference bringing back childhood memories of friends, boating, and leaping. I ended up getting my first surgery due to a torn rotater cuff because of jumping off Frye's Leap. But that is another story.

I am not usually a pale ale person, I typically like my beer richer in flavor than just hoppy as some IPAs can be. This IPA, however is not hoppy at all. Not in smell or flavor. It is just bitter. If I do want a lighter flavor beer, I want it to be refreshing. Something to cool you off and be lip-smacking after working outside in the hot summer sun with dirt and grime clinging to your neck and arms.

This beer just leaves me wanting something else and instead of me grabbing my beer bottle and thinking "What! I finished it already?!?!" , I end up grabbing it thinking "do I really still have half a bottle left? Should I just dump this and get some water?"

decisions...

Trying to cut back,spending too much

wanting to be with my wife

experiencing new togetherness.

Opportunities arrive

but at a price.

Decisions to make.

Taking a chance,

I hope it is worth it.

Stop being so selfish.

Money saved and stashed,

for the guys weekend or a kayak.

She is worth more than that,

a thousand times over.

Throwing cushions (caution) to the wind,

for a night out together.

Ice wine

wine critique 2

The other wine that I bought while in Canada was an ice wine. Hernder estate Iced Strawberry to be exact. It is labeled as a sweet fruit wine. It tasted like the frozen drink mix before adding water to it. It was good but very sweet, almost thick. I don't think I would get this again or if I did I would mix it with frozen fruit and ice to thin it down.

Wedding date

Mel and I went to Ashley and Bucks wedding yesterday. We had a nice time but it was soooo cold. Getting from the car to the church and then to the reception was freezing. Poor Mel with her dress on was freezing her little legs off. Then at the reception we were in the back corner (of course) right next to a door with a really bad draft. Our toes were freezing and the band didn't start for several hours so there wasn't even any music to dance to.
It was long but nice, there was a homemade photo booth there with costume hats to wear for silly pictures. That was a lot of fun.