my boys

My Boys

My boys make me laugh

Make me smile

Make me crazy

Make me proud

Make me think
Make me pull my hair out

Make me a kid again

Make me adventurous

Make me want to cry
Make me love life and tolerate the hard work

But mostly

My boys make my heart overflow with love

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.