Fiber College at Searsport Shores

The end of summer brings this wonderful 4-day event at Searsport Shores Campground.  Each year Fiber College brings together countless fiber artists - offers dozens of workshops, free demonstrations, a vendors/ shoppers crossroads, and this year I put in my time at the Dyer's Tent!  such fun, such great people, so much to learn - and beautiful campgrounds!

getting tips from Louise (the Geritol Gypsy) - photo by Cheryl Lawson (thanks!)

Did you know that Alpacas hum??
       this is the girls' chorus

Dr Seuss  says it all:  THIS LIFE IS PRETTY AMAZING

where did the summer go???

it was a busy summer for us - mostly catching up on "house work" that gets left abandoned over the winter.

we happily found a new home for my piano - the one thing that suffers the most from the winter freezes.  7year old Amelia is now learning to play....this makes me very happy!

we had time to visit with lots of friends  -  and lots of friends visited from all over ....from Vermont, Mass, Maryland, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, California and Texas!  The Texans were folks we met last year at a campground on the Florida Gulf.... and they made their first trip to Maine in their 1970's vintage Airstream Camper.  Wish the weather had been better -  they got to see Maine at it's foggiest!

Bob & Patt Avery, Texas

We also enjoyed our regular cast of garden visitors

leopard frogs

lunar moths

momma deer with 2 fauns

and we celebrated Fred's 65th birthday with a day at Maine's FAMOUS pre-Civil War Fort Knox (where throughout its history NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED)

the happy geezer - YEAH Medicare !

It was a great day - beautiful weather - and amazing that after 27 years here we had never visited before

the colors of the Southwest

there's not much to the "city" of Tucson - but some sections are wonderful, especially the Barrio, and the revitalized Placido.    Unfortunately, many of the offices/shops are empty.  But the colors are joyful and exciting and shout Southwest

a wonderful mural at the famous "wishing shrine" in the Barrio.  it tells the story of a love triangle gone bad.
  The murdered boyfriend is the "saint"  of this popular shrine,   (note his skeleton in to mural)  He is said to be responsible for fulfilling many wishes.

Tucson & Catalina State Park

We landed in Tucson - the campground is wonderful, and the weather is perfect.  We're enjoying temperatures around 80degrees every day, and the desert is starting to bloom.  We have a huge colony of prairie dogs that share the campground (the rangers correct us, saying they're marmots, or ground squirrels.... but I know a prairie dog when I see one!)

Fred has countless trails to explore- and I have countless projects to keep me entertained.

surrounded by the Santa Catalina mountains

this little critter IS NOT a chipmunk.... I know my chipmunks!

Each night a good-sized pack of coyotes ran through the campground - howling, yipping, barking.  during the day we had roadrunners, hummingbirds, cardinals and a Vermillion Flycatcher - the first I've ever seen.

City of Rocks New Mexico

Continuing west..... and rising in elevation.  The mountains get closer, and the flat desert landscape starts to change dramatically.  We headed into the City of Rocks State Park - rather aptly named..... since the cluster of boulders really look like a city from the distance.  Reminds me of  "Bedrock" and the Flintstones

heart-shaped rock the size of a house

Ivan & I enjoy the sun while Fred hikes

dried Agave "blooms" 

the campsite across from us

what does this mean ????

west texas & tumbleweeds

It was hard to leave San Antonio - but we packed up and headed west...... into a major wind & dust storm. We spent a couple nights in Balmorhea State Park (texas) while the dust blew, and the tumbleweeds tumbled everywhere  !!  When the sun came out we were able to enjoy the huge panorama of  the desert, with an oasis in the midst of all that sand.  The park is famous for a large spring-fed swimming area.

Let's Rodeo San Antonio

After our friends headed back east, we returned to the Stock Show to attend the evening Rodeo.  What a blast   !!!  Had never been to a rodeo before, and we would go again in a heartbeat.  The competition is based on cumulative scoring - so every night changes the ultimate outcome.  There was a country western music performance every night (included in the price of admission).  In many ways it's alot like our more familiar  Ag fairs - but without the prize vegetables!