Now that's what I'm talking about

Brrr! Here's to a crisp early morning when taking that first sip of coffee makes you all warm inside, instead of causing you to break out in a sweat. The heat wave is officially over. For now.

We are back from Maine, and a wonderful time was had by all. We met my stepmother in Ogunquit and spent two days enjoying the beautiful weather. My daughter absolutely adores my stepmother, as do I, and they had a great time together. My stepmother adores my daughter as well, but she's not used to vacationing with a very busy 7-year-old. I think she'll need another vacation to recover from this one.

I am ambivalent about being a tourist, and Ogunquit is as packed full of 'em as Disneyworld. The tourists, by and large, are oblivious to the fact that people actually live in this place, and the natives seem torn about wanting to be left alone but being dependent on the cash that is pouring into their little town. The town has a whole fleet of trolleys (converted into gas-powered vehicles) that ferry packs of tourists around and of the four trolley trips we took, 3 of the drivers were frighteningly rude, probably because they spend the entire day fighting for road space from out-of-state drivers who won't let them into the traffic stream. One of the shopkeepers told us that he had been on a trolley last year when the driver pulled over and walked away. Forever. Anyway, it's a conflicted but beautiful town and I want to go back. I can't help it.

The beaches are beautiful and at that point on the coast, the land is very level, so when the tide goes out, it goes OUT a long way. Then the beachgoers spread out and enjoy the space. On the other hand, when the tide comes in, it goes right up to the rocks, and this is what you get:

Sardines.

But we're home now. Sorry to say, while I was away both caterpillars hit the road. I'm going to admre the rest from afar and maybe put out an overripe banana to attract the monarchs post-cocoon.

Chickenwise, all is well. Helen is staying with the flock, more or less, but she still seems to look down on the others, literally and figuratively:

And, though I hesitate to share the news lest it be dashed with another predator attack, we have a third broody hen! What's behind door number one?

That would be Xena, Warrior Chicken, with the crazy eye and the fierce beak:

I went over and stole two fertile eggs from my friend Donna's coop yesterday, since she was away at the county fair (which we'll be attending tonight--it's required when you live in Vermont) with her sheep. Putting the eggs under Xena was no easy task. She lacks the tolerance of Georgia Rae and tried to remove my hand from my arm with her vigorous pecking. Xena is of unknown heritage and came to us after spending a summer in my friend's backyard. She was captured and brought to us and although she fit into the flock immediately, she's not a "people chicken." She's also very tiny, like Portia was, but she's puffed up about double-size now that she's got eggs to incubate.

There was no knitting on my mini-vacation (see "very busy 7 year old," above), but when I got home I did some dyeing, including a small amount of the new mohair/wool fiber I bought for the Twisted Sisters challenge, or whatever Margene is calling it. I didn't want to waste it, so I only took a few feet of pencil roving. Here's the result:

This looks huge, but it's actually only about 10 inches across. I'm a crappy spindle spinner, as I've said, so this is just enough to keep me interested without totally overwhelming me.

It may make a difference where you live, but at least in the northeast U.S., the Perseid meteor showers are kicking into high gear tonight. We'll be on the midway of the fair until late, but hopefully we'll catch some shooting stars on the way home, despite the nearly full moon.

Comments

[trek]

The beaches in Maine ARE awesome!
Did you get any Goldenrod taffy?
The temps are better here this morning, too.
How do you identify a 'broody hen'?

[Carrie]

So jealous. We won't get that cool until about December. This morning at 6:45 it was already 72 degrees out in the backyard.
(I am of course deeply grateful that I do not have to wrestle my Bug into a snowsuit as a result.)
That little town looks lovely. I suppose they could ban all in-town traffic and get more trolleys. The driver that walked away from the job... what would you do? You'd all just be sitting there looking at each other and wondering what to do next... LOL

[Michelle]

It really is an obligation to attend a county fair here isn't. I know I get such a look from people "You didn't go to the fair?" if I miss a year. It just doesn't matter which one you go to as long as you make an appearance at one.. and you know your bond to run into someone you know!

[Jane]

I've always wanted to visit Maine. Even moreso now. And I always want to go up to our mountain property to see the Perseids, and without fail it is cloudy. Today is no exception.

[Laura]

I'm with Trek - how do you know when a hen is "broody"?

Your newly dyed roving is pretty! I just finished some this morning and hope to start spinning it tonight or tomorrow. The 2nd spindle of practicing. I hope it gets better as I go because my 1st spindle of yarn is NOT going to work for socks! heh

[JessaLu]

We rented a cottage in Ogunquit for a week three summers ago - it was my most favorite vacation so far :o)

The air is more crisp here, too - LOVE it! :o))

[Kelly]

Looks like you had a wonderful vacation! The dyed roving came out really nice. Love the colors!

[Debra]

We considered going to Ogunquit. I even got the brochures but the water temp concerned me. Did you swim?