memorial day

Our memorial day was spent with great friends just enjoying what Camp has to offer.  Since the addition of the stairs we are now kid friendly...

and of course they always love to "swing" on the hammock...

there were boat rides...

and swimming...

and bonfires...

which of course leads to roasting marshmallows (or burning them - whichever you prefer)!!!

Very relaxing day catching up with all the Maine friends - we went to bed very happy, but very tired, people!  How was your holiday weekend?

the project

Since the wedding is over the amount of projects we do at Camp has dwindled down a lot. We had one more semi-major project left. Sean wasn't there - which was a good thing.

It was a little nerve-racking trusting a perfect stranger maneuvering rocks that weigh who knows how much this close to Camp.

It will be so nice to have easier access to our little beach!!!

We still need to add some erosion control to our little pine tree and to get the moss to come back in that area but for the most part it's done.  When it's completely done I'll post a new picture.

 
I love how natural it looks - like they've been there for years...

rain, rain

stay today...
go away Memorial Day!!!

It's been raining since we got to Maine.  It cleared up long enough for us to get our "project" done (I promise - pictures to come).  I love all the rain but seriously after a winter with 120+ inches of snow is it really necessary?  Why can't all the rain spread out over the summer?  Then we wouldn't have to water and all our flowers (and the yard) would still be beautiful.

but when the frogs are trying to escape you know it's rained way too much...

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Don't worry - no frogs were harmed in the taking of these pictures...

breaking the new toy

You may remember my husband's kids and how they're so fat they can't even fit on the feeder.  Well, we got them a new feeder this year which they have nearly already broken.  I woke up the other morning and immediately looked out the window, as I have eagerly been awaiting them finding their surprise, to find a squirrel sitting smack dab inside the feeder as it leaned off the tree.

He must have seen the rustling in the Camp as I tried to get the camera because he ran off before I could get his photo - and I hadn't even let Duke out yet!  When I arrived at the new feeder to fix it I realized just what had been going on as I was having sweet dreams that morning - that spoiled rotten little guy was sitting in that feeder picking out all the peanuts while he threw the corn on the ground or left it behind.  Funny guys!

happy monday

i hope you're day was peanut butter lickin' good!!!

flying north for the summah

As I sit here in a coat, listening to the neighbor play the bagpipes and dodging hummingbirds I definitely know I'm back in Maine - and it feels good!  Well, except the needing to bundle back up in a coat part - and the leaving all my Texas friends behind.  Then I have flashes of all the visitors we're going to have this summer and all the preparations needing to happen.  How can it be time to be up in Maine already?  It seems like we just got to Texas - or maybe it's that Sean had just gotten to Texas since he spent so much time in the UK over the past winter.

But it is what it is and it's definitely Spring and was time to make the switch - it was getting too hot in Texas, according to Sean.  Me?  I was just getting comfortable.  The trek to Maine was no 10 day boondoggle in the Jeep but was a lot of fun nonetheless.  We flew into Boston - Duke in tow, of course and met up with Sean's friend and brother.

Of course we had to hit our favorite spot in the North End, Antico Forno for dinner.  Since it has now also become everyone else's favorite spot, we couldn't get in until 9 pm.  My solution was to hit up my new favorite, Max Brenner, for a little dessert before dinner.  See what I mean (totally recommend the White Russian!)...

Rich chocolate and heavy Italian food put us right to sleep, which was good as we had a big day planned for Sunday - a 40th birthday party for Sean's friend.

Sean's friend that we stayed with in Boston (who happened to also marry us) got up and cooked us a great breakfast.  This proved to be a good call as it was Mother's Day and you just never know what the restaurants are going to be like.  Then we met up with a bunch of Sean's friends near Fenway for some pre-game beverages.  You guessed it - we were headed for the Red Sox game!!!

After the game we bid Sean's brother and friend farewell and hopped the bus up to Maine with the birthday boy and all the birthday party goers that were from Maine.  We got to Camp at around 10 pm and were so tired we dropped everything in the middle of the floor and headed to bed.

We've already completed our "project" for the season (pics coming soon), cleaned up the flower beds a little, evaluated all the plants that have been eaten by the deer, gazed at amazement that our Magnolia survived the winter, fed the critters and tried to get as much stuff out of the Camp as possible so we would no longer feel claustrophobic.  Once I hear the loons all will be complete and I will officially be "home".

top golf-ers

As promised, I wanted to share the Top Golf experience in a longer posting as it was so much fun and there were so many great photos (even though the coloring is jacked due to the overcast, dreary sky).  In case you're not familiar here's what it's all about - it's like bowling, but for golf.

First you get a card and insert it into the machine and it dispenses your personal golf balls...

then you take a good swing at the ball...

and if you get it in one of the holes you get points...

Each person, or team as we played, gets 20 balls per game.  It's a BLAST!!!  We are all awesome golfers, I must tell you!  Here we are at our best...

Team Susan/Mary

Susan - to get points the ball has to leave the tee!

Mary - this is not baseball!

Team Tamara/Elizabeth

Tamara - you're so fast it doesn't look like you even have a club!

Lizzy - you won for my favorite photo of the day!

Team Sean/Tonya

Sean - hard to believe you didn't beat me with form like that!

Yes, I'm totally a lefty golfer and apparently golf with a smile (I had probably just wiff'd)!

In case you're curious how the scoring turned out...

I totally DOMINATED!  Well, maybe that's going overboard but I did score more points than Sean - and that's always fun!  If you live near one of these (there are even some in the UK) you MUST GET YOUR BOOTY OFF THE COUCH AND GET THERE!!!  Even if you have never golfed in your life this is such a blast!!!

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and in other news - today my bestie turns 38!!!  Yea she's totally older than me and I love it even if she still gets carded at Red Lobster and I haven't been carded in ages.....

we'll have to save the celebrating for when she comes to visit later this summer...

speaking of visitors...lots of action happening at the Maine homestead - gotta get this joint ready for all those visitors!

Next post though will be about our adventure making the move from Texas to Maine.  It was no 10 day vacation but a great time nonetheless.

recap of final days in texas

It's official - we've made the switch to Maine!

The final days in Texas were a whirlwind.  Here's the low-down on the happenings.

May bunco happened to be the same day as "the wedding"so the host themed it a Royal Bunco.  Complete with custom wine bottles, wine sipping from fancy tea cups and fasteners.

This particular fastener was designed by none other than MOI and just so happened to win "best hat"!  Don't you just love my little model?!?!

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Took a trip to Top Golf with some friends - so much fun that it will get it's own post (cuz there are so many great photos).

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Had some friends over for a final cook-out.  Of course Sean bought the most obscenely huge steaks, I made Jelly Shots and there was a little domino action.  If you have not checked out the Jelly Shot Test Kitchen from the list of blogs I'm checking out then you're MISSING OUT!  Get on over there and whip up one of their recipes.  I can't wait for the cookbook to come out!  I didn't get any pics but the ones they post on their blog are way better than any I would take.  I made the white wine sangria ones and the watermelon basil martini - both good but sangria ones were a house favorite!

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I FINALLY HAVE A CURTAIN ROD AND HUNG CURTAINS!!!  I didn't have time to steam them or style them but they're up.  See how they're tied up in this first picture?  They will all eventually be like that - not sure it will be done with twine but nonetheless will be done.  I think they look good - if I do say so myself!  I'll be interested to see if the electric bill is any better with them up - I sure hope so!

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We flew into Boston since we were headed to a birthday party at Fenway.  Duke's food busted open and I'm now trying to get the smell and muck out of our clothes.  The joys of flying!  Not because of the dog food incident, but I'm ready for another road trip!  That was so much fun last year.  Sean hates driving so how can I trick entice him into doing it again???

first photo shoot

One of the exercises for my photography class was to do a photo shoot.  I made politely asked my niece and nephews to be my guinnea pigs.  They agreed, reluctantly at first, but did agree, so I took them to a park near my mom's.  They were great sports and I think I got some great shots.  Meet my sister's children...

Kylie - 18 years old and graduating from high school in a few weeks

Cole - 13 years old for a few more weeks and graduating from 8th grade in a few weeks

Drake - also 13 years old for a few more weeks and graduating from 8th grade in a few weeks (he really got into it and was all about posing for me as for why there's more of him)

Some playing around with "props".

Some group shots.

My ALL TIME FAVORITE shot I got!!!

 
I think it's not too bad for my first attempt.  These are as is as I didn't do any post-editing.