From the 4th to the 9th

Since the farm has been so busy, my sweet, hard-working husband has been just the same. I work when I want, when I can, when I want to help him out. He works all the time it seems. He took two whole days off (in a row) for the 4th (the 3rd and 4th) that we spent with family at my sister's house. We went mountain biking here in Farmtown before we left on Sunday (I crashed hard twice -- big bruises to prove my dumps - was not riding well at all -- never really do when I ride in the morning) and then loaded the bikes on my car for the family fun. I had called my mum and asked her if she needed help to bring her bike to my sister's and she said no very excitedly. She loved my idea of going for a family bike ride because she loves riding her bike. We brought tons of greens, tons of vegetables to kabob on the grill and tons of fresh-picked strawberries I had readied for strawberry shortcake.

On Sunday we hung out, ate, played a lot of ping-pong (it was not a pool day because of the clouds) drank, visited, laughed...and ate some more. Everything was sooooo good. On Monday, the actual 4th, we took our bike ride in Range State Park (my sister lives within a stone's throw to the park). Everyone went except my sister and dad, like the true genetic twins they are, they parked themselves by the pool on lawn chairs. The rest of us headed into the park and did some exploring. We found a remote beach and swam there - then headed for home to hang by the pool. Spent the rest of the day by the pool doing more of what we did the day before, ending the evening by driving to a local farm that makes their own ice cream (my sister's idea). Jim and I were up early the next day (4:45) to head to the farm to harvest and prepare the baskets for the CSA. I spent the rest of the day haying with Jim and Wayne and then headed for home to recuperate and get "back on track" (less drinking - as in none - and back to healthy eating).

Wednesday I road mountain bikes with my best girl and we took a swim in the Carrabassett with the dogs too. More haying on Friday. Jim was free both days this weekend (so fun!!) and we are enjoying an incredible weekend locally. We went up to New Sharon and bought some inner tubes for floating the river, visited the local meat guy at Whitewater Farms and bought some local steaks and sausage and then hatched a pretty good plan. We floated the Sandy from a colleague's house up in Strong about a mile down the road. We had planned on, and dropped a car at, Fairbanks Bridge, but Jimmy's tube got a leak so we beached at this killer spot, drank the cans we had with us, sat in the sun for about an hour then lugged the tubes and the dogs up toward the road. As Maine would have it, we were right in a field where they are holding a Mud Run the 9th and 10th (Sat/Sun) and as we wandered through the guy's property, he asked us what was up. We told him we had a leak in one of the tubes and asked if he minded that we walked through his property to get to the road so we could walk up to our car -- his quote was quinticential Maine, "Well, I think I could give you a ride a mile up the road to your car, I've got a vehicle around here somewhere." We thanked him and walked up the dirt road to Route 4 and as we got to the top this little coup came at us with the passenger door wide open and swinging a little on its hinges, "I think this is my ride," Jim said and I was thinking, shit, I hope he is not too drunk. He took Jim to our car and Jim came and got me, the dogs, the tubes and we were off for home. Al and Barry headed over after their mountain bike ride in Mt. Blue SP - we visited with them and then they took off - Barry had to be up at 2:00 am and down to Portland for a 6:30 flight to San Diego for a conference so they were not in typical Saturday night mode.

I am officially in love with floating the river - we have a patch kit to patch the tube and now know that taking a patch kit and the pump we ride bikes with is essential to a successful float and we will be wiser with today's float. We ride bikes, then we float after lunch - yay! I have a new put in and take out spot - still up in Strong - all Jim, the dogs and I. It is a freaking beautiful day, the birds are chirping, the local sausage and Jimm'y swisss chard is calling my name for breakfast and I am so looking forward to spending it outside with good company and good laughs. I wish I could have had my camera yesterday to capture Jim - he was loving life (until that darn leak) - and looked perfectly content with his big can, his farmer hat in his inner tube with the small, green mountains behind them and the white puffy clouds behind them. Here is to another good day off!

Just before the bike ride.

Love them dearly.

From the "secret" beach, looking at the not-so-secret-super-crowded beach.

The beach where we swam, getting ready to head out.

Mumma in all her side-stroke glory.

Thunderhead near sunset in Poland from where we got our ice cream.

Blanched peas ready for the freezer - yum. We have been eating the smack out of peas and will eat some with our local, grass fed steaks this evening.

On the Carrabassett with Al and the dogs. Unfortunately they just found out Grady (the dog above) has a spinal disease (her legs have been crossing behind her and she is losing all strength in her back end). They will monitor her and when it gets too bad, will have to put her down. So sad. She loves the water - just sits there in it - waiting for someone to throw rocks for her.

Dixie was a typical wild woman by the river - running everywhere. She is 100% in motion here, up out of the river, headed for the riverbank to see what trouble she can find.

Jack-Attack. He sat himself on this rock right next to his Mumma.