Puppy Love

Puppy Love - Peruvian nino

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That’s What Friends are For

Good buddies - Jackson & Molly

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Three Bums

Three Bums

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Oh Boy! Here comes Mom

Here comes Mom. Oh Boy!

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You rang?

You rang?

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Poor Duffy

When Molly arrived on our farm, she became our little princess..  and we spoiled her rotten. :D, but oh poor Duffy put up with so much abuse that he always took in good stride.  Whadda guy!

Poor Duff

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Rosemary for remembrance

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the lovliest herbs and one that takes well to the kitchen sill when the white drifts cover the land and one of my favorites.

Along with basil and thyme, rosemary is a staple in my kitchen…and a fine culinary herb.

Although it is a perennial in the Mediterranean countries from which it came, it will stand cold but not freezing temperatures, so here in the north,  it needs to be brought indoors to overwinter.  It’s a plant that’s reminiscent of the holiday season.. deep green with sort of a miniature Christmas tree look and marvelous balsam scent.  If your really lucky it will bloom for you about the third year, but if it doesn’t flower for you, it’s okay.  Just the fragrance of this plant is a joy, whether at the season of good will or any other month of the year…it’s scent is so haunting.

Along the  Italian coastline  rosemary grows everywhere and sizeable…so large, that women still drape their freshly washed sheets over the large bushes to dry. Still known as  ‘dew of the sea’  is said to be endowed with many virtues.  Long ago rosemary and juniper berries were burned to purify the air, and sometimes used as a tea to allay headaches or smoked in the hopes of curing asthma. and an herb that  strengthens memory.  Rosemary..  for remembrance.

As I  took my cuttings from my mother rosemary plant for this years garden I was reminded of many gardening days gone by and good friends.  And one such friend just sent us a crate of sunny  oranges from Florida that I made into a delcious rosemary orange marmelade. Yum!

Rosemary orange marmelade

Whatever you grow in your garden this year, try including rosemary.  You’ll never want to be without it again. Happy gardening!

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Buoys of Monhegan

Buoys of Monhegan

We spend much time on Monhegan Island, two hours out of Boothbay Harbor  via ferry boat..  another  boy of  Monhegan is Keegan …  the skipper’s pup, who oversees passengers onboard.

Skipper's Pup- Keegan

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Snowy face

Snowy face Jackson

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Moody Day and winter grumbles

Barring a nor’easter, I usually walk every morning.  My route… typically along Footbridge Beach. A beautiful section of our coastline that will take me to Ogunquit.  Seldom do I see other passersby, and I prefer it this way… I start out at Footbridge and cross over the sand dunes to follow the pass that will take me to the beach.

Footbridge Beach- Ogunquit

It’s easy to see more foot traffic has passed through this past week and I’m glad to not have to put on boots to trod through the snow, but bundled up for the hefty winds blowing through today.

Footbridge

Was it any surprise that Punxatawney Phil forecast six more weeks of winter?  It certainly wasn’t for me, even though I am more than ready for spring!  Still, we in the north have to think long and hard what we like about winter.  For me, one thing is  the solitude of having the beaches mostly to myself.  I can plan my day, sort out my thoughts and just enjoy the beauty around me as I walk along.

But as I approached the bridge today, something had changed. A new sign had been posted… “This bridge is temporarily closed due to structural integrity issues”.  I’m so bummed as this is my favorite walking route.  This bridge is one of the three principal access routes to Ogunquit Beach bringing  much in revenues for the town each summer through our tourist season.  I know it will be repaired in time.. but now I needed to alter my route.  So back in the car I climb and head on over  to Moody  further north but ending up on the same long 4 mile stretch of sand.  So I walked along grumbling to myself all the way, praying Punxatawney Phil was mistaken.. and that my fave bridge will be repaired very soon! Looks like I’m back to boots for a while 😦

Moody Beach - Ogunquit

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