Looking Ahead to Winter

          The fall has come and gone. Winter arrived early with snow storms and cold weather. We have been kept busy this fall dealing with health issues, and getting ready for winter. This winter we are not going to Florida, so the blog will record an Aroostook winter. The firewood is stored in the cellar, and winter is well underway.
          Thanksgiving was not a celebration this year as we were ill with colds, and did not cook and celebrate. However, Bob, Gina, and the kids came to visit for a few days before Thanksgiving. We spent some time with grandchildren, but will not show pictures of Meghan having her hair done. Instead we have Jess, Alex, and Bridget just having a good time:

Bob made a brief visit to the camp and the lake, where winter ice was already visible.

 

We have had several snow storms already, and Gary is steadily shoveling snow.

This morning we went over snow-covered roads to Caribou to go swimming. The sun was shining and it looked like a lovely day. Before we came home a snow squall set in that lasted long enough to add more snow to the accumulation, and reduce visibility to nearly zero. Then the wind started to blow harder.

Here you can see the snow storm approaching.

Another picture with Caribou Lake and the gazebo in front of it.

Here we have a view of the Caribou Lake Road in its usual winter condition.

One lonely birch tree standing in the wind and snow.

The most comfortable place in the house is right by the fireplace. Louise has piles of yarn in partly-completed projects waiting to become Christmas gifts. In fact there are three more sweaters made, but they are Christmas gifts so the photos will come after Christmas. Stay tuned to the story of an Aroostook winter.

The Knitting Retreat

 

With Mt. Katahdin in the distance, about 40 knitters from at least three different countries gathered at the New England Outdoor Center for three days of knitting, talking, eating, and visiting. Most of the people attending had been in the same place last year. The conversations were loud, the fun was great, and the food was incredible. Louise was one of the attendees.

This is the cabin where Louise, Jackie Pribble, and Ann Bragg spent the weekend.
The highlight for each of them seemed to be the dying workshop they took. Each one dyed a skein of sock yarn in their own choices of color.

Here is Louise adding dye to the sock yarn she space dyed.

Here is the finished product after baking it in an oven for an hour, and allowing it to dry for about 24 hours. It is ready to be rolled into a ball and knit.

Knitters gathered in the main lodge for endless knitting and talk, only interrupted by meals.

On Saturday the weather cooperated so the knitting went outdoors. Here are Louise. Jackie, and Ann with another knitter getting some fresh air.

Even a campfire was built so some knitters could enjoy the smoke with the fresh air.
Vendors came from all over Maine to sell their wares from buttons to yarn to bags to alpaca socks.  A banquet was held on Saturday night with door prizes, laughter, and lots of fun.

When Sunday came, people left for home with three days of good memories and the plan to return again next year. Meanwhile they will knit up the yarn they bought and wear the items they make to next years event.

 

Indian Summer

What a great few days we had! Sunday at Portage was 85, and people were on the beach. The fall leaves are just beautiful!

 Look at the color on that hillside across the lake - fall at it's peak!

Of course Louise enjoyed the warm weather knitting in the sun.

The leaves are falling and crunching underfoot. What a beautiful time of year.

Believe it or not, we had people in the lake enjoying the water on Saturday. Andy joined us to do some work at the camp, and one of his co-workers was out looking at the leaves and stopped by for a visit. The kids loved the lake!

The trees are at their best and as we turn to colder weather we have the memory of the past few days.

Gary has been working on cracked and broken windows. He has replaced five panes of glass and is caulking and painting.

We leave you with this picture taken on the Parson's Road coming toward Washburn.

Tomato Season

Harvest is here and in our garden it is time to do something with the buckets of tomatoes. No one would believe the number of beautiful tomatoes we have harvested from four plants! We have four plants of large tomatoes, and six of the little grape ones that have also produced by the basket full. Yesterday we decided to turn some of these red gems into tomato sauce. Of course Louise took the camera and recorded the process!

Here we see some of the bounty!

First they have to be dipped in boiling water to remove the skins, and then cooled in cold water.

Chopped onion, carrots, celery, green pepper and garlic are cooked in olive oil.

Next we chop those tomatoes and add them. This cooks down for several hours.

Here is the finished sauce, ready to be used. We baked stuffed shells smothered in this sauce, for a great dinner!

It tasted so good and was worth all of the work!
One last thing - in the 14 sweaters for 2014 Louise has finished #10 - a little pink jumper for Emily.

Summer Winds Down

August is almost over and it has been a month of lots of family activity. First of all, we have a family picture for the first time in who knows how many years. This is a pretty impressive group, don't you think?

All of the Coles out to dinner in Fort Fairfield. Front: Ryan, Jessica, Louise, Gary, Alexander (in Bob's arms), Bridget, Gina, Emily, and Jon. Back row: Matthew, JoAnna, Andrew, Meghan, Bob, and Erin. Many thanks to Bryce Roix who acted as photographer.

We also have a nice photo of the grandchildren taken at the same time. 

Aren't they a good looking bunch?

The occasion that brought us all together was the Washburn August Festival. This is probably the only time this year that we will all be in the same place at the same time. As  the weekend approached the campers arrived. We had two parked in the driveway.

The morning of the parade the seats filled up on the lawn.

Bridget and Emily enjoying each others company.

Little Alex has just turned one, but he fit right in.

The evening of the August Festival we gathered as a family at Boondocks in Fort Fairfield for a meal.
Here we have Bob and Gina studying the menu while Ryan seems to have lost interest in it. The wait time was long for kids.

Here you can see the little ones at the end of the table. Alex took a couple of walks while we waited for food.

After the festival was over we took a trip to Portage with Jon, Erin and Emily for a couple of days.
Here you see Grampy reading to Emily, who enjoyed the trip.

We actually spent most of the week at the camp, the first time this summer we have been able to relax and enjoy it.  Here we see Emily enjoying her first smore!

Jon and Erin enjoyed their first trip to the camp in a long time. 

Family time is such a great time. If only it could last longer. The grandchildren are growing so fast they change a lot between visits.

The campfires, the soft evenings, the warm temperatures, the calls of the loons make summer at the lake a very special place.

The ducks have been very friendly!

And Louise has finished sweater #9, a red dress for Bridget.

Family Time

The 4th of July today was a family day. Bob and Gina, Bridget and Alex, have been visiting for a couple of days. Jessica and Andrew have joined us a few times, and Meghan and Jo joined in at camp. Today we went to Houlton to Brian's camp and had a family get-together. Lots of visiting took place and new family members were in attendance, babies all over the place!
Here is a photo of the Cole brothers today:

L to R: Brian, David, Ralph, Gary, and Jim.
It has been a exciting few days with the kids. We have been to the lake a couple of times. Here we have Alex, conked out!

Sunshine, fresh air, and lots of new faces were too much after a few hours! Everyone but Grampy got in the lake and cooled off on a very hot day.

Gary and Alex had a fine time together and loved each other's company.
Here you see Bridget ready to go to the lake with her lake hat on:

Jessica was a valuable part of the group both at Portage and in Houlton. Bridget was most attached to Jess.

Here we have Bob and the kids playing in the den:

At home the flower beds are in bloom. Here we have some of our irises that have been spectacular this year.

The flowers beside the garage are in full bloom. Gary added scarlet runner beans that are just starting to take off.

The vegetable beds are growing fast. The hot spell of weather the past few days have made it grown in leaps and bounds.

Louise has knit sweater # 7 for the year, modeled by Bridget!