Weekend Adventure

The Coles have gone south for the weekend. We spent Friday visiting with Jon and Erin in Portland. Here we have a picture of us posing at the Portland Head Light. We had a lovely time visiting. On Saturday we went to Massachusetts to visit Bob and Gina. We share a great picture of Bob and Gina in front of their home. The weather was so glorious it was in the 80s. The forsythia was in bloom and the lawns were green. We spent Sunday with Gina's family having an amazing Easter dinner with very warm and welcoming people. This was spring at its best and a great adventure.

Winter Revenge

It is hard to believe how the weather has changed in the past few days. First we had two full days of snow, then a cold front has come down from Canada to freeze us. The high today was in the teens with the wind blowing. Tonight we are told it will be below zero. We knew it was too good to be true to hope winter was over.

Yesterday we went to Bangor for the day, where there was no snow and it was in the 60s. Gary picked up his paintings that had been framed, and we shopped a little. Louise bought ten books to read, so she is ready for whatever the next few days bring as long as the fire wood holds out! She also finished her spring socks on the trip. A picture of them is to the left. The other pictures are of a very snowy Mount Katahdin.

Yesterday we went to Portage Lake again to get away for a few minutes. We drove right in and went inside the camp this time. We took a few pictures of the ice on the lake. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere soon. There is a strange photo here of the shore under ice, but a hole that shows lots of gravel has migrated to the front of our lot. Gary has been painting up a storm and has a painting of the potato harvester we saw at King's Landing last year. We share a picture of it. Tomorrow winter is supposed to return with cold, sleet, freezing rain, and snow. There isn't enough snow left to cause much problem this spring.

Robert

On March 18, 1970, at 1:50 AM Robert Cole entered the world at Cary Medical Center in Caribou, Maine. He weighed 7 pounds, 12.5 ounces and he was 21.25 inches long. Today we reveal his first photograph, taken in the nursery of Cary when he was

one day old. We also have a picture of him at his first birthday opening a gift. In fact we have several old pictures, one of him

enjoying nature in Gar's garden cart, sun bathing in his first pool, and a couple of pictures of Bob, the toddler. Then we have added some pictures of Bob in recent years. What an amazing path this baby and toddler has taken in life, as you just see a glimpse of his adventures. He has been a son, brother, husband, uncle, friend, and fellow conspirator. He has risen to each role he has assumed, and his success is a source of pride to those of us who knew him back then. Enjoy the day, Bob, as we remember. You have touched the lives of so many.

Amazing Weather

Today the thermometer passed 50 for the second day in a row. This might not sound like much to people who haven't lived in Aroostook County, but March is usually blustery, cold, snowy, and in the dead of winter. The sun has been shining every day since we came home from Florida. Gary has been working outside today, and as you can see, he has his hose hooked up. The little shoots are our tulips that are up already. We also have a picture of our back yard looking out into the field behind us. There isn't much snow there. We have clothes hanging on the line outdoors, and a touch of spring is in the air. Life is good.

Early Spring in Maine

In a few days we have settled back into our routine at home. The weather has been great - lots of sun every day and temperatures warmer than normal. The birds have returned after Andy filled the bird feeders. It was warm enough today to hang the wash outside (never heard of this early in March) and a good thing since we have not yet replaced the broken dryer.

Today we took a ride to Portage to see how the camp was wintering. We drove in with the truck, were able to walk around the place, and Gary shoveled off the steps so perhaps next time we will venture inside. It was lovely and quiet up there. There was evidence of deer having been there, but none were there today. We looked for deer on the ride along Route 11 and saw a few in the distance on our way to the camp, but none on the way back.

We took some pictures at the camp to share with you, and also

a picture of the Aroostook River in Ashland with no ice, and a shot of Haystack Mountain with snow on top. It was a lovely day in Aroostook County! There is more snow at Portage than in the Washburn or Presque Isle area, and mud season

has started.

Florida Farewell

It is with sadness that we pack up for the drive home. We will leave in the morning and hope for fair weather for a few days. This has been an interesting two months away from home. We have not done many of the tourist things we did last year, but we have settled in to a full schedule and concentrated on self-improvement and new skills. It has been a wonderful break.

Our hosts, Joyce and Roy, have been there to suggest places and things to do, and help us out, even when we lock the keys inside and go away, or turn off the wrong switch so we shut off the hot water. They have created a wonderful little place that is cute and homey. They are the perfect hosts.

Each of us has stretched our minds and bodies a little bit during this time. The gym has been great for us. Louise is actually comfortable in the pool without her floater. The swimming has a long way to go, but progress has been made. Both of us have developed a routine that makes us feel better. Gary's experiences with watercolor painting has uncovered a real joy and talent. We post here a picture he painted last night, of a Florida sunset. Louise has knit some wonderful projects and discovered a group of knitters who have become friends. Mostly there is an ease of living here, without the cold and snow and coats and boots. You can be active and on the go without the cares of trying to fight the cold. We will return next year.

But now it is time to return to our other life, the friends and family we have missed, and the trials and joys of a late winter in Aroostook County. There are just eleven states to travel through to get there.

Farewell to Cocoa Beach for a few months!