The Growing Season Begins

As we approach the month of May the pace of life grows faster as the dormant winter has ended and new growth begins. This week we have done some gardening. Looking back at last year and the tomato plants that were climbing up the windows, this years production seems pretty tame. We do not intend to get so carried away with gardening this summer, so our projects are more modest. As we surveyed the progress of spring around us, we have photographed a daffodil, a red tulip, the bleeding heart, and buds on the lilac bush. We also have a photo of Portage Lake

without any ice. We have our tomato plants, small but healthy. We have planted cool weather crops in one of the raised beds, and we have a whole bed of lettuce plants enjoying the cool weather. What salads we will

have, despite the snow that fell a couple of days ago. A new season of flowers and gardens is upon us.

Back to the Beach

We have been to Portland a couple of times in the past two weeks, and this last time we drove to Old Orchard to visit the beach. We will always associate this beach with a trip we took many years ago with five children and a babysitter. The story of Jon getting lost is part of our family history. It was a peaceful day at the beach as a few people were ready for summer as they walked along the beach and one brave soul was even trying to get a tan.

Gary spent the weekend with Ryan while Louise went away (to Portland, of course) on a knitting trip. Here you can see a great degree of concentration as Ryan builds his cabins.

Old Sturbridge Village

We have returned home from a lovely weekend and want to share some pictures of a trip we took yesterday. We went to Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. It was such a warm and sunny day. The new lambs were seen in the barns, and early spring work was beginning on this village. Here we have a picture of Gary, Louise, and Bob standing beside a stone wall, a picture of two of the lambs, and a couple of scenic views of the village.

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.