Thanksgiving

The Coles were thankful for the family that came to visit over the Thanksgiving holiday. We ate, we visited, we talked, and we celebrated the holiday. A very large turkey was mostly eaten with all the fixings. Bridget provided one of the highlights of the holiday as she entertained us all. Here we have some pictures of the family gathering.

The Season Changes Again

It has come. We all knew it would eventually. In fact, it is a little later than usual this year. That's right - SNOW. Twice in the past three days the plows have begun their work, and the brownness of late fall has turned white. Here we have a picture of Main Street this afternoon.

We have been busy getting ready for Thanksgiving and family guests today. The beds are made and the cooking has been started. The kitchen smells wonderful as breads and sauces cook.
Here we have two pictures that show the mixture of fall and winter - the changing of the seasons.

The holidays await us.

Knitter's Weekend at Millinocket

Louise and her friend, Jackie, ventured down the road to a weekend of knitting outside Baxter State Park at the New England Outdoor Center. Seventeen women attended this event, and hats were part of the agenda. A local yarn store provided yarn and patterns, while the women in attendance provided the chat and talent. They stayed in new "green" cabins, and went home this morning to white trees and roads.

Beautiful scenery at the NEOC

Here we see Mt. Katahdin in the distance.

More scenery at the Outdoor Center

The knitters wearing their hats on a snowy morning.

Back to the Roots

The Coles are just returning from two days in mid-coast Maine where we attended a funeral for Louise's brother Fred's long time friend and companion. It was a sad occasion, but it allowed us to get together with family we have not seen for some time. Yesterday we visited the old homestead and took a few pictures. It was a lovely fall day and we share some of those pictures with you.

This is a photo of Warren village, along the bridge where the old mill once stood.

This photo is the road coming into Warren.

Here we have the farm looking down toward the brook.

This old piece of farm machinery sits in the lane along a stone wall.

Here is Louise with the old house in the background, as she walked around the fields of her younger years.

The old house, built in the 1700s, still stands.

Louise's brother Fred, and niece Melissa pose for a rare photograph.
There were so many other pictures that should have been taken, as we went back in time to old places and people we haven't seen for a while. Today the weather was terrible, so pictures of the coast were impossible to take. We crossed the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge in rain and fog so dense you couldn't see a thing. It was a lovely still in southern Maine and the colors are still vibrant.

A Family Weekend

Bob and Gina brought Bridget to Maine last weekend, and we have a few photos to share. We had all of the grandchildren under one roof, and a good time was had by all. Good food, good company, good times.

Here you see Ryan enjoying rocking the baby.

Gary telling Bridget stories and having her full attention.

Here we have part of the gathering of ten for dinner. Interesting hand actions.

Who would believe that Jess is two years older than Meghan?

Jessica with the baby.

Bridget with her grandmother.

Here we have a tired father and a yawning Bridget. We hope she liked her first trip to Maine to visit with  the Cole clan.

Beautiful Fall Colors

Twice in the past few days we have taken a drive to look at the beautiful fall colors. They are at their peak here right now, and we want to share some of the brilliance from Perham, Woodland, Ashland and Portage. The hillsides are ablaze with the best color we have seen in several years. It must have something to do with the great summer we have had. Gary has decorated the window boxes, and the scarecrows watch over the front of the house. Beautiful fall. Louise has completed her mitten knitting and shares a picture of the 35 pairs that have been made to keep little hands in need warm. The month of September is gone. As the seasons change we look back with pleasure at a great summer.

The End of Summer??

We seem to be in day four of a heat wave. It is hot, humid, and hazy today. We have retreated to Portage Lake this week to enjoy the end of summer and it has been really hot! Last night we set up a theater on the wharf with the laptop and watched a Netflix movie under the stars. We had to use bug dope as the bugs are alive, well, and biting. They don't think it's fall either! The lake is very shallow with a huge expanse of beach and very shallow water. Here we have some pictures looking down the lake at the sand bars that have developed. Notice how high the wharf is out of the water. With no rain in at least four weeks, things are dry. Gary got some photos of the sunrise over the lake the other morning, so we are sharing one of those too.
Gary is still building his stone wall. Here you see him moving some rocks. Despite the heat, he enjoys this project.

The only sign of fall that is noticeable, besides people taking in their boats and wharves, is one tree that is starting to turn to fall colors. It has been a lovely summer and Portage Lake is a great place to be on a hot day!