Maine-ly a Hidden Gem.....

One of the best things about living in Maine is that there is always some hidden gem that awaits discovery. This time it's something not all that far from our house and is a true example of Maine's beauty. It's the Massabesic Experimental Forest (http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/durham/4155/massabes.htm#INT), owned and operated by the Northern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service. It consists of 3600 acres in the towns of Alfred and Lyman. It is described as an "oak-pine forest interspersed with diverse wetlands associated with three rivers and numerous streams, ponds, and swamps."

I've driven by it many times with my husband on our way to Sanford. It's a regular stop for him on his way home from work for an evening swim in Estes Lake, which is on the edge of the forest. Until last night though, I'd never hiked it. It is just as the website describes it. There are markers along the path identifying the types of trees and things of note, such as a small quarry. It's a very easy hike in to the lake and all the way in you can't help but think of it as a sylvan cathedral.

It was certainly a perfect night for a walk and a swim - not too warm and just perfectly lit as it was just before sunset. I passed on the swim, but enjoyed sitting on the rocks at the water's edge. The lake was a bit busy with jet skis (ugh) but not enough to really distract from the overall beauty of the area. We stayed just long enough for Bobby to have a quick swim. It was a bit dark on the way out of the forest ("lions and tigers and bear, oh my!" dark) but the trail is well-marked and easy to walk.

I think that there is a picnic there in the near future and a lot more in terms of hiking.....Oh, I love being a Maineiac!

Stumped......

There are weeks when I just sail through the Sunday puzzles - not so today. I really struggled with the NYT puzzle from last week (we're a week behind here in Maine). It featured the last words of many celebs and historical figures (Pancho Villa said, "Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something."). Grrrr. The Boston Globe puzzle didn't come to me any easier, either. The theme for that one was "Double Portions." For example, malnourished became "mallnourished" (fed at the food court). Not that that one was all that hard, but "millicurries" did me in (tiny Thai portions). Maybe the problem was that it's another dreary rainy day. My mind is beginning to suffer from serious mildew and rot. Rain, it seems, is all we've had all month. I'm sure when this month is done, it'll go into the record books as one one the lousiest Junes on record. (Yesterday was a great day - thank goodness since it was South Berwick's Strawberry Festival and my great niece's graduation party! But, it rained in the morning and again at night!)

By the way, we now only get The Globe on Sunday. When they ran into financial trouble they upped our weekly rate from $9 to $15.75. I was stunned. So, a quick call to cancel was made. While I miss the sports section, the puzzles, the comics, book reviews, and much more, it simply isn't worth that kind of a jump. I wonder how many other people said enough is enough.

Springtime in Maine....

Went down to the vernal pools tonight to check on the future frogs' progress. Despite some rain today, the pools are drying up and it was hard to see anything. And, we couldn't stand around waiting to see if we could find some. It's Spring in Maine, so that means blackflies!!!! Ouch, ouch, and ouch! Man, are they bothers. In just a few seconds there were clouds of them around us. One flew into my eye, and as I said "ow" one flew into my mouth. Blech!!! I couldn't get back into the house fast enough. Now I'm itching around my ears and an eye. And people wonder why I hibernate during Spring and Summer!!!!!!!!!!