Moosehead Annual Report

~favorite shot of Moosehead 2011~

~This post's for you, Joanie. Busy hands.~

the Beautiful was all around, pt. 2

...And also the ridiculous.

While sitting shoreside, knitting, chatting, making sure no one drowned, and sharing book titles with a dear friend, I became aware of this odd buzz/hummy sort of sound. Very rhythmic. Perhaps a boat rubbing on another something? Pretty soon, the above creature, buzz-humming through his face mask, came forth from the unbriny depths and I captured him on film. (This might possibly be the best picture of summer, but let me know if you disagree.)

We also saw these creepy crawlies as well.

above photo by Mr. CraftingMama

(this one's for you Aunt Carrrie, check that greenish one out in full-size)

Did I mention the knitting? The maker of these socks was reclined in a hammock, oh so lovely, creating these rainbow visions for her feet. She finished the first sock in about one day plus a little more---I know, crazy. And she complained about the second sock syndrome??? Go figure.

The sweater sleeve! Begun here. And then here (again). This picture is just a few inches from completion. Now it's done.

Some of us adore strategy games like this one (and for the record, my gamer says that this is the original plus TWO extension sets, Seafarers and Knights/Cities), and if you're a regular reader, you'll know I'm not one of them. The rules alone sometimes take hours to hash out, and I'm pretty ready to move on after about the first 10 minutes of this. "I'll trade you a sheep for a brick." This is the type of talk that you hear when you walk by the game table and it sounds pretty absurd: really? a whole game about sheeps and bricks???

The days begin like this. Reading on the porch in our cozy nests of hoodies and blankets, sometimes cuddling up with a friend or relation for added warmth. The Personal Librarian was remiss this year, for although she came bearing a bag of library books (13 in all), the complete TinTin collection stayed at home. (Not entirely an oversight, but let's move on). Bilious blue blistering barnacles, in the words of Captain Haddock! I promise promise to never leave Tintin and Snowy behind again!

the Beautiful was all around, pt. 1

Once upon a time there were two boys and a boat. And a kayak paddle. They explored the limits of the elements and the vessel and had quite a grand time doing it. One time they realized that there was too much wind for them to sail back and there they were, marooned! So a rescue mission was enacted: the two boys paddled back to shore in the relief kayak while a dad and another boy waited in the boat. Another dad found the keys to the motor boat, and he and the two boys motored out for the rescue of dad and boy, towing the sail boat home.

coming to dock was always a bit hairy

One small and salty sailor (wait, or should that be fresh?) tied another sailor up!

Mostly there was lots of water and plenty of boats (allsorts) and kids and friends and giggles and knitting and games and meals for ten. (OK, so we had no mattress-riding this year or live private piano concerts by a professional musician, but you can't have everything all the time.) What we had was restful and relaxing sleep to the sound of the loons calling. And somehow being *away* from all of our projects and email and to-do lists was a pretty great gift too.

Transformation

The studio corner is coming along. As you can see, it's a little dark over there, so we'll be thinking of some lighting solutions. And I have no chair yet, but I am manifesting something thrifted/found and red, please.

Jonas's orange room looks great. The color is most true in these two above photos. He is enjoying setting things up for himself---you'll notice the LEGO display cabinet, above. What he really loves about the new set-up is the ability to read in bed (now that he's not sharing with Sylvan)...sigh, a boy after his mother's heart. It's a pretty cozy set-up! It's a good time to have a space of ones own, at almost-twelve.
And from the summer kitchen...

The garden is bursting with tomatoes, something that is unusual for us Mainers. It's been hot and mostly dry. (Gardening readers, why am I seeing some little white mildewy spots on the leaves just today? Is there something to do about it?) Our favorite snack is these little Sun Golds, which are like eating exploding sunshine candy in your mouth.

We're fans of salad pizza around here. A little drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette on the dough, pile on a bunch--really a bunch!-- of greens (this was kale and arugula), then shredded beets, cherry or sun gold tomatoes, red onions, a little goat milk feta (for those eating dairy), and a bit more vinaigrette on top. Delish. And a great way to eat a lot of veggies in one meal.

Off for the last hurrah of summer at Moosehead Lake, our annual visit of fun and kids and friends and water. The summer is almost gone and although it's been great, it's also been hard work. I am ready for some structure again!

the summer's rollicking finale

I have barely had time to download my pictures off my camera lately. We have been busily enjoying summer to its max...our annual trip to Moosehead Lake, and a first visit to Reid State Park yesterday (real waves, big surf, people getting pummeled by waves and suits full of sand).

anders was the best at this

sophie has the best hair and a great splash

carl and sylvan being cute and sporty

The creative endeavors at Moosehead this year were mostly along the lines of utilizing air mattresses and bicycles in unusual ways, wearing our bathing suits all day, taking multiple swims, and laughing a lot.

air mattress flotilla

a devilish smirk that can only mean he's up to no good

a quiet moment one morning

when sylvan was the only one ready to go swimming before 9 am

My school semester began yesterday and the kids won't be in school again until September 14.

mr. crafting dadda catches some surf on a boogie board

So I toted along my management text to the beach and even read some (3 pages!), though it was hard to compete with 1) the view, 2) the peoplewatching, 3) the overheard conversations floating on the breeze ("he only had one eye but he was still a great bowler..") This is my hardest time because I have no regular time in which to do my school work.

drip castle magic

Remember that I promised you a glimpse of Jonas's sailing trophy? Here is The Harbor Cup, 3rd place:

So I am taking a blogging break for just a bit, until I get my feet on the ground. We'll see how long I can stay away.

"I really didn't think about anything the whole time"

Airborn Anders and Jonas, above.


The title of this post are the words of my husband, driving home from our vacation on beautiful Moosehead Lake. We had the pleasure to be with one of our favorite families and one other amazing couple for four idyllic days. Lots of food and fun and friendship, and a blessed breath before the beginning of school ramps up.

The men and boys played epic amounts of strategy games. (Yawn. Good thing the ladies had plenty of books to talk about and knitting to accomplish.) This one is called Antike:

Evening session of MadLibs:
I was reading An Unexpected Forest by Eleanor Morse. I find the prose sometimes a little detached. Not that it's a good or bad thing. Good writing and I am enjoying the characters. It's about a man in midlife who inexplicably decides to plant 1000 spruce trees when they are delivered to him by mistake. My view from the hammock:

Jack recommends snowboarding goggles on windy motor boat rides:

Who's strong enough to carry the bucket? Let's test our muscles:
Anders and Jonas wrestling in the raft:

A flotilla of our small and middling children:

One of us (the Dishwashing King) was lucky enough to have naturally product-free porcupine hair:

We stopped by Spring Creek Bar-BQ, in Monson, on the way home. The best barbecue I've had in Maine, located handily near to the Appalachian Trail for hungry hikers!