Mount Katadin

Ready for fishin'

The boat has been spit and shined for Matt's fishing trip to East Grand Lake. He leaves on Monday so the next couple of days will be spent on camping preparations and fondling of tackle. The weather has finally changed for the better, no rain and temps in the seventies. Summer, glorious summer! Happy Memorial Day!

Still raining in York County

The 1st annual York County Bocce tournament was a great success. We played some great games, had lunch in the rain, and saw some new and old friends. Here's some pics:

Nothing runs like a Deere!

I love my new garden tractor or "yard bitch" as I so fondly call it.

I love weeding and mulching.

And the games keep comin'

Tomorrow I am off to Old Orchard Beach again, at least this time it's not Jan. 1st and I have to run into the ocean. I off to the 1st Annual York County Bocce Tournament. You faithful readers know that York County was recently flooded, but hey we're used to rain. We have eight atheletes attending and are taking two vehicles headed out early in the morning. Must go pack a lunch and stuff.

Scenes from Camp Tall Pines

This is Christy in action. The weekend was full of team building activities, rain, bocce, a pot luck supper at the American Legion in Mechanic Falls, team and coaches meetings, rain, a spaghetti dinner, parade formation practice, rain, smores, and smore rain. We had a good time getting to know each other and being cold and wet.

I hate sleeping in a sleeping bag, rain, and red hot dogs.

That's my teammate

The Wiscassett Newspaper published the following article on my fellow Team Maine bocce player:

Christy Hopkins, 23, who lives on Westport Island with her granmother, Sandy, is trying to raise $500 to attend the 2006 National Special Olympics in Iowa. "I was proud and excited when I first learned that I had been selected," she said in an interview this week. She was selected to compete in the Special Olympic Natinal Games in Ames, Iowa from July 2 to July 7 by her coach. Only 35 Maine athletes were chosen from the 3,500 athletes competing, In addition, 2,000 coaches will be attending the event, which is expected to attract 30,000 spectators, 12,000 family and friends and 8,000 volunteers. Christy, who also competes in swimming, cross country skiing and track events in the Special Olympics, will compete in team bocce ball. Bocce ball is a game played with up to 8 players. Each player must roll two large balls towards a smaller ball which has already been thrown onto the field. The players are given points for the number of bocce balls thrown closest to the smaller ball called a pellino ball. Although this is Christy's first trip to the national games, she has been competing in Special Olympics for 10 years. she will get a chance to compete against other athletes at a three-day training camp at Camp Tall Pines in Poland, ME. To raise money for her trip, Christy will host a car wash and bottle drive at Shaw's Supermarket, where she works.

Go Christy!!!

Southern Maine hit with floods

York county and the lower, western part of Maine was hit with a massive amount of rain this weekend. I know because I was camping all weekend in that part of the state. I tried to call Jerry tonight, phone busy of course, to let her know because Christopher and Dean live in that area. More than 2000 homes were evacuated and bridges and roads are out all over the place. The rest of the state had beautiful weather and I was so happy to get home! More about the camping trip later!

And the games continue!

Today was the Area Track and Field competition in Brewer, in the rain, and I mean pouring rain at times. I was an age group leader for the 11 year olds and younger. Age group leaders get to wear pink hats, yell a lot, and try to maintain some sort of order in the midst of all the excitement. Never once did I hear an athlete complain about the weather or be nothing but ready to compete. It was a great day!
Preparation continues for my attending a 3 day training camp at Camp Tall Pines in Poland. I am excited to hear more about our upcoming trip to IOWA. For more information about upcoming state wide and national games link into www.specialolympicsmaine.org and national game information at www.2006nationalgames.org

It's official, we are "carnies"

This is the new trailer we got to take ATM's to fairs this summer. Green Tree Cash Services - "because money doesn't grow on trees."

I'm already a bad blogger

My one faithful reader, Dad, deserves an update. Weekend activities include: taking Butch to an special olympic track and field practice, Matt cleaning up the boat, weeding, getting Mom a mother's day gift, going for a hog ride, and more weeding. Oh yeah, and talking to my sister at least three times over the course of the weekend.

I'm already a bad blogger

My one faithful reader, Dad, deserves an update. Weekend activities include: taking Butch to an special olympic track and field practice, Matt cleaning up the boat, weeding, getting Mom a mother's day gift, going for a hog ride, and more weeding. Oh yeah, and talking to my sister at least three times over the course of the weekend.

Sure signs that spring is here!

Matt and Phil ready to ride

First flowers to bloom in the yard

Annie working on her tan

This is war!!!

Matt used all 7 tiles in one turn and gained 50 bonus points. I now have to concentrate on my game. Notice such clever words as ass and snot. Hey, they can be used in a sentence: ass snot what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you.

Belly up

Happy Easter!!!


In Matt's travels throughout the state he came across a deal on these new bar stools. If there is a deal out there, Matty Stewart finds it. Our neighbor, Sid came over to help clear some more trees for the mini barn. When asked why he had five saws, Sid states "cause ya just never know."

Almost Hog season!

These are a few of my favorite things

Premier night at the garden show

Some of us from work attended the premier night of the Bangor Garden Show last night. Tickets are $35.00 for premier night, but so worth it. About ten restaurants have buffets and whores oviars all over the place, not to mention the fountains of wine. Was a great time and I got some ideas for a walkway for the front of the house! I also loved the garden ornaments!

Swimmers were ready!

The annual Penobscot Area Swim meet was very exciting! All members of the "Nemo" team walked away with many ribbons: the relay team won first place, two new members of the team won more than one race, and all swimmers were at their best. I am a proud coach. We have practices until the end of April when we compete in the state meet at Bates College in Lewiston.

First day of spring

It was great to get out in the yard today!
Matt cleared land for the new barn. Our neighbor Jackie and her granddaughter Emily were out and about. Matt just got paged, must go.

New mini barn

Our new barn, only ours is going to be tan with burgundy trim to match the house.

I figured out pictures, yeah me!

This morning as a means to avoid housework I figured out how to post pictures. I was kind of hoping it would take me awhile but ended up only taking about a minute. This is Matt and Mark and some other fools on this years ice fishing trip to East Musquacook Lake in the Allagash. Also known as "the ice fishing trip from hell." It was 30 degrees below zero, very windy, the ice auger wouldn't work and the only thing they caught was a Crown Royal hang over.