Not so long ago I was even wondering if we would have a Maine summer this year with the family.  I knew Jim and I would be there but building memories this year in Maine with the boys and our kids at times didn't feel like it would happen.  The coronavirus was very much alive and traveling around and so it took us a little time to see how some much-needed time in Maine could work for all of us.  It turns out, that Maine was the perfect place for us to be but perhaps not altogether at the same time.  Maine had one of the lowest infection rates of all the states.  Our house is nestled in the woods and our neighbors are spread apart so we never were in danger of having contact with them unless we chose to. So Jim and I went to our little getaway and when we landed, we breathed a sigh of relief, we felt safe for the first time in months.  We got busy setting the house right for summer and taking all the toys out for the boys and getting the boat out of the marina. We were ready for whatever the summer would gift us this year.

For awhile our only neighbors were in the wildlife family and for some reason, there were more critters this year than we have seen in a while.  The squirrels came and helped cleaned up all the pinecones and acorns. Jim appreciated that but of course, he would never let on.  I loved sitting on the deck with my camera and just taking cute photos of them.  The lake was busy also with so many colorful duck families just sliding by to say hi and even more boats than usual. Everyone was in the same boat so to speak. This was starting to feel really delightful, almost normal.  

Before long I got the hummingbird feeders out. The hummingbirds are always my favorite.  I spend hours literally set up on the deck with my gear waiting for them.  We have two feeders, they seem to like the old one the best.  I thought they would love the pretty new pink crystal one the but the minute I put up the old red one with the broken stand that is where they went and for the most part, that is where they stayed.  It is a thrill to watch them.  I am still amazed at how tiny they are.  Really, really tiny.  Yet they have so much energy to fly and hover.  They can eat while flapping their wings or sometimes they stand on the little ring and they are so fast, incredibly fast. You have to be ready for them or you will miss the shot.  I took many more bad shots than good but I also took a ton of shots so I'm o.k with what I got.  I do try to catch them more on the trees or the clothesline than at the feeder but sometimes a feeder shot can come out beautiful also.  The one above is one of my favorites with the black background and the hummer in a unique position. My favorite little bird and I spend a lot of time with them in Maine.  Something I learned this year,  if you get a little too close to them they will leave the feeder and buzz right by you so close that you feel like they will hit you.  When they pass you can hear the buzzing noise they make...so stand back.  They are pretty tolerant of me now though.

My favorite water bird is the Common Loon.  Graceful, beautiful, and vocal. They have a call or a song like no other.  Rather melancholy  The one above hung around my dock for most of the summer...sometimes he brought his friend and the two of them would just simply float.  No stress for them if they are close enough to the edge of the lake.  Loons teach lessons.  They believe in mating for life. I like that.  They maintain their natural beauty by bathing vigorously every day. This one looks like he might have had a confrontation though. The whole lake is their bathtub, stretching their wings to splash water on themselves and then flapping them really fast to dry their feathers as they stand up tall in the water.  They care for their babies by keeping them close in the early days, giving them a ride on their backs and under their feathers when they are young, and teaching them how to fish before they leave.  They are also kind to others in nature that need a ride. This one carried that dragonfly around for quite some time.  They were a strange duo but lovely to witness and think on.  We also have eagles that fly over, sometimes stopping in the winter for ice fishing.  We have had deer on our road but nothing bigger than that.  The little guys play and romp like children...my chipmunk friends.  They have so much energy and squawk all day long running hither and fro.  Maine is the best place for nature and natural beauty.  Many days go by and if I'm involved with my feathered or fur friends I don't get anything else done.  It's a good way to live.  It was a very good way to escape the Covid this year.  

Meet Gus...our kind of new grand dog.  He came to my son and Julia about this time last year.  He is delightful and fun and just full of energy.  So we move from feathers to fur here.  This was Gus's first visit to Maine and his very first boat ride.  Fortunately, we still had one of Jaxsons small life jackets that fit Gus perfectly.  He plays hard and gets messy but he's like a toddler just having so much fun that he takes nothing else into consideration, not even his food, but when he's done, he is done and just flops and goes to sleep. He was very good on the boat and very careful about trying to get off.  And when he was done playing he just stopped and watched the lake go by.  His most favorite thing to do while visiting though was to try to catch the lake water that came up through the cracks in the deck when it splashed.  He never did catch any but he sure as heck gave it his best shot.  It was a joy to have him.  Oh yes,  Chris and Julia were there also and we had a lovely visit with them.  We cooked on the grill and sat on the deck and talked and watched the sunset.  It was a perfect few days in Maine just being together.  It was sad that Gus never got to come back this year but hopefully, he will spend more swim time here next year when the virus has left us.

August not only brought us beautiful weather again, but it also brought us the Barton Boys and their Mom.  Now things are going to heat up for sure.  Jenna is just a big kid and her and the boys love Maine.  It's not our most relaxing time when they come but it sure is our most fun time when they are there.  Lots of boating and tubing.  Lots of campfires and smores along with fireworks.  This is a new tube that Jenna got this year so the three of them could go out together.  This one photo alone made me so happy.  There is nothing quite like the sound of laughter that comes from the toes.  The funniest part though was when they were just relaxing and enjoying the moment and then Jim took a turn and all three got dumped out of the tube and into the lake. That was really cool.

After they got dumped in the bigger tube they went back to the smaller tube and this really is their favorite. They liked to get out there and have Papa turn up the speed on the boat.  The faster the better and then Papa finds all the waves and bumps and sends them spinning.  Meanwhile, in the back of the boat, I am trying to take photos while keeping my balance and hopefully getting a few sharp shots. I've had a lot of practice over the years so I'm much better now...This shot was taken at 300 mm.  I just love how much they enjoy the lake.  One of my favorite shots of the two of them tubing this year.

And it wouldn't be Maine if there wasn't time for reading and relaxing.  Get yourself a rocking chair and sit for awhile  Each person finds their favorite spot later in the afternoon and just chills out. We always have tea and sweets in the afternoon.  These boys are my tea buddies and I'm so happy they love my tea time habit. I'm usually in that lounge chair unless Jenna gets it first.  Days are slow, with no agenda in Maine.  We need this kind of time outdoors to reset our minds and bodies.  We are grateful for this time spent in Maine. What would Maine be like if you were a kid and you couldn't go camping...no problem.  Mom and Papa to the rescue and in no time at all the tent was up and ready for pillows fights and scary stories.  Jaxson didn't make it through the night but Liam did.  He was very proud of himself.  Jim was a bit still the next morning though...whimp.

A few years back we got them this trampoline.  Yup, it's a favorite. These boys are in the water most days, all day long, only taking breaks for eating and a short rest.  They swim and play from first thing in the morning until it starts getting dark. Then it's campfire time. This year around the campfire we asked Jaxson what he liked and didn't like about the coronavirus.  He said "he liked that Mom and us didn't have to work so we were around more" and he didn't like "that people had to get sick".  I think that is kind of how I feel about it also...I would also add that it has gone on way too long.

Before you know it the sun starts to set and Papa finds his chair on the dock...whether we are alone or have company, the sunset is always part of our day.  We are so fortunate to face Mount Washington.  We get to watch that sunset every night right out of our lakeside door.  It is never the same, nature never is.  We appreciated it all so much more this year.  Many nights, when we were alone we would talk about this house being our biggest gift to each other and to our extended family and friends.  More noteworthy this year.  A small house, simple in its structure and a little piece of land on the water has proven to be a haven in so many times of stress over the years but none more important than this year. Almost thirty years since we bought it and it still holds the magic of that first day that we stepped through the front door and out to the lakeside and saw that mountain. It's humbling to think about how much happiness lives here.  It will also get us through the winter if the virus continues which it seems like it will. Winter holds its own beauty when we come inside. We are forever grateful for this place and the natural world that surrounds us here.  If these walls could talk...they would tell you that this is our happy place, our peaceful place...thanks for stopping by.

This summer is now in the memory books and it will be forever known as the summer of the coronavirus but I also hope it will be the summer of continued happy times at the Looney Bin...for the boys and their Mom and Jonathan and Uncle Chris and Julia.  A time to appreciate all that is good and loving even when the world is out of control.  I hope everyone has blessings and escapes that help them through this year of 2020.  I, for one, will be happy to see this year-end and bring in more sanity. Having said that, I will also look at my photos from this summer and give thanks for the time well spent in Maine.  Thanks, Jenna and crew, and Chris and Julia for taking the ride up and sitting awhile with us...we love you all. Jaxson says goodbye for now but we will see you again next year. Stay safe.