Saturday, January 25, 2014

Maine Seaside Winter Moments

I'm hooking up to Vee's notecard party!

It was a balmy 35 degrees in Maine this Saturday!  It was like a heat wave!  In case you haven't heard, our temps have been in the single and negative digits, factor in the wind chill and we were running as low as -18!

This afternoon my husband and I ran a few errands and our our way back to the cottage we stopped at a few of our favorite spots.  I hope you enjoy these beautiful Maine winter moments.

The Pier at Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach, ME
The pier, the main attraction of the beach would be bulging with people on a summers day, today it is shuttered closed and void of people as the waves kiss it.  The beach, is usually filled with people and the smell of sun tan lotion, relaxing on blankets.  Today, the beach had a soft white blanket of snow on top of the sand.  It was refreshing and restorative to stand on the beach and breathe it all in!
The amusement park at Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach, ME - it will be busier in July





























In the summer you can hear screams of excitement, laughter, bells, whistles and sirens from children, adults, amusements and games - today it was the sound of large waves crashing on the surf.

The Saco River, Saco, Maine
In the spring this hillside will have thousands of daffodils, and lots of foot traffic, but today it was snow laden and only us - we loved it.
The breakwater at Camp Ellis, Saco, Maine
 I have to tell you, when I saw the ice on the breakwater it took my breath away, it was so beautiful - I was also very careful stepping out on to it!  What was even more amazing - not a whisper of wind, anywhere today!

It's amazing how much beauty we found in these winter moments.  .  I hope you enjoyed our brief escape!

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Stunning Red & White Quilt

Hello dear friends!  Where does the time seem to go lately?  It seems like we were just celebrating Christmas & New Years, and now it's Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and almost the end of January.  Soon February will be around the corner.


There has been lots going on!  I'm very busy at work.  As many of you know, I'm a teacher.  I'm also involved in an after school activity and a fund raiser.  In addition to that I also have another small side job that I've taken on at work.  Toss all that on to a new teacher evaluation system . . .

my contribution
There has also been some personal sadness.  My dear friend Susan at From Beyond My Kitchen Window lost her mom just before Thanksgiving.  I've known Mrs. D since I was a teen and I will miss her dearly.  My heart breaks for my friend's loss and sadness.

I've also had a dear friend from Maine who was diagnosed with uterine cancer.  Her surgery is this Thursday.  She will have to go through radiation and chemo - but her outlook is good.  My husband and another neighbor "Doc" are talking about shaving their heads when "A's" hair falls out.  She is a single woman with not much family or family near by, but she has a huge network of friends, both personal and professional who are lining up to help her get through this!  We will be doing everything we can when we are in Maine on weekends.  Please keep "A" in your prayers.  She's like a sister to me.

The quilt was made by my husband's cousin Merrie, isn't she talented.  For some reason, showing you the quilt and talking about everything that's been going on seems to fit - somehow.  It's comforting.

The back of the quilt with signature block
Merrie also included a hanger in the event that I want to hang the quilt on the wall.  I also love how the back came out, and the signature square she included.  Believe it or not, I did one of the lighthouses, as did my husband's cousin Clare!  It was a true family effort, although Merrie did 99% of it!  I hope to undertake a quilt on my own soon!


I told Merrie that I wanted a red & white quilt with Maine light houses.  I also suggested lobsters and crabs in the corners and sides.  I showed Merrie an inspiration quilt and she came up with the design.  Once I approved it, she began working on it!  The hand embroidered lobster & crab are part of the sides and corners, along with a sea shell!


I feel blessed, to have an abundance of family, good friends, good health, a great job and to know that I'm loved.

I'll try to be more diligent with my posts . . . despite everything friends, I wish you a blessed and very Happy New Year!

xo

P.S. I'm not happy about my beloved N.E. Patriots losing tonight, but Denver did a good job.  Good luck Denver and Seattle in the Super Bowl!!!