MaryAlice Musings and More

As you turn off the Hwy 11 Scenic Hwy (aka the Grindstone Road) and head towards this monument,  this is the view today.  I like to stop all along the way to snap photos from my phone.  Today was beyond postcard picture perfect.  I was able to do my "loop tour" with my friend Betty.  Betty had not been on the land since before the monument was designated and when she asked if she could come with me I was so very happy to say yes. We had a fine ride up the Grindstone, traveling along next to the East Branch of the Penobscot River. And it was fun to make the left hand turn onto the logging road that heads into the Monument land. 1st Stop Sandy Bank Stream....No one camping there, walked out to the water....bliss. I am blogging and watching the WNBA Game Washington/Atlanta on the computer, I just accidently closed the blog site after I had downloaded all of the pictures I wanted to use on my Tour de Loop for you.  When I download a photo, ...

Last week at this time we had the kick-off of the 2nd Anniversary of Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument Celebration, held by the Friends of KWW .  The picture above is the setting up of the Big Top Tent at Lower Shin Pond in Mt. Chase, it was an idyllic setting and a great celebration.  I have been thinking all week of what it means to be a "friend".  Our friends group formed less than six months after the Monument was designated by President Obama.  I don't know exactly how many "friends" there are but I think close to a 1000.  Being a volunteer and a member of the friends group is one of the ways that I have created community for myself here in Maine.  The strategic planning and mission development of the Friends has helped me to see how I can focus my time and energy, working as a part of group committed to our National Monument.  Tomorrow I have a volunteer day at the Monument.  There are quite a few visitors right now and I am a l...

On this steamy end of August day, this photo popped up in my FB memories.  This is Luke and Myah starting Freshman and Junior year at Cretin Derham High School.  Now Luke is the Junior and Myah is not there she is in Chicago at Loyola University.   I had a lazy morning after late night basketball and a BIG win for Seattle against Phoenix, and a heartbreaking loss by Washington to Atlanta.  It is far less nerve wracking to have a favorite in a playoff game, but your own team is not playing!  Great basketball, late night!  I did a little gift shopping today, put together my first "Gramma Special" box for Myah.  She will get it on Friday.  I told her to watch for MAIL!  It is so fun to just walk around town doing my errands,  waving to folks I know and stopping to visit because I didn't have to be anywhere at any special time today.  I visited with Anita Mueller ( Mooseprint Gallery and Gifts) she had some tasks to do and I...

Yesterday was the first day of school for both Myah and Luke.  Myah started her classes as a Freshman at Loyola University of Chicago and Luke started his Junior year at Cretin Durham High School.  I got a little text time with both of them, and the report was all was good.  They are both glad to be back in school and they like their classes and teachers.  I also got a long phone call with Sasha and she was doing well after a day of work that included some face time with Myah and check in's with Luke. I can't help but remember 1st day of school pictures of them from previous years,  thinking about Sasha as she went off to school and getting little flashes of the pictures of Bobby (my brother) and I in our saddle shoes as we went off to school. I had a less eventful day in Millinocket.  Had a lazy slow starting morning.  Then walked downtown and stopped in at AT Cafe, said hello to Jaime, had an iced tea and before I left Tim Hudson stopped in ...

Summer is not really over yet, but I do believe my blog silence is over for today! I have totally enjoyed my six months of summer living.  It is the first summer in many that I have not felt those severe pangs that it is all so fleeting.  I had to find a jacket a week ago and couldn't remember the last time I had a jacket on!  My travels since summer solstice have been near and far....I just returned from Mt. Chase Lodge and Shin Pond yesterday.  Celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of Katahdin Woods and Water.  It was a great weekend and a highlight was receiving a volunteerism award from the Friends of KWW.  I love being a part of the VIP and Friends family, and it does feel like a ever growing community of people who loves the region and wants to make our "park" the best that it can be. Sometimes my travels were in following what was happening with my family.  The "gran's" had a great summer.  Luke played lacrosse with a traveling team and spe...