Ah, the lovely snow

While not the first snow of the season, it was beautiful (especially on a Sunday morning, when there is no rush to get out). I took the dogs out (Savannah, the younger poodle) went berserk running around. The moon was still visible, even though the sun was up, and the sky had pink and yellow, creating the effect of a Maxfield Parrish painting.

Will probably be melted by tomorrow.

Back on course

I can understand why only about 2 percent of people who start blogs keep them up. Fall has been very busy (and I wish I found the time to post, because I could go back and see what was keeping me so occupied). But with Fall, closing up house in Maine, back in school, etc., these things just get pushed to the back burner.

Now I don't know if I should just continue on, or try and catch up (probably a combination of both).

One of the best things for my fall tasks has been getting a chain saw. We have lots of trees, and the forestation has gotten out of control in the past 20 years or so. I bought a 14" Poulan, and it did the job for a few trees, so while I got my money's worth, it was disappointing when it died so soon. My new one is a Stihl, with "Easy Start", and it is wonderful for people like me who are not managing a woodlot, but just want to clean up the landscape.

The pictures here are of a stray sapling that became a large tree while we weren't looking. Now it's firewood.

First Snow

As they say in New England: If you don't like the weather, wait a minute. After some lovely fall weather, we get the first snow of the season. No, these first ones never last, but it does provide a taste of what lies ahead.

So it looks like time to cover the grill and get out the soup pots.

Fall in New England

Our fall weather has been great. The foliage was wonderful, until fierce winds this week took down most of the colored leaves in our area. Still, with warm days and clear skies we are busy with typical fall cleanup, house maintenance, and of course, back to school. I am often tempted to move elsewhere, but when fall comes around, New England is the place to be.

Joseph

House Painting Time

With the late summer run of good weather, I have been working on my aunt's house. It was built for my aunt and uncle in the mid-1950's, and has not been significantly changed since then. I am repainting the exterior to match the original colors. The shrubbery was overgrown, and has now been reduced, so it is like time-traveling back to 1955.

More Frames

Without an air-conditioned studio, gilding work has been difficult this summer. But finally, frame orders have been completed, and ready for delivery. This is a grouping of "lemon gold" (silver gilt) frames before they went out the door.

York, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Dogs were in the kennel, so we had a few days to see some historic areas we normally zip by on the interstate.

The Museums of Old York, in York, Maine show a different side of this area, mostly known for its beaches. The "Old Gaol" (jail), and the historic house above, were wonderful time capsules, and offered that "old house smell" that is part of being in a building that has stood for centuries. The museum consists of a number of building (more than we could visit that day), and is well worth a trip (http://www.oldyork.org).

A day spent in Portland, Maine to see the "Artist Colonies of the Coast" exhibit was a fitting way to spend a summer day. In addition, visited the Victoria Mansion (http://www.victoriamansion.org/) and the Longfellow house (http://www.mainehistory.org/house_overview.shtml) where the poet lived in his early years) Both of these were notable for the high percentage of original material, structure and furnishings still in place. The Victoria mansion is an incredible example of high-style Victorian, reflecting an opulence one would expect in New York or Newport.

On the way home, stopped in Portsmouth for the Moffatt Ladd (www.moffattladd.org) house (gardens shown above) and the Warner House (http://www.warnerhouse.org/). One thing about the old New Englanders - nothing was thrown away. Again, both houses outstanding for original contents, primarily due to family desires to preserve for posterity. The Warner house interpreter assumed the role of a family member, and was outstanding. Worth the visit just for her performance as a Boston woman preserving her family's history.