More Bar Harbor hiking photos!

More of the stone steps'!!!

This was the return path, all along the pond in the shade. See us on the left? So pleasant!!!

Darn, I can't find the photos of Spur sitting on his bed next to us having his lunch. He was such a good boy'!!

The BEST day!!!!!

Not sure if I can come up with a day, maybe ever, that was as much fun!!!! 

Started out with an amazing flight from Portland to Bar Harbor!!!! The day was bright and sunny and the fall colors just starting to really look brilliant!'! Flying over the coast of Maine has to be one of the nicest things to do!!! Such spectacular scenery, the islands, the boats, the coves, the lighthouses, the fishing boats and sailboats, the little harbors and island towns, just incredible!!!! And this from someone who has had to go to therapy for a year just to get into the plane!!!

Flying over Mount Dessert island is pretty spectacular, too. The hills and valleys and more coves and quaint towns. Little Spur came with us and did great!!! I am sure he wasn't thrilled by the engine sound, but ultimately it is a more comfortable ride for him than in a car. Certainly shorter, but also way less bumpy and no stop and got, so a way smoother ride. 

I was very proud! And glad to know he wasn't too freaked. He certainly seemed more relaxed than me!!! Good little monkey pants!!!

We hiked the most amazing Mount Maszell which had stone steps all the way to the top!!! that was a bit of a challenge even for us three who are in really good shape. But, very cool!!!

The photos are not in order. This is from downtown Bar Harbor where we shopped after lunch....

Lunch was outside on a little patio. Spur got some grilled chicken and sat out with us like a perfect gentleman!!!! 

Thar is Mt. Mansell. Not that big, about 1000 feet, but the steps up made it a great work out.

This was relaxing along Long Pond after our decent.

The photos just don't do the trails justice!! it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Can you find Spur? He went down for a dip!!!!

Blue Hill in the background!!! Where I went to High school!

That is actually the trail!

This was spotted across the pond on another peak.

See the stone steps!!!! There were hundreds of them!!! Doing the stair stepper in its natural environment!!! LOL!!!!

Some videos!

Spur has been really rockin' his DW lately. Taking out hits and it just keeps getting better and better. He likes the rubber DW, that is for sure. I also loaded a new app called SuperSlo and I can slow down just parts of the video. Really cool!!



We are working on "come to hand". So, he is NOT to take the tunnel opening staring him in the face, he is to take the far opening. Very hard for him, but what a great exercise!!! These are traps that will get us at trials.



We are also working on independent weaves, meaning he must continue the whole way and I hang back. Fun little exercise!!! Plus a little from our last trial! WE got a gamble! NOT our best game, but we nailed it. OK, so it was easy peasy, but still many dogs didn't get it. They took the layered jump or missed the a-frame. We didn't win any money, that's not the same kind of gamble. Yeah, OK, we "got" it, but ..............huh..............OK, so I have no idea why they call it a gamble. What are we gambling?

I just can't seem to keep up any more!!!!

Fall has arrived and the weather is spectacular around here!!!! The blue birds have decided my agility ring is the best hunting  grounds. Not sure what they are eating. 

My flowers are fading, but I still have some that are hanging on and look amazing in the fall light. 

I am sad to see the flowers die off, but fall is by far my MOST favorite season!!!!

I have wasted many hours lately studying technology. What a TIME SUCK that is!!!!! I love it, but then again I think about what I could do with that time???? Wash my windows, enter data that is piling up on my desk, bring in wood for the winter, clean up my gardens, watch a movie, read a book. SO much to do!'! Instead I figure out how t to record my voice and send it as a text. Really????? I needed to learn how to do that? I already use the dictation feature, so really, do I need to send my voice recording???? I think not.

But, I do love technology, it just fascinates me, but honestly there are times I want that time back!'!!! 

MACH2 Spur!!!!

We did it!!! My first ever double MACH dog! Hah, who would have ever thought?????? He has become so consistent and happy and it just warms my heart to thnk of how much fun he has doing this funny sport!!!! the whole MACH thing, though, is interesting. We saw someone after, a "normal" person and I bragged about his big day. she asked......OH wow!! he WON???? Well, no he just ran clean so many times that we get this big celebration, the crowd holds their breath and then cheers and I go hug the judge, then do a small victory lap to more cheering and then we get a big ribbon and a jump bat. it is tradition. glad it's over and we can just run again without that pressure. It's just all a bit silly, but hey, we celebrate milestones and, well, running that many clean runs IS a milestone and, damn it, I paid a LOT of money to get that stupid ribbon!!!!!!

He sure is cute with his giant ribbon!!!!

back to normal life. 

watching the few hummingbirds on their way south. Still have a few stragglers!!!!

watching the flowers slowly finish blooming and the gardens slowly closing their buds and soon going to sleep for the winter. ACK!!!!! Seems way too soon, but I do relish the fall air and lovely fresh sun and breezes!!!!

The flowers have been truly spectacular this year!!!! 

My first time growing cleome!!!! Thanks Kathy!!! In LOVE this ever blooming flower!!!!! Adds such bright and pretty pink to my orange dominant garden!!!!

OH my!!!! It has been almost a month!!!

Let me start by saying as a kid I hated August! It was too got, too busy, too much work needed to be done, too many visitors!!! Family events, weddings, parties, tourist customers to the farm stand, august could suck!!! and as an adult......well......it is a little bit the same. sure Maine is very,very pretty in August, but it is also very, very busy!!! family, weddings, parties, tourists and customers, not much has changed!!!!

I also feel the need to pack it all in because.......well....winter is coming. :O There is no getting around it. tonight it was dark by 8:00. Wimter is coming. I really don't even mind winter,but there is a lot I like about summer. It is just August I don't necessarily like. I feel rushed and pressured to make the most of it. In the winter I can just light the woodstove and settle in at 4:00 when it is dark! There is something just fine about that!!!!

so, what have I been doing????? holy smokes, packing it in!!!! hiking across the street has been remarkably good!!! Few bugs, plenty of cool new trails!!!! Roscoe has joined every hike and done amazing!!! The damn dog is in as good shape as he has ever been!!!!! 

He did stay home Saturday for our boat adventure to Jewel  island. that was FUN and a very special day!!!!

spur got to go and his new girlfriend Tess!!!! We had a blast hiking and swimming!!!!

My flowers have been truly spectacular this year. We even threw a big party. Most of our friends came. some were away and couldn't come. August is busy for everyone!!! some didn't come just cuz and they missed out!!!! Some didn't come because we missed them on the invite. damn it I just can't keep everyone straight any more. after 50......OK , after menopause.....the memory and organizational skills struggle. damn it!!!! do I need to start doing daily crossword puzzles??? I think maybe!

Truly spectacular year for my flowers!!!!

25 years!!

Marraige is a difficult thing! But, worth all the hard work, if you like living with someone! I do, I don't want to live alone even though I very much enjoy and appreciate my alone time. I want company most of the time! That is why I am married!!!! It isn't the easiest thing in the world, though. Many people I know don't make it in marriage and , well, I can not say if that is good or bad, but one thing I know........working at a relationship helps a person learn how to relate. It just does!!!! Trying to treat a spouse like you treat your friends is thoughtful. not easy, but worth the effort because if you can be good at a Marraige you can probably be good at friendships, too. I hope, anyway.

I often feel very selfish and self absorbed. I think it is human nature, but a Marraige can't live when one person is completely self absorbed!!!! You have to share. Sharing and thinking of some one other than yourself makes for a stronger Marraige. I had to work hard these 25 years, but I am glad I did. Now to make it continue on and be happy is the key. we shall see!!! I hope it continues!!!!

some photos....a cute little hummingbird.....

My beautiful oriental lily that waslanted two years ago. WOW!!!!

The strange and smelly cleome.....

The patio lit up at night. So peaceful and inviting!!!!