North Norway

NORTH NORWAY — As I sit here this morning I am very sad. Dell just came in and told me a deer had finished off our flowers out front. Lilies, phlox, everything with buds has been nipped.

So it appears their appetite is insatiable and things probably won’t improve. We shall have to attempt to find some shrubs that are not attractive to deer and forget about flowers except for our hanging baskets. Dell had sprayed with deer repellant but it rains so often it has been ineffective.

We now have two mother raccoons that come by every evening. Dell puts out bread and it is not long before they show up. Both are nursing so we look forward to seeing the babies soon.

I am reliably informed that the rain and high water washed out a loon nest down on the lake but the loons have rebuilt and are sitting on a new nest. If you know where this is, please do not disturb them. They do not have an easy life.

Frank Perham had a group from the Poland Mining Camps visit the museum including a boy from the Make A Wish Foundation who is interested in geology. His wish was to visit mines and the museum etc.

Last Sunday Pat and Charlie hosted a birthday party for Kara and Six. Mary and Frank, Paul and Brenda and Luke Perham, Deven and Judy Andrews, Paula Perham and Dana Morgan and their grandson, Kevin Jr., Dell and myself, and of course Kara and Six, Pat and Charlie.

Another delicious chocolate cake, strawberries and biscuits, whipped cream and miscellaneous treats were served. Coffee, tea and punch also. And do not forget ice cream. Six didn’t. Six is a non-stop bundle of energy at two years of age. Kevin Jr. and Luke are still babies and their chief occupation is input and output, grinning all the while.

They are both happy kids as long as their demands are met in a timely manner. Frank Perham came in late as he had been down to the mine where operations continue with an occasional small specimen being unearthed. There is always hope for a big find.

We went to the Farmers Market Saturday and bought some greens which went down well. And we got a few peas, just enough for a taste. When they are more plentiful I want a real mess as it’s easy to make a meal of them alone.

We have some small tomatoes on our plant so if the deer do not eat them we look forward to our own tomato sandwiches. And Dell replanted the cucumbers which washed out in the heavy rains and they are coming up this time.

We had a failure in our water supply system this week and believe me, a day without water isn’t any fun. Dell was using the bushes behind the garage but I am not equipped that way. So Dell went down to the brook with two pails and brought them back full of water to use in the flush.

We had a couple gallons of water for emergency use for drinking but brushing my teeth and washing my hands went by the board. We did have some hand sanitizer so I used that frequently and made frantic calls to plumber and electrician for help. We are now back to normal with a new appreciation of the usefulness of water.

Thinking I should go to an antique dealer and get a “thunder jug” such as we used when I was growing up on the farm. And thanks to all who helped us out of our dilemma.

I have found that just as soon as you think you can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends. Have a safe July Fourth. Enjoy.