North Norway

NORTH NORWAY — Someday I am going to be well organized but today is not the day. During the week I jot down things as they happen or occur to me on slips of paper, backs of envelopes and the like thinking I will retrieve them for this column.

Can I find these precious notes. Not hardly. So relying on my unreliable memory here goes.

Tony and Cheri Andrews held a cookout up in the field at Pat and Charlie’s place in Greenwood. They had all their blended families. Cheri’s children, Matt, Patrick and Marion and friends and Tony’s children, Delsey, Willow, Errol and Josef plus grandchildren and miscellaneous others.

Deven, Judy and Ian and Lynsey Andrews, Kara Rowe and Six are those I recall. Pat and Charlie were the senior family members in attendance. Miscellaneous dogs, cats and lots of tomato hornworms added to the attraction.

Josef is a runner and came in 67th out of 6107 runners in the recent Beach to Beacon run. He has competed and done well in several meets in New England and even further afield for all I can remember. Anyway congratulations are in order and he has gotten Tony running also. I believe Willow and Tony run daily and Tony is as lean and fit as he ever was or even more so.

Speaking of hornworms, and I hate to think of them, it is a good year for them to thrive. Paula tells us she picks them and makes them bite the dust in her drive.

I hear the turkeys like them but where is there a turkey when you need him? Something is after the leaves on our tomato plant. It appears to be a fly or hornet that shreds the leaves. The season being about over we are not going to go to war about it. Have really enjoyed all the fresh produce this year. Have been lunching on corn, green beans, cukes and tomatoes for days now.

We went to Auburn with Pat and Charlie yesterday for a belated anniversary celebration at the Longhorn Steakhouse for a steak dinner. Which tasted great after many meatless days. I do have a gripe though. Anyone who says, “How are you guys?” Looking around I know at least two of us are not “guys.” Perhaps after a certain age one may have a teeny mustache but really. The idea!

The cat is very, very interested in the warblers who are flocking around in the bushes outside. Unfortunately for her, she is inside the screened in porch and cannot do anything but salivate.

Seeing them flocking makes me realize the migration season will be here pretty soon. The hummingbirds are bulking up also. This weather is so nice I wish we could have it until Christmas, with the once a week rainy day.

We stopped at Giffords for a cone of ice cream after dining at the steakhouse yesterday. Tried the new LL Bean Boot ice cream. Pretty good. Do they mix it in that giant boot or what?

Pam and Dylan arrived in Maine safely. Haven’t seen them yet but a big family reunion is in the planning for Labor Day weekend. The girl who drove the U-Haul with Pam’s belongings had never been out of North Carolina before and was quite taken with Maine. She had never flown before either but eagerly boarded the plane in Portland to return home.

Mary and Frank had a visit from a boy sponsored by the “Make a Wish Foundation" earlier this summer at Frank’s museum. They heard this week that he had had a successful operation and was doing well. As he is very interested in minerals and geology, Mary is going to send him some of her tumbled rocks.

Heard from Dot Packard yesterday. She is presently at the Norway Rehabilitation Center and says she is treated very well. We did not know she was there so glad she called. She is always so pleasant and has a positive attitude.

Have you heard. Many hospitals are putting in high tech delivery rooms. All the babies are coming out cordless.