North Norway

NORTH NORWAY — It’s sweater weather again this morning. Good for doing the outside work without working up a sweat. Our iris and peonies are coming into bloom, all other spring blooms having gone by.

Dell has an ongoing battle with a gray squirrel who is smarter than he ought to be. He thwarts every effort to keep him out of the birdfeeder. I myself think he must be a flying squirrel because the only way he can get in that feeder is through the air.

Dell is threatening to cut all the nearby trees down but I know that would not help as at night I hear the flying squirrels land on our roof as they soar from the oak tree out front. Then they scamper across the roof and soar down to the birdfeeder.

The gray may be doing something similar. If the black flies didn’t attack me so ferociously, I would sit outside and watch for a spell. Tom turkey survived the hunting season and comes to feed and drink out of the birdbath. So far so good.

Dell visited brother Duane at Market Square Health Center yesterday and stayed while Duane had his exercise session. Duane says he is getting stronger but has given up going home. Instead he has his name in for senior housing and has his place up for sale. The “kids” held a yard sale there last weekend.

From New Hampshire, Diane Hayes Spires writes that her husband, Terry, is getting much better and is home doing some of the cooking and housework. She is very busy with end of school activities and looking forward to a summer off. Glenn and Rachel Hayes stopped by last week after visiting the cemetery in West Paris.

Glenn brought some more books for Dell and we returned some books and puzzles that helped pass the long winter days. Rachel was anxious to get back home and do her daily three-mile walk. They did visit Duane before they left the area.

Down in Yarmouth, David Tamminen and wife Joanna are busy weeding and setting out traps for the woodchucks. Their daughter Suzanna has been suffering with a bout of shingles, painful, involving her scalp and right eye. Latest report is that the eye has not been damaged.

Their granddaughter, Phoebe, just finished her second year at Bates College. Grandson, Connor, graduates from from Brunswick HS this week and has been admitted to Mount Allison College in New Brunswick. So David and Jo send their love to all their family and friends hereabouts.

Up in Greenwood, Mike and Rita Perrault are home after spending some time in Ohio where Mike had his lung transplant. He is looking good after a hard winter and says he is feeling good. He has to return to Ohio for check-ups. Their dog, Jasper went on a diet and is also looking fit and trim.

Dana Morgan and wife, Paula are working on projects and getting caught up before the summer gets too busy. They still have jobs going in Biddeford and Portland. Paula says the pumpkin, cukes and squash are yet too be planted but everything else is in and the peas are up.

They bought two of those battery operated sonic mole repellers as Dana doesn’t want his carrots to be eaten again this year. By anything but him, I mean. Their grandson, Kevin, has two teeth now and is a drool factory.

Dana and Paula took a drive to Portland Saturday last and walked the Eastern Prom Trail between the Narrow Gauge Railway and the sea towards the Burnham and Morrill plant. The salt spray roses are in full bloom and it was a lovely day for a walk, if a little hot and sticky.

They passed East End Beach and the statue of the founder of Portland. They came back over the top, near the park and went to the monuments and memorials to service men and sailors and ships up there, then we went across the bay to lunch on the deck of the Saltwater Grill with a lovely view of the Old Port and the harbor traffic.

Aunt Joan Morgan has been home almost two weeks and although Paula and Dana haven’t seen her yet, word is she is doing very well and happy to be home.

Owen and Pauline Morgan came over to Dana and Paula’s after putting flowers on graves and had supper with them. They are all trying to lose weight so no ice cream afterwards. Everyone’s favorite thing to do is go for a drive down to Norway-Paris and get and ice cream in the evening.

I have found out that the probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.