North Norway

NORTH  NORWAY — The thoughts I am having regarding deer right now are not fit to print. I suppose pride goeth before a fall but we were proud of our little pocket garden in front of the porch. The deer have nibbled all the blossoms and we have bare stalks sticking up. Twice Dell has gone out on the porch for the paper to confront two deer munching away, breakfasting on our flowers.

Lee Millett, one of our neighbors, says he sees a doe with two fawns at his place but these are young bucks, we think. I am going to paint a black line through the deer crossing sign in front of our place to redirect them in another direction.

Dell has gone downtown to try and navigate his way to the recycling center. The garbage was getting stinky. We keep it in the garage and we don’t want a repeat of last year's attempted break in by a bear. There are plenty of wild berries out there to feed the bear. Dell picked raspberries earlier this week and would like to go again but today is too hot for that.

This is cousins’ week at the Perham’s so I will quote Paula as follows:

Cleaned, caught up on paperwork, loaded car and picked up Zack at Paul’s Monday morning for the trip down to Wassamki Springs campground in Westbrook. He helped me get all the stuff unloaded and the camper opened up and all systems running. Dana and I took the fifth wheel down on Saturday. We got Zach’s new tent up and his stuff organized, then went to the mall for lunch and to do some shopping. Took an hour or so break to lie around and read and do crosswords before Tricia and the girls arrived around 2:30. Helped them unload and settle in, watched Katri and Teagan put up their tent, which amused us.

Had a big supper and then went swimming in the lovely pond at Wassambi. All in bed by 8 or so although I assume the kids probably stayed up later in their tents than Tricia and I did in the camper.

Up early, jet woke the girls but Zach slept on. Campground is right under the flyway for Portland Jetport. Had to dry our stuff from last night in the laundromat before heading to the ocean. Met Renee and Patrick at Pine Point Beach. Lovely set-up. You pay $10 fee to park and they have a public bath house and snack bar right there. It was hot. The water was cold. Only Teagan and Patrick were brave enough to to get completely wet. Took a nice walk to the breakwater and tidal river. It was a lovely day for the beach but more shade would have been nice.

Returned to the camper and immediately all jumped in the pond. Would have stayed there if we hadn’t had plans. Got showered and dressed and when Dana arrived we headed to the Clambake Restaurant in Scarborough. Great seafood meal and a view of the marshes and gulls while eating. Went to Old Orchard and walked down the beach before checking out the pier businesses We all did some rides, then hung around while the kids did some more rides. Watched the human spectacle walk by. It was nice to be there after the sun set and all the lights of OOB lit up. Dana treated us to some wonderful gelato before we headed back to the camper.

Poor Dana, been married to the man for 30 years and I forgot to bring coffee for the camper for him. He had to go find another woman to give him his caffeine this morning. Got the tents dried and unpitched, clothing and gear alloted to cars, camper clean and all systems shut off and drained and we were off. Went to the Old Port and walked around from shop to shop, enjoying a lovely sea breeze and the company of the kids. We all ate at Sapporo’s Japanese Restaurant. Zach had the terryaki beef and the girls had ice cream although they did try some of Tricia’s and my sushi rolls. Zach was not having anything to do with them or the miso soup that came with his meal.

We hit the supermarket to stock up on the way to Grandpa and Grammie Perham’s house. Found Grandpa incapacitated by too much heat but were assured that he was still alive. We had a cookout with uncle Dana grilling and uncle Paul joined us for supper.

Will continue this next week.

Nothing pertinent comes to mind this week so think up your own saying. Such as Feet smell? Nose run? Hey, you’re upside down.