August 23, 2012 We were not in Iowa

 

We got to stay in Maine with Katie and her family for 9 days. You saw a few glimpses last week. Let me show you more, both the people and the wonderful places we visited.

Last Sunday Maisie was baptized. Christopher had worn the same outfit.

The person on the right was the priest, who was also a god parent.

In the morning, before church, we had a chance to see kites, on a scale I had not seen in Iowa.

Over the week we experienced both children. Let me just say it was hardly ever quiet. 

Christopher would cycle through being a baseball player at one point, an equestrian at another, and then back to being a soccer goalie. 

Actually some soccer program for 4 year old children begins this fall. 

Here he is with his little soccer players.

We went to many beaches during the week. Maine has beaches. 

One had a lovely garden. 

One of the best moments was Maisie engaging experiencing one of her birthday presents. You can call it performance art.

We did get to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. It is about an hour north of Portland. It is worth the trip. We have been at many times of the year at this point. The best time is probably high spring, when the wild orchids and rhododendron were blooming. But mid August was not bad.

Let me just say that this garden does annuals. I guess that is what you would expect in August.

If you put a plant like a phlox, on a berm, it is particularly nice.

This was a little tunnel, made from willows,  that Christopher liked.

These large gardens almost always have to have some seasonal feature. In Denver one year they had giant bugs. Many have Chihuly glass.

This year for whatever reason Coastal Main had great big trolls.

For fun, this next picture is the previous one, only upside down.

One last troll picture. If you did not understand the sizes involved you will now.

When you add water and even fountains you can paint pretty pictures.

As I mentioned annuals really stole the show as far as I was concerned. The use of silver plants was inspirational.

Here are more pictures.

9 days. 

They were wonderful.

Now we are home, in the middle of a state and a university that is asking for trouble.

My biggest fear in traveling for the first time in almost 2 years, was that I would pick up the virus along the way and giving it to Maisie or Christopher. Talk about something political getting personal very quickly.

But I must put that aside. I remember Maisie peeking around the couch or Christopher wanting to kick just about any ball around the driveway.

That is a better note for the end of this long postcard from Maine.

Next week the blog will return to flowers and recipes.

For now, be safe. Stay cool.

Philip