Tag: animals

Our Scottish Adventure Part 3 | Isle of Skye

2 Comments

As we approached the Isle of Skye, it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and a good omen of things to come. Throughout our time on the island we were told repeatedly, “It’s never this sunny and clear. It usually rains.” Fortunately for us, it didn’t rain.

Eilean Donan Castle

The Eilean Donan Castle rises in the distance as you get closer to the bridge that brings you onto the Isle of Skye. The castle is beautiful and I especially enjoyed the bright blue sky as a backdrop on the day we visited. After finding a spot in the crowded car park, we walked along the pedestrian path by the edge of the water and viewed the castle from different angles.

It’s an extremely photogenic castle although it had been in disrepair for over 200 years until it was restored in the early 20th century, re-opening in 1932. It’s also often used as a film location with my favorite being Made of Honor starring Patrick Dempsey, a fellow Mainer. We didn’t tour the inside of the castle but rather just enjoyed the spectacular views.

Continue reading →

#AtoZChallenge | H is for Hiking with goats another tail tale from the trail.

36 Comments

There was a moment when I was focused on the trail ahead but sensed that there was someone close behind. Seconds later one of goats sprinted past, fully engaged on exploring the wooded countryside, far less interested in us than we were in them.

This past September, on a mild fall day, we found ourselves enjoying an educational and relaxing hike with a sweet, well-mannered tribe of Alpine dairy goats at Ten Apple Farm.

The day of our hike started off with a light rain, so our hosts flipped the schedule and we started off in the barn where we learned about the farm and the goats. It was hard to stay focused, even though the information was interesting.

As the farmer told us his stories, one of the smaller goats in the pen behind him kept repeatedly jumping straight up while bleating and crying as she desperately tried to see over the top of the pen. She’d get a fleeting glimpse of us and then disappear only to return seconds later to peek again. It was clear that our hiking companions would have some energy.

Continue reading →

#AtoZChallenge | D is for Dogs from the first hello to the last goodbye.

59 Comments

Sitting cross legged on the living room floor as puppies with sporadic control over their limbs climbed all over us, jostling one another for high ground so they could lick our faces, is a treasured memory.

The parents of this rambunctious lot were both black labs with loads of energy, which in hindsight should have been a deterrent. The litter was a Neapolitan mix of three chocolate, three black and three yellow labs. We knew we wanted a smaller dog and as soon as we walked in my daughter, who was only six at the time, found a perfect little chocolate female pup. She probably would have been wonderful, but instead one of the larger yellow labs stole my heart and in a decision I occasionally regretted, I overruled her choice.

Moose, as the owners called him, was friendly, outgoing, and full of personality. During feeding time, he would lay down, covering as much food as possible, as it scattered across the floor while his brothers and sisters raced to the bowls. Then he would simply stand and eat the food he had captured. Turns out that was all for show. Once we got him home, we learned that he was the only lab on the planet who actually was not motivated by food. For the first two years of his life, we could actually see his ribs.

Continue reading →

#AtoZChallenge | G is for Goats and an Adorable Way to Recycle Our Christmas Trees

53 Comments

I put up five Christmas trees each year. One stands in front of the window in our mudroom and is covered in ornaments that I’ve collected from my travels over the years. You can see it from the road as soon as you come over the hill leading up to our house.

The second is a slightly bigger one in our living room that I insist on putting colored lights on even though the rest of my family prefers white ones. The colored lights are nostalgic and remind me of my childhood. The lower third is where all the non-breakable ornaments hang, an attempt to dog proof it. It’s also tied to the ceiling for reinforcement since it has some irreplaceable ornaments on it including a glass elephant my grandmother gave me.

A third table top tree in our breakfast area showcases my Superwholock obsession although in actuality it is covered only in Doctor Who ornaments and one determined mini-bust of Dean Winchester that I converted into something that I could hang in the tree out of desperation at not being able to find any other Supernatural ornaments. I’ve yet to locate a Sherlock one that I like either.

Continue reading →

Ten things I learned on my first trip to the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity Maine.

9 Comments

Normally, I am an exceptionally prepared person but when I decided to head up to Unity for the last day of the Common Ground Country Fair I jumped into the car on a whim and with no supplies. We had just celebrated the first day of fall but the temperatures were rebelling and heading up towards the 90s. A few basics like sunscreen and water would have been helpful, but fortunately it didn’t ruin my first experience at the Common Ground Country Fair.

The Common Ground Country Fair is a sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and celebrates organic agriculture and rural life. This scouting trip gave me a basic overview of the event and will help me be better prepared next time I head back for hopefully a longer visit.

Continue reading →