I'm back!

A series of events at home had conspired to keep me busy and needing focus on other things.

Today is the last program of the year for the Wilhelm Reich museum and hopefully after that I will be able to change focus and get on with some other projects. The market is doing well for me,(I'm an equity trader by day). My mom has Parkinson's and there are times that what she needs is more important than my own time. And one of my aunts was diagnosed with cancer. The outcome for her is looking good.

I have spent some time getting pictures and even had a couple of great days out with a friend. So, here goes!

Summer is ending and the goldenrod has been just incredible this year. Down towards Farmington the fields were a carpet of gold. This is one of my favorite flowers, I just love the color and the variety and abundance of insects that visit goldenrod (Solidago spp) is great. I haven't really had the chance to get some photos this year, but there's always next year.

It's also a bittersweet end to the summer when I see the first blooming of goldenrod. It means cool weather is coming, and I always hate to see summer end.

We had some cool nights last week, it did drop down to 40 and after having 70-80's that was too much of a shock.On the day the front was coming through, I went out to Little Kennebago Lake with a friend. It was overcast and threatened rain, which of course it did. There is something about being in a kayak in the rain that makes it more fun.

So I got to see some of the locals. A cow moose, a few common loons and a common snipe.

Saddleback Mt.

I've been busy the past several days, but last Monday, I took a hike up Saddleback Mt with a friend. I love the alpine environments of the Northeast. At 4120' it's the 14th highest in Maine and with The Horn, (a summit attached to Saddleback), 4041' and the 21 highest . And that also means it around treeline. The Appalachian Trail runs along the summit ridge, views are great and the weather isn't always the best. We hit it on terms, calm winds, temps in the 70's.

Scattered patches of krummholz are about on the top, like this clump of balsam fir(Abies balsamea) and labrador tea(Ledum groenlandicum).

Mountain Sandwort (Arenaria groenlandica) was very abundant. It thrives in disturbed areas, especially in places disturb by frost. The trail was fringed with it.

I love the bonsai qualities of the krummholz.

Dew

Fair thee well you Low.

Finally after what seems to have been an eternity, Maine is beginning to clear out. That doesn't mean we still won't have daily storms, but we'll take what we can,as long as it comes our way.

Clouds

Bald Mountain

This June has been wet,cold, miserable. When the sun does shine, I'm too busy playing catch up. So the forecast for today was overcast, spotty showers in the mountains. Perfect conditins to go for a hike. At least it wasn't pouring rain.
So I went up Bald Mt. Its a small hill between Rangeley and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes. It's also one of the most popular trails here, and that's mainly due to it's accessibility. Doesn't mean that it is the best for the uneducated and out of shape masses. It usually claims it's share of broken and twisted ankles. But it's a beautiful mountain with great views and it's home.It has an observation tower on top.
I love being in the mountains in the clouds.

June 1.

Snow on the mountains around here. It looks like it started around 2500'. Gone by mid-day. Woke to a temperature of 34 f.

Day after

I lay in bed last night listening to an approaching storm. As the sky darkened ,thunder rolled over the land and an occasional flash of lightning could be seen. I love adverse weather, it animates,enriches and gives depth to the land. And I'm a sucker for fog. But for the past week or so, we've had a upper level low hanging around, which meant a lot of rain, and thunderstorms. Which all seemed to come over western Maine. Enough is enough. Lakes,rivers and streams are full . Mosquitoes are over abundant, but oddly the blackflies which usually make the area unpleasant in June aren't that bad.
I live on the edge of town. The wild edge. More nature than houses.