A Whale of a Tale

Last weekend my Stepdad Cubby came for a visit. We (of course) took him fishing on the ocean for bluefish. We did not catch any....not even a bite, but we did come across a fishy too big for the boat. 

It was an absolutely gorgeous day as we headed out of Boothbay Harbor. Jon carries a radio with him so he can listen in on the commercial fishing boats and get an idea of where they are catching fish. All seemed slow everywhere until we heard one of the Captains say there was a Humpback Whale ahead. So we and several other touristy boats headed over to see, and well, get a free whale watching tour. We were quite impressed and happy to have something interesting going on! After a while, we decide we would head to a different spot and start fishing again. We started to move away from the whale watching extravaganza when HELLO THERE...the big guy appeared (at a distance) in front of us. So we stopped and marveled and snapped pictures. Jon called the Captains on the radio just to let them know that the whale was "over heuh". So the boats came over for another viewing. AGAIN...we decided it was seriously time to move on. So Jon put it in to slow speed while we packed up the cameras and the bottles of water, basically getting ready to cruise at a faster speed. We had just packed up, and were ready to go when there, TOUCHING THE BOW OF OUR LITTLE 17 FT. BOAT was our new friend! SERIOUSLY! We all saw it at once! Jon (being the able minded Captain that he is) threw the boat into nuetral (Oh thankyou LUND for making such a fine little fishing boat). I was pointing, but all I could get out of my mouth was "bah, bah, dah, dahhhhhh...." Cubby was desperately trying to untangle himself from the chart and search for his camera. All I had to do was sweep my hand over the side of the boat and pet him. But I didn't. Our huge friend just slowly lolled around us, showing us fins that must've been 6 ft. long. We figure he was about 35 - 40 ft. We figure we could've been capsized. We figure we could've been bait.

I have seen some pretty cool things nature wise, but this is definetly in the top 5. I have been whale watching before, but never have I been on top of a whale in a small boat. I'm sure I never will be again.

As for pictures, all that I got was when he was at a distance, and with my digital camera with no zoom, he looks like a little spot of something on the water. There was no time to dig out our cameras when he came up close and personal. That's O.K....it will be forever burned into my memory....and you all will just have to take my word for it....this isn't a fish tale.

 

Goober Boys

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I had loads of fun sending goodies to my Snail Mail Swap Chic. If you are the nosey type like myself, head over to her site and see what I sent!

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Collective Souls.....Ani just sent BELIEVE off to Leslie. She did a WONDERFUL job, her page looks very TOUCHABLE! I don't want to give it away, so you'll just have to go and take a peek for yourselves!

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I also sent a vintage crib cover to this cool Maine Gal. (go check it out....it's really cute!) 

This morning I ordered something for a special friend's B-day. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY KATHLEEN!

UPDATE: Dear Kathleen's Birthday isn't until the 2nd, So my Birthday wishes to you are no longer belated, but your pressie still will be! hehe.

SINCE I'm now sending out early B-day wishes HAPPY~HAPPY Birthday to a special lady....my other Mom, Duke....she's been our Stepmother since I've been a small child & was always the GLUE to keep us all together! I still have VERY vivid memories of long trips in the car, where she would throw her hair over the front seat, so from the back we could brush, braid and put like a million barrets in it!! hee~hee....she got her pressie early! 

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P.S....the wedding yesterday was just wonderful! Good friends, music, food & drink! What more could you ask for??

 

posted by: sweetpeas at July 31, 2005 17:33 | link | comments (13) |
bloggy presents, family & friends

just checking in.....

We have been busy busy! We are off to a wedding in a little bit, that I am very much looking forward to....should be loads of fun! This couple is in their 50's and are way cool. Folks are bringing tents, there will be live music and from what I hear, the food will be over the top! (lobster ceaser salad will probably be my personal fave!) Since they are the couple that has 3 of everything, I collected $$$$ from a bunch of friends. I bought a big picnic basket and filled it with flowers, wine, champagne & gourmet goods. Then I made 3 trips to Boothbay Harbor (lovely coastal town) and was able to get them a bunch of gift certificates that should cover their needs. A night at a swanky Inn, a dinner at an awesome restaurant, a trip to the candy store and a stop at a wine & gourmet food place! I put those in the basket here and there with little notes like...."ask for a room with a view", etc.

I know that I sure wouldn't mind getting a gift like that! I hope they like!

Will post more soon....I have to tell you all our WHALE story!

posted by: sweetpeas at July 30, 2005 15:56 | link | comments (6) |

snail mail!

How cool is this little batch of goodies from my Snail Mail Swap partner??

I am a lucky girl!

I have always LOVED Karen's felt work....and lucky me I got an Egg Head pin cushion!! And just look at the cute postcard with her felted doggie on it!! I will not be able to send that one out I'm afraid....it's going right on the bulletin board 'cuz it's so DARN CUTE!

THANKYOU KAREN!!!

posted by: sweetpeas at July 22, 2005 14:28 | link | comments (10) |
bloggy presents

Posh bath for the Birds......

So maybe I haven't been doing much painting....but I have been taking care of our darling birds!

OK...I actually like old and rusty in my garden (note old iron bed as fence in top right hand corner). BUT a rusty bath just wouldn't do for the birds!

obviously before

Tiled bath in seashells, broken china & pottery. Our birds can be the fussy~fancy type here in Maine.

after

Yes....silliness has taken over this morning.

~hugs~

posted by: sweetpeas at July 18, 2005 14:30 | link | comments (10) |
inspiration for you, artsy fartsy

back to the basics......

A few of my friends have asked me...."have you been painting again?" OR "when will you paint again" OR "WHAT are you going TO DO?"

No, I haven't done much to be creative lately. I have plans, visions, ideas and such, but have been taking a bit of a break. I got so behind with the house, chores, etc. when I was painting furniture, that I've really just wanted to catch up on all of that again before I start another creative endeavor. I had clients waiting for pieces for almost 6 months at a time, and I came to realize that I just didn't like painting on demand. I have vowed to NEVER do a commisioned piece again. I also wanted to DECLUTTER the house before I got back to it.

My friend Sarah, who is an artist/photographer proposed that we get back to basics and do a simple excersise. So while the guys talked fishing in the kitchen, and after we prepped our dinner and got it going on the grill, we sat on the deck and painted.

The excersise was to paint eachother in 15 minutes. NO thinking about it, just doing it! It was very hard for me to not want to do some detail. As you can see, she was much more free with her brush then I. (I was working on the larger canvas). But honestly, it was fun, and it gave me a much needed boost!

This week I have had the pleasure of chatting with 2 of my bloggy friends via PHONE! That's right....the real thing! Kathleen....you are a doll and a sweetie! You were my first bloggy~girlfriend, and you were as cool on the phone as you are on your blog! (I can't believe how fast an hour went by!)

Yvonne....WOW, I never knew there was someone who could talk as fast as me! What a wonderfully fun person you are!! And the accent....TO DIE FOR! So sophisticated! And such a beautiful laugh...(which she does a lot of by the way!)

Can't wait to chat again girls!

And now I'm off to check on Ani and see how she's coming along with the Collective Souls journals. That's right, I said JOURNALS with an "S". I know she received BELIEVE & was waiting for SPRING FLING from London. She's doing double duty! I know she's up for the challenge!

posted by: sweetpeas at July 15, 2005 13:47 | link | comments (10) |
artsy fartsy, family & friends

Summer lovin'....

After a wet & cold Spring, we have been taking full advantage of Maine's bountiful offerings. We have been on the go every weekend, and using up our free time during the weekdays to pack, unpack, grocery shop, somewhat clean the house, pack up and do it all over again. Needless to say....progress on the addition has come to a halt for a bit. That's O.K. by me, it will always be there tomorrow.

A few weekends ago, my beautiful nephew Gabe turned 2. They had a fun little party outside with lots of kids, burgers and dogs on the grill, gooey cake and some swimming. He was quite the little Dude!

"Don't bother me....I'm busy"

Last weekend for the 4th we headed north to Jon's family camp. Can anyone say "LUCKY"? Or maybe "blessed" is a better word.

Ridgetop

We had our friends and their 3 kids, My bestest girl Judy and friends Sara & Dale. We spent every day on the water swimming, kayaking, baoting and fishing. The Towers went for a hike one afternoon. There were "boonie" rides to look for moose. (yes we saw some). Every night we would gather for communal dinners that were out of this world fabulous. Happy hours were extended....and the SLEEP.....OH THE SLEEP! Heavenly! There's nothing like that fresh mountain air! 

The Tower family. This is the view from many a window at camp.

Judy and I took full advantage of the kayaking and paddled on 3 different bodies of water. NICE LONG trips along a winding river, a lake and a pond. It was so quiet and peaceful with just loons and ducks to keep us company at times.

Coming home from camp was a bit of downer, but I had to kick it into high gear and do some serious cleaning for company. Our friend Ray from Chicage arrived Thursday and we have kept him on the run! Jon and he fished all day yesterday, and last night we had a lobster feed. Today we are off to do some striper fishing and grab a bite to eat in Wiscasset where we launch. More then likely we will get some fried clams or crabmeat rolls at the famous Reds Eats in Wiscasset. If we catch some striper, I'll be sure to post some pictures!

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Other fun news would be that I am excited to be participating in Hope and Carries Snail Mail Swap! 

I have the lovely Hannah as my swap buddy, I was reading her bio sheet of likes and dislikes and dicovered that her favorite flower is peony like me! We actually have a lot of similar likes and I think that I'm going to have no problem sending her some goodies! I have all ready picked her up something small....and need to dig around my "collections" for something I think she might be able to use in her crafting! How fun is this going to be anyway?

posted by: sweetpeas at July 09, 2005 17:06 | link | comments (5) |
family & friends

To all of our friends in LONDON.......we love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Words just cannot express how I am feeling right now. I can say that I am happy to hear that you are O.K. Amanda....hang in there Dear, we are thinking of you!

posted by: sweetpeas at July 08, 2005 03:08 | link | comments (4) |

BELIEVING in the power of words......

Hey all...Let me just say that our 4th of July weekend up to camp was a BALL!! I will post about it soon, and many, many other topics as well....(Gabe's birthday party, revamped birdbath, etc.)

We have company coming, and I seriously need to dig out the spare bedroom, so I'm short on time, but I just HAD to make a quick post to all of my Collective Souls!

 

Please head over to Stephanie's site and take a gander at her lovely pages. She's a quote collector, and she dreamed up some pages that you just wont BELIEVE! They really are just so lovely. If you click on her photo album picture above, you can see all of Believe's pages so far......Thankyou Steph....your are the sweetest!

I just wanted to say that I am so proud of all of you for your commitment & incredible work. Even though we are all learning this journal proccess together, and sometimes it's all been a little topsy~turvy, or disorganized, it all seems to come together after one of you posts a picture of your pages. I am so honored & happy to have you girls working on the journals with me.

And now....I've got to get off this computer and go blubber in private!

LOL & great big hugs!

  

posted by: sweetpeas at July 06, 2005 16:37 | link | comments (8) |
collective souls