Duck Whisperher - Moosehead Maine

Taming wild beasts- I was the duck "piper"
Moosehead Lake is beautiful and the weather has been to perfect. Y ou wake up to a clear blue sky and the temps are in the upper 70's.
Today we traveled west to Rockwell where they were completely redoing the road- I am talking DUST horrid I could feel grit in my teeth .
We went to see about the boat to Mt Kineo where you can walk around or hike but the number of smaller people ( aged 8 and under)and dogs getting on the small boat made me think better of that plan. My number one grievance this day is flexi-leads as they are used by people who have absolutely NO control on their dog and can not figure out the damn leash ! I do not bring my dogs out with flex-leads and my dogs can heel and sit. Saw two beautiful flat coated retrievers- on regular leashes and well trained then we had mom and dad ( with flipflops and a beer ) and a large dog who was wrapping the kids up in the flexi-lead while trying to jump and everyone. Gotta love it
Ok pet peeve for the day !! enough said
Tomorrow the quest to find a photographic moose continues- they say that  moose out number the residents 3 to 1, must be before tourists.
Take care my friends, more to come I am sure.

The magic of Vermont

An actual  working phone booth outside of Floyd's country store in Randolph Center VT.  Great little ( really little) country store where we bought cheese from the big wheel of cheddar and had them slice cob bacon for BLT's to go with the tomato I had purchased at the farmer's market. We had a beautiful campsite where you could sit and look at the rolling mountains. Made me realize what a great state vermont is- this time of year at least.
We then went to Essex Junction to a RV rally where we had specific goals, purchase 3 LED lights for the hall and bedroom ( at $47 each , ouch) but they are warrentied forever .Had a company come out and give me estimates for replacing the carpet and new shades. All in all we got what we wanted out of the rally and there was doggie agility going on so I was REALLLLLLY happy.
Today we are in Pine Forest Campground which is true to its name. It is in Springfield VT which is a disappointment after the beauty and simplicity of Randolph and Bethel and the valleys and hills . Kind of an nold mill town but we are 15 minutes away from NH, and the state package stores ( leaving nothing to chance)
We head to Mooselake Maine the end of the week.
Yes, still loving the life although I have to wonder why hubby has to occupy the exact space where I am headed- likeESP. I go for the sink, he has to get coffee, I head for the bedroom he is in the hallway , hmmmm is this a test ??
Looking forward to Maine where we will be for most of August.
keep well all
Lindsay, Nemo, Abbie, Deco and hubby Jim

Field Pickin'

No, field pickin" has nothing to do with blueberries it is about bluegrassers meeting at night, banjos, fiddlers, steel guiltars and base players all just "pickin"  Last night I saw a piano that someone had wheels on and hard brought it on his rv. Hard core

Average age is 60-70, so I guess we fit in. There are over 200 trailors, 5th wheels and RVs here and they have been here all week although the actual festival started yesterday - of course camping is free and dry ( no elec, water, sewer) in the 90 degree temps thank god for the generator.

We got the new satelite put on the bus in Hatfield on Tuesday, works great but expensive. Dogs seem to be adjusting, they love the AC as the heat does get to them
From here we head back over the mountain to Randolph Center and a beautiul park so that Jim can visit with friends in Bethel, we will drive up to Quiche . Still see lots of devestation from the Hurricane last year, it is really amazing to see how much was washed out.
So, it is the lazy life of a full timer, I think Jim is about bluegrassed out or at least he told me not to sign up for the next bluegrass festival . Oh well, he can watch NASCAR tomorrow on the tv.
Signing out

And the juorney begins

Are we ready yet ? We leave on Monday to begin our adventure. Our first stop in in Brandon VT, The Basinbluegrass Festival where we will rough camp in a field with all the other aging 'hippies' and listen to good music and most likely meet some interesting people.
From there we are heading to Quiche to visit friends and then to Essex Junction for a FMCA rally. Then on to  Moosehead Lake , Arcadia and finally to visit good friends in Jonesport Maine and attend the world famous Machias Blueblueberry Festival ( well, maybe not world famous )
Pictures to be included with the highs and lows of life in 40 feet.
The three dogs are ready to go . Flee is happy with my son, he enjoys being an only dog and looks relaxed and happy.
My promise is to keep this blog current.
Will be thinking of all my friends out there.
Jim and Lindsay

bad bad blogger

For the few people who still follow this, Mea Culpa, I have been very bad.
Why..... this year in Florida was different for me. The dogs did make me crazier then in the past, the weather was cool to cold and wet, I felt at drift ( whatever that means) . I was glad to head home to all the creature comforts, a fenced in yard for the dog, and my own vehicle.
I still love living in the bus it is just the dogs seemed more demanding this year, or I was less able to deal with them. Or it could just be that I had alot more on my mind and was more anxious /stressed then last year. Need to deal with that.

So, I list my sources of angst> house still not sold, money a bit tighter then I would have expected, children continue to have multiple issues, I have yet to find my "groove".

So let's go to the last one, what is my groove ?
The first year of retirement I reveled in all the time I had, now I feel adrift with it. Funny feeling, I think I need some external structure, a part time job perhaps. I feel isolated, especially in Florida, where all the relationships are more then casual in an RV park. Filling my time with shuffle board doesn't do it for me. My sister suggested that I was too cerebral and that small talk irritates me. I am not sure that is totally true , makes me sound like a snob, however.....

I am not sure this answers the "why" of why I didn't blog, but I didn't want to let my frustration show and I had fewer moments of actual peace this year.

I did get to some trials with the dogs, and I found some other dog people so I could do some training, that was a plus. But I found the dogs so much more confining this year, the walking and trying to keep them quiet, and giving each one time out of the crate. Flee especially needed more time outside the crate and yet he is the one I can't have out with the others- difficult. But, the dogs did not buy the bus, we did, and I will just have to learn to cope.

Not a happy blogger but a truthful one. Goal, to find a part time job to give me some structure and an outlet, some external socialization and some silly money.
That being said I may volunteer at the Seaport which would also get me out of the house with others. I find my world getting a bit smaller then it should be, need to put myself out there.

Sorry for the woe is me blog. I will figure it out, thought we could take a few short trips with just 2 dogs, I know that would be more restful.

Need to get the house sold, I am between lives right now. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I buried St Joseph so long ago he is probably fossilized.

For my part, more blogs- upbeat ones at that.
thanks for hanging with me
Lindsay and her golden year crisis

What's happening

Here is my very lovely granddaughter who came for a week in Florida. The weather has been very iffy here, a lot of cool weather, like jeans and sweatshirt weather, but we lucked out while she was here and were able to pull out a few good days.

We went to Everglade City and took an airboat ride and saw alligators, went to Fort Meyer Beach and to Sanibel. One morning to the Manatee Park, saw Valentines Day at the movies, ate shrimp at Pinchers and watched the Olympics. Always nice to have her with us.

The last few days have been Florida warm, and about time. The park had a pool party yesterday Now this means everyone goes to the pool for one dollar hot dogs, with a bag of chips and soda or a beer, and then we all sit around listening to the music of our youth ( Beach boys etc) and watch those who are in the pool. One fun lady started a line dance, and proceeded to all those other silly dances and a few people joined in Ahhh life in the fast lane !!

On Wednesday mornings I go to dog class with my new found friend Esther. Great class and it serves to keep Deco on his toes and i get to meet new dog people. Thank god for the dog and agility. It is one of the things that helps me keep sane

On the subject of insanity, traveling with 4 dogs is a pain. It would be better if they all played nice together, but they don't and it makes things difficult. I know I have been through this here before, but.... it does not get easier. I am going to buy a nice bottle of wine for the poor couple next door to us who have had 6 weeks of barking at 7 am , at breakfast, at dinner.

Jim's daughter will be here for 2 days and then my sister the end of next week Can't wait to see her.

Hope everyone is staying warm up North, almost into March, a month I have always hated, but then comes Spring, maybe

TaTa

finally - the delinquent blogger

I am truly negiligent but I never feel I have anything exciting that will add to my reader's lives. However, for the sake of blogging I will "blog"
The weather this year has been iffy . Last year we never saw rain and it was warm everyday. This year we have had alot of rain and cloudy days and cool days. When the florida sun comes out it is warm but those clouds cool things off.
Last weekend we went to Palmetto and an agility trial. We got to see our 2 good friends from Conn. who actually live in Maine and florida most of the time. That was fun, they are only about and hour to an hour and a half away from us but schedules seem to always conflict and then there is the dog thing - meaning I only have a short window of opportunity to leave the BARKERS.
The agility trial was great and Deco did me proud. My new friend Esther was there. I meant this great lady last year and we have been exercising the dogs together and going to an agility class together. She keeps me sane as we both come from the same spot re dogs as opposed to the numerous RV people in the park with their foo-foo dogs.
I do know a bunch of people through their dogs and have people stop by with questions, I guess they figure anyone with 4 dogs either is completely insane or knowledgeable- and they figure they have a 50/50 chance to get a correct answer.
I am beginning to look at places to stay on our way home, that is the end of March. We stay here as we have friends in the area but we could cut it down to 2 months. Next week my lovely grandaughter arrives for a week and then Toby comes for a few days, so February is pretty full. I am looking forward to both visits.
March my younger sister arrives in Fort Myers and it will be great to see her, she is staying with friends which is a good thing as the bus doesn't really handle overnight guests well- could be the 4 dog crates that take up one whole side, and then we only have one bathroom.
Again, nothing exciting happening here. I am hoping to go see AVATAR this weekend if the weather is crappy. Esther and I are going to see Precious next week. Her partner is a prof at the U of Michigan and Esther is retired except for a grad course she teaches . Again, I am lucky to have a dog friend who is also intelligent but ....wait all my dog friends are intelligent !!!!! ( although there are those who would question those of us with more then 2 dogs- right?)

I am making a promise to blog more regularly and add pictures. How about one of me at 7 am , sweatshirt and sweat pants and dogs, ahhh what a sight.

Bye all
Lindsay and the corgis 4