Flora and Fauna

Here are some shots from around the yard this past week. Stuff is coming out of the ground and growing like weeds. I think some of it is weeds. I finally got a few pictures of the chickens, looking more like grown up birds. Andrew is going to build a trellis for the wistera so they'll have shade overhead.

The clematis has much larger heads up here than it did in Cumming. The mountain laurels and shasta daisies are in full bloom.

We have had a lot of rain the past few weeks. It is great to watch the lighting at night and the sunsets are really spectacular after a rain.

Happy Memorial Day from Northern NH

Had our first fire Friday night.. the sky was absolutely gorgeous with so many stars you would never be able to count them..

We have been working in the yard to clean-up after winter's toll... and last night we took an impromptu ride on the ATV's through the mountains. It was a great ride - we were the only riders on the trail which made it nice.

Mel and I will be heading out to Lake Umbagog today to visit friends.

Enjoy your holiday - and time together.

We've heard from Mom, Tom and I about our activities.. anyone else want to share?

Happy Memorial Day...

Hi family,
Our Memorial Weekend has been pretty nice so far. We are right in the middle of it and the sun has finally come out to warm the air a bit. We went to church this morning and walked in in the sprinkles and walked out with sprinkles. Go home and sat down for lunch and a young lady drove her "Ice Cream Wagon" off into the sand across the street. At least it quieted the annoying calliope sound coming from the loudspeakers. I used to like the tune "The Entertainer" but since they put in on the ice cream trucks it is just too annoying.
We had a great time in Boothbay Harbor for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We took a harbor cruise and it was really windy. The trip ends out at Squirrel Island and this time was really a Hoot. The summer people are returning to their cottages and the only way you can get there is by boat. They take out their food, any furniture they have purchased and their beverage of choice. For one couple that beverage was many cases of wine. One of them almost landed in the drink. The young man unloading the stuff gave a case at quick slide on the dock and it went a little further than he thought it was going to and hit the barrier at the edge of the dock. We were sure it was going over but it seemed to balance and stay there. WHEEWWW
One woman was loading 4 bags of mulch onto the little care to take it down the ramp to the boat and one of the crew said, "I'll help you with that." To which she remarked, "Oh thank you, I have 36 more bags in the van." It was really funny watching all of the different things go onto to the back of the lower floor of the boat. The furniture had to be very light weight but there were 7 good sized boxes. By the time were ready to start back to the docking area in Boothbay the dock was totally cover with boxes and boxes and lots of grocery bags and they belonged to all of the people that were going ashore on the island. It must have been quiet a while for them to figure who had what bag.
Well, I will write more later. I have to get supper ready.

Love, Mom and Dad

Tom, we loved the pictures of the goats and the barn is really neat.
Love again,
Mom

Memorial Day

We gad great weather for the BBQ this weekend. After the burgers and pie, Matt brought out a whiffle ball and bat and we had an impromtu (making up the rules to suit the moment) game of Ellijay League Whiffle Ball.
The pile of sticks in the middle of the diamond was intended to be a bonfire but rain sort of changed those plans.
We kept score, but it's safe to say the Goulding record is 1 and 0.

The goats ( Lilly and Beethoven) sat in the bleachers.

Mom, sorry I thought I got chicken pictures. I'll upload them next time.

The picture of the barn was something I found on my hike this afternoon.
It was spooky quiet in the woods; after I found myself in too deep to turn around.
The mountain laurel and azaleas were so thick I couldn't see more than couple of feet ahead of myself.
I kept talking out loud to let the bears know the woods were occupied and if they wouldn't mind moving to a more secluded location until I passed.
I tramped through the woods with the dogs until I saw daylight on the forest floor,which signaled a clearing. I got to the fence and captured that picture.

T3