The Friday Five Good Things

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Another anniversary celebration. Dinner at Elaine's restaurant. It was a beautiful night to dine al fresco on the patio.

2. Two Old Ladies were back on the road again, back to our little cabin with a screened porch at the Half Moon Motel and Cottages where we stayed last year in Weirs Beach, New Hampshire

3. We had sundaes at the Kellerhaus for supper

4. I had early morning tea while sitting on the front porch and watching the boats on the lake.

5. We went to Edicott Park. Teague went swimming. I dipped my toes in as Lake Winnipesaukee was too cold for me.

How was your week?

T Stands For Crane Beach

The Eldest had a vacation week around the time of her birthday the second week of July. She asked if I wanted to go with her to the beach. It used to be if you wanted to go to the beach, you packed a bag, towel, and chair and drove to the beach. Now you have to make reservations. It seems local residents complained about the Summer people getting all the parking spaces. Reservations come in the form of day passes which get scooped up quickly or 2 hour passes. Nice if you live close to the beach but not practical if you have to take an hour and a half ride to get to the beach.

The week the Eldest chose also happened to be prime vacation time. I told her about the reservations, but she had no difficulties securing a day pass to Crane Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts. We left early on a Monday morning, and had a little hassle with commuter traffic.  When we got to the beach, we were one of the first visitors and hardly anyone was there.

A seagull

claimed his spot on the beach

We took a selfie to remember the day

The Life Guard crew were holding contests to see who could paddle out to the buoy 

and back to shore first.

It was a perfect beach day. Though the weather was hot and humid at home, it was quite breezy at the beach. We set up our chairs and I made a little cabana to try to keep us out of the sun.

It had been decades since I had been at this beach with Teague. One thing I forgot about was this beach was notorious for Green Heads, a type of Horse Fly. They have emerald green heads and giant teeth! Apparently, the Green Heads decided to return a few weeks earlier than normal to correspond to our visit. 

By the time we left, I was covered with so many bites I looked like I had chicken pox.

I found a beautiful snail shell

There's a snack shack along with a clean beach house so we decided we didn't need to drag along a cooler for lunch. We did bring water. 

The Eldest was going to treat me to lobster sandwiches for lunch, but they were out of lobster. I opted for a veggie and hummus wrap with a peach ice tea. The wrap was delicious, but I'm not a fan of peach flavored things though I do like peaches. All that could be said about the tea was it was wet and cold. We had a nice lunch underneath the pergola.

While the Eldest was swimming, I met a young woman a few years older than the Eldest. Her name as Tanya and she had also brought her mother for an outing. We had a nice chat.

How many seas must a white gull sail

before she sleeps in the sand? (apologies to Bob Dylan)

Despite the Greenheads and the sunburns, we had a nice day at the beach.

See ya later! 

Only if the Greenheads are gone!

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

T Stands for Rolling Home

Before heading home from our trip to Ogunquit at the end of June, Teague and I stopped in Wells, Maine at a Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. I got a Chai Tea Latte and a Boston Cream donut shaped like a starfish. Too cute.

We stopped for lunch at a Friendly's in Marlborough, Massachusetts. There aren't many of these sandwich/ice cream shops left. The one thing about being a Weeble (old person) is getting discounts. Friendly's has a Weeble menu featuring a few smaller sized sandwiches, and the sandwich comes with a Happy Ending sundae. Just a small scoop of ice cream, topping of your choice (hot fudge, caramel, strawberry) and whipped cream. I had cookie dough ice cream and hot fudge and forgot to take a picture.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Day 4 Doodles from the 2OLOTR Journal

 

We had lunch at Town Pizza in Wells, Maine. Again, we didn't order the specialty of the house. I had a crispy chicken sandwich. Teague ordered their Thanksgiving Turkey sandwich and the counter server snapped at her We don't have it!  My thought, if you don't have it then why is it on the menu? The server was very grumpy. Teague had a regular turkey sub.

It wasn't the warmest day, but it was nice enough to head to the beach to sit and watch the ocean. We dipped our toes in, but the water was cold. Some brave souls were surfing in the water and wearing wet suits.

In March, when we stayed at the Beachmere Inn, they had a sign: Beach. Best Escape Anyone Can Have.

Doodles done using the free version of Concepts app on the iPad with the iPencil

T Stands for Grumpy Clerk, the Beach, and a Smash Burger

After Saturday's washout, Sunday turned out to be a decent day. Not a great beach day. It was a little on the cool side, but at least it wasn't raining. 

Our first stop before the beach was lunch at a sandwich/pizza shop in Wells, the next town over from Ogunquit. On the menu board was a Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce a favorite sandwich of Teague. She ordered it and the Counter Clerk snapped at her, "We don't have that!" She ordered a regular turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and mayo

I felt like I was in the Seinfeld episode where there was a particular way of ordering soup from the Soup Nazi.

I ordered a Crispy Chicken Sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and yellow mustard. I also ordered an iced tea and a bag of chips. He grunted at my order, but didn't yell at me.

After lunch, we headed to Ogunquit Beach. It was still a little early in the season so there weren't many people on the beach, and it was later in the afternoon, and the tide was coming in so half the beach would be underwater.

We found a spot by the wall to set up so we wouldn't have to move our stuff every half hour as the tide came in.

I watched the antics of a sparrow hunting and pecking for some goodies. I've never seen a sparrow on the beach before.

One of the things I forgot to take with me was my beach chair. I walked right by it and didn't give it a second thought until I was loading my stuff in Teague's car. No biggie. She loaded her husband's chair into the car. He was participating in his annual field day for Ham radio operators, and she said he wouldn't need his chair, but he did. Oops. She took a picture of us so he could see that we actually used his chair.

The water was too cold to go swimming, but we did stick our toes in the water.

Later that night, we went to dinner at the Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company. Last year (or maybe the year before) we had a fabulous Margherita pizza. This time around we ordered hamburgers. I had an Arnold Palmer and a Maple Bacon Smash Burger. 

Smash Burgers seem to be all the rage though I don't really get it. This burger consisted of two hamburger patties that were flattened on the grill. The result was two dry hamburger patties. By smashing them flat like paper, you lose all the juicy goodness.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Day 3 Doodle from the 2OLOTR Journal

 

Day 3 started out rainy so it wasn't going to be a beach day. We enjoyed a very slow morning before heading out for lunch at New England House of Seafood and Sports Bar in Wells, Maine.

Lunch at the restaurant and I didn't order seafood, but had a chicken gyros.

At 8 PM, we decided to go out for ice cream. Most of the restaurants and ice cream stands close at 9 PM. We went to Big Daddy's which was next door to the motel. It was packed and we could barely get into the driveway. So we toodled down the road to the Scoop Deck. Long lines and no parking. Who goes out for ice cream at 8 PM? Turns out the entire state of Maine.

We decided to go where there would be plenty of parking and lots of ice cream choices. We ended up getting sundae cups at Hanaford's Supermarket and way less than what it would cost us for ice cream at the ice cream stand.

Doodles done using the free version of Concepts app on the iPad with the iPencil

T Stands for I Scream, You Scream

 

One of the things I wanted on our trip to Ogunquit was ice cream. I'm not a big fan of ice cream. It's a seasonal dessert for me to be eat on warm or hot Summer days/nights. 

The weather wasn't cooperating when we went away, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to get a Chocolate Almond Joy named after the coconut candy bar. Besides, Big Daddy's ice cream was just around the corner from where we were staying.

We had a late lunch/dinner so around 8 PM, seemed to be a good time to go get ice cream. It was raining so how many people would be out getting ice cream? Seemed like the entire town of Ogunquit went out for ice cream. We got the last parking spot, but the line for ice cream was out the building. The covered porch with old-fashioned ice cream parlor tables and chairs was filled, too.

We decided to try another ice cream stand a little further down the road. The Scoop Deck. Their parking lot was filled, too.

So we ended up with our backup plan. We headed to the local grocery store and bought sundae cups. While in line at the register, I saw the candy selection included and Almond Joy which I broke up to include in my sundae. I also had ice tea.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

T Stands for Lobster Roll

 

One thing I wanted to do on our trip was to have a lobster roll. A couple of the food trucks at Congdon's After Dark had them so I happily handed over my money and the sandwich wasn't as expensive as it would have been at a restaurant.

I was happily enjoying the lobster roll when Teague asked, "Aren't you going to take a picture of your food?" Oops.

I also had a bag of chips (crisps), pickles, and a ginger ale.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

Saltwater Taffy Kisses at the Goldenrod

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week

1. I had a delicious lobster roll at the Congdon's After Dark food trucks.

2. Big Daddy's Ice Cream and the Scoop Shop were packed with no place to park and long lines. We ended up going to Hanaford Supermarket to buy sundae cups 

3. After a rainy weekend, we finally made it to Ogunquit Beach. Not quite a beach day and the water was cold, but we made it.

4. I saw a bluebird in the backyard (Image from All About Birds)

5. We went out to lunch with some of Himself's friends. Good food and lots of laughs. We finally got to meet B's wife. We've known him for many years. He always talked about his wife, but I thought she was imaginary. 🤣

How was your week?

Doodle for Stress

 

Two weeks ago, the virtual doodle class I take on Mondays was cancelled and Monday I was in Maine. While away, I did doodle in a virtual journal I kept on the iPad.  This was from the first day of the trip.

2OLOTR: Two old ladies on the road going to Camp Ogunquit. We stopped at the Lobster Cove in York, Maine for lunch where we had BLTs (bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches.)

It was windy and cold at Nubble Lighthouse, so we bought hoodies to go over the hoodies we had brought.

We stayed at the Ogunquit Tides motel outside of town. We unpacked, took a nap, and then went to Congdon's After Dark for dinner. Food trucks set up in the Congdon parking lot. I had chicken and veggie cabobs, rice pilaf, and pita bread. Very good.

Then we had a slumber party where we stayed up talking until 1:30 AM

T Stands for 2OLOTR Eat in Maine

Two Old Ladies on the Road stopped for lunch at York Beach, Maine. We stopped at a new to us restaurant called the Lobster Cove. On all the drives up to York Beach, I never notice this restaurant. It's nestled in the middle of motels and summer places on Long Sands Drive. I thought it was just another motel.

I ordered and Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half iced tea). Teague had a ginger ale.

From our table we had a beautiful view of Long Sands What do you think one orders for lunch at a restaurant called Lobster Cove?

We both ordered the BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato). Since it was a late lunch, we didn't want a huge lunch or have to take food with us.

After lunch, we made our usual stop at Nubble Light

The views never get old

The weather had turned quite chilly and windy. My light-weight hoodie wasn't going to do the job of keeping me warm enough. At the gift shop, I bought a Nubble Light hoodie in a pretty shade of blue. Teague bought the same hoodie in Navy blue.  The volunteer outside said the light blue was turning out to be a popular color. 

When we went out to dinner later in the evening, I wore the Nubble Light hoodie under my old hoodie. That way, if I slobbed dinner on myself, I wouldn't run the new hoodie.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page

Monet and Me

 

Saturday was predicted to be a washout so 2OLOTR booked an extra day. Monet is waiting all by his lone for me to come home.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Some images from our weekend home at the Ogunquit Tides.  I took a walk down the back of the property to the Ogunquit River.

Along the path were some wild grape vines 

And some beach roses.

You can rent kayaks to explore the river or 

To row across the river to access Ogunquit Beach. I think at low tide, you can actually walk across.

I spied with my little eye

A seashell

On the walk back to meet up with Teague, I tried to take a picture of a bee visiting some pink clover. But she was too busy to pose for a picture

There were some Wild Morning Glories a.k.a Devil’s Weed though I think they are still pretty.

While hanging out at the pool, a crow was flitting from the roof of the main building trying to find a comfy spot. He ended up flying away.

How does your garden grow?

The Friday Five Good Things.

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. A. came to cut up and haul the downed branch to the woods. This young man is a godsend.

2. On the way to get my haircut, Pavarotti was singing the Ave Marie on the classical radio station I listen to while driving. That was my dad's signature piece in the church choir. Yes, Dad, I think think your rendition is better.

3. I couldn't find Miss Adventure and was worried she pulled a Houdini again. It took a 45 minutes to find her under the sofa in the sunroom where I looked three times. I think she thought we were playing a game and she kept kept moving.

4. Two Old Ladies on the Road

5. Himself said no good deed goes unpunished. He left the moon roof open so the car wouldn't be so hot when I left for class. Then it rained. He mopped up the water, put a beach towel on seat for me and tuned the radio station to classical music. It's the thought that counts, and he's still a keeper.

How was your week?

Monet and Me

 

Monet supervised as I packed. 2 Old Ladies are going on the road again.

The Friday Five Good Things

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. I learned a new expression from Resident Alien

2. I chatted with cousins I hadn't spoken with for a long time

3. 2 Old Ladies are going on the road again later this month

4. I had put the microwave out front over the weekend and tried to find someone that would pick up for scrap. No luck.. Tuesday, a man in a truck stopped and took it away. Thank you, man!

5. I had an ice cream sundae for lunch

How was your week?

T Stands For 2OLOTR: Two Old Ladies on the Road - Rolling Home

Our last morning. While Teague was having her cup of tea, I decided I'd try to go for a walk along the Marginal Way, the ocean cliff walk that winds it's way from Ogunquit a mile and a half East to the village of Perkins Cove. Though the weather was still very cold, the wind had died down. 

Across the lawn there were gaps in the hedges with a chain link fence and gates to get on the Marginal Way.

Where I looked the path was still covered with snow and ice

Maybe it would be better on the other side of the lobster trap tree.

Nope. There were a couple of intrepid individuals with rugged hiking boots. Though I was wearing ankle boots, they were made for city walking and not rugged terrain. One woman told me that around the bend from this photo, it was clear. But she neglected to mention you had to walk up an icy hill. At my age, snow and ice are just a broken hip waiting to happen. 

I would have to be content taking pictures from the Beachmere lawn over the fence

and hoping when the weather was warmer, we'd be able to make another trip to Ogunquit.

Since "The Season" hadn't started, not a lot of restaurants were open. We decided to have breakfast in the Beachmere's Restaurant. I was too busy being in the moment with Teague so I didn't take a picture of breakfast. This is the breakfast I had on Friday. Sunday breakfast I had scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns. I had a cup of tea served in the dark, blue mug just like Friday's breakfast

After breakfast and checking out, we headed to Ogunquit Beach to say good-bye. 

There were a few people on the beach, but I felt like I had the beach to myself

A seagull yelling: Are you looking at me?

The brutal winds and tide created patterns in the sand

A couple was celebrating their First Wedding Anniversary.

We left the beach and headed South to stop at Nubble Light. Every time we are in the area on the way or back, we stop at the lighthouse. The view never gets old. At least this time we could see the lighthouse. The day we arrived, the lighthouse was fogged in.

As we were getting ready to leave, I noticed a couple and they were blowing bubbles.  As I got closer, they looked like they were packing up. I asked if they could blow a few more bubbles

and

they kindly obliged.

I enhanced the bubble using a stamp of a glass marble in Paint Shop Pro so the bubbles can be seen.

I thanked the couple for indulging me. The woman said I would remember the Nubble Bubbles.

So the first runaway trip of the year in the books. Hopefully, another trip when the weather is a lot warmer.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.