Outdoors Blog

This is a simple post. It’s one about some beautiful winter birds landing at our back yard feeder. It’s also about hand feeding chickadees and hunting beavers. Not real hunting, just hunting to catch activity with our trail cams. Spoiler alert – we found the beaver and we’ve been recording what we think is a “him” for months now. He once had a fairly well made dam a few hundred yards upstream from where we first spotted him, but that dam has since washed away during two very strong, rainy winter storms. The dam stood no chance. The beaver remains though and he’s been spotted chewing down trees far away from home. I explain all this and much more in this post; it really is very exciting – there’s even a video! You’ll certainly need to click through to read the entire thing. Enjoy! Continue reading…

They’ll never admit it, but they all love it. In this post, I’ll tell you why. I’ll also share some thoughts on remarkable people. I actually discuss quite a bit in this post and I truly hope you click through to read it all. First, I’ll talk about how and why it is that Mainers are totally and completely in love with the winter, no matter what they tell you. After that, I’ll give you a peek into our new living room. Some used/new couches gave it just the makeover we were looking for. It’s super cozy now. Finally, I’ll delve into the topic of remarkability, or to put it more precisely, how to be remarkable.. It’s a big topic that needs to be addressed, if you’d like to take things to the next level, that is. Click through. I think you’ll enjoy what I’ve shared. Continue reading…

I’m constantly surprised by the beauty of western Maine. When Laura and I first moved to the state, we really had no idea where we were going. I’ve said this more times than I can count – “We got lucky. This area is NICE!” And we did too – got lucky, that is. As I explain in this post, I’ve never stepped foot in the state of Maine before moving to it. We purchased our house sight-unseen (in person) and Laura’s only driven through, from bottom to top and back, as a means to vacation in Canada. So really, neither of us knew what we were in store for. Apparently that was/is lovely hills and mountains, lakes, streams, abundant wildlife, and winters that make you proud. Maine is chock full of natural wonder and all a person needs to do to see much of it is hop in the car and drive around. That’s what we recently did and the photos I took while doing it are posted inside. I encourage you to click through to view them. Continue reading…

When we moved to Maine in 2013, our first winter was brutal. It was, by far, the most extreme winter I had ever experienced, and I’ve been through some pretty intense winters. While living in upstate New York during the late 1990s, the temperatures stayed below zero for nearly a month. That winter didn’t touch the winter of 2013 in Maine. Feet and feet of snow fell and the temperatures were nearly intolerable. Things did thaw out, however, sometime in early May. Yes, we still had snow on the ground in May. I’ll never forget kicking it around the dormant grass in an attempt at making it melt faster. However brutal Maine’s winters can be, they’re still utterly beautiful. To appreciate them, all one needs to do is prepare and take advantage of what they have to offer. In this post, I share some experiences of our most recent winter here in the state and I share some photos as well. Please click through to read my thoughts and view my photos. Continue reading…

The winter in Maine usually begins with a bang. The first snowfall generally occurs in early December. It’s a hefty snowfall that excites nearly the state’s entire population. Photos are taken and photos are shared on social media. It’s a good time. I engage in the aforementioned behavior regularly. Actually, I’m doing it now. I recently shared the photos in this very post on Facebook and received a positive reaction. I mean, let’s face it; snow mixes things up like few other things can. It changes the entire landscape and disrupts regularity. Everyone talks about it and things need to be done about it. But at the very least, pictures need to be taken of it. That’s what I’d like to show you in this post – photos. Some of my better ones, actually. It’s not easy getting good shots of something that doesn’t offer much contrast and distinction, but I did what I can. Click through to take a look. I’ll show you what winter in Maine is all about. Continue reading…

When it comes to growing and planting garden flowers in Maine, some are simply better than others. As I mention in this post, I’m not very fond of fighting to keep things alive. The way I see it is, if a flower wants to live in my gardens, it’ll do so on its own. I don’t coddle my flowers. I plant them from seed or pot and then let them do their own thing. All I ask is that they give me something beautiful to look at every summer. In this post, I offer a list of flowers I have experience with; those that haven’t let me down since I arrived in Maine in 2013. We’ve had some tough winters here and the plants I discuss in this post have survived them all. Please click through to take a look at the photos and to read what I have to share. And if you’d like to contribute with your own suggestions, please do. Comments are always welcome! Continue reading…

Winters in Maine can be quite serious. Each snow storm has the potential to leave behind not inches, but feet of snow and the temperatures can fall well below zero for extended periods. It’s been known to be so cold that the daytime temperature never moves out of negative territory. Laura and I have spent many winters up north and we’ve got the photos to prove it. In this post, I document some of our experiences via rather long and drawn out photo fashion. This post will be updated periodically to continuously add both commentary as well as photography. Enjoy. Continue reading…

Sanders Hill Trail is located in Rome, Maine and is an excellent venue for those who are looking to keep their hike under three miles. The trail is rocky, so be careful, but with those rocks come a variety of features that shouldn’t be missed. Be prepared for the lovely Beaver Brook, a stroll along parts of the Kennebec Highlands Trail, and a view of Watson Pond from the summit of Sanders Hill. Overall, this trail is a nice one and one that should be included on everyone’s list of great Maine hikes. Please click through to take a look at my photos. Also in this post are additional photos of stunning Maine autumn views. While driving home from the trail, Laura and I stopped at two scenic spots as the sun was setting perfectly in the sky. The autumn colors were at their peak vibrancy and the lighting was as warm as it was going to get. What an excellent afternoon. Again, please click through to read all about it. Continue reading…

Cascade Stream Gorge Trail consists of a fun hiking trail, a semi-large and interesting gorge, and a fun group of waterfalls to explore. The entire trail is less than a mile long and during the process of hiking to its end, you’ll pass a series of waterfalls and chutes. At one point, you’ll walk beside a 90 foot deep gorge with the stream at its base. It great for those who don’t mind trails that are full of large stones and tree roots. I’d say it’s on the medium side of difficulty. In this post, you’ll find photos of this adventurous area as well as commentary that details our thought process before we made it to our destination, what we thought of it once we arrived, and everything else that was related to the day. Click through to check it out! Continue reading…

With all the rain the summer season of 2021 brought us, a wide variety of mushrooms sprang to life in the woods behind our home. On top of that, wonderfully beautiful green moss has begun to carpet our trail system. In this post, I share many photos of both. Beyond these things, I include my usual bit of humor and introspection. Give it a read. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it. Continue reading…