Shoveling with Bailey

 

We had a 5" storm yesterday, and I had the bright idea of shoveling the driveway to save the $70 plowing fee. I didn't turn on my hiking GPS until I'd done about 1/5th of the upper driveway (20 minutes +-). 

At the halfway mark, I started to feel a bit tired. By the bottom, where the town plow had piled up snow, including large ice chunks, I started to calculate whether the $70 was worth the effort. This coming Monday's storm looks to be 8" or more, so I'm thinking I made the right decision. As you can see, Bailey played supervisor throughout the job. Very helpful. 

Espen's news

Espen and Bailey, October 2019

Espen (Denmark) was here several years ago with a boy named Moritz from Germany/Belgium. Espen loved playing soccer and skiing, and he spent time on the baseball and track teams. 

He came back to visit in the fall of 2019. During that visit, he went on a 3-day canoe trip with the high school Outing Club and another of my exchange students, Sebino.  We also went hiking. 

After a trip to Asia with his girlfriend, Espen decided to join the Danish Army. Now, he protects the Queen of Denmark's castle!  I'm sure this is a good experience for Espen. Next, I'm guessing, will be university. But, who knows. Maybe he'll stay in the Army. 

Guard uniform

This-n-that: Black Mountain, Healthy Foods, Class, and Writing.

From the summit of Black Mountain
Click on photos to enlarge. 

We hiked Black Mountain today and probably shouldn't have. Bailey's limping a bit tonight, and I fell asleep writing an email. Ah well. The veterinarian thinks the limp is arthritis in Bailey's knee, so I gave him. pill tonight to reduce the swelling and calm the pain. He's lost another 3 pounds, so he's down near 10 pounds total since the liver issue surfaced. Tomorrow, the vet will call with his liver numbers He sure hiked well today, however.  

My neighbors, the Sullivans, gave me a large care package of goodies for my cold the other day. Who knew Annie's Granola Bars were so good and so good for you? I ate chicken soup tonight with two slices of pizza and a couple of tiny oranges (that aren't really oranges) that are so juicy. The bag included cough drops, heart-healthy nuts, and a fancy fruit drink that I'm saving for a special time ... There's so much more in the bag. Thanks, Sullivans!

I started my novel, Play On, Maine United!, during a sabbatical in 2016-17. I've picked at it over the past six years, but really dug in when I retired in September 2021. I shipped off the 280-page manuscript to my editor yesterday.  Now, the real writing in the form of revision begins. Gotta gear up! 

This morning, I organized my spring class, Seminar in Poetry Writing. Only six graduate students! For two of them, this will be their final class in our 33-credit program. In May, they'll earn their masters degrees. One student is from Switzerland, one's from Indiana, and the other four are from Maine. It'll be an entertaining class. They're good writers. 

Tonight, I watched Janet Mills' inaugural address on TV. What an absolutely brilliant manuscript and delivery. Her hopeful, inspiring, and poetic words should be studied in the schools. We're lucky to have her as our governor. 

Old Bailey waiting for Old Rich. 

See the mill smoke and fog in the River Valley?