Maine 2010

Well it was another year in Maine...with all the fun and drama one always expects. This year I think I put in a little more than my share but well what do you expect from an Appalachian girl? (*see Bucky Incident) Every year is fun when you get with family and friends and spend a week together but this year we had live music, a loon that let me stand 4 feet from it, a monster lobster, the son of Ol' Snappy, well the list just goes on!
Here we are on the last day....picture provided by Brookie!

All the kids together on the last day. What angels?

The usual suspects!

Watch out ladies! These three are up to no good!!!

Fun picture for Gram Gram....and for Aunt Krista!

So this night I think we all laughed like Scott! Below is a picture of Matt doing the crab dance. Crab dance you ask? Why yes...see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw2QhpO0SDc. A brilliant singer and videographer named Harvey Sid Fisher brough much hilarity to Maine in 2010. Thank you so much Matt and Susie for bringing him along!

While the Irish music played, Brian was guilted into giving his wife one dance. I think the last one was at our wedding so thankfully Susie took a picture. Strangely, Brian seems to be doing a "Beem me up Scottie!" which just proves the theory of mind over matter. Hopefully someone will be around twelve years from now to capture our next dance. What happened to old romance and dancing in the moonlight? Bob Saumsiegle and Steve Saumsiegle...I think you both need to take Scott and Brian in hand since neither one know how to waltz and teach them some old school skills. I'm just saying, why should Diana and Nancy have all the fun?

The famous Son of Old Snappy! If you don't know the story...wait until one of the kids writes about it like Stephen King. Brian and Scott have made Old Snappy a legend and we actually saw this one on our last day....what a perfect way to end the week.

A men vs women game of scrabble? A tie? Look very carefully at the words below:

It's not the electric slide...it's the Maine slide!

And they pulled the monster out of the depths of the sea and he threw up his angry claws in defiance! That was the 3 pounder I thought I could eat. First, I think he looks more like a 5 pounder and secondly, I could only eat his claws....Jim happily devoured the rest.

Scott taking the kids on their annual fishing trip. They always love it!

People say they never see me in the blog but my budding apprentice Brookie took this shot and I had to show it off for her. (See group shot above...also taken by Brookie)

Kaya was terrified of the boat for the first day but by the third she was jumping right in.

Some first for my kids...Kayaking. I think they both did us proud.

Connor has taken to fishing like a fish to water. Ha! Ha! I feel a little slap happy I admit.

Here's the famous Bucky Cup....taking his well deserved trip home to the Nicholas household.

And the winner of the 2010 Bucky Cup Tournament? Matt Nicholas!!!! What a victory! Under pressure and under the watchful eye of his competitors he perservered and overcame all obstacles!

Don't be fooled by the smiles Matt...that is pure envy surrounding you. They are both already plotting your downfall!

Final Blog! Finally!!

Highlights of the week...and what a week!

The work of Maine

Most people go on vacation for a vacation. You pay for the rental and you stay, then you leave. Maine is different. With every week we go, we must leave it in better condition than we left it. It is the rule of ecologist and it is the rule of Brian's Maine. When I first starting going to Brian with Maine...long before children and even before I was a Saumsiegle, I couldn't comprehend why Brian would be so fanatical about raking the driveway so there were no pine needles (do you see all the Pine Trees????) or raking the beach, scrubbing the porch, chopping wood, and emptying out ALL the perishable foods in the refrigerator. Now, thirteen years later I understand why Brian and Scott care so much and why they put so much into the house the week they are there. It is more than a place to get a away to, it is a place to go to...a place that is somehow like home. Now, when we are going to Maine....Connor, Colin and Kaya call it "our Maine" because just as Black Helicopter sings, "it's in the blood."

Plus, I thought the pictures were funny :)

Sendspace.com: Colin Jig2_compressed.mov

Sendspace.com: Colin Jig2_compressed.mov

Sendspace.com: BOGHAT_compressed.mov

Sendspace.com: BOGHAT_compressed.mov

The Bucky Incident

Thanks to Susie I actually have a picture of the golf cart in the ditch. It has been righted now so it isn't on it's side as I had originally left it but this is before the tractor so it is still in the creek bed. Sigh. Terrible, terrible, terrible.

Many of you know the story already but needless to say, I didn't turn on the brakes when my golf club (pitching wedge) got wedged in the steering wheel and pushed the gas like Bo Duke (I have to at least make myself the good looking one) and Yee-Hawed it over the bridge into the ditch. Only instead of clearing it with style, I dumped it like Rosco. How embarrassing!

I would like to forget it but the evidence remains. Enjoy!

Couples and Kids

You get the picture.........

Boghat

I went a bit crazy in Maine this year. It was really quite the year for me. First, I have always thought that the Maine porch was always missing a bit of live music. I know this comes from growing up in Kentucky and having someone always pulling out a banjo or a fiddle whenever my family got together but I was craving a fiddle like a meth addict. (Maybe a BIT homesick) So I got the Irish band Boghart to come and play in Maine. They quickly became one of the gang and the house was rocking. Pazoo put everyone to shame with his jigging. As you can see from the pictures, it was fun for everyone there. As soon as Matt sends me the download, I will post everyone's favorite song though I don't know the title it fit all of us perfectly and we were laughing and singing along like a rowdy bunch of irishmen in a Pub. To say it was perfect for me could only be an understatement. MANY more blogs to come for Maine...as I said it was quite the year for me but Brian is getting ready for his Fantasy Football draft and I must go!!

Pazoo dancing until the music stopped!

Foot tapping crew!

To quote Boghart, "There's going to be a row!"