One Of My Favorite Summer Traditions

One of my favorite parts about summer are the traditions. Places you always go. People you always get together with. Food you always eat.  There seem to be certain things you  just have to do in order for it to feel like summer.

I have tons of summer traditions, because I am indeed a girl of the summer.

A somewhat recent one for me as far as my summer traditions go, is what we call "Family Camping".  Ever since the summer after college, I go camping with Dave, Bruin, and four of my close friends(oh and another dog). Three of them are our good friends from college, and the other is one of my best friends from high school, (who just so happens to be dating one of the friends from college. Isn't the way life works out just wonderful?) She actually has her own blog focused on design and coastal living. You can check her out here.
This summer was our fourth trip, and we decided to keep it a little more laid back than usual. No big hiking or climbing trips "scheduled". We brought our bathing suits, fly fishing poles, dogs, and a lot of wood and food to use around the fire.
After a tough week, and knowing there was going to be some stress in the week ahead, this trip was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Also, I was too busy relaxing to take out my "real camera" at all over the weekend. The following photos are brought to you by Mr. iPhone.

I traveled up in a totally packed Subaru with all of the girls and Bruin. I feel like my friend Rach in the passenger seat and my iphone properly captured the ride up for my main man and I.

Just getting some cuddles in.

We showed up to Mt. Blue State Park (one of my favorite and the boys were already there, setting up camp. We unpacked and of course set up all of our camp chairs to settle in around the fire for fire grilled pizza. (Hubby found that idea on pinterest! It was delicious and easy!)

It is important to note, that this was I think the first year in which everyone had a camping chair, we all brought extra tinfoil, each fire was started in probably 2 minutes, and there was enough bug spray for both nights. This might sound insignificant to most, but for me it was representative of the fact that I think our little family of friends are finally kind of adults!

We sat around the fire until the wee hours of the night. Bruin found a spot around the fire for himself, but then we reminded him that he is a dog and made him sit on the ground.

We stayed up late, chatted about life and who would survive the longest stranded on an island.
We went to bed late happy and relaxed.

You'd do the same if you were trapped in the body of a dog.

We woke up late, and did some more lounging around the campfire eating breakfast sandwiches.
We then headed to the park's beach on the lake. The girls lounged on the beach, swam, and gossiped. The boys threw toys for the dogs at the boat dock. We all reconvened for lunch at a private spot on the lake with a picnic table and place for us to swim.

Did I mention the lake is surrounded by mountains? Maine is beautiful.

One our companions decided to take a swim out to a rock in the middle of the lake, and made friends with some other man out that was just chilling on the rock.

And then he got spoken to by the lifeguard who paddled out from the main beach. Because apparently swimming to rocks is an issue.

Delinquents.

We made our way back to the campsite after swimming and tanning all day for some kabobs and napping.

Just delish.

Bruin was so tired that he forgot he was a person and passed out on the ground for a good part of the night.

After dinner we decided to take our lazy-campfire-smelling-buts to go fly fishing. I've only been a few times before, but it's one that the group enjoys. Plus I have a pink fly fishing vest. Sooo...

And guess what? I CAUGHT MY FIRST FISH! EVER!
(Sorry there are no photos, I was too busy fishing like a boss)

Not to mention, it was also on my first cast. What can I say, I'm super fly. (Pun intended.)
Now, it was only a white perch. But I didn't care it was my first fish. I grabbed it, got cut a little by his sharp scales, and let him loose.

Because there wasn't too much going on in the river we headed back to the lake. Waders and all.
We waded out in the dark and noticed as we got our rods ready that there were probably hundreds of mayflies swarming on top of all of us.

I made a couple of casts and then got another white perch. The fish were jumping EVERYWHERE. We were catching fish like crazy. It got so dark that we needed to break out the headlamps, but we kept going. There were so many hungry fish that at one point I put my rod down to untangle a bit of line, and with my fly just floating on top of the water a few feet away I caught another fish. Just out of control.

By the end of the night I had caught 8 white perch. I was super proud of myself. And I was glad to get practice reeling in and releasing so many smaller fish. So when I hit the big time next trip I'll totally be able to catch that bass/whale shark.
And did I mention that I looked great in my pink vest?

We headed back to camp, made s'mores, and reveled in the amount of fish that we had caught that night.

The next morning, we took our time got up and packed up camp.

While Family Camping is one of my newer summer traditions, it is by far one of my favorites. Nothing beats good friends and good times in good weather.

Have an awesome week and stay fab!

Portland Headlight

Yesterday some family members and I got an exclusive opportunity to go to the top of Portland Headlight in my hometown of Cape Elizabeth.
(Don't ask how, or if you can go. The answer is I'm not telling, and no.)

Not familiar with it? It's that lighthouse that you probably think of when people say the word lighthouse.  I promise if you google it you'll probably recognize it.

It was overcast and hot. But don't worry, it burnt off by the afternoon and there were blue skies for the rest of the day. Just like it always does.
I of course brought my camera and took too many photos.
Here are a few.

Door out to the balcony at the top of the lighthouse. I guess this is the "Favorite"?

I think this is a bird house? This isn't on the lighthouse, it's just on the lawn. But man am I a sucker for chipping paint.

The spiral staircase on the inside painted blue.

On the way up there were a few porthole windows.

Probably one of my favorite photos from the day.

The beacon.

The view from the top.

Other side from the top. Fort Williams is probably one of my favorite places EVER. If you ever come to Maine, this place should totally be on the top of your list.

On a totally less exciting note, we went to breakfast afterwards. An old Chevy LUV pickup was parked on the street. It was teal.  Therefore the camera was out!

This is my first time participating in Sunday Snapshot or Finagle a Foto. I do love photo link ups but I definitely had a tough time picking my favorite photo!

Have a fabulous Sunday!

(My shots were taken with my Nikon 5000. I used my kit lense (because that's all I have, sad face), and edited my shots with Gimp. I changed up my settings, the entire time.)

No One Likes a Fake Weatherman

As you have most likely heard, and have now probably started to block out, Hurricane Irene is currently terrorizing the East Coast. North Carolina is busy trying to pick up the pieces, New York is just now getting the brunt of the damage, and us heah Mainahs are twiddling our thumbs waiting until it hits  tonight.

via

Because, you know, the best time to get hit by a tropical storm is while you're unsuspecting and sleeping in your beds.

Now, I have no idea what is going to happen, and I have no intention of making predictions. Because when you make predictions about weather you run the chances of being wrong. And I hate being wrong.

At this point, when it hits us, it's supposed to have calmed down. Think less Hurricane, and more rain storm on on steroids. Moral of the story:  who knows what the damage will be.

But you know that eeeeveryone else loves to make their predictions. Especially when you're dealing with a storm that is slowing down from all of the damage it's already done.

So here in Maine, whether it comes to blizzards, snow squals, hail or apparently hurricanes, people like to  take some sort of position of predictions and it usually falls into one of three categories:

1. The people in the middle: "I don't know if it's going to be bad, I'll hope that it's not, but if it is I have some stuff to last me a few days before the power comes back on."

2. The "Nonchalanters ": "Everyone is overexagerating! People need to chill. This isn't going to be bad, I didn't get any supplies because nothing is wrong. In fact, I think I'm going to go surfing right now!"

3. And of course, the "Super Prepared": " I now have 50 cans of tuna, 3 bathtubs of water, enough water bottles for an army, put pieces of steel up against all of my windows, and have wrapped all of my children in bubble wrap. Feel free and contact me on my transistor radio, cell phone, home phone, email, twitter, or Facebook to let me know you're OK. Whatever is easiest for you. "


Groups 2 and 3 are what we call Weather Extremists. And they looooove to be right.

The worst is after the storm, depending on how bad it is, Group 2 or 3 Rubs the outcome into the other person's face.

"Oh you didn't buy any water so you can't brush your teeth? Should've prepared!"

Or

"Man that wasn't bad at all. You all got wound up for nothing. I bet you feel stupid."

I HATE the rubbing of the weather into someone's face. It's the worst.  So if you're an extremist, please keep your mouth shut. I don't want to  hear you brag. Congratulations, you're officially a fake weatherman. Now go away.

I'd like to think I fall into Group 1. We cleaned out our gutters, found all of our headlamps. (Because when you're married to an aspiring Park Ranger you have headlamps not flashlights) charged up our laptops, ironed our clothing for tomorrow in case we have school and there's no power, and purchased some extra water.

Just enough to drink, brush my teeth, and wash my face so I don't look like a hot mess on my first day of school tomorrow.

And if the power stays on and we have water? I totally have a use for it.

That's right, I'm totally stocked up with  water for Dumbledore if nothing happens. I'm not going to apologize for it.

Now,  I do have to admit: I have practiced one form of extremism. No I'm not going surfing or putting Bruin in an indestructible steel cage.

Don't worry, I'm not a weather extremist. But I do have an extreme habit that is apparently useful during inclement weather!

As Dave and I were talking about getting things together for possible power outages, the topic of lighting came up.

And then it hit me: I have a horrible extreme hoarding problem.

Of Scented Candles.

I just love romantic lighting while I'm peeing my pants from the sound of the wind.

So worst case scenario?

Dave and I sleep in the spare room since there's a massive tree branch over ours. We lose power.  Eat soup heated from the jetboil. (I'm telling you ladies, dating a habitual camper has it's benefits.) Drink bottled water like fancy people.

AND THEN LIGHT CANDLES FOR LIGHT, WHICH ALSO JUST SO HAPPENS TO MAKE OUR HOUSE SMELLS LIKE A FLOWERSHOP-BAKERY HYBRID.

And whatever happens after that, happens.

Stay Dry!

I'm Over Here

No need to call the missing persons unit.

I know where I am.

Er, well, at least Dave and the GPS do.

All I know is that I'm at a quiet spot of a huge lake, there are some trees, rocks, a huge "cabin", and all of my people.

I've been too busy relaxing and spazzing out with my sisters to take out my big girl camera, but at least we have cell phones.

Look: trees, lake, and rocks.

I have arrived and family vacation has already started. Got here last night, and we don't have to leave until next Saturday.

Um, booyeah.

My biggest fans need not worry. I clearly have wireless. I shall be posting. You just may not care/get super jealous of my awesome family vacay.

I mean, let's just take last night for example.

It was 9 PM, I was up to my belly button in lake, watching Bruin paddle around in circles, and making small talk with the Sarge about how cool it is when your kids grow up into adults, the merits of taking time out for yourself to go on vacation, and how professional athletes are just so much bigger than the rest of us.

This has gotta be the good life.

Sunny Days By the Water With Good People

So I had a wonderful weekend.

My family is old friends with another family whom we visit on their beautiful property on a lake every year. We've been cut short to only a long weekend with them since we're all getting older, but the time is still well worth it.

I never got to ask for permission to post pictures of the other family so any pictures you will see of them will be of the back of their heads or feet  or whatever.

And if you still figure out who they are, then, well stop being such a creep.

My mom told me she was sick of seeing pictures of the dog and Dave. So I only took a couple pictures of Dave. I accidentally on purpose took a lot more of the dog. Whoops.

Sister N often has a hard time composing herself

The men played manly games, like tossing strings and balls onto poles.

Sister S and her BF having fun on the beach.

Oh gosh.

Sister N is not helping Sister S. It's called tickling.

Bruin clearly hates attention.

Dear L.L. Bean and Dog Fancy, I am my dog's acting modeling agent. You can contact me via my email. We accept payment in cash, dog treats, and goldfish. Love, ME.

Waiting.

Use those webbed feet.

Polar bear.

Yes, I only blew up the pictures of my dog playing fetch. SO SUE ME.

Hand stand competitions.

Don't fall.

Kerplunk

 

 

 

 

Soooo this is my sister's dog.

She never stands still enough for me to take a picture.

Ever

Ladies

We also went tubing.

They had something to prove.

And they did.

Until one of them fell off.

Nothing in this photo other than pure lovelyness.

 Warning: A few of the following photos are my attempt at being artistic.

Spiderwebish

Can you find the content bear?

There he is!

Probably my favorite type of chair ever.

Especially during sunset.

The two newly betrothed individuals going for a romantic paddle.

I'm not going to sit here and lie to you by telling you that this isn't one of my favorite photos from the weekend. This also explains why it's bigger than all of the other ones. Well, other than those ones of Bruin of course.

Lounging at it's best.

 So the most wonderful hostest with the mostest set up some games for us on Saturday. It was Minute to Win it: Camp style.

I now know interesting information about my family members.

 

 Sister N can balance 4 dice on a Popsicle stick.

And Sister E can knock over 6 waterbottles with pantyhose on her head.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

The Sarge I insisted getting a picture of the dogs begging.

I mean they're all cute I guess.

When the dogs weren't out frolicking they had their own little room in the front of the cabin.

The grass is always greener.

So that's it. Non-suprisingly it was a blast.

The bittersweet part about this trip was that as it was at the end of July, it in a way signified the "beginning of the end". Granted my family has rented a week at a cabin on another lake which we will be enjoying the week right before I go back to school, but I'll be doing work here, there and everywhere for the beginning of school.

So get ready for a little less talk about running around in the grass barefoot and a little more talk about classrooms and shopping for grown-up "SLACKS" to head back to school in.

Until then, I think I'm going to head to the gym, come home and pretend the fan is a little bit of a lake breeze.