3/23/17 - Maine

I find it odd the things you pack when you are "under the gun" and have only X amount of hours to do so in preparation for a winter away. Right after a fire. Trying to direct several other people who came to help while you are trying to check off your list... It was a madhouse that day, and I did not have much time. Yet I am surprised at some of the items I had the presence of mind to pack - pots & pans and basic cooking utensils (there were none up here), last year's taxes and all my computer codes. And still slapping my forehead for the little things I forgot - heavy duty gloves, a few other things.

As I am packing to move back to Massachusetts I have thought about this stuff. Remembered the manicure kit, forgot the nail polish. Why did I pick this sweater and not the one I left? Where were my thermals when I needed them?

Things like that.

I had, literally, 4 hours to pack before I left. Assemble boxes, go through my list, oversee what my helpers were doing. Plus I had to get ALL of my food out of there that day - refrigerator, plus all dry goods.

I think I did pretty well given the circumstances.

Now it is coming time to move home. I will be leaving here a week from this Saturday. If all goes well with the appraisal I will be somewhat settled in less than 2 weeks. Fodder for a different post; I do not want to jinx it!

I am not moving back to my previous apartment, unfortunately. The work that is required to repair etc. will likely take until the end of the year. I wish I could... I loved that place and it was so roomy and sunny. Life marches forward.

Aftermath (I was on 2nd floor)

My brother took some photos when I was allowed back into my old apartment. I will post a few "before" and "after" pics here. You can see how extensive the damage really was (mostly from smoke), and some of what I have lost.

The insurance company called yesterday afternoon; they have closed their investigation on the 'remediation' part of the claim. First floor tenants did not have insurance and did not admit to smoking on the porch outside their apartment. Even though the fire investigator found over 200 cigarette butts that were disposed of improperly on the ground next to the steps where she dumped her grease.

Absolutely, totally disgusting. WHO does that?? Yes I smoke, but I use an ashtray. If there is none available I make sure it is out and stick the rest of it in my pocket for later disposal. I do not dispose of butts anywhere except the trash.

Without further ado.

Before

After

Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's left?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After

March 19 - Maine

Orion, 2004 - 3/13/2017

Rest in peace, my love. Fly high and roll around surrounded by unlimited kibble, and whatever else your soul desires.

~~~     ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

I took Orion to the vet last Monday to say goodbye. It was not easy; it never is. Never has been.

Orion has been ill for awhile, he had CRF (chronic renal failure - kidney disease). Common among cats unfortunately. This past weekend he took a bad turn for the worse. Would not eat (and he loved his food!) or drink much. What he did get down came right back up.

When I moved up here and was able to let the cats out of their carriers, Orion jumped up on the bed and looked at me. A chill went down my spine. A feeling came over me and I knew he would not be moving with me again.

I adopted Orion in the fall of 2004 when he was about 6 months old. I named him for the mythological hunter son of Poseidon. He turned out to be... not so much :) Orion was content to eat, snooze in the sun, eat, swat at things when the feeling moved him, and eat.

Such a love though! He slept next to me at night. The past week closer than usual.

I have had cats all my life. Some would say I should be used to this, or, "you have to do what you have to do". The latter is true. It does not make it any easier. Ever. They have all left indelible footprints on my heart.

When I adopt a cat, it is for life. The beginning of the circle; the promise. What they add and give and bring to your life - so much joy, love, and happiness - is not repay-able [yes I know that is not a word].

Then comes the time to make good on that promise; complete the circle. No matter how much it hurts us. We are obligated to perform that last act of love. I owed him that dignity and stayed with him until the end.

And I firmly believe cats have souls. If you have had the privilege of sharing part of your life with a cat and looked deeply into their eyes as they purr away... you know.

March 10 - Maine

Salt Water Marshes

Good afternoon, intrepid followers! This has been a very busy week for me (fodder for another blog), and while I was out doing errands I finally remembered my camera! There is some gorgeous scenery locally, and a lot of it has to do with the salt water marsh which is located nearby. Not only is it beautiful, but it is crucial to the ecosystem here.

It does have a distinctive sulfurous odor at low tide (especially in the summer), and there is a reason for that. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website: "Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides. They are marshy because the soil may be composed of deep mud and peat. Peat is made of decomposing plant matter that is often several feet thick. Peat is waterlogged, root-filled, and very spongy. Because salt marshes are frequently submerged by the tides and contain a lot of decomposing plant material, oxygen levels in the peat can be extremely low—a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia is caused by the growth of bacteria which produce the sulfurous rotten-egg smell that is often associated with marshes and mud flats.

Salt marshes also protect shorelines from erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments. They reduce flooding by slowing and absorbing rainwater and protect water quality by filtering runoff, and by metabolizing excess nutrients."

The marsh that is located nearby where I am staying is the largest salt water marsh in Maine, 3100 acres. It is owned and managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It is comprised of tidal marsh, salt creeks, freshwater marsh and uplands.

Aerial view

From the Audobon website: "The marsh is particularly important for wildlife as a resting, breeding and feeding ground. It provides critical habitat for a broad array of wildlife, particularly birds. Waterfowl, egrets, herons, glossy ibis and many species of shorebirds depend on this rich ecosystem for food, a place to rest during migration and, in some cases, nesting habitat. The marsh is also an excellent spot to find a number of grassland songbirds not commonly found in other parts of Maine, as well as various birds of prey that hunt in the marsh throughout the year. Muskrat, mink, otter, and deer also frequent the wetland.

The Sokokis Indians hunted, trapped, clammed and fished on the wetland. When European settlers arrived in the 1600s, they harvested the salt hay as fodder for cattle and sheep and used the marsh as summer pasture. The 19th century saw increased ditching, filling of pannes and the introduction of tidal gates, which prevent the tide from flooding portions of the marsh. Channels were dug to allow boats built inland to float through the marsh out to sea."

Channels (in good weather)

The first two pictures above are stock photos from the websites to give you an idea of how extensive the marsh is. In summer one can rent a kayak or canoe at high tide and explore the channels (I have never done that). The photos below are pictures I took while out and about.

That was your science lesson for the week :)

Enjoy!