Spring in Maine

It has been embarrassingly long since my last post.  I'd like to get into the habit of more frequent,  brief posts.    Well, here I am in Maine, hanging out with Eli, my grandson, just turned 5, and very cute.  He loves to draw robots (he's good at it) and LOVES playing Donkey Kong.  I told him I cannot understand why it is called that when there isn't a single donkey in it....mostly gorillas...

The weather has been quite different from what I left in Florida, even though we were having a rather cold spring there.  When I arrived here over 2 weeks ago, it was lovely and warm enough for sandals, which I was wearing....nice!  But, in typical Maine fashion, the temps have dropped and remained in the 50's & 60's and it has been raining for many days in a row now.  I choose not to complain about rain, however, because it is bad luck and sure beats a drought.  It is also a whole lot preferable to a devastating tornado like the poor folks in Oklahoma endured....those that lived through it.  But with or without rain, it is absolutely gorgeous here!  Fruit trees are all in flower, white & different shades of pink.  The other deciduous trees have all leafed out and the evergreens have many new shoots.  Then there are the flowering shrubs like azaleas, rhodadendron and forsythia....Enthralling!!  Tulips and daffodils are out too.  Anyway, when the rain finally stops I look forward to digging up a bit of ground behind this apt. and planting primarily in pots.  I just have to plant.  I'll do herbs and some flowers and a few veggies with low space requirements (no squash or melons) in the small ground area.  My best gardens ever were here in Maine, where I lived for many years.  I am planning to divide all my time between the 2 states as grandkids are the bottom line for me.  It makes it easy to decide where to be.

Speaking of gardening, I came across a wonderful website about a family that does it all on a small lot in Pasadena, California.  They have less than a half acre near Los Angeles, and grow enough food for 4 of them to live on and sell the surplus...they raise bees for honey, goats, rabbits, and chickens.  The four are a family of a dad, Jules Dervaes, and his 2 daughters and son, all grown.  Jules has a very interesting history which y'all can read about on their website:   UrbanHomestead.com.  The son, Justin, even creates bio-diesel right there at the place!  It is very inspiring to me and I wonder how they are going to keep the place humming once the "kids" decide to marry & raise families somewhere else. Anyway, they have become quite well known and give classes and write a blog and make tv and other appearances.    I'd be delighted with such a life as long as there are enough people sharing the chores so that I can get some painting done.

I have done a few sketches and will share one or 2 here and will write again when the weather warms up.  I miss my 2 sweeties in the south but am happy to be here with the third one....it's all good.