tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79883693850409571252024-03-13T08:17:13.837-07:00Oak Hill Lodge Love NotesStories and Reflections of A Very Special PlaceOak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-4678145349194361782020-06-02T13:56:00.001-07:002020-06-03T06:35:46.044-07:00Downeast Magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyNGrc8eR3Y/Xta6FKcR5JI/AAAAAAAAHQw/ddtTvI-xlDIFswmPd9kj_OUjNQxlJeSlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyNGrc8eR3Y/Xta6FKcR5JI/AAAAAAAAHQw/ddtTvI-xlDIFswmPd9kj_OUjNQxlJeSlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5-20d.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RxBuys0F-k/Xta56bAnbuI/AAAAAAAAHQs/6zCs3_1JX0U8UFcZwuSHHj4ibd9pIyrDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2635.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RxBuys0F-k/Xta56bAnbuI/AAAAAAAAHQs/6zCs3_1JX0U8UFcZwuSHHj4ibd9pIyrDACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_2635.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Last spring, we were fortunate enough to be contacted by Downeast Magazine to see if we would be willing to do a photo shoot during the summer which would hopefully be published in one of this summer's magazines. It was a banner year for me in my efforts to become a good gardener. I was chosen as Gardener of the Year for Maine by the Maine Federation of Garden Clubs in the spring and then in the fall, turns out they had submitted me to the New England Federation and I was chosen Best Gardener in New England! After being approached by Downeast, I knew I had reached a pinnacle in my trial and error gardening career! Of course, this meant lots of primping to be ready for the photographer. Edging, mowing and trimming... deadheading, weeding and watering, all had to be done on a much more regular basis that ever before. Pots that normally lay empty were filled with annuals to be ready to be placed in an area that was "lacking color". The photographer came in early August and the interview took place late March, about the time I was beginning to worry perhaps our story had hit the "cutting room floor". Both the photographer and the interviewer were so nice and made the whole experience really fun. The article just came out in the June edition and Eric and I have been having a blast hearing from friends who were either surprised to see it or who were waiting like we were, to see if it made the cut.Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-48428065849212644532020-06-02T13:41:00.000-07:002020-06-02T13:41:01.634-07:00Eric's Favorites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0nRwYhplfqU/Xta39XLncKI/AAAAAAAAHQg/vJHJt_3VlgczdhTf0Y6ms2hYzEDjJopugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0nRwYhplfqU/Xta39XLncKI/AAAAAAAAHQg/vJHJt_3VlgczdhTf0Y6ms2hYzEDjJopugCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5-20t.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Eric pretty much likes wandering the garden, smelling the smells, seeing the progress and trying desperately to remember as many of the plant names as he possibly can. He has gotten quite good at it over the years and the twice daily walks we usually take. Sometimes he even corrects me like when I say Buckaroo Bonzai tree instead of Bottlebrush Buckeye! Mind you, it was countless years of him calling it that that has done this to me... but still, it makes us laugh! Of all the plants, he loves the scented azaleas, ornamental kale and ground phlox best of all. I keep my eye out for new colors of ground phlox to add to my display.Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-46176997400710420512020-06-02T13:28:00.001-07:002020-06-02T14:04:57.891-07:00Daffodils in the Setting Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zojmJg6GwNY/Xta2GcoTU0I/AAAAAAAAHQU/E_VwcVUEw24Z3Kd2FeoQ-lD9LdhzxpENgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20bb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zojmJg6GwNY/Xta2GcoTU0I/AAAAAAAAHQU/E_VwcVUEw24Z3Kd2FeoQ-lD9LdhzxpENgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5-20bb.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlJ4EV-QTtI/Xta-zfwi--I/AAAAAAAAHRU/_ez96fFOpFUBSLJsxAfgj8Q7lBhqwlMuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20aa.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlJ4EV-QTtI/Xta-zfwi--I/AAAAAAAAHRU/_ez96fFOpFUBSLJsxAfgj8Q7lBhqwlMuACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5-20aa.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love this shot of the sun going down and just making the backlit daffodils jump!</div>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-20763806035969626852020-06-02T13:26:00.000-07:002020-06-02T13:26:06.340-07:00Daffodil Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N7jXiC2Ho9o/Xtax_czwiEI/AAAAAAAAHPs/E26MtBT65GE1iRAGmJmIoyiVwjIXgAo8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N7jXiC2Ho9o/Xtax_czwiEI/AAAAAAAAHPs/E26MtBT65GE1iRAGmJmIoyiVwjIXgAo8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/5-20a.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dcx2pXI440s/XtayEJnE7II/AAAAAAAAHPw/LH6lnEhd_TU-abAiWRYQc0l28kOkU6TTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dcx2pXI440s/XtayEJnE7II/AAAAAAAAHPw/LH6lnEhd_TU-abAiWRYQc0l28kOkU6TTACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/5-20b.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CUL3AVu4fkg/XtayOUzzsgI/AAAAAAAAHP4/LoklesKHl94PxJ6maeTSlLR-8YejM8G-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20g.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CUL3AVu4fkg/XtayOUzzsgI/AAAAAAAAHP4/LoklesKHl94PxJ6maeTSlLR-8YejM8G-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/5-20g.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZahzztIh-LY/XtayJrOebCI/AAAAAAAAHP0/vDlutJ7stPMtAJgpzYRRVpXSS-yu5yL6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20-ee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZahzztIh-LY/XtayJrOebCI/AAAAAAAAHP0/vDlutJ7stPMtAJgpzYRRVpXSS-yu5yL6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/5-20-ee.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Last spring, I started making daffodils out of egg cartons. I cut two different cups into petals, rolled cover weight paper into the center, painted and Modge Podged each part and hot glued them together complete with a bent pipe cleaner as the stamens. I then covered straws with green floral tape, cut out green construction paper in the form of leaves and decoupaged that, then hot glued the flowers to the stems and there!... a DAFFODIL!!!! I did all this to make my spring arrangements a bit more artsy... but then... decided, after seeing all the daffodils in the yard come up... I should have a Daffodil Party! Any excuse for a party is good with me! So in late winter, just before the Coronavirus erupted, I began once again to make daffodils from egg cartons. I have SO many now... hundreds! Outside, I have planted many spring flowering shrubs, bulbs and ground covers. Lucky for me, there will be more bulbs planted in the fall and my egg carton variety daffodils will be none the worse for wear by next spring! Hope "springs" eternal!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2aLv9SXLqs/Xta1rzMPL3I/AAAAAAAAHQM/8SuQy00jYSkwpBBnLn9_ZrvA_enYUBn3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/eggcartondaffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2aLv9SXLqs/Xta1rzMPL3I/AAAAAAAAHQM/8SuQy00jYSkwpBBnLn9_ZrvA_enYUBn3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/eggcartondaffs.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-17368609717521226382020-06-02T13:08:00.002-07:002020-06-02T13:08:49.768-07:00Mother's Day 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSTfPp7k7K8/XtasTR2pwRI/AAAAAAAAHPY/FLw9kfKmF5MDfC2Ni9bjtBsB9VPTikNagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0455.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSTfPp7k7K8/XtasTR2pwRI/AAAAAAAAHPY/FLw9kfKmF5MDfC2Ni9bjtBsB9VPTikNagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0455.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zgY0ucXvtE/XtasbMyzSHI/AAAAAAAAHPc/h_iG6KsVJKcOYP0lhllMJX_B93V9JCUxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20gg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zgY0ucXvtE/XtasbMyzSHI/AAAAAAAAHPc/h_iG6KsVJKcOYP0lhllMJX_B93V9JCUxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/5-20gg.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
Since we had so much fun building the gates for my birthday, when Mother's Day was coming around, Eric said how bad he felt that once again there could be no celebration. I immediately suggested that we build yet another gate! The Bacchus Garden also known as The Secret Garden is beginning to be a bit more of a secret, at least once the leaves come out... and it really needs "some closure". While I came up with a basic design and debated a window of sorts, Eric suggested we keep with a wine theme as Bacchus is the God of Wine and do a sort of carving in the gate. We opted for a grape vine which could be cut on the band saw and fine tuned with sanders and a dremel tool. The sunsets behind this garden and it is just beautiful with the last rays of the day coming through the open spaces in the carving.Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-63333049119919863172020-06-02T12:42:00.001-07:002020-06-02T14:08:18.211-07:00My Birthday 2020After not being able to celebrate my birthday, nor all the other family April birthdays nor Mother's Day in the usual fashion... I thank the Lord for our love of projects. Eric and I built gates together to celebrate my birthday....pictured beyond the arbor which was last year's birthday present. We built two double gates. The first blocks the path from the rose garden to the road and the second marks one of the entrances to the Witch Walk.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zIUzyTuSiio/XtarCJH02jI/AAAAAAAAHPM/twCA4FeejCs43uDpw2pRl93yNOKIFsXaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20m.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zIUzyTuSiio/XtarCJH02jI/AAAAAAAAHPM/twCA4FeejCs43uDpw2pRl93yNOKIFsXaACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/5-20m.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in May-Gate with Arbor... Snowstorm on April 10, 2020</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-11468469972295189592020-06-02T12:34:00.000-07:002020-06-02T14:07:39.748-07:00Early Spring 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNmLkw2WKGw/XtaoC5zgTUI/AAAAAAAAHO4/tw7MUSMtBmw27c_LFMqFPOKCE9TjB5MiwCEwYBhgLKs4DAL1Ocqyordnai7L7B6DaIZv0_ZfI3vsSrpBEYABGksOKNchZKCB1V1TWszjHyrOIzRym-nhbqfvSJ_MM25iD1GDAhnCfxnJCEnS52gUEd433UHIwXuz6xL5WIl5Pd0LSc-V6zdvD8LYvx1_6CCW5mFPwWC4epih_ISUoPkKaT1k0tALJ8szsPiyNK0rUQf1w8oAQs4rFVyYZaHQv7LC2CB0rW0LEN6tAiVDomafr-h5Lg7GqmawYPgSzvDa76ssreNxYxZIytMGijAc0bP_WSexPVavmbsFpMWkI7OaMxl0IzmJtG75roFmEAFaUUGXDLYNxtnbun72O7WnWyjHiTLzcLBHKLVYUTrXkawQHmcv4zycpgw58OfQvL-osj6N3Z9QJogdhsKe8W4Bt84DiUzDG-euTWSrAVzoJ1daogQnVsAH9JScHYHSZtAUZvq474yxmZmRu5jS8OxaS5QTGgdyS4awz1DrSXmiC18sZ59NHbgq27uH862u_Ans9WwGFB-rNCo5f6Pk_iOKA0rJl6E5O3n4GKT84LTs5xDHuEi6brFHdqYwdS7CtcTa_-F-MnGAkp9K-vkqn2o84lv9ckbZACSo7b6-u3gv4Y6SrMMPV2vYF/s1600/5-20ll.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YNmLkw2WKGw/XtaoC5zgTUI/AAAAAAAAHO4/tw7MUSMtBmw27c_LFMqFPOKCE9TjB5MiwCEwYBhgLKs4DAL1Ocqyordnai7L7B6DaIZv0_ZfI3vsSrpBEYABGksOKNchZKCB1V1TWszjHyrOIzRym-nhbqfvSJ_MM25iD1GDAhnCfxnJCEnS52gUEd433UHIwXuz6xL5WIl5Pd0LSc-V6zdvD8LYvx1_6CCW5mFPwWC4epih_ISUoPkKaT1k0tALJ8szsPiyNK0rUQf1w8oAQs4rFVyYZaHQv7LC2CB0rW0LEN6tAiVDomafr-h5Lg7GqmawYPgSzvDa76ssreNxYxZIytMGijAc0bP_WSexPVavmbsFpMWkI7OaMxl0IzmJtG75roFmEAFaUUGXDLYNxtnbun72O7WnWyjHiTLzcLBHKLVYUTrXkawQHmcv4zycpgw58OfQvL-osj6N3Z9QJogdhsKe8W4Bt84DiUzDG-euTWSrAVzoJ1daogQnVsAH9JScHYHSZtAUZvq474yxmZmRu5jS8OxaS5QTGgdyS4awz1DrSXmiC18sZ59NHbgq27uH862u_Ans9WwGFB-rNCo5f6Pk_iOKA0rJl6E5O3n4GKT84LTs5xDHuEi6brFHdqYwdS7CtcTa_-F-MnGAkp9K-vkqn2o84lv9ckbZACSo7b6-u3gv4Y6SrMMPV2vYF/s400/5-20ll.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
April brought the daffodils! I was so excited to see them start opening! I had added another 250 last fall as well as some lilies and hyacinths. What with the gloom and doom of Covid-19, not being able to see friends and especially family... and a daughter about to have a baby in early May... it was nice to have something that brought such joy each day. I was surprised that a significant snow storm on my birthday, April 10, did not do more damage to them. The fritillarias did not survive, but the daffodils did not seem to mind.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-An5qCAj_QWo/Xta-K0ityeI/AAAAAAAAHRM/1mVd8WzutmEuIgxVNnDzeRKX4YOdLMNxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1-20d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-An5qCAj_QWo/Xta-K0ityeI/AAAAAAAAHRM/1mVd8WzutmEuIgxVNnDzeRKX4YOdLMNxACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1-20d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 10,2020</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-76572330854668343732020-06-02T12:22:00.001-07:002020-06-02T12:22:14.005-07:00Purging the Dead in 2020<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxurXjUmw9I/Xtakd2vautI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/1hKMOiusR_kKQ4Fz9lTFJudxCW1V4mtXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9-19a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DxurXjUmw9I/Xtakd2vautI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/1hKMOiusR_kKQ4Fz9lTFJudxCW1V4mtXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/9-19a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When snow left early in the spring of 2020, though not for good, we began working on the never-ending cutting of the dead pines which are everywhere in the woods surrounding the Lodge. Our best guess is that they must have perished due to overcrowding when all of them started to grow at once as a result of my Grandfather not being able to till the land and keep his garden there any more. There are more dead pines than live ones and we chip away at them when we can. Before bugs; ticks, mayflies and mosquitos come out, it is a great time to work the woods. We got close to 200 trees down, burning and chipping the branches, cutting the trunks into 2 foot chunks and laying them to define the paths. Since we were confined to the Lodge due to Covid-19, it was a perfect project. Got us outside, gave us plenty of exercise and the results were amazing.<br />New growth is happening on the trunks of the trees and green forest plants are emerging throughout the wooded areas. Though we still have much more to do, the progress made this spring is very rewarding. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYF6xgmJe3A/XtamuAYF9FI/AAAAAAAAHOc/zAm2M9NSzRoiAkOdNHgQFrcPScok3FggACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5-20e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYF6xgmJe3A/XtamuAYF9FI/AAAAAAAAHOc/zAm2M9NSzRoiAkOdNHgQFrcPScok3FggACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5-20e.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-57080019535249621752020-06-02T12:09:00.002-07:002020-06-02T13:59:24.560-07:00Christmas 2019 at Oak Hill Lodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0ksfSQ62R0/XtajS5oeGpI/AAAAAAAAHOA/lIP9ty-ZHEQfInJYvHRYQnIneOS2aHJggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0ksfSQ62R0/XtajS5oeGpI/AAAAAAAAHOA/lIP9ty-ZHEQfInJYvHRYQnIneOS2aHJggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/image0.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lodge Tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tXVxp8yMI8/Xta9Pymhr2I/AAAAAAAAHRE/XxreiG_AuAQe69yiPCTYipt9lLvC36CYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/image3%255B5378%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tXVxp8yMI8/Xta9Pymhr2I/AAAAAAAAHRE/XxreiG_AuAQe69yiPCTYipt9lLvC36CYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/image3%255B5378%255D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festive for Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After having taken a trip to the Newport, Rhode Island mansions shortly before Christmas, I was especially inspired to decorate. They offer a pass to visit five of the mansions and not all in the same day. However, since we were sure not to have the time to revisit, we squished as many of them into our daylong visit as we could. It was wonderful!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6AbcC4m9RE8/XtajuY1QJrI/AAAAAAAAHOI/FxhqfmuvANwAPCG4kIn9qoJaDA4CPomTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6AbcC4m9RE8/XtajuY1QJrI/AAAAAAAAHOI/FxhqfmuvANwAPCG4kIn9qoJaDA4CPomTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0094.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newport Mansion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-13040610298237210112020-06-02T11:43:00.000-07:002020-06-02T12:34:44.071-07:00Winter 2019-2020With the exception of a nasty ice storm that brought down many pine branches and broke two large limbs off the maple which is central to fall foliage splendor, the winter of 2019-2020 was snow-wise a very easy one. Proof of this is our plowing budget which was way below the norm for the year. Of course, the winter was not an easy one in other ways... it was the winter that Coronavirus struck, leaving us all quarantined in our homes. Lucky for Eric and I, there is a project list a mile long, so being "stuck" in the Lodge, is never going to be a problem.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcuMAZG8_y4/Xtag3fhT0ZI/AAAAAAAAHNs/HGx8XFHCiNACf9tshXJMo6jZ-ia0_GObACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1-20a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcuMAZG8_y4/Xtag3fhT0ZI/AAAAAAAAHNs/HGx8XFHCiNACf9tshXJMo6jZ-ia0_GObACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1-20a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-4561892435759124142019-05-14T11:04:00.003-07:002019-05-14T11:04:48.328-07:00A Slow Start to Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1T4acVhunAY/XNsBnqAhn4I/AAAAAAAAHKA/4IGDgtKrtIEJOob65vYvERjonfecBIFLwCLcBGAs/s1600/spring2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1T4acVhunAY/XNsBnqAhn4I/AAAAAAAAHKA/4IGDgtKrtIEJOob65vYvERjonfecBIFLwCLcBGAs/s400/spring2019.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrY18Hl8Rxc/XNsBrJ7lOFI/AAAAAAAAHKE/SCqXGtmTh0obItYEp5yUwJtgugPWGEKCgCLcBGAs/s1600/spring2019-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrY18Hl8Rxc/XNsBrJ7lOFI/AAAAAAAAHKE/SCqXGtmTh0obItYEp5yUwJtgugPWGEKCgCLcBGAs/s400/spring2019-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e;">Mid-May was when the daffodils started to bloom at Oak Hill Lodge this year. The nights were still going down into the 30's and low 40's and the days are only getting up to the high 40's and low 50's.</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">My hostas are just tiny fingers protruding from the soil. The soil is still so wet, it is stopping me from doing my much loved edging. You can see the first few blossoms on the magnolia in the background of the fully blooming weeping cherry. The grass is just starting to green up, though "City Folk" have already been mowing. The ground phlox is not yet blooming. I am thankful for the number of spring bulbs that I have planted as without them, the gardens would seem glum. Please, Mother Nature... reward us for our long winter with some heat!!!</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-85353952507445123432019-05-14T10:57:00.000-07:002019-05-14T10:57:12.571-07:00A Rainy Spring Made for Lots of Time in the Workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoTEqZlKqhg/XNr_9tVHqHI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/fT-u92L1sB4MrzvmaTgaM6C_q0sqNKF6QCLcBGAs/s1600/arbor2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoTEqZlKqhg/XNr_9tVHqHI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/fT-u92L1sB4MrzvmaTgaM6C_q0sqNKF6QCLcBGAs/s640/arbor2019.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;">In April, we had 22 days out of 30 that were rainy or rain mixed with snow, or just snow. As the thick sheet of ice slowly melted off all the gardens, I was lucky that some melted faster than others. I made a pack to try to keep up with the melting and clean gardens as they thawed. It was a pretty successful strategy though the wetter areas on the far side of the field are yet to let me into them as they are still flooded. Days that the rain was too heavy to go out, we spent the days in Eric's woodshop, creating things for the garden. My birthday was rainy and the pub I wanted to go to in Kennebunkport was not open until the weekend, so we spent the day starting work on this beautiful arbor to replace the one I have thought was just "too wimpy" in the rose garden area. The wood ended up costing us just under $175 and it took us about 2 full days to construct. Can't wait for the PT to season a bit so I can paint the posts!</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-81932896062274769202019-05-14T10:49:00.002-07:002019-05-14T10:49:52.929-07:00Next Time Someone Calls You A Pansy...<span style="color: #000014;">...remember this picture! These tough little guys withstand being buried in the snow and come back even more brilliant in color. Our late April snow in 2019 completely buried all the pansies I had place in urns about the property... but when the sun reappeared, so did they... unscathed! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-keQaPf-jdFc/XNr_codMcuI/AAAAAAAAHJs/fv-0FRmNDBwzz5LYflIK1mNbKCbJd4oGwCLcBGAs/s1600/pansiesinsnow4-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #000014;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-keQaPf-jdFc/XNr_codMcuI/AAAAAAAAHJs/fv-0FRmNDBwzz5LYflIK1mNbKCbJd4oGwCLcBGAs/s640/pansiesinsnow4-19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-74652687306581893822019-05-14T10:36:00.003-07:002019-05-14T10:36:25.956-07:00An Icy Winter for 2019<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Though there was not much snow this winter, the ice was indeed something to be reckoned with. Our new puppy MacIntosh needed to go out lots and with the early nights and frequent dustings of snow, we wisely kept a pair of boots by the door which were always equipped with grippons. More than once, that strategy saved the day!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbp2RK78B10/XNr8SZYN54I/AAAAAAAAHJY/Xg4EOlFCr-EXI1tiZt0sXvg8fEn-x2W1wCLcBGAs/s1600/wintergarden2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbp2RK78B10/XNr8SZYN54I/AAAAAAAAHJY/Xg4EOlFCr-EXI1tiZt0sXvg8fEn-x2W1wCLcBGAs/s400/wintergarden2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVKGsBScdPQ/XNr8VkuKOlI/AAAAAAAAHJc/oxUyTxtyf_YQPRZgGGzuZGM15I_C1AI5ACLcBGAs/s1600/lodgewinter2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVKGsBScdPQ/XNr8VkuKOlI/AAAAAAAAHJc/oxUyTxtyf_YQPRZgGGzuZGM15I_C1AI5ACLcBGAs/s400/lodgewinter2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-24274114768599169222019-05-14T10:21:00.002-07:002019-05-14T10:45:33.947-07:00Christmas 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9EVT-RU1H8/XNr4_XQPupI/AAAAAAAAHJI/uFnhTSbylFEXq-TRqZblfbmsg2x521Q3ACLcBGAs/s1600/lodgetree2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9EVT-RU1H8/XNr4_XQPupI/AAAAAAAAHJI/uFnhTSbylFEXq-TRqZblfbmsg2x521Q3ACLcBGAs/s400/lodgetree2019.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Xd8W6IbGMY/XNr4xex4QQI/AAAAAAAAHJE/3FneWsdMRBQotsUb3PvYRXlM-HJP0BRXQCLcBGAs/s1600/lodgechristmas19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="436" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Xd8W6IbGMY/XNr4xex4QQI/AAAAAAAAHJE/3FneWsdMRBQotsUb3PvYRXlM-HJP0BRXQCLcBGAs/s400/lodgechristmas19.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Another wonderful Christmas! Note the Santa dress that came all the way from China at the cost of less than $12.00! Not sure how that is possible, but it did! Jess found "Dresslily.com" and all we girls ordered different dresses for Allen Family Christmas. The tree this year came from right out back. With my pneumonia, it did not make sense to get as large of a tree as in years past, but it was still about 15' and looked really pretty. Allen Family Christmas was celebrated the weekend after Christmas and was, as always, a cherished day. Real Christmas was celebrated with the McCormacks and they gave Eric and I lots of wonderful memories.</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-39946913791953866402019-05-14T10:13:00.000-07:002019-05-14T10:45:13.973-07:00Fall 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CyzLgRhglJ4/XNr2aqosguI/AAAAAAAAHI4/q-ffFmaHHSIkusCfdb5WuG6bxJ7IPmVngCEwYBhgL/s1600/octobersnow2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CyzLgRhglJ4/XNr2aqosguI/AAAAAAAAHI4/q-ffFmaHHSIkusCfdb5WuG6bxJ7IPmVngCEwYBhgL/s400/octobersnow2019.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZB-zMr8fn0/XNr2fz9KXEI/AAAAAAAAHI8/D_72twI1nawdU9iWHN9MPbKoYTuGDobuQCEwYBhgL/s1600/witchesinsnow2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZB-zMr8fn0/XNr2fz9KXEI/AAAAAAAAHI8/D_72twI1nawdU9iWHN9MPbKoYTuGDobuQCEwYBhgL/s400/witchesinsnow2019.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Winter started early in the fall of 2018... October brought us our first snow. The oak leaves had not even begun to fall and with another snow in early November, raking was a bit of a challenge. We got up what we could with the knowledge that spring would bring a harder clean up than some years. I love how the fall décor looked with a coat of icing on it!Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-17729104076537212122019-05-14T10:08:00.001-07:002019-05-14T10:42:15.109-07:00The Hot Summer of 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ro3_sRqpho/XNr07bZE1tI/AAAAAAAAHIQ/-RDe3gHiU44zc05qIYtH4_ywltCSn35ZwCLcBGAs/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ro3_sRqpho/XNr07bZE1tI/AAAAAAAAHIQ/-RDe3gHiU44zc05qIYtH4_ywltCSn35ZwCLcBGAs/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8LLZyC0uhZY/XNr092oPEPI/AAAAAAAAHIU/Agp9gqvgmFEIvewtRJ_zVfn3UfD32DVCwCLcBGAs/s1600/100_0350%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1200" height="235" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8LLZyC0uhZY/XNr092oPEPI/AAAAAAAAHIU/Agp9gqvgmFEIvewtRJ_zVfn3UfD32DVCwCLcBGAs/s320/100_0350%2Bcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l75uVGGsy78/XNr1E3z4cxI/AAAAAAAAHIY/3krERDpGzoUzYfX-k2GbBazmff4Ay096wCLcBGAs/s1600/100_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l75uVGGsy78/XNr1E3z4cxI/AAAAAAAAHIY/3krERDpGzoUzYfX-k2GbBazmff4Ay096wCLcBGAs/s320/100_1110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qB0oCQtV2gQ/XNr1JF4hY4I/AAAAAAAAHIc/6mDG2vWJaL4d9IQDyldLfw97MWCoJ5mTgCLcBGAs/s1600/100_3703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qB0oCQtV2gQ/XNr1JF4hY4I/AAAAAAAAHIc/6mDG2vWJaL4d9IQDyldLfw97MWCoJ5mTgCLcBGAs/s320/100_3703.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;">Summer of 2018 was a great one. As our first summer completely retired we started the season travelling to a few public gardens that I had really wanted to see. Winterthur and Longwood were simply amazing and definitely inspired me to step up some more things in my Lodge gardens. I set upon plans to add focal points, follies and to be even more conscious of color combinations in my garden. Katrina and the girls spent the summer with us and more was spent at Blackwater Cove than at Oak Hill as it was a super hot summer, so the water was much enjoyed.</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-57033764844817097972017-02-10T08:57:00.001-08:002017-02-10T08:57:26.033-08:00Snuggly in the Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IV3L8CVEkbU/WJ3wCXZCseI/AAAAAAAAHA4/EJsEUxUNyts1PbrZOOXpK5w8iqVZcG2GACLcB/s1600/STORM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IV3L8CVEkbU/WJ3wCXZCseI/AAAAAAAAHA4/EJsEUxUNyts1PbrZOOXpK5w8iqVZcG2GACLcB/s320/STORM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GAI2kNgWUY/WJ3wFk1bdUI/AAAAAAAAHA8/hJFiHa9XcS0WniJGp3KmxPF3TklSV7sBQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GAI2kNgWUY/WJ3wFk1bdUI/AAAAAAAAHA8/hJFiHa9XcS0WniJGp3KmxPF3TklSV7sBQCLcB/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMDcVGU-NJY/WJ3wH2ZlO5I/AAAAAAAAHBA/1hx0JUkqsJQQpKph94nfqw_t5LZv0ieTQCLcB/s1600/LODGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMDcVGU-NJY/WJ3wH2ZlO5I/AAAAAAAAHBA/1hx0JUkqsJQQpKph94nfqw_t5LZv0ieTQCLcB/s400/LODGE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763;">Outside a mid-February Nor'easter was piling up the snow. It gave a magical look to the window boxes on which I had left the little white lights from Christmas. Inside, the fire was burning and the Lodge was starting to get back to normal after being coated in dust by the sanding of the stair tower sheetrock and the floor. Oh, how cozy we are!</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-51819429383128956752017-02-07T11:08:00.002-08:002017-02-07T11:09:48.857-08:00Just Love Being At the Lodge!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nJ6k4izte8/WJoZLoOpgGI/AAAAAAAAHAU/e2t96uvVH1I4XVg6bCuStabNIM6U-uDewCLcB/s1600/fronthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nJ6k4izte8/WJoZLoOpgGI/AAAAAAAAHAU/e2t96uvVH1I4XVg6bCuStabNIM6U-uDewCLcB/s320/fronthouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we left the old girl....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUz78Xxt8Cw/WJoZPAYYqII/AAAAAAAAHAc/EOhSEFUNZ88vWNafRsvOQOsZy7KaGhDxACLcB/s1600/house4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUz78Xxt8Cw/WJoZPAYYqII/AAAAAAAAHAc/EOhSEFUNZ88vWNafRsvOQOsZy7KaGhDxACLcB/s320/house4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we found the old girl, oops, no there is already a new bay window!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #660000;">October 21, 2016 was a wonderful day for Eric and I. Our much loved home of 42 years was sold to a wonderful family who, I feel sure, will love it like we did. "The ghosts of four little girls" followed me from room to room after they all had grown up and left, and despite my efforts to make their rooms serve other purposes, they would always be THEIR rooms. It was a constant reminder that things would never be the same at Raymond Court... it made me miss them. Oh, I know... and I couldn't be prouder of them for doing so... it was what we raised them for... to go off and be successful, happy young women.... and that is what they have done. Besides, the first book we ever bought for our library, back in 1974 was called, "Five Acres and Independence" so if you can allow yourself to believe in such things, it was fate that we should one day move to five acres, owned by many generations of ancestors in Nobleboro, Maine. The only downside is that Nobleboro is 25 minutes further from everyone, but mentally we are just forcing ourselves to accept it in return for the fulfillment of a dream. Besides, for 8 months a year, we will still be at the cottage, which isn't hard to take either!</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-4829037666937080412017-01-27T08:29:00.002-08:002017-01-27T08:29:15.220-08:00Allen Family Christmas 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VINBcVisSJk/WIp28zYi8AI/AAAAAAAAG_s/lquoM3iC8vw540y0SDhSapTtzSXYawkRQCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VINBcVisSJk/WIp28zYi8AI/AAAAAAAAG_s/lquoM3iC8vw540y0SDhSapTtzSXYawkRQCLcB/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqTrsmlLqo4/WIp3Oh65-vI/AAAAAAAAG_0/fD1ltoSyyjYnltLv1cA6rZym57gFBXkNACLcB/s1600/50372045198__D3D3E52F-E235-4D82-B10B-06A8D3C3D6CD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqTrsmlLqo4/WIp3Oh65-vI/AAAAAAAAG_0/fD1ltoSyyjYnltLv1cA6rZym57gFBXkNACLcB/s320/50372045198__D3D3E52F-E235-4D82-B10B-06A8D3C3D6CD.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAm2v4wRuIE/WIp3ELLAUCI/AAAAAAAAG_w/USc1mpUCMDw1f-uIcdXuBHmEMsq-4s5vACLcB/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAm2v4wRuIE/WIp3ELLAUCI/AAAAAAAAG_w/USc1mpUCMDw1f-uIcdXuBHmEMsq-4s5vACLcB/s320/image1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWub0rbe1AA/WIp3cKli6qI/AAAAAAAAG_4/ebuNJ__CBwgTzmAkK21xK3yDHtZH63Q3gCLcB/s1600/chis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OWub0rbe1AA/WIp3cKli6qI/AAAAAAAAG_4/ebuNJ__CBwgTzmAkK21xK3yDHtZH63Q3gCLcB/s400/chis1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CEijuQzxpo/WIp3lD7gR9I/AAAAAAAAG_8/4B0MCI_VGdYIoOifqORw0-DAF40tvoNUQCLcB/s1600/chris2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CEijuQzxpo/WIp3lD7gR9I/AAAAAAAAG_8/4B0MCI_VGdYIoOifqORw0-DAF40tvoNUQCLcB/s400/chris2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9W_dJWxGlkM/WIp3mTPxSRI/AAAAAAAAHAA/rZo4iw1WLNwDAjT9ukyZya8FVJwSK8IewCLcB/s1600/chris5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9W_dJWxGlkM/WIp3mTPxSRI/AAAAAAAAHAA/rZo4iw1WLNwDAjT9ukyZya8FVJwSK8IewCLcB/s400/chris5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">What a perfect day! Christmas itself had been perfect at Kat and Pat's with Peighton and Phoebe. Kat had prepared a beautiful Christmas Eve Feast done with raclettes, which I had only been exposed to at a cooking class at Now You're Cooking. What a wonderful way to make a meal extra special. Christmas with them was just great. The girls were SO excited Christmas Eve, but went to bed pretty well with a cautionary note that Santa would not come if they were not asleep. They arose bright and early anxious to awaken Nana and Gran so everyone could get downstairs to see if Santa had come. Would the cookies and milk and the carrots for Rudolph be gone???? Yes, they were... stockings were filled and there were mountains of presents under the tree. We had lobsters for Christmas dinner just like old times. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Allen Family Christmas was the very next day. Erica and Casey were off to NYC for New Year's so</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">the girls and their families were all wonderful enough to agree leave their cozy homes and come to the Lodge so Allen Family Christmas wouldn't end up being in mid-January! They all brought food, which we pumped out all day long. The children were just amazing. I had worried they might be tired and a bit cranky after the activities of the past two days, but they were just wonderful. Little Eleanor seemed to take it all in and you could almost see her dreaming of next year when she too would be right in the middle of it all!</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #660000;">Top picture: soon we may need a wide lens camera to fit us all in. Next: the Lodge tree and the Pub tree Next: we took Avery and Lawson to Gardens Aglow Next two: and presents for all!</span></i>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-83043957784686957372017-01-26T14:06:00.003-08:002017-01-26T14:06:45.924-08:00Snowmen Invade Oak Hill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g-PlTh9UYUE/WIpwEgc64kI/AAAAAAAAG_E/RPLOPZKFmGkio5qRXiKpUmAaPcdP4pirwCLcB/s1600/snow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g-PlTh9UYUE/WIpwEgc64kI/AAAAAAAAG_E/RPLOPZKFmGkio5qRXiKpUmAaPcdP4pirwCLcB/s640/snow1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MfPIP_cyog/WIpwWezgczI/AAAAAAAAG_U/M0UQK5isdQoNE7IT_z9fWMV9mNgWP6PdQCLcB/s1600/snow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MfPIP_cyog/WIpwWezgczI/AAAAAAAAG_U/M0UQK5isdQoNE7IT_z9fWMV9mNgWP6PdQCLcB/s320/snow5.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuDslwwfMOM/WIpwFJCtRZI/AAAAAAAAG_I/bIuaLwpDPt8QiHxu0FKningF4aVTIw3FgCLcB/s1600/100_1972-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuDslwwfMOM/WIpwFJCtRZI/AAAAAAAAG_I/bIuaLwpDPt8QiHxu0FKningF4aVTIw3FgCLcB/s320/100_1972-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq66QpyPG_Q/WIpwFeGcYII/AAAAAAAAG_M/IczxK6vvehMQJ0C1gldoe_j0lLYXVXvZwCLcB/s1600/snow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq66QpyPG_Q/WIpwFeGcYII/AAAAAAAAG_M/IczxK6vvehMQJ0C1gldoe_j0lLYXVXvZwCLcB/s320/snow3.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzBchWgxvig/WIpwTmUlx7I/AAAAAAAAG_Q/XZpvPE2_y6oytlOZ0yK0mUaRROrkwyvyACLcB/s1600/snow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzBchWgxvig/WIpwTmUlx7I/AAAAAAAAG_Q/XZpvPE2_y6oytlOZ0yK0mUaRROrkwyvyACLcB/s320/snow4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">When we awoke, the snow was all we saw. It glistened in the warmth of a thirty-six degree day. The sun had made the powdery texture of the new fallen snow nice and sticky. Kat was all about making some fabulous creation and even requested food coloring to make her creation really special. The incredible result is pictured just under the group picture. Avery made the snow person adorned with the antlers in the next picture, nearby Lawson's donned skis and ski poles and Della, Peighton and Lexi worked to create yet another one. There were so many creative ideas Della and I decided to make one with kale for hair and Eric and I crafted a McEwan snowdog! What fun! It got cold right after so they graced the field for a couple of weeks, each warm day causing them to grow thinner and thinner. </span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-74903186596085654632017-01-26T13:46:00.000-08:002017-01-26T13:48:38.201-08:00Chalkboards- A Favorite Project at the Lodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NRl14uTGGUs/WIps3B7HrAI/AAAAAAAAG-w/XroZ_pN2jNQOx7YsQL7-jXcvRo2g0_oewCLcB/s1600/100_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NRl14uTGGUs/WIps3B7HrAI/AAAAAAAAG-w/XroZ_pN2jNQOx7YsQL7-jXcvRo2g0_oewCLcB/s200/100_1980.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-518beHCOMRE/WIptBXc3RhI/AAAAAAAAG-4/nMNKiwSLMQQo0tUHeXaVCKicpJ-qahRZgCLcB/s1600/100_1983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-518beHCOMRE/WIptBXc3RhI/AAAAAAAAG-4/nMNKiwSLMQQo0tUHeXaVCKicpJ-qahRZgCLcB/s200/100_1983.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wF57aLR2rKw/WIptA-e9gWI/AAAAAAAAG-0/2vIxEv_qLOEMazfSKQZdLSVYZD2u9jcjQCLcB/s1600/100_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wF57aLR2rKw/WIptA-e9gWI/AAAAAAAAG-0/2vIxEv_qLOEMazfSKQZdLSVYZD2u9jcjQCLcB/s400/100_1982.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I just love doing chalkboard drawings for holidays, seasons, upcoming visitors, whatever I can think that might make something worthy of announcing. I have found some silver trays which I taped off and spray painted with chalkboard paint and then bought small easels to stand them in to place on tabletops and counters about the Lodge. Then, of course, there is Robert who stands guard at the kitchen entrance proudly holding his chalkboard. I really enjoy coming up with little sayings to put on them and then decorating around the wording.</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-53015088792019300852016-05-17T08:45:00.001-07:002016-05-17T08:45:38.232-07:00Vanessa's Ornamental Pear in Full Bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4PgDlPOrXA/Vzs8GMJWl-I/AAAAAAAAG7o/butQ25Nxy8gpov00M9zbMLbz6lBR6BDkQCLcB/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4PgDlPOrXA/Vzs8GMJWl-I/AAAAAAAAG7o/butQ25Nxy8gpov00M9zbMLbz6lBR6BDkQCLcB/s320/tree.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dX7il7u_44/Vzs8J7E0ZoI/AAAAAAAAG7s/lBxc24w2Yxwfx81U8YjOzOBoda9MgZyaACLcB/s1600/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dX7il7u_44/Vzs8J7E0ZoI/AAAAAAAAG7s/lBxc24w2Yxwfx81U8YjOzOBoda9MgZyaACLcB/s320/tree2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">A few years ago, Drew gave Vanessa an ornamental pear for Mother's Day which they wished to plant at the Lodge. I have one right by the front entrance, but it is more in the shade so Vanessa's tree is always first to bloom. </span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-57942540116979557942016-05-17T08:42:00.000-07:002016-05-17T08:42:02.957-07:00Green Spire Columnar Oak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afGUARYVbQ4/Vzs6hTyxNbI/AAAAAAAAG7c/uZ1vwt1CfP0HJXHr7HA4oX632LhmPR0AQCLcB/s1600/oak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afGUARYVbQ4/Vzs6hTyxNbI/AAAAAAAAG7c/uZ1vwt1CfP0HJXHr7HA4oX632LhmPR0AQCLcB/s640/oak.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;">Over the winter I went on a search for a columnar oak at area nurseries and landed on this beauty at Estabrook's. Seems they had it last season and wintered it over so I was able to get a 20% discount on the price of $300. As I grow older, I think certain plantings are worth either buying a larger specimen or planting enmasse as I want to enjoy the effect I am hoping for for as long as I can! So this tree is near 16 feet tall. It was quite the sight to see in the pick up truck as more than half of it was hanging out over the tailgate wrapped in a tarp like a mummy. We planted it in a row with the maple and the ornamental pear so that it is in a place or prominence. </span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7988369385040957125.post-54352588074966114412016-05-17T08:35:00.002-07:002016-05-17T08:35:26.148-07:00Tulips In Their Glory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KsYlLQGhQPY/Vzs45Sicy-I/AAAAAAAAG7M/XO1VhEpuB3QxpOHja4rmgIMzJ0otJEe2gCLcB/s1600/tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KsYlLQGhQPY/Vzs45Sicy-I/AAAAAAAAG7M/XO1VhEpuB3QxpOHja4rmgIMzJ0otJEe2gCLcB/s400/tulips.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuofUT6BBGw/Vzs49e-i1zI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/asLfXVrgghoYQgVL1JyouPKeQCIedEm0ACLcB/s1600/tulips2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuofUT6BBGw/Vzs49e-i1zI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/asLfXVrgghoYQgVL1JyouPKeQCIedEm0ACLcB/s320/tulips2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e06666;">It is very sad to see the daffodils begin to go by, except the ones in more shade, but the offset is that the tulips are in full bloom right now and look so beautiful. I keep them close to the building so that deer, turkeys and squirrels are more apt to leave them alone. It has been a successful strategy thusfar.</span>Oak Hill Princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913017711470980822noreply@blogger.com1