Wordless Wednesday ~ September 28th

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[More about this window in my next posting: part 2 of the East End tour]

Exploring the East End, Portland, Maine: Part 1 ~ September 25th

Recently my friend Jenifer treated me to a belated birthday present: a visit to the Portland Observatory followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant.

This was my first time visiting the observatory, which is the last remaining signal tower in the U.S. It's located on Munjoy Hill in the East End section of Portland Maine, just a short walk from Jen's house.

Luckily for us, it was a gorgeous day so once we got to the top, we were able to fully appreciate the lovely views of Portland and Casco Bay.

[looking up Congress Street toward the Eastern Promenade]

[looking toward Casco Bay]

[view of Back Bay]

[Jen snapping a photo]

[cruise ship at anchor in Portland]

[Jen at the top]

[me at the top]

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and his talk was an enjoyable way to pick up a little bit of local history.

[Munjoy Hill circa 1829]

The tower was designed by Captain Lemeul Moody.

The observatory, rather than having a basement, is anchored by large boulders on the bottom level. The tower is just over 65 feet high. It was built in 1807.

 [Model of the observatory]

My favorite part of the tower was the graffiti: names and initials that visitors have carved over the years in a particular spot inside the tower.

In my next posting, I'll tell you about some of the shops we visited and the fantastic lunch we had!

Wordless Wednesday ~ September 21st

Seaside Saturday: Images of the Maine Coast ~ September 17th

Today I'm sharing a few more images from my birthday trip to the Coast last month. (Please click on each photo for a better view.)

In Maine today, it is might chilly -- a mere 45 degrees F at 10:00 a.m. I won't be walking on the beach this weekend, but hopefully I'll be back at my favorite spot very soon.

I am happy to tell you that I just won a giveaway that my good friend Silke had over at her blog, Metamorphosis. She gave away one of her lovely paintings, plus some little crocheted flower brooches that's she's recently started making. I've been admiring her flowers and am so very happy that I'll be able to have one to enjoy! Thank you, Silke! If you'd like to see the full range of these colorful flowers that Silke makes, please visit her Etsy shop.

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

Wordless Wednesday ~ September 14th

Tiles for America ~ Sept. 11th

These photos were taken in 2007 at the Tiles for America memorial, located at the corner of Seventh Ave. and 11th St. in New York City. For more info on Tiles for American, go here.

Wordless Wednesday ~ September 7th

[portion of an advertisement from Life magazine, 1955]

Seaside Saturday: After the Storm ~ September 3rd

Tuesday I headed up the Coast to see how my favorite oceanside park fared in Hurricane Irene and hoping to see some bigger-than-usual waves. Everything was in good shape at the park. There was a lot of debris on the beach, and a few trees had come down, but it was an absolutely beautiful day and a great time to be at the Maine Coast. Here's a little pictorial tour for Seaside Saturday... please click on each image for a better view.

The waves were really crashing -- I just love that sound. I really want to tape it sometime. It would be the best sound to meditate or fall asleep to.

[25 seconds of crashing waves]

Everywhere I looked, I saw brilliant shades of blue.

This bright spot caught my eye so I went to investigate. It turned out to be a float that had washed up during the storm.

I was surprised to see such a big pile of debris near the stairs to Mile Beach. I wonder if the parks personnel raked the beach and left it there, or if it collected naturally. I think they must have raked the beach.

One thing I really enjoy about walking the beach is noticing all of the patterns that Mother Nature creates.



This colorful seaweed was begging to be photographed.

I noticed a multitude of footprints in the sand, including this tiny child's print.

People got very creative, building several little structures out of driftwood.

I love this huge piece of driftwood -- it's like an organic sculpture.

Hopefully, Tuesday wasn't the last time this year that I'll be walking through the waves.

I doubt it! In fact, I will likely be able to dabble my toes in the ocean a few more times this season.

I hope you get to walk on your favorite beach this Seaside Saturday!