Elsie’s Third Post

Posted on July 27, 2015 by JanetA

Hey everyone, Elsie here. I am one traveling kitty. Since my last post I have traveled around the east coast of the United States and now I am in another country, Canada. No one even asked to see my passport, whatever that is. They asked Janet for hers.

I have been in and out of different houses since I posted last and I still think I like the Roadtrek best. I have been in it so long it feels like home. I like sleeping under the blankets during the day. I am now getting brave enough to come out while Janet drives and lay on the floor next to her. On my bravest days I ride on the dashboard and look out the window. Sometimes it gets lonely under the blankets.

The Camp on Moxie Lake

We spent about five days with Janet’s friend Missy and her husband in Maine. It was on a big body of water and that water still makes me nervous. I spent the day in the RV and then in the evening Janet would bring me inside the camp house. I am not sure if I liked this. Everything was strange and Missy has a bird, Mango that squawks a lot, and it is loud. What is that bird saying?

The one thing I found in the house that made me happy was another bed with blankets to crawl under. I liked it under there. Mango wasn’t quite as loud.

loon

Missy is a photographer and so is Janet. Every time these birds called loons came around the two of them went nuts. They ran for their cameras and headed to the woods to take a zillion photos. What’s the big deal about loons anyhow? They make weird sounds. It kept Janet happy though, so it must be OK.

I also met a little critter that looked good for eating. He was very bold. I know him as chippie, but he is really a chipmunk. He came right up to me. It surprised me so much I didn’t react except to stare at him. That night I dreamt of catching him and playing with him. Sigh, it was too late by the time I dreamt that. I hope to see more chippies in my travels.

Now Janet and I are on our own. We are settling back into the routine of stopping once a day so I can go outside, somewhere where it is quiet. When we stopped today a funny critter watched us. It didn’t move at all. I think it was a stuffed rabbit. It was just hanging in the trees.

Today I found something I really liked. I rolled in it. It smelled like cat mint.

When things make me nervous hanging behind Janet’s leg is a good idea.

Me taking a stroll at lunch.

Ah, rolling

We have camped in some nice places. The other night we were on Cobscook Bay in Maine. After a nice evening walk on the leash we got back and there were a bunch of mosquitos in our RV. Janet did not seem too happy about that. I decided to help her out and jumped around after those little buggers until there were none left. It was fun to help out. After all, we are a team.

Tonight we are camped on the Bay of Fundy. The town is St Martins. There is a funny intermittent noise out there. Janet says it is a light house. I am not sure what that is but the sound is soothing.

My adventure is continuing. I am glad Janet brought me along. I am not sure if I would do this all the time but I like being with Janet and I am seeing more than most kitties see in their whole lifetime. I must be special. Janet calls me the princess. I like to think I am.

Friends

Posted on July 23, 2015 by JanetA

When I add a post to my blog I am never sure where it will go. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to say and other times I have no idea until I sit down to type the post up. There are times that my mind wanders and I take me and all of you off on an unknown adventure.

Missy and Janet Enjoying Moxie

I have just returned to civilization after spending five days with my friend Missy and her husband, Dan on Moxie Lake out in the woods of Maine. Having extremely limited access to the digital age was truly a vacation.

Missy and I have been friends for many years. Even though we live 3000 miles apart when we are together we seem to easily pick up where we left off.I always feel that is a sign of true friendship. It was good to have five days to catch up, laugh and explore together. Missy and I love to take wildlife photos. We spent quite a bit of time watching and photographing the loons that frequent the cove next to the camp.

When we left camp this morning it was hard to leave. I feel safe and loved and secure when I am with people that care about me. It is hard to leave that for the unknown. From now on I am on my own and traveling into new territory as I drive north up the down east coast of Maine. I am heading for Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Friends are a continuing important part of my existence. Since Jim died I have recognized how important my friends are to me. Their ongoing support and encouragement help push me forward to explore the next chapters of my life.

Right now six of my friends have very willingly taken on the task of taking care of my house and yard so I could comfortably get into my RV and travel and explore. I appreciate these friends so much for their effort and kindness. I would like to share with you a little of these six incredible women.

Nancy and Janet

Nancy is the coordinator of the house sitting project. She even found an on line calendar so that the six of them could sign up on the calendar for the days they wanted to check on the house. Nancy and I have been friends for close to 30 years. We have had our ups and downs but we always have remained strong friends. She feels like my sister. We both have a love of native plants. We see each other often and share a lot of our intimate thoughts with each other. I am so glad we met and have been friends for all these years.

Phyllis

Phyllis and I used to work together as nurses. I quit after 25 years but Phyllis remained a nurse for much longer and is now happily retired. One of her passions is to walk the 3 day, Susan G Komen walk for the cure. She has done these walks all over the United States. We usually find a day each week to walk and have breakfast, one of my favorite meals to eat out. She has very unselfishly supported me. After Jim was diagnosed with metastatic cancer all I had to do was call her and she would be there, even at 2 in the morning. It is good to have a friend who I can always lean on if need be.

Janet in the Desert

Janet and I met dancing. We have been friends for many years. We also share the same passion for native plants and her yard is exceptional. Janet and I walk together, go to the movies and much more. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. Janet loves to English Country Dance and Contradance. She often is traveling to dance. Her unending support of me has been treasured.

Raquel

Raquel house sat for me and took care of Miss Elsie two years ago while I traveled in my Roadtrek. She and I have become friends over the past couple of years. I enjoy having her down the block. I can stop in and visit whenever I want. We never seem to run out of conversation. Raquel is a beautiful artist. She is a costumer for the local theaters in San Diego. Her work is amazing. I am glad we met.

JoAnn is a new friend. I met her through Nancy. I don’t know her well. I enjoy her company and hope when I return we can do more together. She has house sat for me and Miss Elsie the cat really likes her. She lives down the street from me and so it is convenient for her to swing by the house. What I like about JoAnn is that she is easy to converse with. I feel we have some common interest. She is going through her own life transition and I am glad that I am part of this transition time.

Janet and Beth

Beth is my massage therapist, healer and friend. Although we don’t do much outside of her office we have grown close over the years. I appreciate her insight and her joy of self discovery. I appreciate that she takes the time to listen to me and support me. She supports me in all ways, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Beth loves to dance and she has the most amazing singing voice. I appreciate her gentle and insightful way and her commitment to self growth and friendship.

Aren’t these the most amazing women? And they are my friends. I feel so honored to know each one of them. Friends are important in my life. I never forget that. It is because of their loving support that Elsie and I are adventuring around the United States and Canada. Each day I give thanks to them.

As my journey continues I will tell you cool things I see along the way but I also will share with you from time to time some of these amazing people that are in my life.

Tomorrow I journey north. I am looking forward to seeing new things and await new adventures along the way.

Slowly Starting West.

Posted on August 25, 2013 by JanetA

Driving through covered bridges, NH

I am slowly starting to head west. Slowly is the key word. On Saturday I departed Maine. After a fun drive through New Hampshire I am now in Quechee, Vermont. After I left Moxie pond and my friends in northern Maine, Missy & Dan, I drove to southern Maine to Sebago Lake, the supplier of most of the water supply for the greater Portland area.

Memorial of the ordination of Rev. Samuel Hildden, 1792

As I traveled through NH my GPS seemed to have a mind of it’s own. I stopped in Tamworth to explore a farmers market. After I left there I found that crazy GPS took me into the back country, over dirt roads, through covered bridges and found some beautiful farms. I found a small cemetery with a unique memorial. It was not a quick drive but such a pleasant surprise. I guess am kind of liking my crazy GPS.

Janet & Mary

I spent two days with Mary In Sebago, ME.I met Mary in 1971. We went to the same nursing school in NH. Mary was in the class behind me. I met her about 1/2 way through my second year of school. I felt alone during my nurses training but when I met Mary that changed. After I met her we became friends and had many adventures together. After we both graduated we visited a few times. then I moved west and Mary went her way. It was almost 30 years before we met again. That meeting was two years ago. Even though we had not seen each other for such a long time there was an immediate connection and we picked up our friendship where it had left off all those years ago.

I am so glad we reconnected. Over the past few years Mary has been there for me. We might live on opposite coasts yet distance has not stopped me from feeling her love and support.

Sebago Lake

I am continuing to love the fact that I can swim in the lakes on the east coast. Soon after I arrived we were in the water. What a delight, we talked and swam and caught up. I had my first opportunity on this trip to kayak On the lake. The best part of being with Mary is that she loves to cook. One of the touching moments with Mary was the evening we had Maine lobster for dinner. Earlier in the day we had been talking about seafood and I had mentioned that I love scallops almost as much as lobster and for dinner that night scallops arrived on my plate along with the lobster.

Moments of caring may show up at any moment in our lives. Often we don’t see them as we get busy with our lives. I have found that since Jim was diagnosed with metastasis of his original cancer I have been paying more and more attention to these small and often touching moments in my life. I appreciate these moments and I feel so much in my heart for everyone who has prayed and thought of both of us. I continue to feel so much in my heart for all those who continue to support me and encourage me through this struggling change in my life.

After my days here in Vt I am going through New York State to weave my way around the Great Lakes. I am looking forward to a few days of camping. It is a time to regroup and enjoy my RV.

Jim & Janet Grand Canyon

Meandering Maine, My Sister & Good Friends

Posted on August 22, 2013 by JanetA

Jim

I seriously need to finish up my last post. I forgot a few items on the Jim list. Those who knew him should have been wondering how I could have forgotten these items.

The continuing list of Jim

Jim was a chocoholic. He loved dark rich chocolates, milk chocolates and those wonderful fancy rich deserts.
Coffee Houses were a passion of his. If he wasn’t home I could often find him with the newspaper in hand sitting at Twiggs. He often said to me it is not the coffee, it is the atmosphere. Later he admitted it was both. His favorite? A decaf mocha single with a chocolate chip scone.
He loved his Saturday morning runs with his running buddies, Brian, Henry & Barbara. Running and smoothies were the beginning of most Saturday mornings.

If any of you, the readers of this blog want to add your own, please do.

Ginny, Frank, Janet

After spending a little over a week with my sister and her husband in Northern New Jersey it was time to move on. I had a very relaxing week, sitting on the front porch and enjoying the day. Ginny has always been my big sister, more importantly, despite our differences we have developed a strong friendship over our many years together. When Jim first went into the hospital a week and a half before he died, Ginny was the first person I called. Within a few days there she was in San Diego, helping-supporting-creating a diversion. She has a marvelous sense of humor and can always make me laugh. We have traveled together, shopped together, played scrabble together (although she whines when she wants to win, just saying, Ginny), kayaked and camped. It is so important to have her in my life and I am glad we are more than sisters. Ginny, thank you.

The View From My Campsite in Willington, CT

Since I have last posted I have made my way to Maine. I spent two nights camping in the cute little RT. I found my second favorite campground of the trip in CT. It sat on this spring fed lake and my campsite looked right over the lake. There were places to explore and most importantly I got to take my first lake swim of the trip. I love lakes. Although I was just passing through this state, I really enjoyed the brief time there.

There is so much of our early American History out here. I have found myself stopping to read the historical markers. I never seem to get as far as I anticipate in any given day because I get diverted so easily into exploring areas that look interesting to me.

Currently I am in the great state of Maine. My first big mistake of this trip was thinking I could easily drive around Boston on a Sunday morning. I think everyone from MA was heading to the Maine coast. Although the coast was my first intention, I soon decided my vacation was not about sitting in traffic, I can do that at home. So the first car deprived road I saw, I took. I ended up entering Maine by way of NH. Sometimes it is good to come in through the back door.

Sunset on Moxie

The Camp on Moxie

Three nights I went totally incommunicado, no cell phone, no Internet, no nothing and spent three incredibly gorgeous days visiting with my friends Missy and Dan on Moxie Pond in the northwest woods. Moxie is really not a pond. It is an 8 mile long lake. There are summer camps scattered around the edge of the lake. One of these camps is Missy’s and Dan’s. I could have spent weeks there. Each morning I got served breakfast on the porch. Waiting for wildlife to show up. My favorite were the loons. I love them. Their calls are marvelous and they are such a beautiful bird.

Dan picking Blueberries.

Not all the time was spent relaxing. I swam, jet skied yet mostly I relaxed. The second day we conquered Mosquito Mountain. The reward at the summit were delicious wild Maine blueberries. We scrambled around the low lying bushes and ate our fill. Then we filled an empty water bottle with them and had blueberry pancakes the next morning for breakfast. Yum!

Missy & Janet

I met Missy hiking with the Sierra Club in San Diego. We became immediate friends. We have known each other for many years. Now we live across the country from each other. The distance does not seem to matter. Our friendship has remained alive and strong. Two years ago she got married to Dan. I came to celebrate their wedding on Moxie Pond. It was so much fun. Dan is a very nice man and a great addition to her and my life. Missy and I continue to explore our lives together. We tend to have deep, intelligent conversations. We also have a lot of fun together. Over the past three years she has stood strongly beside me and Jim. I am very glad we met. She is an important part of my life. I am hoping for more good times at Moxie. I am thankful each day for friends such as Missy.

Yesterday, Wednesday I sadly departed Moxie and drove to southern Maine. I am now visiting Mary at Sebago Lake Maine. I got my third lake swim of the trip in yesterday. I just love swimming in fresh water lakes. More to come on my stay here.

I have so much in my life to be thankful for. Each when I wake up I lay in bed and consider this. Each day. I give thanks.

missy, Dan, Janet

On the right side of my blog there is a link to more extensive Photos of My Journey. Not all of them are up yet and not all of them are labeled. They will be completed as i get to them. Enjoy.

Loon

Blueberries

Journeys of Thankfulness

Embracing Life, Traveling in my RV, Feeling Grateful

Tag Archives: Maine

Elsie’s Third Post

Friends

Slowly Starting West.

Meandering Maine, My Sister & Good Friends

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