Wilson Lake, Day 2
Yesterday was our first full day up here on the lake, and I was washed out from moving, (pun intended! ;o) so I spent the day resting and doing quiet stuff, like school work. We’re coming out of 90° temperatures which lasted for quite a long while - especially for us Mainers … and although it was in the 80’s on Monday as we were moving all of our goodies up here, it was in the 60’s on Tuesday, with a stiff breeze.
We’re on the windy side of the lake, and it’s quite often 10 degrees colder here than it is in town. It’s nice if you want to cool off, but it’s not so nice if you’re a chilly old lady like me - who loves to swim, and has to wait for an 80° + day to do it … I don’t get much swimming in anymore.
This morning was quite chilly, so I’m wearing a nice warm sweat suit, but the wind had died down, and the sun is getting higher in the sky … the cicadas are singing … and I think it’s going to warm up a bit today.
I have both of the windows in my bedroom open … I like the sounds of loons, the deep rumbling of the great-grand-daddy frog that lives in the shallow water of the tiny inlet, just under the blueberry bushes - a few feet away from me, and the soft cooing of the doves off in some of the trees in the nearby woods. Last night, I turned off the light and lay in the darkness for a long time … listening the sounds I’ve missed so much over the long winter. The loons were calling, and being answered by, the loons on another small lake just over the hill.
Some of you have heard loons before, and recognize the sound right away … while some of you have heard them, but have no idea of what exactly you were listening to - they’re often used in really tacky movies, because the sound is so plaintive and evocative. Doug and I always laugh ourselves silly when we’re watching a movie of someone in the desert, and suddenly we hear the eerie call of a loon.
I will try to do a podcast, if my son will show me how … and my microphone will pick up the sound of loons calling to each other at night, from our tiny lake, to all of the other little lakes all around us.
There have been so many really nice comments about the photos that I’m going to post a few more pictures today.
This was taken yesterday morning, from my the window at the foot of my bed. Sometimes when I go to bed at night, I lay with my head at the foot of the bed, and look out of the window at the lights across the lake as they make their sparkling trail across the water. It’s unimaginably peaceful … the magic of it seeps deeply into your soul.
That one was taken less than an hour ago. I went out to piddle my little doggie, and it was so pretty out there that I had to take a few pictures. That’s the camp with the morning sun coming over the trees. The front of the camp is lined with blueberry bushes. That picture was taken from the dock.
This morning again … still from the dock. This is looking out across the lake. This morning, the lake is calm, with only gentle ripples across its unbroken surface. If it warms up enough today, I’m going to get into there and add a few ripples … :o)
Taken from the dock, looking back at the camp, and the beat up old steps leading up to it. That humble little place is my favorite spot on earth.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:17 am
It looks awesome up there. So beautiful and serene. I would love it, because I prefer cooler weather. 60’s are perfect for me.
August 9th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Moof, It looks so peaceful up there. Maine is one of my favorite places to vacation.
August 9th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Thanks for the pictures. I’m more relaxed already :)
August 9th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
love the sound of a loon!
You be careful on those steps, they look a bit …um … like they need to be careful with walking on them!
The rest of the pictures, look wonderful!!! Peaceful. Funny,when I hear a loon, I think peaceful. Maybe because it’s always at a lake.
August 9th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
jealous!!! that place looks like heaven. enjoy yourself..you deserve it.
August 9th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
Thanks for sharing the photos. Looks like you have a beautiful and peaceful place up there. I’ve never been to Maine. It’s on my very long list of places I’d love to visit. Loons?! How cool is that? I’m kinda the birder nut, myself (not a lot of people know this about me). I miss loons. Used to see and HEAR them up in the UP of MI. It’s been a long time. Hey, when you feel up for it, would you stop by my blog and let me know what you think about an idea I have up there? (Yeah, it’s an “awareness” idea. That’s what I’m into these days.) Thanks in advance!
August 9th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Looks beautiful Moof…
I’ve never been to Maine either.
Looks like I’m missing something.
later…
August 9th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Peace everyone … thank you for your kind comments. It truly is like a little bit of heaven up here in the lakes region. There are literally a dozen or more little glacial lakes scattered throughout the area. You can almost throw a rock from one to the other.
The New Hampshire border is only a minute or two away by car, and once you cross over, you’re in the NH lakes region, and the foothills of the White Mountains. If only New England did not have such an extreme winter … it would be a wonderful place to live. Also - it’s very expensive to live up here … the cost of living is one of the highest in the country, and the wages are among the lowest in the country - bad mixture.
What beauty there is here is natural. Like with every place else, man has managed to mess up the details.
The loons - there is at least one loon family on the lake, at the moment. We seem them daily, with their babies. They’re beautiful animals … quite large … they float serenely across the lake with their young on their backs. It takes them a long distance of water to be able to take off, and their resources are becoming more restricted all the time.
And Amie, my dear … you can take the cooler temperatures. I’m happy when the temps are between 78 and 90. Colder than 78, and I’m chilly. 60’s are miserable for me. Lower than that is a real nightmare. Maine has been my home most of my life, but I believe that it’s probably time for me to find a warmer place to be … this last winter was truly awful.
Perfection would be living in the south for the winter, and up here for the summer! :o)
August 10th, 2006 at 10:36 am
Gorgeous pics! Makes me want to go for a swim!
August 10th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
This place is very photogenic! ;o)
It’s been a bit cold for my tastes where swimming is concerned … haven’t been in yet. Hope things warm up a bit ..