All this and more...

Been awhile since my last blog (be that as it may) so I'll touch on several subjects to catch up on things.

New Car - finally decided to buy another car. The truck has a lot of miles on it so we'd like to extend it's life for camper pulling and hauling stuff. An ad in a local weekly newspaper caught Carol's eye and to make a long story short we bought a 2007 PT Cruiser, Touring Edition.

Same color as the rental I had a few months ago which Carol and I both liked quite a bit. It was good price with low mileage and two-thirds of the manufacturer's warranty remaining. Nice ride and fun looking. Ian now drives the Subaru to work and Carol and I tool around in the Cruiser. I'll be getting a vanity plate eventually.

4th of July weekend - went to Madawaska Lake for a long weekend.

We stayed at the camp while Lois and Jim stayed at Margaret's - the dogs? At the kennel much to their chagrin. That was a nice break from dog management though sad to say it took some getting use to. Friday, the morning of the 4th, Carol, Lois and Ian got up early to work at the annual Swedish pancake breakfast. Then it was into Stockholm for the 4th of July parade before which I gave Margaret a ride in the Cruiser and we parked it along the parade route while the others walked down from the house. After lunch we all worked around the camp cleaning up the yard, Carol and Ian assembled a swing seat that Lois had bought while Jim got the water hooked up in the camp and with the help of Lois, Carol and Ian they set up the dock for the summer. I grilled up sausage burgers for supper and later with a campfire going we watched the sunset and local shore side fireworks. Saturday was working inside the camp. Jim. Lois, Carol and Ian laid a new tile floor in the living room while I cased and trimmed out the window in the attic bedroom. That all took most of the day. Once we finished up Margaret and family friends Jim and Jan came over and I grilled up some terrific chicken breasts that Lois had bought and marinated. She and Carol cooked up some potatoes and corn on the cob which we ate lakeside at the picnic table. Followed all that with some more sunset photo taking with Lois and the other Jim and ended up in the camp talking for quite a while into the evening with Jim and Jan before calling it a night after a long day. After breakfast at Eureka Hall we headed back home, sprung the dogs from the kennel and back to work for each of us Monday.

The Cruiser looks pretty good up north.

Pancake duty - Ian at the mixer with Lois and Carol slaving
over the stove (note box of strawberries in foreground).

Ian at lake side.

Carol and her mother waiting for the parade to arrive.

Bev's Dad, Johnny, driving the old farm tractor
in the 4th of July parade.

Carol. Ian, Lois and Jim looking for the
next part of the parade.

Testing out the new swing.

The dock is almost ready. Great job gang!

It would be wrong not to have some sunset pictures.

Lois gets her share of sunset shots.

The Swedes are coming! - Friday some of Carol's family members that she, Lois, Margaret, Bev and Lena visited with last summer in Sweden are coming here for a visit. Gunnar, his brother Anders, his partner Laila, their daughter, Elin and partner Anders will arrive by bus from New York City. They'll stay at Lois and Jim's. Saturday there will be a gathering in their honor at Elaine's. Sunday, Ian is to lead a hike, maybe up Tumbledown Mountain with the guests then on Monday they with Lois and Jim will go to Mount Desert Island for a couple of nights where they'll meet "cousin" John and his wife Linda - go lobstering, have a lobster bake and sight see the area. After that they finish the whirlwind tour up to Stockholm and New Sweden to visit Margaret and other family members. All in all should be an interesting time.