Joyce's Place

As we near the end of October into November the leaves started to fall off the trees. The trees are getting ready for winter. The scenery really isn't that pretty.

One day in November we decided to take a ride. In November the ground should be frozen and snow on the ground. But this year that wasn't the case, We live in the country where there are alot of dirt roads or should we say mud. This should be a spring picture not a winter picture. Finally on November 28th when I got up at 5:30 a.m. it was freezing rain mixed with snow. The first sign of winter. But it didn't add up to anything. Just enough to make the roads slippery. I was beginning to think we weren't going to have any snow this year. On Dec 2 more snow flurries, around 2:13 p.m  but that didn't add up to  anything either. On Dec 4th finally our first real snow fall, just enough to  lighlty cover the ground and to make it pretty. 

On Dec 7th, when I got up at 5:30 a.m the tempeature was 40 degrees. Gee whiz, now the snow is going to melt. Not looking good for us to have a white Christmas. Which we didn't it was a green one. My first year back and no snow. I think I started reliving my childhood again around this time. I wanted it to snow so I could go sleding and play in the snow.

In January we did get more snow. But I didn't record it anywhere, so I don't know how much. It wasn't that much and we kept on getting warm days so some of the snow would melt. At first Rascal and Pixie only would go out if we have paths shoveled for them. I actually shoveled a area out back for them so they would go out to go potty. What a pain that was.  

Finally Febuary 14th we got our first real snow storm. We got a total of 9 inches of snow. March we got more snow. Finally winter is here, I can go out an play.

It seems like after that we got snow storm after snowstorm and frigid cold days. Well in to the -5 degrees and throw the windchill on top of that it was mighty cold. It was a crazy winter. Frigid cold one week and warm the next. It would rain one day and snow the next. Making top of the snow crusty. Pixie realize she could walk ontop of the snow, where as Rascal would fall thru.  It was funny because Pixie would get up on top of the snow and tease Rascal. Like come and get me, hahaha, you can't. Couple of time thou, the crust was hard enough that Rascal could get up there. But that didn't last long.

 April 5th we got 8 inches of snow. Then it started to warm up. Pixie found out one morning, that is was a little bit to warm the snow was starting to melt. April 12th we got  5 more inches of snow. Enough, it suppose to be warm and the spring flowers are suppose to be coming up. Actually my crocus did poke thru begining of April then they got buried on the April 12th snow storm. April 15th and 16th we got some real bad nasty weather. It started out as rain changing over to freezing rain, back to rain and very windy. Everything started to melt at a fast pace. Rivers were flooding, roads washing away, including driveways. But we made it through and we were will underway to spring.

Spring was a very busy time for us. Read more under spring. 

As we move further into the fall the more prettier the leaves got. The first weekend in October, Gordon and I took an trip to Fryeburg, Maine to go to the Fryeburg Fair. The leaves were absolute gorgeous around this one lake. {moszoomthumb imgid=113 style_m=2 caption=(Beautiful Lake)} You can even see the change of leaves in the mountains behind the lake. It was breathtaking. The leaves this year wasn't that vibrate, so when you did see some that were, it was surprising. Along the way you go by an ski resort, Sugarloaf. It is kinda neat to see the ski slope with no snow on it. {moszoomthumb imgid=112 caption=(Sugarloaf)}It was an great day for an fair. The temperature was just right for walking around.

As we move further into October it was getting an little bit cooler. The middle of October we got our first frost.{moszoomthumb imgid=108 caption=(Brisk)}It was fairly chilly that morning. Good thing I didn't have to go to work, so I didn't have to scrape the windshield (hehehe). Kinda neat looking when there is an blanket of frost on the ground. We started getting more days like this one, where yes I have had to scrape my windshield before leaving for work. {moszoomthumb imgid=109 style_m=2 caption=(Frost)}

Hunting seasons starts middle of October and runs thru the end of November. All around us is woods. Our property and the surrounding neighbors property aren't posted for "No Hunting". Rascals tends to blend right into the woods. Rascal and Pixie don't go out by themselves but you never know if they pick up an scent and go running. Rascals like to go out back of the house to do his duty and I don't want to make him stop doing that. Saves on the lawn. So I needed something to protect him. {moszoomthumb imgid=114 style_m=2 caption=(Hunting Vest)}He don't mind it at all. He sees Pixie with her coats and such on so I think he was feeling left out. It also keeps him dry when it is raining out. It keeps him an little bit warmer to I think. It isn't that heavy.{moszoomthumb imgid=115 caption=(Ready to go out)} Speaking of hunting season, I have seen about 7 deers on the side of the road feeding, at various times and wild turkeys. I am ususally on my way/from to work and don't have my camera with me.

As we move into end of October and November, the nights are getting colder. Some nights we are down into the 20's. The days are high 40's and low 50's. Not that bad for this time of year. As of yet, we have had no snow. I am anxious to get some. I went out and bought my winter jacket, mittens, and boots. Along with winter stuff for the dogs. {moszoomthumb imgid=105 style_m=2 caption=(Staying Warm)}Hey they need to stay warm too. (hehehe).

As always check out more pics under Maine.

On Sept 21, 06 at 5:00 am I started my trek to Maine, with my 2 faithful companions Rascal and Pixie. Rascal strapped in the back seat along with Pixie strapped in her seat.{moszoomthumb imgid=65}{moszoomthumb imgid=66 style_m=2}. With the dogs and I all strapped in we went to pick Rick up for the 10 hr ride to S. Carolina where Rick had an Paintball Tournament, which they came in 4th.

The dogs stayed in an kennel for their first time. They did very well. Mom did very well while they were there to. But was very glad to see them Monday morning when I went to pick them up to continue our journey.

My goal was to make it to Scranton, Pa that nite. The weather was great. No rain, just lots of sun.

As I was leaving S. Carolina, driving down I 77 you could see the Mts way up ahead. {moszoomthumb imgid=78} My route was I77 to I81 into Scranton, Pa. I traveled thru the mountains most of the way. Some spots were pretty chilly. Around 7:30 that nite I arrived at my hotel in Scranton. We didn't sleep very well. The dogs bark or growled at every little sound.

5:00 the next morning we were up and getting ready to travel 9 hrs to get to Plymouth, Maine. We got to watch the sun come up as we were traveling. {moszoomthumb imgid=70 style_m=2} The traffic along this route was very slim. It is mostly tractor trailers. By leaving so early in the morning I missed all the rush hour traffic. I continued traveling along I81 to I 84 to I 91 into Conn. From there I went I 90 to I 95 which would take me right into Maine, and my new home. As farther north I went I could see the leaves starting to change, and see alot more farm country.{moszoomthumb imgid=69}

By noon time I was getting to familiar stomping grounds. My home town and the surrounding area of Dover/Portsmouth, NH. An little while after that I crossed over into Maine. The further north I went in Maine the more colorful the leaves were. Around 2:00 pm I arrived in the Newport/ Plymouth area. There is alot more land here. As you travel down rt 7 you see an house then an bunch of land or no houses at all. (Gordon house is off of Rt 7){moszoomthumb imgid=74}. There is also an lake on this road called Plymouth Lake. You can't swim in it thou. But we have seen some gorgeous sunset.

At 3:00 pm I turned onto the dirt road, called Hopkins Road, where I will be residing. I pulled into the driveway and parked. I open up the doors and let the dogs out to run free. What an sight.

It was an good trip, but very tiring. The dogs are doing good and seem to be settling in alright. They did better once I got my furniture.

For more pics of my home and neighborhood please see Maine under My Pictures.