The Coffee House

[SquarePeg]

That sounds like fun. We’re still in Baltimore but MLW and lazy_lobster are in ME. They are hoping to see the fireworks from the deck. It looks like they will be at the lakeside park, at the end of our road.

It was perfect. We drove up Mount Battie auto road after dinner and staked out a spot overlooking the harbor. The fireworks started about two hours later! This was a great day trip - it’s a bit of a drive from Boston but lots of good places to stop along the way. Camden is the quintessential mid coast Maine coastal town.

Got some good photos, will post them at some point. Here’s an iPhone photo of our view prior to it getting dark. Fireworks were shot from the right of that little island to the left of the harbor. The fireworks lit up the boats and reflected in the water.

 

[jeffashman]

Howdy folks! We are safe and dry. I hope everyone in the US who celebrated the 4th had a good time. I was determined to have a 4th of July picnic, even if nobody showed, so it was just meine Frau and I. We had pan grilled brats and hotdogs with baked beans and I made a really good vinegar based porato salad which I've decided I prefer over the mayonnaise based potato salad. We didn't watch the fireworks though, even though we practically have a front-row seat to the Five Star Complex where the show takes place. We just didn't have it in us given the tragedy unfolding about 250 miles southwest of us in Kerrville, with all those children swept away, their summer vacation turned into a summer nightmare, and with all the loss of life. There is just too much of that in the world today, but that hit closer to home because we used to do those camps, especially with the Boy Scouts.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

I think that my memory for this Summer is going to be insect repelant (aka DEET):

 

[PhotoHobbyist]

Just be careful with your camera if using DEET. DEET will destroy rubber and lens coatings.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

Just becareful with your camera if using DEET. DEET will destroy rubber and lens coatings.

I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. It is not labeled as "poison" but it is so unpleasant that I am suspicious.

Anyway, here's something I ran across that you can watch later. It might change your breakfast [posted to YouTube by "OTR Food & History", May 8, 2025, length is about 1:01:19]:

"From Tea Spies to Pancake Wars: The Wild Stories of the Day’s First Meal"
""​

 

[SquarePeg]

Howdy folks! We are safe and dry. I hope everyone in the US who celebrated the 4th had a good time. I was determined to have a 4th of July picnic, even if nobody showed, so it was just meine Frau and I. We had pan grilled brats and hotdogs with baked beans and I made a really good vinegar based porato salad which I've decided I prefer over the mayonnaise based potato salad. We didn't watch the fireworks though, even though we practically have a front-row seat to the Five Star Complex where the show takes place. We just didn't have it in us given the tragedy unfolding about 250 miles southwest of us in Kerrville, with all those children swept away, their summer vacation turned into a summer nightmare, and with all the loss of life. There is just too much of that in the world today, but that hit closer to home because we used to do those camps, especially with the Boy Scouts.

It’s so terrible what happened. Unimaginable.

 

[snowbear]

Howdy folks! We are safe and dry. I hope everyone in the US who celebrated the 4th had a good time. I was determined to have a 4th of July picnic, even if nobody showed, so it was just meine Frau and I. We had pan grilled brats and hotdogs with baked beans and I made a really good vinegar based porato salad which I've decided I prefer over the mayonnaise based potato salad. We didn't watch the fireworks though, even though we practically have a front-row seat to the Five Star Complex where the show takes place. We just didn't have it in us given the tragedy unfolding about 250 miles southwest of us in Kerrville, with all those children swept away, their summer vacation turned into a summer nightmare, and with all the loss of life. There is just too much of that in the world today, but that hit closer to home because we used to do those camps, especially with the Boy Scouts.

Glad to hear you're OK. Absolutely tragic, and I fear we may be seeing more of this kind of weather.

 

[jeffashman]

Glad to hear you're OK. Absolutely tragic, and I fear we may be seeing more of this kind of weather.

I agree. Of the twelve or so weather models out there only the Canadian RDPS predicted what was going to happen. That's the problem with using models. My dad was an old school meteorologist and could look at weather maps and tell with pretty good precision what was coming in the next week or two. He was a weather launch officer at the Eastern Test Range at Patrick AFB in FL and forecast the weather for many of the NASA launches during the 1970's as well as military launches. He was not impressed by the model-based forecasting approach, and that as someone who helped pioneer satellite meteorology. Maybe AI will improve things in the future, but right now it is a mess, which is why few trust the weather forecasts anymore.

 

[smoke665]

@jeffashman I wondered about you as the tragedy was unfolding. With each passing hour it seems the death toll rises. Just on the news this morning an 8yr old girl from here was one of the children killed. So terrible for all

 

[cgw]

I agree. Of the twelve or so weather models out there only the Canadian RDPS predicted what was going to happen. That's the problem with using models. My dad was an old school meteorologist and could look at weather maps and tell with pretty good precision what was coming in the next week or two. He was a weather launch officer at the Eastern Test Range at Patrick AFB in FL and forecast the weather for many of the NASA launches during the 1970's as well as military launches. He was not impressed by the model-based forecasting approach, and that as someone who helped pioneer satellite meteorology. Maybe AI will improve things in the future, but right now it is a mess, which is why few trust the weather forecasts anymore.

Relieved you and yours are OK.
Extreme weather sucks. Still, giving in calmly to one's inner prepper isn't totally bonkers. Haven't popped for a generator yet but do tend to keep 24/36/72hr stocks on hand esp. in winter up here. Never below a 1/2 tank in the ride or a 25l can of gas from Dec. on for emerg driving and/or snow clearance. A stash of cash works if anything is open. Have added power banks, too. Once dialed in, I don't fret about it. Always surprised by neighbors who get caught SOL by the slightest interruptions.

 

[nerwin]

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July to those who are in the US. I spent the day, well most of it, cutting down a tree. Unfortunately it was rotting from the inside out around the top off the tree, so 98 percent of the branches were bare and it was looking ugly in the backyard. It was time for it to go sadly. It's a black cherry tree and boy it was heavy!

Having a tractor sure made quick work of it though. About an hour and it was all gone. Gave the wood to a nice older couple who have a wood splitter and use the firewood to heat their house during the winter. I even loaded the wood into their trailer with the tractor for them. I hate cutting down trees but sometimes you need to, but it know its going to help someone during the cold months.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

Something In The Night Sky?

I don't know what this was. It was not the moon, which was visible in another direction. It was very bright (more than a star). The picture was taken July 8 at ~22:00 I took two pictures. It was not moving (at least not noticeably). The direction is roughly SSW.

 

[snowbear]

Back home in Maine. I’m going to change the doctor’s appointment so I don’t have to rush back to Maryland. Maybe I’ll get a new doctor by then.

Something In The Night Sky?

I don't know what this was. It was not the moon, which was visible in another direction. It was very bright (more than a star). The picture was taken July 8 at ~22:00 I took two pictures. It was not moving (at least not noticeably). The direction is roughly SSW.

 

[snowbear]

Back home in Maine. I’m going to change the doctor’s appointment so I don’t have to rush back to Maryland. Maybe I’ll get a new doctor by then.

And I'm here until September. Yay!
Looking at native plants to use as a groundcover on the steep, horrendis-to-mow hill.

 

[smoke665]

@snowbear The disadvantage to retirement is you don't get a break from work on weekends and holidays.