Saco Ice

Growing up, trouble sometimes found me. I lived miles away from the closest river, the Presumpscot, and it was a mess. Miles and miles of the river was nothing but a floating, stinking, putrid mass of refuse from the mill S.D. Warren. So there was no real chance to go for a swim, float a raft or have some other type of 'adventure' on the water or nearby banks. The closest I came to it was in my caddying days along Riverside's 12th and 13th holes. I never really ventured to the Saco River, pictured here. I never knew it existed. In my small existence, it was a world away. I guess I'm glad. It probably, given the gang of kids I hung with, could only have meant some trouble-filled adventures, that even, I imagine, Huck would have paled at facing. By the way, these days the Presumpscot River has been cleaned up... the adventure awaits!

River Frost

Along the Saco River, these trees have taken on a white tint probably from some of the river spray. Driving along this road, always makes me recall the small red record we had in our record box called, "Over the River and through the Woods" by Lydia Maria Child. It was originally written as a poem called "A Boy's Thanksgiving".

Over the river, and through the wood,

To Grandfather's house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood—

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,

To have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding",

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood

Trot fast, my dapple-gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood—

And straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood—

Now Grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Autumn's Saco

Colors along the Saco River are approaching their zenith these days. Seen here along the Warren Road, this stretch of river is often rolling white water in the spring, but this morning there are lots of rocks showing. This is one of my favorite places to come and just sit along the river and watch 'life' go by. Sometimes, my camera is with me and other times I pull over and roll down the window and just take it all in. By the way, today's photo is #3oo on my photoblog. I've posted everyday since December 31, 2008, with just a few multiple posts when I felt they were warranted. So today, as usual I plan to stop somewhere and take a picture that's part of my world. I try to do this everyday now... it's a very exciting part of my day.

River's Edge

Along the Saco River, the water is high these days with lots of white water from the spring runoff. I love driving the cut-off on real dark nights, when the water is rolling. I stop at one favorite spot, pull over to the side and shut the truck's engine. The combination of the roar of the water and the faint white water in the distance sends goosebumps along my arms and to the back of my neck. It's a feeling I want to experience, but not for long. After a few moments, it becomes a bit discomforting, and I need to move on. Strange! I like the feeling, but really don't. Now, along the river's edge, it's hard to imagine all the 'action' mid river. Here, all is calm and peaceful, with just some gentle lapping sounds to be heard. Soothing, to sit, watch and listen.

Dockworks

A short trip south, from the backyard, takes you to this meandering dock curving off to the right along the Kennebunkport River. I like this image with the subtle shadow of railing and the peaking bare trees in the distance. There are lots of startling sights our summer visitors never get to experience. Some like this, with spring on the rise, beg us to take time in our busy lives to 'stop and smell the tidal pools'. Fascinating places are found around every corner and often as close as our doorstep. As they say, seek and ye shall find; find and ye shall want to seek a whole lot more!

Along the Saco

Serenity now! Serenity now! Spring comes to us this morning at 7:44 AM. Finally! Along the Saco River, the ice and snow is still around but disappearing fast. Canoes will soon replace the ice chunks floating just below the dam. Around our place, work gradually moves from stocking the wood stove to cleaning up the debris left behind by the winter's ice storms. There's not a lot but enough... to keep me busy. But it's spring, and that's a very good thing!