Asticou Gardens in Spring

Sunday was a lazy day for some of us (Baby Bear was still doing school work). Papa Bear and Boo Boo cooked a simple yet delicious meal. Boo Boo created a wonderful strawberry sorbet in the new frozen-dessert-maker that Baby Bear and Boo Boo gave us to celebrate our retirement. He even shared the recipe with us! Yum! I can see we are going to have much fun recreating his delight and experimenting with other flavors this summer. On Monday we arose, Baby Bear did some more school work, we shared a meal, and they packed and departed for home.

The Cat totally rules the house (or so she thinks). She has asked for a push button so that she can open the sliding glass door to the porch by herself. That wish is simply not going to happen ...

We are trying to find a way to have the basement door remain ajar so that it is not open (and subject to someone falling down it) but still accessible to The Cat at all times. Yes, there are those pet doors one can purchase and insert into the existing door, but we are looking for something less expensive ... and a little more creative. Papa Bear is thinking. A gate mounted above cat-level? A wooden block that props the door open coupled with a bungee cord to hold it somewhat closed? One of those pet doors? Something else? Options are still being considered.

After lunch on Monday, Papa Bear took a nap and I read. We then went to the Asticou Gardens, followed by a trip to Bar Harbor to window-shop for bicycles (I found a really nice carbon fiber one that is out of our price range) and gather a few groceries.

The Asticou Gardens are amazing. In all the years we have been visiting this Island, it was my first visit. Needless to say, it will not be my last. The gardens are a mixture of east and west with native plants, a sand garden and meandering paths. There are places to sit and be still. Interesting posts appear in what seem to be appropriate places. I do not know a better way to convey it than to show you a few photos of it.

Azalea border	Pond view
Another pond view	Lily Pond
Tall tree	Quiet Path
Rocks and Azaleas	White flower
Golden spikes	Sand Garden
Bowl	Azaleas bordering
	Sand Garden

Today (a Tuesday - something easy to forget when retired) is overcast with a forecast for occasional showers. We need to visit the post office, obtain a few kitchen supplies (things we could live without for a week or two but want for our extended stay), maybe window-shop for some furniture and bicycles.

Photos today courtesy of Mama Bear.